>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID AND AN OUTBREAK AT THE A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND MORE KIDS GETTING COVID AS SCHOOLS ARE SET TO REOPEN.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

INVESTIGATING THE INVESTIGATORS.

CMS SUSPENDS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OVER HOW THE SCHOOLS HANDLE SEX ASSAULT COMPLAINTS ON CAMPUS.

AT CITY HALL PROPOSE THEY PROPOSED IT AND PASSED IT, BUT HOW WILL THEY ENFORCE IT?

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEW NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.

AND THE CITY'S NEW ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAM KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND WITH A MILLION DOLLARS IN PRIVATE FUNDING.

WILL IT REALLY MAKE STREETS SAFER AND CENSUS DATA SHOWS CHARLOTTE STILL THE BIGGEST CITY AND MECKLENBURG NOT THE BIGGEST COUNTY.

WHY SIZE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO POPULATION AND LIVE NATION MIGHT REQUIRE A VACCINATION TO SEE A CONCERT.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

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

ELI PORTILLO FROM THE UNC CHARLOTTE URBAN INSTITUTE, DANIEL FROM AXIO CHARLOTTE AND MARK BECKER FROM QSOC-TV AND DEDRICK RUSSELL FROM WBTV.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

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

EVERY WEEK, WE START THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT COVID BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE THING THAT REALLY TOUCHES ALL OF US THESE DAYS AND A LOT TO UNPACK THIS WEEK.

I GUESS STARTING WITH HEADLINE THAT WAS IN THE FRIDAY MORNING NEWSPAPER AND OTHER NEWS OUTLETS REGARDING AN OUTBREAK OF THE VIRUS AT ATRIUM'S PINEVILLE HOSPITAL.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE VIRUS STARTS AFFECTING THE STAFFS OF HOSPITALS, THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM MAY BE IS GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE AGAIN, BACK TO WHERE WE WERE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

ANYONE WANT TO TAKE FIRST CRACK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THIS WEEK REGARDING COVID?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

LET ME JUMP IN ON THE HOSPITAL THING.

I DIDN'T DO THE STORY MYSELF BUT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DID.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 15-- ROUGHLY 50 STAFF AT ATRIUM'S PINEVILLE HOSPITAL AND NINE PATIENTS.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD-- THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T CONFIRM THIS, BUT IT STARTED IN THE MATERNITY WARD THERE AND WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE 50 OR SO STAFF PEOPLE INFECTED THAT HAD BEEN VACCINATED.

YOU GET BACK INTO THAT DEBATE, RIGHT, ON HOW THAT'S WORKING.

OVERLYING ALL OF THIS, YOU HAD THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE INCLUDING ATRIUM REQUIRING THEIR STAFF TO BE VACCINATED AND IN ATRIUM'S CASE, IT'S NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 31st.

THEY'RE STARTING THAT MOVING.

ALL THAT COMES AS HOSPITALS ARE BESIEGED AGAIN WITH PATIENTS AND CASES.

SO IT COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME AND IN A WORSE PLACE.

SO IT'S TOUGH TO BE SURE.

BUT IT SHOWS JUST HOW THE VIRUS ROOT-- THIS VIRUS REALLY IS.

>> ELI?

>> I THINK THIS KIND OF OUTBREAK POINTS TO BEYOND THE HEALTH CHALLENGES, THE LOGISTICAL, AND YOU KNOW, JUST NUTS AND BOLTS KEEPING THINGS RUNNING CHALLENGES HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE COURTHOUSE SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, THIS OUTBREAK ON THE HOSPITALS AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH SCHOOLS, EITHER HAVING OUTBREAKS OR HAVING ONE OR TWO POSITIVE CASES HAVING TO QUARANTINE A BUNCH OF STUDENTS AND YOU KNOW, SOME WAYS, WE'RE I THINK IN A PHASE RIGHT NOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SEEING CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS HAVE REMAIN PRETTY LOW IN NORTH CAROLINA, BELOW DOUBLE DIGITS AND NOT LIKE THE DEATH PEAK WE SAW EARLIER THIS YEAR.

WE'RE IN A PHASE WHERE A LOT OF THE DIFFICULTIES ARE AROUND LOGISTICS, KEEPING THINGS RUNNING AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT FEELS WORSE THAN IT DID THIS PAST-- THE PREVIOUS SURGE BECAUSE WE WERE FEELING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE END AND NOW IT JUST FEELS LIKE BACKSLIDING WHICH IS HARDER.

>> DEDRICK.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD EASE AND HAVE A WETTER BETTER SUMMER IF WE REACHED THAT HERD IMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WOULD GET VACCINATED BUT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE REQUIRING MASKS INSIDE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP STUDENTS, STAFF, AND EVERYBODY SAFE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRING MASKS INSIDE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

>> DANIELLE TO FINISH THIS UP HERE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING WITH SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

I MEAN, THE CDC-- YOU MENTIONED THE OUTBREAK IN THE MATERNITY WARD.

THE CDC COME OUT WITH STRONGER GUIDANCE SAYING PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD GET THE VACCINE.

THERE WAS HESITANCETY BEFORE AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WASN'T RESEARCH SHOWING IT HAD ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS WHATSOEVER ON PREGNANCY BUT THERE IS A MUCH LOWER VACCINATION RATE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE CDC COME OUT THIS WEEK SAYING YOU SHOULD GET IT IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

IT WOULD HAVE-- OF COURSE, TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES POTENTIALLY IF YOU ACTUALLY GET COVID WHILE YOU'RE PREGNANT.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PREGNANCY IN THE AND THE COVID VACCINE.

>> YOU MENTIONED VACCINATION.

SO DID MARK.

WE TALKED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE HOSPITALS REQUIRING VACCINATIONS AMONG THEIR EMPLOYEES, BUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING WITH THIS OUTBREAK AT ATRIUM PINEVILLE IS THAT 70% OF THOSE WHO ARE AMONG THOSE 50 OR 60 THAT HAVE THE VIRUS ALSO GOT THE VACCINATION BEFORE GETTING THE VIRUS THIS TIME AROUND.

SO YOU KNOW, FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PROTESTING OR RESISTING THE VACCINATION, IT RAISES THAT QUESTION AGAIN ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE VACCINE AGAINST THIS NEW VAIR ANT?

WE'RE ALSO SEEING A SURGE STATEWIDE.

WE'RE BACK TO JANUARY NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF INFECTIONS IN THE STATE.

I GUESS MAYBE THE MOST TROUBLING THING ARE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOW A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THOSE POSITIVE CASES.

THEY WERE DOWN AROUND 1% IN JANUARY.

NOW THEY'RE UP AROUND 17, 18% FOR KIDS UNDER 17.

GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'S A RED FLAG AND A HALF, ISN'T IT?

WOW.

>> YEAH.

THE BATTLE IS JUST BEGINNING WITH THE WHOLE MASKS IN SCHOOL THING.

EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT POLICY, EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NORTH CAROLINA AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA YOU CANNOT MANDATE MASKS.

THAT PATTLE WILL BE ONGOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, JEFF.

MORE KIDS GETTING IT AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBERS OVERALL GOING UP.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> DANIELLE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT.

YOU KNOW THE VACCINE IS STILL EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE BUT OVERWHELMINGLY, IT DOES PREVENT, YOU KNOW, MOST HOSPITALIZATIONS AND CERTAINLY MOST DEFENDANTS IN ALMOST EVERY CASE AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THE MORE PEOPLE DON'T GET VACCINATED, THE LESS IMMUNITY WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE MORE IT'S GOING TO SPREAD.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING I THINK WITH CHILDREN AS WELL.

BECAUSE YOUNG CHILDREN CAN'T GET VACCINATED.

SO YOU'RE SEEING IT SPREAD MORE IN THE COMMUNITY AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT SPREADS TO CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE VACCINE AS COMPARED TO-- IF PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO-- WE WERE ABLE TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY AND PEOPLE SAW HAVE THE VACCINE AND SPREAD.

>> I'M THE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG KIDS AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WATCHING AND IT'S CONCERNING, OF COURSE.

I THINK PART OF THAT IS AS EXPERTS HAVE POINTED OUT AND DANIELLE JUST MENTIONED, AS MORE AND MORE ADULTS GET VACCINATED ESPECIALLY REALLY VULNERABLE, OLDER FOLKS, THE PROPORTION OF CASES AMONG THEM IS NATURALLY GOING TO FALL AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CASES AMONG THE UNVACCINATED IS GOING TO GO UP AND THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH YET.

I THINK ONE OF THE NEXT BIG THINGS WE'RE GOING TO SEE, ONE OF THE NEXT BIG FLASH POINTS IS VACCINES IN YOUNGER CHILDREN.

>> UH-HUH >> WE'VE SEEN HOW ANIMATED AND ANGRY PEOPLE GOT OVER THE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOL.

SCHOOLS ALREADY REQUIRE VACCINATIONS WHEN THIS BECOMES ONE THAT SCHOOLS START REQUIRING AS WELL IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE FDA GIVES FULL APPROVAL AT SOME POINT, I THINK THAT WILL BE ANOTHER FLASH POINT.

BUT YOU KNOW, ALL OF US WITH YOUNG KIDS OUT THERE DEFINITELY WATCHING AND KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THIS.

>> DEDRICK.

>> AND SPEAKING OF STUDENTS AND GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WBTV, WE TALKED TO A DOCTOR AND WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID CHILDREN LAG BEHIND ADULTS TWO TO FOUR WEEKS WHEN IT COMES TO THE COVID.

THE UPTICK IN ADULT INFECTS IN EMPLOYEDLE OF JULY IS JUST CATCHING UP AND SHOWING UP RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE KNOW THAT UNIVERSAL MASKS WEARING, IT WORKS BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENED IN THE SCHOOLS, THEY SAW COVID NUMBERS GO DOWN, FLUS WENT DOWN.

SO WE DO KNOW THAT UNIVERSAL MASK WEARING DOES WORK, BUT AS WE TALKED TO PARENTS, THEY ARE CONCERNED AND GASTON COUNTY, THEY REPORTED ABOUT 451 NEW COVID CASES AND OUT OF THAT NUMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 110 SCHOOL-AGED KIDS.

SO PARENTS ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

WHILE YOU HAVE OTHER PARENTS WHO SAY THAT, HEY, I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO WEAR A MASK.

HAD IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING SCHOOL YEAR.

>> LET ME STAY WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, DEDRICK, AND TALK MORE ABOUT SCHOOLS.

CMS STARTS A WEEK FROM MONDAY.

A LOT OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE BACK NOW OR WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

IT'S ALMOST A DIFFERENT MINDSET NOW.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SAFE UNTIL THIS WHOLE THING IS OVER.

NOW THE MINDSET SEEMS TO BE CAN WE MAKE IT SAFE ENOUGH TO SEND THE KIDS BACK?

I GUESS THAT'S A PRODUCT OF SEEING WHAT A LOST YEAR OF SCHOOL OR MOSTLY LOST YEAR OF SCHOOL DOES TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS OF THOSE KIDS.

WE WANT THEM SAFE AND HEALTHY AND NOT SICK BUT WE ALSO WANT THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT CHILDREN LEARN BEST WHEN THEY ARE INSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SOME STUDENTS HAVE THRIVED ON REMOTE LEARNING BUT YOU TALK ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE KIDS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW BLACK AND BROWN KIDS, MAJORITY OF THEM NEED TO BE INSIDE THE SCHOOL SO THEY CAN HAVE THAT ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION WITH A COUNSELOR, WITH A TEACHER, AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I GUESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR IS THAT THIS YEAR THERE IS A VACCINE.

TEACHERS ARE GETTING VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN 12 AND UP ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

SO THEREFORE, THEY DO HAVE A DEFENSE MECHANISM IN PLACE AND IT'S GIVING SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE EASE, BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, I AM TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAD THE VACCINE AND DID COVID AND THEY VACCINATION LIVE NATION RAP AGAIN ONE MORE TIME.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT WE DO HAVE SOMETHING LA LA PALOOZA IN CHICAGO, THEY HAD THAT EVENT AND YOU HAD TO BE VACCINATED IN ORDER TO GO.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE.

I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT THE HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYS THAT SO FAR, IT'S BEEN 14 DAYS LATER AND SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS BEEN A UNIVERSITY ARE SPREADER EVENT.

SO I GUESS HAVING BEING VACCINATED AND GOING TO THE LARGE VENUES AND LARGE CONCERTS, IT DOES WORK.

THAT'S THE STORY TODAY.

THE STORY CAN CHANGE.

AS OF TODAY, THE CHICAGO-- THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT NO EVIDENCE OF A SUPERSPREADER CAME FROM THE LARGE MUSIC EVENT.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

EVERY WEEK, THE STORY CHANGES AND THE DETAILS CHANGE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK AS WELL.

GOOD DISCUSSION THIS WEEK, THOUGH.

LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE AIMED AT LGBTQ CITIZENS OF CHARLOTTE.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT'S KIND OF RARE TO BEGIN WITH CITY COUNCIL.

NOW THE QUESTION BECOMES, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ENFORCE WHAT WE SUPPORT?

MECKLENBURG'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE IS CONSIDERED LARGELY SYMBOLIC.

WILL CHARLOTTE'S SAID, OKAY, IN FIVE YEARS, THE CITY IS GOING TO PASS THIS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING MINUS BATHROOM PROTECTION UNANIMOUSLY, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY HARD TO IMAGINE.

YOU KNOW, THE SEA CHANGE ON THIS REALLY CAN'T BE OVEREMPHASIZED I THINK.

I THINK CHARLOTTE WILL ALSO HAVE THE CHANCE TO LOOK TO THE OTHER NINE OR SO MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE PASSED NON-DIS NON-DISCRIMINATED ORDINANCES BEING IN INCOME TO LOOK AT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM AND BEYOND A POLITICAL COVER ASPECT OF NOT BEING THE FIRST CITY TO DO THIS IN NORTH CAROLINA AS WE WERE BEFORE, I THINK THERE'S THAT PRACTICAL ASPECT.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OTHER COMMUNITIES AND SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO WORK HERE.

>> DEDRICK.

>> YEAH.

THE MAYOR-- REMEMBER, THE MAYOR SAID THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT THAT HAPPENED HERE IN CHARLOTTE, AS ELI SAID, THAT CHARLOTTE JOINS NINE OTHER PLACES WHO HAVE PASSED NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES.

I GUESS THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THIS ONE INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, HAIR, NATURAL HAIR, THAT YOU WILL NOT BE DISCRIMINATED BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR.

I THINK THAT SETS THE TONE AND THAT'S LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME IN CHARLOTTE.

I UNDERSTAND THIS WILL NOW GO TO A COMMITTEE WHO WILL DECIDE ON FINES, AND THOSE FINES MAY BE INCREASED BECAUSE OF THIS AND I GUESS WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT, I GUESS CITY LEADERS ARE JUST DEPENDING ON PEOPLE WHO COME ACROSS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND THEN THEY WILL SELF-REPORT AND THEY WILL REPORT AND THAT IS ONE WAY THAT THE CITY CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT THE LAW IS BEING FOLLOWED.

ONE THING I WANT TO SAY AND WHAT'S INTERESTING THAT COUNCILMEMBER TARIQ BOKHARI PUT IN A MOTION TO NOT DISCRIMINATION DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

THAT WAS QUICKLY SHUT DOWN.

>> YEP.

DIDN'T STOP THE FINAL VOTE FROM BEING UNANIMOUS, THOUGH.

I WILL POINT OUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PANEL, WE ARE HAIR INCLUSIVE HERE.

[LAUGHTER] WE TOUCH ALL THE BASES.

>> I LOVE THAT LINE.

>> BOUNCING BACK TO SCHOOLS FOR A MOMENT, SUBJECT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TOUCHED ON BEFORE, THE BOARD TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, THE CMS SCHOOL BOARD SO I THINK WE SHOULD TOO.

SCHOOLS LOOKING AT HOW THEY INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON CAMPUS.

ALL STEMMING FROM A SERIES OF COMPLAINTS AT MYERS PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

AGAIN, DEDRICK, YOU FOLLOW SCHOOLS CLOSELY FOR US.

CAN YOU KIND OF BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS?

AND WHAT THE BOARD ADDRESSED ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WBTV DID AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS AND WE TALKED TO SIX FORMER MYERS PARK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE RAPED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE ON CAMPUS.

THEY SAID THEY DID REPORT IT TO OFFICIALS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE.

IN FACT, ONE FORMER STUDENT DID FILE A LAWSUIT AND AT THE END, THE DISTRICT HAD TO PAY HER $50,000 AND IN THE LAWSUIT, THE PRINCIPAL AT THE TIME, SCOTT BOSCO, HE TESTIFIED THAT HE TOLD THE VICTIM THAT SHE COULD GET IN TROUBLE THAT IF HER REPORT OF RAPE WAS NOT SUBSTANTIATED.

SO HERE YOU HAVE THIS VICTIM WHO IS GOING THROUGH A TERRIBLE TIME AND YOU HAVE THE PRINCIPAL SAYING THAT, HEY, YOU COULD BE PUNISHED FOR THIS.

WE DID INVESTIGATION AFTER INVESTIGATION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY CMS BOARD SAID WE CAN NOT HAVE A PRINCIPAL LIKE THAT IN THE SCHOOL WHERE PARENTS ARE UNEASY SENDING THEIR CHILD TO THE SCHOOL.

THEREFORE, BOB BOSCO HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITH PAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS FUTURE WITH CMS WILL BE LIKE AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS CREATED A TITLE 9 TASK FORCE THAT WILL LOOK AT HOW CMS INVESTIGATES AND HOW CMS DOES THIS AND HE SAYS THAT THIS WILL BE STUDENT-LED AND STUDENT RUN.

SO HOPEFULLY A REPORT WILL BE MADE BY THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.

>> YEAH.

A LOT TO STILL FIND OUT ABOUT AS THIS INVESTIGATION GOES FORWARD, BUT I DID THINK SINCE THE BOARD TOOK IT UP THIS WEEK AND SINCE WE'VE HAD PROTESTS AND OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS WORTH AT LEAST TOUCHING ON TO KIND OF BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PARTICULAR TYPES OF COMPLAINTS.

MARK, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

THIS WEEKEND, LAUNCHING A PROGRAM THAT KIND OF WORKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE POLICE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS-- WHAT THEY CALL VIOLENCE INTERCEPTOR?

IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

THAT'S BASICALLY IT.

IT'S A GRANT THAT WILL HELP, YOU KNOW MONEY FROM WELLS FARGO AND ANOTHER AGENCY THAT WILL HELP ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORTS IN CHARLOTTE.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW YOU TRANSLATE-- >> RIGHT.

>> MONEY INTO ACTION.

>> YEAH.

>> AND ADD IT TO GET RIGHT DOWN TO THOSE FLASH POINT MOMENTS WHEN MUCH OF THIS VIOLENCE OCCURS AND WHEN SOMEBODY GETS INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH SOMEONE ELSE OR AND IN SPLIT-SECOND PULLS THE TRIGGER.

THAT'S REALLY I THINK THE REAL TOUGH THING.

NOW ALL OF THIS, I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT TO TRANSLATE GOOD WILL AND GOOD MONEY INTO REAL DIFFERENCE MAKING, THAT'S REALLY THE TOUGHEST PART.

YOU KNOW, THE ARGUMENT WE SAID FOR YEARS STARTS AT HOME.

IT DOES.

AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE IN MANY CASES ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE HAVING TO SOLVE IT AND DEAL WITH IT.

LISTEN, WE CAN'T DO TOO MUCH TO TRY AND REVERSE THINGS.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST HERE.

IT'S AROUND THE COUNTRY.

VIOLENCE HAS GONE UP AND WE CAN ARGUE ALL DAY LONG ABOUT WHETHER IT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS OR A LACK OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION OR WHATEVER IT IS, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

THIS IS THE LATEST EFFORT TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK POLICE ARE ONBOARD WITH ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP.

>> ELI.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY-- IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CITIES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SUCCESSES WITH THIS KIND OF APPROACH.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT EFFICACY.

I WAS JUST READING IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" SOME LOCAL ADVOCATES THERE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MORE AND BETTER DATA ABOUT D.C.'S VERSION OF THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER PROGRAM, TRYING TO ASSESS WHETHER IT WORKS A FEW YEARS IN.

I THINK THAT COLLECTING GOOD DATA, ASSESSING IT AND TRYING TO TEASE OUT THE EFFECTS OF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS ARE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE WELL SERVE TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, WE CAN MEASURE CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND MURDER RATES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYONE HAS COME UP WITH A WAY TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR CHARLOTTE.

AGAIN, IT SEEMS TO ME KIND OF WRAPPING UP HERE ON THIS TOPIC, YOU KNOW, LAST SUMMER, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING OUTWARD.

YOU KNOW, POINTING FINGERS AT HOW THE POLICE WERE, YOU KNOW, INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE -- THIS WHOLE SITUATION.

NOW COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING INWARD, I THINK, AND TRYING TO SEE HOW THEY CAN SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS WITHOUT THE POLICE OR ALONGSIDE THE POLICE.

I GUESS THAT'S A DID THING IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SOLVE ULTIMATELY THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IS TO MAKE STREETS SAFER IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES AND AGAIN, IT KICKS OFF THIS WEEK WITH AN EVENT ON THE BEATTIES FORD ROAD CORRIDOR.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

AND WE'VE GOT NEW CENSUS DATA OUT WHICH NORMALLY PUTS PEOPLE RIGHT TO SLEEP.

THIS YEAR, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR VOTING AND ELECTIONS AND REPRESENTATION DANIELLE, YOU WROTE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT ON FRIDAY MORNING.

TELL US WHAT THE NEW NUMBERS ARE SHOWING US ABOUT CHARLOTTE AND NORTH CAROLINA IN GENERAL?

.

>> YEAH.

WELL, ONE OF THE BIG HEADLINES WAS THAT MECKLENBURG WAS OVERTAKEN BY WAKE.

WAKE IS NOW THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE.

I THINK THAT REALLY THE BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY IS THAT CHARLOTTE AND WAKE COUNTY, RALEIGH, THE BIG, GROWING CITIES IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ARE AWARE OF THE MAJOR POPULATION GAINS.

AND THAT'S SORT OF THE BIG STORY.

THE POPULATION IS SHIFTING SOUTH.

THE POPULATION IS ALSO BECOMING MUCH MORE DIVERSE AND YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE WHITE POPULATION ACTUALLY DECLINED WHILE HISPANIC AND BLACK POPULATIONS INCREASED AT A MUCH QUICKER RATE.

SO I THINK THE THAT'S REALLY THE STORY >> CHARLOTTE'S GROWTH RATE AROUND 20%.

CABARRUS COUNTY, 27%.

IT SHOWS HOW THE SUBURBS, FAST-GROWING SUBURBS REALLY DO AFFECT THE OVERALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND POPULATION OF URBAN AREA.

ELI?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS STRIKING HOW LIKE IN A LOT OF STATES, NORTH CAROLINA'S GROWTH IS JUST VERY CONCENTRATED AMONG A SMALLER NUMBER OF URBAN AND SUBURBAN COUNTIES.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE CONTINUED TO SEE THIS TREND OF LOTS OF COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA LOSING POPULATION.

I THINK IT'S 51 OUT OF 100 AND IN THIS MOST RECENT CENSUS COUNT SAW THEIR POPULATIONS DECLINE AND THAT KIND OF ILLUSTRATES ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE GOT I THINK WIDENING POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DIVIDES AS WELL.

WE REALLY, IN SOME WAYS, ARE A TALE OF TWO STATES WHEN IT COMES TO GROWTH.

>> YEAH.

IT IS INTERESTING.

ALL THE GROWTH SEEMS TO BE CONCENTRATED IN THOSE URBAN AREAS.

NOT SO MUCH IN THOSE FARTHER OUT AREAS.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME POPULATIONS IN TOWN THAT ARE ACTUALLY LOSING POPULATION, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE AREAS.

ANYONE WANT THE FINAL WORD ON CENSUS NUMBERS AND POPULATION THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT LOOKS AT CITY LEADERS NOW HAVE TO RESPOND TO A MORE DIVERSE POPULATION.

AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HAVING CHARLOTTE CITY LEADERS PASS NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, I GUESS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, GOT TO EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY THAT IS HAPPENING AND YOU GOT TO BE PREPARED AND YOU HAVE TO ACT ON A MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND POPULATION SO WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IF OTHER LEADERS ARE GOING TO START ACTING LIKE WE'RE MORE DIVERSE AND NOT-- THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS.

>> RIGHT.

THE NEXT STEP WITH THESE NUMBERS WILL BE THE POLITICAL BODIES, CITY COUNCIL IN RALEIGH DECIDING WHAT THE FUTURE DISTRICTS WILL LOOK LIKE AND HOW THE NEXT ELECTIONS WILL PAN OUT BECAUSE OF THOSE CHANGES.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY ON OUR PANEL FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

ALWAYS A GOOD DISCUSSION.

THIS WEEK IS NO EXCEPTION AND AGAIN, IF YOU ARE AT HOME AND YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK, JUST SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO OFF THE RECORD@WTVI.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON OFF THE RECORD.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ♪♪