8/12/2019 Special Favors

1/2

WAKE COMMUNITY NETWORK

www.wakeactive.com

SPECIAL FAVORSRALEIGH PROVIDES PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER NAMESAKES FAMILY MEMBER GENEROUS

PREFERENTIAL ARRANGEMENT TO SATSIFY OUTSTANDING DEBT OWED.TORNADO VICTIMS FACE FINES AND LIENS.

The notices are pretty basic: If debris isnt removed within 10 days, owners will be charged a $175 fee. And

then? Well send a crew out to remove the debris, watch them remove the debris, and then send a bill to the

property owner, Glover said. If they dont pay the bill in time, well place a lien on the house.(emphasis

added)

(Ashley Glovera Raleigh senior city house inspector, speaking of how the city has responded to homeowners

facing tornado damage.)

Raleigh News & ObserverJuly 9, 2011

We want the taxpayer to knowthere will be no loss to the city, Lightner said.

It was a risky move, but Lightner thought he would be able to recoup the $24,500 it cost to rent out the

center.

A check written at the time of the event from the Raleigh-Wake Martin Luther King Celebration Committee,

of which Lightner is a co-chairman, bounced when the city tried to cash it, said Perry James, Raleighs chief

financial officer. That checking account has since been closed.

Raleigh News & ObserverFebruary 11, 2010

In that conversation, you agreed to make monthly payments on the outstanding balance for a minimum

amount of $50 - $60 per month going forward.

Legal Agreement from Perry E. James, III, Chief Financial Officer to the City of Raleigh, to Bruce LightnerMay

21, 2010

As a consequence, since you are acting as predicted, please know that if you do not reconsider and fill

Lawrences position with someone we can relate to and rely upon to help navigate City Government then on

January 11, 2011 I will call a press conference in front of City Hall and formally demand that the name of my

late father be removed from consideration of the Citys new Public Safety Center being named after him.

I would be ashamed to have his name affixed to a structure being built during the time of such an insensitive

City Government and Administration as yours. Call my bluff if youd like but if you do please know that I will

legally remove my Dads name from any City structure. Yes, Im just that pissed at how you are acting.

Email from Bruce Lightner to City Manager Russell AllenDecember 5, 2010

Raleigh, NCDocuments acquired by Wake Community Network reveal questionable preferential financial

arrangements provided to Bruce Lightner, son of Public Safety Center namesake Clarence Lightnerwhile

Raleigh pursues fines and liens against homeowners recovering from Aprils tornado.

http://www.wakeactive.com/http://www.wakeactive.com/http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/09/1331721/time-to-move-past-tornado-city.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/09/1331721/time-to-move-past-tornado-city.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/09/1331721/time-to-move-past-tornado-city.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/09/1331721/time-to-move-past-tornado-city.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/v-print/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/v-print/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/v-print/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/v-print/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.htmlhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/v-print/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.htmlhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/09/1331721/time-to-move-past-tornado-city.htmlhttp://www.wakeactive.com/

8/12/2019 Special Favors

2/2

As of May 21, 2010, Mr. Lightner owed Raleigh $11,695.20 stemming from a Michael Jackson memorial

concert he booked at the Raleigh Convention Center. His initial payment bounced.

A May 21, 2010 letter of understanding between Mr. Lightner and the City of Raleigh allows Mr. Lightner to

pay $50-$60 per month going forward. At that rate, Mr. Lightner could take over 19 years to pay off the

outstanding debt. The letter makes no mention of any required interest payments or fines relating to the debt

payments.

As of April 7, 2011 Mr. Lightner made no payments during 2011.

Wake Community Network director Joey Stansbury stated:

It seems that Raleigh has different standards for different Southeast Raleigh citizens. While Southeast Raleigh

families face fines and liens as they financially struggle to clean up tornado damage, Raleigh allows Mr.

Lightner special financial arrangements to cover a bounced check totaling thousands of dollars.

Raleigh would have immediately fined or placed liens on the homes of average Raleigh citizens facing s imilar

financial circumstances. That is evident from their actions towards tornado victims. Instead Mr. Lightner gets

extremely favorable payment arrangements based on who he is and who he knows.

Stansbury concluded:

Any citizen facing financial challenges with the City of Raleigh should demand equal payment arrangements.

And Raleigh should provide them without hesitation. Raleighs city council members should also speak very

clearly concerning this issue.

Raleigh officials should make public:

Did any Raleigh City Council member know of this agreement? When did they know? What Raleigh official secured this preferential financial arrangement for Bruce Lightner? Other cases where Raleigh has provided the general public these preferential terms? The current amount owed on Mr. Lightners outstanding balance. Any current legal action underway concerning Mr. Lightnersoutstanding balance.

Documentation:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594517/Lightner-Payment-Arrangement---January-2010

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreement

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allen

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.html#storylink=misearch

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011

###

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594517/Lightner-Payment-Arrangement---January-2010http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594517/Lightner-Payment-Arrangement---January-2010http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.html#storylink=misearchhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/11/332032/rent-for-party-is-months-past.html#storylink=misearchhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/79750657/Email---Bruce-Lightner-and-Russell-Allenhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594023/Lightner-Payments---April-2011http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79747746/Bruce-Ligthner-Payment-Agreementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/83594517/Lightner-Payment-Arrangement---January-2010