The following is City Council At-Large candidate Bill Knight's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.
Bill Knight
• Date of birth: Sept. 13, 1939
• Professional background: Retired certified public accountant
• Previous political experience: None
• Highest level of education: Bachelor of science, business and economics, UNCG
1. The EPA Early Action Compact Program is working well. The current program has many methods to reduce air emissions, including burning bans, expanding mass transit, using bio-dielel. Ozone levels continued to decrease and we should meet the current standards for 2007. City staff works continuously to reduce air emissions. (50)
2. New roads, increased bus services, bicycle, rail. a) New roads and improvement to existing roads are a priority matter for Greensboro and the Triad. New areas east and northeast of the city have been annexed, bringing in hundreds of new residential dwellers who commute to jobs throughout the Triad. Development in the airport/FedEx area requires substantial improvement to existing roads and some new construction. Fortunately, much of this has already been addressed by the new outer loop (Painter Blvd.) and other connecting roads. Roadways to accommodate increased traffic into downtown Greensboro must continue to be improved, e.g. Friendly Avenue and Lee Street. 2) The city budget and finance department project 4 million bus riders this year. The current bus fleet should handle this capacity. For the future the GTA should focus on improved routing and efficient use of personnel during periods of low ridership. 3) Bicycle facilities are adequate until increased use indicates a need for further consideration. Bike routes have been marked along a number of streets and so far the usage is negligible. 4) Light rail for the Triad should remain on the planning table, but may not be a viable option for the foreseeable future. The high cost of construction and upkeep, combined with the amount of expected use do not warrant construction of a rail system. We need to remember that, like the bus system, rail passenger fares will not be sufficient to cover costs. Uncovered costs will have to be funded by taxpayer support through increased property taxes or fees. We must try to live within our means, but continue to monitor growth and whether such a system is becoming viable. (277)
3. I support the report prepared for Triad Partnership through the Kenan School at UNC-Chapel Hill. Greensboro’s economy needs a strong stimulant, and I believe the PTI/FexEx “aerotropolis” concept is our best hope for rebuilding a strong local economy. No other serious alternatives are being discussed, but the PTI/FedEx growth concept makes sense and should be pursued with other local governments in the Triad. (64)
4. Economic incentives for new business opportunities should be used only as a last resort. Hopefully, the kind of companies we would like to have located here will do so without incentives. Established companies that want to come to Greensboro should possess a desire to locate and be here for a long time. We want companies that will be enduring and become part of our new corporate culture. They should be the kind of company that offers quality jobs coupled with the ability for employees to grow and advance within and build a career. If we find a company that is a good fit for us, we should first try to draw the company in without the inducement of economic incentives. However, if other cities want this company and are competing with incentives, we may have no choice but to make an incentive offer. For an incentive to be workable, we must be able to calculate a recovery over a relatively short period of time — not 20 or 25 years. The incentive should be spread over several years, contingent on achievement of predetermined targets for the employer. Existing Greensboro companies should be given similar consideration when they request incentives that will result in new jobs and construction that did not exist before. We must ask ourselves whether Greensboro will be better off down the road with incentives than it would have been had none been offered. (236)
5. The City Council needs to take a proactive approach to small business in Greensboro. The recent flap over licenses and permits did not send a good message to small business owners, and had it not been rescinded would have driven some small businesses outside the city limits. Council must takes steps to embrace small business and encourage all city staff to work positively in matters of licensing, permitting, and zoning issues. The response time for small business issues can be improved so that business owners do not face costly and uncertain delays in planning. We need to be viewed as a good pro-business city. Small business development in east Greensboro is a concern to residents of that area. Drugs and gang activity permeate, and substandard housing continues to be an issue. Perhaps some thought can be given to bringing gang members and idle youth into training programs that teach skills such as home building. The city could employ these newly skilled youth in construction activities on properties it acquired. Additional education for youth is one key for helping rebuild disadvantaged areas and by extension improve the small business climate. The city should be able to involve itself in these activities through discussion and planning with the affected areas. (210)
6. The federal minimum wage increased recently. Greensboro should not impose a higher minimum wage without the advice and support of the small business community. Most businesses are unable to pass along increased wage costs, not to mention higher payroll taxes and benefit costs tied to wages. This would not be a good idea. (54)
7. We need to carefully evaluate the impact of additional expansion of our city. With the announced northwest annexation next year we will be adding approximately 117 miles in square area. Unfortunately, we have limited water resources so continued unplanned expansion may have unintended consequences to our ability to provide adequate water. Water restrictions have added urgency brought on by increased demand from more areas, but with a water supply that is barely adequate. Water from Randleman Dam will help, but will not eliminate our water dependency on multiple sources. (90)
8. I support the concept of Heart of the Triad. It should be closely aligned with the PTI/FedEx “aerotropolis” concept to be successful. Development in this area must maintain a balance between business and residential and areas set aside for future enjoyment and pleasure. This area is bound to develop, and it is in our best interest to have a structured plan in place that ensures sensible development that we will be proud of 10 and 20 years from now. (80)
9. I do not believe the city acted prudently in handling the racial allegations. The SBI statement and the grand jury indictment of two middle level policemen seemingly vindicate former chief David Wray. He did not create a special intelligence unit: Its development preceded his appointment. I have spoken with former chiefs of three other police departments, as well as numerous other law enforcement professionals. Without exception all believe David Wray was caught in a problem not of his making and received unfair treatment by the city. David Wray was within a couple of years of retirement following a distinguished law enforcement career. We must ask ourselves why would he, within the short span of time he was chief, take on a totally new character and set out to discriminate against minority officers. What would he gain from such action? It makes more sense to realize that he was a consummate law enforcement professional who had gone out of his way to ensure that minorities were recognized and promoted. Two of his four assistant chief promotions were to minority officers. Chief Wray engaged in numerous activities in the African-American community. The answer is obvious to anyone willing to look at the facts: He was selected by the city manager because of his distinguished record; he attempted to deal with serious issues that might reflect badly on the department; he was caught in a city council hysteria in response to racial allegations. (241
10. I do not favor the establishment of a police review board. This opens the door for police department policy to be dictated by political and other non-law enforcement reasons. Law enforcement requires years of training and understanding with all manner of state and federal laws. A review board by its very nature is not equipped to assume a task of this magnitude. Furthermore, police personnel records are protected by privacy statutes. To permit access by an outside agency would be asking for trouble. (84)
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