John Locke Foundation: Charlotte

Charlotte
Headlines

Chiquita: Breakup with Charlotte to cost company up to $40 million

CHARLOTTE — Chiquita Brands International said Wednesday that its divorce from Charlotte is expected to cost the company $25 million to $40 million, as the company pays severance costs and refunds state and local governments for incentives they paid to lure the company three years ago.

Mayor: DOT should consider using extra I-485 lane

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter says the state should consider using an extra lane on Interstate 485 in south Charlotte if it would relieve congestion, and he plans to ask the N.C. Department of Transportation to study the idea. The Transportation Department last month opened a new lane in each direction on the outerbelt, which has greatly improved traffic flow on what was one of the state’s most congested highways.

Mecklenburg homicide cases backlog cut by almost 40%

CHARLOTTE — A plan by Mecklenburg prosecutors to pare down the county’s backlog of homicide cases fell far short on one goal but exceeded another. The end result: The district attorney’s office continued a trend in 2014 that has seen the number of pending cases drop by more than 39 percent over the past four years.

Lynx light rail ridership back to 2008 levels

CHARLOTTE — After declining during the recession, ridership on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line has returned to levels from the second half of 2008, when gas prices hit record highs. In the last six months of 2014, there were 16,186 trips on the average weekday – eclipsing for the first time the peak from the last six months of 2008.

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.

Research

By The Numbers: What Government Costs in North Carolina Cities and Counties FY 2012

The economic recession that hit full force in 2008 was declared officially over in June 2009 when the country experienced two quarters of very slow growth. But a troubled housing sector and a still-sluggish economy with high unemployment have contributed to the fiscal crises facing many cities and counties in North Carolina. As always, this edition of By the Numbers is must reading for government officials and taxpayers alike. It highlights what kinds of fiscal problems face local governments in an economy that grows only very slowly. With the facts given here, county commissioners and city council members can easily compare their area’s tax burden to similarly situated cities or counties. For taxpayers, BTN is a starting point for questions about taxes and spending, enabling them to hold their elected and appointed officials accountable.

Agenda 2014: A Candidate's Guide to Key Issues in North Carolina Public Policy

Every two years since 1996, coinciding with North Carolina's races for the General Assembly, the John Locke Foundation has published a revised edition of Agenda, our public policy guide for candidates and voters. Typically as we enter the campaign season, candidates for public office in North Carolina are faced with a daunting task: to develop informed positions on dozens of public policy issues. In the pages of Agenda 2014 we provide a concise and easily digestible guide covering a wide range of specific issues, from taxes and spending to energy policy and education.

City and County Issue Guide 2014

Policymakers in the many local governments of North Carolina face a host of important challenges. This issue guide offers solutions to problems that confront North Carolinians at municipal and county levels. The common thread in these recommendations is freedom. By increasing individual freedom, local governments can foster the prosperity of all North Carolinians and keep open avenues to innovative solutions from enterprising citizens.

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.