Ballantyne, NC – July 2nd, 2010: The opening discussion was of the new North Carolina State budget that just passed in Raleigh on July 1st, 2010. The old formula would have given Mecklenburg County $20 million dollars and the new formula gives $11 million to the county. Unfortunately for our county, we ended up with the $11 million dollar choice. This will equal larger cuts for the county budget. The U.S. Congress has not adopted a budget. The current congress is positioned not to adopt another budget until 2011. CMS is poised to announce which schools they will soon be closing. The “Knowledge Is Power Program” is great for schools but has an “all or nothing” type of decision making process. All of the students must agree to participate or no one in the school can be a part of this new program. KIPP does great things to help children prepare for their futures.
Democrats need/want to keep people in poverty to ensure votes. Republicans need/want people to be rich. Second generational people here from other countries tend to be more “Americanized”. People from China, Japan, or other far away countries tend to assimilate better into the American way of life. South American people live geographically close to their extended family and tend not to assimilate into the American way of life. Technology and travel can also slow assimilation into our country.
The Charlotte City Council will not meet again until July 19th. The July 19th meeting will be a zoning meeting that should cover the request from Box Man Studios and several other zoning requests.
Many California cities are choosing to declare bankruptcy as a way of dealing with the current budget crisis. California and other states have public employee unions. Their pension plans continue to go up and this is costly to each city. Right now, Malcolm Graham has a bill in the North Carolina State House that calls for public employee unions. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to be plagued with problems. The latest supervisor was caught texting his mistress. He later was fired. Some believe that Vic Rawl might have put up the money to help Alvin Greene fill for his seat in South Carolina. The political appearance of Mr. Greene continues to baffle many across the country.
There will be repercussions for the cuts from the state budget. The library “dominos” might soon fall. The BP relief well will not be finished until August and there is no good news from Afghanistan. At the G20, President Obama received a stern lecture from other leaders about the United States overspending.
This coming November, in our county, people will have a chance to vote on affordable housing. Ken Gjertsen suggested a slogan of: “Get affordable housing in your community”. The Ayrsley waiver would put 17,000 new units in the Ayrsley community in Charlotte. Some perceive that the new bond package is too expensive. The new Matthews Sports Place initiative just passed in North Carolina. This exciting, new sports place will soon open. Charlotte has a good chance to host the 2010 Democratic National Convention.
Larry Houselman is now on the housing authority board and they meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Bill James is pushing initiatives for NASCAR and the CIAA. Everyone needs to watch the county budget due to the new, deep cuts from the state.
The city is going forward with its new sidewalk projects. Boxer just bought part of Eastland for $2 million dollars. The original outstanding debt for Eastland Mall was $22 million dollars. There is also a “no tax on Eastland Mall” grass roots campaign. This campaign is against the city spending any more money on Eastland Mall. Right now the city staff has been in “reactive” mode as they are supposed to be on this entire project. Boxer does not have a proposal before the city council concerning the Eastland Mall project.
On July 26th or August 23rd the city might vote on the street car grant. Right now the proposed amount is $24.99 million dollars of federal money available for the new street car project. This project is progressing in a “piece meal” fashion.
Do NOT miss the next locational subsidized housing forum on July 7th. It will be at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Ballantyne from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Susan J. Spaulding
Ballanyne Scoop Public Policy Reporter
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What is this referring to – I live in Ayrsley and have never heard of this: “The Ayrsley waiver would put 17,000 new units in the Ayrsley community in Charlotte”