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Robert "Rob" Harrington took the oath of office Wednesday morning as Charlotte's mayor, ending the succession that began with Vi Lyles's resignation.
Jack Beckett·Jul 2, 2026
After a runoff decided by a single vote, the City Council chose Robert Harrington, a Robinson Bradshaw attorney who has never held elected office, as Charlotte's next mayor.
Jack Beckett·Jun 23, 2026
The council interviewed five finalists for interim mayor on June 18 and set the appointment vote for Monday. Here is how each got on the ballot, what they told council about running meetings, the…
Jack Beckett·Jun 20, 2026
A Charlotte City Council committee voted 4-1 to keep exploring a criminal-penalty option for repeat street-vending offenders and unanimously advanced citywide vending regulation, sending both to the…
Jack Beckett·Jun 3, 2026
Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 Monday to direct the city manager to give the Charlotte Fire Department the same 10 percent raise as police, closing a pay gap that drew months of firefighter protest.
Jack Beckett·Jun 2, 2026
Charlotte's city council voted Tuesday to open applications for an interim mayor, 19 days after Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation — and the 2027 race question is already on the form.
May 27, 2026
Charlotte City Council held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new telecommunications and data storage facilities.
Jack Beckett·May 27, 2026
Charlotte City Council on Monday unanimously approved a partial rezoning of the Manor Theater site on Providence Road, clearing the way for SLRH Acquisitions to redevelop the long-closed Eastover…
Jack Beckett·May 22, 2026
Mission City Church, Freedom Communities, and the True Homes Foundation walked Charlotte City Council through their 49-townhome affordable-housing petition Monday night.
Jack Beckett·May 21, 2026
The Charlotte City Council on Monday rezoned a 0.16-acre Verbena Street parcel from ML-2 (manufacturing and logistics) to TOD-NC, 7-2.
Jack Beckett·May 21, 2026
Council Member Renée Johnson (District 4) brought a manually-compiled CMS school-utilization report to Monday's council meeting to argue that the conventional rezoning process is not tracking the…
Jack Beckett·May 20, 2026
Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a 41.26-acre rezoning of the Atrium Health University City hospital campus Monday, switching the property from Institutional Campus 1 to Institutional…
Jack Beckett·May 20, 2026
Council Member Renée Johnson pulled petition 2025-136 — a conventional rezoning at 1800 West Sugar Creek Road by Larry Cooper — off the consent agenda Monday, citing her standing concern about…
Jack Beckett·May 19, 2026
Mayor Vi Lyles had not chaired a 2026 zoning meeting through her current term — Council Member Ed Driggs (District 7) handled each of the four held earlier this year.
Jack Beckett·May 19, 2026
Brendan K. Maginnis, the runner-up in Charlotte's September 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, has volunteered for the interim mayor appointment — from Copenhagen, where his family moved in January…
Jack Beckett·May 16, 2026
Council convened in special session at 4 p.m. Monday to take up three of Charlotte's biggest active fights — a $4.5 billion budget hearing, a resolution on the I-77 South toll lanes, and the…
Jack Beckett·May 11, 2026
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced Thursday that she will resign on June 30, ending a tenure that began in 2017. Under North Carolina law, the City Council will appoint a Democrat to serve the…
Jack Beckett·May 8, 2026
At the final public hearing on the Charlotte Area Transit System's Fare Modernization Program, public commenter Carson Cohn told the MTC that CATS had promised him an answer over a month ago on…
Jack Beckett·May 7, 2026
The rental housing production category of Charlotte's 2024 affordable housing bond is now $5.6 million over its allocation goal.
Jack Beckett·May 5, 2026
The Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to even schedule a public hearing on a temporary moratorium for new data center approvals. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no.
Jack Beckett·Apr 28, 2026
Council Member LaWana Mayfield built Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative. Monday night she voted against one of its petitions — and told the chamber from the dais why the label alone doesn't get…
Jack Beckett·Apr 22, 2026
Council Member LaWana Mayfield, the architect of Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative, voted against a Faith in Housing petition Monday night. Both rezonings passed.
Jack Beckett·Apr 21, 2026
Charlotte City Council reviews $20.85 million in Housing Trust Fund staff recommendations — four rental projects, nine homeownership proposals — as council members push back on rezoning timing…
Jack Beckett·Apr 14, 2026
The first CATS budget built on the new 1% sales tax totals $571.7 million. Council rejected criminalizing street vendors. Staff recommended thirteen of eighteen housing trust fund proposals.
Jack Beckett·Apr 14, 2026
Lance Sotelo was 25 years old when a driver ran a red light on The Plaza in January and hit him. Charlotte's Public Safety Committee has revisited the city's red light camera program — off the street…
Jack Beckett·Apr 7, 2026
Charlotte received 18 proposals requesting more than $45 million for its Housing Trust Fund — but only has $28.7 million to give out. The council votes April 27.
Jack Beckett·Apr 7, 2026
The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is Charlotte's new regional transit authority, created after voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2025.
Jack Beckett·Mar 28, 2026
Charlotte City Council approved the Crosland Southeast affordable housing project 6-4 at the March 23 zoning meeting. The four no votes came from council members who champion equity — arguing East…
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
City staff proposed cutting Charlotte's affordable housing bond from $100 million to $50 million in the FY2027 budget. Council members from across the dais rejected the number, with Mayfield…
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
At Monday's FY2027 budget workshop, Council Members Anderson and Graham pushed for a Gateway Station progress update and connected it to the stalled CTC redevelopment and the former EpiCentre.
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
Charlotte City Council spent Q1 2026 juggling a razor-thin budget, a toll lane revolt, affordable housing policy, and a transit authority handoff with a July deadline.
Jack Beckett·Mar 15, 2026
A quiet UDO change lets farmers markets operate by right in Charlotte's industrial zones — and at least one council member says that's the whole point.
Jack Beckett·Feb 18, 2026
Council approved $4.3M for a new transit authority start-up and major infrastructure contracts, while deferring a Gateway Station parking lease and a Norland Road path item.
Jack Beckett·Jan 17, 2026
Charlotte's last zoning meeting mixed holiday cheer with hard votes on displacement, traffic, TOD, and school crowding. Here is what passed, what failed, and why it matters.
Jack Beckett·Dec 16, 2025
On swearing-in night, a failed motion for one Mayor Pro Tem and a 9–3 vote for another gave Charlotte its first look at how this new City Council may sort itself into factions.
Jack Beckett·Dec 8, 2025
Mecklenburg County voters approved a landmark transit tax, re‑elected Mayor Vi Lyles, and delivered a clean sweep for Democrats on the council and school board in Charlotte's 2025 municipal election.
Jack Beckett·Nov 6, 2025
Councilmember Watlington's corruption allegations have cost Charlotte $ 25,000. Investigation found nothing. She has no regrets. That's the problem.
Peter Cellino·Oct 14, 2025
Council aligned the MPTA appointment timeline with partner schedules and swapped a hard category rule for "encouraged," after recusing one member. Here is what changes on Nov. 6, 12‑15, 17, and 24.
Jack Beckett·Oct 2, 2025
Charlotte's at-large races decide four citywide seats. Meet the field, see key dates, and track positions on the transit tax, housing, and stadium funding. Privacy-first, all receipts linked.
Jack Beckett·Aug 30, 2025
A tiara, a prototype, and a civics clinic. Charlotte's public forum delivered two tight hours of candor, capped by a Providence Day senior who made the cleanest case for home rule all night.
Jack Beckett·Aug 25, 2025
The 1% transit sales tax would fund roads, rail, and buses through a new regional authority with strict gates on the Red Line. Here's how it works, who controls it and where candidates stand.
Jack Beckett·Aug 24, 2025
District 1's 2025 rematch: Charlene Henderson challenges mayor pro tem Danté Anderson. Early voting Aug. 21–Sept. 6; primary Sept. 9. What splits them on labor, transit, and development.
Jack Beckett·Aug 23, 2025
Charlotte Council sparred over rezonings tied to traffic safety, school crowding, and affordable housing, exposing fault lines between developers, residents, and candidates ahead of the 2025 primaries.
Jack Beckett·Aug 19, 2025
In Charlotte's 2025 elections, five Republican candidates — from seasoned council veterans to first-time challengers — aim to reshape city policy and politics.
Jack Beckett·Aug 14, 2025
Explore Charlotte's 2025 City Council races. District-by-district profiles, records, priorities, and key election dates for Mecklenburg voters.
Jack Beckett·Aug 10, 2025
Charlotte's 2025 at-large City Council race has 12 candidates, two parties, and one giant question: who has a citywide message that sticks?
Jack Beckett·Aug 3, 2025
