Simply Cheris. . .

If the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery haven't taught us the importance of local elections, I don't know what it will take for us to learn that lesson. Yes, the federal government is a dumpster fire right now. But we're touched by what the people in our front yard do. Stream the latest City Council meeting here . (Starts at 5 p.m. today)  And a lot of times, those touches are more like punches to the face. Take Charlotte, for instance, during this global pandemic,   our mayor was basically MIA . When protests started in the Queen City,  Mayor Vi Lyles finally showed up. She wanted to talk. She talks a lot. As well as the Charlotte City Council. Charlotte has been talking since the 2016 uprising after the killing of Keith Lamont Scott by CMPD. Lyles was a city council member during that shooting.  She proposed a seven-point plan to reduce racial and class divisions in the city, parts of which were approved by the council. Present...

Hey, Vi. Girl, where have you been? There's a whole pandemic going on and the citizens of the City of Charlotte, the ones you duped, I mean who voted for you and swallowed your campaign promises,  haven't heard a word from you. Let's face facts, Charlotte mayors are figure heads. The city manager and council run the city. Clearly the police too, but we'll get there in a minute. Not only have you been missing, but you've changed.  I was proud in 2017 that my adopted home of Charlotte, NC had its first woman mayor who was African American. But my grandma was right, all your skin folk aren't your kin folk. But you tricked me, sis. I remember when you stood for something. Following the  shooting of Keith Lamont Scott  in September 2016, (Lyles) proposed a seven-point plan to reduce racial and class divisions in the city, parts of which were approved by the council. It's four years later and here we are—again. So, you sat out the pandemic and whil...

A group of diverse protesters had a two-hour stand off with police in Uptown Charlotte on Tuesday, the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. Take a look at what happened:

My former editor and current friend, Carlton Hargro (follow him on Twitter @carltonhargro) captures where the regular uptown Charlotte crowd will be in his Business Week article, Occupy Charlotte . If you're a Charlotte resident, you know this is true! Here's Mr. EpiCentre (certainly a stereotype, but not really). The Uptown Charlotte crowd has a reputation of not wanting people to invade their turf. They're known to disappear during the CIAA, Speed Street and anytime when people who don't use hair gel or GTL come to town. One word of caution, I'm sure President Obama is going to go to Amelie's , the highlight of NoDa, since he invited the owners to Washington to highlight how small businesses have succeeded.

Jazz is a dying art to some, but not the Jazz Diva, Tammy Greene. If you've been to a jazzy affair in the Queen City and had a good time, you probably owe Greene a hand clap of thanks. Greene spoke with me about her quest to make Charlotte a jazzier place. What made you decide to make Charlotte a jazzier place?  Jazz music is a passion for me. with all that goes on around me, its the one thing that makes me happy when i hear it.  I have always been a music lover, specifically jazz.  In my hometown of Philadelphia, a person could find live music happening 7 days a week!  when i moved to Charlotte in 1997, there weren't many options for live jazz.  In 1997, my 2 sons moved here with me, so I did not have time to go out and explore the music scene.  In 2005, while working for The Vanguard Group (which is how I relocated here) two of my co-workers mentioned that thy were going to open a jazz restaurant offering dinner and live music.  ...

Two veterans of the radio industry, Alysse Stewart and Shay Moore have teamed up to bring listeners 2 Black Girls and a Mic, a weekly podcast that takes on hot topic with a smooth twist. 1.        How did you come up with  the idea for 2Black Girls and a Mic? AS: I was approached by QCityMetro.com's Carlton Hargro to host a podcast show. I agreed only after that light bulb moment that people sometimes experience.  I reached out to Shay Moore with the suggestion of a team effort, she said yes and the rest is history.  BTW my instincts were right in choosing Shay as a partner.  I love the synergy that exits between the two us.  We are very different, yet the same in many ways.   SM :  Alysse called me with the idea to do a podcast together and while on the phone discussing what the show would be and how it would be executed we created the meat and potatoes of the show. 2.      ...