WCNC Charlotte Flashpoint

Some Charlotte Democrats are pushing for changes with the city's Future 2040 plan, which supporters say will make the Queen City more equitable, connected and affordable. The plan also tackles some of the city's ongoing problems, such as affordable housing, heavy traffic and long commute times. 

Policy 2.1, under the Neighborhood Diversity & Inclusion section, calls for allowing "duplex and triplex housing units on all lots where single-family housing is allowed." Currently, 84% of Charlotte is zoned for single-family housing. 

"We have an equity issue," said Democrat Sam Spencer, who is chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission.

Spencer says the 2040 plan strengthens struggling neighborhoods. 

"This doesn't eliminate single-family zoning," Spencer said. "If you're a small-time developer, or a homeowner, or a landowner, you get the choice of what kind of housing types you want to build in your neighborhood."

MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-city-leaders-future-2040-growth-plan-affordable-housing-crisis-solution/275-7384c557-8c4e-4cd0-850e-e06dabb46629

Charlotte's affordable housing crisis is nothing new, and now city leaders are addressing proposals that could bring solutions to people in need. First, Ben Thompson is joined by Taiwo Jaiyeoba, assistant city manager and chief city planner, to discuss the Charlotte 2040 plan. Next, City Councilman Tariq Bokhari discusses a proposal to add more duplexes and triplexes in the city and the elimination of exclusive zoning for single-family housing. Bokhari also shares his concerns over the Charlotte 2040 plan. 

Our third guest this week is the new chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Dr. Bobby Richardson. She's the first African-American woman to hold the position, and talks about where the Democratic party is headed the next two years as they try to gain more representation in the 2022 elections. 

On this week's FlashPOINT, we're looking at Charlotte's affordable housing crisis and the hidden cost of the coronavirus pandemic. There was nearly 1,000 evictions in the last few months of 2020 in Charlotte alone. These are folks who have fallen between the cracks despite the moratorium on evictions.

Plus, we discuss efforts to make Charlotte more inclusive for LGBTQ citizens and protections local leaders are considering as the state's ban on local ordinances has expired. 

If you thought the new year would mean a break from partisan politics, think again! We start this week's show with North Carolina State Sen. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from Charlotte, who tells us why he chose to run for U.S. Senate in 2022 and why now is the right time to make that announcement. 

Then we're joined by Charlotte City Councilmen Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari for a roundtable discussion about WCNC's report on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police still arresting low-level drug offenders despite the district attorney's decision to not pursue the cases. We also discuss how Charlotte's economy is faring one year after the state's first COVID-19 case. 

In case you hadn't heard, Charlotte received over 100 inquiries for the at-large city council seat. Egleston and Bokhari break down the process of getting a new councilmember and their plans for the future in the Queen City. 

After focusing for months on the 2020 election and COVID-19 pandemic, this week's FlashPoint with Ben Thompson is all about Charlotte! Guests on this week's show include City Council members Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari. 

Topics on this week's program include Charlotte's biggest obstacles entering 2021, as well as renaming streets that are named after Confederate generals and white supremacists. Is the matter of renaming streets worth considering during the pandemic? 

In 2017, Charlotte and North Carolina became the epicenter of American politics with the controversial House Bill 2. When the bill was repealed, a section in the law barred local governments from enacting or amending non-discrimination ordinances regulating private businesses until Dec. 1, 2020. Now that the ban has expired, will Charlotte look to pass another non-discrimination ordinance? If so, how can they keep the city's desires from becoming another disaster that leads to state intervention? 

The Silver Line light rail extension has been the talk of Charlotte transportation plans for years. The proposal would create a new rail line from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Matthews on the southeast end of Independence Boulevard. But how would it be paid for? Larken and Tariq discuss the city's options and where they could go to find the money for the huge project. 

After spending weeks focusing on the 2020 presidential election, this week's episode is all about Charlotte. Years after the Queen City's non-discrimination ordinance caused shockwaves across North Carolina and ultimately cost the state billions of dollars (and an NBA All-Star Game) will Charlotte move to create another non-discrimination ordinance? 

Charlotte City Council members Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari discuss how Charlotte can avoid another House Bill 2 disaster now that the bill's ban on local ordinances has expired. 

Plus, we take a look at the new transportation plan Charlotte leaders are hoping to approve and how it would be paid for. And speaking of getting around Charlotte, city leaders are considering changing the names of streets that are named after Confederate generals and white supremacists. Is this issue big enough to tackle in 2021? 

Election Day is behind us and absentee ballots are still being counted in several states that could determine the final outcome of the presidency. 

On this week's show, Ben Thompson is joined by Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, who explains the absentee ballot counting process and what poll workers have to do in order to accurately count every vote. We also discuss how provisional ballots cast by those who requested an absentee ballot could impact the total count. 

Then we're joined by Davidson College political science professor Susan Roberts, who pulls out her crystal ball to predict where Democrats and Republicans go from here, what lessons can be learned from the 2020 election and how Democrats can pick up voters in Republican strongholds. Winthrop University political science professor Scott Huffmon then breaks down what we can learn from 2020 polling and if claims about inaccurate polls have a leg to stand on. 

Finally, Ben shares new information from the Department of Health and Human Services that shows us why COVID-19 won't "magically disappear" despite claims from President Donald Trump that we were turning a corner. 

We're now less than 3 days away from Election Day 2020 and the stakes couldn't be higher. Now that early voting has wrapped up, it's down to in-person voting and any remaining absentee ballots that will come through the mail. 

Ben Thompson is joined by Catawba College political science professor, Dr. Michael Bitzer, who breaks down voter turnout, record early voting and what we can expect after the election and why we won't have the "official" results for several days or weeks. 

Then we're joined by Winthrop University's Dr. Scott Huffmon, who has the inside track on the South Carolina Senate race between Lindsey Graham and Jaime Harrison. Dr. Huffmon also tells us what we can expect in South Carolina during the overall election. 

Dr. Susan Roberts, a political science professor at Davidson College, also joins the show to discuss the tight Senate race between Republican Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham. Dr. Roberts also analyzes the race for North Carolina governor and a general outlook on North Carolina politics heading into the contentious election.

All this, plus Ben has some Election Day tips before you head to the polls and cast a ballot. 

We're less than 2 weeks until the 2020 election and all eyes are on the Carolinas, where President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are focusing their campaigns. On this special edition of FlashPoint, Fred Shropshire and Sarah French break down what's happening in our area as Election Day gets closer. 

Ben Thompson examines why North Carolina is so important to both candidates. And we get an idea of why so many campaign ads are featured on our TVs. 

Ashley Daley joins the show to recap Cal Cunningham's extramarital affair and questions about his credibility in North Carolina's Senate race. Then we head south of the state line where Jaime Harrison and Lindsey Graham are in an extremely tight Senate race. 

Plus, we explain the electoral college, why it exists and answer your questions about absentee ballots, mail-in voting and early voting in the Carolinas. 

We're less than a month away from the 2020 election and all eyes are on North Carolina, where President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden are focusing their campaigns. But it goes far beyond the state level, with campaigns going so far as to target specific neighborhoods. Ben Thompson is joined by Michael Dickerson, the head of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, as they gear up for a busy early voting period and expected heavy voter turnout November 3. 

Plus, we hear from three election experts who tell us how to protect your vote and keep your ballot legitimate if you plan to vote absentee. Then, Dr. Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College, joins the FlashPoint to break down just how competitive North Carolina is and he explains why the Tar Heel State is a microcosm of what we're seeing across the country when it comes to partisan alignment. Finally, an election attorney joins Ben to tell us why it could be mid-December before the presidential election results are finalized and we have a winner. And based on his experience with the infamous Florida recount of 2000, what we see in 2020 could make that a walk in the park.