>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, NORTH CAROLINA SAYS K THROUGH 8 KIDS AND TEACHERS WILL NEED A MASK IN CLASS THIS FALL, BUT IN HIGH SCHOOL, MAYBE NOT.

IF YOU ALREADY HAD A SHOT.

AND THIS COVID CASES SPIKE STATEWIDE, LOCAL HOSPITALS TELL THEIR WORKERS VACCINES ARE NOW REQUIRED.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER BIG, LOCAL EMPLOYERS?

ALSO, IF YOU'RE LOSING YOUR HOME BECAUSE OF COVID, MECKLENBURG CONSIDERS MORE RESTRICTIONS ON LOCAL EVICTIONS.

CHARLOTTE ALSO MAKES THE TOP 10 LIST.

WE'D RATHER NOT BE ON THIS WEEK ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE.

PLUS, WHY CAN'T CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST GET ALONG?

MORE GATES, MORE JOBS FOR CHARLOTTE'S BIGGEST AIRLINE AND THE ROLLING STONES ARE COMING TO TOWN AFTERALL AND PRETTY SOON TOO.

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.

ELI FROM UNC CHARLOTTE'S URBAN INSTITUTE.

MARK BECKER FROM WSOC-TV AND TONY FROM THE CHARLOTTE LEDGER.

YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THUS WEEK, GROUP.

LET'S START OFF WITH, I GUESS, COVID NEWS.

THERE'S SO MUCH OF IT TO KIND OF COVER AT THE START HERE.

I WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON THE SCHOOLS FIRST.

A LOT OF PARENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WANTS TO DO GOING FORWARD THIS FALL.

WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK SUGGESTING THAT ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS REQUIRE MASKS FOR SOME KIDS, NOT REQUIRE THEM FOR OTHERS.

THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK AND WHAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE COME THE SCHOOL YEAR THIS FALL?

ANYBODY?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE KEY WORD IS IS THE SUGGESTION.

I THINK HE WAS SAYING, LISTEN, THEY LAID OUT SOME RULES.

THEY LAID OUT SOME GUIDELINES.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DECIDE WHICH DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO.

YOU ARE SEEING SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES ON THAT.

YOU ARE SEEING UNION COUNTY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL.

IN CMS, I THINK IT TWO--I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY YOU ARE GOING TO SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

A LOT OF IT IS STILL TO BE DECIDED.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK ON SOME LEVEL, TONY, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR ESSENTIALLY PASSED THE BUCK ON THIS ONE AND IS LETTING THE BATTLE BEING FOUGHT WITHIN DISTRICTS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY WHY WISE.

ASH ASHE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, RURAL VERSUS URBAN.

SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE DIVISIONS AND FLIPS.

THE CONCERN OF ONE OF THE PARENTS I TALKED WITH WHO SAID, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE MASK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THOSE KIDS AREN'T OLD ENOUGH TO GET THE VACCINE YET AND I THINK THAT SORT OF PROVEN TO BE THE REAL GAME CHANGER, RIGHT?

WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET THE VACCINE, I MEAN, THE FACT IS THE DATA SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AREN'T 100%.

NOTHING IS 100% BUT THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE PROTECTED.

SO UNTIL THEY GET THE VACCINE, THIS PARENT WAS CONCERNED THAT HER CHILD WHO IS IMMUNO COMPROMISED AND CERTAINLY SOME OF THE TEACHERS WHO ARE THERE AREN'T SAFE.

I THINK MECKLENBURG COUNTY WILL PROBABLY STILL HAVE THE MASKS AT LEAST THE LOWER AGE GROUP.

WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, GOING COUNTY BY COUNTIES, PROBABLY NOT A BAD CALL.

>> ELI?

>> I THINK IT DOES SET UP FOR THIS TO BE KIND OF THE NEXT FLASH POINT AT SOME OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS OVER THE COMING WEEKS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE EMPASSIONED ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES AND HAVING IT PLAY OUT ACROSS A HUNDRED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NORTH CAROLINA WILL DEFINITELY SET UP SOME OF THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT'S ALL GOING TO CHANGE AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE THE VACCINE APPROVED FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN POSSIBLY SOMETIME IN WINTER, YOU KNOW, THEN GORE TOWING HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CALCULUS AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT VACCINE MANDATES YET.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS PROBABLY ALSO GOING TO BE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PARENTS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WARY OF GIVING THIS TO THEIR KIDS AND THAT'S A DECISION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FACE IN THE COMING MONTHS AND WILL SCHOOLS REQUIRE IT?

I THINK THAT WILL BE EVEN MORE OF A CONTROVERSY IN SOME SENSE THAN MASKS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE SEEING A SPIKE IN COVID CASES STATEWIDE.

3,000 NEW CASES LAST WEEK.

600 NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS AND IT'S THAT VARIANT THAT APPARENTLY-- WHAT KIDS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO NOW.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION , I SUPPOSE.

IF THE KIDS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS NEWEST VERSION OF THE VIRUS.

THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED, I GUESS THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO RISK FOR THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AS USUAL, THAT THESE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, I GUESS, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WE'LL ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS PARENTS, AS EMPLOYEES, AS YOU KNOW, FOLKS LIVING OUR LIVES, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THERE'S THE FACTOR OF DISRUPTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE WHEN SCHOOLS ARE CANCELLED, WHEN INDIVIDUAL CLASSES ARE CANCELLED.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS THIS COMING YEAR TO KEEP IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION GOING AND NOT HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, DISRUPTIONS TO THE SAME DEGREE WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

>> AND WE'RE HEARING FROM EMPLOYERS NOW.

YESTERDAY, WE HEARD FROM THE HOSPITALS REQUIRING ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND EVERYONE BASICALLY ON CAMPUS AT THE HOSPITALS TO HAVE A VACCINE IN ORDER TO WORK THERE AND THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES APPROACHING THIS DIFFERENTLY, BANK OF AMERICA BRINGING FOLKS BACK.

BELK FOLKS KEEPING FOLKS AT HOME.

YOU KNOW, FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MANEUVER AND HOW MUCH ARE BUSINESSES WATCHING EACH OTHER TO SEE WHAT DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS ARE DOING AND WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS REALLY IS AND HOW MUCH BEING THERE IN PERSON REAL LIRR MAKES A DIFFERENCE?

>> I THINK BUSINESSES ARE REALLY HESITANT TO REQUIRE IT.

I HAVE BEEN TO NOVANT AND ATRIUM.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MAJOR EMPLOYER IN TOWN THAT'S ACTUALLY REQUIRING IT.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S JUST SUGGESTED OR STRONGLY RECOMMENDED AND YOU KNOW THAT INCLUDES WELLS FARGO, BANK OF AMERICA, DUKE.

BUT I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST THING-- FIRST OF ALL, IT IS LEGAL FOR THEM TO MANDATE IT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE AFRAID OF THE LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE OTHER POINT-- AND THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS NOT JUST THE LEGAL PART.

I DID TALK TO EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS THIS WEEK, IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION AND THE EMPLOYERS GENERALLY DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THIS MINEFIELD OF ASKING THEIR EMPLOYEES ABOUT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR HEALTHCARE, ISSUES AND WHAT SOME OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS MIGHT BE.

THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS THAT WE'RE IN A TIGHT LABOR MARKET RIGHT NOW.

IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A SUBSET OF EMPLOYEES THAT DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE, THEY CAN JUST GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY CAN WORK FOR A COMPETITOR.

THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR HERE AND THE HOSPITAL'S DOING THIS.

YOU SEE THAT THEY COORDINATED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

SO THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAYBE TAKE AWAY SOME OF THAT TO THE MAJOR HOSPITALS ARE REQUIRING OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>> YOU CAN'T RUN ACROSS THE STREET.

THE HOSPITAL THING, IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERY OTHER BECAUSE IF NOT HOSPITALS, WHERE?

RIGHT?

THERE'S THAT CASE IN TEXAS WHERE AN EMPLOYEE SUED BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING REQUIRED TO GET THE VACCINE AND OF COURSE, FOUND FOR THE HOSPITAL.

YEAH.

YOU CAN COMPEL THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

I'M SURE THAT WAS PART OF THE CALCULUS HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WORKING IN A HOSPITAL.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE -- THEY BEING THE HOSPITALS-- HAVE GOOD REASON TO REQUIRE EVERYONE TO HAVE VACCINES.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OUR BUSINESS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THEY'RE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING US.

YOU JUST-- IT MAKES SENSE I GUESS ON SOME LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT MAKES ABSOLUTE COMMON SENSE AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A SETTING WHERE YOU WOULD WANT PEOPLE MORE TO BE VACCINATED THAN IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY'RE DEALING WITH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, THESE INCENTIVE OR STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT APPROACHES SO FAR.

WE HEARD OF COMPANIES OFFERING CASH, OFFERING THE CHANCE TO BE ENTERED INTO DRAWINGS FOR PRIZES IF THEY GET VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE.

FRANKLY, WHAT WE CAN PROBABLY EXPECT TO SEE GREATER CASH REWARD AND MORE INCENTIVES.

BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU'RE HESITANT TO MANDATE IT AND YOU STILL HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO GET EVERYONE BACK AND KEEP YOUR OPERATIONS GOING, YOU NEED TO KIND OF INCREASE THE CARROT IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE STICK.

>> HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR GREATER INCENTIVES, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

[LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF INCENTIVE NOW.

YOU ARE SEEING THIS LOTTERY FROM THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS REALLY THE CAR CARROT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CARROTS.

>> BANK OF AMERICA, AS I MENTIONED, THEY'RE BRINGING VACCINATED EMPLOYEES BACK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

I THOUGHT THE BELK EXAMPLE WAS INTERESTING, WHERE BELK IS LITERAL CLOSING THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES, LEASING THE SPACE AND GOING PREDOMINANTLY REMOTE.

THAT'S THEIR PHRASE ON WHAT THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

I GUESS THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE THAT SOME THESE EMPLOYERS MIGHT TAKE WHEN IT COMES TO NOT JUST MAKING EMPLOYEES HAPPY AND CONTINUING TO BE EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO SAVING SOME MONEY IN THE PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

AND A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES ARE WRESTLING WITH A TIGHT LABOR MARKET AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TWO KINDS OF EMPLOYEES, BELK, BANK OF AMERICA, A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES, THEY HAVE CORPORATE EMPLOYEES WHO CAN CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTE IN A LOT OF CASES, BUT THEY RUN BANK BRANCHES.

THEY RUN DEPARTMENT STORES.

THERE'S NO REMOTE OPTION IF YOU ARE STOCKING A DEPARTMENT STORE.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION THAT I THINK A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES ARE WRESTLING WITH NOT JUST VACCINE MANDATES BUT HOW ARE THEY DEALING WITH THIS REMOTE WORK ISSUE AND EQUITY ACROSS DIFFERENT LABOR CLASSES IN THIS TIGHT LABOR MARKET.

>> I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT TONY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AS WELL THAT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AT ALL.

THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES DONE THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES WOULD QUIT THEIR JOBS AND THEY IF THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE.

EMPLOYEES GOT USED TO THE FLEXIBILITY OF WORKING FROM HOME.

I THINK THERE'S SOME HESITANCE TO COMPLETELY TAKE AWAY THAT FLEXIBILITY.

SOME EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING YOU CAN COME BACK OR COME BACK A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK.

I THINK PART OF THE HESITANCE TO BRINGING PEOPLE BACK, 9:00 TO 5:00, FIVE DAYS A WEEK IS THAT EMPLOYEES MIGHT FIND SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN BE MORE FLEXIBLE.

>> I KNOW ONE LAST THING ABOUT COVID I WANT TO TOUCH ON, AND IT WAS YOUR STORY, DANIELLE, ABOUT THE SUGGESTION THAT LOCALLY THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE EXPIRING MORATORIUMS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

A LOT OF FOLKS STILL FACING CHALLENGES AND I STAKING IN THEIR HOMES WITH COVID AND BEING OFF THE JOB AND NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS AN ESTIMATE RECENTLY FROM A GROUP IN-- AT USC, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND ANOTHER NONPROFIT THAT HAS THIS DATA TRACKER AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT THE OTHER DAY.

IT SAYS 28,000 PEOPLE ARE BEHIND ON RENT IN MECKLENBURG.

WE DON'T KNOW IF ALL THOSE PEOPLE GET EVICTED.

IF EVEN A FRACTION OF THOSE PEOPLE GET EVICTED AUGUST 1st, THAT'S A HUGE EARVE OF PEOPLE.

A TYPICAL YEAR AND ELI, YOUR ORGANIZATION LOOKED AT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

A TYPICAL YEAR HAS AROUND 30,000 EVICTION NOTICES AND SO IF WE HAD 28,000 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE BEHIND ON RENT, I MEAN, THAT'S A LETTY SCARY NUMBER.

YEAH.

ALMA ADAMS IS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR MUCH OF SHAR ARE SHAH.

SHE WANTS TO HAVE LOCAL OFFICIALS INSTITUTE A BAN HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHO EXACTLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

THERE WAS A STATEWIDE BAN AS WELL.

BUT THAT ALREADY EXPIRED BEGINNING OF JULY AND NOW THE CDC MORATORIUM IS EXPIRING IN ABOUT A WEEK.

>> YEAH.

MORATORIUMS AREN'T FOREVER.

IT DOES, AT LEAST PROVIDE THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AS WELL.

I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE FACING EVICTION, THEY WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM WITH THIS DELUGE, IF YOU WILL, OF APPLICATIONS AND APPLICANTS THAT DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO WITHOUT THAT MORATORIUM TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THIS, I GUESS.

ANOTHER WAY, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH AS WE KIND OF MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS WHOLE COVID PANDEMIC THAT IS NOT QUITE OVER YET, I GUESS.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR HOUSING MARKET AND IN PARTICULAR, THE LIST WE DON'T WANT TO BE ON.

IT'S THE LENDING TREE LIST THAT PUTS US IN THE TOP 10 OF LEAST AFFORDABLE MARKETS FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS.

I GUESS, IF YOU READ THE NEWS OR LOOK AT THE HEADLINES OR BUYING A HOUSE THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY, RIGHT?

>> NO.

I MEAN, WE CONTINUED TO SEE INVENTORY JUST NOSE DIVE HERE IN THE CHARLOTTE MARKET.

NOT JUST IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE REGION AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND THOSE PRESSURES HAVE COMPOUNDED.

WE'VE GOT A BIG SHORTAGE OF INVENTORY.

YOU KNOW, JUST ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO OF SUPPLY ON THE MARKET.

TYPICAL BALANCED MARKET, AGENTS WILL TELL YOU IS AROUND FOUR TO SIX MONTHS AND WE'RE CLOSE TO ALL-TIME LOWS IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSES FOR SALE.

DEMAND HAS STAYED HIGH.

CLOSED SALES CONTINUE TO RISE.

THAT'S DRIVING PRICES UP AND THE MEDIAN PRICE AROUND 340,000 AND VERY FEW HOUSES ON THE MARKET AT ALL AT $250,000 OR LESS AND IT'S A REAL CRUNCH.

ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE IN THE FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS SEGMENT.

ONE THING IN THE LATEST REALTOR REPORT THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS THAT THERE ARE FEWER THAN A THOUSAND HOUSES FOR SALE AT-- PRICED AT 250,000 OR LESS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE 16-COUNTY CHARLOTTE REGION.

THAT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF HOUSES IN THAT STARTER MARKET ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO HISTORIC NORMS.

SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ALREADY ON THE PROPERTY LADDER TO GET A HOLD OF THAT FIRST WRUNG RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH.

YOU JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS IN ORDER TO GO GET THAT FIRST-TIME HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT YOU HEAR THESE ANECDOTES AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HOUSES, THE FEW THAT DO EXIST, THAT 250, 00 PRICE RANGE AND THOSE ARE BEING SNAPPED UP LIKE HOTCAKES.

THEY GO QUICKLY.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT IN EXTRA MONEY, WAVE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE.

>> DANIELLE?

>> IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY, BUT ELI, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THE ISSUE OF INVESTORS BUYING UP HOUSES, BUT IT IS A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THOSE LOWER PRICED HOUSES AND SO YOU'VE GOT COMPETITION.

IF YOU ARE A FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER, YOU'RE COMPETING WITH NOT ONLY OTHER FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS BUT ALSO WITH WALL STREET THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO COME IN AND OFFER CASH ESSENTIALLY ON THE SPOT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN-- GO AHEAD, MARK.

>> YEAH.

LET ME BACK UP FOR A MINUTE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, GROWTH HAS BEEN THE SINGLE DEFINING ISSUE IN CHARLOTTE SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND THAT'S A PRETTY LONG TIME.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS GROWTH, RIGHT?

WE'RE SEEING SUPPLY BEING OUTSTRIPPED BY DEMAND.

I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE DIFFICULTY OF SOMEBODY COMING IN AND FIND, AS YOU SAY, TO GET THAT FIRST WRUNG ON THE REAL ESTATE LADDER, BUT IT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT WORSE IF WE HAD THE OPPOSITE PROBLEM, WOULDN'T IT?

IF WE HAD THE REAL ESTATE MARKET JUST GOING COMPLETELY OUT AND ALL THESE PROPERTIES JUST SITTING THERE AND NOBODY THERE.

NOW OBVIOUSLY, YOU WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN BUT I THINK THIS IS STILL A FUNCTION OF CHARLOTTE'S GROWTH AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH INFLATED REAL ESTATE VALUES RIGHT NOW.

IT JUST-- I THINK WE OUGHT TO KEEP SOME PERSPECTIVE ON IT AND SEE IF THIS IS A MEASURE OF HOW THINGS CONTINUE, DESPITE THE COVID SLOWDOWN, TO BE GROWING HERE AND IT'S A PROBLEM BUT IT COULD BE WORSE.

>> YEAH.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID PROBLEMS OF GROWTH ARE PREFERRABLE TO THE PROBLEMS OF DECLINE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE MORE RESOURCES, HOPEFULLY TO SOLVE THEM.

I THINK IT'S ALSO WORTH LOOKING AT OVER THE PAST TECH CAID AND A HALF.

SINCE 2007, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A HUGE FORECLOSURE CRISIS AND PLUMMETING REAL ESTATE VALUES AND NOW WE'RE AT THE OPPOSITE, A HUGE SUPPLY CRUNCH AND SKYROCKETING REAL ESTATE VALUES AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WHIPLASH, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGH THAT TIME AND HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CHANGE, SEE-SAW FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER.

IF YOU LOOK BACK JUST ABOUT SEVEN OR SO YEARS AGO, THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN THIS REGION WAS HALF OF WHAT IT IS NOW.

SO THAT'S A REALLY HUGE CHANGE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE MOVED HERE AND STARTED RENTING, THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR THEM TO GET THEIR START, IT'S REALLY CHAINED PRETTY DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, OH IN CHARLOTTE, YOU HAVE ALL THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES GO UP.

THAT DIDN'T SLOW DOWN THAT MUCH DURING COVID IT'S TAKING OFF LIKE GANGBUSTERS.

AND WITH ALL THESE NEW APARTMENT TOWERS AND NEW UNITS COMING ON, ALL OVER SOUTH END, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A WHOLE BUNCH IN BALLENTYNE, SOUTHPARK, UNIVERSITY, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH REALLY TO KEEP UP WITH THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING HERE.

THE RENTS ARE STILL GOING HIGHER.

YOU KNOW, SO YES, WE'RE BUILDING A LOT.

BUT IT'S HARD TO KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWTH.

>> I WOULD THINK ALL THAT RENTAL GROWTH ULTIMATELY MOVES ON TO THE FIRST HOUSE PURCHASE.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE FOLKS THAT POTENTIALLY WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD HOMES IN THE FUTURE AS THEY MOVE FROMMENT ARERS TO BECOMING BUYERS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SHORTAGE OF HOMES AND IT'S THE INFLUX FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR HOMES I GUESS.

DANIELLE?

>> YEAH.

IT ALL FEEDS INTO EACH OTHER AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RENTAL HOUSING COMING HERE TO NUMBER 10 TOP 10 AND IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE, IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD RIGHT NOW IT'S A TOUGH MARKET OBVIOUSLY.

AND YOU DID AN INTERVIEW WITH TARIQ BOKHARI AND ONE OF TWO REPUBLICANS ON CITY COUNCIL.

INTERVIEW, WHILE I WAS A PROFILE ON HIM, AND IT OPENED THE WINDOW TO WHAT WE I GUESS IS A LOT A LOT OF PERSONAL VERSUS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND HEADBUTTING ON CITY COUNCIL.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO BACK TO WHEN TARIQ WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2017, YOU HAD THIS MILLENNIAL CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY.

I WAS PROFILED IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

IT WAS BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE SOMETHING THAT THEY DID SO THEY WORKED OF COURSE, TARIQ HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH HIS COLLEAGUES AND IT'S INTERESTING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WERE FIRST ELECTED IN 2017 AND MOST OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE STILL ON COUNCIL EXCEPT FOR ONE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT HAS BEGUN TO BREAK DOWN WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WITH THE RNC, BRINGING THE RNC TO CHARLOTTE IN SOME OF THOSE I DID VISIONS AND THE 2040 PLAN HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THOSE DIVISIONS AS WELL.

IT'S REALLY-- [LAUGHTER] PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING AND RECESSES ARE BEING CALL.

IT'S TENSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH 20940 PLAN IS OVER NOW THAT ALL OF THESE CONFLICTS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> I THINK THAT FACTORS INTO IT, THOUGH.

IF POLITICS ARE THE WAY POLITICS ARE NOT AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, CIVIL DISCOURSE, LET'S AGREE TO DISAGREE.

I'M NOT SURPRISED IT FILTERS DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

ALL POLITICS ARE NATIONAL OR LOCAL OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THEY ALL RUN TOGETHER.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

ONE THING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT-- ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS DISTINCTIVE ARE PEOPLE SAY, WELL, CITY GOVERNMENT, FILLING POTHOLES IS NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ISSUE.

WE CAN AGREE ON SOME THINGS AND YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF THIS FRACTURE SORT OF TAKING PLACE IN SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

LIKE THE 2040 PLAN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE COMING UP ON THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

THERE ARE ALL THESE ISSUES NOW AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW IN THE PAST YOU HAVE HB2 AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY DISAGREED ON OVER THE YEARS.

AND A LOT OF THAT DOES SEEM LIKE IT'S FILTERING DOWN AND TO MARK'S POINT.

IT SORT OF HAS BEEN THAT WAY.

THERE'S A ROMANTICIZED VISION OH THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WOULD ARGUE ON THE MERITS AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT GLOSSY WITH HINDSIGHT AND WHEN WE'RE HAVING ROBUST DEBATES HERE LOCALLY.

>> YEAH.

I THINK-- GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW MUCH OF THIS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NATIONAL POLITICS AND THE WRENCHING RACIAL PROTESTS WE'VE SEEN AND ALL THE REALLY BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE COME TO THE IS YOUR SURFACE AND DISRUPTED EVERYTHING FROM NATIONAL POLITICS ON DOWN AND IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE HOW MUCH IS FROM THAT AND HOW MUCH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE NOT GETTING ALONG THAT WELL AS A GROUP OF 11 PEOPLE PLUS THE MAYOR.

THERE ARE SOME REAL PERSONALITY CONFLICTS THAT ARE APPARENT IF YOU'RE WATCHING.

AS TONY WAS SAYING, IN THE OLD DAYS AT LEAST I THINK THERE WAS SOME FACADE OF THAT, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT KIND OF THING, NOW AS WE SAW IN DANIELLE'S STORY, AT LEAST SOME OF THEM CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE DONE WITH THAT.

THEY ARE WILLING TO JUST STRAIGHT UP SAY, OH, I DON'T LIKE THAT GUY IN SO MANY WORDS.

THAT IS A CHANGE.

HAVING THAT IN THE OPEN.

>> YEAH.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FIX IT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN FIX IT.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEORY IS CALLED FOR HERE OR NOT.

POLITICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF A AGAIN TEAL CAME A GENTILE GAME IN CHARLOTTE BUT NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE BUT MAYBE THAT IS THE SOCIAL PEAKED YEAH THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN THE OLD DAYS.

A COUPLE MORE HEADLINES.

AMERICAN AIRLINES EXPANDING, HUNDREDS OF MORE EMPLOYEES, THREE EXTRA GATES.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS IN GENERAL FOR THE TOURISM BUSINESS AND FOR ALL THOSE BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON TOURISM, RIGHT?

TOURISM AND IT'S CHARLOTTE'S INDUSTRY.

I THINK THE AIRPORT IS REALLY MAYBE THE SINGLE BIGGEST DRIVING FACTOR IN ONGOING GROWTH HERE.

SO IT'S GETTING BACK TO AND IT'S NOT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS IN 2019 BUT IT'S GETTING BACK THERE AND I HAVEN'T TRAVELED SOME IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I'M TELLING YOU, CHARLOTTE'S AIRPORT IS BUSY AND I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR OTHERS.

EVEN CHICAGO'S AIRPORT, O'HARE WAS BUSY BUT A LOT OF OTHERS ARE STILL PRETTY HOLLOW.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR CHARLOTTE.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S THAT WHOLE CONCEPT OF GROWTH.

IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING, THEN -- THAT'S BAD NEWS.

NOT GOOD NEWS >> THE ROLLING STONES WERE SUPPOSED TO COME LAST SUMMER.

ARE COMING THIS FALL.

ANOTHER SIGN THAT WE'RE GETTING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO NORMAL BUT GOSH, MICK JAGGER IS 78 YEARS OLD.

I HOPE HE MAKES IT BY SEPTEMBER 30th.

[LAUGHTER] SO THAT WAS, I GUESS, A BIG CONCERT NEWS AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF LIVE EVENTS COMING BACK TO CHARLOTTE SLOWLY BUT SURELY ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SIDE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I WOULD LOVE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND OTHER TOPICS.

THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER SHOW.

THAT WILL BE NEXT WEEK.

I WANT TO THANK THE GROUP FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK REMOTELY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT HOME.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL US HERE AT OFF THE RECORD AT WTVI.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON OFF THE RECORD.

[ THEME MUSIC ]