June 23, 2021
This OTR was so much fun, we’ve made it a two-part episode. How many banks are on the south side? What gives BJ anxiety? Aleatha explains why BJ is a part of the problem. And BJ’s OTR Commentary addresses the need for two Kinston City Councilmen to resign.
June 15, 2021
Sadly for the second year in a row, the Kinston City Council has sought these personal increases, yet this year’s discussion is distracting from the fact that they are also raising property taxes. The cost to the taxpayers if approved would be $670,000. Despite the fact the Kinston City Council has already voted on their increases, they could amend the budget tonight, by stripping the salaries and allowances back to the FY20 funding and passing a revised budget.
November 8, 2020
The nation is probably as divided as it has been since the American Civil War in the 1860s. The supposed blue wave tsunami that was predicted by the media and pundits did not materialize in the numbers that they proclaimed. The White House may be changing parties, but Republicans picked up several House seats and look to maintain a Senate majority come January.
Despite COVID, lockdowns, a battered economy, partisan hoopla, racial issues, social unrest, riots, and a huge backlash against Trump, the nation is still bitterly divided, almost down the middle of its population. The polls were wrong–again, and many are losing faith in journalists, news, media, and the entire political system.
November 1, 2020
At the October 5th Kinston City Council meeting, the elected members unanimously approved two motions allowing city employees new vacation days for June 19 and Election Day. With roughly less than five minutes of discussion, both motions passed.
The City of Kinston has 378 positions on payroll and have about 350 positions filled at this time. Let’s assume all 350 are eligible to vote. If 70% take the time to vote, that will equate to approximately 245 employees exercising that right. If 61.2% have already cast their ballots in our area, it would mean about 214 employees have already done so.
Based on historical numbers, the cost per vote on Election Day (31) is roughly $1,729, plus time and a half for our police, fire and other essential employees.
October 12, 2020
Councilman Sammy Aiken and I served together for 6 years. We probably disagreed on only about 5% of matters before our board. I’d attest it was largely because we rarely got caught up in national politics on a local level.
August 5, 2020
One of our employees received some negative comments on social media…the kind of negative comments that aren’t constructive. We call these keyboard warriors “haters”. Having served 8 years in public office and several more in public life haters are everywhere. How you choose to handle these people will have a great impact on your psyche and productivity.
July 8, 2020
Have you ever had something gnaw at you long enough that you finally had to address it?
Last month the City of Kinston requested that Neuse News run a Public Notice informing the community of the proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget. Having served for eight years as mayor, I know the budget process and numbers well. Glaring to me was the proposed $26,100 increase in the mayor and council’s salary line item. Surely that was a mistake. Surely in a time like this that would not be on the table.
November 30, 2019
What philosophies have driven BJ to get to where he is today? On November 18, 2019, he revealed this and more to students of East Carolina University. BJ talked about his own student days, his career journey and his sojourn into politics. Besides giving career advice and nuggets on entrepreneurship, BJ shared the story of how Neuse News came to be.
October 18, 2019
What is the #1 thing small business owners should look for in hiring employees?
October 16, 2019
What is Neuse News? Why did I start Magic Mile Media? Why are we building these businesses? What’s driving us?
