Dealing with Denise.

Denise Turner is constantly claiming how transparent and honest she is.  She can't seem to emphasize that enough.  Frankly, I am getting a wee bit tired of it too.  I have totally lost respect for our city managers office and council.  I am sick of hearing about how Denise is concerned with public information being lawfully released.  I am going to break down the fire investigation/housing situation one more time just so you can see exactly who we are dealing with.

I went to council last fall to create a public awareness campaign about burned houses in neighborhoods.  The goal was to bring the houses to the councils attention and get them to instruct staff to deal with the issue.  My efforts created much needed conversation and media coverage.  During this time, Denise Turner reported to council that there have been times in which fire investigations have delayed the securing of these type houses. Watch the video below.

I proved that there wasn't any document supporting her fire investigation delay theory. Instead, the evidence I found overwhelmingly showed that the  inspections department was a mess.   Essentially, the city could not show any time in which a fire investigation had been part of any type of delay.  The city also readily admitted this in an email constructed by Donnie Turlington.  I emailed Denise the following.

On Oct 31, 2012, at 11:38 AM, "ben holder" <benhwinstonsalem@aol.com>

You reported to council, more than once, that "fire investigations" have caused delay in securing houses.  I have found that to be far from the truth.  Will you ever correct yourself or will you just continue to lie?

Denise responded in a mind blowing way.  Read her response below.

-----Original Message-----

From: Turner Roth, Denise greensboro
-nc.gov>To: ben holder <benhwinstonsalem@aol.com>
Cc: Vaughan, Nancy <NVaughan@triad.rr.com>
Sent: Wed, Oct 31, 2012 12:56 pm
Subject: Re:

Ben, after your comments at the last meeting I requested staff review the video from the September 18 meeting where I would have made the comments in question. It was not my recollection that I was referring to any property in particular but referencing in general  some reasons that can cause delays. Please see the link below which confirms my recollection.

Denise Turner sent me the link to the video I posted above.  In no way, shape or form does that video reflect  that she wasn't referring to any property in particular.  The video doesn't show that she was referencing in general  some reasons that can cause delays.  The video she sent me shows she said, "There are times in which there have been fire investigations that have been part of the delay."  The video doesn't confirm her idiotic recollection.  Nancy Vaughan was copied on this email as well.  Not only did she arrogantly report falsehoods to me but she did it to Nancy Vaughan as well.

Instead of answering a public records request, Denise tried to make it seem as if I some how misinterpreted what she said.  How insulting and silly.  The city manager said there had been times in which fire investigations have been part of the delay.  I asked to see those times in which a fire investigation has been part of the delay.  Denise reported she didn't say that.  Her evidence?  The video of her saying it. It's absolutely insane.

This was about safe neighborhoods.  This was about fire damaged homes.  Denise reported fake fire investigations as a reason for the lack of attention to burned homes.  She then claimed she was speaking in general terms. That is a far cry from her claims of transparency and a major reason I have lost respect for the entire city managers office. Don't count on Denise fixing anything regarding truth.