A lot of people don’t like Andre Knight. But, when you come down to it, it has nothing to do with the man himself, but the public positions he holds, the jealousy, and hidden agendas of others.  In this post, I’m going to tell you the back story—at long last.  This is a post that is much overdue and you’re probably going to hate me also for even thinking this way.  Well, hate away. It’s a story that needs to be told. You’re not going to see this in the Telegram or on a religious radio station, for that matter.

THE PRELUDE:

Bronson Williams has made it a cottage industry talking about the high cost of utilities in Rocky Mount. He held a meeting at Edwards Junior High a month ago and 350 (or so) people came to do just one thing: complain.

Knight, actually, was the only elected official with the balls to show up.  He spoke to a lot of residents, most not even from his ward. He listened to their stories: splitting pills, not having enough to eat at the end of the month, can’t afford to care for kids, the elderly on life support who can’t afford to pay these high rates: the list goes on.

But, Bronson has something Knight doesn’t have: a radio station.  Gospel, though it may be, Bronson spends an hour every evening going over the Rocky Mount budget and complaining that the Council hasn’t given the “people” adequate time to address their issues and the Council hasn’t cared to listen.

Well, it’s not so.  There’s not a single person on that Council who isn’t aware of the plight of the poor in Rocky Mount.  And, from my personal  experience, there isn’t a single Councilperson who doesn’t feel genuine sympathy for all struggling with a high light bill.

But, it’s a complicated issue. So complicated, that I could write a book about it, but no one would read it because it’s easier to complain (with little true facts) than to study the issues and come to logical conclusions.

Trust me.  I know this because I’ve been looking at the “ElectriCities” issues was over 3 years and I was looking for another ERON.  I just knew in my heart there was corruption in this big business and ElectriCities was covering it up on page 907 of a 2500 page obscure deeply hidden document. (sarcasm noted).

Well, I was wrong!

Over the past month, Bronson has collected a small but dedicated audience relevant to the utility issues in Rocky Mount.  The callers seem to be the same people over and over again…and the message is always the same.

Words of encouragement poor into Bronson’s ears like manna from heaven. “God Bless you Bronson for what you’re doing.” Some callers will read Bible verses and give “mini sermons” to demonstrate there love for Bronson as “the appointed disciple of utility righteousness”.  And, Bronson will answer in an agreeing “Say something” reminiscent to a revival meeting or testimony.

Well, I hate to tell ya folks, but it’s pretty much Bullshit.  And, here’s why.

Bronson is looking at specific trees in the preverbal forest called the Rocky Mount budget. Much like Russ Limbaugh nitpicks the Obama administration’s heal care initiative.    Don’t believe me.  Well, listen to both radio shows on a regular basis and compare the differences in style.  You’ll learn quickly both DJ’s use the same formula to bash.

The real truth is this: although the Rocky Mount budget isn’t perfect and we could fine tune it ad nauseam, it’s much like most other budget’s all across the country.  Most cities, the size of Rocky Mount, have specific challenges to recruit industry in this economy.  The cities counter with deflated property tax rates knowing that when big business comes it will create jobs that more than compensate (at rates close to 200-300%) over time.

Secondly, although we love Rocky Mount. The “John Doe Manufacturing and Technology Company” could care less about our love.  They look at specific formulas as they search for relocation and expansion opportunities.  Most of which, is inexpensively done in it’s initial steps on Google.

And thirdly, (and probably most importantly) a business doesn’t come to Rocky Mount because they like the food.  They come here to make money.  Money that comes from road development and highway expansion. Money that comes from being able to hire workers in a non-union, hire-at-will State.  Money that comes from having a responsible, educated, and dedicated City Council balanced in the concept of Capitalism. 

Rocky Mount’s felt responsibility is knowing that we are competing with 40,000 other communities and towns that can offer the exact same thing.

THE KNIGHT STORY:

Andre Knight, as a city councilman,  knows the intricacies of city government politics and development: having gone to numerous workshops including the UNC Government Policy initiatives. Bronson, on the other hand, knows buzz words and has a flair for bringing emotion by evoking scripture and “Thank You Jesus…Amen’s” into his radio program.

Knight knows, only too well, the fall of deregulation back in the late 90s and the impact it has on his Ward and the citizens of Rocky Mount as a whole.   Bronson, who to my knowledge, has only been to one NCEMPA meeting, but has the luxury of sitting back and picking apart the decision makers.

Recently,  Nehemiah Smith has come on the scene and spoken against the Rocky Mount city council, especially Andre Knight.  He’s appeared on both the Promise and WNCR.  I’ve listened to him respectfully and attentively.  But, here’s the real deal:

For years Andre Knight has consistently questioned the cost of utilities in eastern North Carolina: at the Rocky Mount level, NCEMPA level, and ElectriCities level.

Knight has been a champion of the ElectriCities Economic Development efforts which resulted in the NCEMPA Board of Commissioners’ move to action.

Knight has also helped Rocky Mount in forcing ElectriCities enter into a long-term economic development plan for Rocky Mount.

Knight was the first –first City Council Member and first NCMEPA Commissioner—to raise the possibility of withdrawing from NCEMPA and ElectriCities.   As a result, for the first time since the downfall of deregulation, lawyers and Board Members moved, at his direction, to develop a feasibility study.  A study, by the way, that has been used by the other 31 cities under NCMEPA (especially Elizabeth City).

Knight was the first to question customer service.  Since then, a “best practices” retraining has be implemented.

Knight worked hand-in-hand with ElectriCities to develop free energy audits for Rocky Mount.

Andre Knight was the only—the only—NCMEPA Commissioner to ask the Board to absorb some, if not all, of the the last 14% rate increase.  Knight was so adamant about this that several Board members wanted him to sit down and drop the issue.  Knight’s response: “You can kick me out, but you can’t shut me up!” (July 30, 2008)

Knight was the champion for diversity relating to Directors within the NCEMPA Board.  Since all of the members were white, that went over like a “lead balloon”. But, his point was so well taken that steps have been taken by NCMEPA with regard to race and the need to represent “all” of the communities. (Nov 19, 2008)

Interestingly, at the same meeting of Nov 19th, Mr. Knight asked for a legal approach to investigate the NC General Assembly to seek financial relief for the 32 towns under NCMEPA.