While an open poll conducted on a website two months before an election may not have any scientific standing to validate its results, it can provide some insight into the early organizational success of the several candidates running. This week’s poll asked responders to indicate their three choices in the Republican primary for Mecklenburg County […]
What is the true cost of public education? According to a new study by the Cato Institute, some of the nation’s largest public school districts are underreporting the true cost of government-run education programs. Cato Education Analyst Adam B. Schaeffer explains that the nations five largest metro areas and the District of Columbia are blurring […]
The Charlotte City Council earlier this week approved nabbing $7.4 million from the city’s capital reserve account to help balance its current-year general fund budget, which city staff estimates is light about $8.5 million. Declining revenues – what policy wonks euphemistically call “economic deterioration” – are being blamed for the budget shortfall. City staff assured […]
Hey, it works in Amsterdam to turn some decent coin, why not Charlotte? Intriguing piece here from “Financial Armageddon” on how cash-strapped municipalities are ramping up collection of enforcement taxes to help fill empty coffers: For example, a federally funded ticketing blitz in the state of Virginia resulted in a total of 6996 traffic tickets […]
Well, it’s not April 1 so we’re assuming this is legit. The following was posted by County Commissioner Bill James on his Facebook page: You have heard of the French Connection. Here is the “Black Connection”. About 200 years ago, a man was born (Issac Baker). He was black and as a child, he and […]
Let me get this straight: Police Chief Rodney Monroe has steadfastly refused to release the personnel files of a rogue cop accused of committing numerous sexual assaults while on duty, but the chief is more than ready and willing to bare the inner workings of his department’s homicide division on national TV? That’s the story […]
Despite cherry talk from Gov. Bev Perdue about government-driven, job creation plans and the deployment of new small business commissions, committees and sub-committees feverishly spinning bureaucratic wheels to put North Carolina back to work, the state’s unemployment rate took another hit in January, increasing from 10.9 to 11.1 percent with more than a half-million residents […]
The city council earlier this week approved renewing a contract with PetData Company to handle animal registration and pet licensing for the city. That might not seem like a big deal, but there’s plenty of bite behind the contract’s bark. PetData is paid a fee for each license sold, receiving $3.50 of the $10 charged […]
With half-cent sales tax revenue to run shiny choo-choos all over town plunging like a wounded duck, and likely triggering cuts to bus service and/or higher bus fares, now comes news that ridership for the $521-million Lynx Blue Line is on a steady decline. Transportation and transit guru David Hartgen has the data and Jeff […]
The House Report’s regularly scheduled feature on The Pete Kaliner Show is taking a brief hiatus tonight, March 10, because of prevailing wisdom. Teeth, that is. Kaliner’s having his wisdom teeth yanked and will be out of studio, although it’d probably attract pretty decent ratings if they broadcast the operation live. We wish Pete a […]
