charlotte

Forbes Magazine has published a list of the next Boom Towns in the US. Raleigh is number 2, Charlotte is number 8. According to Forbes:

Raleigh has experienced the second-highest overall population increase and the third-highest job growth over the past two decades in the U.S. It also ranked among those regions seeing the biggest jump in new immigrants and is the No. 1 city for families with young children. The area is a magnet for technology companies fleeing the more expensive, congested and highly regulated northeast corridor. Affordable housing and short commute times are no doubt highly attractive to recent college graduates and millennials looking to start families.

No cities in South Carolina made the list. It seems that to Forbes, the level of regulation here in NC is just fine, thank you very much. It would seem, yet again, that South Carolina is not our competition.

Thought I'd share an example of the tail-end thinking still prevalent here in Charlotte. I saw this in a parking lot Sunday afternoon:

So I guess by this wingnut's logic, 47 percent of North Carolinians and 51 percent of all Americans are guilty of aiding and abetting treason? That's about the only conclusion I can draw. Then again, some of them apparently wanted to hold treason trials for Democrats if Romney had won.

Pro-CLT is a new coalition formed to raise awareness of potential pitfalls for the Charlotte economy should US Airways merge with American Airlines. Airport businesses are airing their concerns.

I spent the big day at the NC delegation breakfast, the NC LGBT Dems press conference, the national LGBT Democratic Caucus meeting, and of course helping nominate President Obama.

Today was the first time I've seen a President in person, and to see 2 at once, what a thrill! I saw candidate Obama campaign in NC last time around, and I'm glad as President he's spending a lot of time in our swing state again. North Carolina was proud to help nominate Barack Obama!

This week, all eyes will be on Charlotte as the city hosts the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Thousands of politicians, delegates, pundits, and general attendees will flock to the city to be part of the action. With delegates arriving from all fifty states, Charlotte’s Douglas International Airport will be the main entry point to the city.

North Carolina was represented in full force today! Whether at the national LGBT Caucus meeting by Rep. Brandon, and Senate candidate Deb Butler, or by Mayor Foxx or Governor Perdue. And of course there were many other great speakers, more than I can list, including FLOTUS Michelle Obama, but you can click through to see shots of many of them!

It's day two of the convention related festivities, and I made it out a few NC delegation events, the youth caucus meeting, the CarolinaFest street festival, and the LGBT Victory Fund party. Here's a little of what I saw.

I wish had time to type up a good description and label every photo, but there is so much to do, and so little time! This is mostly from the convention hotel, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Welcome Reception, and the LGBT Unity Party. Enjoy! (Warning: it may take a minute to load)

This Saturday, August 4, Young Democrat Day will celebrate the service-minded Millennial Generation by giving Young Democrats across North Carolina the opportunity to give back through registering voters, donating blood, collecting canned food, and more. Events are planned in Murphy, Asheville, Black Mountain, Dallas, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Clayton, Elizabeth City, Wilmington, and Manteo. Follow the action starting at 4 AM using the #YDDay hashtag!

Click for a full list of events and sign up form!

All over the state, Young Democrats will spend the weekend making a difference. Gaston Young Democrats will help distribute school supplies, Mecklenburg Young Democrats will donate blood, Guilford Young Democrats will collect cans to combat a shortage at the local food bank, and Young Democrats from Asheville to Wilmington will register voters.