Tuesday
Morning
Breakfast
Forum
Charlotte, NC
www.tueforumclt.org

Announcements September 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS from Sept. 1, 2009:
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Next week: School board candidates in Districts 1 and 2; no meeting on Primary Election Day, Sept. 15; more district school board candidates on Sept. 22; U.S. Rep. Mel Watt on Sept. 29.
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Malcolm Graham announced that Johnson C. Smith University would host a mayoral candidate forum on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Biddle Hall on the day that a JCSU poll's results will be released. From 5-6:30 p.m. all candidates will be invited to set up tables on the plaza to meet voters.
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Nancy Carter announced that the Labor Day parade downtown on Monday would begin at 11 a.m.
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Sonya Young announced that Precinct 54 Democrats would hold their organizational meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnson C. Smith University Library.
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Ken Koontz announced that the Historic West End Market would continue to open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November at its site at 1545 W. Trade St. across from the old Family Dollar store. Pictures of the site are at the Forum's website, www.tueforumclt.org.
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Claire Fallon announced that the Northeast Coalition on Sept. 20 would host Police Chief Rodney Monroe and City Manager Curt Walton, then hear from all non-mayoral candidates who survived the Sept. 15 primary. The coalition will hear from mayoral candidates on Oct. 18.
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Malcolm Graham announced that the City of Charlotte sent out for bids this week a project to renovate the Vest Water Plant on Beatties Ford Road at Brookshire Freeway. Work involves painting the tower and buildings. "We believe that tower can be a landmark for the Beatties Ford Road corridor."
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Malcolm Graham announced that the Arts and Science Council had appropriated "$60,000 in conjunction with J.C. Smith to begin the process of the I-77 bridge. We're going to try and brighten that thing up with some neon lights and make a great entrance into the Beatties Ford Road corridor.... A lot of positive things are beginning to happen in terms of bridging that gap between Johnson C. Smith and uptown Charlotte."
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Nancy Carter displayed the blue T-shirt she was wearing. Identical shirts are being worn by citizens participating in Court Watch in local courtrooms. "We sit there in a row, little bluebirds, watching the process, making sure that what is done is justice. It's looking particularly at chronic offenders. I sit as Citizen Nancy Carter when I sit there. But it is having an impact, and we know that from sheriff's deputies. Please think about this. It works."
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David Howard announced that early voting has already begun for the Sept. 15 primary. He also asked for volunteer help for his bid for an at-large City Council seat.
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Thomas Moore announced that there would be an International Peace Day on Monday, Sept. 21 at noon at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at North Tryon and 7th Streets.
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The scribe apologizes for losing the name of the person who sent in an announcement that CMS will hold community forums to gather public reaction to Strategic Plan 2014. The meetings, all scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m, will be held Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Berry Academy, Thursday, Sept. 3 at North Meck High, Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Vance High; Thursday, Sept. 10 at Independence High; Monday, Sept. 14 at Providence High; Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Myers Park High and Thursday, Sept. 17 at West Charlotte High. The full details are on a brochure posted as a public service at the Forum's website, www.tueforumclt.org.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Sept. 8, 2009:
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Next week: No meeting on Sept. 15, Primary Election Day; Sept. 22: District 3 school board candidates; Sept. 29, U.S. Rep. Mel Watt; Oct. 3: District 6 school board candidates.
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Laurie McElrath announced that the Black Political Caucus awards banquet will be held this Friday, Sept. 11, at the Sheraton Airport, I-85 at Billy Graham Parkway, with reception at 6:30, banquet at 7 and dancing until midnight. Tickets are $50.
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Nancy Carter encouraged people to attend tonight's City Council as the council determines whether or not to override Mayor McCrory's veto of the streetcar project.
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Johnnie Collins announced that Darrin Rankin, running for an at-large seat on Charlotte City Council, asked her to announce in his absence that his campaign would hold a family day at Freedom Park this Sunday, Sept. 13, from 4-6 p.m. Free food and music.
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Ken Koontz announced that Collaborative Ventures, a networking group of minority owned business owners, would present its 1st Annual Inspiration Award to Chauncey Mayfield, president of Mayfield Gentry, the Detroit owner of a real estate equity fund, at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Event Center, 219 S. Brevard St. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door. Details: www.collaborative-ventures.com.
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Roslyn Jacobs announced that Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education will host five district-specific school board candidate debates. Locations and dates will be announced by Friday and will be posted in future Forum announcements.
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Nancy Carter urged everyone to vote in the Sept. 15 primary election.
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Sarah Stevenson announced that the Thurgood Marshall College Fund will hold its 6th annual awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Westin Hotel. Receiving the Fund's Award of Excellence are Dr. Yele Aluko, Mid Carolina Cardiology; retired N.C. Supreme Court Justice Henry E. Frye; Donnie Shell, retired Panthers Director of Player Development; Southern Shows Founder and CEO Joan Zimmerman; and Sarah Stevenson. Tickets are $200 or $1,500 for a table of eight. Acknowledging the cost, Stevenson quipped, "We're just hoping somebody will come." Ticket and other information: 201-227-8427 or [email protected].
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Joyce Waddell said she had sheets listing primary candidates endorsed by the Black Political Caucus.

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The Forum did not meet on Sept. 15, a Primary Election day. The West Charlotte Recreation Center is a polling place.

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Sept. 22, 2009:
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Next week: U.S. Rep. Mel Watt; Oct. 6: District 6 school board candidates; Oct. 13; City Council At-large candidates; Oct. 20; Charlotte mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter.
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Robin Bradford announced that The Committee to Elect Robin Bradford for School Board District 1 will hold a community fish fry at the Rameses Temple, 4919 Beatties Ford Rd., this Saturday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fish dinners and desserts will be available.
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Pam Jefsen left an announcement that the American Red Cross has an exhibit titled "Blind-sided by Disaster," on Hurricane Hugo's destruction in Charlotte in 1989. Exhibit opening is Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 6-9 p.m. at the Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St. The opening is free and refreshments will be served.
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Malcolm Graham left a flyer announcing a conversation with Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter in Biddle Hall at Johnson C. Smith University, 1000 Beatties Ford Rd. The conversation was to be Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 7-8 p.m.
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Jennifer Roberts invited participants to a county commissioner meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to discuss capital spending. She invited people with ideas on how the county should split its available capital spending to e-mail her at [email protected].
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Elisha David announced that the Anthony Foxx campaign would operate a phone bank on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5-8:45 p.m.
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Jackie Edwards Walton announced that the National Black Child Development Institute is having an "Entering the College Zone" session on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave. The program is for seventh- and eighth-graders, preparing them to go to college. Applications are due by Friday. Enrollment capacity is 100 students; only 46 are registered at this time. Questions? E-mail Walton at [email protected].
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David Howard thanked people for their support on Sept. 15 in the Democratic primary for one of four at-large City Council seat. He announced that his campaign committee would hold a campaign fund-raiser on Oct. 14. More information will be distributed next week.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS from Sept. 29, 2009:
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Next week: Oct. 6: District 6 school board candidates; Oct. 13; City Council At-large candidates; Oct. 20; Charlotte mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter; Oct. 27, Charlotte City Council candidates in District 6 and 7.
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Laurie McElrath announced that the Black Political Caucus would hold a candidate forum tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2600 Beatties Ford Rd.
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Charlotte writer Carol Baldwin announced that she was writing a children's and adult book that would take place in 1950s Charlotte, and would like to interview African-Americans, but particularly African-American women. Baldwin is at [email protected]. Her blog on the business of writing and reading and getting books purchased is at www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com.
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Rodney Moore announced that the reorganized local branch of the NAACP meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Little Rock AME Zion Church at 7th & McDowell Streets downtown.
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Natheley McElrath announced that the Committee to Elect Richard McElrath would hold a free fund-raiser on Oct. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at the Design Center International, 1300 South Blvd. The event will include a silent auction of Richard McElrath's driftwood art, live auctions of works by T'Afo Feimster, Michael Maxwell and T.J. Reddy, who will be present, and music by Thomas Moore. Refreshments will be served.
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Claire Fallon announced that the Northeast Coalition will hold a candidate debate in the Charlotte City mayoral election on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. at the University City library, 301 E. WT Harris Blvd., near the North Tryon intersection. WBT Radio's Pete Kaliner will moderate.
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Pam Jefsen announced that the American Red Cross will open its exhibit titled "Blind-sided by Disaster," on Hurricane Hugo's destruction in Charlotte in 1989, tonight, Sept. 29, from 6-9 p.m. at the Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St. The opening is free and refreshments will be served. Viewing the exhibit later will cost the museum's price of admission.
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Ken Koontz announced that this weekend on the campus of Livingstone College in Salisbury will be Commemorative Classic, which continues the series begun in 1892 between Livingstone and what is now Johnson C. Smith University in the first black college football game. He suggested letters to UNC Charlotte and the editorial page of the Charlotte Observer "and tell them it's either insensitive, stupid or racist for them to claim 'bringing college football to Charlotte' at UNCC. Johnson C. Smith has played college football for 117 years."
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Dan Murrey announced that he, along with Commissioner Vilma Leake, had voted against construction of a new jail. "I primarily voted against it because it doesn't do anything to address the underlying problem of mental illness and substance abuse. The sheriff freely admitted that 75% of the people in his jail have mental illness or substance abuse, and yet we're going to build a $240 million facility that really doesn't do anything but house those people. I know as a physician that if you've got somebody who's addicted or somebody who has phychosis, no amount of bars are going to be able to be a deterrent to their behavior because they're really driven by a much higher force than that. So I pushed back to try to get them to re-look at including mental health treatment or facilities in the plan. I didn't win the first vote but I've made it clear to the county staff and to other commissioners and I haven't given up on it yet. I was meeting this morning with the county manager discussing that, and I'm continuing to push it and they are starting to look at some of those options. But the more that other county commissioners hear from folks that maybe we should include mental health concerns in any talk about a jail and maybe we should re-think the whole plan, that would help my cause. If you're in agreement with that, that would go a long way. I can take it so far, but they really need to hear from folks that this is an issue that's important to you. What they mainly hear is that we want to lock them up and throw away the key because public safety is important. I get that. I understand public safety is important and I'm not saying we shouldn't enforce the law. What I'm saying is we need to treat people that have illness as patients as well as enforce the law." Murrey said the issue might resurface again in the next discussion of capital budgeting on Oct. 20.
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Polly Little announced that she and her husband Rodney would host a $20 fund-raiser for Anthony Foxx at their home, 2448 Mecklenburg Ave. on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 5:30-7 p.m. The event precedes a forum open to all candidates and to the public, sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Political Action Committee, listed on the Foxx campaign website as running from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Ivy Hall, 2613 Hutchinson-McDonald Rd.
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Michael Sexton sent in an announcement of the 2009 National SAVE Youth Summit which will be held in Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 p.m. to 3 p.m. at West Charlotte High School. More info: www.nationalsave.org/main/summit.php.

 

 

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The Forum welcomes all persons to its meetings beginning at 8 a.m. most Tuesdays of the year
at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2222 Kendall Drive, Charlotte, NC
down the hill from West Charlotte High School.