Get on the Bus to Fight Crime: Mayor Wants Caravan to Influence Legislators
By Greg Lacour, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.
Jan. 27–Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory wants to round up as many people as he can, put them into buses at Cricket Arena and ride to Raleigh to demand that the N.C. General Assembly fix what he refers to as a “broken” state criminal justice system.
In November he announced the plan for a “Caravan to Raleigh for Public Safety,” and he released the specifics Friday: The trip will be Feb. 13, and participants — including elected officials, tourism industry representatives and ordinary Charlotteans — will meet with legislators for five hours.
The mayor, who has spoken often lately about his frustration with repeat offenders in Charlotte, said he understands this won’t be the first time lawmakers will have heard such a plea. But he said he hopes hearing it from people who aren’t elected officials will give the message extra resonance.
McCrory blames repeat offenders for much of the city’s crime. Many have had their sentences reduced or suspended because the court system is overloaded, but also underfunded by the state, he argued.
He and other city officials are pushing specific measures:
–Funding of N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker’s budget request.
–Support of regionwide anti-gang efforts, including laws allowing the seizure of gang assets and loosening of student confidentiality laws when the juveniles are gang members.
–Funding for more jail space and more prosecutors statewide.
Want to Go?
Participants in the caravan will meet in the Cricket Arena parking lot on Independence Boulevard at 6 a.m. Feb. 13. Cost before Friday is $25 per person for a guaranteed space; from next Saturday through Feb. 7, it’s $75 per person and based on availability. For more information and a registration form, go to www.charmeck.org/ Departments/Mayor/ Caravan+to+Raleigh, or e-mail or call Dennis Marstall at dmarstall@ci.charlotte .nc.us, 704-336-3980.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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