Friday Odds and Ends

Andy Dulin in Developer's Pockets? - You Betcha!



Early this week Andy Dulin (@ADulin) hit twitter with a couple of messages saying that the "Local Paper's" story on the Quail Corners Shopping Center re-zoning request portrayed him unfairly.

At issue is the rezoning that would allow a fast-food restaurant at Quail Corners shopping center on Park Road. Crosland says that without the fast-food re-zoning they can't give the Quail Corners a much needed face lift. Neighbors say no way and that a decades old agreement promised no fast food restaurant.



According to the paper "Crosland executives, attorneys from its law firm, K&L Gates, and the political action committee of the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition founded by Crosland donated at least $30,050 to the winning candidates during and after the 2009 city elections. "

In 2007 City Council voted 9-2 to rezone three acres in Dulin's district despite a city staff objection. It allowed a 10-story condo tower near single-family homes.

The rezoning was pushed by developer Afshin Ghazi, who is a generous campaign donor. He and his business associates had given more than $10,000 total to six of the council members who voted for the project, and Ghazi held a fundraiser for Republican Andy Dulin.

Dulin represents the Quail Corners area, accepted $4,050 from Crosland, K&L Gates and REBIC, which is 7 percent of his total for the last campaign.

Dulin says he hasn't decided how he'll vote. He said Crosland hasn't lobbied him.

"None. Zero. Not a single sentence, not a word of you owe us," Dulin told the "Local Paper". "As a matter of fact, I had breakfast with Peter B. Pappas (Crosland's lead on the project) on a separate subject, and it didn't come up."

Cedar's Take: Bullshit, I know Peter Pappas and it didn't have to come up.

But Dulin isn't the only one on the take, after the January 24 zoning hearing, council member Edwin Peacock told a group opposing the change that "council members know the developers and the attorneys well, and that they had good will with the city."

Peacock said he was trying to relay the message that Crosland and K&L Gates have a long history with the city. Peacock, whose 2009 campaign took in $3,150 from REBIC's PAC, Crosland executives and K&L Gates attorneys.

Cedar's Take Two: Least we forget the Quail Hollow Village at Seven Eagles across the street that remains an over grown weed covered field with a 3 acre stagnant pond. Thanks to Charlotte City Council and Harris Land Company.

City Attorney Offers to Settle Less Than 48 Hours After Jackson Victim Suit Filed. According to sources Charlotte City Attorney has offered to settle the latest law suit at whatever level is fair and makes sense for all parties involved.

Sources tell Cedar Posts the offer on the table is only $18,000.00.

The Local Paper's Editorial Board says going to trial would benefit the public you can read the entire editorial here.

Cedar's Take: RoMo again escapes.

Jennifer Roberts Proposes Massive Tax Hike - Despite the fact that North Carolina state law requires that county's adopt revenue neutral tax rates following a property revaluation Mecklenburg County Chair Jennifer Roberts is proposing a neutral tax rate which would generate a massive tax increase.

In 2003 the General Assembly added subsection (e) to North Carolina General Statute (hereinafter G.S.) 159-11, which requires each taxing unit (County and City) to publish a revenue-neutral property tax rate (“revenue-neutral rate”) as part of its budget for the fiscal year following the revaluation of its real property. You can read about revenue-neutral and how is should be addressed here.

Do you remember Mecklenburg County Assessor Garrett Alexander saying "just because your home has increased in value doesn't mean you'll see a tax increase"? Well guess what?

Cedar's Take: You're getting a tax increase.

School Board Member Stands By Statement - CMS School Board Member Rhonda Lennon sent a rather dismissive and rude series of emails to a CMS parent, which Cedar Posts linked to here on Monday.

Yesterday Lennon agreed to talk with News Channel 36 saying that "she's gotten some heat, but she's spoken to others who agree with her message and she stands by what she said. "Probably the only thing I would have said differently would be that I do think that children need to find something other than sports to motivate them. We're here for academic success. That's our job," she said."

Cedar's Take: I find it hard to believe anyone would agree with her tone. You can read the emails here on Jeff Taylor's Meck Deck Blog.

CMPD Report on Tisdale Death - According to sources Chief Monroe's investigation of Delvonte Tisdale's death and the breech of security at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is complete. In the report delivered to aviation director Jerry Orr, CMPD investigators turn up numerous places Tisdale could have breached the fence otherwise the document turns up nothing new, citing inconclusive evidence and no firm theories.

The report notes that the railroad tracks on the north side of the airport make a straight run to Tisdale's home. At the airport the tracks are less than 100 yards from the fence on the north end of runway 18L/36R, the runway that the Boston bound flight departed from on the night of Tisdale's death. The exact place that Cedar Posts suggested was the point entry for Delvonte Tisdale.

The report has not been made public.

TSA and Homeland Security will meet today to discuss the Tisdale case and other security breeches.

Cheris Hodges pens a detailed review of what we know at Creative Loafing which is here and the local paper takes Aviation Director Jerry Orr to task here.