Charlotte: NC's ugly stepchild (Asheville, New Bern: new home, living, housing projects)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

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.

Thank you, Loves. It appears this discussion has opened a can of worms, but I personally think the can needed to be opened.

We do need a strong two party system in this state . . . but Charlotte itself is obviously laboring under some big issues w/ how people vote (by party, not by person) and what they THINK candidates can and cannot "do" for them.

We have local issues that need to be addressed locally.

I would be interested in knowing what others think are the biggest local issues.

I personally see the # 1 issue to ensure a bright future for us all is Education. I say this b/c I personally feel the crime we are seeing in this city is directly related to kids dropping out of school and finding it easier to pay for a lifestyle by engaging in criminal activity than by getting an education and a job.

The second issue would be infrastructure, wh/ includes everything from highways to police force.

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by 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.

I see the closet racists are coming out in full force. Even the mod Sunnykayak has contributed. I thought this was about state budget?

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Thank you, Loves. It appears this discussion has opened a can of worms, but I personally think the can needed to be opened.

We do need a strong two party system in this state . . . but Charlotte itself is obviously laboring under some big issues w/ how people vote (by party, not by person) and what they THINK candidates can and cannot "do" for them.

We have local issues that need to be addressed locally.

I would be interested in knowing what others think are the biggest local issues.

I personally see the # 1 issue to ensure a bright future for us all is Education. I say this b/c I personally feel the crime we are seeing in this city is directly related to kids dropping out of school and finding it easier to pay for a lifestyle by engaging in criminal activity than by getting an education and a job.

The second issue would be infrastructure, wh/ includes everything from highways to police force.

I agree with you on the education issue for sure!

I would LOVE to see us adopt a policy like the one they have in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. When I visited there I learned that they have a strict policy regarding high school graduation. If you do not AT LEAST recieve your high school diploma you do not work ANYWHERE but the most menial of jobs (scrubbing toilets, street cleaners). You cannot even get a job in a McDonalds without that high school diploma. Dropping out is just not an option over there. Consequently, it is a highly educated country with a majority of natives having college or technical school degrees.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by metro.m

I see the closet racists are coming out in full force. Even the mod Sunnykayak has contributed. I thought this was about state budget?

Not only is this just rude, it's inaccurate. In know Ani and Sunny, NEITHER of whom are racist in any way. Let's not let this thread desinigrate into unnecessary ugliness.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by metro.m

I see the closet racists are coming out in full force. Even the mod Sunnykayak has contributed. I thought this was about state budget?

It is about state budget - as well as city taxes that are raised locally.

You don't think such things as crime - and the police force to chase down the thugs, the jails that house the thugs, the DAs office that gets paid for trying the thugs - are issues that are not paid for by tax money?

And medicaid to pay for people who are on subsistence living?

And schools that are attempting to educate the kids who live here?

Those are race issues - not tax issues?

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by metro.m

I see the closet racists are coming out in full force. Even the mod Sunnykayak has contributed. I thought this was about state budget?

And you know . . . I just realized . . . you don't even live in Charlotte.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Beffrey2

I don't see what the big deal is about Pat calling out a race. It's fact?? Why cover that up?

I also don't believe Charlotte is getting the bad end of the stick. You have light rail, Wachovia (wells), Bank of America, Nascar, New Wachovia and Bank of america towers going up. Ritz Carlton, Epicentre, The Vue, new museums, NFL Football...etc

I could go on and on and on.

Keep expanding on that light rail. You guys are in great shape and will be even better! Raleigh can't even get the outer outer loop finished! We are adding tolls to pay for the rest. So Raleigh is doing no better.

Also...you talk about downeast projects. One of the biggest arguments is the Fayettville loop. Fay-nam is getting 66 million, Charlotte a Billion, Raleigh 750 Million roughly. That sums it up. My source is news 14 carolina.

You are mixing up money, LOL. Local funding and private funding have paid for some of the projects you mentioned.

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by anifani821

It is about state budget - as well as city taxes that are raised locally.

You don't think such things as crime - and the police force to chase down the thugs, the jails that house the thugs, the DAs office that gets paid for trying the thugs - are issues that are not paid for by tax money?

And medicaid to pay for people who are on subsistence living?

And schools that are attempting to educate the kids who live here?

Those are race issues - not tax issues?

Last time I heard most black people aren't on welfare, if that's what you're trying to imply. Most black people aren't committing crimes either. It's funny how racists and American society in general think black people are one homogeneous race of people, where all blacks listen to rap, do drugs, commit crime, and live in housing projects. It also funny how closet racists will never express their bonehead thoughts in public.... Do you absolutely believe any self respecting, hard working black person, or anyone for that matter, are out here promoting crime?

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by anifani821

And you know . . . I just realized . . . you don't even live in Charlotte.

Charlotte is only 3 hours down the road. I have enough insight to know when false comments are being made about any city in this state.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by metro.m

Last time I heard most black people aren't on welfare, if that's what you're trying to imply. Most black people aren't committing crimes either. It's funny how racists and American society in general think black people are one homogeneous race of people, where all blacks listen to rap, do drugs, commit crime, and live in housing projects. It also funny how closet racists will never express their bonehead thoughts in public.... Do you absolutely believe any self respecting, hard working black person, or anyone for that matter, are out here promoting crime?

You are putting words in Ani's mouth in a pathetic attempt to inflame this discussion. She did not say any of what you have accused her of. Please stop this - she is trying to have a serious discussion - it does not have to become ugly.