Can we fix this city, please?
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. Presently, nothing has come from this proposal except task forces.
If anything, CMPD has proven to be worse than it was four years ago. I mean, how horrible is your department when the current chief, Kerr Putney, was willing to break the law to retire early? And then there was the "attempted murder" (allegedly) of protesters on Fourth Street.
The system is broken and clearly the people in place who are running the system aren't trying to fix it —unless they're named Braxton Winston.
Then in 2021, we need to elect a mayor and city council who will fire the current city manager and begin serious reform in a corrupt system.
Charlotte residents NEED to stop voting for the name they recognize and judge politicians by their actions. If not, we're going to continue to have broken system littered with promises and people who use this city as a stepping stone to something bigger.
If you're inclined, run for office. Not only is Councilman Winston one of the hardest workers in city government, but he stepped in and stepped up to be a part of the system he wants to change. Too bad the others on the council seem fine with the status quo.
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. Presently, nothing has come from this proposal except task forces.
If anything, CMPD has proven to be worse than it was four years ago. I mean, how horrible is your department when the current chief, Kerr Putney, was willing to break the law to retire early? And then there was the "attempted murder" (allegedly) of protesters on Fourth Street.
Since the city of Charlotte has a council-manager system, which means in this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.“City Council can take a major step toward reforming policing in Charlotte on Monday - and set an example for America,” Winston said. “You’ve seen our police department, and departments across the country, release clouds of tear gas into crowds protesting the killing of George Floyd, stinging eyes and causing marchers to remove masks in coughing fits in the middle of a health pandemic.”Winston says he will introduce the motion Monday that will recommend adjustments to police spending and policy. Winston says he is making a substitute motion to direct the administration not to spend money on new or existing stocks of chemical agents used for crowd control in 2021.
Then in 2021, we need to elect a mayor and city council who will fire the current city manager and begin serious reform in a corrupt system.
Charlotte residents NEED to stop voting for the name they recognize and judge politicians by their actions. If not, we're going to continue to have broken system littered with promises and people who use this city as a stepping stone to something bigger.
If you're inclined, run for office. Not only is Councilman Winston one of the hardest workers in city government, but he stepped in and stepped up to be a part of the system he wants to change. Too bad the others on the council seem fine with the status quo.
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