CAN GET THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD A NEW CITY BUDGET GETS THE OKAY.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS GET MORE PAY, ANDCI USING CITY-OWNED LAN TONG OLD AFFORDABLE PLACES TO SY .

ALSO AT CITY HALL THIS WEEK THE FIRST PEAK AT A POSSIBLE NEW LGBTQ ORDINANCE.

IT'S NOT A BATHROOM BILL, IT'S NOT A BATHROOM BILL, SO YOU'RE TRYING TWO FIND YOUR FIRST HOUSE , BUT YOURD COMPETITION OWNS 11,000 HOUSES.

CMS IN THE COUNTY STILL DIVIDED ON PLANS TO HOLD BACK MILLIONS IN SCHOOL FUNDING.

THEY ARE JUST NOT TALKING TO US.

HISTORIC PLANTATION LOSES ITS FUNDING OVER WHAT THEY TEACH AND DON'T TEACH ABOUT THE HISTORY O SLAVERY.

ALSOSO, HOW TO SPEND OR NOT TO SPEND AN EXTRA $6.5 BILLION HOW TO COUNT OR NOT COUNT VOTES AFTER ELECTION DAY AND AFTER 59 YEARS OF CHARLOTTE'S BEST FRIED CHICKEN, PRICES B FLY THE COOP.

THAT'S WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT.

♪ >> FROM OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS IN HISTORIC P I AM JEFF SONIER AND WERE OFF THE RECORD TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'V BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEKEND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, READ THE NEWS AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

FREDERICK RUSSELLUR ELI PORTILL FOR THE UNC CHARLOTTE URBANT INSTITUTE AND ASHLEY FROM THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

ALSO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME BY E-MAILING YOUR QUESTION AND COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD ATO WTVI.ORG.

I WANT.O TO SAY A FAREWELL TO O OF OUR REGULAR HERE.E THIS WILL BE HER LAST OFF THE RECORD FOR ASHLEY AS SHE MOVES ON FROM THE LOCAL REAL ESTATEOV DESK TO THE NATIONAL REAL ESTAT DESK AT THE CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL.

SHE'S BEEN COVERING CITY STORIE AND COUNTY STORIES AND BUSINESS STORIES FOR USS FOR ALMOST THRE YEARS, AND SHE BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE EVERY WEEK AND MAKES THIS SHOW A BETTER SHOW EVERY WEEK.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR OFF THE RECORD OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE VIRTUAL, SO WE CAN'T HAVE A CAKE, BUT YOU DESERVE A CAKE.OU I WANTED TO DO THAT FIRST BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE RUN OUT OF TIME AT THE ENDE OF THE SHOW, BUT THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND THANK YOUAD, ASHLEY FOR YOU HELP OVER THE LAST, SEVERAL YEAS .

LET'S START WITH YOU AT CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK, THEY APPROVE A, BUDGET NOT A LOT OF HUGE HEADLINES COMING OUT OF THAT, BUT THE COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS FOR THE NEXT YEAR WITH ALL THAT MONEY.

TELL US ABOUT THE T BUDGET THIS WEEK.

>> IT WAS ALMOST UNANIMOUS, THE VOTED AGAINST IT IT WAS LARGELY HE SAID BECAUSE OF THE PAY INCREASES THAT ARE COMINGPA FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THIS HAS COME UP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS A FEW TIMES ESSENTIALLY THAT THEIR VOTING O THEIR OWN PAY RAISES AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WASS INDEPENDENT COMMITTEENT THAT RECOMMENDED PA RAISES FOR THE COUNCIL, THERE ARE SOME CONTROVERSY I GUESS ABOUT HOW IT WAS APPROACHED AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT IN THE BUDGET.

W THE MAYOR SALARY WILL INCREASE FROM 28,000 AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GO FROM 21,000 TO ABOUT $32,000, SO IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY MATERIAL INCREASE BUTRE THE STUDIES HAVE SAID THA THE CURRENT COUNCIL COUNSEL IS UNDERPAID COMPARED TO COMPARATIVE CITIES.

ALSO, CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG POLICE DID GET A $10 MILLION INCREASE WHICH THEY SAY IS GOIN TO GO TOWARD $EA PAY RAISES, SALARIES, P AMONG POLICE OFFICE.

AND, CRISIS RESPONSE AGENTS WHICH IS A DESCRIPTION THAT'S A LITTLE VAGUE, BUT I THINK THERE IS MORE GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND BEAT BEAT MORE MEDIATORS.

MAY BE JUST ENFORCEMENTS, SO THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE.

THEN OF COURSE, FUNDING FOR ART AND CULTURE, THE INCREASE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO KIND OF CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT ARTS AND SCIENCE COUNCIL WILL NO LONGER BE MANAGING THOSE FUNDS.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A MATERIAL SHIFT FROM YEARS PAST.E TO GET YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT ART FUNDING ANDR THEIR SHIFTING TH FUNDING I GUESS TO THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING PRIVATE FOUNDATION GUESS SPEAKS WELL TOOU THIS CHA IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR ARTS GROUPS IN CHARLOTTE GETTIN THE MONEY THEY NEED ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT REFERENDUM FAILEDE LAST YEAR WITH THAT SALES TAX REFERENDUM.HA >> THEY EXCEEDED THEIR GOAL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I THINK AND I GUESS SOME OF THE CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN AROUND WHERE IS THE FUNDING GOING TOEN GO TOWARD.

AS A GOING TOWARD THE MUSEUMS THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS WE KNOW AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH, IS GOING TO BE MORE TOURISM ORIENTED, ORO LOCAL ARTIST AND LOCAL ARTS GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES G OUTSIDE OF UPTOWN HOWWN WILL THEY GET THE FUNDING.

I THINK THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF THE DEBATE.

IN THE CURRENT COUNSEL HAS SAID SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW AND WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO GOER, WHETHER OR NOT LOCAL ARTI ARE REALLY GOING A TO BENEFIT F IT, SO I GUESSO IT'S TO BE DETERMINED, BUT IT CERTAINLY AS SHIFT FROM THEBU HISTORICAL.

AFTER THE REFERENDUM COME OUT RECENTLY, IT CERTAINLY IS INTERESTING.

C >> THE INTERESTING THING IS THA THEY TALK OF DEFUNDING POLICE HERE IN CHARLOTTE GIVES THEM AN INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET AND THINGS LIKE THAT.SE I THINK THAT SETS THE STANDARD IN SUCH A MESSAGE THAT S EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SOME CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE, THEY STILL WANT TO SUPPORT THAT AND GIVE THE FUNDS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO A BETTER JOB.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE NOTICED.

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT STANDGS OUT FROM THIS BUDG PROCESSTH AND LET THE CITY VOTE ONTE, THE FIRST IS WHAT DIDN'T HAPPENAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF YE AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR THAT DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WE WOULD JUST BE SEEING LOCAL BUDGETSTH JUST COMPLETELY SHOT FULL OF HOLES, AND WE WOULD BE IN A DEEP FISCAL CRISIS.

THIS CITY'S PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE ISTY TAXES WHICH IS STAB FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

SALES TAX, THERE WAS FEAR OF THAT FALLINGHE OFF A CLIFF, HOTS , MOTELS, HOSPITALITY FACTS THAT TAXES DID DECLINE SIGNIFICANTLY D, BUT THAT'S MOR OF A DEDICATED FUNDING SCHEME IT'S NOT FOR THE GENERAL FUND THAT FUNDS POLICE AND ALL THAT STUFF.

SO WE HAVE MAINTAINED A HEALTHY CITY BUDGET, WHICH H PEOPLE DID SEE COMING LAST YEAR NECESSARILY , AND THE OTHER THING IS, WITH THOSE INCREASES FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM FOR THEM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIME THAT THEY SPEND A ON THOSE JOBS KNOW THERE'S THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS SUPPOSEDEN TO BE MORE A VOLUNTEER, CIVIC MINDED, NOT PROFESSION, BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT GOING TO BE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY COMPAREDLO TO THE HOURS LET'S GO INTO THAT WORK ANDUR T STRESS THAT COMES WITH IT.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE MANAGING A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR ENTERPRISEE LIKE THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO IT IF THEY ARE WEALTHY ENOUGH OR HAVE ENOUGH MONEY THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO MAKE EMO APPRECIABLE INCOME FRO OR DO WE WANT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE OPEN AND MORE RECOGNIZED AS A LITTLE MORE PROFESSIONALL?

I THINK THIS MOVES US TOWARDS THAT AND T LONG TERM, MAYBE WE WILL SEEYB INCREASES IN THAT DIRECTION.NC >> FOR THE THE CITY COUNCIL WAS FOR BEING NOTHING BUT LAWYERS AND HEALTH HOUSEWIVES AND MAKIN TIME A TO SERVE IS CERTAINLY WORTHWHILE.

NOT A LOT OF CRITICISM I GUESSL THE HEADLINES DIDN'T GET MUCH CRITICISM FROM THE PUBLIC ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE INTERESTIN TO SEE WHAT THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR CHALLENGES IN THE NEXT ELECTION,EN HOW THEY REFRAME TH PAY RAISEOW AS THEY CHALLENGE T INCUMBENTS.

ONE OTHER QUICK CITY HALL THING ICI WANTED TO MENTION, IT MAY S QUICK IS OUR FIRST LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT BE LANGUAGE SURROUNDING A NEW LGBTQ ORDINANCE IN TOWN THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS I SINC THE HB TO CONTROVERSY GOT STARTED HERE IN CHARLOTTE WHEN THE COUNCIL TRIED W THIS THE LA TIME.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IT COMES FROM A REPUBLICAN, A CONSERVATIVE AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE GROUP THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND IN THE SPACE THAT WE ARE IN NOW A FEDERAL HOLIDAY UNTIL PEOPLE ARE ANDED PEOPLE WHO DON LOOK LIKE THEM, SO I GUESS HAVING THIS ORDINANCE AND AS YO SAID A, AS SHE REPEATED, IT'S N A BATHROOM BILL, IT'S NOT A BATHROOM BILL I GUESS IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT.

TALKING ABOUT THE.

DISCRIMINATE ABOUT THE TEXTURE OFHE YOUR HAIR.

I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

F THIS IS THE SPACE IN THE TIME THAT WE ARE IN, PEOPLE WILL BE LESS ARGUMENTATIVE ABOUT THIS AND MORE W W EMBRACED UP OF THI BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU DO NOT HONOR OR RESPECT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LOOK LIKE YOU SO THEREFORE HOW DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THI SPACE AND MAKE SURE WE SHOW THA WE WANT TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AN IF INCLUSIVE HAPPENS, THE MONEY HAPPENS TO.

SO IT ALL GOES BACK IN MY EYES.

>> ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES RIGHT NOW IS IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WHEN CHARLOTTE WAS DOING THISAG, WE WERE REALLY KI OF ON AN ISLAND OUT THERE AT TH LONE MUNICIPALITY, KIND OF A LIGHTNING ROD FOR HB TOO AND AL THE BACKLASH THAT CAME WITH ITO A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES I NORTH CAROLINA HAVE PASSED NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES IN THE LAST YEAR, ASHEVILLE,H THE ARE OTHER BIG CITIES, AND EXCUS ME, WE ARE REALLY NOT ISOLATED.

I THINK THAT IS A KEY DIFFERENC AND LIKELY TO TEMPER ANY BACKLASH THAT COMES ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THIS.ME >> A LOT OF LGBTQ ADVOCATES CAM TO THE COUNCIL A COUPLE OF WEEK AGO ASK THEM WHY THEY HADN'T WORKED T ON THE NON- DETERMINAT ORDINANCE YET RIGHT OF COURSE THATNA CITY HASN'T HAD THE BUDG AND OTHER B THINGS THAT HAVE TA OFEN THEIR ATTENTION, BUT THE INTENTION IS THAT WE AUGUST 9TH WILL BE THE DAY WHERE THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT IT AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THEY WANT TO FRAME AROUND THE HE ORDINANCE.

OF COURSE THEY WILL TACK ON TO THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TODAY.

O I GUESS, THE COUNCIL SAYS WE HOPE THIS IS UNANIMOUS, THEY HOPE THIS ISN'T ANYWHERE NEAR A CONTROVERSIAL A AS IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, BUTS YOU SEE OTHER DRAFTS COMES FORWARD FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT YOUR RIGHT, THE COUNCIL MEMBER KIND OF PUT THE FIRST DRAFT OUT THERE, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> IT'S A HOLE AT DIFFERENT FRO WHAT MECKLENBURG COUNTY HAS ALREADY ADOPTED.

C LIT GREENSBORO IN DURHAM HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED.

I THE FACT THAT IT COMESED FROM A REPUBLICAN, WE F WILL SEE WHAT REPUBLICANS POSE AS WELL.

WE FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY MAY BE THE SAME SITE ON THIS PARTICULA ISSUE THIS TIME AROUND WHICH WOULD BE A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS MAY BE THE BIGGEST POLITICAL CONTROVERSY IN RECENT MEMORY NO JUST HERE IN CHARLOTTE, BUT.

>> ELI, YOU TO DO STORY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE A SHOWS ON STEAK, BUT I WANTED TO YOUREA REPORTING ON ABSENTEE LANDLORDS.

WINWARD'S BUYING UP SO MUCH OF THE AFFORDABLE STARTER HOMES IN CHARLOTTEAR TO RENT INSTEAD OF SELFRE TO FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS.

A GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION BECAUSE A KIND OF QUANTIFIEDPLAT WHAT A LOT OF PE THOUGHT TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND INHA YOUR RESEARCH AND WH IT MEANS TO A PERSON OUT THERE.A TO GET THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MOR NATIONAL ATTENTION ON THIS PHENOMENON RECENTLY IN THE WAKE OF THE GREAT RECESSION, COMPANIESHE BACKED BY WALL STRE LIKE TRIKE ON INVITATION, AMERICAN HOMES FOR RENT STARTED BUYING UP THOUSANDS OF SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSES T WHICH WAS REALLY A CHANGE FROM MARKET THAT'S LONG BEEN DOMINATED BY MOM-AND-POP LANDLORDS.

AND OF LOCAL OUTLETS.

MY COLLEAGUE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THOUGHT WELL, HO MANY DO THEY OWN IN CHARLOTTE NOW, SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE PROPERTY RECORDS AND CHECK IT OUT AND WE FOUND THAT THESE FIRMS HAVE BOUGHT NEARLY 11,500 HOUSES IN CHARLOTTE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY BIG NUMBER AND IT IS, BUT IT STILL JUST LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE TOTA TINGLE FAMILY HOME MARKET IN CHARLOTTE.

THE DIFFERENCE AND MAYBE ONE OF THE KEY POINTS IS D THEIR PURCHASES WE FOUND ARE REALLY CONCENTRATEDD IN THE STARTER HO SEGMENTN .

THEY ARE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT TEND TO BE LOWER TO LOWER MIDDL INCOMEBE.

THEY ARE NOT IN WHAT WE HISTORICALLY CALLED A WEDGE, THEY ARE IN NOT IN SOUTHEAST CHARLOTTE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE EFFECT EFFECT THAT THIS IS ON THE STARTER HOME PART OF THE MARKET I THINK WE SEE A LOT OF INVENTORY BEING BROUGHT UP QUICKLY BY THESE HOUSES BY THES COMPANIESSE AND THE CONTEXT OF THAT HAPPENING IS A HISTORIC HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE I CHARLOTTE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY LOW LEVELS OF INVENTORY,TOHOVE PRICES THAT I IN THE MOST LOOKCE RECENT LOCAL REPORT ARE UP R ANY PERCENT YEA OVER YEAR ON AVERAGE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY COMPETING WITH EAC OTHER, THEY'RE COMPETING WITH SOME OF THESE A A W MAJOR MIRMS ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRYING TW BUY SOMETHING THAT IS IN THAT T E REASONABLY PRICED TRADITIONAL STARTER HOME PART O THEH MARKET.

THAT'S REALLY UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND THAT'S REALLY WHER THESE COMPANIESARTH ARE FOCUSIN BUYING HOUSES TO TURN INTO A RENTALS.

>> IT ALMOST CREATES AN ARTIFICIALL SHORTAGE IN STARTER HOMES, THE HOMES ARE THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE TO BUY OR AT LEAST NOT AT PRICES PEOPLE CAN AFFORD WHEN YOU'RE COMPETIN AGAINST INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING GOING FORWARDIN IS SOME OF THESE COMPANIES AND SOME OTHER DEVELOPERS ARE TURNING NOW TO BUILDING PERMANENT SINGLE-FAMIL SUBDIVISIONS FROM THE GROUND UP.

SO I THINK IN TOP OF THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT WERE INCOME IT ON TOP OF BUT BUILDIN SOMEDI OF THESE STARTER HOMES A TAKING THEM OFF THE MARKET WERE ALSO SEEN SOME OF THE REALLY LIMITED HOME-BUILDING CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE DIVERTED TO BUILDING PERMANENT RENTALS, WHICH IS A BIG CHANGE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT Y EN WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN LOCALLY BEFORE.

H IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR HOUSING UNIVERSE FOR A WHILE, AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW IT' GOING TO PLAY OUT LONG-TERM.

>> I THINK IT EXACERBATES ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

EVERYBODY'S MOVING HERE, A LOT OF MILLENNIAL'SHE ARE TO THE PO WHERE THEY ARE READY TO BUY A HOUSE.

WE SALT RECORD LOWA INTEREST RATES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU'RE COMPETING WITH WALL STREET ESSENTIALLY ON BUYING YOUR FIRS HOUSE.

YMP I THINK IT SPEAKS TO HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW CHALLENGING THIS MARKET IS AND WITH SALES PRICES UPH SO MUCH YEAR-OVER-YR , IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHEN RELIEF WILL COME.

IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE, BUT I DON'T SEE THE DEMANDS GOING DOWN ANYTIME D SOON AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MOVE HERE AN THE DEMOGRAPHIC STORY AROUND PEOPLE MOVING INTO HOMES NOW AN BUYING HOMES NOW, IT'S JUST HAR TO SEE THAT SLOWING DOWN.

AS ELI SAYS, IT REALLY GOES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALREADY STRAPPED WITH GENTRIFICATION AN INABILITY TO STAY IN PLACE, SO IT CERTAINLY IS A HUGE ISSUE, BUT THE REAL QUESTION REMAINS WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT THIS IS THE PRIVATE MARKET AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW WHAT CAN OR CAN'T BE DONE TWO SORT OF CHANG IT OR MODERATED.

>> ONE OF THE INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE YEARS IS HOW HOMEOWNERSHIP NEIGHBORHOODS TURN INTO RENTAL NEIGHBORHOODS IER AS THEY IN SO CASES DETERIORATE OR BECOME LES ATTRACTIVE.

IT'S REMARKABLE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE CREATING BRAND-NEW RENTAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINKO NT MOST HOUSING FOLKS THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH HOMEOWNERS IS BETTER THAN AN NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH HOME RENTERS IN TERMS OF THE STABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE O O NOT JUST THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY ITSELF, BUT THE SOLUTIONS THEMSELVES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ..IG >> AND, THE PRICES GOING UP, RENTING MAY BE THE WAY TO GO O RIGHT NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT NUMBER NUMBER PRICES ARE SO HIGH THAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT NOW IT'S ADDINGRE $36,000 ONTO A BRAND-N HOUSE, SO PEOPLE ARE ASKING AND SAYING HEY,RE WOULD YOU PAY THA HIGHER PRICE, HOLD OFF NOW, I GUESS PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND SAYINGE W DO HAVE A MARKET FOR YOU WHERE YOU COULD RENT UNTIL THE TIME I RIGHT FOR YOUNT IN THE BUDGET I RIGHT TO FIND YOUR OWN HOME.

>> A GOOD TIME TO BE A REAL ESTATE REPORTER.

>> LET'S TOUCH BASE ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMISSIONER ARE STILL ARGUING OVER THAT PLA TO WITHHOLD 56 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOLS 5, THEY TALKING WITH EACH OTHER, THEY'R NOT TALKING WITH US, ANY INSIGH INTO WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THOSE CLOSED DOORS RIGHT NOW?

I WISH I HAD A BAG OF POPCORN N AND I COULD SIT ON THE INSIDE AND SEE HOWIN WERE DOING.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT TALKS ARE CONTINUING AND THERE WAS A RECENT MEETING.

THEY ARE TALKING BUT THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THERE THEY DO NOT KNOW.

THERE IS TIME AND THEY ARE STIL TALKING, BUT A IN MY MIND, THER IS AN AGREEMENT WHEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ADMITTING THA THEY WERE WARNED,RE IF THEY AGR AND THEY CAME IN.Y OR NEGOTIATE OR WHATEVER.

OR WILL THEY HAVE TO BE FORCED INTO LAW TO COME UP WITH A FORMULA TO GIVE CMS THE MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING THAT WITH THE ADULT NOW IN THE ROOM TOGETHER, CAN THE ADULTS COME AWAY WE ARE NOT GOINGT TO PLAY WITH YOU ANYMORE.

AT THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC ABOUT HOW THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL GO ONUT BECAUSE YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEY'R GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING.O IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING HOWW THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL MOVE FORWARD.

WILL IT BE FROSTY OR WILL IT BE TOASTY.ST >> WHEN IT'S BEHIND CLOSED DOOR IT'S DIFFERENT>.

IN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC, MAY BE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IS THE KEY THEY GETTING DECISIONS MADE AND COMPROMISED AS OPPOSED TWO TAKING POLITICAL POSITIONS AND DIGGING IN.ED WE WILL KNOW SOMETHING I GUESS IN EARLY AUGUST IS WELL.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY CONTINUE TO TALK AND THAT IS A GOOD SIGNO EVEN IF THEY'RE TALKING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TALK.AL HISTORIC PLANTATION CLOSED, NOT FUNDED BY THE COUNTY OR BY THE TOWN OF HUNTERSVILLE AND IT ALL STEMS FROM A PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE PLANNING AND THEN TOOK DOW FROM SOCIAL MEDIA REGARDING THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT IT THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES VERY THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE MADE OP BLINDS FOR THE COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I DID A STORY WHERE STUDENT WHERE THEY ARE ON THE PLANTATIO FOR THE FIELD TRIP AND THEY WER ASKED, THE BLACK STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO PRETEND LIKE THEYDE SO YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS A BACKLASH THEN, BUT SO I GUESS THIS JUNE TEAM CELEBRATION.

WORDS MATTER.

WHEN YOU HAVE IN THE PROGRAM AN THE WHITE HITE LIKE THAT.HIT I MIGHT FORGET WHO YOU ARE, BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MAD ME FEEL.

SO I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAV THOUGHT ABOUT THEY AFTER THEY COME TO THIS CELEBRATION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CELEBRATED END OF SLAVERY, SO YOU WOULD THINK PEOPLES WOULD SAY O MY GOODNESS, AND FOR THEM TO FEEL LIKE MY GOODNESS, TO FEEL BAD, IT SEEMS LIKE THEO THOUGH WERE NOT CONNECTED, SO NOW PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND SAYING HEY, WE ARE GOING TO SHUT YOU DOWN BECAUSE A WE'VE GOT TO TAK CARE OF THE SPACE THAT WERE IN.

THE SPACE WHERE WE CAN NO LONGE SIT IDLE ALL THE TIME.

>> AFTERWARDS, IT WAS SO UNAPOLOGETIC AND SO I THINK THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FINAL DECISION FROM THE COUNTY.

AND ALSO, WE ARE IN SUCH A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE, I REMEMBER THAT STORY WHEN IT CAM OUT A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT STUDENTS TO WHO WE'RE ASKED TO PRETEND THEY WERE PICKING COTTON .

ONE OF THEY NUMBER ONE NEW YOR BESTSELLER LIST IS BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PLANTATIONS AND SLAVERY, AND HOWF WE RECKON WI THOSE W IN A NEW HISTORIC CONTE.

HOW THE WORD AS FAST AS THE TITLE OF THE BOOK FAIR HEATAT T BOOK IS ON TOP OF THE NONFICTIO BESTSELLER LIST AT THE SAME TIM THIS IS HAPPENING.

WEI ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE CHANGES, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO CONTINUE THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.

>> THE PLANTATION IS CLOSED RIGHT NOW, THE PARK IS STILL OPENL AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THE COUNTY DEALS WITH THE FUTURE OF THE PLANTATION AND IT PROGRAMMING.

THAT IS AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE AND LEFT AND I WANTED TO TALK QUICKLY WITH ALL OF YOU ABOUT DEPARTURE OF PRICES CHICKEN TROOP FROMAR, 59 YEARS OF SELLI AFFORDABLE LUNCHES TO CHARLOTTE'SFN BLUE-COLLAR CROWD.

IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED THEY ARE CLOSING THIS WEEKEND.H >> WHEN I WORKED AT THE OBSERVE FOR A DECADE, THAT WAS KIND OF JUST O DOWN THE STREET, AND WE WOULD ALWAYS THAT WAS A REGULAR THING SENDING SOMEBODY TO GET A BOX OF CAKE CHICKEN CHEMIC BRING IT BACK AND SHARIN ITRI.

JUST A LOT OF GREAT MEMORIES LIKES THAT.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK WE'RE GOING T BE SEEING OATS TO PRICES FOR A LONG TIME.

ITG SAID SO MUCH ABOUT THE CIT AND THE CHANGES WERE SEEING NOT JUST IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR ME, IT ALL CHANGED WHEN THE WENT FROM THE TATER TOTS TO THE FRIES.

I LOVE THE TATER TOTS AND THE FRIES WERE NOT A REPLACEMENT, I HAVE TO BE HONEST, BUT AN INSTITUTION.

>> HERE YOU GO.

AGO CASUALTY OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE LABOR SHORTAGE, FOOD PRICES ARE JUST HIGH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOT ONLY DID THEY HAVE GREAT FOOD, BUT THEY CREATED A GREAT EXPERIENCE.HE JUST YESTERDAY WHEN THE WORD CAME OUT YESTERDAY,ES LINES WRAPPED AROUND THE CORNER WHERE PEOPLE WANTED TO COME AND STEAL EXPERIENCEOP A GOOD PIECE OF CHICKEN.

IN THAT TEST THAT JUST ADDS VALUE T STRANGERS BECOME FRIEND AND THEIR TALKING IN LINE JUST LIKE OLD TIMES WHERE YOU WOULD SAY HEY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME, WHER ARE YOU FROM.

ENDS OVER A PIECE OF CHICKEN.

SO PRICES, THEY WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR MINDS W FOR A LIFETIME.

>> RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF, BRICK BUILDING THAT JUST TAKES CLASS ONLYK ALL IN THE MIDDLE O THESE GLEAMING SKYSCRAPERS WAS SOMETHING THAT CHARLOTTE KIND O GRASSED ONTO AN T EYE CITY OF Y CHANGE OF MODERNIZATION, THE PRICE WAS HANGING ON.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SEEING ITS CLOSURE AS WELL, IT' JUST ANOTHER CASUALTY.

>> WELL WE SAY GOODBYE TO PRICE AND WE HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE AUDIENCEE TO BECAUSE WE ARE FLAT OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON OF THE RECORD.

♪ >> PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.