Yesterday, I told you that Magisterial District Judges (our minor judiciary) are increasingly concerned about security in their small courtrooms. They stand on the front lines of our justice system, but often have no way of keeping Defendants separated from their accusers. Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez, in particular, wanted a new courtroom that at least provided a separate entrance for her and her staff.
She's going to get one. Last night, Northampton County Council seems anxious to approve six leases for magisterial district judges throughout the County. The ordinances were introduced last night, and will be voted on in two weeks. Precise terms are in yesterday's story.
Those leases were held by Executive John Brown for eight weeks before being submitted to Council. He told the courts that he wanted to negotiate them himself, even though he knows nothing about the security needs of a court. The courts finally had to insist that the matters be put on Council's agenda.
Erratum 12 40 pm: In my original version of this story, I reported that the leases had been approved. They were introduced last night, but will not be approved for two weeks. I apologize for my error.
10 comments:
The executive should control this decision. Mr. Brown is a professional manager and a business professional. He could make a better deal than amateurs. He has negotiating skills and knows all about very involved money deals.
I agree. When do current leases expire? Did council investigate these locations and other options?
Bernie
You did a good investigative report on those Magistrate leases. "It's not my money," comes to mind about that County official who wouldn't even bother to visit the sites prior to approving renewals. Why didn't he speak with each Magistrate to seek their opinions about security?
At 0449 am, What kind of a medications are you on? This ass wipe is the biggest non-transparent county executive in the history of NC. His propensity to hide things and keep things away from council is abhorrent. We've seen his negotiation deals, DLR for an instance, cost the taxpayers $79,000, when he could have gotten it free from the Feds. You call him a "business professional" and a "professional manager". If he were running my business, I'd be broke! Granted, there wasn't much background study on these requests, however, who knows better than the DJ's who operate in these unsecure offices. But I forgot, the great and wonderful OZ of Northampton County, John "the weasel" Brown knows better than everyone.
Council and Mr. Brown should visit every site prior to signing renewals. Those rents seem very high. There should be separate entrances for staff!
The way these leases work is they are going to be high because the court will insist on certain improvements and the landlord must spend his $ to make them. He makes his$ back with higher rent. The Exec typically is never involved in the negotiation of these leases bc he knows nothing about court security. Brown did attempt to insert himself here.
JB and I don't always see eye to eye but Good, we are overpaying for lots of these properties.
Not his call. This is and should be Council's call. He knows nothing about judicial security and should have no say. The lives of crime victims, law enforcement and judges are too important to leave in the hands of someone who fails to understand security and has already demonstrated with corrections officer vacancies that he is willing to sacrifice public safety to save a few bucks.
These rents are outrageous!
What would be outrageous would be to have a rape victim killed while waiting for her case to be heard bc assholes like you are too cheap to provide proper security. Come to the council meeting and complain. My guess is you don't have the nerve.
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