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 --> 00:00:19,480 show prep with all the links, become a patron, go 7 00:00:19,559 --> 00:00:23,399 to vpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the subscribe button. 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,359 Get every episode for free right to your smartphone or tablet. 9 00:00:26,359 --> 00:00:28,839 And again, thank you so much for your support. So 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,160 first hour of the program today we spoke with the 11 00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:36,600 North Carolina State Auditor Dave Bullock about the preliminary findings 12 00:00:37,119 --> 00:00:40,159 a preliminary report. A full report will be coming later. 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:46,079 We don't know exactly when. This report examined the security 14 00:00:46,119 --> 00:00:51,240 contracts of the Charlotte Area transit system. This was prompted 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,479 by the murder of the Arena Zarutska on the Blue 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,600 Line on August twenty second, and so according to the report, 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,159 the report contains initial findings based on a preliminary review 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,000 of documents and information obtained by the City of Charlotte 19 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,640 and the Cats. They call it the Cats throughout the 20 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,079 entire report, which I guess makes sense because it's the 21 00:01:14,239 --> 00:01:18,799 Charlotte Area transit system. It focuses solely on personnel provided 22 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,439 by private security contractors and does not account for any 23 00:01:22,519 --> 00:01:28,439 temporary surges or other additional personnel provided by CMPD OSA. 24 00:01:28,599 --> 00:01:31,079 The Office of the State Auditor will release a final 25 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,480 report after conducting a full review. And so this is 26 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:38,719 important too, because like we don't know and I've been 27 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,480 asking this since cats started talking about how they're going 28 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,799 to be, you know, beefing up security now after Zarutzko 29 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,079 is murdered, and they're going to be adding more CMPD 30 00:01:49,239 --> 00:01:53,359 officers and more hours. But they're they're moonlighting police officers, 31 00:01:53,359 --> 00:01:56,760 so this is like they're off time, and so they're 32 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:01,439 picking up additional work on the transit system them and. 33 00:02:03,079 --> 00:02:04,079 Speaker 1: You know, I don't know. 34 00:02:06,319 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 2: What impact the CMPD presence would be on the contracted services, right, 35 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,840 Like there was obviously a decision made about two years 36 00:02:20,879 --> 00:02:26,039 ago to split the one contract for security services, to 37 00:02:26,159 --> 00:02:30,120 split that contract in half and give one contract for 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,560 unarmed security to one company, and the city required that 39 00:02:35,719 --> 00:02:43,280 company to be owned by a certified MWSBE Minority Women's 40 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,000 Small business enterprise, so it had to be owned by 41 00:02:48,039 --> 00:02:53,240 a non white and non mail That contract had to 42 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,520 go to a CBI company. 43 00:02:55,599 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: It's called the Charlotte. 44 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: Business Initiative, used to be called the MWBE program and whatever. 45 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:03,319 So it's been around for like thirty years. They changed 46 00:03:03,319 --> 00:03:05,479 some of the parameters and some of the things about 47 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,960 twenty five years ago when they were facing lawsuits based 48 00:03:09,199 --> 00:03:14,120 for discrimination. So they directed this to be a CBI 49 00:03:14,719 --> 00:03:20,439 contract for the unarmed security provider for the armed security provider. 50 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,520 They did not require that, okay, so they broke it 51 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,520 up two contracts. To me, this is the first part 52 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,280 of the problem is that you've obviously made a decision 53 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,800 to break this apart. Now how are you backfilling with 54 00:03:36,919 --> 00:03:38,560 CMPD officers. 55 00:03:39,039 --> 00:03:40,199 Speaker 1: Is that the reason. 56 00:03:39,919 --> 00:03:46,159 Speaker 2: Why the number of armed personnel was so low, okay, 57 00:03:46,199 --> 00:03:51,960 because when they split the contract, the number of well, 58 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,120 so they split the contract and the company that they 59 00:03:55,159 --> 00:04:00,599 gave the armed security too. They were eventually fire like 60 00:04:00,639 --> 00:04:03,840 within a year. They were cut loose for failure to perform. 61 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,400 They don't say why they were cut loose. And then 62 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:12,759 they folded the armed contract into the unarmed contract that 63 00:04:12,919 --> 00:04:18,959 was already won by PSS, which is a CBI certified 64 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:26,120 Minority women business owned enterprise. So like, was this intentionally done? 65 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,959 These are the questions. I'm not making an accusation, I'm 66 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:30,839 asking a question. 67 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:31,959 Speaker 1: I'm just asking questions. 68 00:04:32,199 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: I'm just asking was this specifically designed to break it apart? 69 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:43,079 To give the contract to the unarmed security Personnel Provider? 70 00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:49,480 And then when you fired the SSS this they call 71 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,480 it Strategic Security Services when you fired them and then 72 00:04:53,519 --> 00:04:57,399 you folded it into PSS. Well, wait a minute, shouldn't 73 00:04:57,399 --> 00:05:01,040 that have gone out for another bid rather than just 74 00:05:01,079 --> 00:05:03,000 giving it to a vendor that you will already have 75 00:05:03,079 --> 00:05:05,759 on the books. Why did you do that? We don't know, 76 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,040 but I think they should have probably gone out for 77 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:12,560 a competitive bid, and that to me reeks of cronyism. 78 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,680 And then because it does, I now have to wonder, well, 79 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,800 did you fire that company initially in order to do 80 00:05:23,759 --> 00:05:27,000 the merger of the contracts with PSS. Was that the intent? 81 00:05:29,199 --> 00:05:31,639 Because at some point somebody had to have said, hey, 82 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,319 if we fire SSS, what are we going to replace 83 00:05:35,399 --> 00:05:38,639 them with? And somebody said, well, let's just put them 84 00:05:38,639 --> 00:05:41,600 over on PSS, put it in that contract. Well when 85 00:05:41,639 --> 00:05:47,319 did that conversation happen? How soon was that after you 86 00:05:47,399 --> 00:05:50,720 gave the initial contracts? So there's two components to this 87 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,839 contract stuff that are concerning to me. And how do 88 00:05:55,959 --> 00:06:00,600 you end up going from a contract that has between 89 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,800 sixty eight or eighty eight armed security personnel six years 90 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:09,160 ago down to just thirty nine did PSS not were 91 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,399 they not able to reach the capacity necessary for the 92 00:06:12,519 --> 00:06:15,480 armed personnel? Or was this an intentional decision directed to 93 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,199 PSS that said we don't want to see armed personnel, 94 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,720 we want the number of armed personnel to drop. Was 95 00:06:22,759 --> 00:06:28,040 that the directive? We don't know. Let me go over 96 00:06:28,079 --> 00:06:30,199 to the phones here in chat with Pete. Great name, 97 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:31,600 Hello Pete, Welcome to the show. 98 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 3: Hey Pete. Regarding the remarks to that lady at the 99 00:06:36,519 --> 00:06:40,360 top of the last hour, Yeah, it's going to be 100 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:44,000 hard to get accountability on any of these situations we've 101 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,720 been you know, we got set up on plane government 102 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,680 back in the late sixties, early seventies, and ever since then, 103 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:59,319 think about that, We've had about forty five years of 104 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,839 nobody having any accountability for anything except Pat Cannon. But 105 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,920 they got him on video Riffin's one hundred dollars bills. 106 00:07:07,079 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, Now look, hey, we got it. We got 107 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,040 a bunch no, remember we got we got Jim Black. 108 00:07:12,199 --> 00:07:14,319 He went to federal prison former Speaker of the House, 109 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:20,600 Meg Scott Phipps, also Democrat Agriculture Commissioner, Frank Balance, Democrat congressman. 110 00:07:20,639 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: He went to prison. I think it's son. 111 00:07:23,079 --> 00:07:26,759 Speaker 3: But you're talking about state level. I'm talking local Mecklenburg, 112 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:28,519 municipal level. 113 00:07:29,199 --> 00:07:32,439 Speaker 2: Well, what do you consider accountability? So likember Lynn Wheeler, 114 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,959 she lost her seat, remember over the arena deal. 115 00:07:37,879 --> 00:07:42,079 Speaker 3: So when you when you split the political side away 116 00:07:42,079 --> 00:07:46,160 from the administrative side through city manager, the police and 117 00:07:46,199 --> 00:07:49,120 fire report to city managers. They don't report to the 118 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,199 political side. How many Darryl Stevens, how many other cop 119 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,199 police chiefs if we had trouble with over. 120 00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: The years, Oh, there have been a bunch. 121 00:07:56,519 --> 00:07:59,279 Speaker 3: Yeah my point. And what happens is they gotta go. 122 00:07:59,319 --> 00:08:01,959 We give him a big contract to go away and 123 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:05,560 brush it under the rug and whatever else. This whole 124 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,240 plan I've been frustrated with this for years. The whole 125 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,120 planning government means no real accountability at the ballot box. 126 00:08:13,399 --> 00:08:17,240 And even Bywhiles right now, she's hanging on just to 127 00:08:17,279 --> 00:08:21,439 get to two things, get re elected and get a 128 00:08:21,439 --> 00:08:23,279 bright new like Keith used to call them, the bright 129 00:08:23,319 --> 00:08:24,120 new shiny things. 130 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, uh quite real, but yeah, well, no, you're right. 131 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: I mean this is this is the problem with the 132 00:08:30,399 --> 00:08:34,519 manager council form of government. You have very weak mayors 133 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,799 and a council that hires the manager. But then the 134 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,919 manager runs all of the operations and is basically the 135 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,559 top dog. And then if you run a foul of 136 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,240 staff as a as a politician, as an elected city 137 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,759 council member, you run a foul of the staff, and 138 00:08:50,919 --> 00:08:54,919 you can find yourself, you know, paddling against the tide 139 00:08:54,919 --> 00:08:57,279 with all of the city bureaucrats against you. 140 00:08:57,279 --> 00:09:02,039 Speaker 3: You know, it's machine politics at its finest. The Chicago 141 00:09:02,159 --> 00:09:03,200 dailies are envious. 142 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I mean pick your poison. If it's not 143 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,080 the manager, it would be a strong mayor form of government, 144 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,759 and then they would be running the machine. 145 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 3: Well, you know, maybe so. But even as far as 146 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,840 the news, right there at the top of the hour, 147 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:21,200 the FOP guy yep said, he said something and they 148 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,360 put the hammer on him, and he turned around said, oh, no, 149 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:25,039 here's your FAFO. 150 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll see, Yeah, we'll see he's Sue and we'll 151 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,080 see Pete. I do appreciate the call. It's a very 152 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,639 good point. I mean, the form of government debate is 153 00:09:31,639 --> 00:09:33,919 a good one to have, but I just I feel 154 00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:35,759 like it's all poison. You're just picking which. 155 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:36,399 Speaker 1: One you know. 156 00:09:38,159 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 3: You know. 157 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 2: Stories are powerful. They help us make sense of things, 158 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,399 to understand experiences. Stories connect us to the people of 159 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,759 our past while transcending generations. They help us process the 160 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,240 meaning of life, and our stories are told through images 161 00:09:51,279 --> 00:09:55,120 and videos. Preserve your stories with Creative Video started in 162 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,919 nineteen ninety seven and mint Hill, North Carolina. It was 163 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:01,320 the first company to provide this valuable ser converting images, 164 00:10:01,519 --> 00:10:05,519 photos and videos into high quality produced slide shows, videos 165 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,240 and albums. The trusted, talented and dedicated team at Creative 166 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:11,360 Video will go over all of the details with you 167 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,320 to create a perfect project. Satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off 168 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,080 in person or mail them. They'll be ready in a 169 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,080 week or two. Memorial videos for your loved ones, videos 170 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,919 for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, family vacations, birthdays, or 171 00:10:25,039 --> 00:10:28,759 just your family stories all told through images. That's what 172 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,320 your photos and videos are. They are your life told 173 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,840 through the eyes of everyone around you and all who 174 00:10:34,919 --> 00:10:37,159 came before you, and they will tell others to come 175 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,440 who you are. Visit Creative Video dot com. Just to 176 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,559 finish a point, I don't think I finished regarding the 177 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,759 staffing of armed personnel by PSS on the Charlotte Area 178 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:56,200 transit system. It was at thirty nine when Arena Zarutzka 179 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,200 was murdered, thirty nine out of two hundred and nineteen total. 180 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,799 Actually they were only nine. They were not fully staffed, 181 00:11:02,279 --> 00:11:05,000 but there were thirty nine positions armed. 182 00:11:07,399 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 1: I don't know. 183 00:11:08,799 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: Because I've received no information from CATS, from the city, 184 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:14,720 nothing in this auditor's report. 185 00:11:15,519 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: So I don't know. 186 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 2: What the impact of CMPD backstopping uh the private contractor is. 187 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:30,440 And I know they were saying that they're, you know, 188 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,879 getting more CMPD help. They've expanded the jurisdiction of the 189 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,919 private security forces. Now they can move a little bit 190 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:41,559 further around in the transit areas and such. But you know, 191 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:45,039 did they cut the did they cut the the PSS 192 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,919 armed contract Did they cut the number of armed personnel down? 193 00:11:50,759 --> 00:11:54,879 Because they were putting CMPD officers on the lines like 194 00:11:54,919 --> 00:11:57,799 they were supplanting, So they weren't going to use the 195 00:11:57,879 --> 00:12:00,519 armed officers from the private contract or. They didn't need 196 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:02,960 him anymore because they're going to open this up to CMPD. 197 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: I don't know the answer to that. 198 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,399 Speaker 2: So that's one of the questions that I still have 199 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,639 and it is not addressed in the OSA report. Here 200 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:16,799 from the Office of the State Auditor. From the report, again, 201 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,240 this is the preliminary report. This is not the final report. 202 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,879 The Auditor, Dave Bullock told us in the first hour 203 00:12:24,399 --> 00:12:28,240 that he wanted this out so we the community have 204 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:33,000 this information. So you have it, the media has it, 205 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,000 and we can now start asking these questions and trying 206 00:12:37,039 --> 00:12:43,000 to get some more answers from the city government, which 207 00:12:43,159 --> 00:12:47,600 heretofore has not been exactly forthcoming in a lot of 208 00:12:47,919 --> 00:12:53,000 the details. The report goes on to say, although the 209 00:12:53,039 --> 00:12:56,840 current contract provides that PSS may provide up to two 210 00:12:56,919 --> 00:13:01,120 hundred and nineteen security personnel, around the time of Arena's murder, 211 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:07,240 PSS had not filled all those positions. At a September third, 212 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:11,080 twenty twenty five meeting of the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which 213 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,000 is the cat's policy board, the interim CEO of CATS, 214 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:19,240 Brent Cagel, noted that PSS was quote currently providing one 215 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,440 hundred and eighty six personnel and are continuing to hire 216 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,320 with the goal to fully staff up and this was 217 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:31,759 about two weeks after Arena's murder. They also include a 218 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,480 data point in this report from the Federal Transit Administration 219 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,879 that had recently determined that the quote rate of crimes 220 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:47,200 against CATS writers is three times the national average. Well, 221 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,440 that's a bit of a different story than you're hearing 222 00:13:49,519 --> 00:13:54,120 coming out of Democrats at the congressional hearing on Monday. 223 00:13:54,519 --> 00:13:58,639 Violent crime is down North Carolina or Charlotte is the 224 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,799 ninth safest city and is the tenth safest city. And 225 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,320 look at we're making all these improvements. We're doing fantastic. 226 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:08,919 Here's our expert with the stats. But they don't mention 227 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,600 that that the rate of crimes against cats writers is 228 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:13,159 three times the national average. 229 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: That's a problem. 230 00:14:16,039 --> 00:14:19,679 Speaker 2: And again I will point out that city Councilman Edwin 231 00:14:19,759 --> 00:14:26,320 Peacock asked Katz interim director Brent Cagel where the data 232 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:30,480 was that he had requested about hot spots where you've 233 00:14:30,519 --> 00:14:33,919 got the most criminal activity occurring in the CAT system. 234 00:14:35,039 --> 00:14:39,240 Where is it occurring? And this was about two weeks ago, 235 00:14:39,279 --> 00:14:41,120 I want to say, and they still hadn't compiled all 236 00:14:41,159 --> 00:14:43,720 the data, and they were trying to sift through it 237 00:14:43,759 --> 00:14:45,679 and get all the data and be responsive and all 238 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,399 of that. But like the fact that you don't know 239 00:14:49,559 --> 00:14:53,240 that is a problem that should have been something I 240 00:14:53,279 --> 00:14:55,600 said this at the time. I can go to the 241 00:14:55,639 --> 00:15:00,600 CMPD crime mapping website and I have done this a lot. 242 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: Okay, I've done. 243 00:15:02,679 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 2: This a lot, particularly when you're looking at purchasing a 244 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,039 home or something. You go to the crime map and 245 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:09,720 you go take a look and see what are the 246 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:11,799 kinds of crimes, how many crimes are occurring in a 247 00:15:11,799 --> 00:15:18,080 particular neighborhood over what period of time? How do you 248 00:15:18,159 --> 00:15:22,279 not have the data? And it's not a matter of like, oh, well, 249 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,360 you should have the data so you know. When Pete 250 00:15:24,399 --> 00:15:27,480 Calendar comes along knocking from the media with a foyer request, 251 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,559 you can give it to me. That's not the point. 252 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:33,039 The point is where do you staff right? The point 253 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,480 is if you're PSS, you need to know where the 254 00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:41,840 hotspots of crime are because you need to be able 255 00:15:41,879 --> 00:15:46,919 to surge troops to that area. If you know there's 256 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,799 a bunch of crime happening at one particular train station, 257 00:15:50,279 --> 00:15:53,399 you want to put more personnel there. If you don't 258 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,279 have the data, you don't know to put the personnel there. 259 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,679 You could have them riding around on the safest bus 260 00:15:59,759 --> 00:16:04,799 Laune and not surged to the place where they are needed. 261 00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:07,639 The most that should have been that should have been 262 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:11,960 a data set that was readily available, and the fact 263 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,759 that it's not that tells me that they don't know. 264 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:21,840 And that's pretty bad. That's pretty bad. And I spoke 265 00:16:21,879 --> 00:16:26,279 with Dave Bullock, the auditor, about this very point. You 266 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:29,399 need to know where the activity is occurring so you 267 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,360 know how to run your staffing model, and it doesn't 268 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:38,279 appear like anybody's got that. But the mayor says they 269 00:16:38,279 --> 00:16:44,080 are satisfied with the service that PSS is providing. The response, 270 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,240 which is included in the auditor's preliminary report here. The 271 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:55,720 response from Mayor vy Lyles says that the report appears 272 00:16:55,759 --> 00:16:59,440 to suggest that PSS is not qualified, but fails to 273 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,320 offer spec evidence to support this conclusion. Bullock said in 274 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,920 the interview, he said, basically, that's garbage. The auditor's report 275 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,119 does not actually say that. It in fact says literally 276 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,079 quite the opposite. It says, we're not making any determination 277 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:19,519 or any conclusion about PSS's ability to fulfill the contract. 278 00:17:19,519 --> 00:17:21,960 We're not saying that it's too early to know that 279 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,960 we're just putting this preliminary report out. So the mayor 280 00:17:25,039 --> 00:17:28,079 was off based on this. He says, PSS was chosen 281 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:32,240 following a competitive process. The mayor says PSS also served 282 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:37,279 as the subcontractor to G four S, which was a 283 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:43,039 prior contractor back in twenty eighteen that they then scrapped 284 00:17:43,279 --> 00:17:46,640 they got rid of, right, they didn't. They did not 285 00:17:46,839 --> 00:17:51,119 keep G four S, which was then merged into Allied Services. 286 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,960 They didn't keep Allied. They didn't keep G four S. 287 00:17:55,640 --> 00:18:01,440 But yet you're you're citing a letter of recommendation from 288 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,559 G four S. Why would that matter if they didn't 289 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:10,519 win the contract. Why would you take their recommendation for 290 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:14,160 another contractor if you weren't satisfied with the work that 291 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:14,799 they were doing. 292 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. 293 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 2: As further testament to PSS's professionalism and excellence, please note 294 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,920 PSS was selected as a security provider a security provider 295 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,599 to the first presidential campaign of President Donald Trump, then 296 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,839 Candidate Trump, while the President conducted campaign events throughout the Carolinas. Again, 297 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,599 PSS has successfully met the expectations of CATS to this 298 00:18:38,759 --> 00:18:41,720 point and is a valued partner to CATS as we 299 00:18:41,799 --> 00:18:46,279 have worked to enhance security throughout the transit system, so 300 00:18:46,319 --> 00:18:50,359 they're going to the mat for PSS. So when I 301 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,359 was a kid, my grandpa died with Alzheimer's, and before 302 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,440 he died, my mom and my dad took care of 303 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,839 him as he got worse. Forty years ago, there were 304 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,160 no treatments and not much support for cat givers and family. 305 00:19:01,319 --> 00:19:03,599 But things are different today because of the work of 306 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,480 so many people, including the Alzheimer's Association of Western Carolina. 307 00:19:07,519 --> 00:19:10,880 It's a great organization with awesome people with huge hearts. 308 00:19:11,039 --> 00:19:13,559 I've been a supporter for twenty five years. This cause 309 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,079 means a lot to me. I participate in the annual 310 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,960 Walk to end Alzheimer's and I'm leading a Charlotte team 311 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,160 again this year, and it's called once again Pete's Pack. 312 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,319 You can sign up and you can join the team 313 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,359 and walk with us. It's on October eighteenth that truest 314 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,480 field sign up at alz dot org slash walk and 315 00:19:32,519 --> 00:19:35,440 then you can search for my team name Petespac. There's 316 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,440 also a link at thepetepod dot com. There's also a 317 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,319 link in the description of this podcast. Also, I'll be 318 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:44,559 am seeing the Gastonia Walk on October eleventh, and so 319 00:19:44,599 --> 00:19:46,559 you can make a team and join that one too, 320 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,839 or make a donation and help me hit my goal 321 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,759 of five thousand dollars. If you do, I really appreciate it. 322 00:19:51,799 --> 00:19:54,480 There are a bunch of other walks all over the Carolinas. 323 00:19:54,599 --> 00:19:57,240 You can go to alz dot org slash walk for 324 00:19:57,319 --> 00:20:00,160 all the dates and locations. We're closer than ever to 325 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,519 stopping Alzheimer's. Can you help us get there? Will you 326 00:20:02,559 --> 00:20:05,400 walk with me? For a different future, for families, for 327 00:20:05,519 --> 00:20:09,720 more time for treatments. This is why we walk. Let 328 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,359 me get over to the text line because we've got 329 00:20:11,559 --> 00:20:14,039 just tons of texts on this. I'm gonna try to 330 00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:18,720 get to everybody's comments. This is from David. I actually 331 00:20:18,759 --> 00:20:22,640 thought that this kind of discrimination was illegal. What would 332 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,200 happen if they if the city were to have said 333 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,519 we only hire white people. Yeah, And this is the 334 00:20:28,559 --> 00:20:32,480 problem with these types of programs is that you know 335 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:37,680 the answer to pass discrimination is not discrimination now right. 336 00:20:38,759 --> 00:20:41,640 Speaker 1: But this was the Ibra Mex Kendy philosophy. 337 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 2: This is how you end up in these positions is 338 00:20:44,519 --> 00:20:48,680 that you're you're awarding contracts based on targeted goals to 339 00:20:48,759 --> 00:20:53,240 have minority and women owned businesses get city contracts. And 340 00:20:54,319 --> 00:20:57,759 you know that's to me, like you shouldn't be hiring 341 00:20:57,839 --> 00:21:02,119 companies based on the race of the owners, because you know, 342 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:06,680 the dirty secret is also here that people make the 343 00:21:06,839 --> 00:21:10,839 quote owner somebody in one of the protected classes so 344 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,400 as to get the contracts, even though that person may 345 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:18,720 not actually be functioning in reality as the president or 346 00:21:18,799 --> 00:21:22,519 owner of the company. It's like husband and wife team 347 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,480 put the wife on the paperwork, so this way you're 348 00:21:25,519 --> 00:21:29,079 a woman owned business, but the guys actually running the 349 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,720 whole thing. You know, there are all sorts of ways 350 00:21:31,759 --> 00:21:34,720 around this, and it has been abused. These types of 351 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:41,400 programs get abused. Seven oh four number says tragically and sadly, 352 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,319 it took the murder of an innocent young lady to 353 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,440 bring to light the corruption in city hall. Or giving 354 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:48,960 the benefit of the doubt, it's not out and out corruption, 355 00:21:49,079 --> 00:21:54,279 it's a complete ineptness, buffoonery or dumassery. In either case, 356 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,200 it's time to clean house. Sadly, it's hard to vote 357 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,119 these folks out when no one better is stepping up 358 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,279 to take their place. I saw the same thing happen 359 00:22:01,319 --> 00:22:02,480 when I lived in Atlanta. 360 00:22:03,319 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and like this is the issue, right people become demoralized. 361 00:22:10,039 --> 00:22:10,279 They are. 362 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 2: Then you know, they say, I'm not going to run 363 00:22:12,519 --> 00:22:14,519 for office, I'm not going to contribute, I'm not going 364 00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:17,400 to get involved because my vote doesn't matter. And then 365 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,200 you get to just sit back and not be involved, 366 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,440 and then keep complaining about how things get worse and 367 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,559 worse and worse. At some point you have to break 368 00:22:25,599 --> 00:22:30,799 that cycle. You've got to get involved right otherwise things 369 00:22:30,839 --> 00:22:33,640 don't change and it takes a long time, and I 370 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:34,599 know people don't have the. 371 00:22:34,559 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: Patience for this. 372 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 2: And you can get You can get involved in all 373 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,240 sorts of ways. You don't have to run for city 374 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,279 council or congress or something right right out of the gate. 375 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,279 You can get involved in a civic organization or a 376 00:22:48,319 --> 00:22:52,279 business related organization. You can get involved in your HOA. 377 00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:55,440 I know people are like, oh, I got it CHOA right. Well, 378 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,519 if you don't like your HOA, you don't like the 379 00:22:57,519 --> 00:23:01,000 way it functions, join it, change it, make it better. 380 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,799 Another another text here from an eighth three number in 381 00:23:07,839 --> 00:23:10,680 South Carolina says, isn't it illegal for a hiring decision 382 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,480 to be based on age, race, sexual orientation, et cetera? 383 00:23:13,799 --> 00:23:20,240 How is the city not being sued for racial discrimination. Well, 384 00:23:20,599 --> 00:23:23,880 there is case law on this stuff, and that's why 385 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,079 the city, like twenty five years ago, they changed their 386 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:33,400 policy where they were like they were running direct discriminatory 387 00:23:33,519 --> 00:23:37,640 programs basically, and you know, their argument at the time was, 388 00:23:37,839 --> 00:23:41,039 you look at all these contracts that we're entering into 389 00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:44,200 at a city government level, and they're all going to 390 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,599 these firms, these companies that yes have the capacity to 391 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,119 do the work and do it well and do it 392 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,440 for a low price, but they're all owned by white guys, 393 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,720 and so they want to give a leg up to 394 00:23:58,839 --> 00:24:03,039 minority owned businesses that were you know, for a very 395 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,000 long period of time in North Carolina and Charlotte history, 396 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,440 they were shut out because they were black businesses. So 397 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,640 that was the intent, but it was basically like affirmative action. 398 00:24:15,799 --> 00:24:19,160 That was the intent, was to try to make good 399 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,519 on some of the past discrimination, try to make up 400 00:24:21,559 --> 00:24:24,880 for some of that. But I would submit we are 401 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:29,240 in a different place when you have the Charlotte City 402 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:35,039 Council controlled by Democrats, and I believe all of them 403 00:24:35,319 --> 00:24:42,119 now are black city manager, county manager, right school superintendent, 404 00:24:42,279 --> 00:24:44,960 school board. It's all controlled by one party and all 405 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,680 controlled majority black So are you telling me you're racist 406 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,400 against black contractors, you're not going to give them the bids. 407 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:53,559 Speaker 1: I don't understand this argument. 408 00:24:53,599 --> 00:24:53,799 Speaker 3: Now. 409 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 2: It's the same argument, by the way, that the Charlotte 410 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,880 Mecklenburg school board tried to make it a federal court 411 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,519 back in the early time two thousands maybe two thousand, 412 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:04,599 when they didn't want to get rid of the bussing. 413 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,279 They were like, you can't, you can't lift the court 414 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,839 ordered bussing against us because we could still discriminate. And 415 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,759 it's like the board chairs, Arthur Griffin, the black Democrat, 416 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,920 like what are you talking about? You guys, So you're 417 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:24,279 telling me you're going to discriminate against African American students. 418 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,319 You're going to withhold funds from predominantly black schools when 419 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,720 the school board is predominantly black, Like, that doesn't make 420 00:25:30,759 --> 00:25:33,640 any sense anymore. Here's a great idea. How about making 421 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,720 an escape to a really special and secluded getaway in 422 00:25:36,759 --> 00:25:39,440 western North Carolina? Just a quick drive up the mountain 423 00:25:39,519 --> 00:25:42,880 and cabins of Asheville is your connection. Whether you're celebrating 424 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,400 an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan a 425 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,160 memorable proposal or get family and friends together for a 426 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,599 big old reunion. Cabins of Asheville has the ideal spot 427 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,200 for you where you can reconnect with your loved ones 428 00:25:54,279 --> 00:25:57,240 and the things that truly matter. Nestled within the breath 429 00:25:57,279 --> 00:26:00,880 taking fourteen thousand acres of the Pisga National Forest, their 430 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,559 cabins offer a serene escape in the heart of the 431 00:26:03,559 --> 00:26:06,880 Blue Ridge Mountains. Centrally located between Ashville and the entrance 432 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,920 of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It's the perfect 433 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:14,200 balance of seclusion and proximity to all the local attractions 434 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,960 with hot tubs, fireplaces, air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi Fi grills, 435 00:26:19,079 --> 00:26:22,359 outdoor tables and your own private covered porch. Choose from 436 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:26,559 thirteen cabins, six cottages, two villas, and a great lodge 437 00:26:26,599 --> 00:26:30,240 with eleven king sized bedrooms. Cabins of Ashville has the 438 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,640 ideal spot for you for any occasion, and they have 439 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,240 pet friendly accommodations. Call or text eight two eight, three, 440 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,440 six seven seventy sixty eight or check out all there 441 00:26:40,519 --> 00:26:43,400 is to offer at Cabins Offashville dot com and make 442 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,799 memories that'll last a lifetime. Back to the text line, 443 00:26:46,799 --> 00:26:49,759 which has just been lighting up, I'm gonna try to 444 00:26:49,759 --> 00:26:53,759 get to all of your messages here, folks. Amy says, 445 00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:58,480 could the previous contractor SSS? Could they sue the city 446 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:00,559 for breach of contract if there was no cause for 447 00:27:00,599 --> 00:27:03,759 canceling it. If so, we the taxpayers will be paying 448 00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:05,960 them for the remainder of their contract while also paying 449 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,519 the new company for a contract covering the same time period. 450 00:27:08,759 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 3: Right. 451 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, they do not appear to have sued, but we 452 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,759 wouldn't know that because they would do all of that 453 00:27:15,839 --> 00:27:19,079 inclosed session, and they would not divulge it to us 454 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,519 until there's some agreement reached, if there was one. But 455 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:30,400 I'm not aware of any litigation regarding that stances. In 456 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,400 a lot of instances, insurance regulations govern a lot of 457 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:38,200 contractual relationships. More often than not, security of business entities 458 00:27:38,799 --> 00:27:41,759 is not governed by the reality of perceived needs, but 459 00:27:41,799 --> 00:27:43,960 by the minimum you need to spend in order to 460 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:48,440 obtain liability insurance certification. Who cares I innocent people are victims, 461 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,400 as that economic liability has now been moved to the 462 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,160 insurance company. Be interesting to look at the city's books 463 00:27:55,200 --> 00:28:00,400 and see if that's the case here. Tim is very mad. 464 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:06,799 A lot of cussing here for crying out loud for 465 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:10,359 crying and screaming and wailing and complaining and moaning and groaning. 466 00:28:10,759 --> 00:28:13,640 Who in the hell is the bleep? Who are the 467 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,759 bleeps that pay the city manager four hundred and ninety 468 00:28:16,799 --> 00:28:20,279 thousand a year, pure bleep garbage. All of you should 469 00:28:20,279 --> 00:28:22,920 be removed from office. There should be a movement to 470 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:27,920 remove every single government official out out if they won't go, 471 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:29,839 drag their sorry butts out. 472 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,880 Speaker 1: Into the bleep in street. There you go. 473 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 2: Jefferson says it was nice to hear the Secretary of 474 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,720 War say the broken window policy would no longer be tolerated. 475 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:45,480 That must be a Pete thing. Oh I get it 476 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:50,599 because his name is Pete. Also Pete hesa. Okay, this 477 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,799 is from Doug. How much does a man hour of 478 00:28:53,920 --> 00:29:00,359 private security service cost for transit versus how much does 479 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,440 a man hour for CMPD or statewide law enforcement if 480 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:09,079 transit covers outside CMPD jurisdiction. If the cost is close, 481 00:29:09,559 --> 00:29:12,400 it seems like professional law enforcement would be the way, 482 00:29:12,559 --> 00:29:15,279 the better way to go. The private route has profit 483 00:29:15,359 --> 00:29:17,759 built in. Seems like government ought to be able to 484 00:29:17,759 --> 00:29:21,960 provide the service closer to the actual cost. So I 485 00:29:22,039 --> 00:29:29,119 suspect no that the security contract is cheaper than CMPD. 486 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:32,880 That would be my bet that it would be a 487 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:38,319 cheaper man hour for the transit system to contract with 488 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,799 the private firms. I think because of the amount of 489 00:29:41,839 --> 00:29:46,240 training that CMPD goes through, the liability insurance costs, all 490 00:29:46,279 --> 00:29:49,880 of that. If you have CMPD that are on staff 491 00:29:50,519 --> 00:29:54,119 on the clock, I should say, when they are working 492 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:58,559 the transit system. Otherwise you do what they are doing now, 493 00:29:58,599 --> 00:30:02,720 which is they backfill the open slots and the need 494 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:08,880 with moonlighting officers CMPD officers that then in their off 495 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,119 time they're off hours, they go to work for the 496 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,680 transit system and they can go in their uniforms and 497 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:17,960 all of that. But I would bet that the man. 498 00:30:18,079 --> 00:30:20,319 But yeah, I don't know what the cost comparison would 499 00:30:20,359 --> 00:30:26,799 be for using CMPD officers versus transit or a sorry, 500 00:30:26,799 --> 00:30:30,440 a private firm. I don't know, And maybe we'll get 501 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:33,119 those answers, you know, I would like to know those answers. 502 00:30:35,359 --> 00:30:37,279 This is from a seven oh four number. You would 503 00:30:37,279 --> 00:30:40,079 think city council sitting on thirty six thousand dollars of 504 00:30:40,119 --> 00:30:42,720 new chairs would be comfortable and in a good enough 505 00:30:42,759 --> 00:30:46,880 mood to pass these things quicker. They did spend a 506 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,279 lot of money on their chairs, but they're nice looking chairs. 507 00:30:49,559 --> 00:30:56,680 I mean, only the best for our public servants. Scott says. 508 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,720 The city faced lawsuits for supposed discriminations, so now they 509 00:30:59,759 --> 00:31:07,200 do discriminate against white dudes. Wow, Pete, I'd be willing 510 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,680 to bet that PSS, the private contractor, was not. Oh, 511 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,240 this is an interesting theory. So if you're a media person, 512 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,079 this is a story idea for you. Try to go 513 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:23,000 track this down. Is it possible that PSS was not 514 00:31:23,319 --> 00:31:27,920 certified at the time with the when the initial contracts 515 00:31:28,599 --> 00:31:32,079 were split, right, and they said, we're going to give 516 00:31:32,079 --> 00:31:36,000 one contract to the unarmed and then another contract for 517 00:31:36,079 --> 00:31:39,319 the armed security. And for the armed security you have 518 00:31:39,359 --> 00:31:42,640 to have certifications of some kind, but not really for 519 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:46,240 the unarmed. So we want to split that up and 520 00:31:46,279 --> 00:31:49,400 we give it to PSS for the unarmed, and then 521 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:54,039 we go to this other company SSS for the armed contract. 522 00:31:56,359 --> 00:31:59,880 But in the meantime PSS maybe get certified. I don't 523 00:32:00,079 --> 00:32:03,920 if they were certified before, I don't, but maybe they 524 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,319 got certified in the interim. 525 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: And then this is the. 526 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 2: Theory from a five one eight number. It was so 527 00:32:13,759 --> 00:32:17,640 in other words, like they gave PSS the contract for 528 00:32:17,839 --> 00:32:20,960 unarmed while they worked to get certified, and then when 529 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,759 they got certified, then they gave them the second contract too. 530 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:24,839 Speaker 1: So it could have been. 531 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:26,839 Speaker 2: Set up right from the jump that when they did 532 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,359 get themselves certified, then they would get rid of the 533 00:32:29,359 --> 00:32:29,920 other company. 534 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:31,319 Speaker 1: That's a theory. 535 00:32:35,279 --> 00:32:38,119 Speaker 2: Seven oh four numbers says, I guarantee somebody's getting paid 536 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,039 pasted or current city leaders. 537 00:32:43,559 --> 00:32:49,839 Speaker 1: Protect the marine wildlife. Okay, yeah, do you do. I'm sorry, 538 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:50,440 I'm trying to see. 539 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 2: When you send lots of text it becomes difficult for 540 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:53,960 me to uh to follow there. 541 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:56,079 Speaker 1: This is from Bain. 542 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 2: I think Charlotte light Rail has exposed itself to litigation, 543 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,960 not their CBI hiring policy, but for neglecting to push 544 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:07,960 the hired company fulfill its contractual obligations. Unless I misunderstood 545 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:12,359 whether armed or unarmed. Were there not significantly fewer overall 546 00:33:12,359 --> 00:33:15,119 guards working the light rail? No, there were more, actually 547 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,359 than the contract from twenty eighteen. There was a doubling 548 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:21,400 of the guards, but it was all unarmed, and then 549 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:26,680 they cut the armed guards. And for Charlotte leaders to 550 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,960 say they were satisfied with their services irrelevant? Were the 551 00:33:29,039 --> 00:33:31,960 terms of the contract fulfilled and if not, why right, 552 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,480 we don't know the answer to that. The auditor says, 553 00:33:34,519 --> 00:33:38,240 they're pursuing that to find out why was that contract scrapped? 554 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:41,519 What were the terms that were not being met that 555 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,400 allowed the city to scrap the original contract? All right, 556 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,799 that'll do it for this episode. Thank you so much 557 00:33:47,839 --> 00:33:49,880 for listening. I could not do the show without your 558 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,680 support and the support of the businesses that advertise on 559 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,519 the podcast, so if you'd like, please support them too 560 00:33:55,559 --> 00:33:57,240 and tell them you heard it here. You can also 561 00:33:57,279 --> 00:33:59,759 become a patron at my Patreon page or go to 562 00:34:00,079 --> 00:34:03,680 dpclenarshow dot com. Again, thank you so much for listening, 563 00:34:03,799 --> 00:34:09,679 and don't break anything while I'm gone.