Politics
Charlotte City Council, with some members agonizing, punts
Jan. 11. By Dave Yochum. Councilwoman Vi Lyles has been directed to vote for the current I-77 toll plan and a managed lane strategy when the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization expresses its sentiments on the $650 million project at its Jan. 20 meeting. The Charlotte City Council, which controls 46 percent of the CRTPO weighted vote, went 7-4 to […]
Cintra announces new LKN egress points; key vote is tonight
Jan. 11. Just in time for what may be a pivotal meeting of the Charlotte City Council tonight, I-77 Mobility Partners has announced plans to add new entrance and exit points at Exit 23 and Exit 25 in Huntersville and Exit 28 in Cornelius. RELATED: Judge Smith rules against anti-toll group; battle moves to CRTPO […]
Judge rules against anti-toll group; battle moves to CRTPO
Jan. 8. By Dave Yochum. Judge Osmond Smith has ruled in favor of I-77 Mobility Partners and NCDOT in the WidenI-77 lawsuit. Saying it is a policy decision from the legislature, and that tolls on I-77 are not unconstitutional, the judge said different people may have different views about the project. It means the matter […]
Pair to present legislative outlook at Newsmakers Breakfast Jan. 14
NC Sen. Jeff Tarte and NC Rep. John Bradford will speak at the Business Today and Cornelius Today Newsmakers Breakfast Jan. 14 at The Peninsula Club. The Cornelius residents both served in Cornelius town government before heading to Raleigh. While the 2016 short session doesn’t officially get under way until April 26, various committees get to work […]
I-77 battle focuses on Charlotte City Council; intense lobbying under way; Widen I-77 will announce ‘stay’ at 2 pm
Jan. 6. By Dave Yochum. The Widen I-77 anti-toll group will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall to announce that it has filed a motion in court to stay the lawsuit against the NCDOT/Cintra toll project. The stay, if granted, would put a temporary pause on the legal proceedings, including […]
2014 Democratic challenger will not oppose Bradford for 98th
Dec. 17. Natasha Marcus, a Democrat from Davidson, says she will not file to run against incumbent Rep John Bradford, the Cornelius businessman who replaced Thom Tillis in the District 98 seat. Bradford got 14,558 votes, or 54.98 percent, to Marcus’ 11,922 votes, or 45.02 percent, in the 2014 general election. Bradford defeated former Cornelius […]
It looks like an NC Senate veteran, Fletcher Hartsell, will not run again
Dec. 16. It looks like NC Sen. Fletcher Hartsell will not file to run for re-election, sources said Tuesday afternoon. Hartsell, who has served 13 terms in the Senate, represents District 36, which includes parts of Cabarrus and Union counties. A partner at Hartsell & Williams, a downtown Concord law firm, Hartsell has had a […]
Online petition: 6,500 anti-toll signatures in 36 hours
Dec. 15. By Dave Yochum. With Gov. Pat McCrory telling the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization to weigh in once and for all on I-77 tolls, he’s calling the question on managed lanes all around Charlotte. Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla says “the people have already spoken loudly,” especially in North Mecklenburg. Indeed, an online petition […]
Is mayor out of step in Cornelius?
Dec. 7. By Dave Yochum. UPDATED. If you’ve never been to a Cornelius Town Board meeting, tonight is the one to attend. It’s not because five commissioners and the mayor will be sworn into two-year terms, or that NC Rep. John Bradford and Judge Charlotte Brown Williams will do the swearing in. It’s because Commissioner Dave Gilroy […]
After toll summit, Cornelius, Davidson mayors outline success of managed lanes in Texas
Nov. 24. NC Rep. Charles Jeter will file a bill in the legislature that would cut Charlotte’s virtually insurmountable 46 percent weighted vote on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Organization to no more than 37.5 percent. Meanwhile, after a fact-finding trip to visit managed lane projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the mayors of Cornelius and […]
