NEWS
TRADER JOE'S
February 10, 2012
Possible Trader Joe's in Greensboro... not in my back yard?
Continued from page I
nearest one is in Chapel Hill — others are less than thrilled
with the possibility of more development of that area in
Greensboro.
"I am not in favor of rezoning residential to commercial/'
said Susan Wilson, a member of the board of Hamilton
Lakes and Parks Inc., to the News & Record. "There is plenty
of commercial property in this town"
"The issue of zoning and where any retail place should
be located is different than whether someone supports the
particular store" said Wright." In considering rezoning you
have to consider any business that fits within the particular
zoning classification. It doesn't matter if it's a Trader Joe's,
CVS or Big Lots."
Some are excited about the economic boost that Trader
Joe's could bring to the area. Many have longed for a Trader
Joe's to come to the area for many years.
"We definitely think we should have Trader Joe's in
Greensboro," said Mayor Robbie Perkins to The Guilfordian.
"We have found it to be a great opportunity, great products
at reasonable prices."
In contrast, residents near the proposed location are
strongly opposed to Trader Joe's encroaching upon a
residential area.
"There is a neighborhood group opposed to the
rezoning," said Ed Cone, local blogger and editor of Ziff
Davis Enterprise, via email. "It drew a lot of people to its first
meeting. There's discussion, pro and con, on local blogs."
"A lot of people would want it, but someplace else," said
Clyde Marr, a member of the board of the Hamilton Lakes
and Parks Inc., to the News and Record. "Unfortunately,
it is one of those things (where people say), 'Not in my
neighborhood.'"
One possible solution is to allow Trader Joe's to use one
of the many existing and vacant buildings somewhere else.
"I'd be happy to see a Trader Joe's in Greensboro, but I'd
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prefer that we not pave over more green space and extend
commercial development further down Friendly Avenue to
get it," said Cone. "There is a lot of vacant commercial space
in this town. We should stop treating buildings and land as
disposable assets."
"Something that concerns me is that we have a lot of
vacant retail space," said Wright. "Could some of that be
utilized?"
"My personal preference would be to put the store at
Golden Gate shopping center," said Cone. "I understand
that location may not meet some site-location criteria and
that another grocery store tenant would have to be appeased.
but maybe those obstacles could be negotiated."
At this point, a Trader Joe's coming to Greensboro is still a
rumor, though many seem to think it likely that the grocery
store chain will be seeking a location in the city.
"There are a number of steps a person has to go through
to get a piece of property rezoned," said Wright. "It is
ultimately up to the (City) Council to decide whether a
piece of property should be designated for another use."
"Trader Joe's has yet to officially file a zoning application,"
said Perkins. "We won't know more until the application has
been filed, March 12. It's a long process and we are right at
the very beginning of it now."
Amnesty Intemational's documentary "Education Under
Fire" and Baha’i campaign spread to Guilford campus
FILM FOCUSES ON
OPPRESSION OF EDUCATORS
AND STUDENTS IN IRAN
By Kate Gibson
Staff Writer
"A lot of times, you have no idea what's
happened to your loved ones — where
they've been taken, for how long (or) what
they're accused of," said senior Sarah
Barnett, a Baha'i student at Guilford.
For Baha'is in Iran who have been
charged with the crime of education, the
scene Barnett describes is the current
reality.
Since the political revolution of 1979,
the Iranian government — a theocracy in
which the Shia Islamic clergy rule — has
been systematically oppressing Baha'is by
imprisoning, torturing and even executing
any who seek a higher education.
These actions directly violate Article
26 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and Amnesty International
believes that international pressure can
help bring an end to these injustices.
To raise awareness of this issue, Barnett
and first-year and fellow Baha'i Heather
Nelson organized a screening of Amnesty
International's documentary "Education
Under Fire" on Feb. 2.
The documentary focuses on the
history of the Baha'i Institute for Higher
Education, founded in 1987 in response
to the government oppression of Baha'is.
At its inception, the institute served fewer
than 100 students, who would secretly
gather in professors' apartments where
makeshift classrooms awaited them.
Eventually, students and faculty
acquired a building in Tehran in which to
conduct their education. Despite efforts
Some received sentences as high as 20
years under the charge of education. Some
were executed, including a 16-year-old
girl.
"We should respect other religions and
everybody must be allowed to express
themselves however they want to as long
as it doesn't affect or harm anyone," said
first-year Lesley Manuh after the film.
A conversation panel followed the film,
featuring Roya Tooloian, a Baha'i who
(T)he Iranian government ... has been systematically
oppressing Baha'is by imprisoning, torturing and even
executing any who seek a higher education.
to avoid unwanted attention, the BIHE
endured government raids in 1998 and
again in May 2011.
"(The government) confiscated books,
materials and computers," said a man in
the documentary. "(They) arrested the
person who was in charge and put a lock
on the building so no one could go back."
Government officials raided the homes
of professors and students, imprisoning
those with a connection to the institution.
grew up in Iran and sought educational
freedom in the United States; Jeremy
Rinker, visiting assistant professor of
peace and conflict studies; and John
Michael Justice, a Baha'i member of the
Greensboro community.
Tooloian spoke of escaping Iran to
attend college in America, where she
worked hard to afford the tuition of an
international student, which can be triple
or quadruple the amount that a country
resident pays.
Rinker explained how the Baha'i faith,
once considered to be a splinter group
of Islam but now formally considered its
own world religion, may have become a
target for government oppression.
"This kind of sectarianism is seen as
dissent from the official state religion,"
said Rinker. "The mere fact of practicing
this faith becomes seen by the Iranian
officials as dissent against the state."
Justice invited event attendees to join
the "Drive to 25," a petition of sorts which
can be accessed on the official campaign
website, educationunderfire.com.
"You can send an automated letter
to seven officials within the Iranian
government ... calling on them to desist
from the active and systematic persecution
of the Baha'i community," said Justice.
The Drive to 25 campaign hopes
to garner 25,000 signatures. The only
information required to sign is an email
address — adding a name is optional.
Nelson also hopes "that Guilford will
open their doors to BIHE credit, that
(Baha'i) students can transfer and have the
option of going to this school as well."
"(BIHE students) really love to learn,"
said Tooloian. "They really, really want
to do something for mankind, not to
become successful. ... They just want
to become better human beings and be
knowledgeable and help someone."