THIS IS THE PRODUCTION OF SPEED YET.

>> BACK TO MASKING.

THEY ARE NOT JUST ASKING ANYMORE .

CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG VOTED TO REQUIRE PACE COVERS AGAIN.

BUYERS BACK CLOSES THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AGAIN AND CANCELED THE CONCERT AT THE STADIUM THIS WEEK.

AND IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK AS A COVID CASES KEEP RISING.

ALSO SOME LOCAL CHURCHES ARE OFFERING TO PURCHASE EXEMPTIONS FOR THE COVID VACCINE.

PLUS A NEW NAME FOR CHARLOTTE'S STREET AS THEY EMBRACE OLD NAME THAT HONOR THE CONFEDERACY.

NUMBERS SHOW IS WHERE WE ARE GROWING, SHRINKING, AND WHERE W ARE GETTING MORE DIVERSE.

LEFT TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

FROM OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS, I'M JEFF SONIER.

WE ARE "OFF THE RECORD" TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK.

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

DANIEL, MARK, DEBORAH, AND TONY FROM THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

E OR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO "OFF THE RECORD" AT WTVI.org.

BACK TO THE FUTURE.

MASK MANDATES STATEWIDE, AS WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR AND AT TH BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND CHARLOTTE, I SEE MARK IS PUTTIN HIS ON RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU ARE INDOORS, ACCORDING T THE NEW MANDATES, AND YOU WILL BE WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC PLACES.

AT OFF THIS IS PUBLIC PLACES.

IT IS DISAPPOINTED FOR ALL OF US .

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC PLACES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANTS SHOPS, BARBER SHOPS, BONDS, AND WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THOSE BUSINESSE AND THEY WANT TO STAY OPEN.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS OCCUPANCY AND CLOSING DOWN ALTOGETHER.

THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MASK MANDATE.

THEY BASICALLY SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO COME IN AND BE THE MAS POLICE UNTIL SOMEONE CAUSES SUC A RUCKUS AND THEN SOMEONE CALLS POLICE.

BUT, NOBODY WANTS TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S ALSO VERY FRUSTRATING T PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY'VE VOTED T THE BRIGHT THEY CAN FOLLOW THE RULES.

NOW YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO MASK UP AGAIN.

IT'S A LOT MORE FRUSTRATION THA THEY ARE WISE.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE SEEING SOME BUSINESSES.

THE PIZZAS SHOP IN SOUTH CHARLOTTE AND GYMNASIUMS, CATHOLICS WAS CAME OUT AND SAID EVEN THOUGH COUNTY BELIEVES THA THE MASK MANDATE APPLIES, SCHOOLS CAME OUT AND SAID THEY ARE OPTIONAL BECAUSE THEY DO NO -- AND I THINK YOU ARE SEEING A LO OF RELUCTANCE FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO WANT TO IMPOR THIS.

THAT IS WHERE SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION IS HAPPENING YOU.

>> I GUESS WE THOUGHT WE ALL WOULD BE BEYOND THIS BY NOW.

THERE IS A MASK MANDATE ITSELF.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT DOES AND DOES NOT DO?

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT CHURCHES BE EXEMPT FROM THIS MANDATE.

YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR A GROCERY STORE RUN, BUT IF YOU ARE SITTING AT SERVICES ON THE WEEKEND WITH 500 OTHER PEOPLE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, NO MASK I REQUIRED.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MIXED MESSAGE AND WE TALKED ABOUT MIXED MESSAGES IN THE PAST YOUR OBVIOUSLY.

>> GO AHEAD.

I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUE SAYS THAT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRING PROOF FOR THOSE EXEMPTIONS SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IS COME UP, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ASK PEOPLE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR EXEMPTION, COULD THAT BE AWAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND IT.

AND GOING ROUND GROCERY STORES, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH AWARENESS THERE IS OR WHAT IT IS.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T SEE IT 100% MASKING RIGHT NOW IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN IN THE -- AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT I HAV SEEN AT LEAST.

>> YOU DO HAVE TO WEAR A MASK INSIDE THE GYM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT WEARING A MASK DOES NOT MEAN GETTING THE VACCINE.

IT IS NOT IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT I'VE GOT THE VACCINE SO WHY DO I HAV TO GO BACK AND WEAR A MASK.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WEARING A MASK DOES THAT MEAN THAT GETTING THE VACCINE IS NOT IMPORTANT.

THEY THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF PERSONS, MOST SEVERE CASES ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

SO I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS SAFETY.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.

SO THEREFORE POLITICIANS, THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST IN ORDER TO KEEP EVERYBODY HIT.

>> AND I THINK THAT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW FULLY, BUT THEY KNO THAT YOU CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

OF COURSE THE DELTA VARIANT, THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TH EFFICACY IS RIGHT NOW AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT SPECIFICALLY.

WE KNOW THAT IT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN IT WASN'T SO I THINK WITH THE CONCERNED BETWEEN THE UNVACCINATED AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU COULD POSSIBLY GET IT BUT IT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CASES.

IT STILL OVERWHELMINGLY -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE REASONING THAT THEY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF DOING IT.

>> AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE W ARE, JUST THAT BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, 6,000, ONE DAY THI WEEK WE HAD 7,000 POSITIVE CASES , 13%.

AND EVEN WITH THE VACCINE, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE OVERWHELMING FEELING.

WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST YEAR, TH NUMBERS, WE HAD MORE RESTRICT PROTOCOLS.

IF THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED, I THIN WE GOT TO THE POINT PSYCHOLOGICALLY WHERE WE ARE DONE WITH THIS AND WE ARE GOOD AT WE'VE GOT THE VACCINE.

SO IT IS TOUGHER TO GO BACK AND SAY, WOW, WE'VE GOT TO GO BACKWARDS.

JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, FOLKS.

THE NUMBERS ARE AS BAD AS THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE DILEMMA.

BEFORE THE INITIAL WAVE OF VACCINES WAS OKAY.

THIS IS THE WAY TO DROP THE MASK .

THIS IS A WAY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AND WE WERE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW IT IS ALMOST LIKE WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED THE VACCINE THE MOST.

IT IS WHERE THEY ARE THE LEAST INCENTIVE TO GET IT.

WE STILL NEED TO MASK AFTER THE VACCINE AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO GE A BOOSTER SHOT OF THE VACCINE.

SO IT IS A HARD SELL.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE LEFT OBVIOUSLY COLLECT AND THERE'S ALSO A LOT FEWER REASONS OF THESE PSYCHOLOGICALLY TO GO OUT AND GET THAT VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER FRUSTRATING THINGS, HOW DOES THIS ALL END.

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW GETTING VACCINE ARE GETTING COVID AND SPREADING IT.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINE, WE GOING TO BE IN SITUATION FOR MONTHS OR FOUR YEARS.

IT'S AN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS THIS YEAR.

PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE, IT'S OVER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OVER FOR A WHILE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FOR A WHILE SO HOW DO WE MANAGE THROUGH THIS?

THESE ARE ALL SORT OF THINGS THAT ARE ON THE MINDS OF THE PUBLIC.

>> YES, THE INCENTIVE SHOULD BE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL.

THIS WEEK I'M ATTENDING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS CONVENTION AND YESTERDAY DR. POUCH HE ADDRESSE THE JOURNALIST IN THE ROOM AND SAID, HE WE HAVE TO CRUSH COVID-19.

WE HAVE TO CRUSH IT.

AND IN ORDER TO CRUSH IT, WE HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE IT MUTATES AND THERE ARE MORE VARIANCE AND THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST NEW VARIANCE, SO WE HAV TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE PEOPL THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND ARM THEM WITH GOOD INFORMATION SO W CAN CRUSH COVID-19, BECAUSE THA IS THE ASSIGNMENT.

WE HAVE TO CRUSH COVID-19 AND GET RID OF IT.

>> REGARDING THE VACCINES, I KNOW THAT GARTH BROOKS CANCELED HIS CONCERT THIS WEEK IN CHARLOTTE.

HE RESCHEDULED FOUR TIMES AND FINALLY DECIDED LET'S GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO THOSE 75,000 PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT TICKETS.

BUT AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, LIVE NATION'S REQUIRING CONCERTGOERS TO HAVE A VACCINE.

THAT IS A SEVERAL DAY FESTIVAL THE 30-40,000 PEOPLE.

I'M ASSUMING WE MAY SEE MORE AN MORE OF THIS.

AND IT RAISES THE QUESTION ABOU THE NFL, THE PANTHERS BACK IN THE STADIUM THIS WEEKEND IN FRONT OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FULL HOUSE.

THEY REQUIRE MASKS INDOORS BUT NOT OUTDOORS.

ARE ARE THERE NFL TEAMS THAT AR LOOKING AT POSSIBLY REQUIRING VACCINES FOR TICKET BUYERS AND FANS THAT WANT TO ATTEND IN PERSON TEXT YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT?

WE'VE SEEN IT FROM EMPLOYERS.

WHAT ABOUT EVENT HOLDERS AND PLANNERS AND BASICALLY MAKING THE VACCINE AND INCENTIVE IF YO WANT TO GO SEE THINGS OR ATTEND THE THINGS OR YOUR ENTERTAINMEN VENUES, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PUSHING BACK AND I TALK TO SOMEONE AND SET UP GOT THE VACCINE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE TO DO ALL THIS, PUT THE MASK BACK ON.

I'M SURE I CAN GET INTO THE END WITH IT WOULD BE A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE ICING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE.

ONE MORE THING ABOUT VACCINE SE UP LIKE TO TALK QUICKLY.

THEY JUST EXEMPTIONS.

I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE, O THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE THEY POSTED A FOUR ROOM AND TOLD THE PARISHIONERS IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM THE VACCINE, THERE IS A PROCESS AND THE DIOCESE MADE IT CLEAR THEY ARE NOT PROMOTING EXEMPTIONS OR OPPOSING VACCINES.

THEY SAY THE CHURCH AND THE POP AND THE DIOCESE SUPPORT THE VACCINE WITH THEY'RE OUTLINING THE PROCESS FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, ESPECIALLY PUT THEIR EMPLOYERS.

OTHER CHURCHES SAY THEY WILL GIVE YOU AN EXEMPTION IF YOU WANT ONE.

THAT IS THE NEXT LINE IN THE STAND.

THAT MAY BE THE NEXT BATTLEGROUND WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES IN.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WE MOVE ON TO OTHER SUBJECTS?

DANIELLE?

>> SURE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE.

OR REMAINS TO BE SEEN, THERE AR A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS FOR VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE PARENTS THAT DON'T VACCINATE THEIR KIDS FOR VARIOU REASONS.

AND I THINK IT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE IN TERMS OF OTHER VACCINES IF YOU LOOK AT THE DAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T VACCINATE THE KIDS.

AS A MICROCOSM.

AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN A LOT MORE POLITICIZED.

I THINK THE MORE YOU MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE, THE MORE LIKELY PEOPLE ARE TO GET VACCINATED.

IF YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE STEPS TO REQUEST AN EXEMPTION AND EVERYTHING, THAT IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES.

IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE UNIVERSITY STILL HAVE A FAIRLY HIGH VACCINATION RATE.

SO WE WILL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY CHOOSE THAT ROUTE.

IT WILL BE -- >> ARE PROBABLY THOUGHT WE WOUL BE TALKING ABOUT COVID IN THE PAST TENSE AT THIS POINT IN AUGUST BUT IT IS A TOPIC EVERY WEEK AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I SUPPOSE.

THAT IS THE REALITY WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> LET'S MOVE OVER TO CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR DISCUSSION OF CONFEDERATE NAMES.

IT WASN'T TECHNICALLY A COUNCIL MEETING WITH IT BACK TO DON WHA IT HAD BEEN MOVING ON FOR MONTH NOW AND FINDING THOSE NAMES ON THOSE STREETS IN OTHER PLACES THAT HONOR CONFEDERATE LEADERS OR WHITE SUPREMACISTS AND CHANGING THOSE NAMES TO SOMETHING MORE APPROPRIATE TO THOSE FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE BUNDLE STREETS.

THE FIRST ONE JEFFERSON DAVIS STRAIT IS NO LONGER JEFFERSON DAVIS STREET.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER I WAS UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THEY REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN PLACE NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

JEFFERSON DAVIS WAS A CONFEDERATE LEADER AND HAD A WHITE SUPREMACISTS HAT.

AND EDIT AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT JUST WAS NOT GOOD THING.

THE STREET WILL BE UNVEILED NEX MONTH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING THERE ARE NINE MORE STREETS TO GO.

AND I GUESS WE ARE IN THIS PLAC BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD.

UP WITH THE RACIAL RECKONING AN JUST TOUCHED EVERYBODY ALL AROUND THE WORLD FROM CHANGING THE NAME FROM SCHOOLS TO CHANGING THE STREET NAMES THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND MORE NAME CHANGES WILL COME.

>> THIS IS A MOVEMENT THAT GAME A LOT OF STEAM AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

OF COURSE THERE'S BEEN A MOVEMENT.

THIS BEEN A MOVEMENT FOR A LONG TIME TO REMOVE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THE CITY BRIGHT AFTE GEORGE FLOYD FORMED A COMMISSIO CENTRALLY TO STUDY ALL OF THE MONUMENTS, STREET NAMES AND OTHER MARKERS CONFEDERATE WE, IT'S NOT THAT ANY STREET DEDICATED TO FOR THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS OR SO WAS ESSENTIALLY NAMED AFTER SOMEBODY WHO EITHER OWN DISPLACE OUR WAS TIED TO SLAVERY IN SOME REGARD.

PARTICULARLY ON PEOPLE WHO WORK LATER THAT THE CONFEDERACY OR THE BRIGHT SUPREMACIST MOVEMENT AND 98.

SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FOCUSED O THOSE AS A PRIORITY FOR NOW AND THEN CAME UP WITH THOSE NINE NAMES.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A FASCINATING PROCESS FROM HISTOR PERSPECTIVE AND I BELIEVE IT WA A HUNTER CONFEDERATE HUNDRED CONFEDERATE MINUS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO RELATE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STEAM AND ENERGY THE FUSS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

I THINK IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH, STONEWALL STREET UPTOWN, OR THE BIG STREET UPTOWN .

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE.

THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS HAVING COVERED COUNCIL MEETINGS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, TYPICALLY CHANGED WORST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANTING TO DO.

THEY TYPICALLY DON'T LIKE IT'S.

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR CREDIT CARDS AND YOUR BILL BECAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF -- >> THERE'S BEEN AS FAR AS I KNO NO PUSHBACK ON THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IS GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY I LOVE JEFFERSON DAVIS STREET.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT THIS TIME.

THE HAVE DEVELOPED -- STONEWALL IS A PRETTY BIG STREET .

BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT REALLY SEEING A LOT BACK HERE.

>> MARK, DO YOU WANT THE FINAL WORD ON THIS?

>> I THINK WE WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS, THAT FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER.

BUT YOU KNOW THAT THEY FOR MAKING AS MUCH ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND IT HAS TO BE DONE AND I THINK IT'S BEING DONE AS SHE SAID ABOUT AS PAINLESSLY AND AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE EVEN DISCUSSING IT IS INTERESTING.

IT'S MORE THAN EVEN A YEAR AND HAVE AGO.

>> EIGHT MORE STREETS HAVE TO B RENAMED.

TONY STONEWALL, ALSO MORRISON BOULEVARD, AND THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT STREETS AS WELL AS SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.

BY THE BREAK, THE RENAMING OF JEFFERSON DAVIS STREET, DRUID HILLS WAY, THERE WERE 17 DIFFERENT OTHER NAMES THAT THEY LOOKED AT THE COMMUNITY THAT VOTED ON THE NAME.

TO 5%.

DRUID HILLS WAY AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE.

MAJORITY RULES.

SO A PROCESS THAT IS ONGOING AN I'M SURE IF THEY CHANGE OR NAMES , IT WILL BE OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TH CENSUS LAST WEEK, IN PARTICULAR ABOUT HOW CHARLOTTE IS STILL TH LARGEST CITY, MECKLENBURG NO LONGER THE LARGEST COUNTY, BUT THIS WEEK WE HAD A CHANCE TO DI INTO THE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT AND TALK MORE ABOUT HOW THAT GROWTH MAY AFFECT THE AREA OF THE STATE AS WE GO FORWARD.

YOU WROTE THIS WEEK ABOUT BEING TOO DIFFERENT NORTH CAROLINA'S WOULD YOU CLICK CLICK GROWTH PATTERNS STATE AS ATHENS BY THE MOST CURRENT CENSUS NUMBERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS REALLY FRIGHTENING IF YOU LOOK AT FOR EXAMPLE THE FASTEST-GROWING COUNTIES THAT ARE RIGHT AT THE COUNTIES LIKE MECKLENBURG.

EVEN SO, JOHNSON COUNTY IS RIGH OUTSIDE.

THAT IS WHERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST WAS.

NOT NECESSARILY ENTIRELY IN THE CITY THEMSELVES.

CITY SURROUNDING SUBURBS THAT ARE EXPANDING.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE DECLINE, MORE COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN POPULATIONS , OUT OF THE HUNDRED.

AND IN PARTICULAR, A LOT OF THI POPULATION LOSSES ARE CONCENTRATED, ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AND I THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS PART OF THE HISTORIC BLACK BELT AND AMERICAN AREAS.

TIME FOR COUNTY WAS THE LARGEST DROP IN THE STATE OUT OUT OF AN COUNTY AND ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST POPULATION DROPS IN THE COUNTRY OF ANY COUNTY SO YOU REALLY ARE SEEING THE OBSERVATION OF THIS TREND IS PEOPLE ARE LEAVING A WORLD AREA AND GOING TO METRO AREAS.

THIS A FEW EXCEPTIONS AND COUNTIES -- TOURISM AREAS THAT ARE MORE WORLD, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT IS EXASPERATING AND I THINK THA WILL HAVE FASCINATING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR SOCIETY IN GENERAL.

>> HAVE A TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL THINK IN A MOMENT.

I NOTE THAT GENERALLY WE HAVE THE REPUTATION AS BEING A FAST-GROWING STATE.

AS YOU SAID COMMIT IS THAT ALL OF THE STATE THAT IS GROWING AN SOME OF IT IS AND SOME OF IT IS IN.

TONY DID THE STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT HOW BUT THEN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, WE ARE FINDING POCKETS OF THE FIRST OF THE END THE CENSUS NUMBERS AND MAYBE A LOT OF US OUTSIDE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM PARTICULARLY THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AND VALENTINES, IS THAT RIGHT QUICK.

>> THE THING ABOUT THE CENSUS NUMBERS, ONE THING THAT YOU ALREADY TREND PEOPLE MOVING TO URBAN AREAS.

THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR HUNDRE PLUS YEARS.

AND THE CITIES OF GROWING.

JUST THE BEGINNING THE THE NUMBERS AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT COME UP THE -- HAS SOME OF HIS GROWTH THIS TAKING PLAYS, YOU CAN FIND SOM THINGS THAT ARE DEFINED BY PEOPLE.

THE CLICK AT THE GROWTH OF THE ASIAN POPULATION IN CHARLOTTE.

IT'S ABOUT 6% THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND GROWING PRETTY RAPIDLY.

AND THEN A LOT OF THAT -- AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THE ASIAN PRESENCE ARE IN VALENTINE.

AND A LOT OF IT IS THE INDIAN POPULATION.

THE TAKING TECHNOLOGY JOBS, BRINGING FAMILIES ON THE MAIN STREET.

JUST CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THAT AREA, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY A VERY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR EVERYBODY GOE TO BED AT 9:00.

THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR .

MORE PEOPLE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS AND CHANGES TAKIN PLAYS, WHERE IS THE IMPLICATION TAKING PLAYS.

IT IS SORT OF FASCINATING.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRANULAR DATA AND WE CHECK THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND ALSO BECOMING MUCH MORE DIVERSE, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE WITH A MECKLENBURG COUNTY, PLACES LIKE -- AND THEY HAVE A HUGE GROWTH IN THEIR ASIAN POPULATION AND BLAC POPULATION, HISPANIC POPULATION WHICH MECKLENBURG DID TOO BUT I IS INTERESTING.

THERE COULD BE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

PEOPLE COULD BE FARTHER OUT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING.

WE'VE HEARD IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE IN CHARLOTTE.

WE ARE FEELING SOME OF THIS POPULATION GROWTH.

I THINK IT IS REALLY INTERESTIN TO SEE NOT ONLY HOW THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE IS CHANGING BUT HOW LOT OF THESE PLACES HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH THE MAJORITY EVEN THREE QUARTERS WHITE TEN YEARS AGO AND THEY STARTED TO SHIFT.

>> THIS EMPHASIZES AS WE GROAN GROWN BECOMES MORE DIVERSE.

HOW PEOPLE NEED SOCIAL COMPETENCY AND HOW WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER.

MY NEIGHBOR MAY BE ASIAN NOW, S PLENTY TO DO IN ORDER TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH MY NEIGHBOR.

SO I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THESE NUMBERS, EMBRACE THES NUMBERS, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO POSSIBLY REEDUCAT OURSELVES, TO EDUCATE OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LIVE I A MORE PERFECT UNION, HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> WE ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY OF TH CITY AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAY AND IN SOME CASES ARTIFICIAL PLAYS.

THIS IS NATURAL DIVERSITY.

THE LEDGER STORY TALKED ABOUT HOW A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES MIGRATING TO VALENTINE A GOING TO BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF TH SCHOOLS BECAUSE 6% CITYWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE, ASIAN POPULATION BU 20% OF VALENTINE'S POPULATION I ASIAN AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCHOOL MAKEUP, ABOUT 30% IN ALL THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, 31, 32, 39% ASIAN STUDENTS.

THERE ARE WAYS CAN THE QUALITY SCHOOLS WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND COLORS, I SUPPOSE.

AND THAT THEY BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY SHOULD BE MINDFUL LOVE.

NOT ARTIFICIALLY MOVING PEOPLE AROUND BUT TRUCKING TRACKING PEOPLE BY MAKING EDUCATION BETTER HERE ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE CITY, I SUPPOSE.

>> THIS IS GROWTH.

THIS IS WHAT CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH FOR THE LAST 30-40 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUN THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES.

>> WE ARE PUTTING OUT OF TIME.

GO AHEAD.

>> AS YOU SAID, THEY ARE MOVING TO BALANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO MOVE -- AND SOME CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THOSE HOMES WERE THOSE GOOD SCHOOLS ARE.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO VALENTINE BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

>> YOU CAN IMPROVE ONE THING LIKE EDUCATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE BALLANTYNE WITH IF YOU DON'T IMPROVE THE OTHER THINGS LIKE AFFORDABILITY FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET LEFT OUT AND THAT IS WHY DIVERSITY DOESN'T HAPPEN IN SO MANY PLACES , I SUPPOSE.

GOOD DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL MAKING YOU WAY ONLINE TO TALK WITH US THIS WEEK.

AT HOME IF YOU HAVEN'T, DARK QUESTION LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK, FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL US ANYTIME AT "OFF THE RECORD" .org.

WE WILL SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.