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Costs down, demand up?

Guilford County voters last year approved a $115 million bond proposal for a new jail in Greensboro. Last week, the lead contractor guaranteed the project won't cost more than $84.9 million -- thanks to a deep recession that is pushing construction costs downward.

No complaints about that here, unless the lousy economy boosts demand for jail space.

A troubling start

If the saga of the Warnersville benches is an omen, the Downtown Greenway has trouble ahead.

Placed on the first segment of the planned 4.8-mile loop, the benches were meant as a functional, artistic gift to the community from Action Greensboro. But they weren't well-received, apparently attracting drug dealers and prostitutes, and even prompting at least one complaint that inviting anyone to sit behind nearby homes amounts to an invasion of privacy. Is the greenway itself seen by some as an invasion of privacy where it passes through residential areas?

Last week, city officials decided to remove the benches for a "cooling-down" period. The "cool down" got off to a warm start when a city resident was arrested for trespassing as he tried to obstruct removal.

Now other possible locations will be sought. Maybe time also can be spent working on community relations and addressing concerns about security, privacy and other issues that might follow the greenway as it circles the city center.

A case against electing judges

Bill Belk won election as a District Court judge in Mecklenburg County last year, even though he was short on credentials. He quickly demonstrated that voters made a serious mistake.

Last week, he was called before the Judicial Standards Commission to account for several alleged code-of-conduct violations. As part of his defense, he faulted the judicial system, claiming he's in trouble for trying to enact reforms. The Charlotte Observer responded editorially: "Yes, the judicial system has some serious flaws. One is that North Carolina still elects judges."

We agree. A system that put unstable judges on the bench is due for an overhaul.

Preserving wilderness

North Carolina petitioned the federal government in 2006 for increased protection of wilderness areas, but Washington failed to act.

Last week, two dozen U.S. senators, including Greensboro's Kay Hagan, filed the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2009 aimed at preventing all development in 58.5 million acres across the country. Some 151,000 acres in Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests in North Carolina's mountains would be covered.

Various levels of protection apply in national forests. While roads provide important access to some public lands, others should be left in their natural state. The preservation of additional pristine wilderness would be a priceless gift to future North Carolinians.

Not penny wise

Most people won't bother to pick up a penny on the ground. It's not worth the effort.

N.C. Central University should have shown the same attitude. Instead, it tried to assess students an $85 increase in fees. Not $85 from each student. A total of $85 from the whole student body of 8,500 students. Or one cent from each.

Stirred by rumors that they'd be fined $25 if they didn't pay, students lined up last Monday to ante up a penny each. By the end of the day, administrators issued an apology and announced they were dropping the penny fee.

Not to be picked up, we hope.