>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> THIS WEEK ON "OFF THE RECORD" , CHARLOTTE BOUNCES BACK AFTER COVID.

AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT JOB NEVER SAY.

READING NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY LOWER NOW.

CAN WE CHANGE THAT?

THE PANTHERS ARE BUILDING THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS.

HOW ABOUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS WHO SAY THEY ARE NOT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

PLUS LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE THE BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS SAYS WE WILL NOT SUPPORT NEW TRANSIT IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT US.

WILL TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT.

>> FROM OUR PBS SHOW STUDIO, I' JEFF SONIER AND THIS IS "OFF TH RECORD".

YOU'VE BEEN TALK -- IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS AND LISTE TO NEWS, YOU RECOGNIZE THE MOST FAMILIAR FACES RUN A TABLE.

JOHN PAUL AND CARLA HUDSON AND STEVE HARRISON.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO WTVR.org.

WE'VE GOT GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEW WHEN IT COMES DUKE BY RESPECT NUMBERS.

IS THE BAD NEWS AT A MOMENT FOR LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT THE IMPROVING POST COVID JOB NUMBERS .

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT.

CAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS SHOW AND WHAT SMELLS A BROUGHT US BECAUS OF HIS NUMBERS?

>> YOU WILL ARE REMEMBER THAT W HAD COVID HIT A COUPLE YEARS GO IN THERE A NUMBER OF JOBS IN TH CHARLOTTE REGION NUMBER LOSS AN THE WORLD PROBABLY.

IT FELL DRAMATICALLY, 15% OR SO.

IT'S SLOWLY COMING BACK AND THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAID LAST WEEK THAT IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION, W ACTUALLY SURPASSED OUR NUMBER O PRETEND I JOBS IN OF LAST YEAR.

THEY LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS MONTH-TO-MONTH.

CHARLOTTE HAS DON'T FULLY RECOVERED WITH THE JOB THAT THE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT FASTER THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES.

FASTER THAN THE AVERAGE EVEN ACROSS THE BOARD.

A LOT OF BUSINESS TRAVEL HAS RECOVERED, SO THE HOTELS DON'T HAVE AS MANY WORKERS, BUT THERE ARE SECTORS THAT ARE DOING WELL.

EASY BIG WAREHOUSES, INDUSTRIAL SPACES.

THOSE ARE REALLY TAKING OFF, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL SERVICES.

SO WE ARE SEEING THOSE JOBS COM BACK.

UPTOWN IS COMING BACK.

THE BANKS ARE COMING BACK.

SO WE HAVE FOR COVER THOSE JOBS SO THERE'S NO QUESTION WHERE TH ECONOMY GOES FROM HERE.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES OF 6%.

ASHEN JOB OF 3% AND AS YOU MENTIONED THERE'S HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE JOBS ACTUALLY DOWN 9 % FROM WHERE THEY WERE PRE- COVID.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOSPITALITY AN LEISURE, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A REBOUND, DO YOU THINK?

'S THERE'S A LAG IN INDICATORS OR IS THIS IS SOMETHING GOING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE PERMANENT .

>> I THINK THEY WILL COME BACK.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT WRITTEN ABOU IT.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND WORKERS NOW BECAUSE WITH ECONOMY TAKING OFF, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID FORGET IT.

I'M NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

BUT I THINK OVER TIME AS CHARLOTTE GROWS, THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO COME BACK.

BUSINESS TRAVEL WILL RETURN MOR ROBUSTLY AND I THINK WERE GOING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS COME BACK.

IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE BUT I THINK EVENTUALLY WE WILL DIG OUT OF IT.

>> YOU READ A LOT ABOUT MAJESTI LOGISTICS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GROWTH IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF THE ECONOMY.

DO NOT NECESSARILY BLUE-COLLAR JOBS BUT THOSE OF THE KIND OF JOBS THAT FOLKS HE USED TO BE I MANUFACTURING MIGHT BE GRAVITATING TOWARD NOW.

GROWTH IS GOOD NOW.

DO YOU SEE THAT SUSTAINING GOIN FORWARD NOW THAT WE ARE OUT OF COVID?

>> LIKE TONY MENTIONED COME IT IS THAT SURPRISING TO SEE THE JUST ACCEPT THE TOP BECAUSE THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET HERE IS DRIVE BY THE E-COMMERCE AND THAT WAS PRESENT BEFORE COVID BUT REALLY CELEBRATED SINCE IT HITS.

AND AMAZON SNAPS UP A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL SPACE ALL ALONG INTERSTATES JUST BE CLOSE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR FASTER DELIVERY AND WE'VE SEEN OTHER CUSTOMERS FOLLOW THAT.

OF THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET IS STILL VERY HOT.

IT'S STARTING TO OUTPACE SOME PRODUCT/SUPPLY IN THE MARKET.

BUT FROM THE MARKET AS IT WAS SHOWN SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN SO EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE JOBS GROWING JUST AS E-COMMERCE HAS GROWN MORE AND MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID.

>> THE LAST QUICK QUESTION, WIT THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, INFLATION ACTUALLY OUT, SALARY INCREASES WE ARE SEEING, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BLUE-COLLAR MARKET.

WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS UPTOWN AND IN THE SOUTH AND FOR THOSE HIGH-PAYING JOBS BUT FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING NOW AND MAY BE LOOKING TO BETTER THEMSELVES, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE, DO YOU THINK, BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THE COST OF LIVING AND REALLY NATIONWIDE I SUPPOSE?

'S EFFORT BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS GOING FORWARD, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS SERIOUS.

MANUFACTURING JOBS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY FLAT.

A LOT OF IT TENDS TO BE OUTSIDE OF MECKLENBURG OFFICE MARKET AN A LOT OF JOBS IN CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY ARE PUSHING OUT A LOT OF THOSE JOBS.

CHARLOTTE HAS CAN GROWING.

IT STILL PRETTY BIG JOBS BASED THEM YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ELSEWHERE.

THERE ARE STILL SOME IN CHARLOTTE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

>> THEY DON'T GET THE HEADLINE SOMETIMES BUT THEY ARE EXTREMEL IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF FOLKS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE THE KIND OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS THAT THEY ARE SEEING AS WELL.

WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW ABOUT THE NOT SO GREAT NUMBERS AT CMS COME IN PARTICULAR -- READING DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY PARTICULARLY BIG DEAL BUT IS THAT AN INDICATOR OF SUCCESS LONG-TERM, COLLEGE READINESS AN ALL THAT.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN PRETTY EXTENSIVE STORIES THIS WEEK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IT THAT WOUL SEEM POST COVID WITH READING SCORES AT THAT LEVEL.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A FIRST CRACK AT THAT?

>> YES, I WANT TO JUMP IN.

I HAVE A THIRD GRADER AND YOU HAVE REALLY TO REALLY GOT TO LOOK BACK ON THIS.

ONLY ABOUT 13.4% OF 3rd GRADERS ARE ON TRACK WHEN IT COMES TO THE READING NUMBERS.

THAT IS NOT GOOD AT ALL.

BUT YOU'VE GOT I THINK ABOUT WHERE THESE THIRD GRADERS WERE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH O 2020, THEY WERE FIRST-GRADERS AND THEY GOT SENT HOME AND THEN THEY HAD TO FOR DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS OF READING AND THEY REALL FOCUS ON READING.

WERE TALKING FIRST, SECOND, THIRD GRADE.

ALMOST ALL OF SECOND GRADE WAS REMOTE.

HAVE FOR FIRST GRADE WAS OR MORE .

NOW THEY'RE PUT BACK IN THE THIRD GRADER WE ARE SEEING THES NUMBERS.

LAST YEAR WASN'T VERY GOOD EITHER.

SOMEWHERE AROUND 30% OF THIRD-GRADERS ARE ON TRACK BUT 13%.

THESE ARE TERRIBLE NUMBERS.

THIS WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THE BUDGET MEETING AS WELL.

IF YOU RECALL LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET MEETING, THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS MAKING HIS PLEA FOR MONEY AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER BACKS ARE WITHHELD $56 MILLION AND WANTED TO SEE CONCRETE ACTION ON HOW TO HELP THE STUDENTS.

PARTICULARLY MINORITY STUDENTS WHO WERE MOSTLY IMPACTED BY THIS .

SO THEY WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR QUITE A WHILE WITH THIS $56 MILLION.

NOW THAT LIKELY WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT HE WANTS ANOTHER 41 MILLION ON TOP OF WHAT HE HAD LAST YEAR SO WELL OVER $500 MILLION THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS TRYING TO GET FROM THE COUNTY AND YOU HAV NUMBERS LIKE THESE IN A HISTORY OF COUNTY GO HEAD-TO-HEAD OVER NUMBERS WITH ISSUES WITH READIN AND HEALTH AND MINORITY STUDENTS , I KNOW THEY ARE -- A BELIEVE IT IS APRIL 26th THEY WILL VOTE ON THE BUDGET.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHIN TO WATCH FOR SURE.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE TALK ABOUT EXTRA MONEY TO HELP THE STUDENTS CATCH UP.

THAT CERTAINLY CAN'T HURT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS MONEY CAN'T BUY TIME.

MONEY CANNOT PUT THE KIDS -- CANNOT MAKE UP THAT TIME THAT THEY SPENT AT HOME AFTER THE BOARD VOTED TO KEEP SCHOOLS MOSTLY REMOTE FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.

IN THIS WEEK SUPERINTENDENT WINSTON WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT AN HE SAID, I BELIEVE HE SAID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME I THINK HE SAID THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO DECISION.

I DID A STORY LATE LAST YEAR LOOKING AT THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS WHO WERE MOSTLY VIRTUA AND STUDENTS IN NEARBY COUNTIES IN NEARBY COUNTIES WERE IN PERSON SCHOOL DID MUCH BETTER LAST YEAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK AND HE'S NOW KIND UP ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE BOARD'S DECISION, I THINK HE YOU USE TH WORD, HEAD CONSEQUENCES.

>> THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS.

YOU MENTIONED THOSE OVERALL NUMBERS DO INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIE AND YOU'VE GOT ONLY 6.8% OF BLACK STUDENTS WHO ARE READING AT THAT LEVEL THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM EXPECTS AND HIM AMONG HISPANIC STUDENTS 4.9%.

I DON'T KNOW THOSE ARE HISTORICALLY LOW NUMBERS PUBLIC IF THEY ARE LOW NUMBERS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN CALLED THEM, WHAT WAS HER QUOTE ON THIS ?

VERY DEVASTATING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT BUT IT CERTAINLY ADDS TO IT.

>> IT CERTAINLY DEVASTATING.

DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY GET EXPOSED A LOT OF INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY.

MONEY THAT STUDENTS -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET ARE THE DIDN'T HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO INTERNET.

SOME KIDS WERE GOING TO KOFI SHOPS TRYING TO GET THEIR WI-FI SIGNALS.

SOME FOLKS HAD TO GO TO SITES THAT WERE BEING SET UP JUST THA THEY COULD GET INTERNET ACCESS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS.

YOU WERE STUCK, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING.

I THINK THE PANDEMIC REALLY EXPOSED A LOT OF THOSE INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY AND I THINK THAT IS WHY WE ARE SEEING THESE NUMBERS THE WAY WE ARE SEEING THEM.

CAN WE CATCH UP?

QUITE FINAL SUPERINTENDENT LAID OUT A PLAN TRYING TO GET THESE KIDS CAUGHT UP, INCLUDING AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES OF THE DAY FOCUSED ON LITERACY ITSELF.

WE WILL SEE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

BUT I KNOW THAT SHONE STRAIGHT ASKED WHY WEREN'T WERE WE DOING THIS EARLIER.

WHY ARE YOU NOW ROLLING THIS OUT .

WHY COULDN'T WE START THIS EARLIER?

I DON'T KNOW IF HE GOT A SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO THAT.

>> THESE NUMBERS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF A PROBLEM THA HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

THE SPOTLIGHT WAS SHOWN OF THES PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF COVID.

BY THE WAY, THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ASKED FOR 41 MILLION MORE FOR MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

HE WANTS TO SEE TEACHERS THE HIGHEST-PAID THE STATE.

>> $8 MILLION, I THINK THEY COULD BE SOME OF THE HIGHEST-PAID IN THE STATE AND H WANTED TO ALLOCATE I THINK FIVE PAINT DOLLARS FOR MAINTENANCE AND PART OF THE MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS INTERESTING, IT'S A FILTRATION SYSTEM.

AND IF YOU RECALL WHEN YOU WERE COMING OUT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING, THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE AIR THAT THE KIDS ARE BREATHING.

THAT WAS A CONCERN WITH TEACHER WE SAW THE CONCERN ECHOED IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO AND LA WHER THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK AND OF THESE CLASSROOMS.

SO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON WITH THI KIND OF A BUDGET BUT THE FILTRATION SYSTEM.

THAT WANT TO GO TO REMOTE EVER AGAIN.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE SCHOOLS ARE STAY FROM THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF ARE BREATHING CLEAN AIR.

>> I'M SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL RETURN TO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AS THE BOARD FINALIZES THIS BUDGET REQUESTS AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION HANDLES THAT.

IT DOESN'T GET IN THE EASY FOR THE STUDENTS ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE SUCCESS O THOSE STUDENTS.

WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT AS IT GOES FORWARDS.

WERE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PANTHERS AND THE OFF-SEASON THERE'S BEEN DEBATE AND DISCUSSION WITH YOUR COUNTY OVE FUNDING FOR THAT NEW HEADQUARTERS THAT YOU CAN SEE GOING SOUTH.

:THIS HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT THIS.

IT IS KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND .

A LOT OF REASONS TO DIG FURTHER.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK BETWEEN THE PANTHERS AND THE BOARD THAT GETS US A LITTLE CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION.

>> THIS HAS BEEN QUITE THE SIRE.

OBVIOUSLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AN EARLIER THIS MONTH THE PANTHERS -- THE ISSUE PLAYS WITH THE CITY O ROCK HILL.

THAT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION FOR THE PROJECT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CROSS AND THE CITY IS PUSHED BACK ON THAT.

SO THERE'S BEEN A STANDUP IN TH LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT THIS PAST MONDAY YOUR COUNTY IS PREPARING TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THESE CONCERNS.

THEY APPROVE IT WAS ESSENTIALLY ALTERNATE FINANCING FOR THE PRODUCT AND THIS NEW OFFER.

NO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BORROW MONEY AND ISSUE BONDS WHICH WAS THE ISSUE, THEY HAD NOT ISSUE BONDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, SO THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT, THE PANTHERS WOULD PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE SITE WOULD BE REIMBURSED THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS IS NOT YET OFFICIAL AND IT STILL NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY AND THE TEAM, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE DECLINED COMMENT ON THIS MATTER SINCE MONDAY BUT TH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WITH YORK CITY COUNCIL SAID THE PANTHERS HAVE A GREAT THAT THIS AGREEMEN IN PRINCIPLE AND WHILE HE WOULDN'T QUITE SAFE THE CITY HA AGREED TO IN PRINCIPLE, HE EXPECTED THEM TO IMPROVE IT.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WIT THE TEAM AND THE CITY SINCE MONDAY.

THEN NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY NIGHT.

WE WILL SEE IF THEY TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS AND WE WILL SEE IF THIS IS MAY BE THE RESOLUTIO FOR WHAT IS A THREE WEEK CAUSE AND WHAT HAS BEEN FOR LOCAL LEADERS AND STATE LEADERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA ONE OF THEIR LANDMARK ECONOMIC WINS.

IT SEEMS THAT ALL SIDES HERE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS.

THE PANTHERS HAVE INVESTED MORE THAN $170 BILLION IN SO FAR -- IT WOULD SEEM FROM THIS IS TOO BIG TO FAIL AT THIS POINT BUT W WILL SEE.

>> TONY, DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS O THIS?

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT ABOUT THIS A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE HERE.

THIS IS A BIG PROJECT FOR ROCK HILL AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR THE PANTHERS.

AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THIS IS LIKE A CONSTRUCTION SITUATIO ON PARK ROAD WHERE IT STOPS AND IT JUST IS LIKE THAT FOR A DECADE.

THIS A LOT OF THROW MONEY AT STAKE HERE FOR BOTH SIDES.

SO THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS WOULD GET RESOLVED SOME WAY SO YOUR COUNTY WOKISM AND IF ROCK HILL WASN'T ABLE TO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON THIS, SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE NEED TO GET THIS RESOLVED.

>> I KNOW WERE TALKING FOOTBALL HERE BUT THEY ARE PLAYING HARDBALL.

WE PUT OUR CHOPPER UP AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR COUPLE WEEKS, 2-3 WEEKS NOW.

WE HAD A CHOPPER UP.

THINK WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK AND OVERHEAD WE COULD SEE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ACTUALLY VOTING STEP UP AND LEAVING THE PROPERTY.

SO WE WERE TRYING TO DIFFER THE FROM DESERTING THE SITE.

WE COULDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING DOW THERE AND THAT WE CAN SEE.

WE GOT A HAIL MARY.

THEY'RE THE TRYING TO GET THIS THING BACK ON THE GROUND AMONG THEY WANT TO GET THIS, IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY PUT UP THAT KIND OF MONEY, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE PLAN IS ABOUT 30 YEARS LONG SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE TWO SIDES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COORDINATE MORE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPROMISE MORE.

WE'RE WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION ON THIS.

WE REALLY WANT TO GET THIS THIN SALT BUT $25 BILLION IS A LOT O MONEY TO PUT OUT.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, IT TOOK LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS, THEY WERE SHOCKED WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT CAME.

AND OUT OF THE MAX SEVERAL OF THEM AT THOSE LEVELS TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER REPORTERS AND EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS THIS IS A DISPUTE THAT HAS BEEN SIMMERING ON THE SURFACE FOR A WHILE, THINK THAT EVERYBODY WAS SHOCKED THAT IT ACTUALLY GOT TO THIS POINT.

>> IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE LIKE AND I MR. SHEPHERD DECIDES YOU HE WANTS IT.

FOR NOW HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE THIS GO FORWARD FOR THE GOOD OF ROCK HILL AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE TAXPAYERS AS WELL.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POLITICS NOW.

ARE YOU A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICA MORE AND MORE, FOLKS, OR NONE O THE ABOVE TO APPOINT WERE NOW THEY OUTNUMBERED THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

YOU'RE THE POLITICAL GURU HERE.

>> SO THIS HAS BEEN KIND TO FOR THAT PEOPLE AT BEEN WATCHING FO A LONG TIME WHEN UNAFFILIATED VOTERS SURPASSED REGISTERED VOTERS.

IT'S DRIVEN BY TWO THINGS, ONE COME IN NORTH CAROLINA THERE AR A LOT OF OLDER DEMOCRATIC VOTER WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY VOTED REPUBLICAN FOR A LONG TIME AND IT NEVER CHANGE THEIR REGISTRATION.

SOME OF THEM ARE DYING AND THEN YOU GET NEW PEOPLE, NEW VOTERS WHO OVERWHELMINGLY DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO BE PART OF EITHER PARTY.

THEY WANT THE FLEXIBILITY OF VOTING IN EITHER PRIMARY AND I THINK MAYBE THERE LITTLE BIT MORE CYNICAL TOWARD THE TWO, PARTY SYSTEM SO THEY REGISTER A AN AFFILIATE.

>> WHEN YOU GET MORE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS, IT KIND OF CHANGES THE DYNAMICS OF THINGS LIKE PRIMARIES, I SUPPOSE, AND HOW CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN.

I WONDER IF THOSE TACTICS START CHANGING NOT NOW BECAUSE OF THOSE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS WHO ARE TELLING EITHER PARTY LINE AND LONG TERM LIMITS TO DIFFERENCES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TWO TRADITIONAL PARTIE MONOPOLIZING ALL THE VOTERS THA ARE OUT THERE.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT MOR MYSTERY.

YOU JUST CAN'T LOOK AT REGISTRATION ANYMORE AS A PREDICTOR OR GUIDE FOR HOW AN ELECTION WILL GO BECAUSE IT GOT SO MANY UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

AND I THINK REALLY FOR 15 YEARS NOW EVER SINCE WE GO BACK TO BARACK OBAMA'S NARROW WIN HERE IN 88, THERE'S BEEN THIS IDEA THAT NORTH CAROLINA WILL BECOME A BLUE STATE.

THERE WAS A SENSE THAT WAS INEVITABLE STARTING IN 2008 BECAUSE OF YOUNGER VOTERS MOVIN HERE AND THEN THE INCREASE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE.

IT HASN'T HAPPENED.

THE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE DURING THE FEDERAL FEDERAL ELECTIONS T HOLD VERY SMALL BUT DURABLE ADVANTAGE SENATE RACES.

AND I THINK LIKE I SAID, HUGO BACK TO 2008 AFTER OBAMA WON AN YOU TOLD DEMOCRATS THAT THEY WOULD NOT ONE ANOTHER SENATE OR PRESIDENTIAL RACE YOU GO I THIN THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD WOULD'V BEEN SHOCKED.

>> I REACHED OUT TO MICHAEL DICKERSON, THE ELECTION DIRECTO IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS AND WHETHER IT'S PREDICTOR OF ANYTHING.

HE SAID NOT REALLY.

HE MENTIONED THAT UNAFFILIATED VOTERS SURPASSED REPUBLICANS IN 2012, SO THIS IS JUST A TREND BUT CAN YOU REALLY EXTRAPOLATE WHAT THIS MEANS GOING FORWARD?

IT'S NOT THAT EASY BECAUSE UNAFFILIATED IS JUST THAT.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO.

SO IS THIS A PARTY THAT THEY HAVE TO PUMP MORE MONEY IN FOR RACES?

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THINGS PLAY OUT IN THE MIDTERMS.

>> THAT IS KIND OF WHAT IS THIS.

WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT TO MY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER POLITICAL ISSUE, THE BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS GETTING INVOLVED IN THE DEBATE OVER THE TRANSIT TAX.

YOU KNOW, BASICALLY IN THE OPENING I SAID IT'S LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE CAUCUSES SAYING THAT TREND THAT HAS BEEN GOOD TO US IN THE PAST.

IF WE WANT SUPPORT GOING FORWARD , WE NEED SOME GUARANTEES AND SOME GOALS.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE A FIRST CRACK AT THIS AS WE WRAP UP?

>> IT'S REALLY JUST ONE MORE THING AS THE TRANSIT PLAN, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND THEY TRIED TO ADVANCE IT.

IT'S ONE MORE PUZZLE THAT PUZZLED THAT THEY HAVE TO UNLOCK .

THE PLAN SEEMS TO BE GOING NOWHERE FAST.

GET TO GET THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON BOARD AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.

THERE'S A LOT TO BALANCE AND THIS IS JUST MORE ABOUT HEIGHT YOU CRAFT A TRANSIT PLAN WILL ALSO NOT DESTROYED BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER TRICKY THING.

>> WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT BROOKLYN AS A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT THAT DESTROYED BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEREVER THE LIGHT RAIL HAS GONE , IT HAS BEEN DAMAGE TO THE LOW INCOME AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, IT PUSHING EXISTING RESIDENCE OUT.

POLITICALLY THIS IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY EXPECTED , OPPOSITION FROM THE BLACK POLITICAL CAUCUS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT IS TOO LATE.

HOW DO YOU GO BACK AND THIS IS FUN HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

WHERE IT'S MORE PLEASING TO THE FOLKS WHO NOW DON'T LIKE THAT PLAN.

>> I THINK THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

BUT THE CAUCUS ASKED FOR WAS SOME MEASURES TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG THOSE LINES THAT THEORETICALLY THAT YOU CAN SET MONEY ASIDE TO BUY LAND AND SET MONEY ASIDE TO BUY HOUSING.

WHAT ANTI- DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE, IT MAY NOT BE, THE CITY MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF -- BUT THERE CAPABLE OF LAYING OUT WAYS TO MEET THOSE GOALS.

THERE WAS A VOTE.

WHETHER TO KEEP OR REPEAL THE TRANSIT TAX, LIKE RAIL ETC.

AND THAT THAT TIME THE POLITICA CAUCUS WAS REALLY ON THE FENCE ABOUT WHETHER TO SUPPORT THE TAX .

THEY ULTIMATELY DID THAT THEY HAD SOME OF THE EXACT SAME CONCERNS THAT WE ARE HEARING IN 2022.

>> AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, THEY WANT 10% OF THE LOW INCOME HOUSING AND A GUARANTEED FOR THOSE DISPLACED RESIDENTS.

DOES ANYBODY WANT THE LAST WORK -- THE LAST WORD ON THIS BEFORE WE WRAP UP FOR THE WEEK?

>> THIS IS A PLAN, WE ARE LONG WAY FROM ABOUT ON THIS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE OPPOSITION THAT THIS TAX PLAN AND TRANSIT PLAN WE WILL SEE YOU WERE PROBABLY IS ALSO THE SNUB LAST AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT TRANSIT AND NEW TAXES, BUT IT I A NEW WRINKLE IN THIS PROBLEM.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT UPTIME BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR GROUP FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

WE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE DISCUSSIO AND WE ENJOY HAVING YOU JOIN THEM AT HOME AS WELL.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT, E-MAIL US.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON PBS CHARLOTTE.