In Spite of the Government

Crazy Unemployment; Retirement Savings Lost; Home Values Plummeting, if you are even able to sell the house; and no end to this tumult in sight. During these times that we must endure, our lives are changing drastically and it's easy to get lost in the chaos.

Maybe some haven't had to suffer from all that has gone on, so they're wondering what all the fuss is about and think they see a lot of foolishness amongst us. These people seem to not realize that the foundation that they are standing on is slowly, but surely being whittled away under their feet. I wonder whether they are relying on some inexplicable hope or are they so insulated from the working class that they can't see what it happening all around us. Most people who are dealing in direct Economic Commerce are coming to the realization that the government is cooking the books.

One of the more relevant issues that proves this point, is that people are starting to realize that the government's reported unemployment numbers are wrong and slowly but surely they will be brought to an understanding that the government's inflation numbers have no bearing on reality. I have spoken about this before.

As for the unemployment numbers we hear reported on the news, what is reported does not include discouraged workers or those seeking full time work, but only able to find part time employment. How many of us know people who have been unemployed for a long time? How many of us know people whose Unemployment benefits have run out? How many of us know people who received severance agreements and must exhaust those before they can file for unemployment? How many of us know of people who are working 30 hours a week at reduced pay, because they have lost their full-time occupation? Do you understand that none of these people are considered to be officially unemployed?

From Shadowstats.com - "GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC REPORTS: THINGS YOU'VE SUSPECTED BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!" - "Series Master Introduction" (Part One in a Series of Five)
* During the Kennedy administration, unemployment was redefined with the concept of discouraged workers" so as to reduce the popularly followed unemployment rate.

* Up until the Clinton administration, a discouraged worker was one who was willing, able and ready to work but had given up looking because there were no jobs to be had. The Clinton administration dismissed to the non-reporting netherworld about five million discouraged workers who had been so categorized for more than a year. As of July 2004, the less-than-a-year discouraged workers total 504,000. Adding in the netherworld takes the unemployment rate up to about 12.5%.

Then there is the issue of inflation and its effect on our incomes. Personally, I have recognized the cost of Goods and Services have increased a lot over the last decade and especially the last 5 years. Instead of having useful statistics to help us assess where we stand economically, we have allowed government to convolute our statistical measures to the point of uselessness and they are spending billions of dollars to arrive at these garbage in/garbage out numbers.

"GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC REPORTS: THINGS YOU'VE SUSPECTED BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!" -"The Consumer Price Index" (Part Four in a Series of Five) - This article also addresses the issue of how the government had cooked the books when it comes to the reporting of Inflation.

As John Williams states: Inflation, as reported by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is understated by roughly 7% per year. This is due to recent redefinitions of the series as well as to flawed methodologies, particularly adjustments to price measures for quality changes. The CPI was designed to help businesses, individuals and the government adjust their financial planning and considerations for the impact of inflation.

* In particular, changes made in CPI methodology during the Clinton Administration understated inflation significantly, and, through a cumulative effect with earlier changes that began in the late-Carter and early Reagan Administrations have reduced current social security payments by roughly half from where they would have been otherwise. That means Social Security checks today would be about double had the various changes not been made. In like manner, anyone involved in commerce, who relies on receiving payments adjusted for the CPI, has been similarly damaged. On the other side, if you are making payments based on the CPI (i.e., the federal government), you are making out like a bandit.

... The Boskin/Greenspan argument was that when steak got too expensive, the consumer would substitute hamburger for the steak, and that the inflation measure should reflect the costs tied to buying hamburger versus steak, instead of steak versus steak. Of course, replacing hamburger for steak in the calculations would reduce the inflation rate, but it represented the rate of inflation in terms of maintaining a declining standard of living. Cost of living was being replaced by the cost of survival. The old system told you how much you had to increase your income in order to keep buying steak. The new system promised you hamburger, and then dog food, perhaps, after that.

The Hound believes we are not going to be able to resolve the issues that this country faces, if we don't realistically assess where we stand with reliable numbers. The Media, with the exception of the Business Media, doesn't even question any of this or seem to have a clue. Is this because they are ignorant or in the tank? Why are we spending billions of dollars to have government agencies calculating these numbers, if we are going to allow them to be doctored to arrive at politically acceptable outcomes. Garbage in always leads to Garbage out.

I look at our area as an example. We have been sold down the river by this very process of Convoluted statistical measures. That is the reason why I always look under the surface , when it comes to Economic numbers reported by any agency associated with the government. Business, Industry, and Citizens expect these numbers to be reliable so that they can make better decisions. Our Political and Economic system is being crushed by the weight of Government Bologna.

I know that in this area that our incomes are not growing, the Milken Institute and Forbes reports show that we are in the bottom 5% when it comes to wage growth in this nation. The lack of quality jobs has permeated from the bottom to the top of our economy. If the workers don't have money, then they can't buy the products of business owners. Our community has adapted down in many ways, because of our ever shrinking economy, and accepted a lower standard of living, but how much further can we allow ourselves to fall before this community completely implodes. As the Cost of Living continues to escalate, we are going to see more and more people put into a greater bind. The tipping point is going to come sooner than most people even realize.

The way I see it, the survival of this community is at stake. This is not a time to be meek. It is a time for boldness and taking chances, because we have nothing to lose. If we stand idly by, take no action, and accept the status quo, then we will surely lose everything. What else do these cooked books show, but that we have been lied to time and time again and built our entire structure on those lies. We have been betrayed and it is time that this community becomes proactive and does what needs to be done. This community will not grow because of government help, it is going to have to grow in spite of the government. What choice do we have, when our backs are against the wall?

Houndvision: Let's take a Drive through Southwest Downtown

We will start out on the Northwest side of Downtown right at Union Square and drive through the Union Square parking area, which is dead at 5pm. I can understand closing at night on Sundays, but it is my opinion that this is a lost opportunity to make thousands of dollars. Small businesses cannot afford to throw away such opportunities, especially when Valley Hills mall is conveniently open a few miles away.

It is the right of these business owners to be closed, but it hurts the entire area. I saw that Josh's was open and the Tap Room was open. Those restaurants would do more business with those stores open on Sunday and those businesses could feed off of those restaurants being open after Church and early in the evening on Sunday.

Does it make sense that these businesses are open when most people are working and closed when most of the people are off of work?



The second video follows the trek back from 10th st pl SW between First Ave and Main Ave SW where one can see the blight in full. One can see the Piedmont Wagon wasting away in the foreground on the Northwest side of the tracks. What we see currently is a concrete canyon of blighted warehouses wasting away. We end up back on 5th st SW. To the left is a little garage that used to be a gas station, to the immediate right is Scott Matthews Law Office and I believe he has upgraded that property, at the 2 o'clock position you will see what was Hair USA and later Details, and in the foreground you will see 1859 Cafe.

I decided to take a right and go to the former parking lot of Ego's and Page One, where we now see graffiti, rubble, and dilapidation. Here we also see the 2nd Harvest Food Bank. 2nd harvest serves an excellent mission, but does it belong in a building so close to the heart of the city and are any of these buildings Economic Generators? If you ask me, we have seen negative momentum and Economic Degeneration created on this side of town!!!



The third video is, in my opinion, a metaphor of what this city has been all about. Everyone talks about appearances, but people need to look under the surface and see what is going on under that facade of green grass. This type of symbolism over substance has led this city to where it is today. Look under the surface people and you'll find out what is really going on. You need to embrace the level of discomfort that these sights bring. That is what will help us get these vital areas back on track. This property is next to 1859 Cafe. 1859 is my Aunt Jane Moore's business, but this property belongs to Alex Lee. I have mentioned this to city officials several times over the years, but it never gets taken care of. My Aunt has had this area cleaned up several times over the years, but indigents keep coming back and piling up refuse again and again and again. Look at the film and tell me what you think.



The Hound doesn't want to tell Property Owners what to do with their property. In years past, when business was thriving in those areas, no one understood the implications of the chemicals that were being used. Now we do understand and it is time to find out just what kinds of chemical contamination are on these sites and are any of these warehouses still storing toxic chemicals. I understand that Brownfield studies will help do some of this, but it isn't going to come into play until the building is on the market. Don't we need to understand the extent of this issue now?

I also want people to see where the arbitrary judgment of the issues comes into play. We hear all of the hoopla about the Buffalo's sinkhole, but what about what is shown in these little short films as far as the blight in Southwest Hickory? When are we going to see a sense of urgency come into play about these dilapidated buildings in the heart of our city? These short videos don't even scrape the tip of the iceberg.

I understand that these are tough economic times. Credit is hard to come by. But, in my opinion, we are not going to turn this city around until we start addressing the issues of blight in Southwest, Southeast, and the Industrial corridors of Hickory. Sorry I haven't perfected my video skills. I will get better, but anyway, I don't want you to take what I am saying for granted. One day, when you have time, please go check this out for yourself.


I thought it might be a good idea to add a map to show the route that was taken. I started out in front of the Embarq building (1) and drove through the Union Square Parking Lot. From there I crossed the tracks and proceeded west traveling down Main Ave until I got to 4th st SW. I took a left until I hit 1st ave SW. I took the right and drove to 9th st SW took a right and then a left back onto Main ave SW. I went to 10th st pl SW (2), before doubling back down Main St. I took a right on 5th st SW and then headed down 1st Ave to the Ego's - 2nd Harvest parking lot (3). From there I doubled back down main to 5th st and pulled across into the Alex Lee parking lot (4).

The driving distance from Union Square to 10th st Pl SW turns out to be .8 miles. Would you agree that this area should encompass what is referred to as Downtown?

The relationship between Precious Metals, Inflation, and Government Spending

It is terrible that schools across this nation do such a terrible job of explaining the most basic fundamentals of Economics (and I am not talking about capitalism, I am talking about Hedo-Economics). The money that the United States Treasury has printed in conjunction with the Federal Reserve leads to no other possible result other than inflation. The government has been telling us that there is no inflation. Do your Common Sense and instincts lead you to this conclusion?



If I am able to convey one message to you about economics, it is that we are living in a Fundamentally Unsound and Unsustainable Economic System. Yes, I know that many of you will argue "What does this have to do with the local scene?"

Let me ask you. When you purchase everything that you purchase, what are you using? You are using Dollars. Destroying our currency will reek just as much havoc as any war ever could. We cannot and should not accept the current path we are on when it comes to the way that the Federal and State government are spending our money.

The Federal Reserve was designed and supposed to be a separate entity from the Federal Government, but now we see the Federal Reserve constantly feeding the beast. The President and Congress want more money for the Ponzi economy they have instituted. The Federal Reserve Policy of keeping interest rates so artificially low and encouraging the Federal government to print more and more money, has led us to the precipice of disaster where we stand today.

The only way that we are going to be able to get the economy back under control, is for people to understand that we have to reverse this course. that means that we are going to have to hold the people accountable who instituted these actions. That means anyone who wants to keep printing money and spending it on frivolities is going to have to go.

Yes, we do need investments in this country, but at this time it needs to be only priorities. Common Sense economics must rule the day. We hear the government telling us that the economy is getting better. Ask yourself, Does it look like the Economy is getting better?

September 4, 2009 - The Introduction of HoundVision

Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of the Hickory Downtown Development Association, responds to the Hound

Last week I was contacted by Connie Kincaid about having a meeting to discuss the issues that I had raised regarding Hickory's Main Street program in the Newsletter about the City Council meeting of August 18, 2009. I truly appreciate her addressing my questions and taking time out of her schedule to present a written response to this forum. Her comments are below in Bold Blue Text.

Special Presentations:
Report by Elizabeth Parham, Director of the North Carolina Main Street Program on the Third-Year Assessment of the City of Hickory’s Main Street Program - Ms. Parham met today with the Downtown Development Association Board and conducted a 3rd year assessment of Hickory's Main Street Program. Hickory received the designation in 2006. The Main Street program is an Economic development program within the context of Historical Preservation. The Main Street Program initiates a 4 point approach - It incorporates organizational initiatives; design, promotions, and economic restructuring. She stated that Hickory is doing very well in that. Hickory has developed a balanced plan and balanced approach. She said it important for the community to understand its economic drivers, have a vision, and have a component of downtown as a part of that vision. It's a public-private partnership.

75 communities in North Carolina have adopted the Mainstreet principles. More than 2,000 communities across the country have adopted the principles. There is a tremendous network available to help Hickory. There has been $2 million invested over the last year. For every dollar of public money invested, there was $15 in private money invested. $6.3 million has been invested in Hickory over the last 3 years. 42 jobs have been created over the last year. 56 jobs have been created over the last 3 years. 15 new businesses have been created over the last year. 18 new businesses have been created over the last 3 years. She stated that the State of North Carolina is our Partner and willing to help.

The Hound thinks we need to see some sunshine when it comes to the Main Street Program. 'Sunshine' is seen quarterly when the reports are presented to the Hickory City Council.

If this is a true Public-Private partnership, then the public has the right to see how these numbers are procured. HDDA tracks the development statistics within the downtown district throughout the year. During the 8-18-09 presentation to Hickory City Council, Ms. Parham highleighted certain statistical figures. Consideration of council's time, all of the statistical data was not verbally reviewed. The annual data that is collected by the HDDA includes the number of building renovations (4 in FY09), building facades redone (2 in '09), new jobs (78 in '09), jobs lost (36 in '09), net gain jobs (42 in '09), ne businesses (27 in '09), businesses closed (12 in '09), business net gain (15 in '09), business expansions (3 in '09), Public Investment ($270,332 in '09), Private Investment ($1,815,485 in '09) for a total investment of $2,085,817 in '09 in the downtown district. HDDA also documents the economic impact of downtown promotions ($8,132,500 in '09), as well as the number of volunteer hours that the private sector contributes to downtown (2,754 in '09). Throughout a 12 month period the numbers add up... many things that happen in the first quarter tend to be forgotten by the fourth quarter. That is why it is so important to physically keep track of statistics.

We deserve to know where the assessments like a 15 to 1 ratio of private to public monies is established, The mathematical formula for determining the ratio of public to private investment may be obtained by dividing the public investment into the private investment. ($1,815,485 divided by $270,332 equals 15). Hence, for every dollar of public investment into the downtown district there is $15 of private investment. A substantial rate of return for the city's investment. Wouldn't you agree.

also are the job and business assessments just new proprietors? Primarily new proprietors are noted; however, the calculations include new employees gained (or lost) from business expansions (square footage or merchandise/product lines which require additional staff both part-time and full-time).


Or are these net-plus gains that factor in new business versus those that have gone out of business? In order to obtain a 'net gain' the calculations must include new businesses as well as closed businesses otherwise you are merely dealing with gross numbers (as determined by the definition of 'net' and 'gross'). The same is true for employee numbers.

If these are net-plus gains then I would like to congratulate the DDA for making progress in trying times; thank you. There are many people working very hard to make progress in downtown Hickory.

but if this does not take into account businesses that have left downtown, then we aren't getting the entire picture. The numbers do take into account businesses who left downtown. I believe the public is getting the entire picture. Hickory City council receives regular updates and reports from HDDA regarding the progress that is being made and the economic impact the Hickory Metro area receives as a result of HDDA volunteer and staff efforts.

Would someone be willing to step up and answer this question, because it does have me curious.

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The Hound wants to thank Ms. Kincaid for stepping up to the plate. This is just the kind of openness that the Hound has been shooting for. I think that this kind of dialogue is key to getting our City back on track and Ms. Kincaid is a pioneer in that process. Kudos from me to you.

I know that at times I have been blunt in my assessment of Union Square, but it is not a personal issue against anyone involved in commerce in the area that Ms. Kincaid defines as Downtown. The concerns I raise are about direct city investment towards one area of this city over the interests of proprietors in other areas of the city. Is it fair to them? So, at a point in time in the future, I hope that the dynamics of the context, I am addressing, changes to realize that I am not picking on Downtown business owners.

I want Union Square to succeed just as much as anyone. I do not want to see it become as blighted as some of the areas that are just a few blocks away. I think we need to think outside of the box to help Ms. Kincaid and those business owners succeed and, in my opinion, city money is not the key to creating a vibrant downtown. I truly wish Ms. Kincaid the best and promise to do my best to help her communicate with the people and achieve a vibrant Downtown Hickory.

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of September 1, 2009

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.

At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, you will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 9/1/2009 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below.

Invocation by Rev. Pat Pierce Retired from First Baptist Church

Alder Z. Anne Hoyle acted as Mayor Pro-Tem in place of Mayor Wright who was sick.

Special Presentations:
Presentation of the 13th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Hickory by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Deanna Rios addressed the Council and presented the plaque. The award is based upon work that was completed as of June 30, 2008. Alder Hoyle asked for and was presented a round of applause for what she stated as "rare" that this achievement has occurred so mant consecutive times.

Consent Agenda:
Transfer of Cemetery Lots in the Oakwood Cemetery From George Phillip Bogle and wife, Suzanne M. Bogle to A. L. Lutz and wife, Dorris Harris Lutz. Transfer of Cemetery Lots in the Oakwood Cemetery From William M. Litaker, Jr. and wife Paula J. Litaker to Betty Jean S. Smith. Transfer of Cemetery Lot in the Fairview Cemetery From Danny Moore and wife, Carla Moore, Carroll Moore and wife, Debbie Moore, Scottie Moore Blick and husband, Barry Blick, Carol Moore Hymer and husband, Robert Hymer, Elaine Moore Tucker, Linda S. Chapman, Joyce S. Gates and husband, Ken Gates, Jana Moore Lavender and husband, Gary Lavender, Ronnie Moore and wife, Imogene Moore, Pauline Moore and Doris Moore to Jerry Curtis Moore

Approval of Six Vacation Days as Prizes for City of Hickory’s United Way Participation Campaign - to be used as prizes for participation in our annual United Way Campaign, starting in September, 2009. To encourage participation, the City wants to offer participants a chance to win some vacation time based on their level of participation. The City is a strong supporter of the United Way and the campaign educates our workforce about the various programs and services that the United Way provides.

The Hounds Opinion has not Changed– The city wants to encourage participation in the United Way by having a raffle based on level of participation in the city’s United Way Campaign.

My thought is that the city may as well directly give the money to the United Way itself. With all that is going on with the Upper Tiers of United Way management, I am not a proponent. The United Way, a non-profit organization, is currently rife with mismanagement and greed. I really don’t think our city should be fostering donations to the United Way until they prove that their house is in order.

I also believe that this basically puts pressure on individuals to participate. We all have charities that we personally participate in and I do not believe that it should be a city’s prerogative to focus on one charitable organization over another.


Approve Quitclaim Deed From the City of Hickory to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC For Property Located at 331 1st Avenue, NW - The City of Hickory owns a City parking lot located adjacent to Duke Energy’s former office building. It was discovered by City surveyors in October 2008 that Duke Energy’s office building was encroaching upon the City’s property at four points for several years. Duke Energy is in the process of selling this office building and desire to resolve the encroachment issue with the City to give buyer clear title. Not wanting to actually move the building, the other option to resolve this matter would be to quitclaim the 6 inch wide strip of property running the entire length of the building to Duke Energy.

Approve City of Hickory’s Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Owned by Joyce Brown and Geraldine Shuford Located at 731 3rd Street Place, SW in the Amount of $42,599 - The purchase of this property would follow the Citizens’ Advisory Committee’s work plan and promote City Council’s goal of promoting affordable housing within Hickory. It would also comply with Habitat for Humanity’s Redevelopment Plan for the 8th Avenue Drive, SW area. The appraised value of the property is $42,600 and the house is vacant and would be demolished if purchased. The vacant lot would then be sold to Habitat for Humanity to provide new housing. The property will be purchased with Community Development Block Grant Funds.

Budget Ordinances
Budget a total of $175 of Library donations in the Library Books line item. Donations include $50 for honor books and $125 for memorial books.

Budget $176 of Miscellaneous Insurance Claims in the Fire Dept M&R Vehicles line item. This claim is for damages to Captain Allen Townsend's city vehicle that occurred while backing into parking area at Station 5 on 7/23/09. The check was issued from Trident Insurance Company of Texas on 8/3/09 and deposited in Miscellaneous Insurance Claims on 8/17/09.

Appropriate $1,820 of Local Government Revenue and budget in the Police Department Overtime line item. This is payment from Catawba County Mental Health for a portion of an Officers time spent when accompanying involuntary commitment patients during July, 2009.

Budget a $123 insurance claim check from Nationwide Insurance Company in the Water and Sewer Departmental line item for damage sustained to a fire hydrant on 04-29-09. The check from Nationwide is dated 07-17-09 and was deposited on 07-20-09.

Budget a $3,405 Insurance Claim check from Trident Insurance Company in the Police Department Maintenance and Repair of equipment line item. This is for damage sustained to the Police Department's U.P.S. (Uninterrupted Power Supply) System on 06-27-09. The check from Trident is dated 08-04-09 and was deposited on 08-08-09.

Appropriate $1,712 of Federal Revenue and to accept a $428 from General Fund Public Buildings Departmental Supplies to the transportation Bus Shelter capital project. This will provide funds to cover the cost of materials for five concrete pads to install at the five bus shelters purchased at the end of FY08-09. The FTA is funding this project at 80% ($1,712) with a local match of 20% ($428). The $428 comes from the transfer of $428 of Public Buildings Departmental Supplies (representing the 20% matching funds for the material costs) to the Bus Shelter Transportation Capital Project for five concrete pads that will be installed at the bus shelters purchased in FY09.


New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Hickory By Choice Review Process Update - City Manager Berry introduced the City's Planning Director Brian Frazier who addressed the Council about Hickory By Choice (HBC) 2030. Mr. Frazier stated that they (planning department) have been working diligently with Studio Cascade and the Advisory committee for months in updating HBC and revising the Land Development Code (LDC). They have been working on both vision and policy statements, as well as on an Economic and Demographic baseline.

To date they have held three public workshops and 8 separate advisory committee meetings. The next Public Workshop will be held on 10/25/2009 at Highland Recreation Center and the next advisory Committee meeting will be held on 10/9/2009 at the Ridgeview Library. On 9/22/2009 City Staff and the consultants will hold a meeting with the advisory committee at Patrick Beaver Library to discuss design.

Mr. Frazier stated that we are going to see some dramatic changes over the next few months. HBC was intended to be about Mixed Use. He showed the original map of HBC. He showed the original "Future Land Use map" and stated that the map ecompassed a lot of area, including areas that were outside of the city's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). He stated that legally they are not allowed to plan for areas outside of the ETJ. What they have done, working with everyone, is they modified the map and it is trumped quite a bit. It makes a more definitive stament and allows the city to plan and focus more on events. It is a more realistic and legal map.

The advisory committee has reviewed a lot of information. He showed a traffic count map and a map showing traffic map changes from 2003 to 2007. They are relying on this info to plan for the future and analyze the current HBC. They are looking to see what needs to be ammended and revised to make HBC a more comprehensive plan with more elments than future land use and transportation. He next showed a commercial development map from 1999 to present. It showed the commercial corridors and centers.

They have been looking at the data. HBC was primarily about mixed use development (office, retail, and mixed use residential). How realistic is it to have and do we really need 15 mixed use centers? The Advisory Committee says that no we probably don't. We were trying to channel and funnel economic growth and development into those core areas, but instead of having a few, we ended up diffusing it into 15 areas. We got some scattered good growth and development in some areas and in other areas we got no growth and development at all. The last five meetings they have been addressing this.

The HBC advisory committee is looking at eliminating some centers and prioritizing the others for future development. Belle Hollow has been looked at. It is built out and they don't see any room for moderate to high density residential growth going in there. Let's be realistic with what we have. Some cores will be residential. many more will be commercial. The advisory committee wants to create a Central Business District around Union Square. It has never been addressed before, besides casually in HBC. Downtown needs to be put into a proper context. It was always considered one of those 15 core areas.

The Advisory committee is looking to do some realistic designation of the regional commercial areas along Highway 70 and Catawba Valley Boulevard. It is an elongated strip and we need to be realistic about what we are calling it and the boundaries of what that core happen to be. The Committee is proposing neighborhood mixed use and community commercial areas. They are looking to piggyback off of Operation No Vacancy to create revitalization corridors. They are looking at Highland Avenue, the One-way pairs in NW and SW Hickory, the 321 corridor, West hickory, and the Old Lenoir road area. Those areas are really hurting and we can see some redevelopment efforts for light industrial, warehousing, commercial, some retail, and possibly some professional office uses.

The current HBC has NC-1 areas that are fine. The Higher design standards within NC-1 areas, but what has happened is that there is the same type of zoning allowed in the corridors as the cores, so it creates a dumb bell effect between the cores. This has caused strip development. Some has been better than others. You want to target (development in the) centers.

Mr. Frazier wants to wrap this process up by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. He encourages the public to participate. He is optimistic about wrapping it up.

Alder Fox asked about the development of West (HWY) 70. She stated that she has been talking about this issue for 16 years. The people that live in that corridor are forced to drive to grocery stores or retail. She thinks there need to be a healthy discussion of West 70. You can't have one side healthy and the other side sagging. Mr. Frazier stated that he and Dave Leonetti had talked about it that very afternoon. They talked about making South Center Street all the way West to the city boundary a Revitalization Corridor. Alder Fox stated that people who get off (HWY 321) on HWY 70 see an area in decline. She said that we have some social problems that need to be addressed and it has to be by getting development in their. A lot of money was spent on the 4th street extension, as a gateway to Hickory, and that is not happening.

At the top right of this page is a link that will take you to Studio Cascades HBC 2030 website. There is a lot of good information on that site. Below are links to articles that relate to the past meetings.

Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 2nd Meeting
Why the original Hickory By Choice doesn't work
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 1st Meeting
Studio Cascade awarded contract at November 4, 2008 City Council meeting

The Hound is glad to see that this project has taken this shape. I think that we are seeing that the right moves are being made when it comes to this version of Hickory By Choice. The original process seemed to be stifling and controlling. Mr. Frazier kept talking about being realistic and does it not seem like they are being realistic this time?

You can go back and read my comments on the issue from the past. I will honestly say that I couldn't ask for more. Turning Union Square into a Central Business District is an excellent concept. If we do that and expand the boundaries and definition of Downtown, then we can truly move this city in a positive direction towards 2030. It would allow the concept of Downtown to breathe.

I am also on the same page with Sally Fox about the issue of Highway 70 West and that entire corridor. It is time to start moving the South side of the tracks forward. HBC has stifled growth on that side of town, because it does not encourage investment in those zones. By defining it and targeting it as an area of revitalization, it will organically move us in that direction. Mrs. Fox is correct, as much traffic travels that stretch of 321 and 70 as travel 90% of the rest of this city, it is embarrassing what out-of-towners see when they come up the ramp off of 321 and get onto 70. It creates a negative image from the get-go. It is time to address this issue.


2. Approve Vacant Building Revitalization Grant to Mitloop, LLC for Property Located at 66 Highway 321 NW in the Amount of $25,000 - The Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Program was established by City Council in September, 2008 whereby the program provides matching funds up to $25,000 for projects seeking to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings. Mitloop, LLC has applied for such a grant in the amount of $25,000 to assist in their renovation of a building located at 66 Highway 321 NW. The applicant plans to renovate the facility for use by a retail flooring company. Mitloop, LLC plans to invest approximately $123,000 to renovate the interior and $50,000 on exterior improvements. The Redevelopment Committee reviewed the application and recommends approval. Dave Leonetti addressed the Council it was a former warehouse and furniture showroom. The renovations include roof and skylight repair, new awnings, replacement of bay doors, repaint the exterior, structural repair of the entrance, and interior office upfits. The Council Unanimously approved.

3. Approve Vacant Building Revitalization Grant to Jojida, LLC for Property Located at 215 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, SE in the Amount of $11,625 - The Vacant Building Revitalization Grant Program was established by City Council in September, 2008 whereby the program provides matching funds up to $25,000 for projects seeking to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings and the demolition of substandard buildings. The Property is part of the East Hickory Redevelopment Area. The estimated cost of demolition is $23,250. The building is structurally substandard and functionally obsolete. Demolition would be required to enable redevelopment of the area described in the original master plan. Dave Leonetti presented. This is the first application that recommends demolition of a substandard building. It's in a very prominent area. Alder Patton said it was a wonderful thing that we are reusing infrastructure rather than keep moving out and making this available available for redevelopment. Alderman Lail asked if this area is going Green. Mr. Leonetti said that D.H. Griffin is using the same specs as they do when they do minimum housing demolition. they will grade it level and so it with grass seed. This will create a larger site. Council Unanimously Approved.

The Hound is glad to see an actual plan of action coming to fruition when it comes to Operation No Vacancy. These buildings either need to be repaired or leveled. I understand that there is no easy solution to this issue. I was speaking with Jay Adams about it just last week. He told me that each property is characteristically unique and they will each have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Scott Millar told us at the last FEC meeting that just because a building is ugly doesn't mean that it isn't being put to use. Many of these dilapidated properties are being used for cheap storage. Jay and Kevin Spencer spoke of property owners that would be willing to give away property, because of prohibitive clean-up cost issues and taxes.

Common Sense tells me that if these properties are irreparably dilapidated, then they need to go. They are eye sores and they stand in the way of true economic development and viability within the city proper. As Brian Frazier stated in his HBC 2030 presentation above, Highland Avenue and Old 70 are full of these types of buildings. Dave Leonetti has it right when he states that it is easier to cobble these properties together into one big piece of property when it comes to marketing redevelopment.

I ask, how long are we going to allow these properties to rot before we deal with this problem? These properties are dragging property values down throughout the city. It is time to put our heads together and facilitate a logical solution to this problem. The longer we wait, the bigger the issue.


Norman Allen of Claremont addressed the Council about the fact that the Postal Service has a study going to possibly consolidate the Processing and Distribution Center in Conover with Greensboro's Operations. There are 200 jobs at stake and distribution of local mail would most likely become less efficient.

The Hound heard about this a month ago. It would not be good to lose 200 jobs, but the world is changing and this type of consolidation is a natural evolutionary process. Mail volume is dropping because of Postal rates, corporate package delivery, e-mail, and e-commerce. The more efficient those systems get; the less need there is for snail mail. Too bad we can't vie for this consolidated postal center, but since Hickory has deliberately chosen to not have a viable airport, we can only expect to lose out in this process.

Our High Schools versus the State of North Carolina Averages

Open and look at the jpeg file as you read below. It will give you a play-by-play of the thought process. Green is good and Red is bad.


From Education First NC School Report Cards - I think this goes a long way towards the point that I have been making. And it is just based on the numbers. What many people fail to understand is that educational attainment rankings are based upon "People 25 years and older who have obtained a four year degree." I never knew that until I started doing these studies. Drop-outs don't factor into that equation. In my opinion we rank low in that statistic because there are not the opportunities needed for people with at least a Bachelor's Degree, so they are leaving the area. That is deflating our numbers. To me it is an issue that seriously needs to be dealt with.

The following stats are from the 2007-2008 school year. Whether you agree with the premise of the report cards or not, what you find is that local High School scores in most cases aren't all that bad. The Hickory School District is having problems with English. That may be a socio-economic and cultural issue. It looks like most everyone is doing a bang up job with Algebra 1, 2, and Geometry with the exception of Bunker Hill. Biology looks like a sore subject throughout the Unifour, but there are bright spots with Bandys, Foard, and Patton. If we throw St. Stephens in with Hickory's District, then it doesn't look like any Physical Scientists will be coming from Hickory. But on the other hand, we see a lot of promise in the area of Physical Science in other parts of the Unifour. It certainly doesn't look like physics is being emphasized at all in our schools. Bandy's, Freedom, and West Caldwell are the only schools that look to have proficient physics programs. Most everyone looks to be achieving good results in Civics and Economics. The Hickory and Newton-Conover Districts don't seem to be emphasizing U.S. History. Again, I would assume that is a cultural issue.

I think this spreadsheet shows us what we need to see. There only seems to be one failing school. I'm not going to call it out, but it is glaring. I don't know why East Burke didn't submit any scores. Could someone let me know why. Bandys, Patton, and West Caldwell seem to really have it together and St Stephens seems to be doing pretty well. I certainly don't think anyone should hold their kids back from those schools. It seems that all of the schools have some idiosyncrasies and areas of weakness. Only one school, as I said, seems to be truly failing its mission.

To me this doesn't represent the statistics from an area of illiterates. I truly believe this shows that we aren't reaping the harvest of the seeds that we sow. We can see that there are bright spots and we are letting them slip right through our fingers. That is a subject we truly need to address. I am curious about what y'all get out of these numbers. Will you let me know your thoughts. How would y'all address these issues.