Tea Party vs. Streetcar
Submitted by Craig Nannini
Hi Folks! We need your civic duty help!
The Charlotte City Council will be voting this Monday, July 26 on whether to accept the $25 million dollar grant for the Charlotte Streetcar. We need to fill up the government center Monday July 26 at 7pm to let our City leaders know that we are paying attention. Please bring hand held signs.
Here are a few facts on the proposed streetcar:
- The path of the streetcar is to go from Johnson C. Smith University to the now defunct Eastland mall
- Estimated total cost is ~$400 million dollars
- The council admits that it will NOT be paid for by the ½ cent sales tax as previously promised
- The grant requires Charlotte to have construction started w/ in 18 months, and the city is required to match half that amount ($12 million). The city will put half of that on our city debt.
- The city does not have a revenue stream for the $1.5 million in yearly operating cost
- This grant will only help pay for 1.4 miles of the line, and the city does not have a funding source to finish the rest of the line
The Charlotte economy is reeling with an unemployment rate of ~10%. Our commercial real estate market is cratering (look at all the empty stores out there). Next year when the City does revaluation on property value next year, there is going to be a huge deficit. Either your property taxes are going to be raised dramatically, or the city will need to do more with less. The council needs to come to terms with the fiscal reality that this massive expenditure will put Charlotte in a deep hole.
We need a good crowd at the city council meeting so we are taken serious. This is a great opportunity for you to see how local government works, and to meet your elected leaders. The Government Center is located on Davidson street and 4th street. There is free parking in the Government Center parking deck across the street from the Government center.
If you have any questions, please email craignannini@gmail.com
Thanks.
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