5 Things to Note About New York Times Article, 'Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving'

Charlotte was abuzz yesterday on social media (and I assume in coffee shops and around water coolers—people still talk there, right?) with the city and a few of our residents being prominently featured in a New York Times article titled, "Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving" (posted online Monday night; ran in Tuesday's print edition). The writer cites studies and uses the Queen City to explain that "Charlotte and other American cities have not abandoned their cars or their sprawling growth. But ... that American driving patterns have downshifted — perhaps for years to come." It's an interesting read.

Here are five things that stood out to me as I read the article:

• The first paragraph describes Uptown Charlotte as "a pedestrian-friendly quarter with new office buildings, sparkling museums and ambitious restaurants." I couldn't have explained it better myself in 13 words.
• Shouts out to my friend Ted Boyd, director of Historic South End, who recently partnered with me on an event, for being photographed and interviewed.
• According to the article, Dan Mauney is opening two stores in South End, "one to sell women’s shoes and another men’s underwear." This is the first I've heard of that. Dan is most known as a co-owner of Sloan boutique in Dilworth, and as an organizer of the annual "BRIEF! A Fete for Fashion" men's underwear/swimwear fashion show and fundraiser.
• The writer mentions the success of the light rail, and that "President Obama has nominated the city’s mayor, Anthony R. Foxx, to be the next transportation secretary." I anticipated that would be included in the article. But I think it should've also been addressed that Charlotte is currently struggling with its plans for a streetcar.
• The driving trends could be reversed one day with "the emergence of self-driving vehicles [that] 'may re-empower elderly people to continue using cars far into their last years,' offsetting any potential decline from younger adults." Self-driving cars. Need. To. Happen. Now!

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An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors - May 21

If you're civic-minded, politically engaged, or just want to get more insight into the well-being and future of Charlotte, there's a great event coming up that you should mark your calendar to attend. An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors is a free public forum, taking place Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. at Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College (1206 Elizabeth Ave.). All six of Charlotte's living mayors will be on the panel: current Mayor Anthony Foxx (who's leaving his post soon to join the Obama Administration) and former mayors: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot, former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

Charlotte mayors present and past. Top, left to right: Mayor Anthony Foxx, Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot; bottom: Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

The forum is billed as an "historic discussion [that] comes at an intriguing time in Charlotte's history. A crucial mayoral election looms while concerns swirl over the city's future: growth without annexation, the widening gap between the affluent and poor, and rising tensions over control of the airport and a persistently high unemployment rate." Award-winning documentarian and TV journalist Steve Crump will moderate the evening, and audience members will be allowed to ask questions.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required by clicking here.  Doors will open at 6 p.m., the forum begins at 7, and a dessert, wine, and coffee reception will follow. The event is sponsored by The Charlotte Observer, PNC Bank, and CPCC.

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Happy Birthday Anthony Foxx. The Best Is Yet to Come for You--and Hopefully Charlotte

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx turns 42 years old today. If you've even slightly paid attention to news in Charlotte over the last 24 to 36 hours then you know that Foxx has been nominated by President Obama to become the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to replace outgoing secretary Ray LaHood.

Credit: whitehouse.gov

Foxx as Obama's latest cabinet pick is being written and opined about everywhere. Here are a few links to what the national media is saying:

What You Need to Know About Obama Transportation Pick Anthony Foxx - National Journal

Meet Anthony Foxx, Obama's Next Transportation Secretary - The Atlantic

President Obama announces Anthony Foxx pick - Politico

Obama Diversity Promise Makes Second Cabinet Like First - Bloomberg Businessweek

Locally, The Charlotte Observer has done great reporting since news leaked on Sunday that Obama would nominate Foxx the following day. The story is the main feature on today's front page.

So, you have plenty you can read up on about Foxx as far as news is concerned. Here's what I'd like to add.

In 2009, when Foxx was running for his first term as mayor of Charlotte, I wrote here on Grown People Talking: "10 Reasons Why Anthony Foxx Will Be Charlotte's Next Mayor." In that blog post, the first nine reasons I listed described the attributes that made Foxx very electable, the strength of his campaign, the political climate in 2009, and even a couple of comparisons of him to Obama. Then in the tenth point on my list, I said:

He's a Charlotte native with a terrific story. Not only do we not encounter many Charlotte natives these days (I always say that only 2 out of every 10 people I meet in Charlotte are actually from here), but we have even fewer in leadership positions. Foxx has a great story that shows what a person can accomplish with hard work, talent, and ambition. As he remarked last evening, he grew up in a neighborhood off Beatties Ford Road, where he wasn't expected to succeed. After graduating from West Charlotte High School, he then went on to graduate from Davidson College (where he served as student body president), and got his law degree from NYU. He's been a successful attorney for the last 13 years, and a city councilman since 2005.

Today, Washington's gain is Charlotte's loss. Foxx was a great fit as this city's mayor. You might not agree with all of his policies, but you have to acknowledge that not many people actually care as much about this city as he does, or are as personally invested as he is. I ran into, met with, interviewed, and wrote about Foxx several times over the next four years, including that time I proclaimed "Mayor Foxx Is Charlotte."

I had plenty of interaction with him during the year I wrote The DNC In The CLT blog about the 2012 Democratic National Convention, including this Q&A published last May and the video below I captured of a DNC press conference last April when Foxx welcomed the mayor of Los Angeles to the city.

Then when I ran into Mayor Foxx about three weeks ago, after speculation had been swirling that he was being considered for the Obama cabinet position, after he announced that he wouldn't seek reelection as mayor, we had this brief exchange:

Ran into @mayorfoxx last night. He said "Jarvis, writing about anything exciting?" I said "Not as exciting as what you have going on." #CLT
— Jarvis Holliday (@HollidayInk) April 12, 2013

At 42 years old, and with the opportunity to serve in a high-profile position in the Obama Administration for the next three and a half years, Foxx's national political success will be his for the taking. And for all the kids attending west Charlotte schools today, who may feel like they have too many obstacles to overcome to be successful in life, they can point to a guy in the White House who used to attend schools along the Beatties Ford Road corridor too.

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Verizon Commercial Spotlights Charlotte, Energy

I saw a cool new TV commercial tonight in which Charlotte, specifically its Uptown buildings, is the star. Verizon has rolled out a national campaign to promote how its "network of technology, people, and ideas" is benefiting businesses and communities. In the commercial featuring Charlotte, it highlights how the city is using "Verizon technology to inspire businesses to conserve energy and monitor costs, making communities greener."

The creative premise of the commercial shows a series of Uptown buildings being honored as employee of the month inside their respective offices. Those include the new UNC Charlotte Center City Building and NASCAR Hall of Fame, among others. Watch the video below.

If you visit the Verizon website dedicated to this campaign, verizon.com/plus, and click on the "Energy" tab, it takes you to several resources, including white papers and case studies on smart grid and cloud technology. There's also a link to Envision Charlotte, an initiative led by Duke Energy's Smart Energy Now program that uses digital grid technologies to display real-time energy data throughout Uptown, to create awareness and encourage behavioral change. The goal of this initiative is to cut energy use in Uptown by up to 20 percent by 2016. Several major corporations and organizations have partnered with Duke Energy on this, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Verizon, Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, and others.

Plans for Envision Charlotte have been in the works for the past year, and the campaign officially kicked off last Friday (click here to read The Charlotte Observer article). Below is a video from last year, in which former President Bill Clinton announces Envision Charlotte at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. He's joined on stage by Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers, Cisco CEO John Chambers, Mayor Anthony Foxx, and Charlotte Center City Partners President Michael Smith.

All of this strengthens the momentum Charlotte has been building over the last few years to grow its energy sector. Several local leaders want the city to be known as an energy hub as much as it is known for banking, and the motivation behind energy is propelled by the possibility of job creation, in addition to environmental sustainability.

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Mayor Foxx Is Leading 'Souls to the Polls'

Souls to the Polls takes place this Sunday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. at Holly Plaza. It's a community event, supported by local churches, to encourage early voting. Mayor Anthony Foxx will be on hand along with other dignitaries and local Democratic candidates seeking office or re-election. There will also be music, free food, and WGIV will broadcast live.

A volunteer at a recent Foxx campaign event. Credit: Meredith Jones/facebook.com/AnthonyFoxx09.

Holly Plaza is located on the corner of Holly Street and Beatties Ford Road, next to the Beatties Ford Library, 2300 Beatties Ford Road. This library is one of several locations around Charlotte and Mecklenburg County where you can vote early any day until November 5. The Souls to the Polls event, in particular, will encourage people to vote after attending church service on Sunday. Click here for a list of early voting locations and hours.

Election day is November 8. Visit www.meckboe.org for answers to any questions you might have regarding voting in Mecklenburg County.

Below is a video of Mayor Foxx greeting voters on the first day of early voting last week.

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A Few Photos from 2012 Democratic National Convention Kick Off

The 2012 Democratic National Convention Kick Off was held today at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown Charlotte, commemorating that the convention is officially one year away. I'm going to be covering all-things-DNC in a new blog launching soon. But in the meantime, I thought I'd briefly share a few photos I snapped at today's pep-rally-style event, which drew more than 2,000 people. In the photos you'll see the large crowd, the newly revealed 2012 Democratic National Convention logo, Charlotteans clamoring to buy official merchandise (which sold out), and Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (with her signature curly hair) surrounded by media.

You can find more details on the 2012 Democratic National Convention website, www.demconvention.com, and the Charlotte Host Committee website, www.charlottein2012.com.

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Mayor Foxx Is Charlotte

The 2011 Charlotte Labor Day Parade made its way through the streets of Uptown today. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, who is seeking a second term this November, marched in the parade with his son, surrounded by several of his campaign supporters. Mayor Foxx, as you might know, is a Charlotte native (you don't tend to run into too many of those around here because they're greatly outnumbered by transplants), and he's a West Charlotte High and Davidson College (and NYU) grad. I've always felt that he has a unique and valuable perspective on this city because he's from here, has lived here most of his life, has watched Charlotte grow, and for the last several years has helped lead that growth.

Photo by Jonathan Webber.

His campaign committee posted photos from the parade onto his Facebook page tonight. You can view them at facebook.com/AnthonyFoxx09 (or directly by clicking on this link to the album). I just wanted to point out one of the photos in particular because in it you can see that he's dressed in a The Coffee Cup T-shirt and Carolina Panthers cap. That's Charlotte.

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C-SPAN's Spending the Week In Charlotte

Details below are edited from press release.

C-SPAN is visiting Charlotte for a week starting today, as it chronicles the history and literary life of the city for the cable network’s non-fiction book channel (BookTV on C-SPAN2) and history channel (American History TV on C-SPAN3). Charlotte is one of eight cities being featured in a special series called the LCV Cities Tour. The tour is given this name because C-SPAN producers are travelling in specially designed Ford Transit Connect vehicles, which they're calling Local Content Vehicles (LCVs), that are equipped with digital cameras, editing and other recording technologies, and each member of the LCV team is able to shoot and edit video on location as well as make presentations to the community about the work they do for the network.

C-SPAN Team: Mark Farkas, Tiffany Rocque, Adrienne Hoar, and Deborah Lamb. [Source]

During the week, C-SPAN producers will visit various literary and historic sites, interviewing local historians, authors and civic leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan. The C-SPAN team will also visit area schools, including Central Piedmont Community College, Providence Day School, and McClintock Middle School. C-SPAN is partnering with Time Warner Cable, the network’s local affiliate, which is helping to organize the week’s many logistics.

A Tuesday, August 30 public kick-off event will be held at Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive, with opening remarks at 6:30 p.m. from Time Warner Cable, C-SPAN, and representatives of Charlotte Museum of History. The event keynote speaker is local author and Levine Museum of the New South historian, Dr. Tom Hanchett. He'll discuss Charlotte’s unique history and other topics included in his book Sorting Out the New South City and his most recent work, Salad Bowl Suburbs: A History of Charlotte's East Side and South Boulevard Immigrant Corridors.

The kick-off event will air along with C-SPAN’s other productions during a special Charlotte feature the weekend of September 24-25 on BookTV and American History TV. For more details, visit www.c-span.org/LocalContent.

In the video below, Mark Farkas, C-SPAN executive producer and LCV project manager, explains why they're visiting cities like Charlotte.

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Urban League to Honor Leaders on May 21

The Urban League of Central Carolinas will hold its 2011 Leadership Awards on Saturday, May 21, 8 p.m. at The Omni Hotel (132 E. Trade St.). The recipients, who are being honored by the ULCC's Young Professionals Auxiliary, are Nepherterra Estrada, partner and director of public relations at Pride Public Relations; Anthony Foxx, mayor of Charlotte; and Rod Garvin, consultant, business development, and marketing. The event will be hosted by Rahman Khan, of GoodWorks TV, and feature entertainment by R&B/jazz band Innertywned.

Click on flyer for larger view.

I've witnessed firsthand the work of each of the three people being honored, and they've all contributed to Charlotte becoming a more vibrant, inclusive, and progressive city.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 or two for $60. The price will be $45 at the door. Click here for more details, including bios on the recipients, and to purchase tickets.

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JCSU Breaks Ground on Mosaic Village

On Friday I attended Johnson C. Smith University's ground breaking ceremony for Mosaic Village, the university's ambitious project to help revitalize the northwest corridor along West Trade Street and Beatties Ford Road. Mosaic Village is planned as a mixed-use development that will include 300 student apartments, retail space, and a parking deck. It's being constructed at 1601 West Trade St., which is next to The Arts Factory, JCSU's first off-campus facility that opened last fall. The ground breaking for Mosaic Village was actually followed by an official ribbon cutting for The Ats Factory and attendees were given a tour. This was all part of JCSU's Founder's Week Celebration.

JCSU broke ground on Mosaic Village on Friday.

This project is the latest effort in JCSU President Dr. Ronald L. Carter's vision to lead his historically black university beyond its traditionally closed gates and to not only improve the community around it, but to also strengthen the school's connection to Charlotte as a whole. Carter says he'd like to see Mosaic Village opened in 14 months, but that won't come without challenges, including a $4 million funding gap that the university has asked the City of Charlotte to assist with.

Below is video I captured from Friday's ground breaking ceremony. There were a lot of people in attendance showing their support, including Mayor Anthony Foxx, City Councilman James Mitchell, Charlotte Center City Partners President Michael Smith, members of the Griffin family who own the land, and plenty of community and business leaders, alumni, and neighborhood residents. It's not often that you see such a variety of people coming together on this part of town.

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Town Hall Meeting this Saturday to Address Childhood Obesity in the African-American Community

The Links, Incorporated, a national organization of professional women of color, is hosting a town hall meeting on "Addressing Childhood Obesity in the African-American Community." The event takes place this Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Mint Museum Uptown (500 S. Tryon St.).

The Charlotte Chapter and the Crown Jewels Chapter of The Links are holding this town hall meeting as part of the national initiative their organization created to address obesity in children and families. The town hall meeting is meant to not only educate those in attendance, but to also offer opportunities for the community to get involved in tackling this serious health issue. A panel of local leading health professionals in the areas of education, health, food and nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, and social services will each discuss obesity issues prevalent in African-American youth.

A continental breakfast/lunch will be served and door prizes will be given away. There will also be a "Biggest Loser Contest." Confirmed speakers include: Mayor Anthony Foxx; Barbara Pellin, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Cheryl Emmanuel, Mecklenburg County Health Department; Gardner Hawkins, Melange Health Solution; Rodney Adams, Department of Social Services; Eric Watson, Food Lion; Reggie McAfee, Cross-Country for Youth; and Dr. A.Q. Queen, UNC Charlotte.

The Links, Incorporated has formed a National Commission on Childhood Obesity Prevention and unveiled a policy brief, "Childhood Obesity in the African-American Community: Issues and Policy Recommendations from an African American Perspective," by Dr. Jada Moore Ruffin; a children's activity book; and The Kid's Editon, a curriculum designed to help chapters plan the program content of childhood obesity programs. The organization has received corporate support for these efforts, including a $35,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support community outreach related to childhood obesity, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation contributed a grant of $300,000 to assist with documenting the prevalence of obesity amongst African-American children. Find out more about this initiative at www.linksinc.org.

If you have any questions about Saturday's event, contact Tiffany L. Jones, publicity chair, at 201-304-2933 or digitaldivasinc@gmail.com.

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I Think The New York Times Thinks Charlotte Will Win Bid for 2012 DNC

Today's New York Times features a rundown of the pros and cons of the four cities that are finalists to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The Times leads off with Charlotte (referencing Mayor Anthony Foxx) in the article, "Cities Compete for 2012 Democratic Convention," and it links to mini-profiles of each of the cities, which also include Cleveland, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Having grown up in a small town in South Carolina, where nothing major ever really happened, I tend to be a fan of big, shiny events coming to the city in which I live. If it was up to me, Charlotte would host the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, Summer Olympics, Comic-Con, NAI Auto Show, and a few others all in one year. Okay, that's absurd. But what's not absurd is Charlotte's chances at hosting the coveted DNC, which would pump tens of millions of dollars into the local economy and literally place the city on the world's stage.

After reading The New York Times' breakdown and their "Pick It" and "Skip It" criteria, I would say that if Charlotte doesn't win the bid, the next likeliest choice is St. Louis. But if it came down to CLT and STL (as it has been rumored to be), we should remind Obama and 'em that St. Louis was recently ranked as the most dangerous city in America. I'm surprised the Times didn't mention that in the "Skip It" category.

As the newspaper points out, Democrats were expected to make an announcement this month regarding the host city. Who knows if it will happen by then, which could be a heckuva Christmas present for the Queen City.

If you didn't know, months ago Charlotte boosters created a website to publicize their efforts to attract the DNC. You can find it at CharlotteIn2012.com, which includes links to their social media sites.

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Mayor Foxx and Wife Launch Initiative to Combat Childhood Obesity

I received the following today in a press release:

Mayor Anthony Foxx and Samara Foxx will help launch a new initiative today, “Charlotte, Get Your Move On!” The initiative, which will tackle the issue of childhood obesity, kicks off at this evening’s movie premiere of The Fat Boy Chronicles at UNC Charlotte’s Student Union.

Based on the book by Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan, the movie follows 14 year-old Jimmy as he enters his freshman year of high school and chronicles his struggle with bullying and obesity.

The local community effort is modeled after the nationwide campaign, “Let’s Move” (www.letsmove.gov).

For more information, contact Erica Johnson at ericajohnson@charlottenc.gov or 704-336-3438.

Launch of Charlotte, Get Your Move On!
Wednesday, June 2, 6:30 p.m.
UNC Charlotte Student Union
8845 Craver Road
Multipurpose Room, third floor

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'A Day in the Life of Charlotte'

One minute and 40 seconds is all it takes to show what that the Charlotte area has to offer. But there's a lot.

Visit Charlotte and its marketing division, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), have created a new video for its "Charlotte's got a lot" campaign. Titled "Welcome to Charlotte," this is one of the best visual portrayals of the city I've ever seen. If you've never visited Charlotte, it'll make you want to plan a trip ASAP. If you live here, it should remind you how lucky you are.

While the video starts off with an alarm clock going off at 7 a.m.--something we all dread--it rapidly takes you through dozens of passing scenes of attractions in Charlotte and the surrounding area: the airport, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Convention Center, light rail, restaurants, several theaters and museums, Billy Graham Library, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lake Norman, Carowinds, U.S. National Whitewater Center, The Golf Club at Ballantyne, Carolina Panthers fans inside Bank of America Stadium, and nightlife at both the EpiCentre and NC Music Factory. Plus, there are formal greetings from Winston Kelley (NASCAR Hall), Mayor Anthony Foxx, Tim Newman (CRVA), Richard Childress, and Michael Jordan.

See the video below.

For more, visit www.charlottesgotalot.com.

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Charlotte's Mayoral Candidates Busy this Month

Democratic candidate Anthony Foxx and Republican candidate John Lassiter are participating in several public events this month to help you decide who you want to be Charlotte's next mayor. Below is a schedule released by Foxx's campaign. Foxx and Lassiter will be facing off in each of these events.

Tuesday, October 6, 7-8 p.m.
Debate
Host: Charlotte Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees)
Location: Holiday Inn Center City, 230 North College St.

Wednesday, October 7, 1-3 p.m.
Debate
Host: Charlotte Chamber
Location: Pinehurst Golf & Country Club

Wednesday, October 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
Forum, to be rebroadcast on WFAE
Host: Queens University
Location: Dana Auditorium, Queens University, 1900 Selwyn Ave.

Thursday, October 8, 12-1:30 p.m.
Forum
Host: Mecklenburg County Bar Association
Location: First Presbyterian Church, 200 W. Trade St.

Thursday, October 8, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Forum
Host: Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance
Location: Dowd YMCA, 400 E. Morehead St.

Friday, October 9, 7-8:15 p.m.
Forum
Host: First Ward Neighborhood Group
Location: Trinity Episcopal School, 750 E. Ninth St.

Tuesday, October 13, 7-8:30 p.m.
Forum
Host: East Charlotte
Location: Amity Presbyterian Church, 2831 N. Sharon Amity Rd.

Wednesday, October 14, 7:30-9 p.m.
Debate
Host: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Location: Ramses Temple, 4919 Beatties Ford Rd.

Monday, October 19, 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Debate (luncheon)
Host: Values for America
Location: Myers Park UMC, 1501 Queens Rd.

Tuesday, October 20, 7-8 p.m.
Debate, televised on WBTV
Host: Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Location: Sam Lerner Center, Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Rd.

Thursday, October 22, 8-11 a.m.
Forum
Host: Council on Aging
Location: WTVI, 3242 Commonwealth Ave.

Thursday, October 22, 7:30–9 p.m.
Forum
Host: Helping Empower Local People (HELP)
Location: Providence UMC, 2810 Providence Rd.

Tuesday, October 27, 12-1:30 p.m.
Forum
Host: Rotary Club of Charlotte
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 201 S. McDowell St.

Wednesday, October 28, 5-8 p.m.
Debate, televised live on WCNC
Host: WCNC and The Charlotte Observer
Location: McGlohon Theatre, 130 N. Tryon St.

For more info on Foxx, visit www.anthonyfoxx.com.

For Lassiter, visit www.votelassiter.com.

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10 Reasons Why Anthony Foxx Will Be Charlotte's Next Mayor

I attended the "Young Professionals for Anthony Foxx Meet and Greet" that was held at Loft 1523 on last evening. A crowd of about 150 young professionals turned out to mingle, network, and hear Foxx discuss his platform.

Foxx speaking at a campaign event earlier this year.

Based on what I heard and saw last evening, here are 10 reasons why I believe City Councilman Anthony Foxx will be elected Charlotte's next mayor this November.

• Foxx and his campaign are taking several pages from President Barack Obama's campaign playbook. And the most important chapter is on the importance of mobilizing people on the ground.
• Not to draw too many Obama comparisons, but Foxx is talking a lot about change, which is something that struck a chord with voters last November.
• Foxx is a Democrat, and that party is ascending in Charlotte.
• This election, unfortunately, will end up being about race. Race won't be the only factor, but it will play a pivotal role. Foxx is seeking to become just Charlotte's second African-American mayor, a feat not accomplished since Harvey Gantt was elected in 1983. Charlotte's voting demographic has changed a lot since then, which will work in Foxx's favor. He will easily garner the African-American vote and from what I could see from the enthusiastic crowd last evening, he'll probably get a large percentage of the white vote as well. The Hispanic vote may prove to be the deciding factor in this election.
• No more McCrory. Pat McCrory, a Republican and Charlotte's longest serving mayor in history, announced last year that he would not be seeking an eighth term. This not only propelled Foxx to decide to run, but with the unbeatable McCrory (in mayoral elections anyway) out of the picture it has opened the door for a Democrat to take the seat, which they haven't held since Gantt.
• Foxx is young (38) and will be able to connect easier with the all-important 18 to 35 vote. Charlotte, by the way, is the third fastest-growing city for people ages 25 to 39.
• His platform, as he talked briefly about at the event, focuses heavily on creating opportunities for all Charlotteans, creating jobs, improving education for children, and preaching social responsibility. While Foxx's opponents will also talk a lot about job creation, which will resonate with residents during this recession, his other issues show that he wants to unite people and I think that's what Charlotteans want right now.
• His campaign video is inspiring.
• He has a beautiful family (a wife and two kids).
• And the number one reason Anthony Foxx will be elected Charlotte's next mayor: He's a Charlotte native with a terrific story. Not only do we not encounter many Charlotte natives these days (I always say that only 2 out of every 10 people I meet in Charlotte are actually from here), but we have even fewer in leadership positions. Foxx has a great story that shows what a person can accomplish with hard work, talent, and ambition. As he remarked last evening, he grew up in a neighborhood off Beatties Ford Road, where he wasn't expected to succeed. After graduating from West Charlotte High School, he then went on to graduate from Davidson College (where he served as student body president), and got his law degree from NYU. He's been a successful attorney for the last 13 years, and a city councilman since 2005.

For more on Foxx's campaign, visit www.anthonyfoxx.com.

If you want to learn about his opponent, Republican John Lassiter, visit www.votelassiter.com.

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