Michael Bloomberg says he knows what it takes to beat President Trump. Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee will hold its first impeachment hearing on December 4th. Political contributor Mary C. Curtis is covering it all.
Archives for November 2019
POLITICAL WRAP: New Candidates Enter Democratic Presidential Primary
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two last minute presidential candidates are entering the race for the Democratic nomination. Micheal Bloomberg announced his bid on Sunday. The former New York City Mayor is facing criticism from Bernie Sanders and others who say he’s trying to buy his way into the race.
And earlier this month, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced a run. But he hasn’t been able to gain much momentum. Last week, he was forced to cancel a campaign appearance, after only two people showed up.
WCCB Charlotte Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis has more in this week’s political wrap. Click above for the web video.
Nov242019
Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup: ASC Layoffs; I-77 Toll Lanes Open; Truist Coming In December
On this week’s Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup…
Impeachment proceedings in Washington may lead the national headlines this week, but Charlotte has still managed some headlines of its own, beginning with David Tepper and his candid comments after Sunday’s Panther loss at home to Atlanta and his thoughts on Charlotte’s bid for a Major League Soccer expansion.
The Arts & Science Council begins layoffs in the aftermath of the local elections earlier this month in which the proposed sales tax increase for arts, parks and education was defeated.
The I-77 toll lanes were fully opened over the weekend, but there’s still work to do on the project. Work is continuing and fines are still accumulating.
Clayton Wilcox is back in the news in a new report from the Charlotte Observer, where the former CMS Superintendent is said to have pushed a contract with a tech company and then asked that company for a job.
The $66 billion merger between BB&T and SunTrust banks was approved this week by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, and the banks are set to finalize the creation of their new bank Truist coming up next month.
And some new zoning along the LYNX Blue Line was approved by City Council Monday night- will this be a positive move for affordable housing in Charlotte?
Those and other stories on the local news roundup.
Guests:
Annie Ma, education reporter for the Charlotte Observer
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com and WCCB
Jonathan Lowe, anchor/ reporter for Spectrum News
Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV Reporter
Ann Doss Helms, WFAE Education Reporter
Nov222019
Bloomberg, Biden, Buttigieg and the bunch apologize. Should black voters listen, forgive and vote?
OPINION — Of course, Michael Bloomberg went there — there being a black church to ask for forgiveness. As he tentatively dips his toe and his billions into the Democratic presidential race, joining a scrum that expands even as it shrinks, Bloomberg, perhaps realizing that the path to the presidency must include the enthusiastic support of black and brown voters, has rethought his enthusiastic support of “stop and frisk.”
“I got something important really wrong,” he told the congregation at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn on Sunday. “I didn’t understand back then the full impact that stops were having on the black and Latino communities.”
As New York City mayor, Bloomberg insisted that in order to fight crime, police must have the power to stop anyone judged a potential lawbreaker, which translated to ritualizing a practice that humiliated hundreds of thousands of black and brown New Yorkers who were detained, questioned and patted down because of “furtive movements” or some other vague justification. The number of stops rose to more than 685,000 in 2011, with no citations made or charges brought nearly 90 percent of the time.
Nov212019
Impeachment Hearings Week 2
CHARLOTTE, NC — Key witnesses and EU ambassador Gordon Sondland give testimony in the impeachment inquiry. Political contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses the biggest takeaways from week 2 of testimony.
Nov202019
POLITICAL WRAP: North Carolina Congressional Redistricting; Louisiana Governor’s Race
The new map would threaten the re-election hopes of two current Republican house members. But Democrats say the re-draw still isn’t fair.
A three-judge panel blocked the current map from being used again in 2020, saying it favors the GOP.
Meantime, John Bel Edwards will be Louisiana’s Governor for four more years. The Democrat narrowly won Saturday’s runoff election against Republican challenger Eddie Rispone, who was heavily backed by President Donald Trump.
Clock above more with WCCB Charlotte Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis.
Nov172019
In her congressional goodbye, Katie Hill worried about letting down young girls. Now that’s a change
OPINION — Katie Hill said, “I’m sorry,” a lot. In a speech that was not quite seven and a half minutes long, that stood out.
With a public impeachment inquiry now underway and a torrent of names and made-for-TV characters moving in and out of the spotlight, few remember that one of the votes approving this step was the last cast by Hill. The freshman congresswoman resigned her seat as she was about to face an ethics investigation after accusations that she was having a sexual relationship with a congressional aide. She denied that, though she admitted to one with a campaign staffer that she said was inappropriate though not rule-breaking.
Nov142019
What to Expect From House Impeachment Inquiry
CHARLOTTE, NC — Public hearings begin Wednesday in the house impeachment inquiry. Political contributor Mary C. Curtis breaks down what to expect and what’s at stake.
Nov132019
POLITICAL WRAP: Public Hearings in Impeachment Inquiry Begin This Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Public hearings in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump will begin on Wednesday. The televised hearings will feature public testimony from three key witnesses. U.S. diplomat Bill Taylor and State Department Official George Kent will appear on Wednesday. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is set to testify on Friday.
Republicans have submitted their requested list of witnesses for the hearings, saying they want to hear from the whistleblower, something Democrats are rejecting.
Click above for more in this week’s political wrap with WCCB Charlotte Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis.
Nov102019
Takeaways From Election Night 2019
CHARLOTTE, NC —Voters in Mecklenburg county reject one of the biggest items on Tuesday’s ballot, a quarter-cent sales tax increase.
The sales tax would have generated an estimated $50 million a year for the arts, parks and schools.
As for the mayor’s race incumbent Democrat Vi Lyles has been re-elected for a second term.
She easily beat republican challenger David Rice.
Political contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses some of the biggest takeaways from the election.
Nov062019
