Charlotte: NC's ugly stepchild (Raleigh, Ruth: buying, high school, college)

[metro.m]

I also meant council instead of counsel. LOL

[adavi215]

Concerningg, the race issue, I agree with McCrory in what he said. I agree with urbancharlotte and I wonder why he did not cite the problems of a race that has their executives killing their children or becoming pedophiles? The problem is not race but SES, family structure, and safety in the neighborhood. As stated earlier, if you pick out problems in one group but not the other, it makes sense why some would think you're a racist. I don't think McCrory is racist, just made some stupid comments. I wanted to vote for McCrory as gov. because he was from Charlotte, but I did not find anything in his platfrom that I could really support. They weren't bad, but I am a democrat and I could not find anything in the middle. I guess he was fighting hard to get the conservative vote in NC. A big mistake I think.

But going back to the original topic, I wonder if NCians think of Charlotte as comparable to Pat.

[adavi215]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Anything west of Hickory just isn't on their radar.

But Asheville is developing way too fast as is. If I wanted to live in a place like Charlotte or Atlanta with all the sprawl and traffic, I'd move there.

I agree Asheville is developing fast. With what urbancharlotte said, there are tons of roads comparable to Charlotte and I think Asheville is the size of Gastonia. Gastonia is no where near Asheville's level. I think Asheville has the potential to develop into the next big thing in NC, surpassing Fayetteville, if it hasn't already.

[anifani821]

Whew. What a discussion we have had . . .

The issue at hand is . . . borders . . . and what changing the borders might mean . . . and Charlotte's role as the largest city in NC (wh/ also makes us the richest, highest tax producing city in NC) . . . and for all I know . . . Charlotte may be a bigger tax revenue producer than any city in South Carolina, as well. I don't know that - but it is possible.

The discussion turned to secession, wh/ is a quite interesting line of thought . . .

There are several comments that came up about Mayor Pat, wh/ led to reasons why some in the black community decided to vote against him. A rebuttal ensued. But a very interesting comment was made that no one addresssed and wh/ I personally think is at the core of why McCrory did not get elected Gov. Someone said - blacks in the eastern part of the state would not vote for McCrory b/c of remarks he made about blacks here in CLT. Hmmmmmmm. Well that was quite revealing. And it suggests the majority of blacks do exactly what demographers have been saying for decades - they vote against people as a BLOCK and here in NC, blacks are registered DEMS so they are a major factor in why DEMS stay in power in the eastern part of the state. Pretty nonsensical as what have those legislators done for black communities that would inspire such loyalty?

And that gets to why things are so screwy in this state. We have legislators in the east who control the budget committees and vote in blocks to create obstacles for Charlotte.

Which brings us to why Charlotte should secede. And additionally, brings us to the crime problems here in CLT and why the black community refuses to discuss the real issues and DO SOMETHING meaningful to address them, other than point fingers and blame shift. The core issues are . . . drugs and absent parents. Those situations have given rise to THUGS who are terrorizing EVERYONE - regardless of race.

Now, if Charlotte were to become the capitol of Carolina . . . what would that mean as far as crime? We would appoint judges tough on crime. That would be one thing. But what about the home grown THUGS - how is that ever going to change? Anyone who points out the real issues is confronted w/ protests and requests for politically correct language (Now, now - we have TROUBLED YOUTH and it is not POLITE to call them thugs, even tho they have shot and killed people and would rob their own grandmother to get drug money. But now, give 'em a hug, cause they are TROUBLED). How bout getting off their a$$es and getting jobs? How about a culture that demands kids stay in school and get a high school degree (and leave the knives and guns at home?) I mean, COME ON. I don't care what color you are . . . you should be getting an education and working towards finding a way to get prepared for a JOB.

The black community sure came together to vote for Obama. And why? He is going to bring CHANGE, I kept hearing. Bring Change. Now how do you Bring Change. Change is internal. Until people (regardless of color) make that decision to CHANGE THEMSELVES, would someone explain to me how Obama or anyone else is gonna "Bring Change."

So we can secede and claim our own tax revenue and improve the infrastructure in the western part of the state . . . and we can appoint judges who are tough on crime (after a crime has been committed and once the thugs responsible are brought to justice). But how is seceding gonna Bring Change to the situation we have w/ crime unless the people committing the crime decide to CHANGE. How is Obama as President, for that matter, gonna CHANGE crime in this city? Oh, Oh, yeah, Thugs are gonna say to themselves . . . "oh, wow, I can't let President Obama down cause he is black like me. I am going to decide to be a contributing member of society b/c President Obama is my new role model." Right.

So while we are putting together this secession plan, and since it is obvious the black community believes they have special concerns - why doesn't the black community step up w/ a plan for how they are going to Bring Change? I mean - that is really what it all comes down to, isn't it? So where's the plan. We need to know The Plan so we can incorporate it into any secession plans . . . cause every citizen has to buy into secession to make it work.

Theoretically speaking, of course.

[anifani821]

Well, I see I got things mixed up on my own thread, LOL!!! That's a first.

We have theoretically discussed (on another thread) that NC should secede and make CLT the new capitol of a new state - cause that seems to be the only way we will ever get the benefit of the tax revenue generated by our own County . . .

So sorry if I confused any of you w/ the above post.

Carry on . . . would really like to hear opinions on how things are ever gonna change for us here in CLT - now that we missed our chance to get a Governor elected from our own area.

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Are you ashamed of who you are?
Why do you keep abbreviating whoever you are
AA is nationally known as Alcoholic Anonymous . You are not doing any good if you are trying to prove a point by using abbreviations for a good group you are trying to make a point for. What if you was alcoholic would that make it AAA ? now Im confuse if you are with a car care group.
If you want to prove how the groups you mention below stand within Charlotte just say so, dont live in the shadows.

AA is used all over the forum as shorthand, mostly in PoC- it's a legit abbreviation and I don't think reflects at all on how the poster feels about himself.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Carry on . . . would really like to hear opinions on how things are ever gonna change for us here in CLT - now that we missed our chance to get a Governor elected from our own area.

There is no guarantee that Pat would have remembered Charlotte when he got to Raleigh. I am thinking about Jim Black when I say that. Also, the last thing Charlotte needs is Pat in power when Obama endorsed Perdue. Charlotte is better off now that Pat is about to go away I think.

As far as the AA community blocking McCrory, I really think McCrory did it to himself. Blacks are responsible for a large chunk of Charlotte's crime, but it is an insult when OUR mayor cite one race and not the other. High paid execs in the suburbs killing their own children was done by NON-BLACKS. The nation's largest armored-truck heist was commited by a group of Charlotteans with NO BLACK MEMBERS. The state's largest and most exclusive prostitution ring was ran by a NON-BLACK trio here in Charlotte. Most of their clients were well paid NON-BLACK Charlotte business men. There is even a local used car dealer here in Charlotte that is known for his commercials with his white dog. ANY long time Charlottean knows the story behind this NON-BLACK guy and his money. And don't even get me started on Jim Bakker and George Shinn. These NON-BLACK boys are the biggest crooks to have ever come out of Charlotte. They make Nick Mackey look like a saint LOL!!!

Charlotte has criminals of ALL colors. Charlotte's most infamous criminals ARE NOT BLACK!!! Only one (serial killer) became infamous and he was black. His name was Henry Louis Wallace. What made Wallace's story so strange was the fact that he was black. America was not used to seeing black serial killers and we still aren't.

My point is, we must stop pointing the finger and blaming others. That is exactly what McCrory did when he cited race. Citing race serves ONLY to divide a community and Pat DID THAT EVERY TIME HE OPENED HIS MOUTH!!! He made it sound like Charlotte would not have any crime if it wasn't for blacks. WRONG!!!!

Most of these drug dealers in Charlotte have white clients or white suppliers. I grew up in one of Charlotte's dope dealing project housing so I know!!! I don't want to name any specific businesses, but if you take a real close look at central Charlotte (5 mile radius of uptown) late evenings and midnight, you will see a large number of drug dealers and drug buyers. The suppliers of these drugs are white people you will NEVER see in the streets. There is a club (no longer in business) on College Street where young folks (mostly white) did their drugs on site in the "VIP room". I will not speak of the clubs that are still in business because I don't wish to get .

In many cases, the drug dealer is the black guy with the baggy pants that gets all the blame. The customers in many cases are white yuppies from areas like Ballantyne and Southpark. You know, the people that can afford the "good stuff". That is why I find Pat's statements both false and an insult to blacks in Charlotte, because he makes crime sound like mostly the AA community's fault. I am sorry, but it takes an entire community to make crime a problem. 35% of the population can not do it on their own. Blaming the AA community for Charlotte's crime is like crediting Southpark for Charlotte's wealth. Southpark is wealthy, but it is not responsible for Charlotte's entire wealth.

This is what Charlotte must do to change for the better. First, Charlotte must seceded from NC. This will free up millions in tax $$$. Next, we must use our money to promote more high density development within the center city. The higher density will bring the races and classes closer together (rather than spread apart like they are now). This will automatically cause school and neighborhood integration which is needed to get all races and classes on the same page socially. Once this happens, we will no longer see a poor black community in Charlotte that is prone to criminal activity. I am not sure how this will affect the people that are seeking drugs to use. Many of these folks are white and come from "good homes" in the burbs already. I know whites ARE NOT the only drug users in Charlotte, but I worded it the way I did to show just how insulting citing one race is. Citing the race you are not a member of in public will make you appear to be a racist even if you are not.

Charlotte is a great city, but we are divided. That is the one thing I will agree with Charlotte's bashers on. CHARLOTTE IS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! That's bad coming from a guy that has seen the entire lower 48 driving trucks. Think about it folks. How many of us can name the black, white, hispanic, and Asian areas of Charlotte with ease? I know I can. Mostly everything west of I-77 and along I-85 and points north is black. Mostly everything along South Blvd from Woodlawn to Sharon Rd West is hispanic. Mostly everything along Central Avenue from Morningside to Eastway is Asian (with a large Hispanic and African community mixed with it). Everything else is white. There you have it folks, Charlotte in a nutshell. The day when I am not able to call a particular side of Charlotte "black" or "hispanic" is the day Charlotte will no longer be segregated. Segregation is a large part of the growth of gangs and crime in certain minority communities. Integrate the "one race, one class only neighborhoods" in Charlotte, and we will see a drop in crime across the board. This is the only way to change "the hood". You make "the hood" no longer exist!!!

Please note, this WILL NOT stop ALL crime in Charlotte. This will ONLY reduce the crimes minorities get blamed for.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Miker2069

This was an unnecessary comment and an unfair statement that should have been removed the moment it was posted. It's since then laid the first set of rails in order to derail this thread.

Completely agree. I reported it, but nothing happened

I have stayed off this thread because it was becoming ugly and full of "us against them" crap. While urbanCharlotte is black and does therefore have a black person's perspective, we should simply agree to disagree with him on this topic. In some ways I don't think he can see the forest for the trees. But then again, he probably feels the same way about white people. All of which is very sad to me.

My reason for posting now is to give a message to newcomers reading who may now be confused as to what the "real" Charlotte is like. I would like to suggest that they take the time to read back on regular posters writings to get a real feel as to what kind of mindset that person is posting with. Soon enough you will be able to judge for yourself who gives the most accurate info in the most unbiased way most regularly.

None of us humans is 100% unbiased, but when we have a "dog in the fight" it is sometimes harder than ever to be even a litte unbiased.

Ani started this thread by saying, "A two party system has been essential in this state, and we desperately needed a GOP Gov this go round to balance things out and to see that the Good Old Boys in the state house and senate didn't appropriate all the funds to their pet projects in the eastern part of this state.

For those of you who don't understand what is gonna happen - or don't believe the history I have alluded to - just sit back and watch, as Charlotte, and indeed, every county in the western part of this state, gets screwed on major projects in the coming years."

I think she is pretty dead on in her assessment.

[anifani821]

Urban, your insight is very much appreciated and we often agree on these difficult subjects.

But I gotta tell ya . . . comparing a mentally ill executive who murdered two of his kids to the homegrown, gun-wielding, lazy a$$ black thugs we have in this town - YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.

Same for serial killers and yuppies who use drugs.

I am talking about the young black thugs who are consistently repeating the same offenses . . . have huge rap sheets . . . and are breaking into homes and businesses, threatening to shoot people and at times, SHOOTING THEM. These are all black kids!!!!

Sure, there is white collar crime - and people of all colors commit it. Sure, there are white folks as well as blacks and hispanics selling and buying drugs. But it ain't going on in my living room, wh/ is where the thugs are creating a problem. And maybe CLT has had some "infamous" killers - but SO WHAT? He/she is not trying to break in someone's front door this afternoon!!! You are changing the subject. I am talking about the big problem we have w/ black kids who are terrorizing this city RIGHT NOW.

I am not talking about prostitutes. Why are you? Who cares? I don't even care about prostitutes and I bet most people here DO NOT. That is a public health problem and a problem if your spouse is paying for sex; otherwise, WHO CARES? I am talking about the most serious crime issue facing CLT right now - and it is black kids who are acting out like gangstas, robbing my neighbors and the local businesses.

So it is wrong for Pat McCrory - or for me, for that matter - to TELL THE TRUTH and expect the black community to step up to the bat and DO SOMETHING about the THUGS they are producing in their own communities?

That is wrong? That is finger pointing? That is shifting blame? I DO NOT THINK SO. That is facing the facts.

You are saying it is everyone else's fault that these kids are, by far, committing the majority of crime in this county?

I fail to see how density is going to help this situation. And how the heck do you think we are gonna get everyone "on the same page socially" just by housing them in the same neighborhoods? I can assure you, unless a person is a well-mannered, educated person w/ a strong value system, he/she will NEVER be on the same page socially w/ others who ARE educated and have a strong value system. And the problem as it exists now is - we have kids who are totally out of control and have dropped out of high school, care nothing about their families, have no morals, no directions and no conscience - how are you going to "get them on the same page socially" as the rest of us?

As for Charlotte being segregated . . . WHY IS IT SEGREGATED? We have bussed kids all over Hell and Half of Georgia historically to ensure everyone was getting a good education - and all it did was create a terrible mess.

I have black neighbors! Why? Because they have jobs and can pay for a mortgage! They chose to live here - no one forced them to live in this neighborhood. They chose to. Just like other black folks chose to live in predominately black neighborhoods. So I fail to get the point. The segregation here is b/c the black community wishes to stay intact as a black community - w/ black churches and black schools, as well. Otherwise, WHY HAVE THEY NOT MOVED OUT????? The ones who have are doing fine in other very segregated neighborhoods. ????? Charlotte has black neighborhoods b/c black folks choose to live there.

I frankly don't know of a city that doesn't have sections of all black, asian, hispanic folks who have chosen to stay in a particular neighborhood. This is a weird discussion b/c newcomers arrive and want to know - where is the Puerto Rican section? Where is the Polish section? I don't get it! People who live in particular areas CHOOSE to live there. You are saying - CLT is so segregated. I am saying - there are black and hispanic families mixed in w/ whites all over this city but the predominantly black areas stay that way b/c black folks WANT it that way. If they didn't want it that way, why don't they MOVE OUT?????

What is it the black community feels they need to to make their communities strong? Their kids can go to CPCC just like my kids can. They can get a degree and a job just like people from any other race. So what is the problem???? And since it appears to be a problem w/in the communities themselves, why would anyone think it is something the rest of us can fix? I mean - if my granddaughter is a druggie and a prostitute and has four illegitimate kids . . . then I don't think it is the government's problem to straighten her out and provide for those children . . . yet it seems that is exactly what people in poor black communities think. Someone else's problem - and someone else's fault.

[NCgirl]

The observer has posted their top 20 Kevin Siers' Cartoons of the Year. I think #18 and #19 are great for this thread.

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