By Nicky Smith,
Candidate for Greensboro City Council District 4
August 30, 2025
Walk through any Greensboro neighborhood today, and you’ll notice something troubling: the gradual disappearance of evening strollers, children riding bikes unsupervised, and front-porch conversations that once defined our community spirit.
Crime doesn’t just steal possessions. It steals confidence, freedom, and the invisible bonds that make neighborhoods thrive. When a grandmother no longer feels safe walking to the corner store, when parents drive their children three blocks instead of letting them walk, when local businesses invest more in security systems than in customer improvements, we are watching the slow erosion of community life.
I’ve spent more than 45 years building businesses in Greensboro. Those years taught me lessons that apply directly to public safety: accountability is essential, resources must match responsibilities, and success only comes when people work together toward a common goal. The same principles that kept my businesses strong can keep our neighborhoods safe.
Our residents deserve a City Council that sets clear expectations for public safety. That means tracking results, reviewing crime trends openly, and holding leadership accountable when progress stalls. We cannot afford vague promises or surface-level solutions. Greensboro needs leaders who will ask hard questions and demand measurable improvement.
We ask our police officers to protect us, yet too often they lack the modern training, equipment, and staffing they need to succeed. Investment in training that balances tactical skills with communication and de-escalation will strengthen both effectiveness and trust. Adequate staffing ensures officers can focus on neighborhoods instead of rushing from call to call. Supporting our police with the right tools is not a political position—it’s a basic responsibility.
We also need to focus on prevention. Too many young people in Greensboro are drawn into gangs or caught up in drugs because no one reached them in time. After-school programs, mentorship opportunities, and partnerships with community organizations can give youth a future worth choosing over crime. As a business owner, I understand the importance of investing in talent early; our city must do the same with its young people.
Real progress requires leaders willing to face uncomfortable truths. We need open community forums, not scripted hearings. We need transparent crime data to be made available to the public. We also need to acknowledge that traditional approaches have not yielded the results our families deserve. Safety is not about being “tough on crime” or “community-friendly.” Smart cities do both. They support law enforcement while building community trust, because one cannot succeed without the other.
Greensboro has enormous potential. We are well-positioned for growth, with businesses poised to expand and new job opportunities on the horizon. But that potential remains locked behind doors people are afraid to leave unlocked. If we want higher-paying jobs, thriving neighborhoods, and strong schools, we must begin with safety.
After decades of leading businesses, I know what it takes to turn vision into reality: accountability, resources, and partnership. Those principles guided me as an employer, a community advocate, and a neighbor. Now I want to bring that same approach to the City Council.
This election is our opportunity to choose new leadership, leadership that is ready to act with courage and clarity. Greensboro doesn’t need more of the same. It requires a fresh commitment to making safety the foundation of our growth.
I am ready to provide that leadership, and I ask for your support. Together, we can make Greensboro a city where families feel secure, businesses thrive, and community life flourishes once again.
If you believe our neighborhoods deserve to feel safe again, and you’re ready for leadership that delivers results instead of excuses, then I ask for your support. Change will not come from repeating the same failed ideas. It will take proven experience, determination, and a campaign strong enough to give Greensboro the leadership it needs now.
I’m asking for your vote, but I’m also asking for your financial support. Every contribution, whether $25 or $250, helps us reach more voters who believe our neighborhoods should be safe again. It helps us build the grassroots coalition needed to demand real accountability from City Hall. Most importantly, it sends a clear message that Greensboro families are ready for proven leadership that will make our city safer, stronger, and better for everyone.
