Johnson v. Kern: A Candidate Forum

Updated with video below.

I attended today’s mayoral candidate forum with Yvonne Johnson and Milton Kern at Holy Trinity Church. Here’s a summary of what the candidates had to say, in response to questions from the audience:

LEADERSHIP STYLE

YJ: [I think she answered first, but I didn't hear her answer, or the questions that may have come before, because I arrived a few moments late, from another meeting.]
MK: Tries to look for “common ground.” “I don’t know a lot about much, but I do know people who do.” “I’m aggressive and that’s one of the things I’d like to show everyone if I’m elected mayor.”

1ST PRIORITY TO MAKE GREENSBORO MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

YJ: “Air quality.” “Public transportation: buses, light rail, bikes, PART.”
MK: “A mandate to make city buildings environmentally green.” “Solar energy,” “things in construction,” “City needs to be a leader in doing that.”

NOISE ORDINANCE

MK: “Every time you pass a new ordinance, you’re taking away some of your own rights. We need to come up with a way to limit the noise, but I honestly don’t know how we’re going to do it.” Said that noise ordinances that covered loud noises would also impact things like bands at Center City Park.
YJ: Proposed a “volunteer group of citizens to report noise” so that “perhaps we can get to it quicker and do some fines.”

DO YOU SUPPORT A POLICE REVIEW BOARD WITH SUBPOENA POWERS?

YJ: “Humans rights commissions are more effective.” “Most [review boards] are not effective” because “officers plead the Fifth.” Better alternative is to “discuss and come to a fair and just answer.”
MK. “No.” Moderator: “Why not?” MK: “I just don’t think that’s somewhere we need to go.”

DO YOU SUPPORT HEART OF THE TRIAD?

MK: “In theory, yes. Practically, probably, yes. But I don’t want them to create another municipality that will split off…”
YJ: “I do because I support regionalism.” “The future… rests on regionalism.”

SHOULD DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BE OFFERED BY THE CITY?

YJ: “We already have them.”
MK: [Wasn't asked this question.]

WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP REGARDING THE GTRC?

MK: “I’m one of those who is just now getting around to reading it. I have some issues with it.” Described November 3, 1979 as “white people coming in and causing problems in the black community and putting people at risk,” but also said he needed to finish reading the report.
YJ: Says she sees it differently, as a tragic thing that happened. The issue for her is “healing.” “I support the TRC.”

CONSOLIDATING SERVICES IN THE COUNTY

YJ: Favors consolidating waste management services.
MK: Favors closing the county inspections office and allowing the Cities of High Point and Greensboro to handle inspections, and having a regional water, garbage and sewer authority, which would be “a big asset to all of us.”

AREAS TO INCREASE CITY BUDGET?

MK: “I’m not in favor of increasing the budget right now.” “…until we can get economic development going, we have higher taxes.”
YJ: Would consider increasing it to add funding for police department because of the “gang situation.” “Economic development will suffer if we don’t get a hold of it. We’ve got to have a safe community to attract and keep development.”

AREAS TO DECREASE CITY BUDGET?

YJ: Says she already did that: Consolidating services, Parks & Rec.
MK: “No, I haven’t studied it.” But: “…mandate to City Manager — no tax increase for next two years.”

PLANS FOR TRANSFERRING TO NEW ECONOMIC BASE

MK: “Regionalism.” Do economic development together to attract new companies and protect existing ones.
YJ: “Be visionary about businesses we want to attract.” Have “site-ready lots.” “We didn’t have it with Dell.” Have “environmentally-friendly businesses with livable wages.”

OBSTACLES TO REGIONALISM AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT

YJ: “Territorialism.” “Work with one or two municipalities at at time with goals that are attainable, follow through… win-win… open the door for more.”
MK: “Personalities.” “Sit down with your adversaries and say ‘We’ve got to quit this arguing.’ Whatever the issues are, let’s get them on the table.” Have mayors and city managers of High Point and Greensboro sit down together to talk.

IMPROVING ECONOMIC SITUATION OF NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST AREAS

MK: “Southside went from a drug haven to a vibrant community.” Under the porches of the Lyndon Street townhomes that his company worked on, workers removed a “wheelbarrow load of needles.” “Start with one area and move out. Northeast and Southeast areas need more help.”
YJ: Use some of the $10 million bond money. Identify lots to make site-ready, create empowerment zones, and create affordable housing.

INCENTIVES

YJ: “It’s an American game, unfortunately.” Looks at number of jobs created, if they pay a livable wage and the dollar investment in the community. Has a “passion for local companies needing help.”
MK: “I’m not totally against incentives, but I’m not really in favor of them that much.” Would rather work with local companies and smaller companies who need it. “I need to get those questions [about incentives] answered in my own mind.”

DAVID WRAY

MK: “David Wray is a friend of mine. Mitchell Johnson is a friend of mine. It makes me sick the way this has unfolded.” After reading about the indictments, his thought was, “Is that all there is to it?” “If I’d been mayor, I would have tried to get answers to those questions before he got locked out of his office.”
YJ: Pointed out that she has had the opportunity to hear the tape of Mitchell Johnson’s conversation with David Wray. “The City Manager tried to be as polite and open” as possible, and “did not take his badge and gun” until Monday. There was “no ugliness or animosity.” Says there is “no joy in having two, or if there are any more to come, of our officers indicted.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

MK: Spoke of his “passion for Greensboro” and said, if elected, he would have “more news conferences and discussions.”
YJ: “I will hear your voice and respond.”

UPDATE: Video of forum from News14: