Articles about Government and Civic Engagement

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What a 1944 call for planning can teach us today
   January 6, 2021
Ely Portillo

Almost eight decades ago, Charlotte had just topped 100,000 residents, World War II raged, legal segregation was the law of the land and most of Mecklenburg County was still farmland.

But despite the obvious differences from today, an urgent call in 1944 for the city to develop a plan to manage its growth still resonates in Charlotte, a city that’s long been convinced it was headed for...

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NoDa perceived: past, present and future of a mill village
   October 28, 2020
Martin Zimmerman

Not that long ago, a few aging blocks in a declining, working-class neighborhood revived from the dust and grit of the textile mill era as Charlotte’s  home-grown arts district. By the mid-1990s, galleries and off-beat music venues replaced empty storefronts. Nightlife began to flourish, and the acronym "NoDa" took hold, affirming a new identity.

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Making the development process more accessible
   October 27, 2020
Ely Portillo

“I had no idea they were building that there.”

It’s one of the most common complaints about development in a fast-growing city like Charlotte. A small house or patch of woods you’ve driven by for years is suddenly gone, scraped clean and replaced with a stand of new apartments or a clump of townhouses. Although developers are required to notify neighbors before of most...

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Five key findings about the impact of COVID-19 on local renters and prioritizing rental assistance

COVID-19 has had an immediate and potentially lasting impact on the housing stability of low-income renters in Charlotte and the nation. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a federal eviction moratorium through the end of 2020, missed rent is not being forgiven.

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Schul Forum to be held in 2021; new 'conversations on opportunity' this spring
   September 2, 2020

Staff Reports

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the second annual Marianne M. & Norman W. Schul Forum Series will be delayed a year, to the fall of 2021. Originally scheduled for November 2020, this year’s forum was slated to focus on the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute’s collaborative work around...

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Can the city, county work together to solve transportation issues?
   August 26, 2020
Ely Portillo

“We cannot do this individually. If we try to attack these problems in our own lanes only, we will only succeed at failing.”

“Everything we embark on needs an intergovernmental framework and strategy to move forward.”

“We truly are breaking down silos that exist in government.”

That’s City Council members Tariq Bokhari, Braxton Winston and Matt Newton speaking Tuesday...

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The coronavirus is starting to reshape transit in Charlotte
   August 13, 2020
Ely Portillo

In the sixth month of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic, few sectors of the economy or local government services have been hit as hard as transportation and transit.

The viral outbreak and ensuing lockdowns caused transit ridership numbers to plummet nationwide as millions of people stayed home or avoided trains and buses if they had to go somewhere. The Centers for Disease Control even...

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Mapping Charlotte’s lost buildings: Demolitions on the rise again
   August 10, 2020

Nathan Griffin
Charlotte’s aging buildings are being torn down at an alarming rate, the product of a fast-growing population and strong real estate market. Read more


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NC’s current 2020 Census response is concerning
   August 9, 2020

Rebecca Tippett
More than four in every ten North Carolina households have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, representing more than 4 million North Carolinians not currently captured in the Census. Our current response rate is below the national rate and below where our state was in 2010. North Carolina communities that have not responded at high rates are predominantly rural, Black, and Brown, with low... Read more


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Here’s what other Sunbelt cities can show Charlotte about transit funding
   July 29, 2020
Ely Portillo
With plans for the 26-mile Silver Line light rail, possible Blue Line extensions, the Gold Line streetcar and more moving forward, there’s a looming question in Charlotte: How will we pay for all of this? Read more