Can Charlotte Woo Amazon?

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC — Time is ticking for Charlotte to tell Amazon why it should it bring its second North American headquarters to the Queen City. The deadline to submit a bid is Thursday. Dozens of other cities are pulling out all the stops, fighting to become Amazon’s new location. The project is expected to bring 50,000 jobs and billions of dollars in direct investment. Critics say having an Amazon HQ in the city would raise taxes and real estate prices.

Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis talks about whether Charlotte could have a real shot at making the cut, and whether it’s worth it.

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Oct182017 TAGS: ,

Opinion: In a Culture War, American Values Lose

Featured at Roll Call

Over the weekend, a group of white nationalists returned to Charlottesville, Virginia, faces proudly uncovered and tiki torches in hand, with a message of division.

White supremacist leader Richard Spencer said to applause, “You are going to have to get used to white identity” — and warned of more to come.

The story barely lasted one news cycle, perhaps because, this time, no one drove a car into a crowd of anti-hate counterprotesters and killed a woman.

What you have heard plenty about, the story that has made ripples and had serious repercussions, is Vice President Mike Pence’s staged walkout at a Colts-49ers NFL game in Indianapolis — a political stunt that cost the taxpayers plenty — because he disrespected several players’ support of equality, justice and police accountability.

And no matter the spin, that’s what the pregame protests have been about since former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick consulted with military veteran Nate Boyer and decided to kneel silently (instead of sit) during the playing of the national anthem.

Read the rest atRoll Call
Oct122017 TAGS: , , , , , , , ,

Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein moment, a cultural turning point?

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC– Hollywood is reeling at revelations that have been swirling for years, that Harvey Weinstein has a history of sexual harassment and rape. Actresses are speaking about their experiences, his high-profile wife has left him, and politicians who accepted his donations are giving the money to women’s organizations. (Mary C. Curtis)

Rising talks with WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis about what could be a tipping point in all offices, nationally and locally

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Oct112017 TAGS: , ,

Charlotte Talks Friday News Roundup: NC Legislature Update; Cam Newton Makes Sexist Comment; More

Featured at WFAE

On this edition of the local news roundup…

State lawmakers reconvened in Raleigh this week for another special legislative session. Overriding gubernatorial vetoesand a push to redraw judicial districts were topics that were tackled. We’ll talk about what, if anything, was accomplished.

The North Carolina Supreme Court dismissed a last-chance appeal to halt the I-77 toll lane project, ending the legal fight for the group Widen I-77. We’ll hear about the reaction from stakeholders.

Cam Newton’s comments about a female reporter went viral, causing widespread backlash and even talk that he’ll lose some of his sponsors. We’ll talk about what he said and the aftermath.

The homicide count in Charlotte for 2017 continues to rise, and this week officials changed the number from 2016 as well. We’ll discuss the change.

President Trump arrives in North Carolina this weekend for the first time since his election as president.

And we’ll bring you local politicians’ reactions to the mass shooting in Las Vegas and talk about the NRA and gun control with host Mike Collins and the roundup reporters on the Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup.

Guests:

Tom Bullock, WFAE Reporter.

Sarah Delia, WFAE Reporter.

Mary C.Curtis, columnist at Roll Call and a contributor to other publications including WCCB News Rising and NBCBLK.

Ann Doss Helms, Reporter for The Charlotte Observer

Read the rest atWFAE
Oct062017 TAGS: , , , ,

Opinion: When Silence Says Everything

Featured at Roll Call

The parable of the frog being boiled alive — with the poor creature jumping out immediately if the water is red hot, but, if the heat is cranked up slowly, not realizing its plight until it’s too late — may not be based on science (so don’t try this on little Croaky). But in politics, sweating officials are still doing the backstroke.

Americans are becoming used to abhorrent events, shocked, and wondering if anything can be done to make things better. After every man-made or natural disaster, or every statement from a leader that crosses the line, we wonder if the water will ever be hot enough to get a rise out of those in charge. So we do the best we can.

Read the rest atRoll Call
Oct052017 TAGS: , , ,

Supreme Court examines voting districts

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC — States must draw new election maps every 10 years. Dozens of North Carolina legislative maps were thrown out over illegal gerrymandering because judges said they violated the rights of black voters. Federal judges will consider new maps October 12th. The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned lawyers in a similar redistricting case in Wisconsin.

What happened Tuesday at the court?

Will Supreme Court Redistricting Case Change Elections – and North Carolina?

Can redistricting ever be fair?

Is nonpartisan redistricting possible?

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Oct052017 TAGS: , , , ,

Opinion: The Language of Diplomacy, Democracy — and Division

Featured at Roll Call

“He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” then long-shot candidate Donald Trump saidin 2015 of Sen. John McCain’s service and time as a prisoner after his plane was shot down by North Vietnamese troops in 1967. It was a quote that many thought would end Trump’s White House dreams.

That it did not slow the Trump train was a clear sign that something fundamental was broken in America’s definition of what it means to be a patriot.

Read the rest atRoll Call
Sep282017 TAGS: , , , , , ,

What Is the Environment for Latinos In Charlotte?

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC– A CMS substitute teacher at South Mecklenburg High School was caught on camera calling out a student for speaking Spanish in class on Monday. Just two weeks ago, a local fast-food manager asked a customer to spell ‘deportation’.

There has been an increase in these troubling incidents in Charlotte – a home to more Hispanics than any city in North Carolina, though not the highest percentage.

Is this fueled by increasing debate on immigration and the economy? Or has it always been a challenge to navigate life in a multi-cultural city?

WCCB Political Contributor, Mary C. Curtis offers some perspective.

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Sep272017

Charlotte Talks Friday News Roundup: Anniversary of Scott Shooting, No Prayer at City Council

Featured at WFAE

Remembrances were in large supply this week for the anniversary of the shooting of Keith Scott that happened this week in 2016.

The Charlotte Citizens Review Board gave recommendations on policy for the department following its split decision last month on whether CMPD officer Brentley Vinson should have been disciplined in Keith Scott’s death. Chief Kerr Putney responded to those recommendations last week and we’ll go over a few of them.

The Police Foundation also released their recommendations this week. We’ll go through thoseas we wrap up a week of reflection about last year’s shooting and the protests that followed.

Monday’s City Council meeting opened without a prayer, which has been a longtime tradition for the council. Mayor Jennifer Roberts announced at the time that city attorney Bob Hageman had made the recommendations, but later, Hageman said there may have been some confusion between he and the mayor on this point. We’ll talk about what unfolded there.

Because of the national (and local) debate over Civil War Memorials, Historic Brattonsville has decided to cancel a planned Civil War Re-enactment for next month, citing that there were actually no Civil War battles at this site and because of a concern for visitor safety due to the political climate.

And just after we got through Hurricane Irma, Maria is on her way. We’ll talk about the current path of the latest hurricane, which is headed north after being destructive in Puerto Rico.

Those stories and much more with Mike Collins and local reporters on the Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup.

Guests:

David  Boraks, WFAE Reporter.

Katie Peralta, Reporter for The Charlotte Observer.

Glenn Burkins, editor and publisher of Qcitymetro.com.

Mary C.Curtis, columnist at Roll Call and a contributor to other publications including WCCB News Rising and NBCBLK.

Read the rest atWFAE
Sep222017

Opinion: In Reaching for Deals, Will Parties Overlook Certain American Voices?

Featured at Roll Call

“He likes us,” Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said of his fellow New Yorker Donald Trump last week. This was after “Chuck” joined “Nancy” — House Democratic leader Pelosi from California — in a White House gathering that resulted in a deal on DACA reform, unless it didn’t.

Whatever the interpretation of what happened during that chummy get-together, and there was a different one for every person who attended or heard about it first, second or thirdhand, the president reportedly reveled in the relief of positive headlines that followed.

Read the rest atRoll Call
Sep212017 TAGS: ,
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