Elect Robbie Perkins Mayor of Greensboro
Robbie Perkins - On Greensboro's Issues
Jobs
It is no secret that Greensboro needs more and better paying jobs. We need to attack this issue on two fronts:
Recruit national companies on a regional basis that will locate in the Piedmont Triad because of its geography and transportation infrastructure. Honda Jet and Fed-Ex are success stories that we must build on. Positive discussions with regional leaders must occur for us to compete in what is now a global marketplace.
Grow our small businesses. Small business is the backbone of America - and Greensboro. RF Micro was a small business that is now a major manufacturer for chips in cellular telephones-and was started by three people with a good idea right on West Friendly Avenue! This can happen over and over if we provide our talented entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. The City needs to make it easy for people to start a business, making connections for them instead of creating rules and regulations that stifle their ability to thrive.
Grow Greensboro's Tax Base
Greensboro's property tax base provides a large revenue source for our General Fund. A growing tax base means we can continue to provide the current level of City services. A declining tax base means that some services will need to be cut in order to balance the City budget. Our entire City contributes to the tax base. Several areas hold extraordinary promise, and deserve full attention from our elected leaders:
Downtown is the heart and soul of our City - and the cheapest place for us to develop over time. All of the transportation systems, utilities, and communications infrastructure is in place for business to succeed. Downtown's tax base has increased $246 million over the last six years, and will be the center of community reinvestment as the economy recovers. Public/private partnerships have been successful and will be the key to tax base creation.
High Point Road Corridor - The High Point Road-Lee Street revitalization is well under way. Plans for streetscape, new facilities at the Coliseum, long term plans for UNC-G and Bennett College, and the Joint Center for Nanotechnology and Engineering are moving forward. The City's redevelopment at South Elm and Lee is also receiving a lot of attention.
The Aerotropolis - Most of the land in the area around the Piedmont Triad International Airport is in the City of Greensboro. We need to make sure that Greensboro plans for the Airport's growth by working with regional partners to make wise investments in infrastructure in the area, increasing the likelihood that major corporations will relocate close to North Carolina's third largest airport.
Greensboro's high tech advantage is east of Greensboro, and must be developed to take advantage of the established Duke Energy grid that gives us a competitive edge over just about anywhere in the Country. American Express is building a $1 Billion data center in Rock Creek, and more companies will follow if we are prepared.
Maintain our City's Infrastructure
Greensboro operates a $1 billion water and sewer utility system, hundreds of miles of streets, and dozens of public buildings that need to be maintained through systematic evaluation and budgeting. We cannot afford to allow our infrastructure to deteriorate in order to "save" the taxpayers money. "Pay me now or pay me much more later" is why consistent investment is necessary. By the time we notice the difference, it will be too expensive to fix.
Keep the "green" in Greensboro
Investment in our parks and green space has been a hallmark of Greensboro, and is our gift to future generations. We are known for being an attractive City, and we must keep it that way. We need to be smart about our development requirements, balancing the need for growth with the quality of life that we all enjoy. Sustainability and energy efficiency should also be a priority, lessening our dependence on foreign oil and at the same time improving the environment.
Crime and Public Safety
Greensboro's police and fire departments are outstanding, and we must insure that we budget properly for their success. We must retain our talented officers by offering competitive compensation packages that will make Greensboro Police and Fire the agencies of choice in North Carolina. Our local elected officials must also learn to let these talented professionals do their jobs without unnecessary political interference.
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