Charlotte Off Topic

[DMann]

They failed as stealing the airport, so now they will just take our tax money and give it to others which makes our future growth somewhat cloudy!

[HopHead]

I don't get into politics too often but what the NC Senate is trying to do right now is infuriating. It's funny that these Republicans complain about "re-distribution of wealth" on personal income, but yet they want to take away the tax dollars that are made for when people drive into the urban areas of the state to spend the money? So you think Anson county is entitled to more sales tax money? Build some destinations worthy of your people spending their money there. Don't take it from the places that do. Then they'll complain about taxes being raised in places like Mecklenburg, Wake, etc because they have to make up for the lost money. Agree with ah, the state of NC has some the most idiotic politics I've ever seen in my life...

[birky]

The issue the new bill is supposedly trying to solve is that rural counties simply don't have the commercial opportunities that urban areas do (no duh). Anyways, because of how the current sales tax revenue is distributed, rural communities don't get the money they need to bring their schools to par with those in urban areas.  I think there is a fair argument that all schools in NC should be operating on a level playing field. However, this bill is a really poor way to address that.  Instead of redistributing tax revenue, perhaps the state should consider simply raising taxes, finding additional revenue streams, or end tax loopholes/credits for the extremely wealthy and/or corporations.  All of those ideas, though, are even more taboo than moving the current revenue around a bit.

[CLTProductions]

I don't think this bill will pass, but if it does, it will REALLY stunt our rapid growth (I think?), it just seems like a short-sided mess. An issue that has plagued our government as a whole, but REALLY plagued NC.

[ah59396]

McCrory laid into it during his speech about the UNC system yesterday.  Pretty much said it'll raise taxes for millions of North Carolinian's and "decimate our tourism industry".  I'm encouraged we will see it go away rather quickly.

[CLTProductions]

A new twitter account has emerged @CLTdevelopment and they just started posting about uptown projects. They have posted a skyhouse picture i dont think any of us posted here. Go follow it!

[grodney]

When I was watching a video (of cats or psy or something) on youtube, the following video came up as an ad before my video.  The first half is a nice little promo for Charlotte showing light rail and lots and lots of uptown and I didn't know where it was going ---- then it turned into an ad for suburban builder Lennar.

 

[ah59396]

At least we aren't Indiana.  Yeesh.

[tozmervo]

...basically the same legislation is being proposed in the NC house right now 

[HopHead]

...basically the same legislation is being proposed in the NC house right now 

 

What the &*#@ ???? Where did you hear this? 

[tozmervo]

http://equalitync.org/license-to-discriminate/RFRA/

 

I think my phone would melt if I tried calling Phil Berger's office.

Edited March 27, 2015 by tozmervo

[HopHead]

The fact that the guy has a nickname ("Skip") as apart of his license is all you need to know... 

 

Perhaps these idiots don't realize that their job is to better our state. Giving people reasons to not want to move here and deterring potential future companies from expanding here is not how it's done. Take a look at the backlash against Indiana right now. 

Edited March 27, 2015 by wend28

[DMann]

I hope some Indianian restaurant puts up a sign that says he will not serve any Indianian State Politician!

[videtur quam contuor]

 See, here is where the segregationists missed the boat in the 50's. They should have said being gay is a choice and refusng to serve the gays was religious freedom and blacks had chosen to be gay. Voila. Respect for Religious Freeeeeeeeedom.

 

(All parts of the foregoing are sick)

[CLTProductions]

The big 10 is talking about moving all their events/operations out of the state as is the NCAA. Once the money talks (or disappears from the states pockets in this case), Indiana will learn their lesson and other states will learn before doing something this dumb. I am not worried about anything this moronic happening in NC.

 

Money talks louder than people b****ing, and this is an instance in which money will talk VERY loudly.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Jayvee

[DMann]

The big 10 is talking about moving all their events/operations out of the state as is the NCAA. Once the money talks (or disappears from the states pockets in this case), Indiana will learn their lesson and other states will learn before doing something this dumb. I am not worried about anything this moronic happening in NC.

Don't underestimate Tillis

[CLTProductions]

Don't underestimate Tillis

19 other states have a law similar to this bill, and no one is complaining about those states. The difference is, in those states the law has been on the books for a while and probably not even known that it's there. This is getting so much bad press because its 2015 and this kind of law is being signed into law. That's the issue, where I understand backwards @$$ states may take a while to take it off the books, but it's beyond stupid to make a new one.

 

And yes, Tillis is an absolute farce and a total moron, but I don't think it will happen. My ONLY concern is that our attention spans are SO short and once this falls out of the news cycle, everyone will forget about it. Hopefully action comes within the next couple weeks, otherwise it'll be out of the news story and the majority of people who will force the money issue in Indiana will have moved on to the next thing. And then the gov of Indiana will tell his stupid conservative brethren "hey, you wanna pass a bill like this, just do it. Weather the storm for 2 weeks and everyone will forget about it.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Jayvee

[DMann]

Just a quick observation, there are a lot of taxi's hanging around Wells Fargo.  Last time I noticed all that activity was during the wild acquisition stages of the early 2000's.  Could it be that something is afoot?

[CLTProductions]

Just a quick observation, there are a lot of taxi's hanging around Wells Fargo.  Last time I noticed all that activity was during the wild acquisition stages of the early 2000's.  Could it be that something is afoot?

I actually noticed that the other day too, there were a TON on the Wells side of town.

[CLTProductions]

Didn't really know where to put this but it seems like Freedom Park is going to be getting a nice little improvement, sounds like itll be pretty nice.

 

 

Freedom Park - Tree Charlotte Honorary Garden
Proposed honorary garden including seat walls, retaining wall, hardscape and bubbler fountain

[CLTProductions]

Also, hey look!! A Rep. Politician making sense!!

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article16900370.html

 

He blasts the sales tax bill and the religious freedom bill. 

[go_vertical]

For once a majority of the comments over there are thought out and level headed. I do think Pat's stance is more political than genuine though. He know he needs to repair relationships with a lot of the state's population or else re-election isn't looking like a sure thing.

I think it's funny how Republicans are against anything smelling like "socialist" redistribution but then put something like this down on the table. And I'm not worried about the religious freedom bill going anywhere. We have only begun to see the corporate and financial fallout in Indiana and it is only going to get worse for them. Money talks much louder than any conservative can scream.

[tozmervo]

Some folks may enjoy this otherwise academic review of a new parking garage in Knoxville. http://www.knoxmercury.com/2015/03/25/an-art-untrue-difficult-lessons-from-the-new-walnut-street-garage/

[CLTProductions]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article16956950.html

 

God I hope Raleigh gets this right. This would absolutely CRIPPLE the growth in NC. I would have to imagine Gov. Pat would veto this if it passed, but still.

 

I wish these religious nut jobs/morons would realize theyre not only halting growth as a society but they are turning more and more people off of religion and pushing their absurd beliefs down a rabbit hole to being obsolete.

Edited March 31, 2015 by Jayvee

[kermit]

^ growth is already crippled in the state. The good news thread chronicles the cratering of corporate relocations to the state and the census data from last week shows declines in Mecklenburg's growth rate (individuals are reconsidering moving here)

Some other stuff deleted...

Edited March 31, 2015 by kermit