>> IN WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, MORE SCHOOL BODY SCANNERS FOR CMS.

FEWER BUSES FOR CATS AND A NEW LOCATION FOR THAT OLD FLEE MARKET AT EASTLAND MALL AND ALSO NEW RULES AT CITY HALL FOR LOW-INCOME LANDLORDS AND WHEN WILL THOSE NEW RULES BE ENFORCED.

IS CHARLOTTE BECOMING AN ABORTION SANCTUARY AFTER REVERSAL OF ROE V. WADE AND BUSINESS IN THE U.S. AND WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

WATCH LOTS OF TOPICS NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

AND FROM OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS IN HISTORIC PLAZA MIDWOOD, I'M JEFF SONNIER AND WE'RE OFF THE RECORD TALKING ABOUT THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

IF YOU WATCH AND READ AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS NEWS, YOU RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND THE VIRTUAL TABLE.

JOHN PAUL FROM WSOC-TV, STEVE CRUMP FROM WBTV AND TONY FROM THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

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

SCHOOL IS OUT BUT STILL A LOT TO TALK ABOUT WITH SCHOOL SECURITY THIS WEEK AS THE NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY IN HIGH SCHOOLS, ADDING BODY SCANNERS TO DOZENS MORE CMS SCHOOLS AS EARLY AS AUGUST.

ANYONE WANT TO GET US STARTED THIS MORNING ON WHERE WE ARE ON SCHOOL SECURITY AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS A ROUGH SCHOOL YEAR LAST YEAR.

FOR CMS, THEY HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF GUNS DISCOVERED AT THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEY STARTED TO DO WAS LOOK INTO THE SECURITY AND THEY STARTED PURCHASING THESE WEAPON SCANNERS.

THEY PUT THEM INTO HIGH SCHOOLS.

THAT WAS TOWARD THE END OF A SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY FINALLY GOT THEM UP AND RUNNING.

THEY ROLLED THEM OUT IN DIFFERENT PHASES AND THEY WERE ONLY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

THEY SEEMED TO BE PRODUCING RESULTS.

THEY WERE CATCHING GUNS OR CATCH KIDS WHO WOULD RUN OUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE SCANNERS AND THEY WOULD FIND GUNS IN BACKPACKS AND WHATNOT.

THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADD THESE TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN CMS SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DID NOTICE THEY WERE FINDING SCHOOLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLSES AS WELL DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THESE WEAPON SCANNERS, SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE MONEY INTO THOSE WEAPON SCANNERS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HOPE TO HAVE THESE THINGS PUT INTO PLACE BY THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> IT'S NOT A CHEAP FIX FOR A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT AGAIN, THE EFFECTIVENESS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT FIRST SEMESTER VERSUS SECOND SEMESTER, THAT WENT FROM WHAT, 23 GUNS DOWN TO 7 GUNS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN THANK OR CREDIT THE SCANNERS FOR THAT.

IT DOES SUGGEST A SERIOUSNESS AT CMS REGARDING A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT CMS RIGHT NOW, CORRECT?

>> THE OTHER QUESTION THEN BECOMES, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE LOOKING AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHICH BASICALLY SAYS, ALL RIGHT, THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE WITH FIREARMS, WEAPONS BEING BROUGHT THERE.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE SCANNERS, DO THEY UP THE ANTE AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS?

WE SEE THEM AT A NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA.

THE QUESTION IS, DO WE INCREASE THE NUMBERS AS YOU LOOK AT THE LOWER GRADES?

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE SCHOOL BOARD THIS WEEK.

SEVENTY SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ON STAFF RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S FAR LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AT CMS, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT RESCHEDULING AND I GUESS KIND OF DIVVYING THEM UP MORE EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE EVERY SCHOOL HAS A RESOURCE OFFICER PRESENCE AT SOME POINT IN THE DAY OR DURING THE WEEK.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE MORE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

SEVENTY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ENOUGH TO COVER A SCHOOL SYSTEM THE SIZE OF CHARLOTTE WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE HERE.

>> DIVVY THEM UP AND ONE OFFICER HAS TWO OR THREE SCHOOLS WITHIN A PARTICULAR ZONE OR AREA.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF RESPONSE TIME AND YOU CAN ARGUE THAT HERE IN CHARLOTTE, RESPONSE TIME FROM LOCAL POLICE IS GOING TO BE MUCH QUICKER.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T PERHAPS HAVE AS MANY PERCEIVABLY THEY SHOULD BUT I KNOW THERE'S ALSO SOME FUNDING IN RALEIGH MADE AVAILABLE TO SOME OF THOSE POORER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE TO PAY FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND CMS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK WAS THAT THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT MONEY BECAUSE OUR COUNTY BASICALLY IS TOO WEALTHY FOR THAT GRANT FUNDING.

AGAIN, SCHOOL SECURITY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY IN THE MINDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN PARTICULAR, OF SCHOOL PARENTS AND AGAIN, ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION, IT DOES SEEM TO BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT KIND OF MAKING HIS MARK ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM OF HIS PREDECESSOR ABOUT INEFFECTIVENESS AND SOLUTIONS THAT WEREN'T TRULY MEANINGFUL WHEN IT CAME TO SECURITY, THOSE CLEAR BACK BACKPACKS ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE.

>> THOSE WENT UP FOR AUCTION AND THEY WERE LISTED AND MINIMUM BID WAS $50,000 AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENT, I THINK, OVER 200,000 FOR THOSE CLEAR BACKPACKS.

IT'S A SYMBOLIC CHANGING OF THE GUARD IN CMS.

>> I BELIEVE IT WAS $400,000 ON WHAT THEY SPENT ON THOSE BACKPACKS AND THERE WERE 46,000.

THEY SAT IN A WAREHOUSE SINCE JANUARY AND NEVER USED THEM.

THEY BLAMED THE PROP 65 WARPINGS FROM CALIFORNIA, WHICH REALLY ONLY HAVE TO DO WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S NOTED IN THE AUCTION THAT THEY HAVE A PROP 65 WARNING THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT IN NORTH CAROLINA.

NONETHELESS, THEY'RE AUCTIONING THEM OFF.

>> LIKE I SAID, LOTS OF CRITICISM.

AS YOU MENTIONED, LOTS OF CRITICISM OF THE CLEAR BACKPACKS BUT NOT MUCH CRITICISM AT ALL ON THE SCANNER EXPANSION.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT MOST OF THE COMMUNITY EMBRACES AS A WAY TO HOPEFULLY COMBAT THIS PROBLEM.

BY THE WAY, THESE ARE THE SCANNERS THAT WE'VE HAD AT THE PANTHERS GAMES.

IT'S A HIGH TECH, DID,-HOPEFULLY A HIGH TECH ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT'S ONGOING AT CMS.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CATS.

WE DISCUSSED THEM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THEIR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER ABSENCES AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE, YOU KNOW, THE RIPPLE EFFECT FROM THOSE ABSENCES IN THE FORM OF CUTBACKS OF CATS' SCHEDULE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND IT'S ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE NOBODY SEEMS HAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OR CATS ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

>> SO CATS IS CUTTING ITS FREQUENCY ON CERTAIN ROUTES TO BE BE MORE RELIABLE DUE TO THE DRIVER SHORTAGES THAT THEY HAVE BLAMED ON UNEXCUSED ABSENCES THAT DRIVERS HAVE BEEN TAKING.

SO THEY'VE ALSO BEEN STRUGGLING TO HAVE POSITIONS WITH LOTS OF OPEN POSITIONS.

SO BECAUSE THE ISSUES HAVE SUCH RELIABILITY, THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CUT BACK AND THAT'S WE CAN BE AT LEAST RELIABLE AND NOT HAVE PEOPLE WAITING FOR A BUS THAT DOESN'T COME.

OF COURSE, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT CATS HAS BEEN TRYING TO APPROVE FREQUENCY OVER THE YEARS.

SO ONE OF THE ROUTES THAT'S BEING CUT BACK AND DID LOOK AT THE LOW RIDERSHIP TIME SO IT'S NOT DURING PEAK FREQUENCY BUT THE ROUTES AND RIDERSHIP TIME IS CUT BACK TO 60 MINUTES AND THE OTHER TWO ARE 30 MINUTES AND SO THEY WANT 15-MINUTE OR BETTER PUERTO RICO IS A OF KIND OF ITS ULTIMATE GOAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH TRANSIT PLANS IN OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW THAT IS DEFINITELY A SETBACK.

>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, IF I CAN PIGGYBACK ON THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF RIDERS ON BUSES, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT BUS RIDERSHIP WOULD INCREASE AS UPTOWN IS COMING BACK TO LIFE THAT KIND OF THING.

THE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK THE SERVICE CHALLENGES THAT CATS HAS HAD IS REALLY AFFECTING THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST REALLY REMARKABLE TO SEE THE BIG DROP-OFF IN BUS RIDERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE PEAKED A NUMBER OF YEARS GO, 2014 OR 2015, YOU HAD MORE BUS RIDERS THAN YOU DO NOW.

IT'S BEEN IN THEY CLIENT.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO HELP.

CATS WANTS TO GO THE OTHER DIRECTION.

THEY WANT TO BEEF UP THE ROUTES.

THEY WANT RELIABLE SERVICE.

THEY WANT HIGHER FREQUENCIES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T HAVE CARS AND GET TO WORK AND GET TO THE DOCTOR.

>> THE GREAT DICHOTOMY IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE $5 GAS AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH, YOU KNOW, SCENARIO WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE MORE RIDERS BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU HAD INCREASED FUEL PRICES BUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT OCCURRED THIS WEEK IS OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNIT TURNED UP A STORY THAT CATS DRIVERS ARE CONCERNED DEALING WITH A THIRD-PARTY HIRING FIRM THAT ENDS UP BRINGING DRIVERS INTO THE SYSTEM.

SO PART OF THE FRUSTRATION FROM A REPORT THAT CAME OUT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE KIND OF A TWO-TIERED SYSTEM FOR SO DRIVERS, YOU KNOW, BEING PAID BY A THIRD PARTY NOT THE CITY OF COUNCIL AND THEY WANT TO FIND OUT HOW THIS GOES AND FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THIS CONTRACT GOES BACK THREE YEARS.

>> YEAH.

I GUESS PART OF THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, MUNICIPALITY CITIES CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH UNIONS THOSE ARE UNION BUS DRIVERS AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A THIRD-PARTY KIND OF A MIDDLE MAN TO CONDUCT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND CONDUCT THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE UNION.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THIS-- NONE OF THIS IS NEW.

THE DRIVERS AND THEIR TIME OFF, YOU KNOW, THE THIRD-PARTY COMPANY THAT RUNS THE SYSTEM, I MEAN, TO ME AND AGAIN, WE'VE SAID THIS IN THE PAST, FROM PEOPLE WHO NEED THE BUS SYSTEM, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL AND WHEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT RIDING, WHEN RIDERSHIP IS THIS LOW, THAT TELLS ME THAT THE FOLKS WHO NEED IT THE MOST DON'T TRUST IT TO BE RELIABLE OR SERVICEABLE OR MEETING THEIR NEEDS AT ALL.

THAT'S A REAL INDICTMENT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE UNDERSERVED IN THE COMMUNITY NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMES ANYWHERE CLOSE TO MEETING THEIR NEEDS.

THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

>> I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE RUMBLES ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND SOME DISSATISFACTION WITH THE CATS LEADERSHIP.

THEY ASKED PLAIN QUESTIONS OF JOHN LEWIS, THE CATS CEO, ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND YOU HAVE ONE OF THE MEM REPUBLICAN MEMBERS, TARIQ BOKHARI, WHO SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE NEW LEADERSHIP AT CATS.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE ARE THERE ANY MOVES MADE IN THAT REGARD.

CERTAINLY, YOU CAN'T LAY THEM ALL AT THE FEET OF LEADERSHIP.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, STAFFING SHORTAGES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH A THIRD PARTY.

THEY CAN'T DIRECTLY HIRE BUS DRIVERS AND THERE ARE SOME REAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO ASK FOR TAX DOLLARS FROM BILLIONS AND EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM AS WELL.

GO AHEAD, DANIELLE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK, TOO, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ASKING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT RIDERSHIP IS DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN, MINORITY INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP THE-- I BELIEVE IT'S OVER TWO-THIRDS OF RIDERS, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT THE CITY HAS ALL OF THESE GOALS AROUND EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING IS JUST ONE PIECE OF YOUR LIVING COSTS AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS IN CHARLOTTE ARE ACTUALLY HIGHER ON AVERAGE THAN IN MANY OTHER CITIES SO YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE THE BUS, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMMUTING FARTHER BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD REALLY CLOSE TO UPTOWN.

I THINK IT'S AS YOUR CONNECTED AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST RELATED TO OUR TRANSIT GOALS BUT RELATED TO OUR GOALS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS TRYING TO IMPROVE RACIAL INEQUITIES.

>> YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, WHERE OKAY, IT'S COMING IN FIVE MINUTES AND IT CAME OUT ON THESE BUS ROUTES WHERE THE BUSES AREN'T RUNNING, FOR SOME REASON, IT SHOWS UP IN THE APP AS THOUGH IT IS COMING.

YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE VERY CONFUSING, I THINK, TO RIDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO FACTOR WHEN THE BUS IS COMING AND IT'S NOT ACCURATELY REFLECTED ON THE APP.

IT'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THERE.

>> IT'S A COMEDY OF ERRORS THAT IS NOT FUNNY TO THE FOLKS WHO NEED THIS SERVICE THE MOST.

AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE SOLVED, IN PARTICULAR AS COUNCIL GOES FORWARD AND THE CITY GOES FORWARD WITH FUNDING FOR MORE EXPANSION IN THE TODAYS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT, VOTER SUPPORT ULTIMATELY FOR HIGHER TAXES FOR CATS.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER, WHEN DO WE GET TO THAT TIPPING POINT WHERE COUNCIL TAKES ACTION AND DOES SOMETHING EITHER AT THE LEADERSHIP FRONT AND MAKE SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES AND IT'S AN ONGOING STORY THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT AGAIN.

DANIELLE, YOU MENTIONED THE COST OF HOUSING A MOMENT AGO.

YOU WROTE THIS WEEK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW RULES THAT LANDLORDS WILL FACE WHEN IT COMES TO SECTION 8 LOW INCOME HOUSING AND THOSE VOUCHERS.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CITY COUNCIL IS TRYING TO DO AND HOW THAT MIGHT HELP SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MAY NEED IT MOST IN THE HOUSING MARKET?

>> YES.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL IS TASKED WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS FORCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS.

WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY MEANS IF YOU'RE A LANDLORD YOU CAN'T DISQUALIFY SOMEONE LIKE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T DISQUALIFY SOMEONE WITH RACE.

YOU CAN'T DISQUALIFY SOMEONE BASED ON THE SOURCE OF THEIR INCOME.

THE SOURCE OF THEIR INCOME COULD BE A SECTION 8 VOUCHER OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT COULD BE REGULAR INCOME.

IT'S SAYING IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOUR INCOME COMES FROM.

THIS ONLY APPLIES TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY THE CITY THROUGH ANYTHING THAT MIGHT RECEIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT ALREADY APPLIES TO THOSE PROJECTS AND ANY WAY THE CITY IS INVOLVED, THIS RULE WOULD APPLY AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING LOCKED OUT WHEN THEY HAVE THESE VOUCHERS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO COULD HELP GIVE THEM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, INLIVIAN DID, THAT SHOWED 96.5% OF PROPERTY CONTACTED ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL DID NOT ACCEPT VOUCHERS.

>> WOW.

>> AND TRANSIT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, FOR ALL THE REASONS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, HAVING ACCESS TO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND HELP TO GET TO WORK, HELP TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES YOU MIGHT NEED.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO LIVE IN FRONT OF THESE DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HIGHER OPPORTUNITY.

>> THERE'S NO RISK FOR TAKING A VOUCHER FROM A LANDLORD, IS THERE?

HOW DO LANDLORDS EXPLAIN NOT TAKING THE VOUCHERS?

>> I THINK IT'S A STIGMA BIGGER PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE PRIVATE APARTMENTS.

>> GOING FORWARD, HOPEFULLY IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IS A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

GO AHEAD, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.

>> I THINK THERE IS RED TAPE WHEN IT INVOLVES A SECTION 8 VOUCHER FOR THE LANDLORD.

DANIELLE, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M CURIOUS IF THIS HAS TEETH TO IT.

I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO RECEIVE THREE COMPLAINTS ABOUT A LANDLORD AND THEN THE CITY COULD PULL FUNDING.

I BELIEVE THAT'S THE MECHANISM THAT'S IN PLACE.

>> SO ACTUALLY, A RATE CHANGE ON MONDAY WAS THAT THEY PULLED THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE OF IT AND THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND FIGURE OUT AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

SO I THINK WE'LL SORT OF REMAIN SEEKING AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROPOSALS BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THEY END UP DECIDING ON AROUND ENFORCEMENT IN PENALTIES.

BUT TO GO BACK TO THE RED TAPE REAL QUICK, I DO WANT TO SAY AND I SPOKE TO THE LANDLORD ASSOCIATION, THEY WERE THE WOMAN WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE, SHE WAS ACTUALLY THE COCHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, THE COUNCIL FORMED TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT THERE ARE THINGS LIKE UNITS HAVE TO UNDERGO AN INSPECTION, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THAT SOMEONE IS RECEIVING A SECTION 8 VOUCHER AND DO SOME TIME AND THAT CAN BE LOST WITH THE LANDLORD.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS OF PAPERWORK AND RED TAPE THAT THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO ADDRESS.

THERE WERE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT I BELIEVE MAY NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION BUT COULD BE SORT OF WAYS TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS THAT I THINK WILL BE IMPORTANT AS WELL.

SO IT WON'T BE THE FULL CHANGE THAT SOME ADVOCATES HAVE THOUGHT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PROHIBITING IT ANY SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION RATHER, IN ANY PROJECT OR ANY APARTMENT COMPLEX.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THE CITY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT LEAST.

THAT'S THE FOLKS WHO QUALIFY FOR THESE VOUCHERS, THE LOW INCOME FAMILIES, ONE OUT OF FIVE RETURN THE VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND A PLACE TO SPEND THEM.

THAT'S A REAL SHAME.

THAT'S THE KEY TO GET NAG A HOME FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE HOMES AND CAN'T AFFORD HOMES AT THE MARKET RATE.

WE'LL REVISIT THIS WHEN CITY COUNCIL COMES UP WITH AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

ONE MORE COUNCIL STORY BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

THE EASTLAND MALL FLEE MARKET.

THERE'S NO MALL OR FLEE MARKET ANYMORE EITHER, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROMISE OF RELOCATION IS GOING TO BE KEPT BY CITY COUNCIL WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE VENDORS THAT USED TO SELL THEIR WARES OUT AT THE EASTLAND MALL SITE.

DO YOU WANT TO BRING US UP TO DATE ON THAT ANYBODY?

>> SO THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE FOR THESE VENDORS.

THE EASTLAND MALL SITE IS BEING-- ENVISIONED TO BE REDEVELOPED.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BREAKING GROUND FAIRLY SOON IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT'S NO LONGER A TENABLE PLACE TO HAVE IT.

THE CITY CAME OUT AND CITY STAFF WORKING ON IT TRYING TO FIND A NEW LOCATION ON THE EAST SIDE AND YOU HAD A CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK.

A LOT OF THOSE VENDORS SHOWING UP, SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE HURTING MY LIVELIHOOD BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO HAVE THIS FLEE MARKET ANYMORE.

SO THE CITY HAS BEEN LOOKING BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND A SUITABLE SITE.

THEY NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPACE.

THEY NEED PARKING.

THEY NEED, YOU KNOW, WILLINGNESS OF THE OWNER.

THAT SORT OF THING.

THE REPUBLICAN CITY COUNCILMEMBER RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, TARIQ BOKHARI, FOUND A TEMPORARY SPOT UPTOWN ONth STREET NEAR BREVARD.

JUST A TEMPORARY MOVE BUT HE AND THE CITY ARE WORKING TO FIND A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, SORT OF THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STOP GAP MEASURE SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHERE THAT MIGHT BE A MORE PERMANENT BASIS.

>> THE STOP LIGHT HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EASTLAND MALL PROPERTY?

FOR YEARS, WE HAD MOVIE STUDIO, SOCCER THINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING THERE, CMS.

10 YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT BREAKING GROUND, IS THIS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN, OR IS IT ANOTHER APRIL FOOL'S JOKE?

[LAUGHTER] >> A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHEN THAT FIRST TRACTOR SHOWS UP THERE.

>> I THINK I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT ONE OF OUR REPORTERS SPOKE TO SOME OF THE VENDORS AND THEY ARE WARY OF BEING USED ESSENTIALLY DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MR. BOKHARI HAS FOUND THIS TEMPORARY LOCATION AND THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 50 VENDORS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THE VENDORS ARE SORT OF-- UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THIS WHOLE SITUATION, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE GOING AND THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PROMISES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN KEPT.

I STILL THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AMONG THE FOLKS WHO FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN LEFT BEHIND AND I'M SURE THAT'S THE LARGER PICTURE HERE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR CITY'S GROWTH AND IT'S A DECENT PROJECT IN PARTICULAR AND THE EAST SIDE SECTION AND DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

I KNOW A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT GENTRIFICATION AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BOKHARI DID SAY HE DID THINK THE CITY WOULD COME UP WITH A PERMANENT RELOCATION PLAN SOON BUT HE HAD THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN SLATE OF COUNCILMEMBERS WITH HIM WHEN HE MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

IF THAT'S NOT A POLITICAL OUTREACH ON THE PART OF THE PARTY FOR LATINA VOTES IN THE MIDDLE OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> THE TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE SO LOW, YOU REALLY DON'T NEED ALL THAT MANY FOLKS.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO-- A LITTLE BIT OFFTOPIC, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO LATCH ON TO ANY TYPE OF ISSUE THAT THEY CAN AND GET VOTERS OUT.

YOU DON'T NEED THAT MANY.

>> LOW TURNOUT-- [LAUGHTER] AND PHOTO OP.

>> YEAH.

THAT DOESN'T HURT EITHER.

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

WE WISH THEM SUCCESS THIS WEEKEND AND GOING FORWARD IN WHATEVER LOCATION THE CITY COMES UP WITH.

DANIELLE, BACK TO YOU AGAIN.

YOU WROTE THIS WEEK ABOUT ABORTION SANCTUARIES.

HOW CHARLOTTE IS PERHAPS BECOMING ONE IN SURROUNDED BY OTHER STATES THAT MAY RESTRICT ABORTIONS MORE THAN NORTH CAROLINA.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS SPIKE THAT THEY'RE SEEING IN SOME OF THESE CLINICS IN TOWN?

>> YEAH.

SO PREFERRED WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER OUT AT EAST CHARLOTTE.

IT'S THE PROTESTS THAT HAVE NOW BECOME RATHER INFAMOUS OUT THERE.

THEY SEE 50% SPIKE IN CALLS SINCE THE ROE V. WADE REVERSAL AND STATEWIDE, THERE WERE 00 PATIENTS OUT OF STATE IN ONE WEEK.

A THIRD OF THEIR PATIENTS OVERALL ARE FROM OUT OF STATE.

BECAUSE NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW, ABORTION IS LEGAL UP UNTIL (INAUDIBLE) AND THERE ARE SO MANY STATES AND SOUTH CAROLINA HAD A HEARTBEAT BILL SO-CALLED GOES INTO EFFECT WHICH BANS ABORTION AFTER SIX WEEKS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM PLACES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA AND HOPING PEOPLE WHO CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS UP HERE AND OTHER CLOSED PLACES AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STATES LIKE GEORGIA THAT ARE ABOUT TO OR CONSIDERING RESTRICTIONS AND THAT COULD BRING EVEN MORE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 15 CLINICS STATEWIDE.

IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT.

THEY ARE GO-- DEFINITELY RAMPING UP STAFFING AND KIND OF EXPECTING THE INFLUX.

>> THE GOVERNOR GOT INVOLVED I GUESS LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING THE ABORTION RIGHTS THAT ARE HERE AND THE ELECTION COMING IN NOVEMBER WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THAT KIND OF STAND WILL STAND DEPENDING ON WHETHER THERE'S A SUPERMAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS OR MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS TO STAND BY SOME OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND VETOES.

SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR WHO GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION THIS WEEK FROM CNBC, NORTH CAROLINA VOTED NUMBER ONE FOR BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

TONY, IS THAT A BIG DEAL, OR IS THAT LIKE GETTING THE COVER OF A MAGAZINE AND THEN IT GOES AWAY?

>> I MEAN, I VIEW A LOT OF THESE RANKINGS AND LISTS AS MARKETING PLOYS, BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF STATE LEADERS ARE EMBRACING IT.

I MEAN, CNBC AND SAID THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN TOWARD THE TOP AND THIS YEAR, IT'S NUMBER ONE.

SO YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS LEANING INTO IT.

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN RALEIGH ARE LEANING INTO IT.

EVERYBODY IS PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK.

IT IS ACTUALLY TRUE, NORTH CAROLINA HAS A FAVORABLE BUSINESS CLIMATE COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER STATES.

IF YOU TALK TO BUSINESS LEADERS, THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY LIKE THE TAXES AND REGULATIONS ARE RELATIVELY LOW.

WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THE STATE'S WILLING TO PUT MONEY INTO LARGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND TRIED A COUPLE JET ENGINES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND APPLE AND THE UNIVERSITY AREA.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS SORT OF MARKETING PATTING EACH OTHER ON THE BACK SAYING HOW GREAT WE ARE BUT THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO IT.

I THINK THERE'S IS TRUTH AND WE WERE THE HARVARD BELT AND WE REASSIMILATED INTO OTHER PHASES OF ECONOMY WHICH KIND OF GETS THOSE HEADLINES.

>> AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DEMOCRATS PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING JOBS HERE TOO.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WERE RANKED NUMBER ONE.

WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

DID YOU SMELL IT?

WHERE YOU WERE?

WE HAD EVACUATION HERE IN OUR STUDIOS AND AT THAT WOULD-BE GAS LEAK THAT WASN'T A GAS LEAK.

YOUR THOUGHTS QUICKLY.

ANYBODY?

>> NOT NOW.

>> WE WERE AT THE SPEEDWAY.

I GOT AN ALERT ON MY PHONE.

MY PHONE STARTED BUZZING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I LIKED THE LINE WHO SAID IT'S CIGARETTES AGAIN.

GREAT LINE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I DO APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US THIS WEEKEND AND FOR THE FOLKS JOINING US AT HOME, YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING YOU US.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON OFF THE RECORD.

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