Salisbury, N.C. Gets an “F” on Its Economic Development Report Card

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ The City of Salisbury. N.C.’s economic development future, even if examined through the most extreme rose-tinted glasses, has very little to attract industry, business, major retail, restaurants, or hyper-adventurous entrepreneurs. Salisbury’s current big selling ticket is its “gig” municipal fiber optic network. Having a “gig” fiber optic network in Salisbury is much like wearing a $12,000 wedding dress and a diamond studded tiara to a pool hall gangbang.

Over the next 5 years to perhaps a decade Salisbury has painted itself into a very dark economic development corner. At best the city might hope to stimulate home-grown cooperative industries, businesses, and supermarkets or attract outside industries and factories that won’t be troubled by a workforce struggling with urine tests or a lack of education. You know like asphalt factories, “anything goes” landfill companies that might light up an electronic “Tox Map”, or simple two-part assembly factories suitable for robots or workers a grade above sheltered workshop status.

Okay folks what is holding Salisbury back economically? An incredibly bad report card where the parents will need to be summoned to school to review it with the principal with a school resource officer seated by the door. Let’s review those large letter grades in bold print:

Crime: “F”. Salisbury suffers from major per capita violent and property crime. The city police department is woefully understaffed and the city is chock full of burglars, armed robbers, rapists, killers, vandals, affiliated gang members, car thieves, and assault artists. The streets are dangerous most any time of the day.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_north_carolina_by_city_2013.xls

http://rowanfreepress.com/2014/11/26/sobering-fbi-crime-statistics-chart-comparing-salisbury-n-c-and-nearby-cities/

Poverty: “F”. 25% poverty in Salisbury. Poverty affects schools and crime statistics.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/3758860.html

Public Schools in Salisbury: “D”.

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/02/06/public-schools-inside-salisbury-n-c-grade-poorly-on-the-state-education-school-performance-assessments/

Spendable Income and Per Capita Income: “F”.

http://rowanfreepress.com/2015/02/08/another-key-to-salisbury-n-c-s-struggles-with-economic-development-per-capita-income/

Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse: “F”. Major Heroin, Meth, and Crack Pandemic in the city.

http://rowanfreepress.com/2014/07/17/king-heroin-number-1-in-salisbury-n-c-s-out-of-control-hard-drug-scene-meth-places-2nd/

Taxes and Utilities: “F”. Taxes are high in Salisbury and water and sewer bills are high.

**Check your property tax bill and check your water and sewer bills.**