Welcome back to Flashpoint, Charlotte.
City leaders trying to move forward with
big plans for transit here in Charlotte.
Council now trying to figure out the best
way to fund a $13.5 billion transit plan.
And now they need help from state
lawmakers in Raleigh to get a
key referendum on the ballot.
Joining us now, Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem,
the new Pro team we should add
since his last visit to Flashpoint.
Braxton Winston Braxton,
thanks for coming on. We appreciate it.
Thanks for having been good to see you.
Good to see you as always.
Sorry. So this week,
members of City Council hearing
about plans to revitalize the
transportation center up, down.
I know you guys have decided
to move it underground.
Big plans to add dozens of restaurants,
sharps, shops there in the heart of Uptown.
The consultants I think that you
guys heard from had the idea of
branding these sort of developments,
these districts and could bring
in $137 million.
I just want to get you on the record.
Do you think that's feasible?
What do you think of this plan?
I absolutely think is is feasible.
I think it's a good plan or it's
a good start of a plan and and
and I think it's a good approach.
You know as we're entering new
phases of public private partnership,
we of course are trying to figure
out how to best utilize the the
resources that those public
private partnerships provide.
When we look at our our transit
investments and especially in our
Uptown area we're trying to fit,
you're always trying to figure out.
How to make give the best utility
for people to to use.
So when we look at the the future
of the CTC the Spectrum Center the
the the epicenter that is close by
that is going to be reimagined in the
the the the massive investments that
have been made on on the gold line.
How do you squeeze the most juice
out out of that and I think this
this entertainment district this
cultural district this transit
district is is a wonderful approach.
Last week, Charlotte City Council
transportation chair Ed Driggs was
was on the show and he said he doesn't
think the city will be able to get
that one cent sales tax referendum
on the ballot this November.
He just doesn't think that there's
enough agreement among stakeholders.
You guys, folks up in Raleigh,
do you think that's a fair assessment?
Because I know there were hopes
that it could happen this year.
Well, again another thing about
the transit district, right,
is it brings an innovative approach
to revenue building, right.
Again, this is something that
we have to figure out on.
We, we know we have limited options to to to,
to to generate revenue and new revenue
to invest in transit, but we have.
So we have to keep being innovative.
You know when it comes to
the one cent sales tax,
you know like I've said in the past,
we have to look folks in the eye and
tell them what we want and why we
need the things that we want and.
Out that works not just on a city level
but on a regional level and on a state level.
You can't imagine that you know
these new concepts are going to
just happen at a snap of a finger.
These are conversations that are
going to have to be worked on and and
and and and massage doubt over time.
But just because people are might
not be there yet that that that
that is even more reason why we
should start that conversation.
To generate that revenue then
to inform and engage about why
this is actually necessary.
I have high confidence that we will
get there because at the at the end
of the day the Charlotte region is
the economic lungs of this state.
And and there is,
there is an interest in in this
state to keep people and goods
moving in and through Charlotte.
And at the end of the day I don't
think people will will sabotage
that once they understand that.
As mayor Pro Tem and a leader
there on City Council,
where do things stand with this plan,
this $13.5 billion plan?
Because it doesn't seem like there's been,
I'm sure there's behind the
scenes progress being made, but,
but at least to all of our eyes,
it doesn't seem like there's
a lot of progress being made.
We had Tim Moore on the
show back a month or so ago.
He's recently expressed sort
of skepticism about the plan,
as you know.
So where do things stand as far as
getting the stakeholders in this thing?
Engaged and actually making some progress.
Well we have work to do like you
said there are a ton of there's a ton
of work to do whether it be behind
the scenes or on public forums.
I was just meeting with the mayor and
Commissioner up in Cornelius this this
week and we were talking about the
needs and and and level setting of
of of of how are our infrastructures
don't right now and need to work
together in in the in the future.
So you know at the end of the day
nobody can deny that we need better.
Eyeworks we we need more transportation
options and more places whether that be
bus whether that be rail whether that
be walking whether that that be biking.
You know the the the current
status is is is is not OK.
But I will say I think it starts with
our City Council and we have some
work to do to to provide a clear
path forward and a clear consensus
about what our priorities are and.
And and you know so that's really
what I'm focused on right now is,
is how do we get a a clear
message through with City Council.
So even though we might have different
approaches and ultimately we might
have different priorities as we look
at this this entire city that we're
able to to to bring a clear message to
the Community to our partners in in
those conversations whether they be
a behind the scenes or or in public forums.
Would you be OK with the idea that's
been floated about front loading.
Plan by focusing on expanding roads first.
Absolutely. You know I I'm I'm for for
getting dirt moving because again you know
I'm down here in Steel Creek right now
and and and and and the issues that we
have are that we don't have the local Rd.
networks to facilitate good movement in in
in rush hours or or or throughout the day.
We have one of the worst Rd.
networks of all major cities whether that
be in America or all across the world.
We have to fix that.
We have solutions that can that can.
We have solutions for problems
that are on the ground right now.
We know that we have hundreds of
miles of sidewalks that that need
to to be created or improved and
and I don't want to wait you know
for decades to to get dirt moving
when we we have problems that have
solutions that can be started.
Now
what would your message be to
Republican lawmakers in Raleigh?
My my message is that there,
there is common ground here that
this is not a political debate.
This is honest, honestly,
not even urban, rural divide debate.
What we need to do is get back to
the history of North Carolina in
the history of of of our urban
areas like Charlotte, Greensboro,
Winston-Salem and Raleigh that that
created an economic engine for,
for those rural places in the
South to bring our goods that
can be processed and sold on the
market throughout the rest of this.
Country and the rest of the world
we've done these these things before,
you know that's why Charlotte exists.
It's been a logistical place
to move goods in and through.
And if so,
if we want to take a make most of our
port and Wilmington in the 74 corridor,
if we want to make the best
use of our 85 corridor,
95 and 77,
we're going to have to make those
infrastructure investments to
again keep these economic lungs.
Of of of of the State Clear.
So that investment and and and
those resources can be spread
throughout the state.
Final question more about you
than it is an issue at this point.
I think our viewers,
most people know your your, your story.
You came to be known back in 2016 as
as a protester during racial unrest
here in a concerned citizen. Citizen.
No, that's fair. That's fair too.
The Council did really well,
then became mayor Pro Tem last year.
What future plans do you have, if any?
Well, my future plans is to get this in
investment made in our transportation
and and and transit system so that we
can again have the generational shifts
that that are needed to provide an
affordable and equitable Community,
whether that's in the city,
this region or for the entire state.
We have a lot of work to do.
We're proud of the work that we
did up in through the election
last year and I'm looking forward
to taking a page out of that book.
People are working and moving forward.
Would you have any interest
in being mayor one day?
I I'm interested in being a City
Council member and at large and
and and working through this mayor
Pro Tem responsibility that I have.
Anything other than that like
I said is is going to be.
Made a decision is going to be
made in concert with what is
best for for my family.
Understandable.
Understandable. All right.
Braxton Winston, thanks as always.
We appreciate it. All right, Ben.
Have a great day.
All right. You too.
More flash point after this.