WEBVTT - 7-20-26: 1-On-1 With CLT Mayor Harrington 0:00:21.960 --> 0:00:29.960 Hi Oh, let's go hi oh, let's go oh. 0:00:29.120 --> 0:00:32.400 Let's go oh, let's come. 0:00:33.200 --> 0:00:35.600 Welcome back to Charlott Smooth Talk one oh seven point 0:00:35.720 --> 0:00:38.760 nine FM WBT. Brett Jensen here with you on this 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:42.880 beautiful Monday night edition of Breaking with Brett Jensen. As 0:00:42.920 --> 0:00:45.760 we go up until seven o'clock tonight. Telephone numbers as 0:00:45.800 --> 0:00:48.480 always seven oh four five, seven oh, one oh seven nine. 0:00:49.120 --> 0:00:52.160 That is also the WBT text line, driven of course 0:00:52.159 --> 0:00:55.960 by Liberty Buick GMC and guys follow me on ACP 0:00:56.000 --> 0:00:58.920 Brett Underscore Jensen for all the lennis and breaking news 0:00:58.920 --> 0:01:01.960 in and around the shoan air and if you would 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:04.800 have followed me on X then you would know what's 0:01:04.880 --> 0:01:12.480 going on with tonight's show because earlier today I had 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:18.039 the most extensive, the most in depth, and the longest 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:21.080 interview of any media outlet in the city of. 0:01:21.080 --> 0:01:23.840 Charlotte with brand new Mayor Rob Harrington. 0:01:24.959 --> 0:01:27.480 We met earlier today in his office on the fifteenth 0:01:27.480 --> 0:01:34.480 floor at the Government Center. And I know other media outlets, 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:37.440 you know, they did interviews with him last week, but 0:01:37.520 --> 0:01:39.920 they were on a very very short timeline and they 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:42.280 all basically got the interviews basically in the same day 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:47.400 we waited a week and we got way more stuff 0:01:47.480 --> 0:01:51.960 than you could ever imagine. And the mayor, mister Harrington, 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:56.280 was extremely generous for this time. And so the entire 0:01:56.680 --> 0:02:00.760 show tonight will be me and my interview with the 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:03.800 brand new mayor, and we're going to cover topics about 0:02:03.840 --> 0:02:08.080 obviously I seventy seven and crime and still trying to 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:11.000 bring business to Charlotte. Is he going to what's his 0:02:11.040 --> 0:02:14.919 political future look like? You know, would he consider running 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:18.120 for reelection for mayor in eighteen months? 0:02:18.400 --> 0:02:20.400 So we've got a lot that we're going to get into. 0:02:21.120 --> 0:02:27.880 And again, this is by far the most in depth, 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:32.880 extensive and longest interview that he's done with any media 0:02:32.919 --> 0:02:36.119 outlet in the city of Charlotte. And he, like I said, 0:02:36.160 --> 0:02:39.000 he was very very generous with his time today. So 0:02:39.080 --> 0:02:42.080 with that being said, here is the first part of 0:02:42.120 --> 0:02:45.600 my interview with brand new Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington. 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:49.359 So, Mayor, I asked you in your introductory press conference 0:02:49.440 --> 0:02:51.280 union you sort of came out of nowhere. 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:53.680 So tell the people it's a three parter. 0:02:54.040 --> 0:02:58.239 Who is Harrington, the man Harrington, the attorney in Harrington, 0:02:58.280 --> 0:02:58.680 the mayor. 0:02:59.240 --> 0:03:04.799 All right, remember all of that? So Harrington the man 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:09.200 the person. I grew up in South Carolina, grew up 0:03:09.240 --> 0:03:14.200 in Florence in the Great PD and went off to college, 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:17.360 went to Duke for seven years and for college, and 0:03:17.400 --> 0:03:18.200 then straight. 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:20.120 Through for law school, where I had. 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:24.560 A good fortune to meet my wife and I, you know, family, 0:03:25.000 --> 0:03:27.080 my own family. 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:28.800 I grew up in. I was the youngest of five. 0:03:29.760 --> 0:03:33.760 We were I really enjoyed growing up in Florence. 0:03:33.800 --> 0:03:35.200 You know, it was it was large enough, so there 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:36.760 were some things to do, but it was you know, 0:03:36.840 --> 0:03:39.760 pretty small town. We knew each other, We took care 0:03:39.800 --> 0:03:45.240 of each other. Family was pretty securely working class. 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:47.360 My father worked for the UH. 0:03:47.560 --> 0:03:49.520 He worked on the railroad as a as a mail 0:03:49.560 --> 0:03:50.720 clerk for many years. 0:03:50.800 --> 0:03:52.960 And then when he when when the. 0:03:52.880 --> 0:03:57.160 Mail went from the railroad to primarily airplanes, he became 0:03:57.200 --> 0:04:00.560 a counselor for the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:04.160 And I give that background because that sort of positioned 0:04:04.240 --> 0:04:07.120 us where we were in terms of resources. We are 0:04:07.160 --> 0:04:11.440 also really fortunate to have, you know, of strong tradition 0:04:11.880 --> 0:04:15.240 of education and higher education in the family. I was 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:17.200 the youngest of five, and so I was able to 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:21.000 really kind of leverage what others had done, but the 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:25.080 idea of you know, working hard, academically, working hard in 0:04:25.120 --> 0:04:28.080 general with something like so many people in this community 0:04:28.160 --> 0:04:30.920 I was, I was born to and I think it 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:33.760 very much influences who I am today and the way 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:40.520 I as address issues. Harrington the professional, the lawyer. 0:04:40.600 --> 0:04:42.440 I've been a lawyer for. 0:04:42.440 --> 0:04:46.599 Somewhere between thirty five and forty years now, have done 0:04:47.480 --> 0:04:51.599 throughout that time primarily disputes or you know, litigation, business 0:04:51.600 --> 0:04:57.120 litigation practice here since here in Charlotte for twenty seven 0:04:57.200 --> 0:04:59.800 years I think this year just over twenty seven years now, 0:05:00.120 --> 0:05:02.839 and had practiced elsewhere for a little bit over ten 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:06.679 before that, partially in Louisiana and partially in the District 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:11.120 of Columbia. And have you know, still loved practicing law. 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:14.880 It was one of the things that I considered being 0:05:15.120 --> 0:05:18.200 at least as far back as high school. And I've 0:05:18.600 --> 0:05:22.040 I've been really fortunate in my ride as a lawyer 0:05:23.080 --> 0:05:24.760 and then as mayor. 0:05:26.600 --> 0:05:28.400 You know, I come to this in. 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:33.000 A unique time because Mayor Lews, my good friend, decided 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:36.160 to retire and so counsel went through the process. I 0:05:36.160 --> 0:05:38.240 know we've been through that process before, but it's still 0:05:38.320 --> 0:05:43.279 obviously not the dominant process for selecting an elected or 0:05:43.279 --> 0:05:47.520 appointed mayor, and I looked at it, unfortunately at a 0:05:47.560 --> 0:05:51.039 time in career when I'm particularly interested in giving back, 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:55.039 and Charlotte has been fantastic to my family and to 0:05:55.080 --> 0:05:58.800 me and folks around us. We've got a son who 0:05:58.880 --> 0:06:02.240 is in his mid thirties and you know, married, living 0:06:02.600 --> 0:06:05.640 in Augusta, Georgia, and they've got a couple of little girls. 0:06:05.680 --> 0:06:09.159 And I look at what this city has offered us 0:06:09.240 --> 0:06:12.440 in the time that we've been here, and saw this 0:06:12.480 --> 0:06:17.119 as an opportunity to give back, and you know, consistently said, 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:20.479 you know, this is I am who I am. I 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:24.039 bring the skill set and the experiences that I have 0:06:24.440 --> 0:06:27.560 and if that's something that the council, as the group 0:06:27.640 --> 0:06:31.880 that was selecting, thought would be useful helpful at this 0:06:31.920 --> 0:06:34.880 point in time, that's what I offer. So I just 0:06:34.960 --> 0:06:37.599 I feel fortunate, would I would say blessed to be 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:41.520 in a situation where I can, you know, take this 0:06:41.560 --> 0:06:45.080 period of time and do some really intense public service. 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:47.480 I guess the other thing I'd add on the public 0:06:47.520 --> 0:06:51.400 service note is I had not been directly involved in 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:54.440 politics before now, but as you know, I've done a 0:06:54.440 --> 0:06:57.240 bunch of things in the community, from you know, chairing 0:06:57.320 --> 0:07:00.120 the board of trustees of the library and chairing the Arts. 0:07:00.040 --> 0:07:01.200 And Science Council Board. 0:07:01.279 --> 0:07:04.560 And I've just finished a year term as the president 0:07:04.560 --> 0:07:08.239 of ofrf Khina Bar Association. So the idea of being 0:07:08.400 --> 0:07:14.800 in the public and nonprofit public interest sphere is not 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:18.120 something that's new, and I think that experience will help 0:07:18.200 --> 0:07:20.080 me over the eighteen months, and I think it's helped. 0:07:19.920 --> 0:07:22.840 Me so far. All right. 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:26.679 So when we come back, where as this in depth 0:07:26.720 --> 0:07:30.440 interview with Mayor Harrington continues, We're going to talk about 0:07:30.440 --> 0:07:33.360 I seventy seven. We're going to talk about safety. We're 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:35.840 going to talk about his political future. What kind of 0:07:35.840 --> 0:07:38.880 policies does he want to see implemented. Is he just 0:07:38.920 --> 0:07:40.920 going to be like, Okay, I'm keeping the seat warm 0:07:41.000 --> 0:07:43.680 for the next eighteen months, or is he actually going 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:47.080 to try and get things done without worrying about trying 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:49.960 to be re elected or anything else. So there's a 0:07:49.960 --> 0:07:51.800 lot that we're going to continue to talk about when 0:07:51.800 --> 0:07:55.000 we return. And if you can't already tell, this is 0:07:55.040 --> 0:08:00.119 a man who's extremely intelligent. I mean, he is a 0:08:00.120 --> 0:08:02.840 partner in one of the largest law firms in Charlotte, 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:05.960 head of the North count of Bar Association, went to 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:08.960 Duke for seven years, you know, obviously undergraduate and then 0:08:09.080 --> 0:08:12.600 law school. This is a man who is exceptionally bright 0:08:12.680 --> 0:08:14.200 and you should be able to tell that just by 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:16.800 listening to him. So we're going to continue our conversation 0:08:17.360 --> 0:08:21.280 about what does he try to implement with the City 0:08:21.280 --> 0:08:24.360 of Charlotte going forward, and we're including I seventy seven 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:35.160 safety and his own policies. Welcome back to Breaking with 0:08:35.160 --> 0:08:37.440 Brett Jensen on this Monday night. As we're going up 0:08:37.480 --> 0:08:43.280 until seven o'clock, we're continuing my most extensive, most in 0:08:43.360 --> 0:08:46.880 depth interview with brand new Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington. And 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:49.200 when I say the most extensive and most in depth 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:52.440 is because I was given nearly three times as much 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:55.199 time with the new mayor as any other media outlet 0:08:55.240 --> 0:08:59.240 in Charlotte, so which that allowed me to go into 0:08:59.360 --> 0:09:02.079 a myriad of topics and a lot of different things 0:09:02.160 --> 0:09:06.120 to talk about. So we're continuing my interview from earlier 0:09:06.120 --> 0:09:09.240 today with brand new Charlotte mayer Rob Harrington. 0:09:09.960 --> 0:09:13.320 When you thought about getting into this, did someone approach you, 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:17.400 whether it's work, someone from your work, a friend, someone 0:09:17.480 --> 0:09:19.840 from your family or was it all on you where 0:09:19.840 --> 0:09:21.600 you said I think I'm want to do this. Did 0:09:21.640 --> 0:09:24.040 someone else plant the idea of you possibly doing this? 0:09:25.040 --> 0:09:25.960 It's primarily me. 0:09:26.080 --> 0:09:29.000 I mean I think there were a number of people, 0:09:30.760 --> 0:09:34.040 a handful of people in the community that said, gee, 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:36.480 is this something that you would consider? Is this something 0:09:36.520 --> 0:09:37.040 that you'd. 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:37.320 Want to do. 0:09:38.480 --> 0:09:40.600 I will tell you my first reaction is I'm coming 0:09:40.640 --> 0:09:43.800 off of a year of practicing law and being president 0:09:43.800 --> 0:09:46.640 of the Bar Association, and I thought, you know, is 0:09:47.120 --> 0:09:52.160 this the right timing. But ultimately came down to me feeling, 0:09:52.800 --> 0:09:54.480 you know, I think I've got something to contribute here, 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:57.760 and my family, my wife in particular, being really really 0:09:57.800 --> 0:09:59.680 supportive of the decision. 0:10:00.559 --> 0:10:04.599 So now you've got eighteen months and if you decide 0:10:04.679 --> 0:10:06.000 and a half or seventeen and a half, if you 0:10:06.080 --> 0:10:09.400 decide not to run for reelection. The theory is, the 0:10:09.720 --> 0:10:12.720 working theory is out there. You can either just basically 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.079 do what you want without having to worrying about am 0:10:16.080 --> 0:10:20.280 I popular enough to get re elected, or that you'll 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.680 just try to just to fit in and just to 0:10:23.720 --> 0:10:27.160 go along. Those are the two working theories which Rob Harrington. 0:10:27.200 --> 0:10:29.000 Are we going to get Yeah, I'd. 0:10:28.840 --> 0:10:32.000 Reframe it a little bit, Brett. I mean, I told 0:10:32.080 --> 0:10:35.160 when I was coming in for the interview, I guess 0:10:35.160 --> 0:10:37.600 it was the thirty minute interviews. I was checking in 0:10:37.760 --> 0:10:41.080 security desk downstairs, and one of the gentlemen at the desk, 0:10:41.200 --> 0:10:42.120 the security. 0:10:41.760 --> 0:10:44.720 Folks started asking questions. He said, are you one of them? 0:10:44.760 --> 0:10:48.079 I said, yes, sir, i am, And he said, basically, 0:10:48.240 --> 0:10:49.839 just you know, all I would ask is that you 0:10:50.320 --> 0:10:51.760 do the right thing and do a good job. 0:10:52.360 --> 0:10:54.440 And in many. 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:57.280 Ways, that capture is the way I've always looked at 0:10:57.920 --> 0:11:01.120 elected officials and folks who are running for office, is 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:06.600 I want to vote for people who have some you know, beliefs, 0:11:06.679 --> 0:11:10.400 some you know, provide some answers and are willing to 0:11:10.480 --> 0:11:14.280 lose right and hopefully the person that you selected any 0:11:14.320 --> 0:11:15.920 given race, if you believe in them, you want them 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:19.520 to win. But I think that's an indirect answer to 0:11:19.559 --> 0:11:23.600 the question. I mean, I'm a I'm not a sort 0:11:23.640 --> 0:11:26.760 of go along and just sort of ride the way person. 0:11:27.240 --> 0:11:30.360 And it wouldn't have made sense to do this like 0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:33.520 that because I've been really fortunate with a good career 0:11:34.080 --> 0:11:37.400 and with a good network, and so for me, it's 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:40.760 you know, we know there are issues coming down the pike, 0:11:41.240 --> 0:11:45.240 and what can I bring to trying to convene and convene, 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:50.040 counsel and have structure and then get to you know, 0:11:50.320 --> 0:11:53.880 good answers, and so it's it's it's much closer to no. 0:11:54.120 --> 0:11:57.000 I mean, there's some things that will likely need to 0:11:57.080 --> 0:11:58.760 be done in the near future, and I want to 0:11:58.760 --> 0:11:59.360 be a part. 0:11:59.200 --> 0:12:00.000 Of that process. 0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:03.800 Speaking of issues, you're walking into, you know, a hornets 0:12:03.880 --> 0:12:07.400 nest right now with I seventy seven, it's I believe 0:12:07.400 --> 0:12:10.960 it's twenty nine houses that would be impacted, So it's 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:14.440 not this massive Grand Scots twenty nine houses, and many 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:16.880 of those houses are actually owned by companies that rent 0:12:16.880 --> 0:12:18.520 them out to the people that live there, so many 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:21.000 of the people that live there don't even own the house. 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:24.920 I know, they're doing revoting and they're doing you know, 0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:27.480 towns are starting to flip again because they don't want 0:12:27.520 --> 0:12:30.640 to be on the foot for that bill. Now that 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:33.040 you've had time to like really get into knee deep 0:12:33.080 --> 0:12:36.800 and really be briefed on everything from beginning to end, 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:39.800 where do you stand on this? Because I know, you 0:12:39.800 --> 0:12:42.240 know Mary Lyles was you know, she really wanted to 0:12:42.280 --> 0:12:45.440 like to be involved with this and all that. So 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:46.079 where do you. 0:12:46.080 --> 0:12:46.760 Stand on this? 0:12:47.280 --> 0:12:50.239 Yeah, so let me give you, I guess my punchline, 0:12:50.240 --> 0:12:52.160 and then I want to step back and reframe it 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:55.280 a little bit. So you know, what I've said repeatedly 0:12:55.520 --> 0:12:59.080 and remains the case for me, is I want to 0:12:59.520 --> 0:13:01.640 you know, I think we're getting our arms around what's 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:05.040 in the state's budget bill as far as timeline, and 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:09.560 I want to have a process for community engagement and 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:12.559 for council engagement that fits. 0:13:12.280 --> 0:13:14.040 The timeline so we don't look back. 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.680 Two years from now, three years from now and say, well, gee, 0:13:16.679 --> 0:13:19.559 you know, I either didn't know this information, didn't have 0:13:19.880 --> 0:13:23.400 whatever information it is about the project from a trusted source, 0:13:23.800 --> 0:13:26.200 or didn't really know the timeline. 0:13:25.800 --> 0:13:27.319 And the implications of timeline. 0:13:27.400 --> 0:13:30.320 So that's my you know, at this point, my ultimate 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:33.400 goal is to make sure that you've got an informed process, 0:13:34.240 --> 0:13:37.800 an accessible process, and have council you know, as the 0:13:37.960 --> 0:13:41.480 decision makers for the city and then you know, ultimately 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:43.920 the regional Planning CARPO. 0:13:44.400 --> 0:13:45.760 But have council make a. 0:13:45.720 --> 0:13:50.400 Reasoned decision whether to do anything further, and if to 0:13:50.440 --> 0:13:53.360 do something further, you know what to do. But I'd 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:57.000 step back and reframe a little bit, because yes, there 0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:01.679 are you know, approximately thirty houses that stand to be displaced, 0:14:02.360 --> 0:14:07.200 but there's also a community on all sides, on all 0:14:07.240 --> 0:14:09.400 sides of the issue, and literally on all sides of 0:14:09.440 --> 0:14:14.319 the you know, the route that will be affected by 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:17.960 whatever happens with the highway, and as you know, many 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:20.480 in that community will tell you have been affected for 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:24.520 the last I'm a history and religion major, so I'll 0:14:24.560 --> 0:14:26.600 be bad with numbers, but for the last you know, 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:32.040 fifty years. By what I seventy seven has done, it's 0:14:32.040 --> 0:14:35.360 clearly a vital artery. It's incredibly important to the city 0:14:35.440 --> 0:14:38.960 and to the region, but it's also important in what 0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:43.760 the impact on the community and the sort of division 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:47.720 of the community, the bisecting the community. And I think 0:14:47.840 --> 0:14:52.240 we can't address the future of I seventy seven without 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:56.760 acknowledging and addressing those those concerns. So there's the immediate 0:14:57.080 --> 0:15:00.800 thirty houses, but there are other issues around it that 0:15:01.000 --> 0:15:03.880 just have to address be addressed with people feeling like 0:15:03.920 --> 0:15:07.040 they're at the table. And obviously, you know, given the timeline, 0:15:07.160 --> 0:15:10.280 you know, we need to be prompt in having those discussions. 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:13.280 Does the possible or as. 0:15:13.160 --> 0:15:16.160 Of now the likely having to pay back and the 0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:19.120 fact that Charlotte has forty one I think forty one 0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:21.640 percent of the vote with the carpo, but with so 0:15:21.720 --> 0:15:25.160 many other towns voting in favor of this, now your 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:27.880 percentage would increase of what you would have to pay back. 0:15:28.320 --> 0:15:30.320 Does that play in a pack or does that have 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:32.200 an impact on what you guys do or how you 0:15:32.200 --> 0:15:32.920 guys approach this? 0:15:33.160 --> 0:15:34.120 Yeah, I don't want to. 0:15:34.880 --> 0:15:37.360 I mean, I think there are a lot of pieces 0:15:37.360 --> 0:15:40.600 built into what you said about you know, the percentages. 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:41.080 And how that works together. 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:44.120 I would zoom out without you know, sort of committing 0:15:44.160 --> 0:15:48.280 to a particular understanding of the formula or interpretation of 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:52.920 the formula, but zoom out and say it creates at 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:56.280 the very least a timeline, right. And it's it's as 0:15:56.320 --> 0:16:00.360 I've always said, you know, going into any professional project 0:16:00.400 --> 0:16:04.240 as a lawyer, you know you have all these factors 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:08.040 around you, and there's the factor of the potential for payback. 0:16:08.120 --> 0:16:11.720 Does the factor of the timeline? I mean, what does 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:15.080 seem clear from the statute is that there's a timeline 0:16:15.120 --> 0:16:19.720 that started when the governor signed the bill for ninety 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:22.360 days for the if you want to call it safe harbor, 0:16:23.240 --> 0:16:27.040 and so that gives you a timeline to consider and 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:30.320 then ultimately, with input from the community, you know, I 0:16:30.320 --> 0:16:33.040 think the council and then you know Carpo as a 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:35.840 as a full body have to make a decision given 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:37.560 all of those factors, what to do. 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:43.200 All right, let me concern what does his political future 0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:45.680 look like and what kind of policies does he want 0:16:45.720 --> 0:16:52.520 to enact. Welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen here 0:16:52.560 --> 0:16:57.200 on this Monday night, continuing my really truly in depth 0:16:57.320 --> 0:17:02.000 and extensive interview with Brandy Charlotte Mayer Harrington. More information 0:17:02.080 --> 0:17:04.200 here than you will get from any other media outlet 0:17:04.240 --> 0:17:06.680 because we were basically given three times the amount of time. 0:17:07.119 --> 0:17:09.879 So now we continue my interview with the mayor. 0:17:10.720 --> 0:17:13.840 So you walked into the ice seventy seven situation, But 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.040 is there any situations or policies that you want to 0:17:17.080 --> 0:17:19.920 bring on your own and talk to city council about. 0:17:20.680 --> 0:17:23.920 Yeah, you know one that I talked about a good 0:17:23.960 --> 0:17:24.880 bit during the. 0:17:26.960 --> 0:17:31.000 During our thirty thirty day or twenty one day campaign 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:34.800 if you want to call it that, but is more 0:17:34.880 --> 0:17:38.879 broadly I'll say affordability. I mean you can translate that 0:17:39.080 --> 0:17:44.040 to certainly include affordable housing. But Charlotte's been incredibly fortunate 0:17:44.160 --> 0:17:48.480 in its growth. You know, we've got whatever the number 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:51.879 is of folks who are coming here each day, you know, 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:55.880 fastest growing city r size in the country. That's part 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:58.520 of who we are, and we're you know, we're really fortunate. 0:17:58.600 --> 0:18:02.360 So we've got people and capital, you know, coming here. 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:03.120 We're a magnet. 0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:05.879 How you balance that with folks who've been here for 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:08.680 generations and have been so much a part of building 0:18:08.680 --> 0:18:13.400 this community, and how we do what we can by 0:18:14.000 --> 0:18:19.040 you know, policy and community action to make sure that 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:23.480 the community feels as though it's sharing in this prosperity. 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:27.120 Realizing that you can't stay still. There's no way cities 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:29.400 or any other organization, but cities. 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:30.920 Can't be stagnant. We're going to grow. 0:18:31.440 --> 0:18:37.720 And how do you provide spaces that Charlotte teans who've 0:18:37.720 --> 0:18:41.639 been here for ten twenty fifty families here for one 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:45.920 hundred years, how they're participating and benefiting from that growth? 0:18:47.280 --> 0:18:47.760 One of them. 0:18:48.080 --> 0:18:49.920 I'd add one other piece, and I think. 0:18:51.600 --> 0:18:58.480 Looking for you know, looking, I think particularly about youth. 0:18:58.520 --> 0:19:01.320 I mean, one of the things that's been a huge 0:19:01.320 --> 0:19:03.080 benefit to my family. 0:19:03.359 --> 0:19:05.840 My son came here. We came here when my son 0:19:05.920 --> 0:19:06.400 was going. 0:19:06.240 --> 0:19:10.600 Into third grade and making sure that you know, we're 0:19:10.600 --> 0:19:14.040 doing all that we can for families and particularly for 0:19:14.240 --> 0:19:17.400 youth to benefit from. 0:19:17.160 --> 0:19:18.480 The know the good fortuite in the city. 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:23.439 Some of the policies that were discussing here, and you 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:25.680 just mentioned that youth and crime, and they will tell 0:19:25.680 --> 0:19:27.520 you for the last two or three years, like the 0:19:28.400 --> 0:19:32.200 youth in crime has been rampant, and that's been the 0:19:32.240 --> 0:19:36.440 biggest problem with CMPT every press conference because crime and youth, 0:19:36.760 --> 0:19:37.920 youth and crime, that's what. 0:19:37.840 --> 0:19:39.040 They like harp on a lot. 0:19:39.880 --> 0:19:42.160 Do you see a way where you can help CMPD 0:19:42.320 --> 0:19:46.120 to possibly offset that, whether it's either hiring more officers 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:48.920 or programs like you were talking about through the city 0:19:48.960 --> 0:19:50.480 and like trying to get things with the youth like 0:19:50.640 --> 0:19:52.600 you what do you see with that and trying to 0:19:52.680 --> 0:19:54.919 help out with the youth and lower youth crime. 0:19:55.280 --> 0:19:59.120 Yeah, So, I mean, I think public safety another priority 0:19:59.160 --> 0:20:01.600 for anyone to sit in the seat, folks. Folks have 0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:04.720 to not just be safe. And if you look at 0:20:04.720 --> 0:20:08.240 the the numbers year over year, you know the numbers 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:12.040 are are positive in the sense they're they're good trend. 0:20:12.640 --> 0:20:15.040 People also have to feel safe, and people have to 0:20:15.040 --> 0:20:18.240 feel safe across the community. It's not just in pockets 0:20:18.320 --> 0:20:21.719 or certain voices. You know, all of us, all folks 0:20:21.760 --> 0:20:24.480 in Charlotte's and visitors to Charlotte need to need to 0:20:24.480 --> 0:20:27.280 feel safe. You know, I look back at the budget 0:20:27.359 --> 0:20:32.200 that for next year, this year now that that I've inherited, that. 0:20:32.160 --> 0:20:33.240 Had already been worked through. 0:20:34.160 --> 0:20:38.080 You pleased to see that their increases in pay for 0:20:38.320 --> 0:20:43.160 first responders, for police officers, for firefighters. I think one 0:20:43.200 --> 0:20:46.960 of the other pieces for us is a community and 0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:51.360 this is you know, collaboration, because a key for us 0:20:51.480 --> 0:20:58.240 at this hi collaboration between you know, city, county, faith, community, nonprofits, 0:20:58.320 --> 0:21:02.600 others is how we continue to build outlets, you know, 0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:07.679 positive outlets for youth in the community from you know, 0:21:07.680 --> 0:21:11.520 I know the county has worked on you know, I'll 0:21:11.520 --> 0:21:13.920 miss the name, but you know they've worked on organized 0:21:13.920 --> 0:21:17.960 summer activities. If we can be a part of stitching 0:21:18.119 --> 0:21:23.000 together all of those pieces, you know, it's government, faith, communities, 0:21:23.920 --> 0:21:28.159 you know, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups to create you know, 0:21:28.320 --> 0:21:33.160 to to create and sustain a larger infrastructure for youth 0:21:33.880 --> 0:21:36.240 and put an emphasis on on doing that. 0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:40.359 Do you have a set schedule where you and Chief 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:43.600 of Stella Patterson, where you talk like every Monday at 0:21:43.680 --> 0:21:45.840 nine am or every two weeks, or do you guys 0:21:45.880 --> 0:21:47.800 just have a thing where you guys to get together 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:49.120 as set schedule you guys talk. 0:21:49.240 --> 0:21:51.280 If it's once a week, every other week, whatever it. 0:21:51.240 --> 0:21:53.080 Is, it's dire early. 0:21:53.119 --> 0:21:55.359 Yet you know the answer to that question is no, 0:21:55.480 --> 0:21:57.800 although we've probably talked. I mean I've been here now 0:21:58.960 --> 0:22:00.879 two weeks almost two so a week and a half, 0:22:01.480 --> 0:22:05.560 and we've talked multiple times during during that time. I 0:22:05.680 --> 0:22:09.120 have made it a priority to be in the building 0:22:09.640 --> 0:22:13.919 and accessible, you know, for this eighteen month period. I 0:22:14.000 --> 0:22:17.760 want to be available to the community and particularly available 0:22:17.840 --> 0:22:22.040 to the folks who work here, including the police chief 0:22:22.800 --> 0:22:27.119 in the council. And so I'm certainly accessible. And I 0:22:27.119 --> 0:22:29.280 think one thing we may want to explore is whether 0:22:29.320 --> 0:22:33.960 they're periodic meetings. But I think you take away some 0:22:34.000 --> 0:22:37.360 of the need for that if you're just here and available, 0:22:37.720 --> 0:22:39.679 and Chief Patterson knows she can reach out to me 0:22:39.720 --> 0:22:42.560 at any time, and I know the opposite is true. 0:22:42.320 --> 0:22:44.720