The Meck Deck
Comment and analysis on all things Charlotte
Sunday, March, 1 2015
Posted February 27th, 2015 at 11:50 PM by Michael Lowrey
So the city of Charlotte has new ethics rules for elected officials, which do not extend to including registration of those lobbying city government. Some quotes, all via the Charlotte Observer: • “ This is about transparency.” — Charlotte City Councilman David Howard on then draft new ethics regulations, which didn’t include a lobbyist registration […]
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Posted February 25th, 2015 at 6:33 PM by Michael Lowrey
The destination would be Ottawa, Canada, which the airline has served for five years now nonstop from the Queen City. Flights end in early June. Analysis tomorrow.
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Posted February 24th, 2015 at 10:47 PM by Michael Lowrey
Dan Daley of Sports Video Group has an informative article out about Daytona International Speedway’s $400 million ‘Daytona Rising’ updates. A sample: At a press conference two days before the race, Brandon McNulty, CTO of International Speedway Corp., which owns 13 NASCAR tracks laid out the nuts and bolts of Daytona’s new infrastructure: 4,268 miles […]
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Posted February 23rd, 2015 at 7:05 PM by Michael Lowrey
As in the city’s would be partner in the venture, Goodsports enterprises, has asked for a year’s delay in the project as it continues to have trouble securing financing. This should be a sign for the city to run away from this idea as quickly as possible. Given the obvious lack of business acumen possessed […]
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Posted at 9:40 AM by Michael Lowrey
Yes, I have a soft spot in my hear for ice hockey. • What’s wrong with the Carolina Hurricanes, in four sentences: It’s one thing to identify the Carolina Hurricanes as sellers as we head toward the March 2 trade deadline. It’s another thing to consider whether there are any buyers that will come anywhere […]
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Charlotte's Greatest Hits
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.
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.
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.
Colleen Calvani writes that the Charlotte Area Transit system will scale back some routes in an attempt to counter three major decreases in funding.
Jeff Taylor argues that Pat McCrory failed to carry Mecklenburg County because he failed to move its conservatives.
Jeff Taylor says there may be another factor to blame for CMUD’s recent series of water leaks.
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Research
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.
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.
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.
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.
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