Rumors has it that Andre Knight might profit from the Event Center.

in a comment left on a story on Dailyhaymaker, a commenter levy the following,

Andre Knight continues use racist tactics to intimidate anyone who opposes him much the same way Barber does. Rumors are that Knight and a partner are buying up properties where the proposed “event center” will be built. He also does not live in the ward that he represents. This was brought to light a few years ago and even though it was proven that he did not live in his “bachelor pad” nothing was ever done to remove him. He and his cronies are the main reason Rocky Mount will never recover and grow no matter how much money they throw away down town. Who wants to go any where down there if you have to fear for your life every time you get out of your car.

If this is true then there is clear conflict of interest here.

Locals voice their concerns about the potential event center funding.

A new group called the Community Council has formed in Rocky Mount, which is focusing on the City’s plan to build a Event Center somewhere downtown. The group recently held it first (no media allowed) meeting this pass Wednesday (2/5) at the Braswell Library.

The topic was the Event Center cost and taxes.

Residents questioning the wisdom of building an event center in Rocky Mount are raising concerns that city officials will have to raise property taxes to cover its costs.

They said they are worried that possible other funding sources identified by a consulting firm would not generate anywhere near enough dollars to cover the annual debt and operating costs of the center.

And they said some of the potential funding options outlined in a report to the city by AECOM Technical Services out of Chicago aren’t feasible, or would require approvals from elected officials that aren’t likely. (Source: Read more)

A local Citizen had this to say,

meeting at the Library on Wednesday. Skip Carney secretary of the group was on FM 99.3 Thursday morning and he said the media was not invited. I called in and said although the media was not invited they could have attended. However anyone, don't have to be media, can record meetings held in a public facility and they are backed by The Open Meetings Law Statue.

I find it quite interesting this paper and WHIG-TV has not reported on the Wednesday's meeting. So what is going on? Is the group receiving special privilege? I know they can get it from WHIG-TV, but is it the case with this paper?

Since The Community Council said they wanted to educate the citizens, why did they not invite the media? Well my ignant opinion is they didn't want to expose who attended the meeting and didn't want to share what they talked about. SMDH!

He is correct members of media could have attended and took notes the old school way, pad and pen. After all the meeting was open to the public.  I guess today media don’t know how to do it “old school”, they are lost without their digital records and video cameras.

Now another person is also correct in there assessment of the Event Center,

If the event center is such a great idea, why hasn’t some private investor built one in Rocky Mount?

After all, we do have U.S. 64 and I-95.

Obviously it is not a good investment so there is not one private investor interested.

Why build an event center here?

So, is the Event Center a great ideal or just a waste of time and money?

Rep Jeff Collins seeks 3rd Term

@TheWilsonTimes: State Rep. Jeff Collins seeks 3rd - and likely last - term: http://t.co/abxvv9hL1u #ncpol #ncga #ncgop @RepJeffCollins @NCGOP #RockyMountNC

Original Message:
http://twitter.com/TheWilsonTimes/status/430202201173004288

Sent from HootSuite for iPhone
http://ow.ly/7trFE


Sent from my iPhone

RMT State of the City Address

Rocky Mount Mayor David Combs will deliver the third annual State of the City Address, Mon., Feb.. 10, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the third floor George P. Dudley City Council Chamber of the Frederick E. Turnage Municipal Building (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.

Do we really need this, anyone who lives in Rocky Mount, NC knows how the city is doing,, it was once on the Rise, not it has flat lined..

NCHouse Jeff Collins seek 3rd term

@TheWilsonTimes: State Rep. Jeff Collins seeks 3rd - and likely last - term: http://t.co/abxvv9hL1u #ncpol #ncga #ncgop @RepJeffCollins @NCGOP #RockyMountNC

Original Message:
http://twitter.com/TheWilsonTimes/status/430202201173004288

Sent from HootSuite for iPhone
http://ow.ly/7trFE


Sent from my iPhone

Community Council–Organizational Meeting

Braswell Memorial Library – Warner Meeting Room
727 N Grace St
Rocky Mount, NC 27804

February 5, 2013 at 5:30pm

Please join us for an informational meeting regarding the Community Council.  Learn more about our purpose and mission.  Opportunity to suggest future research and opportunity to volunteer.

Click here for a calendar link.

Facebook RSVP or Email RSVP to  info@TheCommunityCouncil

Please Like us on Facebook  -  http://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityCouncil.org

Please note the room cannot exceed 85 people and no press allowed.

Andre Knight hinted at the Location of the Event Center.

I hardly ever agree with the Civitas Group, but in this case I do.

from Civitas,

A previous Civitas blog post reported that Rocky Mount City Councilman and Witness Wednesday arrestee Andre Knight made comments which could easily be interpreted as calling a community leader a racist. This happened when that community leader was presenting a petition for the City of Rocky Mount to have a public hearing on whether or not the city should build a proposed Event Center downtown. Wait a minute there is more to the story.

In the meeting, which took place Jan. 13, there was a proposal put forth to approve $67,430 to include a study that would be run by Visions Inc. Senator Angela Bryant (D- Nash) runs this organization, and Rocky Mount City Councilman Lamont Wiggins is on the board. The Rocky Mount Telegram reported that “(t)he intent of the plan was to assist the city in recognizing the importance of a diverse workforce reflective of the community as much as possible allowing the city to better understand and respond to citizens,” said Assistant City Manager Ann Wall in a memorandum to City Manager Charles Penny. “The intent of the plan was also to establish a workplace which values employees and encourages their development.” The study was approved that night, since September of 2012 the City of Rocky Mount will have spent $413,220 just on studies for the City and for building of the proposed $43.6 million Event Center. Citizens in the community are beginning to become upset that the city is spending the taxpayers’ money not only to help a local Senator and City Councilman but to also build an Event Center that is of questionable value.

Another thing to look at about the Visions study that was approved was the fact that it passed the City Council with a voice vote. Some said “Aye”, no one said “No”, and no one recused themselves. If LaMont Wiggins is on the board for Visions Inc. wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest for him to vote on the approval of the study?

The City Council going by Civitas Is creating revenue from themselves and to hell with the Citizens of Rocky Mount.

In the Video Knight claims that Daughtridge’s biggest complaint is where the center will be built. Yet I have been told no location has be decide or approve yet. I guess once again the citizens of RMT will be the last to know.

Many of the citizens of RMT are upset about this spending for studies after studies for an Event Center which may or may not be in the best interest of the City. The group doing the studies have a clear cut conflict of interest, since one of it board members is also on the City Council.

Is this citizen correct,

justelladatruth says:

If you have to have that many "studies" done to see if it makes sense to go with the "event center" it's probably not a good idea. These people are just lining their pockets with money. They know exactly what they're doing. Somebody needs to stand up to these crooks and stop this crap. It's nothing but BS politics. The money put into the "event center" will never be recouped. Do the math! There is no way Rocky Mount will ever get a return on this. People on the board should not have any personal interest in these decisions. Andre Knight is the biggest racist around, so both black & white need to look at the whole picture here.

Blood Drive in Rocky Mount, NC

On February 14, 2014 at 10:30 am the American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive at the Braswell Memorial Library, in the Warner Meeting Room. So Please come out and give blood, Help save a life.

1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.. Rare blood types are in demand..

However Blood typed O is mostly needed since it can be giving to the other four types Recipient..

So if you have a rare blood, please give blood, you might just save a life..

Braswell Memorial Library
727 N Grace St
Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Rocky Mount Event Center next Step

Via the Rocky Mount Government FB page.

Question asked,

When will the next community Meeting concern the Event Center be held?

Answer,

No community meeting has been scheduled. The next step will be the presentation of a financial plan in March. An agenda will be posted on the City's website closer to that date.

So does this mean that the community of Rocky Mount will or will not get it’s chance to air their opinion on this project.

Butterfield’s Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

For Release:  Immediate

Date:  January 28, 2014

Contact: Kezmiché “Kim” Atterbury            

             Office: (202) 225.3101               

---

Butterfield’s Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement regarding tonight’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, President Obama unveiled a bold agenda to create and expand opportunity for all Americans.  In his speech, he touched on the pervasiveness of income inequality caused by stagnant minimum wages, shrinking access to education, and limited opportunities for upward mobility.

“The top 1 percent of American households earn above $394,000 each year, while the top 50 percent only earn $35,000 each year.  And those living in extreme poverty earn even less.

“In my congressional district alone, one in four people live in poverty, including 73,000 children.  We have the highest unemployment rate of all congressional districts in North Carolina, yet last year Governor Pat McCrory and the General Assembly caused the state’s long term unemployed to go without federal emergency unemployment insurance.

“So I applaud the President for reiterating his desire to work with Congress to raise the federal minimum wage and immediately boost 4.6 million Americans out of poverty.  I am pleased the President will also, through Executive Order, raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for people working under new federal contracts.  But it cannot stop there.  Swift and decisive action needs to be taken on other poverty-reduction measures such as passing an extension to unemployment insurance, reforming the tax code, and investing in job creation and training programs.

“I am hopeful that the President’s speech marks the beginning of a long and sustained effort to address Americans everyday challenges.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to move the President’s agenda forward and create opportunity for all.”

http://Butterfield.House.Gov