Public urination concerns

Together with:

Happy Tuesday, Qcity!

MJ TICKET WINNERS: Congratulations, Shanè Smith & Wanda Robinson! See you Thursday at 2 p.m. Thanks to all who entered.

Today in History: In 1981, Serena Williams was born. Williams is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She earned an 858-156 win-loss record and more than $94 million in career prize winnings.

Today’s Hot Job: Read Charlotte is seeking a director of action research and evaluation.

NEWS & BUZZ

New affordable housing units

*The Lake Mist Apartments off Old Pineville Road in south Charlotte (Photo via Apartment Finder)*

Freedom Fighting Missionaries was awarded $2 million from Charlotte City Council last night to construct 37 affordable rental units for families with justice-system-invovlement.

“[Freedom Fighting Missionaries] has families who make $70,000 or $100,000 or more, but they still have a [criminal] background, and it makes it difficult for them to rent a place,” Kenneth Robinson, the organization’s founder and executive director, said.

Move-ins are expected to begin in 2025.

Public urination, defecation Uptown

*Uptown Charlotte. QCity Metro File Photo*

Monday night, Charlotte City Council discussed an ongoing concern in Uptown: people urinating and defecating in public spaces.

Residents in Fourth Ward brought up the concern last week.

Malcolm Graham, who represents District 2, said the city needs to address the problem, citing its relationship to the quality of life in Uptown.

Some of the behaviors can be attributed to a growing unhoused population in the Uptown area and a lack of access to bathroom facilities.

One solution offered is to enforce ordinances. But not everyone agrees with that.

At-large councilmember Braxton Winston expressed his disapproval of “increasing punitive measures against people in our community who are just trying to make it.”

The council is set to discuss the topic more on Wednesday.

PARTNER POST

Take control of your career path

Public agencies are looking for employees with strong leadership and organizational skills. Public employees need to be able to adapt to fast-paced demands while also being reliable, competent and effective professionals.

Gardner-Webb University’s 10-month MPA program is designed for working professionals. The program provides the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in upper management positions.

Take your career to the next level with Gardner-Webb.

Learn more

NEWS 2 USE

Free tests, light rail closures and more

FREE COVID TESTS: The federal government is offering free at-home Covid-19 tests. Get yours here.

LIGHT RAIL CLOSURE: LYNX Gold and Blue lines will be shut down for three days of maintenance. Make alternate travel arrangements Oct. 6-8

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS: CMS town halls with the superintendent are underway. Attend one of these upcoming sessions to share feedback with CMS leaders.

Sept. 28 – North Mecklenburg High School – 6 p.m.
Oct. 4 – East Mecklenburg High School – 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 – South Mecklenburg High School – 6 p.m.

PARTNER POST

Dive into the history of Black Barbie

The Charlotte Film Festival kicks off tomorrow with “Black Barbie: A Documentary.”

This film delves into the absence of Black images in the “social mirror” that left Black girls with few opportunities for self-reflection. Black Barbie celebrates Black women who refuse to be invisible.

Get your $12 tickets for Wed. Sept. 27 at 7:30 pm.

PARTNER POST

Women Thrive is almost here

Our first-ever Women Thrive Conference is next weekend, and there’s still time to get tickets!

Your $75 ticket includes:

7 sessions led by expert
Conference workbook
Access to our special Facebook group (you can request access now!)
Breakfast, coffee & pastries
Lunch

QUOTE OF THE DAY

‘I don’t care about the new building if we don’t have the right resources’

This comment was from a parent at a CMS town hall meeting Monday night at West Charlotte High School.

The disgruntled parent was concerned about the lack of resources available to students in the district.

During the meeting, parents and community members shared feedback with the district through an interactive app that displayed comments on the screen in real time. Some parents spoke openly.

Areas of concern ranged from career readiness, teacher recruitment and parent engagement, among others.

PARTNER POST

This entrepreneur mastered pivoting

It’s never too late to change career paths. Just ask Cheryl Ross.

During the pandemic, she decided to pivot from her high-contact hair-braiding business and start baking. Before long, she found her “sweet spot,” Baked by Ross.

Learn more about her journey.

More news

➡️ Local: Vasectomies are on the rise in Charlotte post-Roe v. Wade. (Axios Charlotte)

➡️ Education: The Department of Education selected two Charlotte area schools for the 2023 National Blue Ribbon School, a program that recognizes high-performing schools across the U.S. (News and Observer)

➡️ Health: The Medicaid expansion will launch Dec. 1 in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Monday after achieving what he’s sought for nearly seven years on the job and what’s possibly his biggest policy win. (AP News)