>>Jeff: THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, TALK OF ROE Vs. WADE, TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

DOES IT MAKE YOU WANT TO VOTE MORE OR AFFECT YOU WHO VOTE FOR?

CHARLOTTE COUNCILMEMBERS WORKING ON THE CITY BUDGET.

IF YOU WORK FOR THE CITY, YOU'LL MAKE MORE AND IF YOU PARK IN THE CITY, YOU'LL PAY MORE.

WHAT ABOUT OUR PARKS?

ARE THEY WORST THAN OTHER CITIES?

WHEN YOU THOUGHT SOUTH END COULDN'T GET BUSIER OR BIGGER, HOW ABOUT THE BIGGEST DEAL EVER?

CMS SCANNING FOR GUNS AND THEY FOUND ONE.

NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN CHARLOTTE, NOT YET.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ♪♪ AND FROM OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS IN HISTORIC PLAZA MIDWOOD, I'M JEFF SONNIER AND WE'RE OFF THE RECORD TALKING AND THE STORIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK F YOU WATCH THE NEWS, READ THE NEWS AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS, WELL, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

JOHN PAUL FROM WSOC-TV, WILL WRIGHT FROM THE "CHARLOTTE OBSERVER" AND TONY MACEA FROM THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT HOME.

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION, EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFFTHERECORD@WTVI.ORG.

A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK WAS ON ROE vs. WADE, BUT THE LEAK OF A POSSIBLE DECISION ON THE PART OF THE JUSTICES HAD JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY TALKING AND HERE A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT HOW THAT INFORMATION WILL CHANGE THE ELECTIONS THAT ARE JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY AND MAYBE THE ELECTIONS HERE IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.

WILL, LET ME START WITH YOU SINCE YOU COVER POLITICS AND I KNOW YOU REACHED OUT AND WERE KIND OF GAUGING, YOU KNOW, THE TEMPERATURE OUT THERE.

WHAT DOES THIS DO TO OUR, I GUESS, FIRST OF ALL, OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS?

DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM THAT VOTE?

>> YOU MAY SEE HIGHER TURNOUT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION FROM-- MAYBE FROM DEMOCRATS.

I DON'T KNOW OF RACES WHERE YOU WILL SEE A BIG SHIFT IN THE OUTCOME.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THERE'S A RACE BETWEEN ERICA SMITH AND DON DAVIS THAT COULD BE IMPACTED, BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE U.S. SENATE RACE AS KIND OF THE BIG TICKET ITE EL ON THE BALLOT AND ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, CHERI BEASLEY IS LIKELY TO GET THE NOMINATION.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I DON'T SEE THIS BEING A BIG PLAY.

WHERE IT COULD BE-- WHERE IT COULD HAVE IMPACT IS THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ARE DEMOCRATS GOING TO BE FIRED UP ABOUT THIS ENOUGH TO GET OUT AND VOTE?

A BIG ISSUE WILL BE TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER.

SO IF THEY GET-- IF THE DEMOCRATS CAN ENERGIZE THEIR BASE WITH THIS, GET OUT AND VOTE, IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT THERE.

I ALSO HEARD FROM CONSERVATIVES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE LOOKING TO GET THEIR BASE AS WELL BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME POSSIBLY THAT STATE LEGISLATURES WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER WHETHER PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION.

THEY'LL HAVE MORE CONTROL THAN THEY HAVE HAD OVER THAT THAN THEY HAVE HAD IN A HALF CENTURY.

CONSERVATIVES COULD BE ENERGIZED AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT IT WOULD MOTIVATE VOTERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL FENCE.

IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU SAID, THOSE STATEHOUSE AND STATE SENATE ELECTIONS, A LOT OF TIMES THOSE ARE DOWN-BALLOT RACES AND THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.

WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE TWO SEATS OR THREE SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF HAVING A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY, THIS IS A BIG DEAL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION AND ABORTION RESTRICTIONS, I SUPPOSE.

AN ISSUE THAT REALLY WASN'T, YOU KNOW, ON THE-- YOU KNOW, IN THE CONVERSATION, I SHOULD SAY, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

>> JEFF, IT CAN BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HOW LEADERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESPOND.

THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE HB2, THEY PUT A LOT OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES KIND OF ON THE BACK BURNER.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DRAWN INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES ON LGBTQ RIGHTS OR CRITICAL RACE THEORY LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN IN OTHER SOUTHERN STATES.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE OTHER LEADERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO DELIVER FOR THEIR BASE.

OF COURSE, AS YOU MENTIONED, I MEAN, THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY BUT NOT VETO-PROOF MAJORITIES IN THE MOMENT.

YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING ON PARTY LINES.

AT LEAST IN THIS CURRENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION BUT OBVIOUSLY, ALL EYES ARE ON WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER.

>> IT SHEDS A BRIGHT LIGHT ON RACES THAT DON'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION WHEN YOU'VE GOT A U.S. SENATE RACE AND HOUSE RACES IN WASHINGTON AT THE SAME TIME.

JOHN?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS GOING TO BE-- IT'S GOING TO BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR THE GENERAL.

LIKE YOU SAID, ON BOTH SIDES.

THIS IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND IT MOTIVATES SO MANY PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SINGLE ISSUE VOTERS AND THERE'S ONE THAT GOES TO THE TOP OF LIST.

AND NOW THAT THIS IS IN PLAY, I THINK THE GENERAL IS GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING WITH THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON.

I WONDER IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CHANGING OF THE WAY PEOPLE CAMPAIGN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO START REALLY HAMMERING AWAY AT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING MIDTERM THAT IS FOR SURE.

>> YEAH.

IT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC OF A LOT OF RACES.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE DEBATED IN, YOU KNOW, A LARGE WAY IN MOST OF THESE RACES BUT NOW IT HAS GONE TO THE FOREFRONT AND YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TIMING WHF THE SUPREME COURT WILL MAKE THEIR DECISION AND WHEN WHEN WE SAW AND WHAT WE SAW LEAK THIS WEEK MIGHT BECOME OFFICIAL, IT WILL COME RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT GENERAL ELECTION SEASON.

AGAIN, CANDIDATES WHO MAYBE DIDN'T REALLY FACTOR IN ABORTION AND ABORTION RIGHTS TO THEIR-- TO THEIR PLATFORM AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS ARE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO BE FRONT AND CENTER IN A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS.

IT DOES KIND OF CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT CHANGES THE OUTCOME, BUT YOU KNOW WITH HIGHER TURNOUT AND DIFFERENT ISSUES NOW ON THE, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF IT WILL CHANGE AND MOTIVATE FOLKS TO, YOU KNOW TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY.

HEY, LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION.

WE HEARD IN THE PAST ABOUT EARLY VOTING AND THINGS LIKE THE OCTOBER SURPRISE.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU VOTE EARLY, YOU DON'T GET A CHANCE TO FACTOR IN THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST MINUTE OF A CAMPAIGN.

IT'S NOT AS BIG OF AN ISSUE IN THE PRIMARY RACE BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS TIME, TOO, RIGHT?

WE STARTED VOTING AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE PRIMARIES ALREADY BEFORE THIS WEEK OCCURRED.

I GUESS IT KIND OF RAISES THAT ISSUE AGAIN.

EARLY VOTING IS A GOOD THING.

IF YOU ARE PUSHING TURNOUT BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS GIVE THE VOTERS A CHANCE TO FULLY DIGEST EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN A CAMPAIGN BEFORE THEY CAST THEIR VOTE, RIGHT?

ANYBODY?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST-MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY'S EARLY VOTING TURNOUT IS LOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN PAST YEARS.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT AND YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT, I THINK, IS THAT THERE AREN'T THAT MANY, AS FAR AS THE BIG TICKET ITEMS, COMPETITIVE RACE AND WE WILL SEE A LOT OF INTERESTING RESULTS LOCALLY IT'S GOING TO BE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY COMMISSION, SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THOSE RACES DOWN-BALLOT.

I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE?

>> YEAH.

BY THE WAY, JUST AS WE EXIT THIS SUBJECT, MEREDITH COLLEGE POLL THAT CAME OUT BEFORE THE WEEK.

52-40% IN FAVOR OF KEEPING ROE vs. WADE PROVISIONS OVER TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS, BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS BEFORE THE LEAK AND AGAIN THAT BREAKS DOWN PRETTY MUCH ALONG PARTY LINES, MORE THAN 70% OF REPUBLICANS FAVOR TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS AND MORE THAN 70% OF DEMOCRATS FAVOR KEEPING THE ROE Vs. WADE PROVISIONS AS THEY ARE TODAY.

SOMETHING WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I GUESS THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY CONVERSATIONS.

HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY BUDGET, SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

PRESENTED BY MARCUS JONES THIS WEEK, THE COUNTY MANAGER, $-- CITY MANAGER, $3.2 BILLION MANAGER.

NOT A LOT OF SURPRISES IN THE BUDGET, BUT GOOD NEWS IN GENERAL FOR, I GUESS, CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR MORE LIVABLE WAGES.

IN PARTICULAR THE HOURLY EMPLOYEES, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THEY'RE TALKING $20 AN HOUR MINIMUM STARTING WAGE FOR THOSE CITY WORKERS.

SO THEY'LL BE GETTING A BOOST.

SO HOURLY, LOOKING AT ABOUT AN 8% RAISE, THE SALARY WORKERS LOOKING AT A 4% RAISE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO BRING THESE WAGES UP AND WE HAVE SEEN IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN PAST MONTHS, I BELIEVE IT WAS SANITATION WORKERS, THEY MADE A PRESENTATION.

THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR MORE MONEY AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS ALL THE SECTORS REALLY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HEARING THAT AND THEY'RE OFFERING SOME OTHER INCENTIVES AS WELL.

I KNOW FOR, YOU KNOW, SANITATION WORKERS SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE OFFERING $1,000 OR $1,500 SIGNING BONUS, THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET THESE WORKERS AND RETAIN THE WORKERS.

IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE WORKERS RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, A FEW OTHER HEADLINES FROM THAT BUDGET THIS WEEK.

IT SEEMS LIKE IN ELECTION YEARS THEY FIND A WAY NOT TO RECOMMEND PROPERTY TAX INCREASES AND ONE OF THE OTHER HEADLINES I THINK COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET.

DO YOU HAVE SOME INCREASES IN UTILITIES AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAS GOTTEN SOME ATTENTION IS INCREASE IN, PAING RATES, STREET PARKING GOING FROM $1 TO $1.50 IN UPTOWN AND SOUTH END AND ON SATURDAY.

A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS BUDGET.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE SOME OF THEM AND SOME PEOPLE WON'T.

>> THE PARKING FEES ARE INTERESTING.

IT'S FUNNY WHAT GETS FOCUSED IN A CITY BUDGET.

FOR YEARS, IT WAS ALWAYS PROPERTY TAXES OR THAT SORT OF THING AND THIS YEAR, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WAGES GOING INTO THE BUDGET FROM CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE HEADLINES WERE ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE PARKING METER FEES AND ALL OF THAT.

IT'S NOT A REAL SIGNIFICANT REVENUE BUILDER, IS IT WILL?

>> NO.

>> IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, CITY'S NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THIS.

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?

>> I THINK THEY ESTIMATED THIS HE WILL GET $700,000 ANNUALLY FROM THIS.

THEY SAID THEY WERE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE-- BASICALLY, THEY'RE GETTING LESS MONEY FROM THE STATE TO DO REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS ON ROAD PROJECTS AND I THINK THIS WILL HELP MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

THAT WAS THEIR REASONING.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GETTING THE KIND OF NEGATIVE PUBLICITY THAT I'M CERTAIN A LOT OF COUNCILMEMBERS DON'T WANT IN AN ELECTION YEAR, AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT SEEMS LIKE A NICKEL AND DIME ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE WORTH A LOT MORE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE CASTING BALLOTS.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT MAYBE OF A PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REAL FOCUS BY CITY LEADERS OF IMPROVING TRANSIT AND YOU KNOW, PARKING, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT COMES UP IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT.

HOW MUCH PARKING DO WE WANT TO PROVIDE?

HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARK AND DRIVE AS OPPOSED TO USE TRANSIT.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE PEOPLE GET TO WORK AND VISIT SOUTH END AND UPTOWN AND CARS THAN THEY DO ON TRANSIT.

THERE MIGHT BE A PHILOSOPHICAL ELEMENT THERE, YOU KNOW, AS THE CITY IS ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE CHANGING WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REGULATIONS ON PARKING THAT YOU NEED IF YOU ARE A PRIVATE BUSINESS OR AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE RAISED THOSE RATES SINCE LIKE 1997.

[LAUGHTER] LET'S KEEP THAT IN CONTEXT.

>> THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOU ARE TAKING AWAY SOMETHING THAT IS FREE.

YOU ARE TAKING AWAY THE FREE PARKING ON THE WEEKEND, AT LEAST ON SATURDAY.

AGAIN, I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, TONY.

YOU ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE TRANSPIT THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU'RE ALSO TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME UPTOWN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMENITIES THERE AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO START CHARGING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY LITERALLY NEVER CHARGED FOR BEFORE, WEEKEND PARKING AND THAT IS-- I DON'T KNOW HOW MEMORABLE THAT IS WHEN YOU GO TO THE BALLOT.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT WILL AGGREGATE PEOPLE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE UPTOWN AND SOUTH END HAS PROBLEMS ATTRACTING PEOPLE ON THE WEEKENDS.

I THINK PEOPLE HOLD THEIR NOSES AND PAY IT I WOULD GUESS.

IT'S PROBABLY A LOT CHEAPER THAN THE PARKING DECKS IN UPTOWN.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

>> THEY'RE $25 A DAY DURING THE WEEKDAYS.

>> SO ONE QUOTE THAT SAYS RIGHT NOW YOU CAN PARK YOUR CAR AT 5:00 ON FRIDAY AND LEAVE IT THERE ALL WEEKEND FOR FREE, BUT WHO DOES THAT?

[LAUGHTER] I DON'T KNOW WHO DOES THAT.

AGAIN, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS, YOU KNOW, COME NOVEMBER AND WHAT-- YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CITY BUDGET PROPOSAL TURNS INTO WHEN THE ACTUAL BUDGET IS ADOPTED.

BY THE WAY, WE TALKED ABOUT PAY RAISES, 8% INCREASE FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AND AGAIN, IT SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST THE CITY MANAGER WAS LISTENING WHEN THOSE GROUPS OF PROTESTERS, THOSE HOURLY WORKERS WERE COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A RESPONSE TO THAT, I GUESS.

RIGHT?

>> IT'S ALSO A MARKET REALITY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE LABOR SHORTAGES.

NOT JUST WITH THE CITY OR GOVERNMENT BUT JUST ACROSS PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

I MEAN, THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING WORKERS.

YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF PRIVATE COMPANIES ALSO RAISING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT THEY PAY, YOU KNOW, THE BANKS, ATRIUM.

THEY'VE ALL INCREASED THEIR MINIMUM PAY BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE TO TRY TO GET WORKERS AND THE CITY IS SEEING SOME OF THAT, TOO.

>> WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL.

>> BY THE CITY'S OWN NUMBERS, A LOT OF ITS OWN WORKER CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN CHARLOTTE OR IF THEY'RE SINGLE HAVE AN APARTMENT.

I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE WORKERS HAVE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THIS IS ENOUGH.

I KNOW IT'S NOT WHAT THEY ASKED FOR EXACTLY.

I THINK WE'LL ALL BE WATCHING AND WONDERING WHETHER THERE'S ANY NEGOTIATING POWER OR THEY CAN CONVINCE SOME COUNCILMEMBERS TO PUSH FOR MORE.

>> YEAH.

TONY, YOU MENTIONED SOUTH END A MOMENT AGO NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEM ATTRACTING PEOPLE ON THE WEEKENDS.

PARKING FEES OR NO PARKING FEES, BUT THE STORY THIS WEEK IS A HUGE NEW LAND SALE HAPPENING IN SOUTH END.

CAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHAT PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

HOW THIS IMPACTS WHAT'S ALREADY IN SOUTH END AND WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE FUTURE IN SOUTH END?

>> SURE.

I MEAN, IT'S NO SECRET THAT SOUTH END IS A REALLY BOOMING AREA OF TOWN.

MOST PEOPLE IN CHARLOTTE DON'T REALIZE IT'S INTEREST CONSIDERED ONE OF THE HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOODS NOT JUST IN NORTH CAROLINA BUT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE DEVELOPERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT SOUTH END, BUILDING IN SOUTH END, ACQUIRING LAND IN SOUTH END.

OUR STORY IN THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER REPORTED THAT THERE'S A BUSINESS PARK, CALLED THE SOUTH END BUSINESS PARK, 46 ACRES OFF OF CLANTON ROAD BETWEEN I-77 AND SOUTH TRYON STREET.

AND THAT IS NOT EXACTLY IN SOUTH END.

IT'S CLOSER TO WHAT'S BECOME KNOWN AS LOSO, BUT IT'S UP FOR SALE.

IT'S 46 ACRES UP FOR SALE.

IT'S A HUGE, HUGE, PIECE OF LAND FOR SUCH A PRIME SPOT AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS COMPANY BOUGT TEN YEARS AGO FOR $10 MILLION.

BROKERS TELL ME IT'S WORTH 100, $150 MILLION NOW.

COULD BE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

MAYBE AS MANY AS 1,500 APARTMENTS AND OVER A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE AND THE SCALE IN IT IS JUST ENORMOUS.

SO, YOU KNOW, NO SURPRISE.

SOUTH END AND LOSO AREA HAVE BEEN GROWING LIKE GANGBUSTERS.

A LOT OF EXPENSIVE LAND DEALS AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE, A REALLY BIG ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OR YEARS.

>> YOUR STORY SAID 46 ACRES IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF SOUTHPARK IF YOU CAN HAVE PERSPECTIVES.

>> SOUTHPARK MALL.

THAT'S A BIG DEVELOPMENT ALL AT ONCE.

>> SOUTH END IS SO BUSY AND SO DENSE AND INTENSE, THE DEVELOPMENT THERE.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER-- AGAIN, IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING YOU'RE DYING.

THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF DEVELOPERS WILL SAY.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH IN SOUTH END?

A LOT OF FOLKS THINK WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AT OR NEAR THE TIPPING POINT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOUTH END CAN KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH THERE AND WITH TRAFFIC, WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING?

>> YEAH.

WATER DISTRIBUTION AND THE MARKET IS THERE.

THEY THINK THE MARK SET THERE.

AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING AND NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT ALSO, THEY'RE BUILDING A LOT OF LUXURY APARTMENTS.

THERE'S STILL A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING OF ALL KINDS AND SO DEVELOPERS ARE REACTING TO THAT AND SO YOU'RE JUST SEEING THIS EFFECT WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING HERE FOR JOBS.

YOU HAVE OFFICES THAT ARE OPENING UP, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WANT TO BE IN THE COOL PART OF TOWN.

YOU GOT RETAIL AND IT'S A NEXUS OF A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND I DON'T SEE IT SLOWING DOWN.

IF WE DON'T HIT A RECESSION, IT MIGHT SLOW A LITTLE BIT BUT IT'S STILL-- THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A BUNCH MORE BUILDING COMING IN SOUTH END.

YES, IT DOES MEAN MORE TRAFFIC AND TROUBLE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> JUST QUICKLY, TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THIS BUSINESS PARK.

>> SURE.

IT'S RIGHT OFF I-77.

IT'S BETWEEN I-77 AND SOUTH TRYON OFF CLANTON ROAD, NORTH OF CLANTON ROAD.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE FURTHER AND IT IS SOUTH OF SOUTH END, A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED LOSO, OLD MECKLENBURG BREWERY AREA, SCALERY BARK, LIGHT RAIL STATION AND IT'S KIND OF IN THERE.

IT'S OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

NOT TOO MUCH.

BUT CERTAINLY WITHIN TEN YEARS IT'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERED RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THINGS I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> LIKE I SAID, IT'S TOO BIG OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AGAIN, YOU DON'T OFTEN GET SOMETHING OF THAT SIZE IN AN AREA LIKE THAT THAT SUDDENLY BECOMES AVAILABLE AS IT HAS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE -- I'M NOT SURE I'M AFRAID OF WHAT SOUTH END WILL LOOK LIKE BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO TAKE WHAT'S ALREADY A MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN CHARLOTTE OVER THE YEARS TO SEE SOUTH END TODAY VERSUS THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, 10, 15 YEARS AGO AND WONDER WHAT THE NEXT 10 YEARS WILL LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS A BIG PART OF WHAT THAT NEXT TEN YEARS IS LIKE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A STORY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FOCUS ON A CHARLOTTE PARK.

WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT MECKLENBURG PARKS, THE NATIONAL RANKING LOOKING AT CITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HOW THEIR PARKING MEASURE UP TO OTHER CITY'S PARKS.

IN NORTH CAROLINA, RALEIGH WAS NUMBER 50.

GREENSBORO WAS NUMBER 76.

DURHAM WAS NUMBER 8 AND CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG WAS NUMBER 83 OUT OF A HUNDRED CITIES IN TERMS OF WHERE THIS PARTICULAR SURVEY MEASURED THE QUALITY OF PARKS AND ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT THIS MESSAGE IS FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO PARK LAND AND ACCESSIBILITY TO PARKS.

ANYONE WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT?

>> IT TIES IN TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID HEY, LET'S USE THIS LAND FOR PARKS AND IN THE MATTHEWS AREA, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT POCKET PARKS AND THAT'S A POPULAR IDEA WHERE THESE SMALL LITTLE PARKS HAVE MORE ACCESSIBILITY TO THEM BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT DOES TIE INTO THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT ASPECT.

WE'RE JUST A GROWING COUNTY AND THERE'S LIMITED SPACE AND DEVELOPERS ARE BUYING THAT UP, PARKS, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE TAKING A BACKSEAT.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK, JEFF, ALSO A LOT OF IT IS HISTORICAL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS OVERNIGHT, EVEN IF YOU INCREASE YOUR BUDGET FOR PARKS, BUT THAT'S SORT OF THE WAY CHARLOTTE HAS DEVELOPED AND IN THIS LATEST SURVEY, REALLY, CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG GOT DINGED BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE CLOSE TO A PARK, IT'S LOWER THAN IN OTHER CITIES.

I MEAN, YOU DO SEE WE HAVE BIG PARKS, YOU KNOW.

FREEDOM PARK AND ROMARE BEARDEN UPTOWN, AND YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF PARKS AND WE'RE BUILDING GREENWAYS LIKE CRAZY, BUT IN SOME OF THESE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVEN'T DEVELOPED WITH PARKS WHERE THE LAND IS PRIVATELY OWNED, IT CAN BE TOUGH TO SORT OF RETROFIT THAT.

THE GOOD NEWS, I THINK, ON THIS SURVEY EVEN THOUGH WE'RE 83rd OR WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE STILL BETTER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, SOMEWHERE IN THE 90s.

>> WE WERE 91st LAST YEAR AND 95th THE YEAR BEFORE AND IT DID SAY WE GOT HIGH MARKS FOR THE SIZE OF THE PARKS.

IT'S NOT THE SIZE.

IT'S THE ACCESSIBILITY.

THEY MEASURE ACCESSIBILITY AS FOLKS WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK TO A PARK.

THAT'S WHERE CHARLOTTE, AS YOU MENTIONED, REALLY GOT DINGED.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN 18-YEAR-OLD WITH A GUN COMING THROUGH HE WALKED RIGHT THROUGH THE SCANNERS, SET IT OFF.

THEY CHECKED HIS BAG AND FOUND HIS GUN.

ON TOP OF THAT, THIS IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A GHOST GUN.

THE KID PURCHASED A KIT, A POLYMER KIT, A BUILD, HE PUT ALL THE KITS TOGETHER AND HE HAD A WORKING FIREARM.

HE BROUGHT IT THROUGH THE SCANNER.

THEY CAUGHT HIM AND THEY'RE SAYING, HEY THIS IS WHY WE GOT THE BODY SCANNERS.

TIMING-WISE, IT COULDN'T BE BETTER.

THE SECOND DAY THESE THINGS WERE IN OPERATION THEY CAUGHT A GUN.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER HOW MANY GUNS WERE GETTING INTO SCHOOLS BEFORE THE BODY SCANNERS WERE PUT INTO PLACE?

THEY'VE BEEN ROLLING THESE OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

NOT ALL THE SCHOOLS HAVE THESE THINGS UP AND RUNNING YET.

BUT THEY'RE POINTING TO THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY IT'S A SUCCESS STORY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A KID BRINGING A GUN INTO SCHOOL.

AT LEAST HE DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH THIS FIREARM.

SO YEAH.

THEY CAUGHT HIM AT PHILIP O. BARRY.

>> THE STORY-- IN THE OLD DAYS YOU WOULD HEAR A KIT GUN MADE OUT OF POLYMER, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE SCRIPT.

THESE ARE 18-YEAR-OLD KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE FRIGHTENING THING TO ME.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE GUNS ARE GETTING IN, BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE SNEAKING IN AND THE KINDS OF GUNS.

THAT'S A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT, I SUPPOSE.

AND CMPD DID A NEWS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS ON BIKES GOING THROUGH UPTOWN AND ON SCOOTERS.

THEY SAID ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY PULLED A GUN ON SOMEBODY ELSE AND IT WAS ONE OF THE POLYMER GHOST GUNS.

THEY'RE UNDER 21 AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A HANDGUN AND THEY'RE BUYING THESE KITS, PUTTING THEM TOGETHER AND THERE'S VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.

THEY CAN HAVE A FUNCTIONING FIREARM.

>> AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO CONSIDER IT A SUCCESS STORY WHEN YOU ARE FINDING A GUN AND THIS YEAR IN THE CMS SCHOOLS, WE'VE GOT 20-- WHAT IS IT?

29 GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THE OLD RECORD WAS 22.

THESE SCANNERS WILL DO A BETTER JOB OBVIOUSLY OF FINDING THOSE GUNS AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED THE SCANNERS, I GUESS, IN THE SADDEST PART OF THIS STORY.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THE GUNS, THEMSELVES, BUT THE KINDS OF GUNS AND IT'S FRIGHTENING TO ALL PARENTS, I SUPPOSE.

CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK, WELL, COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES, AIRBNBs, BUT THEY NEVER GOT THERE.

>> NO, THEY DIDN'T.

THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITH A COUPLE OF WAYS.

ONE IS HAPPENING AND WHEN WE SAY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE MEAN THINGS LIKE AIRBNB, VRBO, PEOPLE WHO RENT OUT THEIR HOUSE FOR A WEEKEND OR A NIGHT.

THEY WANT TO REGULATE THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS ABOUT NOISE COMPLAINTS AND PEOPLE COMING AND GOING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

PEOPLE HAVING PARTIES AND THEY WANTED TO HELP SPACE OUT THESE RENTALS MORE SO YOU HAVE 400 FEET BETWEEN EACH RENTAL.

SO YOU COULDN'T HAVE THREE IN A ROW ON A SINGLE BLOCK.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT TO FOLKS WHO ALREADY RENT THEIR HOMES AND IF THEY WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN.

THERE WAS A COURT CASE OUT OF WILMINGTON SAYING WILMINGTON TRIED TO REGULATE AND THEY VIET VIOLATED A STATE STATUTE.

THIS DIDN'T CLOSE THE DOOR.

CHARLOTTE CAN STILL REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING TOED STATE TO DO SOMETHING.

IT'S UNCLEAR, I THINK, AT THIS POINT WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING THE STATE TO DO AND WHEN.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS HAVE STALLED OUT.

I GUESS WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YEAH.

I READ THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS LOOKING AT A STATEWIDE SET OF RULES THAT WOULD COVER ALL CITIES, CHARLOTTE, WILMINGTON, EVERYBODY INVOLVED, BUT FOR NOW, I GUESS, I MEAN A PARTY HOUSE SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN UNLESS YOU LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE PARTY HOUSE AND THEN MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FUN.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE AN ISSUE THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IF NOT LOCALLY ON A STATEWIDE BASIS AND YOU KNOW, AN INTERESTING ONE NONETHELESS AND AGAIN, IT'S THE WHOLE IDEA OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FOLKS RENTING VERSUS NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHARLOTTE NEIGHBORHOODS.

HEY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE JOINING THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK AND GOOD DISCUSSION ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS THIS WEEK.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT AT HOME AS WELL.

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK OR WHAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT RATHER IN THE FUTURE, SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD@WTVI.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON OFF THE RECORD.

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