A Virtual Introduction

Housing costs are skyrocketing. The city's answer was to jack up property taxes at exorbitant rates, and earlier than planned. While $30 million of that money went to a billionaire's vanity project tennis courts, changes to restrictive zoning laws that are the root cause of this mess only happened at the request of developers who donate huge amounts to campaigns state-wide. 

Historical neighborhoods fell victim to developer intrusion losing all personality and tradition. And established neighborhoods contend with huge apartment complexes squeezed onto any inch of available land, taxing services, clogging traffic, and ignoring environmental impact. And insane occupational licensing restrictions combined with zoning laws make it impossible for people to open jobs near their homes.

The city has failed us. I will ensure that housing prices adjust at a reasonable rate relative to the market, and affordable housing exists for everyone, in all income brackets. 

Last year, the city government took $70,000 of our money to hire a consultant (Management review finds CATS needs a major overhaul (substack.com)), Management Partners, to review the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). In return for your $70,000, the city received a series of observations and recommendations so embarrassingly obvious that I would like volunteer myself for the next review. I'll do it for $20, and it will take a day. 

Among those observations:

• CATS is managed by two boards, one for policy and one for budget. One board can fire the CATS CEO, who reports to the City Manager, who is hired and fired by the other board. This creates "a confusing overlap of responsibilities." Ya' think? Only a government body could come up      with a structure like this.
• A lack of both engagement and transparency was referenced "quite a bit."
• Low morale is an issue.
• Wasted money, inadequate equipment, and concerns about passenger safety are      problems.

Of course, CATS should've known this given the three prior audits it had recently undergone that identified similar issues (Records: Charlotte had evidence of CATS shortcomings in months-old audits - Axios Charlotte). This is against a backdrop of a 70% drop in ridership since 2013. The city's answer? To seek another $13 billion to throw at a broken system. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I am relying on news reports to tell you what was in the review. The city spent $70,000 of our money on it, but they want you to spend another $12 a month to access it now (CATS Management Partners Review Dec. 2022 | PDF | Organizational Culture | Leadership (scribd.com)). I reached out to see if they would send a copy... stay tuned.

As mayor, I will immediately halt this nonsense. 

Charlotte has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes, with a crime rate of 42 per one thousand residents (Charlotte, NC Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout). The violent crime rate in Charlotte is 34.3 per 100,000 residents, which is significantly higher than the US average of 22.7 per 100,000 people (Crime in Charlotte, North Carolina (bestplaces.net)). Violent crime is down, year-over-year; while it is still unacceptably high, that's good news. But murder is up over 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
 

Hampered by serious staffing shortages (CMPD focuses efforts on recruiting, retaining officers | wcnc.com) the Charlotte Police Department is stretched thin, and the citizens are suffering, not just from an increased risk of being a victim, but increased 911 response times (CMPD Blames Ongoing Staffing Issues For Slower 911 Call Response Times - WCCB Charlotte's CW) when seconds can be the difference between life and death. The police union attributes the staffing shortages to low morale, calling for higher pay. The city responds by approving $8 million expenditures on things like military equipment and bomb trucks (Charlotte City Council approves three major purchases for CMPD (msn.com)).

The union also challenges the CMPD for spending money on initiatives that build trust between police and communities (Police union criticizes CMPD for customer-service training plan | Charlotte Observer) driving a wedge between the rank-and-file and the bosses. They seem to ignore the fact that adaptive policing policies that seek to foster resolution, not conflict, pay dividends (Mental health clinicians help CMPD officers keep people safe | Charlotte Observer).
 

The discord and conflict between parts of our city government is a theme, unfortunately, and it carries through to our mayor, who just recently promised reform to the CMPD (Harold Easter death: Charlotte mayor promises police reform | Charlotte Observer) - reform that was strangely lacking the last six years.
 

As mayor, I will help our police force transition to a true community-based approach. Cops will be respected because they will earn respect. In combination with my policies that will improve neighborhoods and foster economic prosperity, crime will decrease, and cops and civilians alike will reap the benefits.