"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18)
Seacaucus, NJ - Population 24,427
Secaucus, New Jersey is a little town nestled between Manhattan, NY to the east, and East Rutherford, NJ to the west. Its names is derived from an old Indian dialect meaning “Black Snake.” It’s literally a vast wasteland known for its pig farms and horrendous sulfuric smell. In fact, at one time, the pigs outnumbered the citizens 16:1. Surrounded by marshland, it’s the type of town that you just want to drive through. And by the looks of it, you probably don’t want to live there either.
So you can imagine my disgust when a reporter from Charlotte compared Greensboro to that old pig farm in Jersey. Is it the flood zone on I-85/40, or does Greensboro have a smell that I’m unaware of? Regardless, the comparison smells worse than Jim Boeheim’s opinion of the location of the ACC Basketball Tournament. The Syracuse University, 2005 Hall of Fame coach said, “There’s no reason to play in Greensboro. The media centers and the recruiting centers are Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. How many good players are in Greensboro?” Well, perception is reality and according to the old blowhard, a tournament of this magnitude has no business in Greensboro. I guess he has a few supporters because Greensboro is on the verge of losing the ACC tournament and its corporate headquarters to Charlotte of all places. How ironic is that? But it’s hard to argue with Charlotte’s success. They’ve invested millions in branding themselves as the centerpiece of the Carolinas.
For years, Greensboro has maintained its position as the state’s third largest city, but with the explosive growth in Durham, the Bull City will surpass Greensboro by the next census in 2030. I imagine our forefathers would scoff at the notion. The late Governor John Morehead would turn over in his grave if he knew the Gate City was on the verge of obscurity. Don’t get me wrong. Our political leaders deserve credit for maintaining our city, and creating a business friendly environment to attract corporations. But we can no longer rely on textile, tobacco, or the ACC to carry the weight of this town. It’s a new day, and this city needs a new identity. One that will make commuters stop, and tourist visit out town as a destination. To the outsider, Greensboro is a marshland that lies between Raleigh and Charlotte, and this perception needs to change.
The question that we must ask is, “Who are we?” Is Greensboro a progressive city on the cutting edge of technology, or are we a small town community hiding in the shadows of our brethren in Raleigh and Charlotte? We can’t have it both ways. With a population of 300,000 people, Greensboro is the flagship of the Piedmont Triad area and our development should reflect that. We’re too large to hide in the shadows, yet were small enough to change directions if necessary. In my opinion, Greensboro can compete with any city within our region, but we need a unified front to connect the desires of our local leaders with the vision of our business developers. Together, we can transform this city for the better, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
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