>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, IS THE CITY BUILDING MOST OF ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?

AND THE SCHOOL'S MIXED MESSAGES ON COVID MASKING, STRAYING AND QUARANTINE AND MILLIONS MORE FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING DURING COVID.

IN BUSINESS, AIRPORT PASSENGER NUMBER ALMOST BACK TO PRE-COVID AND FOR BIG DRUG COMPANIES, WHAT'S THE FUTURE IN CONCORD AND VIOLENCE AGAINST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY.

KEEPING UP WITH COVID IN HOSPITALS.

THE FEDS SENDING IN REINFORCEMENTS.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE FROM OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS AND HISTORIC PLAZA MIDWOOD, I'M JEFF SONNIER AND WE'RE OFF THE RECORD TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEKEND AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, READ THE NEWS LISTEN TO THE NEWS, WELL, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

DANIELLE FROM AXIO CHARLOTTE, STEVE CRUMP FROM WBTV AND ANNA MARIE FROM THE "CHARLOTTE OBSERVER" AND COLIN FROM THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL AND YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ANYTIME.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD@WTVI.ORG.

WE'RE GOING TO START THIS WEEK TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT IN THE PAST ON THIS SHOW.

BUT A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN THE PAST HAS DEALT MAYBE WITH WHAT THE CITY'S SPENDING OR HOW MANY UNITS ARE BEING BUILT, BUT THIS WEEK, DANIELLE, YOU WROTE ABOUT WHERE THE CITY IS BUILDING ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

SO FOR A LONG TIME, THE CITY HAS PRIORITIZED PUTTING HOUSING IN WHAT'S CALLED HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.

IN THE WAKE ESPECIALLY OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY RANKING BACK IN 2014, CHARLOTTE RANKING AMONG MAJOR U.S. CITIES FOR THE ABILITY BASIC I TO MOVE FROM POOR TO, YOU KNOW, THE UPPER CLASSES AND WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT CERTAIN AREAS DICTATE, YOUR OUTCOMES IN LIFE.

SO THAT WAS A MAJOR REASON BEHIND THIS PUSH, BUT WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN BUILT USING FUNDING HAS BEEN BUILT IN ZIP CODES WHERE THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS BELOW THAT OF THE CITY AVERAGE AND THE ADVOCATES IN A LOT OF THOSE PLACES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BASICALLY JUST THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS TO ACCESS CABS TO ACCESS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, LIKE GROCERY STORES AND PHARMACIES AND DOCTOR'S OFFICES, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT BASICALLY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE CITY AND DEVELOPERS ARE THE COST OF LAND IN PLACES IN SOUTH CHARLOTTE, THE CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPING THERE, ALL THE MAJOR BARRIERS TO BUILDING AND CREATING UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE IN THESE HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ESSENTIALLY THE CITY'S BUILDING LOW INCOME HOUSING WHERE THERE'S ALREADY LOW INCOME HOUSING AND IT KIND OF KEEPS THE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS ALL IN THE SAME PLACE INSTEAD OF IN OTHER PLACES IN TOWN WHERE THERE MIGHT BE MORE OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A HISTORY THERE AS WELL.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND GO BACK 50, 60 YEARS AGO, THERE'S CERTAIN PLACES LIKE THE WEST BOULEVARD CORRIDOR THAT WERE INTENTIONALLY SATURATED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE SAY THEY HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF LEAVING, WHITE FLIGHT AND LACK OF RESOURCES AND LACK OF RESOURCES THERE.

THE MEDIAN INCOME OF 8208 WHICH IS THE WEST PORTION OF CHARLOTTE, IS 30,000, WHICH IS FAR BELOW MEDIAN INCOME CITYWIDE, COUNTYWIDE, SO IT CERTAINLY HAS AN IMPACT.

IT FEELS THAT THERE'S A REPETITION OF THE PAST, OF THE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OF US THAT REMEMBER WHEN THE CITY HAD A SCATTERED SITE SORT OF A SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE PUTTING PUBLIC HOUSING WITH THE CHARLOTTE HOUSING AUTHORITY VIA THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMISSION AND THERE WAS A MASTER PLAN TO PUT SCATTERED SITE HOUSING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF TOWN WHERE YOU HAD IT RANKED FROM PROVIDENCE ROAD OUT HERE NEAR THE STRAWBERRY HILL AREA GOING ALL THE WAY OVER TOWARD SOUTHPARK NEAR FAIRVIEW AND ENTRANCE OF SOUTHPARK MALL.

THE QUESTION IS, IT KIND OF GOES TO WHO WANTS IT IN THEIR BACKYARD?

HOW IS IT DEFINED?

HOW IS THERE A LEVEL OF EQUITY?

IF YOU GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE OWNS THAT THEY SOLD TO DEVELOPERS THAT WERE KIND OF UNDER THE WATCH OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, ITSELF, IT DOES, IN FACT, RAISE QUESTIONS.

>> YEAH.

IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, COLIN, YOU COVERED THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN.

JUST BECAUSE THE CITY WANTS TO BUILD PUBLIC HOUSING ON MAYBE PROPERTY IT ALREADY OWNS OR PROPERTY IT CAN AFFORD DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE BITSES AND THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, AMENITIES THAT THOSE NEIGHBORS MIGHT NEED WILL FOLLOW WITH THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, DOES IT?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND AS DANIELLE MENTIONED AN INTERESTING PLAYER IN THIS IN HER STORY ON THIS, LOWELL STREET RESIDENTIAL IS A LOCALLY BASED HOUSING DEVELOPER AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH CRESCENT COMMUNITIES, ONE IN BALLENTYNE WHERE CRESCENT IS DEVELOPING SOME BUILD-TO-RENT HOMES AND SOME APARTMENTS AS WELL, AND THEN CRESCENT IS DWRALS PARTNERING WITH LOWELL STREET AT THE RIVER DISTRICT WITH A MASSIVE, MIXED USE PROJECT IN WEST CHARLOTTE, WELL OVER A THOUSAND ACRES AND MAYBE WE CAN SEE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THAT WHERE LAUREL STREET WILL DEVELOP 124 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE RIVER DISTRICT WHICH WILL HAVE ALL KINDS OF USES, OFFICE OR RETAIL, MULTIFAMILY, OTHER COMMERCIAL USES AND MIGHT TAKE THINGS LIKE THAT AND MAYBE GET THIS BALL ROLLING.

BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED IN SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LACKS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO GET THAT LAND DEVELOPED, WHETHER IT BE LAND PRICES OR MAYBE LAND AVAILABILITY FOR THE LARGER, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE RIVER DISTRICT IS AMONG THE LARGEST IN THE CITY.

BUT THE LAND AVAILABILITY TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS GOING IT COULD BE A CHALLENGE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALREADY TAKING PLACE.

YEAH.

I THINK PARTNERSHIPS LIKE BETWEEN LAUREL STREET AND CRESCENT ARE THE ONES TO POINT TO AS A MODEL TO MAYBE GET SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR THESE AMENITIES SO MAYBE YOU WANT THE DEVELOPER TOES SET THAT UP.

>> BUT THE IN MEANTIME, DANIELLE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CITY MAY BUILD THE UNITS AND PEOPLE MAY MOVE INTO THE UNITS AND ONCE THEY'RE THERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S TRANSIT ACCESS.

THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE CITY'S LOCATION OF SOME OF THESE NEW PROJECTS.

BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE THEM THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCE, THE WHOLE KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'LL AOF US WANT IN A HOUSE THAT WE CAN AFFORD, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I THINK HOUSING, OF COURSE, IS REALLY CRITICAL TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY, BUT IT'S JUST A PIECE OF IT.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND A LOT OF THESE LOCATIONS, THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT.

THERE'S SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVEN BEEN BUILT, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE NORTH CHARLOTTE PROJECTS ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE LIGHT RAIL BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE AREAS THAT ARE NOT VERY WALKABLE.

THEY'RE NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE AND IF YOU'RE NOT NEAR THE LIGHT RAIL, WE KNOW WE CAN DO A WHOLE OTHER SHOW ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH THE BUS SYSTEM.

SO IT CERTAINLY IS STILL A CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF ACCESS.

I WILL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SOLUTION IS NOT JUST TO BUILD HOUSING IN SOUTH CHARLOTTE.

IT'S ALSO WE NEED TO INVEST EVERYWHERE IN OUR CITY.

>> YEAH.

>> WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE AREAS THAT NEED THESE AMENITYS, NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE MOVING THERE BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE THERE.

>> IT'S A SHAME WHEN ONLY ONE PART OF TOWN OR ONLY CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN HAVE THE AMENITIES THAT NEIGHBORS WANT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT MOVING THE NEIGHBORS THERE INSTEAD OF BUILDING THE AMENITIES EVERYWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM BUT IT'S A TOUGH PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND ONE I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

>> EF >> , I THINK ONE POINT, THOUGH, THAT YOU GOT TO-- >> JEFF, ONE POINT YOU HAVE TO MAKE AND YOU CAN USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, IF IF YOU GO BACK TO WHEN WE SAW DECADES AGO WITH HOPE 6 WHEN THEY TURNED EARL VILLAGE AROUND.

THERE WAS THAT WHOLE CONTROVERSY WHERE THEY TORE DOWN THE PROJECTS.

THEY PUT UP STUFF WHICH IS NOW FIRST WARD PLACE AND THE CONTROVERSY WHICH FOLLOWED, WELL, WHERE DO WE GO?

WILL WE BE ABLE TO COME BACK VERY FEW, IF HE IN OF THOSE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO COME BACK TO PLACES IN FIRST WARD OR UPTOWN NOW THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD AND MAINTAIN WITH THE AMENITIES.

>> AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES HAVE SEEN THE POOREST OF THE POOR HAVE TO MOVE OUTSIDE THE CITY TO SUBURBAN AREAS WHERE IT IS AFFORDABLE.

WE HOPE WE DON'T GET TO THAT POINT.

WE'RE KIND OF MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION NOW IT FEELS LIKE.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT AN EASILY SOLVED PROBLEM BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ONE THAT DESERVES TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'LL KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT HERE IN THIS CITY AS WELL.

I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT, I WAS LOOKING BACK AT LAST WEEK'S SHOW AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT COVID LAST WEEK.

AMAZING.

NOT THIS WEEK, SORRY.

A COUPLE OF THINGS COVID RELATED THIS WEEK.

WE SEE HARRIS TEETER JOINING THE GROUP OF STORES AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS GIVING OUT FOOD AND N95 MASKS, WE SEE PRE-TESTING KITS AVAILABLE AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT FREE, INSURANCE COMPANIES STEPPING UP AND SAYING WE'LL PAY FOR THAT.

IN THE SCHOOLS, STILL A LOT OF MIXED MESSAGING AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT ON THE SHOW REGARDING COVID MASKING AND TRACING AND QUARANTINES AND ANNA MARIE, YOU WROTE ABOUT UNION COUNTY WHICH SEEMS TO BE GROUND ZERO IN A LOT OF THESE CONTROVERSIES.

TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE AND WHAT THE REACTION IS FROM PARENTS AND OTHERS.

>> UNION COUNTY, AS YOU KNOW, HAS ALWAYS BEEN-- I SHOULDN'T SAY ALWAYS, BUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, IT HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

AS FAR AS WHETHER KIDS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL, AS FAR AS MASKING IN SCHOOL AND THEY JUST EVERY SO OF THE 0EN THEY KEEP MAKING THESE DECISIONS THAT AREN'T ALWAYS DECISIONS THAT SIT WELL WITH A LOT OF PARENTS BUT UNION COUNTY ISN'T SITTING BACK SAYING LET'S SEE WHAT THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO.

THEY'RE DOING IT.

THEY DECIDED THIS WEEK TO END CONTACT TRACING AND QUARANTINES IN SCHOOLS.

NOW THAT'S JUST IF YOU'RE NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS OR YOU'RE SICK.

THIS WAS FORESHADOWED A LITTLE BIT IN DECEMBER.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY HAD A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, URGING THE STATE TO KIND OF CHANGE UP THEIR ROLES WHEN IT COMES TO QUARANTINES AND THE CONTACT TRACING.

SO THIS WASN'T-- AT LEAST FOR ME BEING A REPORTER AND ALSO BEING A PARENT IN UNION COUNTY, THIS WASN'T OUT OF THE BLUE.

IT'S SURPRISING THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A TONS OF PUSHBACK AS FAR AS PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME.

THERE'S BEEN A FEW PARENTS WHO SAID THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT.

THERE IS A PARENT GROUP IN UNION COUNTY, SOS UNION COUNTY IS WHAT IT IS CALLED REQUESTED THAT THE STATE STEP IN AND YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING IS BASICALLY WHAT THEY'RE ASKING THAT THEY HAVEN'T RESPONDED YET.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, UNION COUNTY WAS THE FIRST TO GO BACK IN PERSON LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE FIRST.

THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST DISTRICTS TO THIS YEAR SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL.

NOW THIS SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LOOK AT THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE AHEAD.

I TALKED TO A COUNTY OFFICIAL LAST OR IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, THE SCHOOL BOARD SAID WE'RE GOING TO END CONTACT TRACING.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THIS SHOW.

THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE IT TO PUT IT SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE COUNTY.

AND BACK THEN, ONE OF THE COUNTY OFFICIALS THAT I HAD TALKED TO, OFF THE RECORD-- [LAUGHTER] >> SAID YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT SCHOOLS HAVE TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION.

DISTRICTS HAVE TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY.

IT'S BECOMING CLICHE NOW, BUT TO LIVE WITH THIS.

>> YES.

>> HE SAID, THEN, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THIS.

SIX MONTHS LATER, UNION COUNTY IS SAYING MAYBE THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WE'RE HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FROM RALEIGH, TOO.

THE STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TALKING TO LEGISLATORS THIS WEEK SAYING THAT WE NEED GOAL POSTS.

WE NEED SOME SORT OF GUIDANCE TO WHEN WE CAN START EASING THE RESTRICTIONS AND EASING THE MANDATES, BUT WE HAD A ANOTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GOAL POSTS THIS WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW.

TELL ME WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON GOAL POSTS AND HOW THEY APPLY TO SOME OF THESE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS LIKE CMS AND UNION COUNTY AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

>> I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE GOAL POSTS ALL YOU WANT FROM THE STATE LEVEL.

CMS, IN PARTICULAR, AS WE SAID, UNION COUNTY IS NOT OPTIONAL.

BUT IN CMS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAS A MANDATE SO IT'S WE KIND OF-- NOT INEVITABLY IN EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHEN THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK, THERE'S A PARENT THAT COMES ON AND YOU KNOW, WHIPS THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR NOT MAKING IT MASK OPTIONAL.

PARENTS HAVE TO REMEMBER YOU'RE KIND OF AT THE WRONG MEETING.

UNTIL MECKLENBURG COUNTY LIFTS, IT'S MASK MANDATE.

CMS' HANDS ARE TIE.

THEY CAN'T CHANGE THAT MANDATE.

THAT MANDATE IS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT'S FOR THE CHARTERS.

IT'S FOR THE PRIVATES AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY SAYS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO EASE UP.

CMS OR ANY DISTRICT THAT FALLS IN THERE CAN'T EASE UP.

IT IS FUNNY PEOPLE WANT THE STATE TO COME OFF THE GOAL POSTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IN THE FALL, YOU KNOW, THE STATE SAID WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE DISTRICTS.

THERE'S JUST-- IT'S JUST-- THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF MIXED MESSAGING.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YEAH.

>> YOU GUYS DECIDE WITHIN THE STATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE GOAL POSTS AND IT LEAVES EVERYBODY IN LIMBO AND UNION COUNTY AND CMS, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO UNION, IT'S MASK OPTIONAL AND YOU HAVE PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE SOME CHANGES.

>> INSTEAD OF GOAL POSTS, IT WANT TO SEE THE POSTS GETTING SHOWN AND COVID OVER AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN HINDSIGHT INSTEAD OF WHAT IS NEXT.

ONE OTHER QUICK COVID ITEM.

CMS-- CITIES ANDLE SCHOOLS PROGRAMS IN CMS GOT $5 MILLION THIS WEEK.

THOSE ARE PROGRAMS THAT SEEMEDDED TO HAVE WORK WELL DURING COVID.

>> THEY SEEM TO WORK.

THEY'RE FOCUSING ON STUDENTS AND I THINK THAT'S IN 54 SCHOOLS IN CMS AND THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE SCHOOLS WITH ARE THEY LOST STUDENTS.

I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE IT UNTIL I TALKED TO THE OFFICIALS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT JUST NEVER GAME BACK.

WHEN CMS WENT TO REMOTE LEARNING, THEY STAYED HOME.

SO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE TRYING TO HELP GET THOSE KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS, BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND ALSO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

>> I WHATS GOING TO SAY IT'S KIND OF A THROWBACK TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED HERE LAST WEEK FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE, IT WAS 136 MILLION FROM TOTALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT CAME FROM JEFF BESOS' EXWIFE, CMS GETS 5 MILLION OF THAT, BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES IS THERE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST WHERE YOU HAD, SAY, A PROJECT LIFT IN RECENT YEARS AND EVEN HAD UNDER THE WATCH OF THEN-MAYOR ANTHONY FOXX $50 MILLION, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY?

WHAT IS THE BANG FOR THE BUCK?

AND YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO SEE ANY KIND OF INCREASED PERFORMANCES AS IT RELATES TO GRADUATION RATES AND HIGHER TEST SCORES, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PUTTING THE DOLLARS INTO THESE CLASSROOMS DESPITE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING ON WITH COVID AND SOME OF THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> IT DOESN'T ALWAYS SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THESE PROGRAMS AT LEAST HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF-- >> THAT'S TRUE.

>> OF HAVING SOME SUCCESS DURING COVID AND I GUESS, IF WE WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY WHERE IT'S MOST EFFECTIVE, AT LEAST THIS IS GRANT MONEY AGAIN, NOT TAX MONEY BUT GOOD TO SEE THAT SOMEONE RECOGNIZES THE SUCCESS THAT THOSE CITIES AND SCHOOLS PROGRAMS HAVE HAD IN CHARLOTTE AND REWARDING THEM AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE MORE SUCCESS AMONG THOSE KIDS.

>> IT'S ALSO BABY STEPS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THAT MONEY TO COMPLETE CHANGE TEST SCORES.

IT'S BABY STEPS.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO HELPING PARENTS WHOSE KIDS ARE SENIORS, YOU KNOW, VISIT COLLEGES.

IT'S THAT-- IT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, GRASS ROOTS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TRAVEL TO A COLLEGE THEIR CHILD WANTS TO GO TO.

IT'S ALSO GOING FOR THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM AS WELL.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, JUST FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT CAN HELP COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY SOME OF THE STUDENTS AROUND THAT ARE AT A SERIOUS DISADVANTAGE.

>> YES.

>> SPEAKING OF EDUCATION, STEVE, YOU BROUGHT A STORY TO OUR ATTENTION THIS WEEK REGARDING THE HISTORICALLY BLACK AND HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

WE GOT THEM IN THE AREA HERE AND THERE'S BEEN SOME UNEASY FEELINGS ON THOSE CAMPUSES THIS WEEK, HASN'T THERE?

>> WITHIN OUR VIEWING AREA, JEFF, WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE SEE IN PLACES, SAY, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, MORGAN STATE, SPELMAN IN ATLANTA AND MOREHOUSE, THOSE SCHOOLS, THERE IS MORE THAN A DOZEN THREATS ON THE FIRST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH THIS WEEK.

AS IT RELATED TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES BUT HERE IN THE CHARLOTTE, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL BECAUSE JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY THREATS.

IT'S THE SAME CASE WITH LIVINGSTONE IN SALISBURY AS WELL AS FRIENDSHIP COLLEGE IN ROCK HILL, SOMETHING BEING IS.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS WERE VERY PROACTIVE AND THEY EVEN DID SECURITY WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SAW HERE IN THE CHARLOTTE METRO AREA, YOU KNOW, KNOCK ON WOOD, NOTHING HAPPENED.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE STORY NATIONALLY, THE FEDS WERE ON THE CASE REAL QUICK FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHERE THERE WERE SIX SUSPECTS THAT HAD BEEN NABBED.

FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THEY'RE ALL JUVENILES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A LEVEL OF UNEASINESS FROM DISRUPTIONS THAT THEY WERE COMING IN AT 3:00, 4:00 IN THE MORNING AND STUDENTS WERE TAKEN OUT OF BED AND PARENTS WERE ALERTED AND AUTHORITIES ON EDGE.

WHILE IT WAS A NATIONAL ISSUE, WE FARED PRETTY WELL.

>> YOU HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY.

THE THREATS ARE NEVER GOOD.

THERE'S BEEN NO REAL, YOU KNOW, REAL EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING BEHIND JUST THE THREAT OF IT.

JUST A SAD STORY OVERALL AND ONE MORE THING FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH IN A DIFFICULT PERIOD RIGHT NOW.

>> I SUPPOSE.

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS OVER TO BUSINESS NEWS A LITTLE BIT.

WE SAW A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND IT IS THE END OF LAST WEEK AND WE CAME IN TOO LATE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT.

ELI LILLY, ONE OF THE BIG PHARMA COMPANIES DECIDING TO EXPAND INTO OUR AREA, INTO CONCORD.

COLIN YOU WROTE SOMETHING ABOUT HOW IT'S THE FIRST BUT MAYBE NOT THE LAST OF THESE COMPANIES COMING TO TOWN.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL ON A COUPLE LEVELS.

ELI LILLY, A HUGE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY PLEDGED A BILLION DOLLARS FOR FIVE BUILDING, 800,000 SQUARE FOOT CAMPUS AT THE FORMER PHILIP MORRIS SITE IN CONCORD WITH A LOT OF HISTORY.

SO I THINK FIRST OFF ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, I THINK THIS IS A BIG WIN, A LITTLE FURTHER VALIDATION FOR LOCAL LEADERS AS PLANS TO REVIVE THE PHILIP MORRIS SITE WITH WHICH IS GROUND TO CONQUER A MULTITENANT BUSINESS PARK.

THIS PLEDGE NOW RUNS THE COMMITTED INVESTMENT THERE WELL OVER $2 BILLION.

>> WOW.

>> THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY HAD A MAJOR BEVERAGE PRODUCTION CAMPUS ANNOUNCED THERE IN JULY THAT WAS--THE INVESTMENT THERE WAS ANNOUNCED AT $1.1 BILLION.

THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST PLEDGED INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF CABARRUS COUNTY AND THEY HAVE COME IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WITH THAT SAME SITE.

SO YEAH.

IT'S A BIG WIN FOR THE COUNTY.

THERE ARE EFFORTS THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE THE PHILIP MORRIS PLANT SHUT DOWN AND IT WAS DEVASTATING OVER THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND ANOTHER PROJECT THAT TRIEDED TO LOCATE THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, ALLEVO AND I THINK THEY PLEDGED ABOUT 2,000 JOBS CREATED IN LARGE-SCALE BATTERY PLANT.

THOSE PLANS WERE ABANDONED.

NOW THEY HAVE A LOT OF PLEDGED INVESTMENT.

IT'S 2.4 BILLION AND THERE'S STILL AROUND 600IC AERS LEFT AT THAT SITE.

>> YOU KNOW, REALLY THE INVESTMENT, THE BILLION DOLLARS FOR THEM, IT KIND OF OPENS THE DOOR TO MAYBE ARE MO BIG PHARMA COMPANIES COMING IN.

THAT WOULD BE NOT ONLY A BIG WIN AS WELL BUT A WIN IN A DIFFERENT AREA, THE KINDS OF JOBS THAT WE HAVEN'T ATTRACTED IN THE PAST THAT OFTEN SEEM TO KIND OF GET TOGETHER THESE DIFFERENT COMPANIES IN A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER THIS COULD BE THE FIRST OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY COMING TO TOWN AND CREATING THE KIND OF HIGH PAYING JOBS, MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE PAST FROM THAT PARTICULAR INDUSTRY.

>> I WAS SPEAKING TO THE DEVELOPER A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WHO IS ACTIVE IN THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR ELSEWHERE AND WAS KIND OF KEEPING AN EYE ON ONE DAY CHARLOTTE WILL BE A PLAYER HERE AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO UM >>P IN.

YOU GET THIS GIANT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THIS SECTOR.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY, THIS REGION HAS NOT BEEN A HUGE PLAYER IN.

THE TRIANGLE MARKET HAS BEEN.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE HOTTEST MARKETS NATIONALLY IN LIFE SCIENCES.

SO THERE IS A TRACK RECORD FOR THE STATE TO HAVE THIS SUCCESS, BUT THAT DEVELOPER THAT I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME, HEY, SOMEONE NEED-- THE DAM NEEDS TO BREAK A LITTLE BIT.

PROJECT NEEDS TO EN0EN THE FLOODGATES AND THEY WERE POINTING TO ATRIUM HEALTH'S MEDICAL SCHOOL AS BRINGING IN MORE LIFE SCIENCES DOWN THE ROAD BUT THIS COULD POSSIBLY DO IT AS WELL.

I SPOKE WITH STEVE MORRIS, THE CABARRUS COUNTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, ELI LILLY IS TAKING 415 ACRES AND HE HINTED THAT MAYBE THEY HAD MORE ROOM IN THAT LAND FOR INVESTMENT IN LIFE SCIENCES BEYOND WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED, WHETHER THAT BE THEM OR AN AFFILIATED COMPANY AND THERE'S MORE LAND LEFT IN THE FORMER PHILIP MORRIS SITE AS WELL.

SO ONE OF THE LEADERS AND STATE LEADERS ARE DEFINITELY HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN DRAW MORE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LANDMARK PROJECTS THAT CAN DO THAT.

THERE AREN'T MANY SITES IN THE REGION THAT ARE LIKE THE FORMER PHILIP MORRIS SITE.

THAT SITE HAS BEEN A PLAYER FOR BIG NATIONAL PROJECTS.

FOR INSTANCE, LAST YEAR, PE LATON WAS CONSIDERING THAT SITE FOR 2,100 JOB, MA IT AND LOCATED IN OHIO.

THAT SITE DOES BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE THAT MAYBE NOT ANY SITE IN THE REGION DOES.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE SEE HUGE PHARMA INVESTMENTS TO THIS SCALE BECAUSE OF LAND AVAILABLE.

IT IS DEFINITELY REASONABLE THAT IT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO SOME OTHER INVESTMENTS AND OTHER SITES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

I THINK IT DEFINITELY PUTS THE REGION IN THE MAP IN THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR.

>> GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, YOU LOOK AT WHATP HANDED NOT FAR FROM THERE WHERE YOU HAD DAVID MURDOCH, HE TOOK OVER CANNON MILLS AND THEY TOOK THE RESEARCH PARK THERE WHERE THE MILLS HAPPEN TO BE AND ONE OF THE EMPHASIS THAT THEY HAD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE WAS WHOLE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

YOU POSSIBLY HAVE THAT SYNERGY THAT WOULD COME OUT OF KANNAPOLIS, CONCORD, THE CABARRUS, YOU KNOW, COUNTY AREA THAT COULD VERY WELL PLAY INTO EACH OTHER AND FEED OFF EACH OTHER SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN UP IN THE TRIANGLE, ITSELF.

>> I SUPPOSE IT'S NOT JUST THE JOBS, TOO, BUT WHEN THE JOBS COME AND SO DOES ALL THE OTHER THINGS, THE AMENITIES LIKE WE SEE IN KANNAPOLIS NOW, THE GROWTH IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD I SUPPOSE THAT KIND OF GROWTH.

DANIELLE, DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?

>> YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE TO CABARRUS COUNTY SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE.

WHEN IT CLOSED I THINK WAS 2,500 PEOPLE THAT GOT LAID OFF.

I THINK JUST LOOKING AT THE REVIVAL OF THIS SITE AND THE WAY THAT THOUSANDS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN ADDED THERE JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I THINK THEY ANNOUNCED THE DEMOLITION AROUND 2019 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE ORIGINAL PLANT AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS YET.

REALLY HAVE BEEN A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS AND THERE'S A CABINET MAKER AND ONE OF THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CARVANA, THE CAR COMPANY, AND I THINK A REALLY HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMMUNITY OF KIND OF SEEING A REVIVAL OF THIS SITE THAT ONCE WAS REALLY THE POWERHOUSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST JOBS.

>> SYMBOLICALLY, REALLY, IT'S A BIG WIN SYMBOLICALLY FOR CONCORD, TOO, AS YOU SAID, THOSE HISTORIC MANUFACTURING JOB THAT ARE GONE FOR GOOD AND INDUSTRIES LIKE TOBACCO AND TEXTILES AND SEEING THEM REBOUND FROM THAT AND FINDING NEW PLACES AND NEW JOBS AND NEW INDUSTRIES TO COME IN, THAT'S SYMBOLICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE REGION AS A WHOLE.

FOLKS, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> A SIDE NOTE, TOO, WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND EVEN AS MUCH AS THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE LOOKING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN THE AREA OF HIGH TECH AND YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT LIKE LILY THAT IS A VERY EASY SEGUE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE LAST WORD THIS WEEK.

GOOD NEWS IN CONCORD AND BIG NEWS FOR EVERYBODY FOR ECONOMIC VIABILITY IN THIS REGION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING WITH US AT HOME, THANK YOU FOR INSWROING US US.

YOU CAN JOIN US AFTER THE SHOW IS OVER AS WELL.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS GOOD OR BAD TO OFF THE RECORD@WTVI.ORG.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON OFF THE RECORD.