NorthEast Coalition of Neighborhoods

NorthEast Coalition Minutes for June 14, 2009

Minutes - for the NorthEast Coalition - June 14, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Claire Green-Fallon at 3:05.  The invocation was omitted.

The speakers were introduced and the discussions were moderated by Brien Blakely of Fox News Charlotte.

 
The speakers were: Mecklenburg County commissioners Karen Bentley, George Dunlap and Dan Murrey and Charlotte City Council members John Lassiter, Michael Barnes and Warren Cooksey participated, but N.C. Rep. Nick Mackey, the District 99 Democrat. 

N.C. Rep. Thom Tillis, the Republican from District 98, and state Senator Malcolm Graham, the Democrat for District 40, were invited but did not attend. 

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Because we had many reporters attending this meeting, Mr. Hugh Fisher's account of the meeting were so on point that I decided to take what he wrote and include it into the minutes.  Thanks you Hugh!

The following were discussed:

No quick answers on I-485, public safety, air quality
Reported by: Hugh Fisher

CHARLOTTE - It all comes down to money.

The NorthEast Coalition's panel discussion with elected officials, held Sunday at the University City Regional Public Library, touched on numerous issues affecting residents.  But the lack of funding was the recurring theme of the frank but cordial talk, which had fewer audience questions than it had waves of discussion among representatives about how best to respond to difficult times.

This was the first time the NorthEast Coalition has gathered City, County and State representatives at one time for the community group's annual policymakers' discussion, moderated by Brien Blakely of Fox Charlotte, WCCB-TV.

Mecklenburg County commissioners Karen Bentley, George Dunlap and Dan Murrey and Charlotte City Council members John Lassiter, Michael Barnes and Warren Cooksey participated, but N.C. Rep. Nick Mackey, the District 99 Democrat, was the sole state lawmaker. 

N.C. Rep. Thom Tillis, the Republican from District 98, and state Senator Malcolm Graham, the Democrat for District 40, were invited but did not attend.  Chairs with their names sat empty at the front of an audience of about 40 residents and community representatives.

Mackey faced questions about funding for the completion of Interstate 485 and related concerns about economic development, air quality and other issues.

"When we got the governor to commit to starting construction (on the remaining portion of 485) this year, that was great," Mackey said. "But with the budget crisis that we're in, the state's priority has been to balance the budget without draconian cuts."

Constituents in several Charlotte neighborhoods have told lawmakers cuts to vital services such as health care and education are their biggest concern, Mackey said.  "Not a single person since the budget crisis began has mentioned 485 as a top priority."

That sparked a response from audience members who see I-485 as a boon to the local economy and a wider discussion of the role Mecklenburg County and Charlotte play in funding the rest of the state.

Mackey assured residents Gov. Beverly Perdue "has not given up hope" for finishing the beltway project.

Yet County Commissioner Murrey said alternative transportation options that reduce fossil fuel use also are necessary.  Charlotte has one of the worst air quality ratings in the region, and federal officials are about to toughen air pollution standards even more, he said.

Charlotte risks losing federal highway dollars unless the city and county address air quality, Murrey said, though panel members disagreed about whether federal officials would enforce a penalty.

Congestion from overtaxed freeways, Murrey said, isn't the sole cause of pollution. "We need to really think about the fact that even zooming through at 80 miles per hour is still burning fossil fuels. That's why getting light rail up here is essential," he said.

But local leaders said they're committed to finishing I-485 as soon as possible.

"It's the No. 1 thing we whisper to the governor when she visits our community," City Council member Lassiter said.

"I think this really demonstrates the balancing act we as elected officials go through" to provide services while trying to avoid tax increases, County Commissioner Bentley said.

Public safety is another priority. Barnes, who represents District 4 on Charlotte City Council, praised the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their efforts to improve security.

Lassiter mentioned the need to hire up to 150 new police officers in spite of the economic crisis.  "What can we do to make sure we have the safety we need for our homes and businesses?" Lassiter said. 

Leaders praised efforts to make police officers more visible and agreed the community needs more officers.

Claire Green Fallon, president of the NorthEast Coalition, said that the key to discussions of local improvements to roads or public safety is creating jobs.  "You want people to be able to work so they don't lose their homes, so they're not living in cars," she said.

Responding to discussion of North Carolina's budget, Fallon said the time has come for zero-line budgeting and re-evaluating all state programs and offices.

"I think we're funding a lot of things that we should not be funding," she said.

Mackey said tough decisions remain.  With so many jobs and services on the line, local residents disagree about what's most important.

"It's as if someone told you that you wouldn't have oxygen anymore.  You wouldn't worry about having low gas prices," Mackey said.  "Everybody has to make choices."

Though Sunday's panel did not provide about any new answers, it showed that leaders across the levels of government are aware of the issues of importance.

Fallon said Sunday's panel discussion was important because it showed local and state leaders know what's on people's minds.

"People like to batter politicians, but most of them go to a lot of trouble to do the right thing, and it's not fair," she said.

The meeting ended at 4:45 pm

No second meeting held.