Stories written by Mark Pellin
An award-winning journalist and former editor of The Rhinoceros Times in Charlotte, Pellin has been called everything from a misguided troglodyte to a professional agitator. He prefers the label of a realist, the guy in the crowd telling everybody that not only doesn’t the emperor have any clothes; he’s trying to steal ours. Pellin has covered the Char-Meck scene for the better part of two decades, earning his fair share of fans and more than a few critics who wish he’d move to Nome, Alaska, and be eaten by wild bears. When he’s not writing, he stays busy enjoying time with his wife and two kids. When he can break away for some R&R, he likes to fly fish (even if he doesn’t catch anything) and camp (even if it rains).

Planting Astroturf For A Tax Hike

A government-managed agency in partnership with a boatload of other government directed and subsidized agencies has produced a so-called community consensus that shows most folks wouldn’t mind paying more in taxes if it means – wait for it – more money for more government services. What a shocker. As forewarned earlier this year, the astroturf […]

May 10, 2011 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,County Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

City Budget Bumpers

Pete Kaliner takes his new website out for a test drive with a review of City Manager Curt Walton’s freshly released recommended budget. The highlights: a $1.67-billion total spending plan that sweeps up about $16 million through a revenue neutral pitch, after revaluation, dipping the existing city property tax hit of 45.86-cents by 2-cents per […]

May 9, 2011 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,City Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Home Sweet Illegal Home

The Department of Homeland Security apparently wants everybody to feel at home in America, including those who are here illegally. Case in point: last year the DHS halted the deportation of more than 34,000 illegal aliens. This from Judicial Watch: In a perplexing development ignored by the mainstream media, the Obama Administration suspended tens of […]

May 9, 2011 | Posted in House Specials,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Business As Usual

In this case, it consists of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority spreading around thousands of dollars in gifts and perks to Charlotte’s uptown lunch bunch crowd and their enablers and benefactors to further the agenda and interests of the same, at the expense of the rest of us mere mortals, the unwashed masses. This comes […]

May 9, 2011 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,City Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Saturday Night House Party

Send us a youtube clip of your favorites tunes (editor@pundithouse.com) and we’ll work them into the rotation. This is Warren Zevon – a triple shot for good measure:

May 7, 2011 | Posted in Mark Pellin | Read More »

Big Government Baywatch

Lifeguards pulling down $210K a year, along with million-dollar pensions and full healthcare benefits after retiring at 50? Sure, why not? Toss in an annual sunscreen allowance for good measure. This from AFP California:

May 6, 2011 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Um, About That Homeland Security

It’s still pretty much in shambles, despite the recently delivered double-tap to Osama. Recall that five of the 9-11 hijackers were in the United States on overstayed visas and read with a shudder the latest revelation from within the bowels of the Department of Homeland Security. This from Reuters: U.S. authorities are facing a huge […]

May 6, 2011 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

Library Bookmarks $2.5 Million Funding Bump

A posh fundraiser for Mayor Anthony Foxx reportedly snagged a cool $140,000 this week, while the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners managed to save a tepid $137,000 by approving the consolidation of some library services. Super. The consolidation plan will roll the library system’s human resources, technology, and capital project management departments under the umbrella […]

May 6, 2011 | Posted in County Beat,House Specials,Mark Pellin | Read More »

CRVA Whitewash?

The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority’s board of directors has handpicked PricewaterhouseCoopers to serve as an “independent advisor in support of the Board’s own internal audit, review and assessment of the CRVA’s operating policies and procedures and organizational structure,” according to a memo sent to Mayor Anthony Foxx and Charlotte City Council. Say what? How does […]

May 5, 2011 | Posted in Char-Meck Beat,City Beat,Mark Pellin | Read More »

Religion Of Peace vs. Playboy

Practitioners of radicalized Islam are opposing a Muslim girl’s decision to pose for Playboy by taking to the streets in peaceful protest and calling for civil debate. Which of course translates in reality to calling for her head on a platter and issuing death threats. Same thing, right? This from The Sun: Sila Sahin has […]

May 5, 2011 | Posted in House Blends,Mark Pellin,National | Read More »

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