An Evening with Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough in Charlotte - April 17

Like clockwork (but without a clock), I wake up almost every morning around 6 a.m. It usually doesn't matter what time I would have gone to bed the night before; my body is going to force me to open my eyes some time within that morning hour. But I don't mind it too much because I don't actually get out of bed at that time (no way). Instead, I usually turn on the TV and tune in to Morning Joe on MSNBC. I'm a big fan of Mika Brzezinski (okay, so yeah, it's sort of a crush), and Joe Scarborough is a likeable chum too.

Joe on the left, Mika on the right, but that's opposite of their political views.
Photo credit: facebook.com/MorningJoe

Well, we can see the two Morning Joe co-hosts in person, and at a very suitable hour, on Thursday, April 17, during "An Evening with Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough." You can expect the two of them to offer their usual mix of wit, intelligence, and candor on a range of topics, not the least of which is politics (he's the Republican, she's the Democrat). The event takes place at 7 p.m. at Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 S. Tryon Street. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased through CarolinaTix.

The event is being brought to you by The Learning Society of Queens, a group of leading citizens from the Charlotte area who provide funding for this national speaker series held annually at Queens University of Charlotte.

Note: This event was originally scheduled to take place two months earlier, but due to #snOMG #CLT back in February, it was rescheduled for April.

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RSVP Now for 2013 Candidates Reception

All politics is local. And local elections are more important than many people realize or give attention to. No, there isn't a presidential or state governor's race on next month's election ballot (or a plethora of political ads bombarding you during TV commercial breaks). But there are several candidates vying for public offices whose decisions, if elected, will affect your every day life. And you have the chance to meet many of them in person in one evening.

As they've done for the last several years on the eve of elections, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance (HTA) are partnering to present the 2013 Candidates Reception on Thursday, October 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Belk Action Center inside the Charlotte Chamber (330 S. Tryon St.). The free event will feature numerous local candidates for elected offices, including mayors for Charlotte and towns in Mecklenburg County (Huntersville, Matthews, Pineville, etc.), Charlotte City Council at-large and district seats, town council seats, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board.

Scene at the 2011 Candidates Reception. Photo by Jon Strayhorn/Media Arts Collective.

This will also be a great opportunity to network, since there will be a packed house of business and civic leaders and young professionals. Plus, the event will feature complimentary food and drinks from local restaurants.

The Candidates Reception is free and open to the public, but registration is required. If you plan to attend, be sure to register ASAP before it reaches capacity.

And as always, visit meckboe.org if you have any questions about the November 5th General Election in Mecklenburg County, including the list of candidates, voting locations, and more. The deadline to register to vote is this Friday, October 11, by the way.

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Potential North Carolina Bumper Stickers, Inspired by State Legislature, Courtesy of Comedian TV Hosts

North Carolina has become the butt of jokes, thanks to extreme policies and laws either recently proposed or passed by the state legislature (North Carolina General Assembly). While many of these measures are no laughing matter--new gun, abortion, and voter ID laws to name a few--they have become great fodder for late-night TV show hosts.

Below are a few clips from segments that have aired over the past week. I pulled a quote from each one that, if it would happen to appear on a bumper sticker, wouldn't look too fondly for N.C.

Last night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, fill-in host John Oliver said: "North Carolina's voter ID law is just the tip of a true sh*tberg of the legislative session."

Friday night on Real Time with Bill Maher, Bill said: "North Carolina, right now, is going ape sh*t in a way no state ever has."



Last Monday on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert said: "Who makes barbecue sauce with vinegar? That's what you use to clean a toilet, and when I say toilet I mean Charlotte." (Commentary on N.C. begins at 4:07 mark.)

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The DNC's $54K Blackberry and $30K iPhone

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance released a report last Tuesday that analyzed the work of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department during last year's Democratic National Convention. The 67-page report is titled, "Command, Control, and Coordination: A Quick-Look Analysis of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Operations during the 2012 Democratic National Convention," and while it highlights what CMPD did right and where the department failed, for the most part the feds believe our boys in blue did a good job. It's estimated that as many as 75,000 people visited Charlotte that week for the convention, and there were no major incidents reported and only 25 people were arrested--a great feat considering the number of protesters and the concern that was expressed by local and federal officials during the months leading up to it (read here and here).

Credit: bja.gov

The same day the DOJ released its report, CMPD released one detailing how it spent the $50 million federal grant (click here for the item-by-item list of expenses) it received to provide security during the DNC (if you'll recall, Tampa received the same grant for Republican National Convention security). Shortly after reviewing the report, several media outlets published articles that focused on some of the billed items, ranging from the $1.76 million spent on a wireless video camera system to the $450 shelled out for horse manure removal.

Then by the end of last week, media became intrigued by the publishing of a police report that was filed last month with CMPD by the Democratic National Convention Host Committee for lost and stolen electronics. Most of the 41 items listed on the nine-page report are things like mobile phones, laptops, and iPads. That's understandable considering the thousands of special personnel who worked during the convention (most of them brought in from out of town) and the thousands of pieces of equipment they were sharing. It's inevitable that some items would go missing.

But where the DNC has some explaining to do is why a reportedly stolen 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop is listed on the report as being valued at $75,537, an iPhone at $30,503, and a lost Blackberry at $54,250. The values of several items are grossly inflated on the report, including many laptops listed above $25,000, and to the extent that the 41 missing electronics are totaled at $465,142.97.

Maybe each of those iPads, MacBooks, and the like had special diamond-encrusted presidential seals on them to commemorate the re-nomination of President Barack Obama?

So far, I don't believe representatives from either the DNC or CMPD have commented on the missing items report.

Bling-bling, ring-ring. Credit: techflyover.org

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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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Gastonia (and N.C. BBQ) Featured on HBO's 'Veep'

If you were watching last night's episode of Veep on HBO, then you surely noticed that Gastonia played a large role in the comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It was episode 10 of the show (season two, episode two), and Julia's character, Selina Meyer, the first female vice president of the United States, received orders from POTUS to attend a North Carolina pig-pickin' as part of their new Listen to Rural America Program, "U.S. Hey!" The pig-pickin' was in Gastonia.

Around these parts, we love for our cities and towns to get TV time, even if in fictional shows (Showtime's Homeland and Cinemax's Banshee, for example), but I'm not sure how Gastonian's feel about their portrayal in Veep. In one scene, while aboard Air Force Two on her way to Gastonia, the fictional vice president says she doesn't want to get "stuck talking pig sh*t with people who use hay as furniture." You had to laugh at that.

Another portrayal the show embarks on is the long-running, heated debate on North Carolina barbecue, by choosing a pig roast in Gastonia to attend. N.C. BBQ got thrust into the national spotlight when the real First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, announced that Charlotte had been awarded the 2012 Democratic National Convention, saying that: "Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an "up by the bootstraps" mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South. Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue."

I wrote extensively about the DNC for a year, so I saw how often N.C. barbecue was brought into political circles and conversations. Veep does a good job of mimicking things politicians actually do, but with more of a hilarious exaggeration. Like, politicians really do go campaigning at North Carolina barbecue events: read my past DNC blog post, which includes a recap of the annual Mallard Creek Barbecue; and last June I begged national media to stop talking about N.C. BBQ; and even more fitting, in October 2010, a New York Times reporter visited a Pig Pickin’ and Politickin’ rally in Huntersville, hosted by a Republican women’s club.

At a recent Levine Museum of the New South event, the Uptown museum featured an Eastern vs. Western North Carolina barbecue tasting and competition.

We take our barbecue seriously around here. Veep got that much right.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Community Meetings April 16 and 22 to Discuss 2013-14 Budget Proposal

Last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison presented his budget proposal for the 2013-2014 school year to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. Morrison's 46-page proposal, titled "Advancing The Way Forward," requests a $28.5 million, or 8 percent, increase, for a total of $365.9 million from the county (CMS has a budget of more than $1.1 billion, including money from the county, state, and federal government).

Morrison is nearing the end of his first year as CMS superintendent, after serving in that role at the school district in Reno, Nevada (he was named national superintendent of the year while there). I saw him speak at a Charlotte Chamber luncheon last August and I was impressed with his perspectives on how he would improve Charlotte schools.

Superintendent Heath Morrison. Credit: CMS

A little more than a third of the additional $28.5 million Morrison is requesting would go toward improving technology in schools: increasing wireless Internet capability, adding projection systems in all classrooms, and creating mobile tech labs. Three million dollars would be used to hire 36 facilitators or academic coaches to help teachers improve their skills; $1.2 million would fund after-school and summer programs to help about 5,000 kindergarten through third grade students improve their reading skills; $900,000 would be used to hire 10 people to coordinate community partnerships at 40 to 50 schools and a volunteer coordinator to work district-wide; along with requests for money to create six new magnet programs, as well as money to cover fees for students taking advancement placement tests (source: The Charlotte Observer).

Those all seem like important and worthwhile requests, that I could see myself supporting once I learn more about them. But $28.5 million is a lot of money, and county commissioners have said they might not have the funds to spare, and that they're already having to make cuts to other county-funded programs. Plus, some people might view this as throwing money at the educational problems, when that doesn't always work. But you know what? You, the citizens of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, need to voice your opinions.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is holding two community meetings to discuss the 2013-14 budget proposal. 

• April 16, 6-7:30 p.m. at West Charlotte High School, 2216 Senior Drive
• April 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at Rocky River High School, 10905 Clear Creek Commerce Drive

Superintendent Morrison and members of the executive staff team will present information on the budget priorities and facilitate a question-and-answer session. CMS will provide an interactive technology tool that will allow participants to ask questions and provide feedback from their mobile phones and tablets. It would be a good idea that you looked over the proposal before you attended. Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation. Click here for more info on the meetings.

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Will Riding Charlotte's Light Rail Turn You Into an Alcoholic?

I have three meetings today: the first was a lunch meeting in South End, followed by a project meeting in Uptown, and this evening I have another meeting in South End (I'm writing this blog post during my downtime in between). So I figured I'd take the light rail from South End to Uptown and then back again once I'm done for the day and ready to go home. Riding the LYNX Blue Line today gave me the first opportunity to see one of the liquor ads that stirred up much controversy when the plans were announced last year.

If you'll recall, last August, The Charlotte Observer reported that for the first time ever, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) would begin selling alcohol--beer and liquor--advertising on the sides of city buses and trains to generate much-needed revenue to offset rising operating costs. This infuriated Charlotte City Council, who said they weren't aware of the decision and they expressed concern about children and recovering addicts who would see the ads. By late October, a compromise had been reached to begin selling the alcohol ads. I'm not sure when the first liquor ad appeared on the light rail, but I saw one for the first time this afternoon for Baileys.

Credit: My Windows Phone

"Your Chariot Awaits, Madame," reads the large headline on the Baileys ad that covers the light rail car I boarded. I don't have a problem with it, and, in fact, I feel that the accompanying "Enjoy Baileys Responsibly" tagline could help encourage people to use public transportation rather than driving after leaving bars and nightclubs if they've had too much to drink.

And, this particular ad looks cool. Big-city like, even (and you know how much Charlotte desires to be viewed as a big city). What are your thoughts on the whole alcohol-ads-on-public-transit thing?

By the way, I realize this is the second liquor-related post I've written in as many weeks (here's the other), but there's no cause concern (Mom).

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ABC Stores in N.C. -- The Letter and Spirit of the Law

People have had gripes with their governments since the beginning of civilized societies. But I would think criticism of government is at an all-time high, whether it's people complaining about government on the federal, state, or local level. All we seem to hear is that government is too big, meanwhile things like sequestration are happening and budgets for important programs are getting cut along with jobs. But there's one thing in Charlotte, and in North Carolina as a whole, I don't seem to notice people being too concerned about: the fact that all the liquor stores are government-run.

To be specific, in North Carolina, liquor stores, or retail spirit stores as they're called, are operated by Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) boards in individual counties. So in Charlotte, the liquor stores are ran by the Mecklenburg County ABC Board--there are currently 24 stores throughout the county. If you live here, I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know. Well, you might not know the legalities of it, but you know that any time you want to buy a bottle of liquor from retail--your favorite vodka, tequila, gin, rum, or the like--you have to get it from a store with the big, illuminated ABC Spirits sign.

 Credit: My Windows Phone

This is the first state I've lived in where the liquor stores are government-run, even if it is on the county level, and I've just always thought that was weird. And this is coming from a guy who grew up in South Carolina where we have some of the most archaic laws, commonly referred to as blue laws. But even in the Palmetto State, liquor stores are owned by private business owners, even if there are tough restrictions on what times liquor can be sold.

This evening, I made a quick stop into the ABC store that's only about five minutes from my house. It's one of the newest in the city and is located across the street from a Walmart. Whenever I'm in there (which isn't too often, but hey, what if I go every day--mind your business), I always think about how liquor sales is such big business. And how come the conservatives or, better yet, people like the Tea Partiers, aren't complaining that government is taking away money that should be going to small business owners? Yeah, I know Meck ABC loves to tout how much of its profits go back into the community. But Americans care more about capitalism. Or is it okay for our liquor stores to be socialists?

Fancy display I saw inside the ABC store this evening. Credit: My Windows Phone

The one thing I will say that I'm pleased with that's a direct result of the ABC stores here being run by the government, is that they're some of the cleanest, well-maintained businesses you'll find. And they're usually placed in appropriate locations, oftentimes in or near shopping centers. Basically what I'm saying is we don't have to worry about having filthy, corner liquor stores in the hood.

The ABC boards were established in North Carolina in the 1930s, but in this new era we're living in when government officials can't decide on budgets, and people are saying that government is too big, maybe county governments in North Carolina should have one less thing to be responsible for. And the liquor stores should be returned to the people. Who's going to drink to that?

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'I Want to Take a Look One More Time. I'm Not Going to See this Again.' Neither Will I...

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber," it is believed to have been said by Greek philosopher Plato more than 2000 years ago. He truly was a genius to have foreseen the world of politics we live in today. I write a lot, as my profession requires, and I have strong views on things, which my blogs afford me the opportunity to express. And while I cover politics among the many different topics I write about, I don't engage in political rhetoric, nor do I challenge others on their political views (I'm not FOX News or MSNBC). Yet, I'm more intrigued by politics today than ever.

I've long been a news junkie, since I became engrossed in my courses at the J-School at the University of South Carolina more than a decade ago. But it was when I began covering the 2012 Democratic National Convention that my interest in politics reached new heights. As you might have seen me reference before, I wrote "The DNC In The CLT" blog for Charlotte magazine for an entire year, from September 2011 to September 2012. It was a tremendous experience for the city of Charlotte to host the DNC, as well as for us local journalists who jumped at every press release and announcement from the Democratic National Convention Committee, which was comprised of  a couple hundred staffers, many of whom had relocated to Charlotte from other parts of the country and lived here for more than a year, and from the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee, which were the mostly-local officials. All things considered, they put on a great convention (my recap), regardless of whether you supported their renomination of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

President Obama being sworn in Monday at the inauguration. Credit: facebook.com/barackobama

Over the last few weeks, I received daily emailed press releases from the press office of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee, just as I had for months from the DNCC and Charlotte in 2012. It made me miss those days of Charlotte being a pivotal part of the national political landscape. Reading the PIC announcements of committee co-chairs, guest speakers and performers, special events, parties, and galas, and high-profile politician and celebrity attendance (including many who came to Charlotte for the DNC), only reminded me how special an opportunity it was for Charlotte to have played a central role in the presidential election process.

The way I see it, there were three key components of the 2012 election, in terms of milestone events: the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte in September (and Republican National Convention in Tampa in August), the presidential election in November, and this week's 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.

I feel about the entire 2012 election cycle the way President Obama felt about the inauguration:

"I want to take a look one more time. I'm not going to see this again."—The President pausing at the Capitol yesterday twitter.com/BarackObama/st…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 22, 2013

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You Didn't Build That...A 'House United' Did

In early August, Craftsman announced its House United program, in which half of a house was going to be built during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, and the other half would be built during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, with plans to donate the completed house to a deserving military veteran. I wrote about it at the time on The DNC In The CLT blog for Charlotte magazine. Then last Wednesday, Ty Pennington and crew relatively quietly came into Charlotte to present the house--I say it was relatively quiet because it didn't receive much local news coverage. I learned of the event a few days later when coming across the press release in my email inbox. CNN covered the story the day it was presented to the family (October 17).

Craftsman, Ty Pennington, Rebuilding Together, Sears Heroes at Home, NextGen Home, and Bank of America, along with members of the Republican and Democratic parties all came together to make this project possible. The recipient of the new home, which is located in the Belmont community, is John Jones II, a U.S. Army veteran, and his wife Tanisha and their three children.

Ty Pennington with John and Tanisha Jones. Credit: facebook.com/craftsman.

After completing his military service, which included two tours of duty in the Middle East, John and his family relocated from Goldsboro, North Carolina to Charlotte where they initially found themselves homeless, according to a press release. With assistance from the American Legion, the Jones family was able to secure rental housing and assistance from the state. John is currently unable to work because of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but is receiving treatment to be able to someday return to work. "Support our troops" is often used in rhetoric, so it's great to see it actually happening.

Click here to see photos of the project on NextGen's Facebook page.

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Is Pat McCrory Hesitant to Say 'Charlotte' in TV Ads?

Pat McCrory was mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009, holding office for a city-record seven terms. In my opinion, he was an effective mayor and should be credited for spearheading and championing a lot of the successful growth Charlotte experienced during the last decade. His successor, Mayor Anthony Foxx, has done a good job as well and has helped lead the city out of the recession. See what I just did? I complimented two political leaders, one who's a Republican (McCrory) and one who's a Democrat (Foxx). I wish more of you what push your partisan views (and hate) aside and give credit where it's due. But on to my point.

McCrory is in the homestretch of his second run for governor of North Carolina. He lost to Bev Perdue in 2008. This time around, McCrory is facing Walter Dalton, the Democratic nominee and current lieutenant governor of the state. McCrory has a sizable lead in the polls I've seen, but the 2012 NC gubernatorial race will probably end up being closer, influenced by voter turnout and the majority of people voting straight-party. McCrory appears to be outspending Dalton, at least that's how it seems regarding the number of TV ads by him I've been seeing lately, which led to something else I noticed.

Does Pat McCrory have a problem saying "Charlotte"? Check out two of his recent commercials (here and here, or watch below), where he touts his tenure as mayor but doesn't name the city.

It seems odd to me that McCrory doesn't say Charlotte in those ads, which are two of the last three TV ads he's released. In the other one, Charlotte is mentioned, but by someone else, in that not-intended-to-be-funny-but-kinda-is-ad featuring former Wilson, NC Sheriff Wayne Gay, who says McCrory "did great as mayor of Charlotte. He'll do great with our state, or I'll hunt him down."

Perhaps McCrory is concerned about any perceived Charlotte stigma negatively affecting his appeal to voters across this large, diverse state of ours. Plus, former Charlotte mayors don't have a good track record of seeking higher office, such as Harvey Gantt's (D) two failed runs for U.S. Senate (1990 and 1996), Sue Myrick's (R) unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate in 1992 (though she would be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and hold that seat until she announced her retirement in 2012), Richard Vinroot's (R) three failed attempts to become NC governor (1996, 2000, and 2004) and McCrory's own unsuccessful 2008 run.

Still, c'mon Pat, represent for the Queen City!

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'E Pluribus Unum' Opening Reception with Respect My Vote! this Saturday

As you might've seen me talk about before, I'm a member of the Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Leadership Committee (HHC has leadership committees in 14 cities around the country). Through that involvement I'm helping organize an event this Saturday in partnership with UNC Charlotte Center City. It should be a great time, and you should come out. See details below.

E Pluribus Unum Opening Reception with Respect My Vote! 
Saturday, September 15, 6-10 p.m. | UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th St. 
Free and open to the public.

E Pluribus Unum, Latin for “out of many, one,” is the title of an exciting new art exhibit at UNC Charlotte Center City that explores the experience of pluralism in America, conveying the concept that diverse traditions, perspectives, and philosophies add value to the whole. UNC Charlotte has partnered with the Hip Hop Caucus’ Respect My Vote! initiative to host an interactive Opening Reception on Saturday, September 15 at 6 p.m. at UNC Charlotte Center City (320 E. 9th Street), free and open to the public.

The evening will feature performances by Mike from Day 26, Bettie Grind, and Mr. 704, along with spoken word by Quentin "Q" Talley in front of a melting ice sculpture depicting the Middle Class. A live digital lounge will be set up for attendees to discuss E Pluribus Unum pieces, enabling them to post messages and images to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, using the #RespectMyVote and #EPluribus hashtags. A photo booth by Favors in a Flash will allow guests to take home complimentary photo keepsakes. Plus, complimentary wine and farm-to-fork cuisine provided by Harvest Moon Grille will be served during the first two hours of the evening.

E Pluribus Unum, presented by the College of Arts + Architecture and located at UNC Charlotte Center City, is a gathering of different cultures and expressions, including works by Michael Murphy of Georgia; the collaborative team Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese of New York; historical artists Arthur Mole and John Thomas; and Charlotte-based artists Barbara Schreiber, Grant Baldwin, Carrie Gault, and Jason Michel.

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Watch Live Stream of the Hip Hop Caucus' Respect My Vote! Town Hall with BET

The Hip Hop Caucus is hosting a Respect My Vote! Town Hall 2 p.m. today at Charlotte School of Law. It's sure to be a packed house, with the number of tickets distributed greatly surpassing the venue's capacity (seating will be on a first come, first served basis). But whether or not you're planning to come out today, you can watch the event live at www.livestream.com/hiphopcaucus, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. I'll actually be producing the live stream (I'm on the Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Leadership Committee). And better yet, Black Entertainment Television (BET) will be taping the event, with plans to air portions of it on 106 & Park.

This nonpartisan town hall event will highlight the concerns of young voters in preparation for this fall's election. Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, will moderate, and speakers include: Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Kevin Powell, nationally renowned activist, writer, and speaker; Big Mike, recording artist of the group Day 26; and Carrie Cook, local community activist and founder of the Youth EmpowHERment Summit. The event will be hosted by Nolimit Larry of Power 98, and Charlotte-based artists Bettie Grind and Mr. 704, along with A. Dot of Power 98, will host the live stream, in addition to spoken word poet Bluz delivering a performance. Celebrity guests are also expected to attend.

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The Democratic National Convention Has Arrived

It's been more than a year and a half--19 months to be exact--since Charlotte won the bid to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. All of the hard work and planning from DNCC and Host Committee staffs, volunteers, local businesses, media, and everyone in between, comes to fruition as the festivities begin.

For the past year, on Charlotte magazine's "The DNC In The CLT" blog, I've been chronicling what Charlotte has done to prepare for hosting the convention, in which President Barack Obama will formally accept the Democratic Party's nomination for reelection. This week, there will be more activity than ever on the DNC blog, with Charlotte magazine staffers contributing, and you can check out all of the magazine's related coverage at www.charlottemagazine.com/dnc.

Time Warner Cable Arena, where the major television news networks will broadcast this week, has been transformed into the Democrats' mecca for the convention. 
Credit: facebook.com/demconvention. 

One particular blog post you'll want to check out, if you haven't already, is a list of dozens of DNC Week events I compiled that are open to the public, ranging from free events like Monday's CarolinaFest in Uptown, to Tuesday's party at The Westin with President Bill Clinton and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas for $150 a ticket, to Wednesday's Victory reception at Dressler's (where I'm being honored with a Rising Star award), put on by the Young and Powerful Group, to closing night of the Democratic National Convention at Bank of America Stadium where President Obama will speak, but not until after the crowd is entertained by Foo Fighters, Mary J. Blige, Earth, Wind and Fire, James Taylor, Marc Anthony, and more. It's all on this list.

And finally, you can check me out on a couple of television appearances this week, sharing my insight about the Democratic National Convention. Watch me Monday, September 3, shortly after 6:30 a.m., on WCNC NewsChannel 36 (Charlotte’s NBC station), on the morning show. And Tuesday, I'll make an appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today, which airs at 11 a.m. Set your DVR!

My appearance a week and a half ago on WCNC's morning show.

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'Hard Truths' Is Exhibit You Must See, Especially If You Were Raised in the South

Two exhibits, each representing African-American culture and history, have recently opened at Uptown Charlotte museums. I had the privilege of checking out both of them—Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial at Mint Museum Uptown and America I AM: The African American Imprint at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. I'm sharing my thoughts on each exhibit in separate blog posts. Below is about Dial's.

Before I walked through Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial, I wasn't familiar with the artist or his work, so I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know I would see glimpses of my early childhood in rural South Carolina.

Dial is a self-taught artist who was born, raised, and has lived his entire life in rural Alabama. He's 84 years old now, and he was practically an elder gentleman when his art was discovered about 25 years ago, subsequently becoming a part of exhibits in the 1990s through today. He spent several decades doing what most blacks in the South of his generation did—worked on farms, in fields, and later in factories. Born a year before The Great Depression and living through Jim Crow and poverty, as you could imagine, he had very little opportunity for a formal education.

His story is what makes his artwork so amazing, to see how he's able to express social, political, cultural, and religious messages in such thought-provoking ways. He made masterpieces out of what's commonly referred to as "yard art," with many of his sculptures and large paintings comprised of materials that are usually relegated to landfills. Those scraps of wood, metal, and plastic reminded me of what I would often see throughout the acreage of my grandparents' yard in Rembert, South Carolina, when I was about five or six years old in the mid-1980s and my siblings and I would roam around the yard finding anything to play with, throwing stuff at chickens to make them scatter.

You find those scraps in Dial's pieces such as "The Beginning of Life in the Yellow Jungle" (2003), a 75-foot-by-112-foot painting made from plastic soda bottles, clothing, bedding, wire, metal, a doll, rubber glove, turtle shell, artificial flowers, and other materials on canvas. And in one of his most recognizable pieces, "Don't Matter How Raggly the Flag, It Still Got to Tie Us Together" (2003), a 71-foot-by-114-foot painting made from mattress coils, chicken wire, clothing, can lids, metal, plastic twine, wire, and more. The description accompanying it reads, in part: "In this piece, the image of a torn and ravaged United States flag symbolizes the struggle underlying American history and the quest for freedom, liberty, and equality. Created just after the start of the Iraq War, the painting is also a commentary on human conflict that turns the flag's patriotic red and white into festoons of bloody bandages on a gory battlefield."

"Don't Matter How Raggly the Flag..." is one of more than 30 Dial pieces on display.

Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial is on display until September 30 at Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St., www.mintmuseum.org.

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Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Holding Respect My Vote! Volunteer Training Saturday, June 16

The Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Leadership Committee is holding a volunteer training session for the 2012 Respect My Vote! campaign this Saturday, June 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Urban League of Central Carolinas (740 W. Fifth St.). This is your opportunity to get involved in the community and have a positive impact on voter turnout in this fall's election.

The Hip Hop Caucus is a national nonprofit organization, based in Washington D.C., and Respect My Vote! is its nonpartisan voter registration, mobilization, and education campaign targeting young people between the ages of 18 and 40, supported by a national coalition of two dozen organizations as well as leadership committees in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, and more. It doesn't matter what political party you support, whether you lean left or right, if you value the importance of voting and educating yourself on candidates and policies, then you should register to be a volunteer to help spread that message to others. Respect My Vote! isn't about telling people who to vote for, but to encourage them to vote and helping them to register--millions of people don't exercise this important constitutional right, especially young adults.

Credit: facebook.com/hiphopcaucus

The Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte will hold some exciting and informative community events in the coming months (some hosted by celebrities) that you can be part of the planning for. Click here to sign up for Saturday's volunteer training. I hope to see you there.

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#TCOT Coming to Charlotte for BlogCon CLT

Some of the nation's leading conservative (right-wing, Republican, and/or Tea Party supporters) bloggers and media personalities are converging in Charlotte this weekend for BlogCon CLT. Put on by FreedomWorks, a Washington, D.C.-based political organization that "fights for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom," this is the third BlogCon. The first was held in D.C. in 2010; the second was last year in Denver.

Dana Loesch is among the high-profile media personalities speaking at BlogCon CLT.

BlogCon CLT features two full days of speakers and training sessions this Friday and Saturday, April 20-21 at Hilton Charlotte Center City hotel. Notable scheduled speakers include Dana Loesch, contributing editor at breitbart.com, talk radio host, and CNN contributor; James O’Keefe, founder of Project Veritas who's most known for the undercover video that brought down ACORN; Stephen Moore, senior economics writer at The Wall Street Journal; Deneen Borelli, author of Blacklash: How Obama and the Left Are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation; Stephen Kruiser, comedian, writer, and host of Kruiser Control; and several others. They'll also pay tribute to Andrew Breitbart, who died unexpectedly last month at age 43.

Topics at the training and info sessions include: Data Visualization, Using YouTube Effectively, Slaying the Legacy Media, Pitching and Promoting your Work, Opposition Research: Digging up the Dirt, and more.

Some BlogCon CLT swag. Source: @TabithaHale.

For more details, visit blogconclt.com. And you can follow the action on Twitter with hashtag #BlogConCLT (some are also using #BlogCon12).

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#RespectMyVote, #Selma Bring Attention Today to Voting Rights; 2012 Campaign Launches April 4

The Hip Hop Caucus' Charlotte Leadership Committee is engaging the community in a social media campaign today to bring awareness to protecting voting rights and the importance of registering to vote. If you're on Twitter, please follow hashtags #RespectMyVote and #Selma and tweet your support (even if you don't have a Twitter account you can click on the links and read what's being said). You can also read about the effort in an article published today by Qcitymetro.com.

The Hip Hop Caucus is a national nonprofit organization, based in Washington D.C. and led by Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., with more than 650,000 supporters across all 50 states. Respect My Vote is its nonpartisan voter registration, mobilization, and education campaign targeting young people between the ages of 18 and 40. In regards to the Selma hashtag, today, March 7, is the anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, also known as Bloody Sunday, when several hundred voting rights activists and Civil Rights leaders attempted a 54-mile march but were met with force and brutality by the police. The efforts of these brave souls, however, would help lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Honoring important historical events such as this isn't about opening old wounds or harping on our country's ugly past of race relations. Instead it's about reminding young people today not to take our liberties, freedoms, and rights for granted because people literally died for them. In regards to voting rights in particular, we should both understand the importance of voting and educate ourselves on who and what we're voting for: North Carolina's Primary is May 8; get Charlotte/Mecklenburg County info here.

Also, on this week's episode of 282, one of our guests is Rod Garvin, member of the Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte Leadership Committee. He talks about honoring the Selma event and details the national 2012 Respect My Vote campaign that's launching April 4. (In the episode we also talk about the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners upcoming vacant three at-large seats with guest Amanda Raymond from the League of Women Voters. But it isn't all politics this week--we also feature John Morgan, who's leading an effort to replace the Bobcats name and bring the Hornets mascot back to Charlotte's NBA team).

In coming weeks, I'll provide more details on how you can get involved with the Respect My Vote campaign in Charlotte.

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