The following is a letter to the editor by Rhino Times reader Austin Simons.
You may have seen Greensboro City Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann’s harsh
statements aimed towards local resident and businessman, Nicky Smith, during the city council
meeting on Tuesday, January 27th. If you didn’t, I suggest you search the internet to find a clip
of it. Nicky Smith spoke about his vision for Greensboro and shared his thoughts about filling the
at-large seat formerly held by the late Yvonne Johnson. After speaking, Nancy Hoffmann
responded to Smith with a 10-minute tirade against him and his background. This seemingly
came out of nowhere, as no other speaker attempting to fill Johnson’s seat was treated in this
manner. On the surface, Hoffmann’s attack was grueling to say the least; but therein lies the
problem, “on the surface.”
Hoffmann begins by attacking Smith on his leadership in recently helping coordinate a
neighborhood movement in District 4 to successfully curtail an unpopular attempt to rezone the
historic and charming community. What an odd thing for a city leader to do – attack one of your
constituents for being an involved civic-minded member of the community. Elected leaders
should encourage more civic engagement and leadership from the members of their community.
Lest not forget, John F. Kennedy’s quote during his 1961 Presidential Inaugural Address, “ask
not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Through Nicky
Smith’s leadership and involvement in the community, he clearly embodies the values
expressed in this statement.
Later in her attack, Hoffmann brought to light Nicky Smith’s voting record, stating that he
had not voted in the 2013, 2015, or 2017 municipal elections. While accurate, it creates an odd
juxtaposition. On one hand, she attacks him for being too involved, but on the other hand, she
attempts to create a narrative that somehow he lacks involvement and isn’t civically engaged
enough. Not to mention, Hoffmann has no documented voting record at all in Guilford County
until three years before she took office in 2011, despite being a resident since the 1990s.
As Nancy Hoffmann tries to make up her mind on Nicky Smith, we have to ask the
question, “Where do you stand, Nancy Hoffmann?” Although her positioning on Smith isn’t clear,
one thing is; we need decisive leadership in Greensboro and a breath of fresh air in District 4.
Nicky Smith’s proven success as a business owner in Greensboro along with his selfless
commitment to civic service, and powerful resilience, show that he is the right person to take
Hoffmann’s seat in the upcoming 2025 Greensboro municipal election. While Hoffmann focuses
on spreading surface-level misrepresentations of her own constituents, I am confident Nicky
Smith will continue to promote solutions and ideas to better the lives of his constituents, and
better Greensboro as a whole.
Austin Simons
This whole process to fill Yvonne Johnson’s City Council seat is just another charade by our Mayor and City Council pretending to be transparent. These incompetents have no interest in listening to new ideas for change or improvements to make our City Great Again? Do you really believe anyone, but Yvonne Johnson’s son Vernon will be chosen? Any other candidate might upset their applecart, demand responsible government, demand effective law enforcement, and demand responsible spending! These so-called responsible leaders couldn’t tolerate such a challenge to their fiefdom. Come next November, I hope every one of these City Council Members will be replaced! Fortunately, our current Mayor will be gone!
Jim,
I understand your frustration with the process of filling Yvonne Johnson’s City Council seat. Transparency and accountability are critical in local government, and it’s disappointing when citizens feel their voices aren’t being heard or that decisions are predetermined.
While I share your concerns about the need for fresh ideas, responsible governance, and effective leadership, I also believe it’s important to stay engaged and hold our elected officials accountable. If the process feels unfair or biased, it’s up to us as citizens to speak up, attend meetings, and demand better.
As for next November, elections are indeed an opportunity for change. If the current leadership isn’t meeting the needs of our city, then it’s our responsibility to support and elect candidates who will prioritize transparency, responsible spending, and effective policies.
Let’s keep pushing for the improvements our city deserves.
Best regards,
Nicky Smith
https://nickyforgreensboro.com
After watching the clip, it sounds as though Nancy Hoffman feels as though annexation is the answer to the lack of affordable housing. It is not. Greensboro was anxious to bring business into the area but, as usual, didn’t plan ahead for the growth.
Hi Carla,
You’re right—annexation alone won’t solve affordable housing. Growth without proper planning often leads to strained resources and higher costs. Greensboro needs a balanced approach, including better zoning, incentives for affordable housing, and sustainable development. Thanks for raising this important issue!
Best,
Nicky Smith
https://nickyforgreensboro.com
Thank You for Your Support
I truly appreciate your thoughtful editorial and your recognition of the importance of civic engagement. Leadership should be about listening, problem-solving, and working together—not personal attacks. While I was disappointed by Councilwoman Hoffmann’s response, I remain focused on what really matters: advocating for responsible growth, transparency, and policies that benefit Greensboro residents.
Our city deserves leaders who encourage community involvement, not discourage it. I will continue working to ensure our neighborhoods are protected, our voices are heard, and Greensboro moves forward in a positive direction. Your support means a lot, and I look forward to continuing this work together.
— Nicky Smith
Of 19 applicants presenting, not one other received this kind of treatment. If Mr. Smith’s published ideas are not what the Council would want, why not thank him for his application and move on? Was this, where he had no ability to remark or explain, the place to go after him for his ideas? Additionally, why go after him on voting record, when one’s own is even worse? Whatever happened to discourse? Was this meant not only to shut down Mr. Smith, but also anyone else who might have varying ideas? To my way of thinking, Council members have a heightened responsibility to act honorably. This display was undignified, a gross misuse of position and the entire gathering of citizens in the room were forced to witness it. People of all color disapproved of such conduct on the part of the Council member and that no other Council member spoke up makes them complicit. They call themselves professional, but this was highly unprofessional and was much more the behavior of an intellectual mob of sorts. A public apology is due to Mr. Smith. A commitment to being open to the ideas of community members is due to citizens of Greensboro. We need a council that connects with their constituents and listens to their concerns. I’ve yet to see that.
Hi Candida,
Thank you for your thoughtful and courageous words. Your support means a great deal to me, and I deeply appreciate you standing up for fairness and respectful discourse.
What happened during the Council meeting was disappointing, not just for me personally, but for everyone who believes in open dialogue and accountable leadership. As you said, Council members have a responsibility to act honorably and engage with the community in good faith. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and it’s disheartening to see such behavior from those who are supposed to represent us.
Your call for a public apology and a commitment to listening to the community is exactly what Greensboro needs. We deserve leaders who value diverse perspectives and prioritize the concerns of their constituents over personal agendas.
Thank you for speaking out and for holding our leaders accountable. Your voice is a powerful reminder of what true leadership and community engagement should look like.
With gratitude,
Nicky Smith
https://nickyforgreensboro.com
This council is such a clown show, and the bad behavior by Hoffman. Vaughan and Hightower were, sadly, as unsurprising as they were unprofessional.
They faulted Smith for not falling for the obvious fear mongering by government during the period of the Chinese mind virus. It was evident to any logical thinker at the time, and has now become the “consensus” of virtually all scientists and intelligence professionals, that their manufactured strategies were just elaborate social control mechanisms. Vaughan had no qualms at the time about arresting pastors praying on outdoor sidewalks. If she was so concerned about the “numerous complaints from that building”, why did she take no action? Why bring it up now in this context? Her decisions are 100% politically motivated.
As to the pearl clutching about Smith’s municipal voting record (he missed voting in some municipal elections), I offer two facts: 1) The candidate voting record is not a constitutional requirement to run for office, and 2) given the proverbial manure pitch that characterizes the current city council, Smith has much more in common with the more than 92% of the city’s population that opts not to waste time on their ludicrous goings-on, either.
Greensboro is a one-party Democrat rule town, with all the widespread high crime, gangs, homelessness, illegal immigration, taxes and governmental tragicomedy that attends that brand.
If you’re looking for the answer as to why more qualified and talented people opt not to run for local office, look no further than Tuesday night’s circus at Melvin Municipal Building.
Hi Tina,
Thank you for your candid and insightful comments. Your perspective on the Council’s behavior and the broader issues in Greensboro is both refreshing and thought-provoking. I appreciate your willingness to speak truthfully about what many of us are thinking.
Your support means a lot, and I’m grateful for your voice in holding our leaders accountable.
Best regards,
Nicky Smith
https://nickyforgreensboro.com
Let me be clear the Johnson seat belongs to the citizens of Greensboro and not the city council. The citizens should have some say so as to whom is selected. Our city council has become too much of a closed shop and every vote indicates the ones that are independent thinkers and. have the community’s best interest at heart. The decision on the long coveted leaf collection program is a perfect example. To use the demise of this service to try and mask other foolish spending is very short sighted. I as most citizens want what is best for what was once a great city. The person that want to support this vision is the one I want not some friend or relative. Johnson served this city well as far as I can determine but she can be replaced with someone equally good hopefully better that has the city’s best interest at heart. We all like to think we can’t be replaced and yet a flawed selection process is the only thing that can prevent this from happening. Let’s put GSO first and not some section of town or project first and we will select the right person that hopefully becomes a wonderful productive permanent council member that puts GSO first and not some section or group first. I personally appreciated the members of the council that actually serve the city. We should elect te members a large so each member can be held accountable by the community. These people should be serving their city not for pay but for the love of what can be a wonderful community if we think as one.
Thank you for your thoughtful perspective. You’re right—the Johnson seat belongs to the citizens, and the selection process should reflect our community’s voice, not a closed-shop mentality. Greensboro deserves leaders who prioritize the city as a whole, not just specific sections or groups.
Your commitment to transparency and accountability is exactly what we need. Let’s hope the process chooses someone who puts Greensboro first and works to restore its potential.
Thank you for advocating for our city.
Sincerely,
Nicky Smith
https://nickyforgreensboro.com
I have heard Hoffman lives in Well Springs gated community not having to foot the large property taxes she imposes on Greensboro constituents as well as keeping out others who do not live in her gated community. I have heard Mayor Vaughn lives with her boyfriend and folks cannot find where she has record of paying property taxes. Is this true Greensboro?