With the highly publicized murder that took place recently, our state Auditor produced an audit examining safety on Charlotte’s light rail. Certain issues were identified contributing to a lack of safety.
I have some familiarity with Charlotte’s system. Riders access it at street level; and there is no controlled entry/exit point or turnstiles at the various stops. More importantly, paying one’s fare is almost exclusively on the honors system. Locals have known for years that they do not have to pay to use the system. You just jump aboard, and nobody checks whether you paid.
A violent, deranged individual can easily access the system without having to pay. That means more of these folks will find a home there.
Charlotte leadership for many years– like the leadership in Greensboro– was puffed up with pride in their own success and their perceived ability to manage things well. However, an instance like this murder reveals a gaping hole into which all the pride and pretension collapses.
They need to fix this, and assure people have to pay. I have no doubt state and/or federal money was used to build this light rail; and we ought to expect it will be managed appropriately.
Leaders in Charlotte are wannabe like Atlanta. The usual urban problems in the Queen City are the result of the if it feels good, do it policies. A lack of law and order is at the heart of this dilemma.
Absolutely, Fred. Local officials, the criminal justice system– mostly democratic socialists– bear primary responsibility. They need tighter law enforcement and more responsible handling of cases.
We also need tougher laws and more people imprisoned for longer periods of time. We also need the death penalty when appropriate.
The Republicans in Raleigh and Washington share some responsibility also with their jailbreak bills and shutdowns of prisons. In Washington, folks like Trump and Mark Walker wanted to show blacks how much we love them by letting them out of prison. Raleigh Republicans wanted to save money on imprisoning people and shut down prison space.
We also need institutionalization of certain mentally ill.