Thread by @queencitynerve

The first business meeting for the new #CLTCC starts at 5 p.m. this evening. On the agenda: updates from CMPD/SAFE Charlotte, an overview of the @CLTgov disparity study, $1M for Alternatives to Violence, turning Peppertree Apartments into city-funded affordable housing and more.

The meeting is beginning now. You can watch live on YouTube or the @CLTGov Facebook page.

Re: Alternatives to Violence, the Cure Violence Global team has asked that the local program not provide a full annual analysis of pilot program on the Beatties Ford corridor because of drastic changes that have occurred (changes in leadership, staff) but have provided this data.

Federico Rios w/ @CLTgov did state that the "hot spots" of violent crime on the Beatties Ford Road corridor have cooled off. #CLTCC will vote tonight on accepting $1M in federal funding for a new ATV program.

City staff has IDed three locations for new program: the Nations Ford Road/Arrowood Road corridor, Southside Homes, and the West Boulevard/Remount Road corridor. Rios suggests treating these as two sites, combining Southside Homes w/ West Blvd/Remount due to their close proximity

.@BraxtonWinston asks CMPD Chief Jennings about the department's new media policy, which by all accounts points less transparency from CMPD.

Jennings says @CMPD's goal is to focus on answering public records requests, which his department is legally bound to do, rather than requests for public information, which were overwhelming his *public information(!!)* office. Those will no longer be a priority.

Jennings said rather than answer media requests his department will post the info they think the community needs to know on social media and their app. @lawanamayfield wants more explanation for this, pointing out that some residents don't use the app/SM but count on local media.

Jennings claims there is no real change to the way CMPD provides information to the media; they will still regularly provide press releases and info they want the media to know they just won't prioritize the media's specific questions and requests for info (so ... a real change).

Renee Johnson asks for more specifics about why the data behind the Alternatives to Violence program was deemed to be "skewed," to which Rio responded that the entire team doing work on the ground turned over in December, so data collection began in February.

Rios said the team brought on in Aug. 2021 "decided to transition out" last December. We've gotten the run around from multiple involved parties about how/why that happened, but multiple sources close to the program told us the team was let go due to inconsistencies in paperwork.

@EdDriggsD7 wants to know when #CLTCC will have data to look at from ATV, to which Rios says there will be a one-year report formulated in February 2023 to analyze how the approach has worked on the Beatties Ford Road corridor.

.@SenatorMGraham asks if the ATV violence interrupters on the Ford are working together with police who patrol that area, to which Rios says such collaboration would undermine the credibility of the interrupters. He serves as a go-between if needed.

The city's disparity study, which analyzes how many of @CLTgov's prime contracts go to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) compared to availability, found Black-owned businesses see the most disparity. (You want to see ratios between 80%-100%, ideally)

That is to say you want the numbers in the *last* graph to be as close to 100% as possible, the first two graphics simply show what percentage of prime contracts were awarded to each group as compared to what percentage of those groups make up Charlotte's business community.

Back from break, #CLTCC's first vote is on an opportunity to preserve Peppertree Apartments as naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) for at least 20 years through a city/county subsidy program. At nearly 300 units, it's larger than any of the city's previous NOAH projects

The Peppertree apartment complex is located in east Charlotte at the corner of Central Avenue and Kilborne Drive. The project will cost $55.8 million, with $8M coming from the city (tonight's vote), $4M from @MeckCounty, and the rest coming from other funds and programs.

.@FinTechInnov8r says he's supportive of this effort but wanted to see more direct tie-ins to workforce development, other programming to help folks get out of the financial situation they're in. Says as long as those programs are "a side note," these efforts will be "a hobby."

That motion passes unanimously.

#CLTCC votes unanimously to approve changes to the city's sponsorship policy to help expedite the process when private sector organizations want to offer sponsorships to help @animalscmpd during rescue events or @CMPD in missing person situations.

#CLTCC votes unanimously to approve $1 million in federal funding for the next stage of Alternatives to Violence in Charlotte, which will likely be implemented in the areas of Nations Ford/Arrowood roads, Southside Homes, and West Blvd./Remount Road, per the earlier conversation.

#CLTCC approves ratifying agreement with @MeckCounty to provide shuttle service through CATS to the Ramsey Creek Park beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day next year. Funded by the county, the current shuttle service recorded Memorial Day weekend ridership at over 2,100 riders

City approves land exchange to offer right-of-way along the light rail to allow for a mixed-use development near the intersection of Rampart and Hawkins streets. Three council members opposed. Read about the development in our latest News Roundup: qcnerve.com/5-things-to-kn…

A reaction to hearing that Federico Rios works for the city's Office of Equity, Mobility and Immigrant Integration in the YouTube comments earlier tonight.

Applause around the dais as it's announced that @JHolmesLives received 10 nominations from council to be appointed to the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Holmes addressed council about some of his ideas a few minutes ago.

.@JHolmesLives and all other nominees with six or more nominations from council have been appointed to their respective committees. The meeting is adjourned.