WCNC, Charlotte.
This is Flashpoint,
thanks for joining us here on Flashpoint.
I'm Ben Thompson, Charlotte.
New City Council is now set.
Tuesday's election didn't come away
with any real surprises or big upsets.
Mayor Vailes easily winning her
race wasn't even close there.
Democrats won all the cities councils at
large seats as they have for years now,
Dublish Mayor Braxton Winston will hold on to
their seats with two familiar but new faces.
James Smudgy Mitchell as well as
Lawanna Mayfield back on City Council.
After a break, the closest race of the night,
though District 6 take a look at this one
Republican incumbent Tarkari edging out
Democrat Stephanie Hand by just a few votes,
was a close one.
We'll talk to him coming up in just a
few minutes, but first joining us now.
The night's top vote getter Charlotte
City Councilman Dimple Ajmera Dimple.
Thanks for coming on.
We appreciate it.
Thank you so much for having me Ben
so because of the calendar you
you all have a one year term
basically one year and I think a
couple of months realistically.
What can get done in that time?
What do you think should
be Council's priority?
Externally constituent services is our
number one priority and just being available.
Being accountable, we have a lot going on.
As you know we got the UDOO,
which will be obviously currently
scheduled for this Council.
However it's a living and breathing
document that's going to be a blueprint for
how Charlotte grows for decades to come,
and there will be some
changes that might come.
After it's adopted,
so suddenly there is a lot that
we have to continue to keep an
eye on and monitor the progress
on Unified Development Ordinance.
We gotta fix our transportation issues,
especially reliability issues
and efficiency issues with cats.
And then we got.
We got to continue to deliver on
affordable housing address crime in
our city and infrastructure projects.
You mentioned the the UDOO.
I know you all are supposed
to vote on that coming up,
and in just a a few weeks.
But I help us understand because I
know you guys are supposed to vote.
I know it was. It's been a very narrow vote.
The last time this issue has come up.
So can you say will it pass
coming up in a few weeks?
I know that staff is continuing to
work through changes that's been
requested by the Community Council
members and business community.
So at this point it's all about
staff delivering on the promise.
Obviously we are not going
to make everyone happy,
and that's not the goal here,
but is to make sure that
majority of the Council agrees,
and I think that's what
staff is currently doing.
They're working through some of the changes.
To ensure that majority of the
Council is on board, it has been
are you in process? Are you a yes?
Well, as of right now I have
some changes that I'm working
through with our staff,
but certainly I'm supportive
of the UDOO document.
I was one of the supporters
for the 2040 plan,
but there are several changes
that need to be made so staff is
working through those changes.
What are the changes you're wanting?
Obviously we have some changes
that we are working through in
terms of green space, open space,
addressing displacement,
so there are several changes that are
needed to be made before the Council,
or at least before.
To address majority of
the Council's concerns, do
you think it could pass,
but pass with caveats that that
that you all are hoping to go
back and either change something
or do more in the new Council?
I mean, that's a possibility
because as I said Ben,
this is a living and breathing document.
This is not just one time process,
we are going to have to
continue to update the UDOO.
There might be unintended consequences
which we might find out later,
so we should be open minded about
making some of those changes
later on after that's adopted.
I want to talk about you and your and
your ambitions as the top vote getter.
Oftentimes that person is mayor Pro Tem.
I don't think there's anything in the
rules that say that's what happens.
I know in the past there's been a few
dust ups about whether or not that person
really should be mayor Pro Tem or not.
Do do you for one want to be
mayor Pro Tem and for two,
do you think you should be mayor Pro Tem?
Yes, I am interested in being a mayor.
Protem traditionally top vote getter.
Is Mayor Pro Tem like you said
and that's just been a tradition,
but that's also what Charlotteans decided,
right? There is a reason.
Charlotteans said, you know,
we want this person to be the
top vote getter and who will who
will serve as our mayor Pro Tem?
You came in with a A class of City
Council members a few years ago.
The sort of the the new Millennial
Council and came in with a lot of fanfare.
A lot of photo shoots,
a lot of coverage in in shows like this
and in the newspaper and things like that,
but it seems like there's been
more gridlock in recent years.
Do you think that's the product of good,
robust conversation and debates,
or or do you think that that is?
A A problem and a problem
that needs to be fixed.
Then I don't think there is
a gridlock to be honest.
I mean look at what Council
has successfully delivered.
We delivered on $50 million
affordable housing bond referendum.
We delivered multi $1,000,000 in relief
program to keep people in their homes,
especially during pandemic.
We delivered millions of dollars in business
relief to ensure that our businesses
not just thrive but survive through.
Difficult times and we delivered on
increased investments in our infrastructure,
especially bike lanes sidewalks.
We went from 15 to $50 million in
biking infrastructure sidewalks.
I mean sidewalks, infrastructure.
All of that was accomplished
without any property tax increase.
I think that's all something
we should all be proud of.
But as an organization,
obviously we are going to
have different personalities,
so it's time to set aside
our differences and.
Personality differences and just
work towards one goal and that is
to deliver on the promises that
we had all made to charlotteans.
The other big thing you guys are going to
be talking about in the next Council is,
you know, expanding the the current
transit system and mobility issues,
but they see the current issues with
cats and they say wait a second.
Cats isn't handling what it has right now.
How are we possibly going to add
a silver line or a red line?
Or or must more bus routes when we
can't handle the current bus routes?
Well, Ben, I share those concerns.
I share concerns around reliability
and effectiveness of our cats.
And currently there is a comprehensive
review of the department that is underway.
As you probably know,
we have hired a third party consulting
firm to do a comprehensive review and to
to actually give us a recommendations
on what can be done and that includes
our leadership and city manager,
City attorney and city clerk
reports to the City Council a cat's.
It's a direct report.
Of city manager.
They don't report to the City Council,
so we have to work through this Council
manager form of government and have
to work through our city manager to
hold our cats leadership accountable.
Alright Dibbles mayor the the
top vote getter as they sit
in the City Council races.
That's this past week.
Depo thank you as always,
we appreciate it.
Thank you so much Ben for having me.
I really appreciate it and Spencer.
Great seeing you virtually. That's right.
It's been to our producer Diplo.
Thanks we appreciate it.
More flash point after this.