Wound't it be nice (Charlotte, Magnolia: home, to live in, store)

[lakeman]

If you want to go back to that kind of life it's fine with me. The reason you have all this new industry, good paying jobs, universities, etc., is because of people moving here from all over this country.

[lakeman]

Originally Posted by RedNC

I see your problem now. You have to spit the tobacco out, don't swallow it!

I don't spit or swallow.

[T.S.]

Originally Posted by SeattlitefromNC

That is one of the big downsides to living in the South. Because so many people are so enamoured with their cars, public transit goes lacking because of the prejudices about "those people" who use public transit. As a result, the public transit sucks because no one wants to use it and be one of "those people".

This is what "those people" do on the bus where I live.

Originally Posted by UPN29 News

Police arrested two more teenage gang members in that attack on a Metro Transit bus. And you'll hear first hand what happened from the victim himself.

It started with some taunting on the bus last Saturday night at 7th and Hennepin, and escalated to violence, when the victim was dragged off the bus and beaten at 34th and Fremont in north Minneapolis.

As upset as they are by the attack, the family is equally bothered by the response from police and Metro Transit. Four of the suspects are still at large.

So for the victim's own safety, we're concealing his face and distorting his voice. "I was just like, I hope I don't die."

It was the first time this 15 year old took a Metro Transit bus. And probably his last. It began Saturday night when he was waiting for the number 5 at Block E.

"One of the guys walked up to me and said, ‘Nice watch, nice watch.’"

He gets on the bus, and sits across from the driver, just two rows back.

Sitting in back, 8 teenagers from 12 to 15, who police identify as members of the Tre Tre Crips street gang. The Crips are talking loudly about other people they've mugged and robbed. Also on board, five other riders, minding their own business.

"I can hear them chanting in the back their gang name, saying, ‘White boy nice watch. Nice watch white boy.’”

“They chanting,’Tre Tre, Tre Tre this."

At 34th and Freemont North, the Crips get off, and literally drag the 15-year old with them.

"One grabs my leg, the other grabs my arm, and starts dragging me down the bus, and the bus driver is just sitting there watching them."

Outside, they punch and kick him in the head and back. They steal his wallet, his watch, and a yo-yo.

"The bus driver didn’t do anything until I was already on the ground, outside with my face pinned against the ground. Then he finally he said, ‘We got you on tape, we got you on tape.’ Then he closed his doors and drove off."

"I was furious, I want to see the video."

Metro Transit won't show his father the video or explain why their driver took off. To add insult to injury, the family spotted one of the suspects the next day while looking for the stolen wallet. Took this photo. And called police.

"You had the suspects right there? You had spotted them?”

"They said the couldn't do it. They said we had to call metro police."

And when they called metro transit, all they got was voice mail.

"I think they're embarrassed by the fact that someone could get pulled off the bus and the bus would just drive away."

Metro Transit declined to comment on camera what actions their driver took, instead faxing us the bus drivers' handbook. It says bus drivers witnessing a crime are to call transit center control; are to wait to hear if they should hold for police or continue en route.

It’s unclear if any of that happened. Drivers are warned any resistance may provoke violent behavior. But that defending themselves and customers is permitted. Metro transit says the entire incident, from start to finish, is under review.

[JAS]

Mass transit is very cost prohibitive and unnecessary unless you have a huge population concntrated in a small area.

Imagine the entire population of the state of NC going to work each day on a small island (Manhattan), and you can see why mass transit is necessary in the highly congested cities. There is nothing like that in NC.

I can comfortably drive from Winston-Salem to downtown Charlotte in 1.5 hours. Until it takes me 5 hours to make that drive, there is no way that I as a taxpayer would vote for a rail system that hardly anyone would use.

[Ms.Charlotte]

If mass transit works so well, why are we in the Northeast still sucking up exhaust fumes sitting in traffic to NY or Philly?

[backfist]

Originally Posted by WenIs02

the natives might not like it, if they built a transit system so the commute from charlotte and charlotte into these areas of winson-salem and greensbro would be easier (like our system here in NY) (well maybe not that elaborate but something on a smaller but similar scale....last would ease traffic and congestion..

Yes, it would be nice. We all know that growth is inevitable. To refuse to plan for transit is irresponsible and short-sighted.

Sure, the convenient reason for the opposition of growth-responsive transit is my taxes, my taxes. But as in just about every urban/suburban metro area around the country, those who think their tax money is a little greener, don't want access made easy.

It goes like this:

> Urbania City Council proposes light rail system from Urbania to Suburbia;

> Residents of Suburbia put pressure on mayor of Suburbia to oppose it because they don't want such easy access from the poor and criminal ... err ... I mean, their taxes will increase by 10 cents;

> Statewide voting initiative is on the ballot, and more voters in Urbania than Suburbia pass the measure -- there will be light rail!;

> The system starts out with stops that benefit mainly those who either live in, or are in the closest proximity to Urbania;

> Meanwhile, Suburbia's growth is out of control; traffic is constantly gridlocked, and residents are angry;

> Suburbians begin to demand that light rail extend out to Suburbia, and they want it right now;

> Four years later, ballot initiative reappears to extend light rail to Suburbia, but not beyond (might as well wait until growth in Exurbia gets out of control as well, right?) -- tax increase of 4 cents.

> Ballot initiative passes with overwhelming support, and those who stood staunchly in the doorways of the passage of mass transit ... well, they still drive to work out of principle, while paying more in gas and parking than ever before. Not to mention their increased taxes.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by lakeman

If you want to go back to that kind of life it's fine with me. The reason you have all this new industry, good paying jobs, universities, etc., is because of people moving here from all over this country.

Well, shock, people DO want to go back to that kind of life. Or more accurately, what some people call the "New South". The same values and ways of life, without the de facto segregation and agrarian way of life. North Carolina had excellent universities and good paying jobs before the large influx of northerners.

Just look at what you're saying! How arrogant! That yankees are the enlightened ones that come down south and show the ignorant north carolinians a great new way of life that they should be thankful for. Riight. And other comments you've made, like "You're dreaming if you think we (northerners) are going to adapt to YOUR way of life". And after you harass and bait people, and upset them, then you can say, "Well, where is that southern politeness??"

Is it so surprising that you are being met with resistance?

[SeattlitefromNC]

Gratefully, I live in Seattle now and the public transit here has issues, but it is better than down south. But as it was mentioned, there is no major concentration of people in a VERY small area in the South. People down here value individuality very highly, and public transit requires a communal value system.

There has been sniping on both sides, and now's a good time to nip it in the bud. Transplants (from wherever you are), remember that the hospitality that you receive from locals is directly proportional to the respect that you give to the locals. Locals, remember that not all transplants ascribe to the belief that Southerners are all good ol' boys straight out of "Dukes of Hazzard".

Now, everyone play nice.

[Miker2069]

I might have to agree with Red in spirit. To some extent it must seem like outsiders (and those moving down are all outsiders, including self) are attempting to suggest what we consider "improvements". While Wen's original question was harmless, it would seem a lot of people are saying what NC "needs" from "a far"- it is somewhat of an arogant stance to take (and I've probably been guilty of it too). I guess if someone who hadn't even moved into *my community*, yet started suggesting changes to *my community* and they aren't even truly a member of the community yet, I'd get a little upset too.

[Weis02]

Years and years and years ago there was no public trans in NYC, but BUSINESSS came which forced PEOPLE to come and they wanted an better way to get to work WIHTOUT traffic...yes my hubby can drive to NYC (which is 45 mile) away but unless he left a 5 am it could take 2 HOURS....the train gets him there in 45 minutes and the cost is a lot less then gas....I was not trying to change the south ... i was referring to a NICE trans system (like disney monorail or the trams they used at the many airports to make it easier and nicer to get the so called congested streets uncongested....I am not spking of a complex subway system like the subways in NYC.....stop blaming people for ruining your south as always look at business and growth, people follow the economy and rumor has it NC has a good one that is GROWING.,,,maybe if big business did EXPORT all the jobs (including furniture now) in NC, no one would want to be there...but we all must face REALITY...make the best of it and I am not trying to CHANGE the way things are done, it was a thought not a request to be attacked by many who now NOTHING about the transit system and the way of the life of those of us here in the island and NYC.....if these places were so bad why do MORE people visist here then there??? There is a BIG difference between living some where and visiting, there are many places that are nice to visit and I would not want to live there and vice versa, just "Think OUTSIDE the box for a moment and then you can crawl back into the space you are in. If everyone was so closed minded the technoligical advances that have made most of our lives a little easier and better would not exist.