Greensboro's News & Record Misleads the Public, Again
The Cognitive Dissonance of what Greensboro's Main News Outlet Omits is Appalling
“Sitting council member Zack Matheny appears to be the subject of a State Bureau of Investigation probe.
That’s because Matheny is CEO and president of Downtown Greensboro Inc., which inherently creates questions about conflicts because of DGI’s city funding and its role in real estate development.”
Allen Johnson and Dimon Kendrick-Holmes
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 133-32 prohibits contractors (DGI) from giving gifts to public officials (Trey Davis, Nancy Hoffmann, Nancy Vaughan, Chuck Watts etc…) who oversee their contracts.
The Grasshopper suite (food, beverages, premium seating), Wyndham, Tanger and Basketball tickets constitutes hundreds of prohibited gifts to many who exercise authority over DGI’s contract.
From 2024;
The evidence shows blatant misuse of public funds, illegal gift-giving to public officials, and unconstitutional self-dealing by Councilmember Zack Matheny in his dual role as DGI CEO.
Unreported gifts suggest willful concealment and potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 201 (federal bribery) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-217 (state bribery).
DGI’s expenditures potentially constitute violations of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-90 (embezzlement of public funds), the IRS Private Benefit Doctrine for 501(c)(6) organizations.
The coordinated network of donations, gifts and votes indicates a potential 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy) charge, especially considering Greensboro’s repeated failure to initiate an independent investigation under City Resolution 2021-172.
Some 2021-22 DGI taxpayer funded spending;
Some more without any descriptions or purpose in violation of audit transparency guidelines;
Political Activity Using Public Office – N.C.G.S. § 126-13; Chapter 163 (Election Laws)
Mr. Matheny’s DGI presentation to City Council on the “GSO35 Plan” closely mirrored his campaign platform and campaign website language.
September 19th;
By presenting campaign themes in his official capacity during City Council proceedings, he blurred the line between governing and campaigning, using taxpayer resources and City platforms for electioneering.
Which may explain this Brooks Pierce Matheny campaign expenditure;
§ 160A‑499.3. Limitation on the use of public funds. A municipality shall not use public funds to endorse or oppose a referendum, election or a particular candidate for elective office.
Related;
Disclaimer: This report draws on publicly available records, official audits, vendor payment data, and election filings to highlight apparent gaps in oversight and potential conflicts involving publicly funded expenditures. Some financial records—particularly for the final quarter of the 2021–2022 fiscal year and other unreleased ledgers—were not made available by the City of Greensboro or Downtown Greensboro, Inc. at the time of publication. As a result, certain spending remains undocumented in official reviews. References to individuals, businesses, or political campaigns are made strictly in the context of matters of public concern. No conclusions are offered beyond what the documented evidence supports, and any implications regarding intent, legality, or ethics are left for readers to assess based on the disclosed facts.