>>Announcer: THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY REVEALS THE MEDIAN INCOME TO BUY A HOME HAS SKYROCKETED BUT HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

WHAT'S THE CITY DOING TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES?

PLUS, TEACHERS FINALLY GET A RAISE AFTER THE STATE APPROVES $53 BILLION IN SPENDING OVER TWO YEARS, BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

CMS FIGHTING BACK AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS FILLED UP A TOWN HALL MEETING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PICKETING FOR BETTER PAY AND MORE SAY.

WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOU ARE TRAVELING.

CAM NEWTON TAKES THE CITY BY STORM AT SUNDAY'S PANTHERS' GAME.

HOW HIS COMEBACK IS ALREADY SHAKING THINGS UP.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT HERE ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ♪♪ FROM THE STUDIOS IN HISTORIC PLAZA MIDWOOD, I'M SARAH COLIN-HARRIS.

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

DANIELLE WITH AXIOS CHARLOTTE, DEDRICK RUSSELL WITH WBTV AND THE ELI FROM THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFF THE RECORD AT WTVI.ORG.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO JUMP IN.

TALK ABOUT THIS NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK.

IT SAYS THAT THE MEDIAN INCOME NOW TO BUY A HOME IS JUST OVER $79,000.

THAT IS UP FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

DANIELLE, YOU COVERED THIS.

I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT'S JUSTER IN A REPORT SHOWING BASICALLY MORE OF THE SAME PICTURE THAT THINGS ARE GETTING HARDER FOR HOME BUYERS ESPECIALLY PEOPLE TRYING TO BUY THEIR STARTER HOME FIRST TIME HOME AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS SEEMING TO CONTINUE WITH NO RELIEF IN SIGHT.

THE MEDIAN INCOME TO-- MINIMUM INCOME THAT YOU NEED TO AFFORD THE MEDIAN PRICE HOUSE IS $79,000 AND EVEN FOR A HOUSE IN LIKE THE TEN PERCENTILE PRICE-WISE, IF YOU FOUND AN ABSOLUTE BARGAIN.

THEY'RE SAYING IT YOU NEED TO MAKE $50,000 A YEAR.

IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE OUT OF REACH.

RENT INCREASED 16% WHICH IS JUST CRAZY AND IN THE PAST, IT'S BEEN 5, 6% INCREASES AND IT'S BEEN STEADILY INCREASING BUT THESE MASSIVE SWINGS THAT WE SAW WITH COVID ARE REALLY UNPRECEDENTED.

>> HERE, IT SAYS 35% OF HOMES SOLD UNDER $300,000.

LAST YEAR, 49% SOLD BELOW THAT PRICE.

DEDRICK, DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

>> ?

THE STUDY COMES WHEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

JUST RECENTLY THIS WEEK, I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT OF BANK OF AMERICA CHARLOTTE, AND HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT BANK OF AMERICA IS DOING TO HELP WITH THIS CRISIS TO TRY TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO ALLOW PEOPLE SO THEY CAN HAVE A-- THAT WHITE PICKET FENCE OR BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME RIGHT HERE IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

SO WE SEE EFFORTS THAT ARE HAPPENING ALL ACROSS.

IT CANNOT HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH.

I GUESS WHEN THESE REPORTS COME OUT, I KNOW IT SHOWS THE URGENCY, HOW EVERYBODY HAS TO KICK IN FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS.

>> WE RECENTLY DID A TOWN HALL HERE AT THE STUDIOS AND THE PRESIDENT OF (INAUDIBLE) SAYS THEY ARE GIVING OUT $1 MILLION A WEEK TO HELP PEOPLE PREVENT EVICTION.

THEY ALREADY HAD 21,000 APPLICATIONS SO FAR THIS YEAR THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS.

DEFINITELY A NEED OUT THERE.

DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE STUDY?

>> YEAH.

I THINK-- EXCUSE ME.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS THIS GOING TO BE A BUBBLE, ARE WE GOING TO SEE THESE PRICES COME DOWN ANYTIME SOON?

YOU KNOW, IS THEY GOING TO BE LIKE 2008-2009 WHERE REAL ESTATE PRICES JUST COLLAPSED AFTER RUNNING UP SO MUCH AND DR. CHU, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDRESS KLEIN REAL ESTATE CENTER AT UNC CHARLOTTE, THE WAY HE PUT IT WAS THIS IS A DURABLE REAL PRICE INCREASE.

THIS IS UNDERPINNED BY STRONG DEMAND AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SUPPLY.

AND HE WAS REALLY EXPLICIT IN TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST STUDY THIS WEEK, THAT HE DOES NOT EXPECT REAL ESTATE PRICES TO COLLAPSE.

SAID EXPLICITLY THIS IS NOT A BUBBLE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A REALITY NOW WHERE IF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR PRICES TO COME DOWN.

THEY'VE BEEN HOLDING OFF, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO TIME THE MARKET AND FIND A BETTER TIME TO BUY, WE'RE IN THIS LONG-TERM DYNAMIC THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.

SO WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A REAL SHIFT IN THE HOUSING MARKET THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, FRARKSLY HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

>> YEAH WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

ALSO THIS WEEK, THE CITY APPROVED A SUBSIDY PLAN FOR LOW INCOME REPRESENTERS THAT WANT TO GET INTO HOUSING.

THIS WOULD BE DEVELOPERS WOULD OFFER THEM A 30% SUBSIDY.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BUT IS THAT ENOUGH >> AND WE BELIEVE IT WAS A SUBSIDY TO COVER THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHAT SOMEONE CAN AFFORD TO PAY ON 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME WHICH I BELIEVE IS AROUND 25,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

AND WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY VERSUS WHAT THE MARKET RENT OF THE UNITS ARE.

IT'S PART-- THEY'VE BEEN TAKING THIS APPROACH TO WHAT IS CALLED NOAH, NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT'S PART OF A SHIFT EXCLUSIVELY BUILDING ON NEW CONSTRUCTION AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND IT CAN ONLY-- YOU CAN ONLY BUILD SO MANY AT ONCE WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AND THEY'VE BEEN TAKING THIS APPROACH OF TRYING TO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EFFORTS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE THE MONEY TOKESSISTING LANDLORDS THAT BUILDING MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE AND THEY DO HAVE TO KEEP THEM UP AND THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T WANT LANDLORDS THAT DON'T MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THESE EFFORTS THEY'RE TRYING TO BET INTO AROUND NOT ONLY BUILDING NEW UNITS BUT ALSO TRYING TO PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO STAY AROUND.

WE WILL TALK MORE A LOT ABOUT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNED A BILL LAW THIS WEEK.

$53 BILLION IN SPENDING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

FIRST TIME WE HAD A BUDGET IN THREE YEARS.

THAT MEANS TEACHERS FINALLY GET PAID WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

A LOT OF TEACHERS HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE OR AN INCREASE IN 3 YEARS CONSIDERING THE HOUSING MARKET, CONSIDERING THE PANDEMIC.

DEDRICK, DID YOU HEAR FROM TEACHERS, IS THIS ENOUGH?

IT'S 5% OVER TWO YEARS, A 5% INCREASE.

>> WELL, I TALKED TO THE LEADER OF THE TEACHERS ORGANIZATION.

I GUESS SOME TEACHERS, I GUESS, THEY'RE NOT ALL HAPPY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 5% INCREASE BUT THAT 5% IS SPLIT UP.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE THIS YEAR, YOU GET A 1.3% RAISE AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, FOR TEACHERS HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THEY'RE NOT REALLY JUMPING FOR JOY BECAUSE THE POLITICIANS DECIDED THAT THE EXTRA $100 MILLION THAT THEY HAVE, THAT THEY'RE DIVIDING UP BETWEEN ALL TEACHERS, WELL, GUESS WHAT, FIVE TEACHERS WHO WORK IN FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA WILL NOT SEE A DIME OF THAT EXTRA MONEY.

OUR POLITICIANS BELIEVE THAT THOSE TEACHERS WHO WORK IN WHAT THEY CALL A WELL-TO-DO COUNTIES, THEY THINK THOSE POLITICIANS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND WILL BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE PAY, BUT THE LEADER OF THE TEACHERS ORGANIZATION SAID THAT HER GRANDFATHER TOLD HER THAT ONE ENTITY CAN'T COUNT ANOTHER ENTITY'S COINS.

SO THEY CANNOT COUNT MECKLENBURG COUNTY'S COINS IN THINKING THAT MECKLENBURG COUNTY WILL GIVE THOSE EXTRA COINS TO THE TEACHERS.

SO THEREFORE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, WAKE, GILL BOARD AND DUNK HAM, THEY WILL NOT SEE A DIME OF THAT EXTRA $100 MILLION AND THE TEACHER ORGANIZATION LEADERS TELL ME THAT WITH THIS PANDEMIC, TEACHERS WERE CONSIDERED HEROES BUT NOW IN HER WORDS, NOW THE HEROS ARE BACK TO GETTING CRUMBS.

SO IT'S JUST-- IT JUST SENDS A TYPE OF MESSAGE, ELISE DASHEW, CHAIRMAN OF THE CMS SCHOOL BORE, SHE'S CONCERNED THAT THIS MOVE WILL MAKE TEACHERS FEEL UNDERVALUED AND THEY MAY LEAVE CMS.

IF THEY DON'T GET THE SUPPORT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FROM THEIR POLITICIANS WHAT MORE CAN THEY DO?

ONE MORE THING.

SHE SAID THAT TEACHERS WILL HAVE THE LAST SAY BECAUSE TEACHERS VOTE.

THEY ARE PUSHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU FIND STATE LAWMAKERS AND POLITICIANS WHO ARE GOING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHEN YOU SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, YOU GOT TO SUPPORT YOUR TEACHERS.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THE BONUSES INCLUDED IN THIS ARE ABOUT 2,800 ARE ALSO PAYING CUSTODIANS AT LEAST $15 AN HOUR TO START AND MOST STATE EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO GETTING 5% RAISES AND BONUSES.

THERE'S ALSO MONEY IN THERE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

OF COURSE, I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAVEAT THAT WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY, I AM TECHNICALLY A STATE EMPLOYEE.

SO YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY LIKE MANY OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA HERE.

I RECENTLY WROTE A STORY WITH THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER FOR OUR TRANSIT TIME NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE STATE'S SHORTFALL FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS COMING UP.

RIGHT NOW IN NORTH CAROLINA'S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A $12 BILLION PROJECTED SHORTFALL OR FUTURE PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AND THAT COULD REALLY PUT A LOT OF PROJECTS AND EITHER PUSH THEM BACK OR CAUSE THEM TO BE PEARED DOWN OR EVEN HAVE THEM BE DELAYED INDEFINITELY.

SO YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET INCLUDES MORE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR REPAIRING, YOU KNOW, BRIDGES, ROADS, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF THAT POLITICIANS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR SOUGHT FOR A WHILE AND THAT THE DEMOCRATS SOUGHT FOR A WHILE WHICH WAS MEDICAID EXPANSION.

I THINK THAT IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO BE A POINT OF CONFLICT GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY EITHER COMING FROM THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OR IN THIS BUDGET TO FILL THE STATE'S SHORTFALL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WRESTLING WITH SHORTFALLS IN TRANSPORTATION FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE GAS TAX IS NOT,-HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THE INCREASED COSTS AND THE GREATER NEEDS OF OUR STATE.

IT'S BEEN STABLE FOR DECADES AND CARS ARE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT SO THEY'RE DRIVING LESS, USING LESS GAS AND DRIVERS ARE PAYING LESS GAS TAX.

IT'S ALSO BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ROAD PROJECTS THAT WE NEED AND THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT WE NEED ARE JUST A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LAYING DOWN, YOU KNOW, TWO OR FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRYSIDE.

A LOT OF OUR URBAN AREAS NEED THE MOST TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT RIGHT NOW AND IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO ACQUIRE RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND BUILD IN A CITY LIKE CHARLOTTE OR IN THE TRIANGLE.

SO I THINK TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, YES, GETS A BOOST HERE.

POLITICIANS WILL SAY, LOOK, WE'RE FIXING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

AND THAT'S STILL REALLY A LONG-TERM NODE THAT I DON'T THINK WE KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEET IN THIS STATE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TOWN HALL THAT CMS SUPERINTENDENT WINSTON HAD TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE HEARING FROM PARENTS AND TEACHERS?

>> YEAH IT HAPPENED WITH THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED AT HOPEWELL.

SINCE THE SCHOOL YEAR START, YOU KNOW, 15 GUNS HAVE BEEN FOUND ON CAMPUSES.

TWO AT HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE WAS A PACKED CROWD THAT SHOWED UP THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TRY MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO YOU KNOW, OLD IDEAS, MAYBE WE SHOULD WE HAVE CLEAR BACKPACKS, METAL DETECTORS, PARENTS ARE ASKING FOR MORE SECURITY AT THE SCHOOLS, AND YOU KNOW, OTHER PARENTS ARE SAGE, HEY, IT'S JUST A FEW STUDENTS WHO ARE CAUSING OR WREAKING HAVOC IN THE CLASSROOMS.

YOU KNOW, NOT THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOLS.

MAYBE WE NEED TO UP OUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

AND THEN ALSO THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW PROGRAM CALLED TITAN DADS AND MOMS ON A MISSION.

THIS WAS TAKEN FROM DADS ON THE MOVE IN LOUISIANA.

DADS ON DUTY, EXCUSE ME, IN LOUISIANA, WHERE PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE PATROLLING THE HALLWAYS.

PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS AT GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THE PARENTS I TALKED TO THAT THEY FELT ENCOURAGED AFTER THIS TOWN HALL MEETING.

THERE WAS A LITTLE TENSE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND ONE PARENT.

SO THAT DID HAPPEN THERE AT THE TOWN HALL AND OVERALL, PARENTS ARE THINKING THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RHONDA CHEEK, WHO REPRESENTS THAT AREA SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE A MULTILAYERED APPROACH, THAT MORE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY TO CHIP IN AND ORDER TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN THEIR ABCs.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOING TOWN HALLS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

ELI, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> YEAH.

I THINK PLACING THIS IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING CMS HAS BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, FROM SUPERINTENDENT SHUFFLING TO THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AND CASES THAT HAVE IMPACTED STUDENTS ESPECIALLY AT MYERS PARK HIGH SCHOOL, THE CORONAVIRUS, SHUT DOWN FIGHTS OVER REMASKING WHEN TO REOPEN, ENROLLMENT IS BASICALLY FLAT AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF I THINK A REALLY EXTENDED TOUGH SEASON FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, BOTH IN TERMS OF EDUCATING CHILDREN AND KEEPING MECKLENBURG COUNTY ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE, KEEPING PARENTS FROM WANTING TO JUMP THE STATE LINE TO FORT MILL OR UNION COUNTY.

AND I JUST THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND MORE THAN JUST IN A CRITICAL WHAT'S GONE WRONG AT THE SCHOOLS THIS WEEK POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK WE NEED TO VIEW THIS AS A SYSTEM THAT IS GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME AND THAT NEEDS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT RIGHT NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO ALL SUCCEED.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK ANY PARENT DOESN'T WANT TO SEND THEIR SCHOOL AND NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S A SCARY THING.

DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I DID.

IT'S A GOOD THING-- IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE.

SO WHEN YOU SEE PARENTS ARE CONCERNED AND THEY'RE SHOWING UP, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GOOD THING.

ALSO, I TALKED TO PARENTS AND THEY SAID HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL IS A GOOD SCHOOL AND HOPEWELL HIGH, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO CMS OR TO HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN CMS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THAT OUT, YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST NOT UNIQUE TO HOPEWELL OR TO CMS.

BUT THEY ARE JUST ENCOURAGED THAT WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAPPENED THAT THE HOUSE WAS PACKED AND FULL OF PARENTS.

WHEN YOU HAVE EARN CANNED PARENTS THAT I BELIEVE IN COVERING EDUCATION WHEN YOU HAVE CONCERNED PARENTS, THINGS ARE BOUND TO GET BETTER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A GREAT THING.

THE CROWD WAS PACKED AND PEOPLE WERE ENGAGED.

IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT THING.

I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

SO PIEDMONT AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE PICKETING OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE-DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

THEY SAID THEY AREN'T GETTING PAID ENOUGH.

THEY GET PAID 45% LESS THAN AMERICAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEES AND PIEDMONT AIRLINES IS OWNED BY AMERICAN AIRLINES.

THEY'RE COMPENSATED 45% LESS.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US?

BECAUSE TRAVEL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

DOES THAT MEAN THERE WILL BE LESS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS?

DOES THAT MEAN MORE CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS?

>> THE AIRLINE DE <A>: TEND ANTS ARE USING THEIR VOICE, RIGHT.

I GUESS WE WERE THERE AT THE PICKET AND ONE OF THE CHANTS WAS, "PAY US OR CHAOS," RIGHT, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO GET OUR PAY RAISED AND PIEDMONT AIRLINES DID SEND A STATEMENT TO WBTV AND THEY DID SAY THAT THEY APPRECIATE WHAT THE ATTENDANTS ARE DOING AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD GET MORE.

SO I GUESS THEY WILL GO BACK INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IN DECEMBER SO THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

BUT IF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DON'T GET WHAT THEY WANT, WILL THEY STRIKE?

IF THEY STRIKE, THEN WE HAVE TO PACK A LOT OF PATIENCE WHEN YOU GO TRAVELING FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO STAY TUNED.

WE GOT TO BUCKLE UP, RIGHT, IT MIGHT BE A BUMPY RIGHT.

THERE MAY BE TURBULENCE.

>> I STAND IN THE LINE EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON.

DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> YES.

PIEDMONT OPERATES A LOT OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHTS AND THE SMALL PLANES AND AIRLINES HAVE LONG HAD THIS TWO-TIER SYSTEM WHERE THEIR MAIN LINE EMPLOYEES MAKE A LOT MORE THAN THE REGIONAL CARRIERS.

EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BUY A TICKET, YOU'RE NOT BUYING A TICKET THAT SAYS PIEDMONT AIRLINES, YOU'RE BUYING AN AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT.

SO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE UPSET ABOUT THAT WE GOT A TASTE OF THE CHAOS THAT CAN COME WITH DISRUPTIONS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHEN SOUTHWEST HAD TO CANCEL THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS AND AMERICAN AIRLINES HAD TO CANCEL THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS.

THEY BOTH BLAMED WEATHER AND STAFF SHORTAGES AND CREWS NOT BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

THAT WAS BEFORE THE HUGE HOLIDAY SURGE, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO BE ONE OF THE BUSIEST HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASONS ON RECORD AS PEOPLE GET BACK FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND GET BACK TO HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, THINGS THAT THEY PROBABLY SKIPPED LAST YEAR.

I THINK IN THE BROADER CONTEXT THIS IS PART OF THE LABOR POWER MOVEMENT THAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW.

YOU'VE GOT STRIKING WORKERS AT JOHN DEERE WHO SHUT DOWN FARM EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION.

THEY AGREED WITH A NEW CONTRACT WITH 10% RAISES.

FILM TELEVISION PRODUCTION UNION THAT ALMOST SHUT DOWN ALL OF HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION A COUPLE MONTHS AGO SEEKING BETTER RAISES AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

WE'RE SEEING MORE STRIKES, MORE THREATS OF WORKER RESIGNATION THAN WE HAVE IN A LONG TIME AND WITH THE LABOR MARKET AS TIGHT AS IT IS AND EMPLOYERS REALLY FEELING THE HEAT, WORKERS AND UNIONS RIGHT NOW FEEL THEY HAVE LEVERAGE THEY HAVEN'T HAD IN A LONG TIME.

>> THEY'RE SAYING 30,000 TRAVELERS ARE EXPECTED TO FLY IN AND OUT OF CHARLOTTE FROM TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

DANIELLE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> ONE THING, TOO I WAS GOING TO SAY.

THEY'RE ALSO DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER AIRLINE EMPLOYEES.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MASKS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF PASSENGER VIOLENCE TOWARD FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND ALL OF THESE ALTERCATIONS AND ARGUMENTS OVER MASKS, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE HAVING TO DO THIS EXTRA PART OF YOUR JOB THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY BROUGHT UP IN THEIR STRIKES AS WELL.

>> WELL, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME FUN STUFF.

CAM NEWTON IS BACK.

HE PLAYED ON SUNDAY.

SCORED TWO TOUCHDOWNS, AND THE CITY WAS ON FIRE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTOOD HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, MOMENTUM HE BRINGS AND THE ENERGY THAT HE BRINGS.

IF THEY DIDN'T, I THINK THEY KNOW NOW.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DOUBTED IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE MORE PEOPLE FILLING THE STADIUM NOW?

>> OH, YEAH.

I'M A CASUAL PANTHERS FAN.

I HAD COMPLETELY TUNED OUT AND CHECKED OUT OF THIS SEASON.

WHEN CAM WENT BACK IN, I RAN FOR THAT REMOTE AND SAID I GOT TO WATCH THIS GAME NOW.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE NOW INTERESTED, AGAIN, IN THE TEAM AND YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN OWNER, LIVE DAVID TEPPER, AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE A RISK AND IT'S MORE EXCITING TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BIG AND HAVE SOMETHING FUN WITH SOMEONE LIKE CAM NEWTON ON THE FIELD THAN PLAY SMALL BALL AND WATCH QUARTERBACK LIKE SAM DONALD WHO'S BEEN-- WAS-- I WAS NOT TUNING IN FOR THAT BUT TUNING IN FOR CAM.

THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE.

>> THIS SUNDAY, HE'S PLAYING AGAINST WASHINGTON WITH COACH RON RIVERA WHICH IS WHO BROUGHT HIM ON.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>> IT'S LIKE A DOUBLE HOMECOMING.

WELCOME BACK COACH RIVERA AND CAM NEWTON.

CAM WAS VERY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT, CONNECTED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEREFORE, HE HAS THAT TYPE OF SWAG THAT PEOPLE LOVE AND SO WHEN YOU TALK TO-- WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN TICKET PRICES GO UP BECAUSE CAM IS BACK AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT WHEN CAM IS THERE, HE BRINGS THE EXCITEMENT BACK TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

I'M FEELING THE FOR THE OTHER QUARTERBACK, DONALD.

SO WHERE WAS THE EXCITEMENT-- [LAUGHTER] WHEN I WAS PLAYING ON THE FIELD?

RIGHT?

SO YOU KNOW, I WONDER HOW HE'S FEELING RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYBODY AND THE TICKET PRICES ARE A LITTLE UP AND FANS WILL PACK THE STANDS SOME A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR CAM NEWTON-TO-GET ON THE FIELD AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT HE WILL WEAR AT THE PRESS CONFERENCES AND SEE WHAT TYPE OF HAT AND CLOTHES, WHAT HE WILL WEAR.

HE BRINGS ALL OF THAT ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

>> HE WAS MAKING SOME SORT OF FASHION STATEMENT.

I SAID, TOO, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOMEBODY POSTED THAT THEY WENT TO A MARSHALL'S AND THEY HAD SOME MERCHANDISE ON THE RACKS AND THEY MARKED IT UP AFTER CAM'S RETURN HOME WAS ANNOUNCED.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE CASH FLOODS INTO THE CITY.

I WANT TO BRING UP ONE LAST THING.

YOU GOT TO TALK TO STACEY ABRAMS THIS WEEK.

SHE WAS IN TOWN.

FUNNY THING IS I WAS SITTING TWO ROWS IN FRONT OF DEDRICK AND HEY, DEDRICK, HOW YOU DOING?

[LAUGHTER] I KNOW YOU GOT TO TALK TO HER.

>> SHE'S A HISTORIC FIGURE, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE A GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE FOR A MAJOR PARTY IN ANY STATE.

AND SO WHEN I TALKED TO HER, SHE TOLD ME THAT HER PARENTS ARE THE ONES CREDITED FOR HER GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE WAS ON SATURDAYS, USUALLY KIDS ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, THEY LOOK AT THEIR CARTOONS AND EAT THEIR FAVORITE SERIAL, BUT HER FAVORITES SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING OUT AND VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE STARTED THAT AT AN EARLY AGE AND HER PARENTS INSTILLED TO HER THAT SHE HAS TO GIVE BACK.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID THERE AT THE OVENS AUDITORIUM THAT FAILURE IS NOT FATAL SO WE SHOULD NOT THINK ABOUT THAT AND ALSO SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WORK AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, THEN YOU KNOW, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST TRY.

GET UP EVERY MORNING AND JUST TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IF IT DID NOT HAPPEN, THEN THAT'S OKAY AS LONG AS YOU TRIED.

SO SHE IS JUST ENCOURAGING LEADERS TO STEP UP AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

SO SHE DID SOME ENCOURAGING THINGS.

SO AND SHE'S AN AUTHOR.

SHE HAS BOOKS OUT.

SHE'S DOING IT ALL.

>> ONE THING, TOO, DEDRICK, SHE HAS A BOOK CLUB WITH HER SIBLINGS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

>> EXACTLY.

THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 15-YEAR-OLD SELF, AND I SAW HER ANSWER WAS JUST GREAT.

WHAT I WOULD TELL MY 15-YEAR-OLD SELF IS HE'S NOT THAT CUTE.

[LAUGHTER] AND I AM CUTE.

FOR ANY 15-YEAR-OLD IF YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON SOMEBODY, THEY AIN'T THAT CUTE.

YOU'RE THE CUTE ONE.

>> RIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE GOT A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF THAT, TOO.

GREAT STUFF.

WELL, GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME, JUST EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO OFF THE RECORD@WTVI.ORG.

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