charlotte

Yesterday, Betsy wrote this post about Pat McCrory, who complained recently that Charlotte and other big cities don't get no respect from the bumpkins in Raleigh. It's a fascinating assertion, and one well worth exploring.

In the comments below the post, lieutenant governor candidate Dan Besse offered this insightful observation in response.

November 13 Candlelight Vigil
November 17 Homeless Awareness Walk
November 20 Homeless Awareness Benefit Concert

In the past couple of weeks, we've seen an assault from Republican media and the Charlotte Observer on the character of our mayoral candidate, Beverly Earle. But it's clear that she's above the bunk being thrown at her lately:

Sitting there in a stylish, dark-green outfit, eyes sparkling, Earle radiates a surprising level of confidence and fire, especially for a candidate who, having hardly gotten out of the gate, has already been raked over the coals by the Observer for minor finance reporting oversights.

Her recent experience with the press is evidently on her mind when she says, chuckling, "Pleased to meet you ... I think."

This November, we have a chance to retake the Mayor's office in Charlotte. And I want to help make that happen.

That's why I'll be in Charlotte this Saturday, September 29th, working for our Democratic municipal candidates.

I hope you'll join me this Saturday, from noon to 3:00 p.m., as we go door-to-door, spreading the word about our municipal candidates and their vision for Charlotte. Volunteers will gather at noon at Plaza Presbyterian Church, located at 2304 The Plaza, in Charlotte. From there, we'll canvass Democrats and unaffiliated voters in a nearby precinct.

With a national mood favoring Democrats and strong candidates, this could be our best chance in years to make significant gains in Charlotte's municipal races. But it's going to take hard work -- including direct voter contact on a regular basis, between now and election.

If you can join us, just reply to jmeek@ncdp.org. I hope to see you Saturday.

Best Wishes,

Jerry

Looks like Tara got it wrong.

You may have heard about an effort to repeal Mecklenburg County's half-cent sales tax, which funds the Charlotte Area Transportation System, aka CATS. And you may have heard that the arguments coming from groups like "Sensible Charlotte Area Transportation" (SCAT) are almost as bad as their graphics. I mean, they're not a threat to transit, right?

While the main man behind the signature campaign to get the transit tax repeal on the ballot has been discredited (so much so that he dropped out of the at-large race for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education), the Charlotte Chamber and the "official" group pushing to keep the transit tax has been making its own mistakes. They've been in trouble for influencing a UNCC study, and they've operated within the frame that the transit tax is all about light rail. There's just one small problem:

Repealing the Transit Tax will dismember our bus system.

That's why, this Thursday, a grassroots group is coming together to Save Our Buses!

Save Our Buses Rally
Time: Thursday, August 9, 5:30 p.m. (please arrive early)
Location: Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center
Corner of Beatties Ford Road AND Rosa Parks Place
Charlotte, NC 28216 (Google Maps)
Signs: Please Support the Transit Tax with your homemade signs!
Dress: Casual, Business, Bike Clothes, School Uniform, Work Clothes ... you get the idea
Contact: Sam Spencer ... um, PM me?

This has been embargoed until the filing today, but NC State Rep. Beverly Earle (D-NC-101) just filed the papers necessary to run for Mayor of Charlotte. She is in her seventh term as a state representative and has served as the Democratic Whip and Caucus Chair.

From the Observer:

Earle, who is in her seventh term, was the first black woman elected to the N.C. House from Mecklenburg County. She has been an advocate for women, children and mental health reform. She has been a leader in the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus and is past president of the Carolinas Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs.