Comment and analysis on all things CharlotteRSS

Monday, May, 20 2013

Charlotte Hornets!

The Charlotte Observer, among other news outlets, is reporting that the Charlotte Bobcats will be renamed the Charlotte Hornets. The date for the change is uncertain, but almost certainly not before the 2014-2015 season at the earliest. Also undecided (or at least unannounced) are what the new Hornets colors will be. As positive as a [...]

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US Airways route award update

A quick update on the route award actions before the U.S. Department of Transportation that effect US Airways and Charlotte: • DCA route award. A set of slots at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) that US Airways was hoping to obtain were instead awarded to Southwest Airlines for Houston Hobby service. Us Airways said that [...]

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Meanwhile, in NASCAR land…

This will do absolutely nothing to dispel the usual stereotypes about NASCAR: “NASCAR driver arrested, charged with stealing competitor’s hauler”

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Pat McCrory’s new highway plan

My latest column for Carolina Journal is on Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed overhaul of state transportation policy: RALEIGH — In April, the McCrory administration outlined a new state transportation policy. While as always, the devil is in the details, this plan is a welcome step forward for transportation policy in North Carolina. The last time [...]

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More ACC hoops tournament in NYC rumors

From ESPN: The ACC is “thoroughly investigating” playing its men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. One source was adamant that the ACC tournament eventually would be held in the World’s Most Famous Arena, which would take it out of traditional ACC country for the first time. “We’ll be playing [...]

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Charlotte's Greatest Hits

Black got sweetheart deal

As jailed former state House Speaker Jim Black mounts a campaign for early release, critics contend that the state justice system did favors for Black regarding the settlement of his $1 million fine.

Questions about Black settlement

Wake County officials say imprisoned former House Speaker Jim Black satisfied a $1 million fine by surrendering some Mecklenburg County real estate, but questions remain about the real market value of the property.

Black settlement may not add up

Imprisoned former House Speaker Jim Black used undeveloped land with a tax value of less than $150,000 to pay off an outstanding $500,000 state fine.

Fat CATS

Colleen Calvani writes that the Charlotte Area Transit system will scale back some routes in an attempt to counter three major decreases in funding.

McCrory’s failure

Jeff Taylor argues that Pat McCrory failed to carry Mecklenburg County because he failed to move its conservatives.

Lynx And Exploding Pipes

Jeff Taylor says there may be another factor to blame for CMUD’s recent series of water leaks.

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Research

Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reforms

Cronyism is an umbrella term covering a host of government activities by which an industry or even a single firm or speculator is given favors and support that they could not attain in market competition. This report explains what opens government to cronyism, gives a brief rundown of recent examples of cronyism in North Carolina, and offers several possible reforms.

By the Numbers: What Government Costs in North Carolina Cities and Counties FY 2010

County and municipal governments provide many key services while taking in billions of dollars in revenue, but finding comparative data is hard. That's why this report provides information of how much local government costs in every city and county in North Carolina.

Raleigh Convention Center: Throwing good money after bad

This report examines 52 contracts signed by the Raleigh Convention Center for the period of July–December 2011 and is a follow-up to the September 2008 John Locke Foundation report “The New Raleigh Convention Center: A taxpayer-funded money pit.”

First Annual North Carolina County Privatization Survey

County governments all over North Carolina are saving money by privatizing services. In an effort to assist in the exchange of information about these activities, the John Locke Foundation conducted a survey of all 100 counties asking county managers to tell us about governmental activities that they currently supply privately. We also asked them if they had problems in the past with a privatized activity that had caused them to return the activity to government provision.

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