Literacy Day Festivities at JCSU

Yesterday my family and I attended the Literacy Day Celebration at Johnson C. Smith University(JCSU). What a "high caliber" panel of speakers, presenters, workshop leaders and vendors from different parts of the USA. I must admit my appreciation for the support, advice and words of encouragement offered to me by many of the event participants. It was nice to see a educational environment where children of all ages and parents could learn in a relaxed environment. There was a talent show for kids, funnel cakes, WaterIce (http://www.whatswaterice.com/), a Jump-N-Play for the kids and much more. The whole day was a great combination of food, fun, focus and fellowship.

We must, as political leaders, support events like the Literacy Day Celebration at a minimum with our attendance. Even if we just send a member of staff or a community representative, let's start showing our sincere interest in the future of our community. Until political leaders begin to involve themselves in the daily community events throughout their districts...they will never honestly understand the plight of the people they represent.

There were a lot of young future community leaders in the audience. You could see in their eyes the hunger for knowledge. All in attendance were engaged and ready to "sponge up" every spoken and written word. I feel inspired and honored at the opportunity to represent such a creative and positive culture in West Mecklenburg County. The event was refreshing, the conversations and business opportunities presented were impressive.

Thank you JCSU, the H.E.L.P. Project, Events By Deb, Urban League of the Central Carolinas, City of Charlotte and the Global Media Network, LLC my family ---We truly enjoyed ourselves!

A special "thank you" to all veterans for the freedoms we Americans experience and the many freedoms to come!

Focus On the Citizen(s)

This morning my daughter and I walked to Nikki's Food Shop for breakfast. On the way we spoke to everyone walking along the street. I was asking people for their vote in November. Sounds like a long time from now, but my early action should payoff in the long run. When we got to Nikki's we ordered and began to greet everyone in the shop. Many conversations were going on. Everything from complaints about the Beatties Ford Library's new hours to former teachers discussing plans to challenge Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System's decision to terminate their employment. Listening to the many different and equally important conversations throughout the restaurant filled my heart with even more courage and will to win the North Carolina (NC) State Senate 38 Seat to speak for the people. It's these candid moments which express real life experiences that provide great political insight to my campaign efforts and purpose.

My life-long career goal as a humble public servant is to make sure NC provides opportunity for all of its citizens. We need to examine what I believe are the core functions of our state government...provide access health care, education and insure public safety. While there are many other issues, I believe our state government must "hone in on" these specific issues to provide more leadership examples, in tough economic times, for city and county leaders across NC to follow.

To the many conversations I have overheard during this campaign. I will speak and legislate for you and the needs of your family and the greater community. I will always hear your ideas and concerns. I will always use your input and guidance to protect the issues that are dear to you.

Know Who Is On Your Team in the "Game of Life"

We must save the "human" resources of our communities by voting for leaders who understand our communities' needs, aspirations and current situations. I understand what is like to constantly "look for work". I understand what it means to not have healthcare coverage. I understand the meaning and importance of fatherhood. I understand what it is like to be hungry and homeless. I understand what it means to make illegal mistakes, learn from them, better yourself and have those same mistakes label you unworthy of a second chance. Most importantly I understand the importance of spiritual peace and spiritual reconciliation with my Creator!

As your NC State Senator, I will make sure your ideas and concerns are properly addressed, from public safety to pot holes. It will take a team effort from everyone (registered voters and non-registered voters) in Mecklenburg County! As State Senator, I will be the voice of common sense and a pillar of human compassion. No one member of the community will have greater influence than the other. One for all and all for one! Fairness over favoritism! Complete and total unselfishness with no influence by one special interest group over another!

Every public servant in Mecklenburg County, including me, must be held accountable without prejudice to one political party over the other.

Finally, No more straight ticket voting for Republicans or Democrats! Vote for the person, not the party! Straight ticket voting has allowed many candidates to "fly under the voters radar". We must examine politics like we assemble a fantasy football team with individual players who possess special talents from different football teams. You must ask yourself, at the voting polls, if the current political leaders really represent you and your community. I conclude the answer is "No, they do not represent you or the community"! The current budget recommendations to layoff teachers, layoff city and county employees, close recreation centers, close libraries and close schools does not support the needs of our communities! In fact, these suggestions will erase 30 plus years of progress!

Beatties Ford Business District Streetscape Project: Our Future Is Happening NOW

Today was a good day. I met many disappointed people in NC Senate District 38. Disappointed in even the idea of taking educational opportunities from our communities. "We must support our children and their future" was the summary of my community conversations today and prior. It's as if no one is considering the effects on neighborhoods when schools, libraries and recreation centers begin to close. Many of our youth will turn to the "streets" for support since public servants seem not to care. What an empty message of hope for our children!

How about the $3.7 million median project on Beatties Ford Road starting at LaSalle stopping at I-85, intended to improve the streetscape of our business district? Sounds like a waste of money when the you take into account the continuation of the CATS Streetcar Project also slated for this corridor through the west end. I argue that is unless there is a concerted effort to make this particular project a coordination with the CATS Streetcar Project, it seems to not make sense to spend this exorbitant amount of money when our community is clearly in need of much more than just these ‘surface level’ improvements. (and possibly be torn up to put in the streetcar in the coming years…)

Although I do believe this would be a wonderful aesthetic improvement to our struggling business district I argue that to stamp new concrete sidewalks to look like brick and adding a median to give our citizens an area of refuge as they cross the busy street may have value but is it worth the millions that will be spent while we are losing our libraries (particularly the one in the business district which is under construction now??!!??---but scheduled to close??) and several of our local schools that have been identified as at risk to be closed due to budget cuts because they are “underfilled.” (***according to the Charlotte Observer, May 16, 2010 in article “Which CMS Schools will Close” out of the 16 schools they listed as ‘Underfilled’ 11 of those schools are in District 38, including Lincoln Heights, 1/4 mile from the Beatties Ford Business District).

And if this is an argument about improving the business district to increase economic stability and development it seems like a band-aid for a larger problem of identifying and resolving the issues facing our actual business owners that provide us good and services. I am excited about seeing the Streetcar Project come down this corridor. I believe it will do the most to stabilize our community and empower our residents, but we must be cautious and informed so we can retain the ‘flavor’ of our community and not fall prey to gentrification and sterilization….

My biggest beef with this project is that I feel like it might be happening in a bubble, unconscious of its relationship to the economic issues our immediate community faces, and more so unconscious of the relationship to the CATS Streetcar Project. I challenge anyone to send me the phasing schedule for the Streetcar project (because I could not find it anywhere on online) and if this Median/Streetscape Project is an initial phase of the Streetcar project then maybe it just has unfortunate timing in this stressed economic time but does have some validity for the future of this community.

Where is the Love?

The Veterans Rally and March to the May 18, 2010 Mecklenburg County Commissioners Meeting was impressive. Veterans from all over Mecklenburg, Catawba, Cabarrus, Union and York County were in attendance and "fired up"! Most of them concerned for their sons and daughters currently serving their country. Access to earned military benefits and services are important. We must always support our military veterans active, inactive, retired etc. They are the reason many of us sleep without worry of foreign or domestic invasion.

I got a chance to speak to everyone who attended the event one-on-one, in small gatherings and in an informal address to the entire crowd. My message to the crowd was simple. As the State Senator for District 38, I would never vote for a budget which involves a cut or elimination of veterans services locations. It doesn't makes sense and our current leaders, both Republican and Democrat, should be embarrassed such recommendations even entered the discussion!

Cory Thompson (Mecklenburg County Commissioner Candidate) and Cal Cunningham (US Senate Candidate) made comments after my address.

Education in Danger in Mecklenburg County North Carolina (What are They Doing?!)

How can our current political leadership allow schools and libraries to close and fire hundreds of educators? I believe they have forgotten how vital it is to educate our communities! One could argue that our current state and local leaders are selfish. Selfish enough to protect their own incomes and resources while essentially eradicating communities' incomes and resources.

I can promise voters Cedric Scott will not sit quietly as your NC State Senator for District 38. Education and educators will always be one of my top priorities! I will work to make sure the "Education Lottery" funds go directly to saving and continuing to invest in our children's and communities' futures! I will not tolerate the "pork barrel" spending of Education Lottery Funds! It's just not fair to our children!

I will lead the charge to "Take Our Community Back"! Let's vote every incumbent out of office this November 2, 2010! Let's show political leaders of Mecklenburg County that we will no longer allow them to destroy the futures of our children! Let's take our community back!