County Farm Has Great Value As It Is

Dear Editor,

Two recent articles (June 12 & 13) in the Rhino by Scott D. Yost speculate about how best to use the 806 acres of the former Guilford County Prison Farm in eastern Guilford County. The county recently leased about 400 of those acres to a farmer for crops and pasturage for the next five years.

Mr. Yost suggests that because the land will be farmed and not developed for a data center, distribution hub or industrial park, it is being wasted. “The site,” he writes, “has gone from hero to zero, from stud to dud, when it comes to its supposed economic development potential.”

He overlooks not only the value of the healthy food produced by the farmland (which by some estimates has the potential to end hunger in Guilford County) but also the value of the extensive woodlands that provide a refuge for wildlife and hiking trails for humans. The County Farm, which has become a noted East Coast birding hot spot, provides its visitors with healthy recreation and an invaluable chance to reconnect with the natural world.

The value of such resources cannot be reduced to dollars and cents. Mr. Yost complains that whenever a development project is proposed, people “challenge the project like you wouldn’t believe.” There is a reason for that. The County Farm’s defenders understand our interdependence with the natural world and the priceless ecosystem services provided by undeveloped land, including clean air, clean water, and carbon sequestration.

And we understand that if the human species develops every square inch of the planet’s surface for short-term economic gain, we will no longer have a livable planet.

Jennifer & Andrew Angyal

 

 

City Manager Blamed For Car Crashes

Dear Editor,

On Friday, June 16, I couldn’t help but think about what a disgrace the City of Greensboro has become under the management of Current Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba.

At 10:00 a.m. I lost power along with 396 other Latham Park residents as a result of a car crash on our city streets. Power was not restored until 5:00 p.m., and this is the second time this has happened this week! And you wonder why? There is no respect for the law in Greensboro due to our city’s failure to enforce it. As a result, there are many car crashes resulting in serious property damage, personal injuries and death. Spiraling aggravated assaults, murders, robberies and open drug use on our streets have elevated Greensboro to be the 13th worst city in the US for crime.

On Saturday, June 17, I drove on Wendover Avenue from Hill Street to Country BBQ only to be passed by drivers going over 80 mph. Couldn’t help but notice the skid marks, damaged turf and miscellaneous car parts scattered along the side of Wendover due to recent car crashes.

Why, because our current city manager, Taiwo Jaiyeoba, does not understand the importance of effective traffic and/or criminal law enforcement? Taiwo has failed to make our city safe. He fires veteran and valuable city employees for non-criminal and non-violent social media posts, yet appears to have swept under the rug the event of two off duty Greensboro police officers involved in the robbery of a well-known local drug dealer at 5:30 a.m.? Were criminal charges brought against these police officers? Were they fired? What has Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump done to prosecute this heinous crime?

Crime is out of control in Greensboro, yet few efforts are being made to make our city safe under the leadership (?) of our current Greensboro city manager! Taiwo has got to go.

Jim Donaldson

 

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