There are a lot of people who have a lot of complaints about how the City of Greensboro handles a whole lot of issues. Some residents don’t like the way the city is madly in love with the idea of putting rarely used bike lanes on heavily traveled, relatively narrow roads, or the way the city’s voice-controlled automated electronic water bill payment system works (“I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Please repeat that”).
Others who live in Greensboro complain about potholes while still others don’t appreciate the city’s mad love affair with sidewalks and with four-way stops and the desire to put the stops at every intersection they can find.
Go to any City Council meeting and listen to the speakers from the floor and you’re likely to hear a wide variety of complaints from all sections of the city.
This may have you asking yourself: What are the top five complaints city residents have? Well, a brand-new report compiled by the city tells you just that.
The City of Greensboro’s Community Relations Division has published its first annual “Impact Report” – one for the just closed out 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The first Community Relations Impact Report includes other information as well. It provides an overview of the way the division attempts to “address challenging situations, resolve conflicts, and create long-term positive relationships.”
Perhaps most interestingly, though, it contains a list of the five most frequent community concerns raised by residents.
If your particular key complaint about the City of Greensboro’s operations isn’t listed, feel free to leave yours down in the comment section below this story.
The city lists the top complaints or concerns starting with number one and going to five – however, the Rhino Times is going to reverse the order so as to create the drama and suspense that countdowns to number one naturally bring with them.
So, with no further ado, here are the top five complaints or concerns that Greensboro residents have expressed to city leaders and the community relations staff:
(5) General code violations by those property owners who let their yards go. This results in unsightly yards due to violations such as “tall grass, trash or front yard parking.”
Some residents complain the city isn’t aggressive enough when it comes to enforcing rules regarding these problems; and they and give property owners – likely those who live nearby – too much time to address them to bring their residences and yards up to code.
(4) Tractor-trailer trucks parking wherever the heck they want. This has been an area of focus of the city over the past year especially – with a lot of complaints coming in to city officials about large trucks being parked haphazardly along the side of the road or in other inappropriate areas.
Late last year, Fox 8 News ran a story about this particular problem and revealed some of the steps the city is taking to address it – such as offering large out-of-the-way parking lots as places where those tractor-trailer trucks can park.
In that Fox 8 story, the Greensboro business and parking manager said it’s a city-wide problem, and Lt. Frances Banks of the Greensboro Police Department added, “We get a lot of complaints about oversized vehicles, a lot of citizens call to complain, as well as we do observe it often.”
Any vehicles that are 80 inches wide or 30 feet long aren’t allowed to park on city streets. If they do, they get a warning the first time. The next time it happens (within a year) the driver gets a $75 fine.
Repeat offenders will have their trucks towed.
The Greensboro Police Department is also taking measures by putting up signs in neighborhoods where the issue is a regular problem.
(3) Panhandlers and the negative consequences of having a large homeless population roaming the city. This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s attended a Greensboro City Council meeting in recent months. Greensboro – along with the City of High Point and Guilford County – has been implementing a wide variety of programs, and offering housing, hotel rooms and other options meant to help the homeless; however, some complain that those programs, while well-intentioned, have the unwanted result of drawing more and more homeless from across the state to Greensboro.
The downtown Greensboro area near the city’s homeless center – the Interactive Resource Center – has been particularly problematic in recent years, with those issues seeming to continue to worsen by the week.
Panhandlers are everywhere in Greensboro – downtown and on many large city roads. Though there are rules against being on raised mediums at stop lights and continually asking drivers and passengers for money, the practice is rampant in Greensboro. Panhandlers can also be aggressive and annoying and there seems to be little interest among city officials in enforcing the regulations against panhandling.
It’s also hard to go into a drug store late at night without getting hit up for a request for money.
(2) Speeding drivers and other traffic Issues. One resident of Irving Park told the Rhino Times that it’s been a very long time since he “saw flashing lights on Cornwallis Drive” and it’s often very hard to get out on that road because of people flying by.
Traffic seems to get worse every year in Greensboro with traffic jams becoming much more frequent than in the past.
With many new businesses entering the area and bringing a lot more jobs and people, look for traffic problems to only get worse.
(1) Changes in loose-leaf collection policies. The city has changed the policy so many times that some residents have pretty much given up even trying to keep up. The policy has been everything from the policy years ago, “Leave your loose leaves by the curb by November 15 and the city will pick them up sometime later,” to put them in plastic bags, to put them in clear plastic bags, to just leave them in your yard and don’t even rake them up because decaying leaves are good for the soil, to only put them in paper bags, to the city is giving you a new container to use.
That last one is the latest city loose leaf policy as of 12:22 p.m. Thursday, July 25. The Rhino Times isn’t sure what the City of Greensboro’s loose-leaf policy will be several hours after that when this article posts.
How about the High taxation on property. To the point that I can’t afford to live in my hometown and live in any of my parents 3 homes that they owned in Greensboro, until they died. And I can’t afford to live there.
Agreed – I can’t believe this wasn’t number one on the list. Ridiculous.
Sell 2 of them. Quit whiny. Some people can’t own one
Pretty accurate Scott. A city that screws you with high taxes but does nothing for the majority of tax payers but plenty of help for the chosen few. Think and use your vote wisely.
Property taxes have risen a ridiculous amount not commenserate with services, too many ugly apartments are replacing small cozy neighborhoods or condo communities and green spaces, not enough flats for older or disabled are being built.
Leaf pickup per the city only affects 40% of residents so that says something. One of the architects of the changes stated that it was of little or no concern for her constituents and that only the privileged needed the service and should be charged for leaf removal. Another one stated we should just mulch not taking into account the folks that have waist high leaves after raking and the city sustainability/resilience solution was just leave them. Wait until this leaf season and the masses figure out they have one 95 gal bin to shove all those leaves into or they can purchase many paper bags at their expense but only place 15 to the curb each week.
You asked for it, you got it Greensboro
Term limits for elected representatives
Thank you, Dawn.
City Council has de facto created 2 classes of yard waste service after July 1 because the new 95 gallon gray yard waste containers require large collection equipment which cannot operate safely in communities without individual driveways. This affects thousands of addresses throughout the city. The “solution” of asking affected citizens to purchase special paper bags for their yard waste to be collected is blatantly unfair when other citizens – who pay the same amount for City Services – simply use their city-provided containers without additional expense.
The City should either purchase equipment which could be safely operated in communities without individual driveways, or acknowledge the reduction of service with a lower cost City Services billing for those affected.
Traffic jams, congestion, and frustration will get worse until the city (a) builds more roads, (b) widens existing roads so as to enhance the volume capacity of current infrastructure, and (c) ignores NIMBY types who incessantly clamor for lowering speed limits.
So…. obviously… the city is refusing to build more roads, choking existing roads with unused Bike Lanes, and ignoring traffic engineers by succumbing to any group of mad moms who ask the council to cut speed limits to ridiculous lows.
All part of The War on Cars.
Kamala Harris has said she wants to get rid of cars completely, in accordance with The Great Reset. She’s also after your guns.
And the Greensboro City Council are all cut from the same cloth.
You saved me the trouble of venting the same, except I ramble.
So do I – according to my wife…!
Agreed!
Yo Bot, update your algorithm, its off the mark with this comment:
“Kamala Harris has said she wants to get rid of cars completely, in accordance with The Great Reset.”
Here Non-Big-Tech-AI responds:
“Based on the provided search results, there is no evidence to suggest that Kamala Harris has ever stated a goal to “get rid of cars completely” in accordance with The Great Reset or otherwise.
However, one search result mentions Kamala Harris’ climate change plan, which aims to end sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035, with a target of 100% zero-emission vehicles. This goal is five years faster than a similar target set by another bill.
It’s essential to note that The Great Reset is not a defined policy or initiative explicitly linked to Kamala Harris’ political platform or statements. Therefore, it’s not possible to find a direct connection between her stance on cars and The Great Reset.
In summary, while Kamala Harris has proposed ambitious targets for reducing emissions from the transportation sector, there is no evidence to support the claim that she wants to eliminate cars completely, in accordance with The Great Reset or otherwise.”
*********
Ah ha! It’s the little wanker who hides behind different fake names and invokes AI – because he doesn’t have a brain of his own.
Has an intellectual maturity of approximately six.
Building more roads and widening existing roads encourage more building and the destruction of the environment. Yes, K. Harris would like to get rid of cars, mainly to limit the unwashed freedom of movement. Democrats are all about limiting freedoms. I do not think 35 MPH is an unreasonable speed limit in neighbors given that some drivers read this to mean 40/45 MPH, the speed at which the driver feels safe from police and a speeding ticket. I do believe that people drive too much. When I see the long lines of parents’ cars waiting to pick up their kids from school, I ask myself, why? Taxes pay for transportation to school. Yet, the little urchins must be coddled. I have often wondered what our country would be like today had Eisenhour ignored GM and the other car manufacturers that encouraged federal dollars to build the Interstate Highway System.
I guess I’m lucky to have issues with only the front yard parking violation by some households. It is one sure sign of “there goes the neighborhood”. That and a raggedy lawn identify a rental pretty quickly. The city does seem to respond about the parking, although it can take some time. I realize they must get hundreds of complaints. The city site recently added the option of attaching a photo of violations. This probably assists enforcement as it gives them evidence in advance of their contact with the perpetrators. I recommend doing this any time you make a complaint if possible.
I can’t believe the high crime rate in Greensboro was not a HUGE concern for our citizens. Homicides are rampant. It isn’t safe for a female to be out and about alone, especially once the sun goes down. No more grocery shopping in the evening, no gas fill-ups, no picking up prescriptions. We’re no longer safe in side our homes and homeowners are now weaponized. Nextdoor app shows daily that cars are being tested for easy access to steal.
This is not totally the fault of the homeless, nor does it imply a poor law enforcement agency. It has become our CULTURE to allow this environment and in some cases even protect it. Being a good citizen starts at home and at an early age. What used to be discipline is now child abuse.
I have complained about the loose leaf policy as much as anyone. But how is it possible that leaves are more important than lives lost, homes invaded, people beaten, raped, and robbed. Why are we not screaming to everyone in authority!
I agree with a lot of what Martha talked about. The crime in our neighborhood is bad and speeding on West Vandalia Road from Randleman to Rehoboth Church is ridiculous. I rarely see a police car pass by. The speeding is an every afternoon thing here. In the 19 years since I moved back to Greensboro, I have seen 8 car wrecks from my front porch. One of them nearly ended up on my porch. Two nearly took out the telephone pole across the street from me. One took out two cars sitting in the driveway across from me because they took the curve to fast trying to get away because they were being shot at. Two lost control in the curve and totaled peoples cars sitting in their own driveway. The worst one was the four teenagers who wrapped the car around a tree over on Clark Ave. The teenage driver died at the scene. I used to do my shopping in the evening by myself, not any more. I haven’t been to the Food Lion on Randleman Road in over three years. My husband works 40 hours a week and he more or less runs all the errands, gas, groceries and bank now. I keep my doors locked even when my husband is home. But certainly when he isn’t.
The comment about it has become our CULTURE to allow this environment and in some cases even protect it. Being a good citizen starts at home and at an early age. What used to be discipline is now child abuse. Those comments are so true of our city now, and not just here. I wish I had been able to put it into those words. And that’s not just here, it’s all over. Know who your kids friends are. They have NO business out on the streets at 2am much less 4 am. These kids out roaming the streets looking for cars to rob and doing some of the things they’re doing need to be punished scared. Not sure if Oak Ridge Academy still exists, but that’s where my child would go if he was getting into some of the things I’ve seen on Next Door. Respect has to be taught at a young age, if not they turn into bad young adults and who know where they will end up after a while when they’re older? Crack down or it’s only going to get worse. The punishment should fit the crime. And if need be the judges need to hand down tougher penalties. Maybe make some of the parents responsible for their kids crimes.
The way we have to live our lives these days is nothing like it was 40 years ago. This country is going to you know where if we keep on.
If anyone wants to understand the results of the survey, ask the city to release the responses by districts.
Key concern: The City of Greensboro wanting to put another ABC store (close to where there are already two ABC stores-one within 1 mile, the other within 3 miles of the proposed area) next to the Sheetz on Burlington Rd/HWY 70, right near I-840 loop. Too many ABC stores on that side of town and not enough full sized grocery stores. ABC store would directly impact East Greensboro, Mcleansville & Eastern Guilford County.
*NO MORE ABC STORES PLEASE*
Thanks!
If there is a desire to downsize government, do away with the ABC. Sell liquor in stores, just like beer.
But TL, government is like the Mafia. They like to establish a coercive monopoly on all good money spinners. That’s why they monopolise the market for liquor and gambling.
They also like to corner the market on the essentials for life. You can’t say “No” to water, and they know it. It’s just another way they make you an offer you can’t refuse.
Government IS The Mob, but at least The Mob doesn’t pretend to be virtuous.
This city has a GIS department, “Geographical Information Systems” which ‘map’ a plethora of data. Typically accessing statistics for cities for populations, services, future planning, disease, you see just about all inclusive of running a city. I suggest the GIS dept. offer their services for a ‘mapping’ of the Homeless. Since the services from the IRC include feeding, housing, funding, ID’s, potential work options, the overview could be helpful, and also “off putting” to those affected. It certainly is obvious that the word for those homeless pass the word of supply for their demands and reach out to others to join them in the city for a high lifestyle of freedom to do as they please. Regardless of their reason’s for being homeless that also can be included in the statistic’s to see if they have learned the best responses for the most resources or qualify the legitimacy of them. Certainly mental health issues are a concern for safety of citizens and that individual.
High crime and higher taxes are 2 of my favorites
I have called the police on numerous occasions to complain about the begging people in the medians at Battleground,Cone,Benjamin Pkwy.I have pictures of one person who lies down in the median or beings his folding chair and reads a book all day.I asked for the signs to be installed that prohibit this abd they only put on 2 corners but the same lady that seems to head this up just sits stands and walks next to it.Major distraction for all drivers and if you are stuck at the light can be very uncomfortable. What the heck is it going to take? A major traffic incident or an assault? Get a grip Greensboro.
What’s wrong with you Kathy P. The city put up signs at the medians they did their part. they can’t help that people do not read. ( please note the heavy sarcasm here )
The code enforcement is a joke, the inspectors can’t even read their own rules and do 0 investigations. So go ahead and run a car shop in your front yard, they will do nothing if you just tell them you’re not.
People are pretty sick of the homeless people trash and poop everywhere.
My biggest complaint would be that the city has spent money and resources to identify five major complaint areas, however there will be no plan published to address them, nor any action to reduce their impact.
Homeless people begging worthless projects and etc and worthless shit
Install red light and speeding cameras throughout Greensboro and Guilford County. They will pay for themselves in a month. Skip, that’s extra revenue in your pocket. Then, maybe, you could show some compassion to the people who are paying your taxes
Lol @ Skip – he’s actually the number one problem!!
If I am not mistaken, we had ted light cameras but they were removed because of a state law that gave all fines to the school system and so there was no revenue stream for the city, and the city had to pay for the cameras and their maintenance from general revenue. So, since there was no money in it for the city, they were taken out. The safety of the citizens is of no concern to our “city fathers” – call it child neglect, if you will.
Greensboro has become one of the nastiest cities around!! I have heard multiple visitors to our city say they will never come back because it is so dirty and nasty. And it is because of all the beggars on every stinking corner in the entirety of Greensboro and Guilford County. They leave their garbage laying around, they get in your face and knock on your windows begging for money. I don’t even make enough to support me! I certainly can’t afford to support them. And it is aggravating as hell to have them beat on your windows and make remarks. It does not make me feel sorry for them at all! It makes me resent them. Most of the beggars are young enough to get jobs. Why they don’t realize standing outside in extreme heat or extreme cold is stupid, but getting a job where they have heat or air is better for them really confuses me. They don’t want a job though. They want all of us taxpayers to give them a free handout and it’s time for it to stop. If we quit giving money to these beggars, maybe they will go away. The city of Greensboro as well as Guilford County needs to put a law in place to stop panhandling, period! Beggars are on every corner now. Even out in the county we are starting to see them. There is one that stands on the corner out here in the middle of the country where I live. You can’t even go in a grocery store without somebody being in the parking lot begging for money. You can’t walk in a restaurant without them being at the doors begging for money. We went to McDonald’s one night and literally a beggar stood there beside of our table staring at us the whole time. I told him to go away. He made the remark that how could we eat when he was starving. If I had the money to go out and eat, it would not be at mcdonald’s! No offense to McDonald’s. I actually like their food. But if I had the money, it certainly would not have been McDonald’s that I was eating at. We had to get the manager to come over there and run this person off. I should have the right to go somewhere without being accosted! Because that’s what they are doing now. They accost you everywhere you go. Because they want your money because they are too lazy to get jobs! This is ridiculous on a whole different level! But who is to blame? Nancy Vaughn for one! She’s the one that years ago had the city council to pass the resolution allowing panhandling as long as they got a permit. That is so ridiculous. Nobody should have the right to panhandle like that. Not only is it unsafe for those of us in our cars, it is unsafe for them to be standing in the road like that. If they get hit, or killed, then the driver gets to blame for it and that’s not fair! Then the driver gets sued and that’s not fair. They are the ones walking up and down the road during traffic. They are the ones walking out into the road knocking on Windows. They are the ones being unsafe. It is time for the city of Greensboro and the Guilford County commissioners to put a stop to this travesty that has become our city. These panhandlers will literally use the bathroom right where they are. We are becoming another California. But then again maybe that’s what Nancy I’m here for the accolades Vaughn, Skip away with your money Alston and Early to rob you blind Jones want. They are trying so hard to compete with California that they are letting the garbage consume our city just like it has California. Everyone needs to get out and vote these people out of office in our city and county. It is time to put people in office who literally care about this city and want to clean it up and make it what it used to be. Greensboro and Guilford County used to be amazing. Not anymore. It has turned into horrific travesty that nobody wants to come visit.
I’ve never seen anywhere like this! When visiting other regions of NC, I definitely noticed the difference! Other regions have far more less stress and friendliness too. Wow… Your article was truthful & relatable. Thanks, it was well liked!
I thought about what would happen if you tell the begger you need their name, address and social security number so you can give them a 10-99 for filing their taxes. Gee, with 80,000 new IRS agents being fielded, I am sure the IRS could handle the traffic. Also ask to see their Greensboro business license. (Sarc.)
True…build it and give it away and they will come…look at San Francisco…who wants to travel there…who wants to love there? Vote them out!
Glad to see that the leaf collection program made it to #1. As anyone who followed this program on NextDoor should be aware, very little thought or study by the Council was employed in its decision-making process. In deciding upon 95-gallon containers as a solution they did not even determine the seasonal volume of the leaves to be deposited into the containers. I personally believe that this leaf season will clearly demonstrate the additional costs being dumped upon the homeowners as well as the inadequacy of the new program. But I am willing to reserve judgement until the season is complete. If it works well, I will be pleasantly surprised and publicly express my satisfaction. If not, there should be a reckoning from those responsible
“General code violations by those property owners who let their yards go”
Problem here is the city doesn’t have enough code enforcement people to handle all the requests. And. . .you have to go on-line and fill out a form to get the request lodged. What happened to code enforcement people driving a city vehicle to look for and document violations? In other words, they don’t care about their city unless you complain, yet they have tons of money for developers and non-profits. . .but no more staff on code enforcement. From pot holes to invasive weed & trees growing up in sidewalks, Geekboro has their head in you know where. Maybe that’s why Nancy is retiring.
And please. . .. no more sidewalks outside of those downtown. The ones on West Friendly to the interstate is rarely used. . .but cost a lot of money because certain council members were gun-ho on sidewalks.
Sidewalks… They believe that if you build them, the pedestrians will come. It’s called magical thinking and it’s endemic with our city government and not just about sidewalks, either.
It’s probably those raised mediums complaining about panhandlers standing on the. That has got to be painful!
Also, take a look at Francis King Street, next to Harris-Teeter on West Friendly and Guilford College Rd. There’s usually 3 or more 18 wheelers parked there.
The lack of dedicated effort to remedy potholes by planning and repaving, when the streets are cracking and the potholes predominate and connect to one another, does not demonstrate a City focused on basics!!
I also agree with the complaint as to police stopping speeders, reckless drivers and vehicles with outrageously loud mufflers. We also definitely need to do a better job of addressing our homeless population by coordination of our organizations and resources expended.
The mere fact that landlords can raise rents and evict people without having to explain only adds to the chaos of homelessness and landlord/tenant harassment. No one so much as looks into this so, especially the elderly, end up losing everything to unscrupulous landlords and find themselves with no one to assist them. This is unfathomable especially since there is no recourse.
The landlords are not unscrupulous, or unethical in any way.
They provide affordable housing as best they can, and yes, they hope to make a profit at the end of the day. If there was no profit motive, zero affordable housing would be built. If you’re a statist/control freak.Democrat you could impose rent controls like NY City. Then zero new apartments would be built, and rent would be stratospheric.
BUT… if you really want more affordable housing to be built you need to lobby for fewer rules, restrictions, requirements, regulations, and red tape. Then more people would supply cheap housing, and… voila!
Problem solved.
Just set the market free.
If I am not mistaken, we had red light cameras but they were removed because of a state law that gave all fines to the school system and so there was no revenue stream for the city, and the city had to pay for the cameras and their maintenance from general revenue. So, since there was no money in it for the city, they were taken out. The safety of the citizens is of no concern to our “city fathers” – call it child neglect, if you will.
You’re right, Dan.
This tells us what all the bleating about “safety” is actually about. It’s a fig leaf to cover the greed of government and its desperate craving for ever more of our money.
Once the revenue stream from red light cameras stopped, they removed them. But didn’t they tell us it was all about “safety” when they installed them..?
The truth is that they were about money all along, just like most road “safety” measures.
It would be nice to get some neighborhood traffic enforcement. I am a Community Watch Leader and I see everyone running stop signs constantly. Speeding and never noticing the kids playing in the area. How are we supposed to do our jobs if GPD can’t do theirs. Why even have traffic laws.
Littering and illegal dumping is at the top of my list. Trash and illegal dumping are city wide. We have more trash on our streets than many of the larger northern cities I have visited. What makes the problem worse is the city`s refusal to address the problem. Complaints by residents are often ignored and a sense of urgency by the city is practically nonexistent. This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention, many of our streets are starting to look like landfills.
We have a beautiful facility that is not being used. I am talking about the coliseum. It used to be filled to the rafters on any given night when we had a hockey team here. There were season ticket holders and a lot of out of town guests also. Letting the administration not enforce what the NHL had promised was unthinkable. They promised to put a hockey team back in the arena when the Hurricanes moved into their new facility in Raleigh. Having a team here was a great calling card for this area. And the games were affordable. The whole time the Monarchs played here I was a season ticket holder and never missed a game. Now the only thing that is in that arena is overpriced concerts. And the other buildings used to have great attractions also. The flea market was a huge calling card among the venues. We need the coliseum to be used on a consistent basis. There is ample parking with lots of handicapped spaces also. The auditorium was a great space to see a good concert for those concerts that don’t need the space the arena provides. Since Tanger was built there is not enough affordable acts playing there nor is the parking convenient. Please bring us a hockey team back. One the caliber of ECHL or AHL level. This attracted many people from out of town as well as consistent entertainment in the arena.
All five of these compliant ARE NOT REALLY PROBLEMS. Shame on you Author Scott D. Yost.
Here is a real Problem. Why does rent in Greensboro cost 53% of my (all low income jobs as well) monthly income?
You think because we work in low income jobs that make us illiterate?
As anybody in the counsel even taken into consideration that not everyone is privileged to a good/great education provided by, wait. Nevermind, its the Greensboro’s counsel that sets policies that inflicts the hardships on so many of us. But yet, we are the ones that got to endure.
Votes do matter, not who favors the party, but the one who is willing to end the party.
Perhaps you can only subsist on low income jobs because you are unintelligent, unindustrious, unmotivated, and unskilled.
Ya think?
Too harsh.
Truth stings.
I’ve had it with stupid idle people demanding ever increasing salaries from taxpayers.
– Want more money? Get a better job. IF you can…
Come possible reasons:
1> GSO can be a difficult place to do business. Getting zoning and permitting, etc. leading to extended periods of getting approval, if at all, which usually involves paying attorneys to file papers, etc added cost.
2> Many neighborhoods are against construction of rental properties near there established neighborhoods. There are activist groups: race, equity, environmental that all have reasons to oppose development or make it too expensive.
3> The recent inflation and increase in lending rates have driven up the cost of building rental and other property.
4> Covid-related rules that were intended to help tenants stay in their rental property ended up punishing the rental property owners by preventing evictions of non-paying tenants. Once the owners get burned, they find a different way to conduct business. Some likely increased their rents and damage deposits. Others sold out to large equity funds who were sure to increase rents as much as possible to provide good returns to investors.
5> Likely some properties have been converted to short term rentals for Airbnb and vrbo to get greater returns.
6> Finally, the aforementioned inflation has reduced buying power as the cost of food, transportation, etc takes away from what is left to pay rent.
Wake up all you law abiding good Citizen’s! Is the current administration of the City of Greensboro really interested in your complaints, much less will they act opon them. The last 7 years under Mayor Nancy Vaughan and former City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba has been nothing but a dog and pony show. These officials say they care, but most all of them are hypocrites and do nothing! Sorry people make a sorry city!
Susan Wells Vaughan
Comment — it’s kinda long …
City workers or the city should take responsibility when their digging ends up damaging a resident’s fence, causing their dog to escape (since they didn’t bother to inform the resident of the gaping hole in the back fence their digging equipment caused when a water main broke behind the fence). They left, without a word and I let out my dog as I always do, not knowing the back fence was torn up, and the ground next to it was a huge deep hole. the workers left without telling me even though they knew I had a dog because I had to get him in when they wanted to come into my backyard to find where all the water was coming from and I emphasized the importance of them closing the gate back as they found it. So after I found the damage and had to get my dog back in, which is not easy. I called, and the city sent someone who I spoke to briefly who tried to tell me my fence was like that before. That is a lie.
I was under chiropractic care at the time for a terrible back spasm, and yet when the dog got out, i had to do my best to try to tie down the pulled-up section of the fence and patch up the other areas where the ground was dug out right beside the fence, while in pain. I did the best I could with what I had available and still the dog got out again, and the city did nothing. The weekend came with no word from the city, and I had to hire someone to replace the back section for $1400 that I needed for something else. The fence had to be installed a few feet forward because the ground was so dug up next to the original section.
The fence was old, and I wanted to replace it at some point, however, I am a senior and I needed to pay for some serious electrical work in this old house, and I had already spent money for metal grids all along the fence bottom to keep the dog from digging under. After the city finished digging those grids were disturbed and there was no other way to keep my dog in than to replace the back section.
Because my fence was old, I only asked for half the cost to be reimbursed. The city has INSURANCE for things like these, but like most insurance companies they try to get out of it. But there is NO EXCUSE for the worker lying to the city and the insurance company that my fence was torn up like that before they did their digging.
I have lived and worked in this city most of my life. My parents paid taxes, my mother until she was 98, and I pay taxes, and there is no excuse to treat me like this.
Now it looks like I will have to go to the trouble of filing a claim, and that will cost the city more. How much sense does that make?
By the way, the neighbors beside and behind me saw what they did to my fence and another neighbor was pissed off about my dog getting out — twice — and almost called the dog catcher. That would have helped things, wouldn’t it? The upset neighbor stopped by while the workers were putting up my fence to complain about my dog running loose, thinking they were the ones living here. Several months ago I went to a great deal of trouble and some expense to secure the perimeter of my entire with grids, chicken wire and adding an extra fence section I had used for a small area in the yard so my dog wouldn’t dig under and escape or get through gaps, so the city needs to explain how he got out if my fence was like that before. The lying is unacceptable.
And, even though I have been here only 3 years, the first year I had to fight the city’s lying that the backed-up water into my bathroom and kitchen was not their responsibility. It WAS. They gave the cable company permission to bury a cable in the part of my front yard that is the right of way. I didn’t know until I hired someone to come deal with the problem who realized the cable had broken off the end of my sewer pipe, and the pieces had fallen in front partially blocking it. He used an optic and found the damage right where the flags showed where the cable was buried. I finally got the one responsible to pay, after wasting hours and days of time and mopping up water that damaged my flooring etc — and having to deal with workers and pay them- and having to figure out what happened- because the CITY sure as hell wasn’t going to disclose this cable THEY gave permission to be buried as being the cause of the damage.
We pay our government and they have a duty to be fair and protect us and our property. I should not have had to deal with any of this.
I am no fan of the city of Greensboro. However, your complaint about the city being responsible for the backup in your bathroom is not correct based on your description. The city did not cause the damage because the city did not do the digging. Even though the city might have given the cable company permission, it was not the city that did the digging. As far as compensation for your fence, call the legal department to investigate; they need something to do.