CRIME ALERT????:

Dear Ministers and Community Leaders,

I am on the Citizens Advisory Committee for CATS and I live over in Mint Hill.

Around Seventy Five Million Dollars is missing from your Neighborhood, and we need your help to stop any more from being taken by your Elected Officials.

Hidden in the South Boulevard Rail is Seventy Five Million Dollars in work that should have been spent in areas all over Charlotte to fix sidewalks, piping and other infrastructure.  Your local Elected Official agreed with this, as they felt it was the best for the City of Charlotte to let your neighborhood go wanting so South Boulevard could get a nicer look to help the light rail.    

You are receiving this letter because of your position as people who care about your communities and are willing to take action to make things better.

• The African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal says it is going to help the Charlotte community.  It is led by former Charlotte Mayor, Harvey Gantt.  Mr. Gantt is currently a board member of Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) and the press release for the announcement of this new group was sent out by Moira Quinn of CCCP.  When was the last time, that Charlotte Center City Partners did anything for your community, other than demand your vote for something that benefits others?  In fact, why is it, Elected Officials are not to be found except around Election Time?  And these past Elected Officials are never to be found, except when the powers downtown want to put the right face on their allies.  Avery Staley, who is starting the African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal effort, is a fund raising specialist for the Charlotte Area Fund.  Will Center City be favoring the CAF in future funding?

• What about Center City Partners?  They are unique to say the least.  It seems they get to collect a special tax from the downtown area and then use this for what purpose they deem necessary.  Including getting more money for downtown.  Did you know that taxes go to this organization but the government has NO Oversight over their operations?

• Elected Officials were voted in because they proved to us they were problem solvers and innovators.  On Tuesday, September 19th, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Democratic members voted against taking preventative action to protect the bus system in the event that the transit tax is repealed.  Why are they scared?  And where is that Statesperson we voted into office?  This transit tax could be placed back on the ballot in the Spring and does not require further permission from Raleigh.

• A 2.5 million dollar war chest has been raised from what we have heard for the keep the tax advertising.  This money has come from the Big Businesses and Center City Interests who will directly benefit from collecting your Nine Billion in Taxes that will be paid on Trains.  In the business world it is called leveraging.  In Charlotte it is called standard operating procedure.  Remember my group a few years ago who pulled together twenty five thousand dollars to get Private Security Patrols in Optimist Park and the Belmont Community?  We stopped crime that Summer and the Elected Officials just ignored us.  With this 2.5 Million I would get these private patrols in all the troubled areas of town.

There are options available which do not require tax increases or bus service cuts and we ask that you contact us to discuss them.  We would love to have someone come out and speak about this very important issue to your group.

Make Elected Officials tell you why they spent your money and make sure they do not take anymore for Trains.  Make transit funding fair to all communities here in Charlotte.      Larry Bumgarner    704.573.3363        www.TrainDrain.com

Larry@SouthCharlotte.org