1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:05,599 Speaker 1: What's going on? 2 00:00:05,759 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:10,080 is heard live every day from noon to three on 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,839 WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you want exclusive content 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,160 like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, my daily 6 00:00:17,199 --> 00:00:19,239 show prep with all of the links, become a patron, 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,600 go to thepeakclendarshow dot com. Make sure you hit the 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 9 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,719 smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for 10 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,519 your support. All Right, so Tuesday at noon we always 11 00:00:31,559 --> 00:00:33,640 talk to Andrew Dunn. He is the publisher of long 12 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:37,280 Leaf Politics. Longleafpol dot com is the website. He's also 13 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,880 a contributing columnist to The Charlotte Observer. Andrew, how are you. 14 00:00:42,439 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 3: I'm good, great to be back. 15 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: Yes, and I was listening to your appearance on the 16 00:00:47,119 --> 00:00:50,399 Do Politics Better podcast. Good job over there. I enjoy 17 00:00:50,439 --> 00:00:54,119 the conversation. Yeah. So, all right, a couple of things 18 00:00:54,119 --> 00:00:55,799 to get to with you today, because you are a 19 00:00:55,799 --> 00:00:59,960 prolific producer of content. So let's start over at your 20 00:01:00,079 --> 00:01:03,759 or your website, long Leaf Politics. You write about the 21 00:01:03,759 --> 00:01:06,519 map wars in North Carolina. You and I have covered 22 00:01:06,599 --> 00:01:10,760 redistricting for probably like twenty years and it's like virtually NonStop, 23 00:01:10,799 --> 00:01:13,879 about every other year, it seems like we're we're covering 24 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,200 court cases and map redraws and everything else. You court battles, 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,840 emergency maps and secret files. 26 00:01:20,879 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: You write. 27 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,719 Speaker 2: While it was never something the average voter really cared about, 28 00:01:24,799 --> 00:01:27,959 it was a great political tool. So explain how is 29 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,719 it a great political tool? 30 00:01:29,799 --> 00:01:31,239 Speaker 1: The redistricting fights. 31 00:01:32,159 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 3: Right, Well, for fifteen years there for Democrats, you know, 32 00:01:36,239 --> 00:01:39,959 it was a rallying cry. You know, Republicans have stacked 33 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,000 the deck, They've rigged the elections through drawing unfair maps 34 00:01:44,159 --> 00:01:47,879 and different political figures. You know, Jeff Jackson being a 35 00:01:47,879 --> 00:01:49,799 big one, you know, made that a big part of 36 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,000 their pitch is you know, I'm finding back against Republicans 37 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:58,959 and against jerrymandering. But now with Texas and California about 38 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,239 to touch off the jerry mandering arms race, there seems 39 00:02:02,239 --> 00:02:06,760 to be a renewed appreciation for districts drawn by politicians. 40 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,240 So the energy around it is going to be completely 41 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:11,400 gone in North Carolina. 42 00:02:11,759 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, you're right that the California Texas fight is bringing 43 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,080 the nation towards a redistricting army rate arms race. The 44 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,360 quote fair maps issue is toast and I've been saying 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,680 this for years, which is when Democrats say fair maps, 46 00:02:23,719 --> 00:02:26,800 what they mean are maps that benefit them more than 47 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,159 Republicans or than more than they otherwise would. 48 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: And so I've never bought this line. 49 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: And you write about what's happening in Texas and in 50 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,879 California may take this issue completely out of the hands 51 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,319 of North Carolina Democrats. 52 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:45,599 Speaker 1: So why do you say that? 53 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 4: Right? 54 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 3: So, yeah, I'm against engineering outcomes when it comes to 55 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,400 political redistricting. You know, when you look at what the 56 00:02:55,439 --> 00:02:58,520 Democrats were asking for in the last round of court cases, 57 00:02:58,599 --> 00:03:01,800 what they wanted, you know, their whole argument was North 58 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,360 Carolina is a fifty to fifty state, more or less, 59 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,639 so the congressional district should have fifty to fifty outcomes. 60 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,159 It should be seven seats for Republicans, seven seats for Democrats. 61 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:15,240 And that's what the court actually mandated. And I want 62 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,280 to say it was twenty twenty two or twenty three. 63 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,280 And you know that's just a gerrymander. That's just as 64 00:03:21,319 --> 00:03:24,719 significant as anything that the Republicans did. You know, I 65 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,080 would I would classify any plan that is trying to 66 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,520 engineer the outcomes as a jerrymander. So I'm in favor 67 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,400 of some reforms to this whole process. I don't think 68 00:03:35,479 --> 00:03:37,599 it should be taken out of the hands of the legislature, 69 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,800 but we could put some more guardrails around it that 70 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,159 basically tries to keep geographic areas together as much as possible. 71 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,319 I think that's what the you know, the intention is 72 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,599 for districts is for them to represent a cohesive area 73 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:53,199 of the state. 74 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, in North Carolina has rules, right the Democrats refer 75 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,199 to them as the clusters, but refer to them as 76 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:05,080 the groupings, right, Like, there are a good amount of 77 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:08,360 rules for the legislative races that they have to adhere 78 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,800 to keeping counties whole. You can't cut up as you know, 79 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:13,840 a lot of counties. You can't split precincts and like 80 00:04:13,879 --> 00:04:16,040 that sort of thing. So and you've got like these 81 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,079 groupings of counties that belong together because of their you know, 82 00:04:21,199 --> 00:04:24,680 historical similarities and such. So there are some rules, but 83 00:04:24,759 --> 00:04:27,079 they don't really apply right at the federal level as 84 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:27,759 I understand it. 85 00:04:29,319 --> 00:04:30,399 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right. 86 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,319 Speaker 3: And the other big thing is, you know, those rules 87 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,879 basically lock in seventy five percent of the district. There's 88 00:04:37,959 --> 00:04:40,199 nothing that the General Assembly could do about it. But 89 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:45,959 you know, on the margins, especially in urban suburban exurban areas, 90 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,759 there's some wiggle room that I think we could tighten 91 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:49,480 it up a little bit. 92 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 4: Yeah. 93 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,759 Speaker 2: So, yeah, the argument that we heard, as you mentioned, 94 00:04:52,759 --> 00:04:56,480 this proportional argument that you know, well, we got fifty 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,199 percent of the votes, so we should get fifty percent 96 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,319 of the seats. But that like, but the candidates matter 97 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,600 and the offices matter, and that's why that proportional argument 98 00:05:05,639 --> 00:05:07,879 to your point, like, yeah, you're trying to fix the 99 00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:11,079 outcome based on some past election. You know, are you 100 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:14,360 using presidential races, are you using voter registration, are you 101 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:18,480 using governor's races. It's so I always found that to 102 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:22,959 be just a most convenient argument for whatever the time 103 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,600 was that they were trying to make the argument. And 104 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,639 now that's all blown up. I agree with you, it's 105 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:31,000 all blown up there. This fair proportional argument doesn't really 106 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,560 hold water when we compare you know, what's going on 107 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,040 in Democrat controlled states, which ironically are the states that 108 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,279 the Texas Democrats fled to in order to prove that 109 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,040 jerrymandering is bad, which is kind of a oh. 110 00:05:42,959 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean some of those Illinois districts. 111 00:05:45,199 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 4: Yeah insane, Yeah. 112 00:05:47,199 --> 00:05:49,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just nuts, all right. So let's talk let 113 00:05:49,959 --> 00:05:52,839 me shift gears, and let's talk transportation. First up is 114 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,959 toll roads. You got a piece of the Charlotte Observer 115 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,199 talking about how we used to be called the good 116 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,040 Road State. I think when I started as a reporter 117 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:05,720 back in like two thousand, I would hear that, Moniker, 118 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,680 But I don't think i've heard it in about fifteen years. 119 00:06:10,639 --> 00:06:13,079 And so I will admit I'm sort of in the 120 00:06:13,079 --> 00:06:16,720 camp mostly of the user fee as a as a 121 00:06:16,759 --> 00:06:20,439 way to fund roads, right Like, it's a user fee. 122 00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:21,879 If you're going to use this lane, you're going to 123 00:06:21,959 --> 00:06:25,040 use these roads, you pay extra. But you say in 124 00:06:25,079 --> 00:06:27,839 this piece that, and I think you're correct that there 125 00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:32,240 should be a different approach depending on the kind of 126 00:06:32,319 --> 00:06:35,560 road and the history of the road. In essence, is 127 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,480 it a long time main road in a city. Rather, 128 00:06:41,519 --> 00:06:44,600 you shouldn't be slapping tolls on those existing. 129 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 3: Roads, right you know. And the biggest example was actually 130 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,079 up in Raleigh Capital Boulevard, which is a main route 131 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,879 into downtown Raleigh. There is a plan to slap a 132 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,279 toll on that as part of a renovation project. No 133 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,639 new lanes or anything, just putting a toll on that. 134 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,240 And the argument against it is, you know, people build 135 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,160 their whole lives around how they're going to get to 136 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,040 and from work, and you know they make choices about 137 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,759 where to live based on those arrangements. And if you're 138 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:19,199 going to all of a sudden start tolling somebody for that, 139 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,319 you know, it pulls the rug out from under them. 140 00:07:22,639 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, new highway, you could make a case for that 141 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,360 because it's a new highway and it's when it comes online, 142 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:31,519 it's going to be a toll road or have toll 143 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:36,000 lanes in it, So that's more of a defensible position, 144 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,160 I would say. But I do, yeah, I do tend 145 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,279 to agree, like with the example you've given, Like, that's 146 00:07:41,519 --> 00:07:43,759 that's not cool because people, like you said, they've bought 147 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,800 a house, they've got a commute time, they built all 148 00:07:45,839 --> 00:07:48,519 of that in to where they were going to live 149 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,920 versus where they work, and now they're going to have 150 00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:53,959 to pay additional money just on the commute to get 151 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,439 to this job that they took based on, you know, 152 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:01,759 a salary calculation with no tolls, and that all changes 153 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,120 if you slap a new toll on it. 154 00:08:04,079 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 3: Exactly and the Monroe Expressway is a good example of, 155 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,519 you know, a new highway construction with a toll that 156 00:08:10,879 --> 00:08:13,319 nobody seems to have a big problem with. I in fact, 157 00:08:13,319 --> 00:08:16,519 I really like taking it. The tolls are too bad 158 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,720 and I get where I'm going really quick. 159 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: Yes, it's probably my favorite toll road. I completely agree 160 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,879 on the Monroe Bypass. Let me also, I need to 161 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,839 point out NCDOT, as you write, is taking public comment 162 00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:34,440 on its long range plan, So if people want to 163 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,039 weigh in on this, they can do that on the 164 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:41,559 North Carolina dot website. So that's important information to relay 165 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,519 to people. Also, we have the Transit plan. It's going 166 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:49,559 to be on the November ballot. The proposal is to 167 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,519 add a one cent sales tax for transit roads and buses. 168 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,360 It has brought, you say, the political edges together, not 169 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,639 just in support, just not in suppor rather, yeah, because 170 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:04,759 i've seen you know, conservatives oppose this plan and you 171 00:09:04,879 --> 00:09:08,039 got action and see people on the left they're opposing 172 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,120 this plan. But you make the point that if the 173 00:09:12,159 --> 00:09:15,320 referendum fails, chances are we're not going to get another 174 00:09:15,799 --> 00:09:17,480 plan for a very long time. 175 00:09:18,919 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: That's exactly right. I mean it was a pretty herculean 176 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,559 task to get this on the ballot to begin with. 177 00:09:24,919 --> 00:09:28,519 You know, Representative Tricia Costam really had an impossible job 178 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,279 and was able to get it over the finish line. Now, 179 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,200 just you know the fact that this is a one 180 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,799 time deal, which it is, this is our one shot 181 00:09:35,879 --> 00:09:38,320 for it. That in and of itself is not to 182 00:09:38,399 --> 00:09:43,279 me a compelling argument to vote for it, but because 183 00:09:43,879 --> 00:09:46,799 the plan has gotten to a point where I think 184 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,799 it's worthy of the voters of Charlotte to support. You know, 185 00:09:49,879 --> 00:09:52,639 the big one for me is the red line. I mean, 186 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,679 the law requires that the red line gets started before 187 00:09:55,759 --> 00:09:58,799 anything else happened. I mean, that's been a broken promise 188 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,919 to the people who live up Lake Norman for gosh, 189 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,759 going on thirty years now. You know, that should have 190 00:10:04,799 --> 00:10:07,440 been done twenty thirty years ago, and now it's finally 191 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,960 going to get done. But for me, the bigger thing is, 192 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,399 you know, you look at where growth is coming in 193 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,240 North Carolina. It's happening all around the city of Charlotte. 194 00:10:16,279 --> 00:10:18,279 You know, we talked a couple of weeks ago about 195 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,399 albumar Al being one of the top growing places in 196 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,120 the in the country and for the city of Charlotte. 197 00:10:25,159 --> 00:10:27,600 For the region of Charlotte to continue to grow the 198 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:29,440 way we want it to so that we can have 199 00:10:29,639 --> 00:10:33,480 jobs and opportunities, there's got to be a better way 200 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,279 to get people in and out of the center of Charlotte. 201 00:10:36,279 --> 00:10:40,320 And just looking at how much highway projects cost these days, 202 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,399 it makes rail and other transit a lot more appealing. 203 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,679 Speaker 2: What of the argument that this increase. The Charlotte Observer 204 00:10:48,759 --> 00:10:50,960 did a story on this. They crunched them. Oh no, sorry. 205 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,159 The Charlotte Ledger did a story. They crunched the numbers, 206 00:10:53,159 --> 00:10:54,559 I believe, and they said that this is going to 207 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:59,360 be a larger increase a tax increase basically through your 208 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,399 purchases on this sales tax. It's a larger increase than 209 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,480 the last city and county property tax increases of the 210 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,279 last two years combined. So all at once, the average 211 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,480 taxpayer is going to be spending probably about two hundred 212 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,759 and eighty bucks between two fifty two eighty a year, 213 00:11:16,879 --> 00:11:19,200 and that's more than they would be paying than they 214 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,799 are paying in the additional property tax increases. So how 215 00:11:22,799 --> 00:11:23,919 do you address that argument? 216 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's a decent argument, and there's you know, 217 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:31,120 like we were saying earlier. Everybody can pull their own 218 00:11:31,279 --> 00:11:35,440 numbers to justify their position, but the reality is, I mean, 219 00:11:35,519 --> 00:11:39,559 this is the only mechanism we have for funding transit 220 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,200 projects right now. There's not really many other options. I mean, 221 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,039 I guess conceivably we could try to get a bond, 222 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,480 a statewide bonds reference. I mean, that's never going to happen, So, 223 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,159 you know, like it or not, this is the way. 224 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,960 This is the funding that we have for transit, so 225 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:58,679 I think we should take advantage of it. 226 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,399 Speaker 2: You also make recommendation that the transit authority that would 227 00:12:02,399 --> 00:12:06,919 be newly created under this bill if it passes, that 228 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,120 the plan would include this transit authority, and that if 229 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,360 they're smart, you say, they will fill this transit authority 230 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:18,320 with Republicans and business leaders who have credibility with state lawmakers. 231 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,519 And yeah, I don't see that happening. 232 00:12:23,639 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: No, it's I mean, it's a long shot, but I 233 00:12:25,759 --> 00:12:27,799 feel like I need to fight the good sight on this. 234 00:12:28,279 --> 00:12:31,720 I mean, if Charlotte wants any tweaks down the line, 235 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,440 if it wants any flexibility on how it's going to 236 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,159 use all this transit money, you know, if the referendum 237 00:12:37,159 --> 00:12:39,960 are to pass, they're going to need to have messengers 238 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,440 who have credibility with the General Assembly. You know, we've 239 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,519 seen with what Auditor Dave Bullock's been doing with the 240 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,919 DMB that the General Assembly is willing to work with 241 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,720 folks and open the purse strings if the message that 242 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,600 they're getting is reasonable and fact based. And so it 243 00:12:57,639 --> 00:13:01,399 would behoove the City of Charlot the County of Mecklenburg 244 00:13:01,519 --> 00:13:06,240 to put real, credible, smart transportation minded people on this 245 00:13:06,399 --> 00:13:09,039 authority so that we can make sure that we get 246 00:13:09,399 --> 00:13:12,320 the best transit possible over the next twenty thirty years. 247 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:14,759 Speaker 2: Andrew Donn you can read his work at not only 248 00:13:14,799 --> 00:13:17,519 The Charlotte Observer, where he is a contributing columnist, but 249 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,440 also his website long Leaf Politics longleafpol dot com. Andrew 250 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:22,960 always going to talk with you, Sarah, Thank you. 251 00:13:23,759 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 4: Thank you. 252 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: I take care. 253 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 5: You know. 254 00:13:25,759 --> 00:13:28,279 Speaker 2: Stories are powerful. They help us make sense of things, 255 00:13:28,279 --> 00:13:31,720 to understand experiences. Stories connect us to the people of 256 00:13:31,759 --> 00:13:35,080 our past while transcending generations. They help us process the 257 00:13:35,159 --> 00:13:38,559 meaning of life, and our stories are told through images 258 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:42,440 and videos. Preserve your stories with Creative Video. Started in 259 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,320 nineteen ninety seven and Minhill, North Carolina. It was the 260 00:13:45,399 --> 00:13:49,279 first company to provide this valuable service, converting images, photos 261 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:53,600 and videos into high quality produced slide shows, videos and albums. 262 00:13:53,759 --> 00:13:57,120 The trusted, talented and dedicated team at Creative Video will 263 00:13:57,159 --> 00:13:59,200 go over all of the details with you to create 264 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,080 a perfect prime satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off in person 265 00:14:03,159 --> 00:14:04,879 or mail them. They'll be ready in a week or two. 266 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:10,360 Memorial videos for your loved ones, videos for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, 267 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,639 family vacations, birthdays, or just your family stories, all told 268 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,399 through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They 269 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,279 are your life told through the eyes of everyone around 270 00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:23,559 you and all who came before you. And they will 271 00:14:23,559 --> 00:14:26,919 tell others to come who you are, visit creative video 272 00:14:27,159 --> 00:14:30,639 dot com. We'll go over to the phone lines and 273 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,039 chat with Craig. Hello, Craig, Welcome to the show. 274 00:14:33,639 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 4: Hello. Hey, So, like, I know someone who writes public 275 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,080 transportation regularly and they have to catch multiple buses and 276 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,240 sometimes use a transit center with the light rail, and 277 00:14:46,279 --> 00:14:49,120 they said that essentially people are just riding this for 278 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,919 free because enforcement, especially on buses, enforcement of payment can 279 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,080 result in assault of the bus driver. Yeah, so they 280 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,679 were pretty much. And I'll a lot of these bus 281 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,320 routes are just carrying homeless and just other drug addicts 282 00:15:04,799 --> 00:15:06,720 around the city to give them something to do during 283 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,840 the day. It's a massive, massive waste to even have 284 00:15:10,879 --> 00:15:13,480 a bus system. Honestly, the light roll makes a little 285 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,840 more sense, but they're still not pulling in money. I mean, 286 00:15:18,759 --> 00:15:20,159 you don't even have to buy a ticket. You can 287 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,120 just sit there with your phone open and if somebody, 288 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,240 if the police board the strengths the center, you can 289 00:15:25,279 --> 00:15:27,240 just purchase the ticket immediately and show it to them. 290 00:15:27,279 --> 00:15:28,759 So you can get away with like a month or 291 00:15:28,759 --> 00:15:31,960 more without even buying a ticket. So they need to 292 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,720 really start enforcing that and make these people pay their 293 00:15:34,799 --> 00:15:38,200 fair share for their transportation costs, and that way we 294 00:15:38,279 --> 00:15:41,759 won't have people paying the equivalent of one or two 295 00:15:42,919 --> 00:15:46,120 streaming subscriptions extra each month to pay for basically people 296 00:15:46,159 --> 00:15:49,120 who don't contribute much to society to move around. Well. 297 00:15:49,159 --> 00:15:51,399 Speaker 2: I don't know about I mean, you're saying contribute much 298 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,399 to society or painting with a very broad brush. So 299 00:15:53,399 --> 00:15:56,320 I'm not going to get into like personal generalizations about people. 300 00:15:56,399 --> 00:16:00,919 But the I think the more successful rails systems. 301 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:03,039 Speaker 1: That you have have that kind of enforcement. 302 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 2: I mean, you look at the train system in New York, 303 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:10,480 the subways, and they've got you know, those the turnstiles, right, 304 00:16:10,519 --> 00:16:14,039 and they you know, throughout history, they kind of they 305 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,720 slack off on enforcement, and they step it up for 306 00:16:16,759 --> 00:16:20,039 the fair jumpers, right, because you have to enforce the 307 00:16:20,519 --> 00:16:23,559 fairs in order to at the point of entry, and 308 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,639 our system doesn't really have that. You know, you can walk, 309 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:28,159 like you said, you can walk right up to the 310 00:16:28,159 --> 00:16:32,000 platforms and get on the train and not even pay 311 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,720 for a ticket. And if you don't get caught by 312 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,960 somebody walking around, then yeah, you're gonna ride for free. 313 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,679 So yeah, I think there's a problem with our system, 314 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,320 with the with the enforcement side and to prevent the 315 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:44,080 fair jumpers. 316 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:45,559 Speaker 1: I appreciate the call. Craig. 317 00:16:45,879 --> 00:16:47,679 Speaker 2: All right, if you're listening to this show, you know 318 00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:49,759 I try to keep up with all sorts of current events, 319 00:16:49,759 --> 00:16:51,840 and I know you do too, And you've probably heard 320 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,919 me say get your news from multiple sources. Why, Well, 321 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,679 because it's how you detect media bias, which is why 322 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,279 I've been so impressed with News. It's an app and 323 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,359 it's a website and it combines news from around the 324 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 world in one place so you can compare coverage and 325 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:12,039 verify information. You can check it out at check dot ground, 326 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,359 dot news slash Pete. I put the link in the 327 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,640 podcast description too. I started using ground News a few 328 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,359 months ago and more recently chose to work with them 329 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,160 as an affiliate because it lets me see clearly how 330 00:17:24,279 --> 00:17:27,680 stories get covered and by whom. The blind spot feature 331 00:17:27,759 --> 00:17:30,400 shows you which stories get ignored by the left and 332 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:34,519 the right. See for yourself check dot ground, dot news 333 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,000 slash Pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll get fifteen 334 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,119 percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage plan to 335 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,559 get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription then not 336 00:17:44,599 --> 00:17:47,599 only helps my podcast, but it also supports ground News 337 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,240 as they make the media landscape more transparent. 338 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: Pete. 339 00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:54,759 Speaker 2: I drive a car that looks like it's gray, but 340 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:56,920 the proper color term when I bought. 341 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,519 Speaker 1: It was called lunar missed. 342 00:17:59,759 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 2: Yeah that's still gray, Okay anything if it's yeah, that's gray, 343 00:18:04,799 --> 00:18:07,079 Like yeah, I understand they name the different paint colors 344 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,240 and all of that. I think mine was like pearls 345 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,160 something or other because it's kind of white. But here's 346 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,799 the key is that when it rains, you're supposed to 347 00:18:14,799 --> 00:18:17,440 put your headlights on because it's more difficult to see 348 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,599 the vehicles. And this is actually a law. But there's 349 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,759 what I can only surmise is some sort of a 350 00:18:24,799 --> 00:18:28,759 gray car code where anybody when you buy the gray car, 351 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,640 maybe in the glove box, there's a code in there 352 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,000 that you have to like take you got to take 353 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,400 an oath or something that once you purchase the gray car, 354 00:18:38,759 --> 00:18:43,240 now you will ignore that law. Because gray cars are 355 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:48,960 like the most difficult vehicle to see in a rainstorm, 356 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:52,119 and so whenever it rains, I always tell people, you know, 357 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,160 if you got your wipers on, turn your lights on 358 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,839 so we can see you, except for the gray cars, 359 00:18:56,839 --> 00:18:59,400 because it's the only thing I can surmise given that, 360 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,519 like every single gray car that I see on the 361 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:07,440 roads or not burning their headlights, and those are just 362 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,480 the ones I can see in the rain. So it's like, 363 00:19:10,519 --> 00:19:13,200 I don't understand it, but apparently it's a thing. If 364 00:19:13,279 --> 00:19:14,880 you have a gray car, it's like you think the 365 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,000 law doesn't apply to you, and you don't want people 366 00:19:17,039 --> 00:19:18,799 to see you. If you think it's a better idea 367 00:19:18,839 --> 00:19:21,160 to drive around camouflage so people can run into you, 368 00:19:21,279 --> 00:19:24,599 I guess I don't know. It seems pretty counterproductive to me. 369 00:19:25,319 --> 00:19:27,480 I used to own a great car, but I turned 370 00:19:27,519 --> 00:19:29,640 my lights on. I never got an oath, I never 371 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,200 saw a code in my glovebox. So I don't know 372 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,200 if it's a recent development or something. I think Also, 373 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,160 people believe that when their dashboard lights come on, they 374 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,640 think then that their headlights are on, and that's not 375 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,079 true either, So I don't. 376 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: I'm at a loss. All right, Dean, Welcome to the program. 377 00:19:50,039 --> 00:19:51,240 Hello Dean, how are. 378 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 4: You good, Pete, how are you doing. 379 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:54,799 Speaker 1: I'm I'm okay, I think. 380 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,039 Speaker 5: Okay, Yeah, you're very interesting with nothing else. 381 00:19:58,279 --> 00:20:00,599 Speaker 1: Well, I try to be hey. 382 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 5: On this mass transit thing, I'm trying to understand it, 383 00:20:05,079 --> 00:20:08,839 and to me, I don't, I don't. I don't ride it. 384 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,119 I've written it a few times and all that, and 385 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,599 I'm not sure what the costs are. But it seems 386 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,079 like that the crux of the matter would be maybe 387 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:22,799 that until the benefits, like from a monetary standpoint, of 388 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:27,480 the conveniences, the value of your time, the flexibility that 389 00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:32,079 an auto provides, until mass transit can outweigh those things, 390 00:20:32,599 --> 00:20:35,799 it's going to have a very difficult time gaining any traction. 391 00:20:36,519 --> 00:20:37,480 Is that correct or. 392 00:20:37,559 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's a number of factors there. In the previous 393 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,960 call of Craig mentioned a friend of his who has 394 00:20:43,039 --> 00:20:45,359 to make multiple transfers, and that's a big part of 395 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,960 it too, if you have to transfer. I'm trying to remember. 396 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,000 I think it was I think people will transfer twice. 397 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,960 But that's it. Like, there's a people don't want to 398 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,279 have to, you know, get on a bus, you know 399 00:20:56,319 --> 00:20:59,160 in their neighborhood, if they even have a bus stop nearby. 400 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:00,839 They don't want to get on a bus to then 401 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,440 have to make a transfer and then make another transfer, 402 00:21:03,599 --> 00:21:05,200 right or they don't want to get on a light 403 00:21:05,279 --> 00:21:08,279 rail line and then have to make multiple transfers after that. 404 00:21:08,759 --> 00:21:11,160 So if you have too many of those transfers, then yeah, 405 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:13,920 the juice is not worth the squeeze. You might as 406 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,359 well just drive your own car because there are conveniences 407 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,519 that you have by having your own vehicle. You know, 408 00:21:19,799 --> 00:21:22,160 you can leave work whenever you want, you don't have 409 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,519 to worry about the schedule. There's also the safety aspect 410 00:21:25,559 --> 00:21:28,920 to it, which is people may not feel secure getting 411 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,000 on public transportation, right, so they don't want to be 412 00:21:32,079 --> 00:21:35,880 in that scenario. There's no enforcement if something were to happen, 413 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,079 and so there's a security concern there as well. 414 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:41,599 Speaker 1: There's the cost of it, which is low. 415 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 2: But none of these mass transit systems in America, and 416 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,319 I would venture to guess in the world pay for themselves. 417 00:21:49,799 --> 00:21:51,920 None of them pay for themselves right there, because I 418 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,400 think the light rail line was somewhere about three or 419 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,559 four bucks to ride. So it's cheap, yeah, and you 420 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,160 move a lot of people, but it doesn't it's never 421 00:22:01,279 --> 00:22:03,079 financially profitable. 422 00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 5: So okay. So and if you factor out the people 423 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,759 that jump the thing and don't pay, and there's a 424 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,640 value that I've attached to my security and safety and 425 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:19,400 all that. So so then where you know, is the 426 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,599 model really outdated? I mean, was this a was mass 427 00:22:22,599 --> 00:22:26,200 transit a thing for when when people didn't have cars 428 00:22:26,319 --> 00:22:27,960 and when there weren't the roads there? 429 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: Sure? 430 00:22:28,599 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 5: Or the accessibility? So sure? Is it really a valid model? Even? 431 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,839 Speaker 2: Well, that's I think that's the that is the debate. 432 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:39,599 That's the core of the debate is you know, at 433 00:22:39,599 --> 00:22:43,920 what point, from a cost benefit analysis, is the benefits 434 00:22:44,759 --> 00:22:48,799 uh completely outweighed by the cost And there are intangibles 435 00:22:48,799 --> 00:22:51,079 that are attached to that right. So you've got like, 436 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,759 for example, on a train line, and this is what Matthews, 437 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,359 the town of Matthews is mad about, is that they're 438 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,759 not getting a train. And with the train you get 439 00:22:58,799 --> 00:23:03,359 fixed stops. Right, you build a train station at these stops, 440 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:08,359 and then you have development that occurs around that that 441 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:13,119 transit stop because people know they have certainty that you know, 442 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,359 if I rent an apartment or buy a home near 443 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,440 this train station, I will always be able to get 444 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,920 on that train. If it's a bus stop that that 445 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,799 can be moved, right, they can pick up and move 446 00:23:22,799 --> 00:23:25,720 a bus stop willy nilly if they need to, if 447 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,240 the ridership numbers aren't there. So that's part of I mean, 448 00:23:29,279 --> 00:23:31,319 there's a lot that goes into this equation. Yes, you 449 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,599 also have like the old street cars that used to 450 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:35,759 be in Charlotte. I mean we had you go down. 451 00:23:35,519 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: Into the uh well yeah, I mean. 452 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,799 Speaker 2: Particularly if you're into like the Myers Park air area 453 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,160 where they've got you know, those big grass medians in 454 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,880 the middle of those streets, those that used to be 455 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:52,039 the trolley tracks, and that the whole neighborhood was built 456 00:23:52,079 --> 00:23:54,480 with trolley service because that was the first sort of 457 00:23:54,519 --> 00:23:59,119 pushing out from the center city core urban area and 458 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,240 giving people larger homes. As transit became available, they could 459 00:24:04,279 --> 00:24:08,559 then live farther away from where they worked in town, right, 460 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,079 and so they didn't have to walk you know, an 461 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:14,200 hour to get into uptown or downtown. 462 00:24:13,799 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: As it was called at that time. 463 00:24:15,039 --> 00:24:17,839 Speaker 2: So yeah, I mean, and that's part of it is 464 00:24:17,839 --> 00:24:22,119 that you know, you're limited in space in the urban core. 465 00:24:22,599 --> 00:24:24,960 So as we keep moving out and the city keeps 466 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,240 getting bigger and bigger, how do you now allow people 467 00:24:28,279 --> 00:24:30,039 to move around? And I said this the other day, 468 00:24:30,079 --> 00:24:32,759 like putting an Interstate I seventy seven right through the 469 00:24:32,759 --> 00:24:36,319 middle of our center city is a terrible idea because 470 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,720 it will always be jammed up. That road will never 471 00:24:39,799 --> 00:24:43,160 not be clogged because of where it's located and the 472 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,160 amount of exits that you have to get off, you know, 473 00:24:47,319 --> 00:24:49,920 understandably so to get off and get into different parts 474 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,039 of the city. But like, you would probably be better 475 00:24:53,079 --> 00:24:55,920 off with an interstate that's farther away from the city 476 00:24:55,960 --> 00:25:00,160 core with roads that take you into the city, and 477 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,960 then not having that kind of an interstate in the 478 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:03,960 middle of your downtown. 479 00:25:04,559 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 5: And that's well, say, like the North was built on that. 480 00:25:07,319 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 3: I mean the whole trolley system. 481 00:25:09,559 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 5: I mean every big city in the North that solid grew, 482 00:25:12,519 --> 00:25:16,039 and how the suburbs grew and everything. But so I 483 00:25:16,079 --> 00:25:19,640 mean and now there's nothing left. I mean it's shown 484 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:24,400 that it isn't working their novelties now, you know, yeah, 485 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:25,559 for the most part. 486 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:26,079 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say now. 487 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,279 Speaker 2: I mean the most successful transit line is still New 488 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:33,200 York City, their subway system. So Dean, I appreciate the 489 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,759 call there, look there is. It was good to hear 490 00:25:35,799 --> 00:25:38,200 from you, and it's a look. These are important questions 491 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,240 that always get brought up in the transit discussion, and 492 00:25:42,319 --> 00:25:44,119 a lot of them are intangibles. But I think a 493 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:46,079 lot of the problems that the New York City subway 494 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:51,039 suffers from their low ridership is due to the lack 495 00:25:51,079 --> 00:25:54,799 of security. People don't feel safe riding the subway cars. 496 00:25:55,279 --> 00:25:57,839 If you improve safety, I think you get more people 497 00:25:57,839 --> 00:25:59,599 that use it because, frankly. 498 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: If you you've been to New York. 499 00:26:01,039 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 2: City, it's a very easy way to get around a 500 00:26:05,039 --> 00:26:08,480 very large city. Here's a great idea. How about making 501 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,559 an escape to a really special and secluded getaway in 502 00:26:11,599 --> 00:26:14,279 western North Carolina. Just a quick drive up the mountain 503 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,720 and Cabins of Asheville is your connection. Whether you're celebrating 504 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,200 an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan a 505 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,960 memorable proposal, or get family and friends together for a 506 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,440 big old reunion. 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That is from the city estimates 527 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,839 they say it would be it would cost the average 528 00:27:38,839 --> 00:27:41,720 household in Mecklinburg County two hundred and forty dollars additionally 529 00:27:41,839 --> 00:27:48,640 a year. Mayor John Higden from Matthews he puts it 530 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,480 at like two hundred and ninety dollars a year for 531 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:57,960 the media in Mecklenburg household and for residents in his town, 532 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,359 which is wealthier than the county overall, he says it 533 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,000 could actually add three hundred and seventy dollars a year. 534 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:05,920 So these are all just estimates, so anywhere from twenty 535 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:11,000 to thirty dollars extra per month. That's what the additional 536 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,839 sales tax is estimated to cost people, which again is 537 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,000 more than city and county property tax increases over the 538 00:28:18,079 --> 00:28:19,200 last two years. 539 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,400 Speaker 1: Combined, right combined. 540 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 2: Steve in Indian Trail says Pete, I ditched the ignore 541 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,319 the law notice that I found in my owner's manual 542 00:28:31,319 --> 00:28:33,759 for my great car. I am now the few, the proud, 543 00:28:33,799 --> 00:28:36,599 the great car driver who turns on wipers in the rain. 544 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 1: Thank you, Steve. 545 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:41,359 Speaker 2: The word hero is overused, I think in today's society, 546 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:47,440 but in this case, I'll allow it. Anonymous person says, 547 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,279 don't most cars headlights automatically turn on when the windshield 548 00:28:50,319 --> 00:28:53,559 wipers are on newer cars, yes, mine do not. But 549 00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:55,319 I turn my lights on every single time I turn 550 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,720 my car on. I run with my lights on all 551 00:28:57,759 --> 00:29:02,160 the time. You're just more likely to be seen that way. 552 00:29:02,559 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: And I notice the difference, by the way. 553 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,039 Speaker 2: If I ever forget to turn my lights on, I 554 00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:09,279 feel like people are trying to kill me, you know. 555 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:11,640 But when I turn the lights on, I notice then 556 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,039 people like don't pull out in front of me so often. 557 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,039 So I always put my lights on. But yes, a 558 00:29:16,079 --> 00:29:18,000 lot of the newer cars do that, unless they are 559 00:29:18,039 --> 00:29:21,680 gray cars, I think, in which case then I think 560 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,319 there's like a kill switch that disables that feature on 561 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,000 all the cars. It's again, the only thing I can surmise, 562 00:29:27,559 --> 00:29:29,519 because when I see the amount of cars on the 563 00:29:29,599 --> 00:29:32,160 roads that do not have their lights on in the rain, 564 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,279 like ninety percent of them are grey cars. So it's 565 00:29:35,319 --> 00:29:40,759 the only thing I can think of. Another anonymous Texter, 566 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,160 all this talk over the transit plans in the NCDOT 567 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,960 is I will say horse Hockey in Westmec right by 568 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,519 the Cataba River, the DOT is already clearing land for 569 00:29:52,599 --> 00:29:55,079 the light rail. This is within sight of the bridge 570 00:29:55,079 --> 00:29:58,119 that DOT has promised to replace since twenty ten. Now 571 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,480 it is planned for twenty twenty eight. The new bridge 572 00:30:00,519 --> 00:30:04,440 in twenty eight is now the fourth most frequently repeated lie. 573 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,000 I know the bridge you're talking about. I actually drive 574 00:30:08,039 --> 00:30:11,920 over that bridge multiple times a week. It is a 575 00:30:12,039 --> 00:30:17,200 death trap, that bridge. It is awful. So yes, if 576 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,039 they ever do expand that bridge, well it's going to 577 00:30:20,079 --> 00:30:21,680 stink for a little while, but then it'll be nice 578 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,640 if they do widen that bridge. So I don't know 579 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,519 what they're I thought they were clearing that land for 580 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:31,200 the big server farm that was going to get put 581 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,359 in there, like the state's biggest server farm that's going 582 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,119 to be part of that. I thought Duke was clearing 583 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,359 some of that, some of the brush and stuff there too, 584 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,240 in order to tap into the transmission wires, but I 585 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,079 don't know. Yeah, I mean, this is the problem with 586 00:30:46,119 --> 00:30:49,200 the DOT. The state DOT is like their prioritization is 587 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,880 all over the place and whatever Pat says, they can 588 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,480 build mono rails and flying saucers. I and anyone I 589 00:30:56,519 --> 00:30:58,880 know will never use the new improved mass transit. I 590 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,960 already pay a half cent sales tax, gas tax as 591 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,160 well state income tax. 592 00:31:03,359 --> 00:31:06,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, this is a what the bleep moment here? 593 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:07,839 Speaker 4: Right? 594 00:31:07,839 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 2: Well, I mean that's the thing, like there are people 595 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,599 that are paying for this and will never use these systems. 596 00:31:16,039 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: That is true. All right. 597 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,319 Speaker 2: That'll do it for this episode. Thank you so much 598 00:31:21,319 --> 00:31:23,400 for listening. I could not do the show without your 599 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,200 support and the support of the businesses that advertise on 600 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,039 the podcast, so if you'd like, please support them too 601 00:31:29,079 --> 00:31:30,759 and tell them you heard it here. You can also 602 00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:33,359 become a patron at my Patreon page or go to 603 00:31:33,519 --> 00:31:37,240 thepetecleanershow dot com. Again, thank you so much for listening, 604 00:31:37,319 --> 00:31:43,559 and don't break anything while I'm gone.