THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> THIS WEEK ON "OFF THE RECORD" , THE CHARLOTTE MAYOR IS ANNOUNCING $8,250,000,000 INVESTMENT TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO AND WHERE IS A IT COMING FROM.

WHAT CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL IS SPLIT WAS GOING FORWARD ON THE PROPOSED BILLION-DOLLAR TRANSIT PLAN.

WILL BE SEE A TAX HIKE TO HELP FOOT THE BILL AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETS VACCINE FOR KID AFTER BACKSEAT APPROVAL BY THE CDC.

BUT HOW OF THE VACCINES BE DISTRIBUTED AND HOW MUCH LONGER WILL WE HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.

ALSO PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES NEW VACCINE ROLES FOR COMPANIES IN THE NEW YEAR AND AMERICAN AIRLINES -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL?

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

♪♪ WILL COME TO OUR PBS CHARLOTTE STUDIOS.

I'M SARA COLON-HARRIS IN FOR JEFF SONIER AND BR "OFF THE RECORD" TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK.

IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS AND READ THE NEWS AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES OF FACES ROUND OUR TABLE.

YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

JUST IMA YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO "OFF THE RECORD" AT WTVR.org.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH MAYOR LILES , TO THE DOLLAR EQUITY INITIATIVE.

THAT WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THI WEEK.

SOMETHING THAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS.

SHE SAID IT EXCEEDED HER EXPECTATIONS.

YOU WERE THERE FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> SO THIS IS BASICALLY A GOAL OF RAISING TOWARD $50 MILLION O WHICH THE ACTUALLY RAISE THE MAJORITY, ABOUT 196 MILLION SO FAR FROM SOME OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES AROUND TOWN, NAMES LIKE LOWS, TRUEST, AND SO BASICALLY SHE WANTS TO FOCUS IT ON FOR CORRECT AREAS AIMED AT ADDRESSING LONG-STANDING IMPACT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND QUARTERS OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND KIND OF ENHANCING THE SCHOOLS AND AS WELL AS EMPLOYER COMMITMENTS TO HIRING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

SO I THINK THAT THIS A LOT OF QUESTIONS OVER HOW THAT WILL GE IMPLEMENTED.

THEY OUTLINED HOW MUCH THE HAVE AND HOW MUCH THERE HOPING TO RAISE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT TO BE WORKED OUT IN TERMS OF HOW THOSE INVESTMENTS WILL WORK AND HOW THEY WILL BE TRACKED OVER TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> I AGREE THAT THERE'S A LOT O THE COMPANIES THAT BIG COMPANY ALREADY THAT HAVE MADE DONATION TO MILLIONS, 3 MILLION FROM LOWE'S AND FROM BANK OF AMERICA.

IT'S ALREADY GETTING A LOT OF SUPPORT.

>> YES, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR GOT VERY EMOTIONAL WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT $250 MILLION INITIATIVE THAT IS ON THE TABLE AND SHE IS VERY EXCITED THAT SH HAS NOT ONLY PARTNERS IN THE CITY THAT ARE WILLING TO PUT NO $10 OR $15 BUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THIS EFFORT.

ONE THING THAT REALLY JUMPED OU TO ME IS THAT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST I JOHNSON C SMITH UNIVERSITY, AND THEY WANT THAT TO BE A TOP-TIER UNIVERSITY.

THEY POINT TO ATTRACT TOP STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A FINANCE ACADEMIC RETAIL, PREMED, THEY'R GOING TO UP THE ANTE SO THEY CA MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WHO GO TO JOHNSON C SMITH, THAT THE WILL BE GEARED FOR SUCCESS ONCE THEY GET THEIR DEGREE AND THERE ALSO GOING TO JUMP IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE INTERNSHIPS THEIR FIRST YEAR THEY ARE.

SO EDUCATION, UNLIMITED -- WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC STABILITY AND CHILLY THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE.

SO THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY CAN HAPPEN AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

>> IT WAS A BIG DEAL AND EVEN MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

WAS INFORMED TO MAKE SEEN.

WHAT WERE YOUR COMMENT.

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING ABOUT THIS TEMPORALLY SEPARATED FROM PAST INITIATIVES THAT WE'V SEEN BEYOND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

THE FIRST IS THAT INSTEAD OF MORE DIRECT AID, IT SEEMS LIKE HOUSING MONEY TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE SHORT-TERM.

THIS IS MORE FOCUSED ON SETTING LONG-TERM CONDITIONS, FOR RACIA EQUITY IN FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE SUCCESS SO THIS IS I THINK MORE ABOUT SETTING THE TABLE AND CREATING CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS AND ALSO THESE ARE FOR WICKSTRO SET UP WITH A TIED TO MEASURABL GOALS AND OUTCOMES.

WHEN THE PAST I THINK SOME OF THE INITIATIVES WE'VE SEEN HERE IN CHARLOTTE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE NEBULOUS, A LITTLE BIGGER AND KIND OF MORE ASPIRATIONAL I 5-10 YEARS, WE WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, OKAY DID JOHNSON C UNIVERSITY BECOME ONE OF THE TOP 10 SCHOOLS.

DO WE HAVE A MEASURABLE INCREAS IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLO WHO ARE IN THE EXECUTIVE TRACK POSITIONS.

SO WE WILL BE UP TO LOOK BACK AND EVALUATE IF WE PROPERLY TO DO THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WHETHER THIS WORKS OR NOT.

>> TO EXTEND YOUR METAPHOR, SETTING THE TABLE, NOW WE'VE GO TO GET -- WE'VE GOT THE MONEY AND WE CAN BUY THE GROCERIES AT THE NEED T HIRE THE PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO HIRE THE PEOPLE TO REALLY MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S ALL GOOD RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO GET LET'S MAKE IT HAPPE AND THIS IS A GREAT START BUT NOW THERE HAS TO BE BEHIND THE SCENES OR OTHERWISE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT GOE I THINK WE OUGHT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

DID YOU WANT AT SOMETHING?

>> MARK SET NOW WE HAVE TO GET COOKING BUT WITH THIS MANY KNOW PEOPLE WILL BE UP TO GO ONLINE TO FIND THE RECIPE TO COOK BECAUSE SOME OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO HELP WITH THAT DIVISIONAL DIVIDE.

THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT IT JUST EMPHASIZE THAT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE, 60,000 HOUSEHOLDS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ACCESS TO INTERNET AND THIS MONEY IS GOING TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM SO THAT NO HOUSEHOLD IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY WILL NOT BE UP TO AFFORD AND SUSTAIN HAPPEN THAT CONNECTION.

>> YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A BIG START AND NOW THAT YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> YES.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO BE AT THAT TABLE.

THE CITY HAS TALKED ABOUT HAVIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HAVING BUSINESS LEADERS SORT OF A RANG OF FOLKS ON THIS BOARD THAT'S GOING TO BE BASICALLY AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE MONEY BUT I THINK THE QUESTION THAT I FOCUSED ON, THE QUESTION THE HABITS OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED BY BRACES AND THE POLICIES THAT LEADERS ARE TRYIN TO FIX GOING TO BE HELP MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDING AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT QUESTION MOVING FORWARD.

>> I THINK THAT A LOT OF THIS I ABOUT INCREASING OR CHANGING HISTORICAL HARM AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT THAT DANIEL BRINGS UP, A LOT OF THE HISTORICAL WRONGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CORRECT IN THIS COMMUNITY, THINGS LIKE HOUSING, URBAN RENEWAL, BROUGHT BY ME.

ALL THESE THINGS SET UP FOR THE OF BAKED INTO CHARLOTTE'S PATTERNS OF FOUR WITH EDINBURGH BECAUSE THE SCHOOL AND WHERE WE WORK TO LET THEM HAPPEN BECAUSE COMMUNITIES DIDN'T HAVE INPUT BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE PORT EXCLUDED FROM DECISION-MAKING BECAUSE THE POWERS THAT BE DIDN'T FACTOR IN WHAT PEOPLE HERE WANT.

THAT'S AFFECTED AND WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR GROWING CHARLOTTE O OUR CITY'S PRESTIGE AND METAPHORICALLY THE SKYLINE.

SO I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE TO KEEP IN MIND AND KEEP AN EYE ON MOVING FORWARD.

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VACCINES.

THE HEALTH I'VE GOT ABOUT THOUSAND VACCINES FOR KIDS AGES 5-11.

I KNOW THAT YOU COVER EDUCATION AND TALK TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS .

THAT WAS THE FEEDBACK ON THE VACCINE.

OUR PARENTS GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> PARENTS AND THE KIDS ARE GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE.

WE WERE OUT OF SIGHT AND INTERVIEWED SEVERAL KIDS WHO GO THE SHOT THEM AREN'T AND THEY WERE VERY EXCITED.

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO CONVINCE -- IT SO INTERESTING TO HEAR THE STUDENTS AFTER THEY GOT THEIR SHOT, THEY SAID THAT NOW THAT I HAVE THAT SHOT, NOW I CAN HAVE SLEEPOVERS.

NOT I CAN GO TO DISNEY.

AND NOW I CAN'T BE WITH MY FRIENDS AND WITHOUT THINKING THAT I'M GOING TO BE REALLY SIC IF I DO GET COVID-19 BUT IT WAS JUST BIT INTERESTING HOW THAT HAPPEN AND THEY WERE VERY BOLD AND THEY WERE -- THEY POURED NOT HESITANT WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKING THE VACCINE BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIVIDED COUNTRY AND WE KNOW THA SOME PARENTS WILL NOT ALLOW THEIR KIDS TO GET THE VACCINE BUT WE DID TALK TO SOME PARENTS WHO WERE EXCITED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THEIR KIDS SHOTS IN THE ARM.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY THINK ABOUT, BUT THE KIDS FEELING KIND OF LEFT BEHIND .

THEY CAN'T DO WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO.

>> KIDS HAVE BEEN GETTING VACCINES TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS, OF COURSE, IS DIFFERENT, POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE.

THIS JUST IS DIFFERENT.

SO WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS ALL THOSE, LET'S JUST SAY IT LIKE IT IS, THESE KIDS ARE 5-6-7.

THERE MAKING THE DECISIONS, THE PARENTS ARE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS FOR THEM SO THE APPEARANCE OF THE BONDS WERE AL ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

THE REAL INTERESTING CHALLENGE WILL BE DOWN THE ROAD.

THAT CF SOME OF THOSE PARENTS WHO ARE STILL ON THE FENCE WHO WILL GET THEIR KIDS THE BACKSEA AFTER THIS INITIAL RUSH.

I'M NOT SO SURE.

I THINK THE PERCENTAGES OF ADULTS BEEN VACCINATED, IT'S ABOUT 57-60% IN CHARLOTTE NOW I MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

I'VE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF AGE 5 -11 GROUP EVER APPROACHING THAT .

I JUST THINK THAT PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE MORE RELUCTANT.

WE HAVE SOME EAGER ONCE NOW BUT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

>> THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE.

I HEARD THAT DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THE VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ALL THREE SITES NEXT WEEK, AND NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK INTO DID YOU WANT AT SOMETHING?

>> SOME KIDS, SOME REASONS WHY THEY ARE EXCITED THIS SOME KIDS ARE DEALING WITH SICKNESS.

SOME KIDS HAVE IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES AND ASTHMA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO PUT THEM, AND THEY ARE USED TO TAKING MEDICINE.

THEY ARE USED TO GETTING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SURVIVE.

BUT NOT GETTING THE SHOP WILL COME IT WILL JUST UP THE ANTE AND MAKE IT MORE EXCITING THAT EVEN PUT THE SICK THE SOME ILLNESS THAT I AM DEALING WITH, THIS IS JUST ONE LAST THING THA I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AND ONE LESS THING THAT I CAN NOW DO BECAUSE OF THE SHOT.

I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING AS WELL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVITY, THE COVID POSITIVIT RIGHT HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNT SAYING THEY'RE NOT NOT GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE INDOOR MASK MEANT THAT CAN TELL THAT PERCENTAGE COMES DOWN TO 5%.

RIGHT NOW IT SOMEWHERE AROUND 7% .

YOU THINK THAT WE WILL EVER FIN OUR WAY OUT OF THIS?

>> I HOPE SO.

WE ARE LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

WE TEND TO DO THAT THESE DAYS.

EVENTUALLY TENURES NOW LET'S HOPE WE CAN LOOK BACK ON THIS AND SAY THAT WAS TOUGH BUT WE MADE IT THREE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG.

YOU KNOW, IT IS TAKING LONGER THAN I THINK ANY OF US THOUGHT TO GET THROUGH THIS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS STILL HIRE THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED HERE.

IT IS TRENDING DOWN, BUT I THIN IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE REACH THAT.

I THINK THEY WANT THAT 5% FOR A WEEK OR MORE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

>> DANIELLE?

DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

>> AND I THINK IT IS REALLY A BALANCE.

THE MASKS FOR TWO REDUCE THE SPREAD.

EVEN IF IT GOES UNDER 5%, PEOPL MIGHT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO GO BACK TO EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE DOING BEFORE AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS BALANCE AND PEOPLE AR BEING AS CAREFUL AND HE MIGHT HAVE TO GO BACK AND I THINK THE FEAR THAT POLITICIANS HALF IS GOING BACK BECAUSE IT'S A LOT HARDER TO REINSTATE.

>> THINGS LIKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A 5% POSITIVE IT IS GREAT FOR 30 DAYS STRAIGH AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING ONLY ABOUT 70 STRAIGHT.

SO YOU CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE READY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL BECAUSE THEY JUST LOWERED THE NUMBERS PRODUCED BE 30 AND THAT STOOD OUT TO ME AS WELL.

>> AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ALSO MAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK THAT COMPANIES WITH 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE HAVE TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED BY JANUARY 4 OR BE FIRED.

YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO PUT STRAIN ON COMPANIES?

DO THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT AT THAT TIME?

>> I THINK THAT THEY WILL GET SOME PUSH BACK.

I'VE HEARD IT ALREADY.

THEIR COMPANIES THAT SAY WE CAN'T HANDLE THIS COULD BE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.

ONE OF THE REAL QUESTIONS IS WHAT KIND OF ENFORCEMENT CAN OSHA OR WHOEVER WOULD HAND DOWN THE FINES DO.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE MASK MANDATE HERE IN MECKLENBURG, YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN AND ENFORCE THIS.

SO WE WILL JUST DEAL WITH CAMPAIGNS.

WHO IS GOING TO BE POLICING A LOT OF COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTR WITH MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES WH ARE SAYING WE'VE GOT IT DID THIS .

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OVER WERE YOU JUST HAVE SOME COMPANIES THAT ARE JUST GOING T REFUSE TO AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE OTHERS THAT WILL TOW TH LINE.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS AMERICA AN THE SURE THAT THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF LAWSUITS IN THE COMIN MONTHS THAT WILL BE FILED OVER THE EFFECTS OF THIS GOOD OSHA OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SAYING, HEY WE MAKE PEOPLE WHERE HARDHATS O CONSTRUCTION SITES.

WE MAKE PEOPLE WERE CUT RESISTANT GLOVES WHEN THEY ARE IN PLACES LIKE FOOD PROCESSING PLANTS, SO THIS IS A SAFETY PRO AND WE KNOW HOW TO ENFORCE IT.

YOU KNOW, JUST THIS MORE SEEING THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT THE US ADDED 531,000 JOBS, REALLY SHAR INCREASE AFTER HIRING SLOWDOWNS IN A GOOD SIGN FOR THE ECONOMY.

SO I THINK THAT AS WE SEE MORE HIRING AS THE DELTA VERY IT RECEIVES, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR MORE PEOPLE MAKING THE ARGUMENT LOOK, THAT BUILT THE VARIANT CAME AND IT WAS TERRIBLE FOR TH ECONOMY.

THE DELTA.

IS WANING, THE ECONOMY IS LOOKING BETTER.

IF YOU WANT A STRONG ECONOMY AN YOU WANT THIS TO CONTINUE, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO TIE THAT T VACCINATION, KEEPING WORKERS HEALTHY, KEEPING US FROM HAVING TO DO QUARANTINING AND THOSE MEASURES SO I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY AN ARGUMENT THAT YOU WILL HEAR A LOT IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT MANDATES TO WORK BECAUSE IF YOU JUST GOT BACK TO MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, THEY GET THAT HAVE THE VACCINE.

FOOTBALL GAMES SHUT DOWN.

BASKETBALL SHUT DOWN.

JOBS SHUT DOWN.

RESTAURANTS WERE CLOSE.

PEOPLE LOST JOBS, SO IN ORDER T MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GO BACK DOWN THE ROAD, LEADERS ARE SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE VACCINES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU TESTED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK DOWN THAT ROAD WHERE SCHOOLS ARE SHUT DOW AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS, BUT THAT MEANS IS A LOSS IN TEACHING AND MONEY AND PEOPLE CANNOT GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

SO WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF THAT UP, YOU KNOW THE ARGUMENT WILL BE THAT IT IS BEST TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO DOW THE DARK ROAD.

>> I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT TH PROPOSED TRANSIT PLAN, CITY COUNCIL WILL START OF UNDIVIDED ON THAT.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT RIGHT NOW .

>> SO THIS PLAN IT IS SURPRISING , BUT IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE TEST FOR -- TASK FORCE RELEASED IDEAS ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

THAT CAME OUT IN DECEMBER 2020, THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOMEHOW A YEAR LATER, I THINK THERE IS LESS CONSENSUS AND MOR QUESTIONS ON THIS EFFORT.

TO PASS A $13.5 BILLION TRANSIT PLAN, MOST OF WHICH WOULD BE RAIL BASE BUT WOULD ALSO INCLUD ROADS, GREEN WAVES, SIDEWALKS AND ALL THAT STUFF BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A 1 CENT SALES TAX WHIC WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE VOTERS HAD A REFERENDUM, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE LEGISLATURE T ALLOW THAT.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN KIND OF AN IMPASSE.

THE ELECTIONS WERE DELAYED.

IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO THINK THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO VOTE O THIS SALES TAX IN THE CITY ELECTION THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE O REDISTRICTING DELAYS, THOSE ELECTIONS WERE PUSHED UNTIL NEX YEAR.

WHAT WE SAW LAST WEEK WITH CITY COUNCIL, KIND UP ARGUING ABOUT WHO SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON PROMOTING THIS PLAN, A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST AND WHETHER THE PLANETS FAKE, WHAT HAPPENED WAS -- WHO STATE THE INTERIM GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE , THEY WANTED TO TAKE THE LEAD ON TAKING THIS PLAN TO RALLY AND BUILDING REGIONAL SUPPORT.

CITY COUNCIL VOTED NO AGAINST THAT.

THIS WEEK HE WENT ABROAD AND POSTED A SERIES OF ONLINE POSTS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK WITH HI WITH BASICALLY EVERY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER LAY OUT THINGS THEY WANT IN THE TRANSIT PLAN.

SO IT'S REALLY A BOLD STATEMENT OF, HEY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PASS THIS THING AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS.

OF UP TO REPUBLICANS AND RALLY AND SHOWING YOU AND DRIVING TO RALEIGH.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE KIND OF AT A STICKING POINT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT BIT IS TOUGH TO SEE THINGS MOVING FORWARD OVER THE CURRENT PLAN AS IS NOW.

>> THEN YELL?

>> I THINK WE ARE IN THE SAME STICKING POINT WITH THE RED PIN SPECIFICALLY TOO.

THE FOLKS WHO WENT TO RALEIGH AND THE STRATEGIST MENTION THAT LAWMAKERS WANTED TO SEE THE FLOODPLAIN BE THE FOCUS OF THE TRANSIT PLAN AS OPPOSED TO THE SILVER LINE.

AND THIS NORTHERN MECKLENBURG VOTERS ARE FEELING SHORTCHANGED BY THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER PERCEIVE THIS LINE AND THIS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN AND WHETHER IT I BEING PROMISED AND CAN ACTUALLY BE DELIVERED AND EXPRESSING INTEREST IN GETTING THE RIGHTS ON THOSE TRACKS.

I THINK A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAIN WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THINGS GO FROM HERE.

>> I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS NOT T AMERICAN AIRLINES.

YOU COMFORT THIS THIS WEEK THAT WORKS A BIT OF A MISS.

LOTS OF CANCELLATIONS AND IT STARTED OUT IN TEXAS WITH SOME WEATHER ISSUES, BUT THEN FIRE FROM THERE.

A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THERE AR NOT A LOT OF STAFF, NOT ENOUGH FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

>> OF BIT OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

I THINK IT WAS REALLY A MISS BU I TALKED TO PASSENGERS OUT THER WHO SAID THAT NEVER SEEN A QUIT LIKE THIS AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, BUT THI WEATHER EVENT IN TEXAS, THEY SAID IT WAS REAL BUT WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT THE WAY THAT WE HEAR ABOUT HURRICANES OR BIG MASS OF ICE STORMS OR SNOW STORMS OF THIS ONE CAME OUT OF THE BLUE OR GET IT.

THIS ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE EN OF THE MONTH.

THEY HAD A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO LEAST LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED DURING THE PANDEMICS FOR THE FIRST MONTHS AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED COME BACK NOVEMBER 1.

THIS IS OCTOBER 30, 31.

AND THERE'S STILL FLIGHTS CANCELED AND MANY DELAYED.

AND HERE IN CHARLOTTE, AND IT TOOK TWO OR THREE DAYS TO UNTANGLE THAT.

AND HE HAD TO GET BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY AND HE DROVE FROM NEW YORK.

WE TALKED TO A SPOKESMAN FROM THE PILOT UNIT AND HE SAID WE WERE READY.

AMERICA HAS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM CONNECTING AND FLIGHT CREASE WITH PLANES WENT THERE'S ANY FATHER AND BALD, SO HE WAS BLAMING THE AIRLINE OR NOT HAVING A BETTER PLAN.

THAT IS PROBABLY TRUE.

THERE MAY BE OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED HERE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS COMING UP.

YOU BETTER HAVE A BETTER PLAN I CASE THERE IS A WINDSTORM A COUPLE WEEKS NOW.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET T TRAVEL LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID.

THEM GUESSING A LOT OF THEM WIL WANT TO TRAVEL THIS YEAR.

>> AND I THINK THIS KIND OF DISRUPTION WHICH WE'VE SEEN IN THE SOUTHWEST IS ALSO REMINISCENT OF THE SUPPLY SHORTAGES THAT WE HAPPEN HAVEN' PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET THINGS SHIPPED SOMETIMES.

THESE KIND OF DISRUPTIONS I THINK ARE ONE REASON WHY EVEN A THE ECONOMY LOOKS REALLY STRONG ON PAPER, WE ARE SEEING THE STRONG HIRING NUMBERS.

PEOPLE ARE STILL THIS -- DISCONTENTED WITH YOU, BECAUSE FEEL THAT IN 100 OTHER WAYS, WHETHER IT IS INFLATION OR DISRUPT THAT SURFACE ARE OR DIFFICULTY GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE STORE, THEY FEEL THAT THINGS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK ON PAPER AND I THINK THIS IS ONE PART OF THAT PUZZLE AND HELPS EXPLAIN WHY AND WHAT SHOULD BE AN LOOKS LIKE -- DO YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO AD TO THAT?

>> I'M FLYING OUT TONIGHT.

ARE YOU REALLY QUICK.

>> I AM.

HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T HAVE ANY CANCELLATIONS.

I THINK I'M GOING TO THROW IN SOMETHING FUN.

IT DID VERY WELL IN ITS RECENT RUN.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST VERY EXCITED TO GET BACK OUT TO THE THEATER?

>> PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO GET OUT .

I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF HORNET GAMES.

AND PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT.

EVERYTHING BUT THE COURT.

AND THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I GOT GO TO LOOK AT THAT A COURT HEARING.

I SAW WICKED AND IT IS AMAZING.

I GUESS THEY DID HAVE COVID PROTOCOL.

YET WEAR A MASK AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT JUST BEING ABLE TO SIT THERE AND TO BE ABLE TO HEAR MUSIC AND SONG AND THE ACTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY JUST -- ADJUST THE SOMETHING TO YOU.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THE NUMBERS ARE WELL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE READY TO DO SOMETHING IN RETURN TO NORMAL BECAUSE WE LOV OUR ARTS AND THEATER.

>> IT DEFINITELY -- WE HAVE HOPE AND JOY OF RIGHT NOW COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WELL, GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE ARE WINDING DOWN.

THIS IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FO TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK .

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND THEM TO "OFF THE RECORD" AT WTVR .org.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> A PROTECTION OF PBS CHARLOTTE