October 3, 2025 • 33 mins
Tune in here to this Thursday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!
Breaking Brett talks with FOP President Daniel Redford about why they asked for National Guard help, and shares a portion of today's CATS press conference. Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham talks about crime in Charlotte. Edward Peacock, Charlotte City Councilman discusses CATS safety.
Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Hi oh, Let's go hi oh, Let's go oh, Let's
go hi oh, Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jenson here with you on this Friday Night of Breaking
with Brett Jensen as we go up until seven o'clock
tonight seven oh four five, seven oh eleven ten and guys,
make sure you follow me on accept Brett Underscore Jensen
for all the latest and breaking news in and around
the Charlotte area, and we have got a jam packed
(00:52):
show for you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
As a lot happened early this morning. My day started
at about five forty five am, and I'm still going here.
We are what thirteen hours later, thirteen hours later, still
going so again, well I guess I guess what twelve.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Hours and fifteen minutes later I should say.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
But nonetheless, it started with you know, the FOP making
their announcement about the letter asking for the National Guard,
and then we had the big press conference earlier today.
So what we're going to do is do things in
chronological order. So the very first thing you're going to
hear now is my interview with Daniel Redford, the President
of the Charlotte Meckenburg Fraternal Order of Police about asking
(01:29):
for the National Guard. So, first of all, Daniel Redford,
thanks for joining me tonight. And second of all, why
did the FOP feel the need to put out this
letter asking for the National Guard.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Listen, you know, we've had a crime problem in Charlotte
for many, many years. The FOP has met with city
leaders from the city manager all the way down to
the police chief. Many times. We've addressed staffing shortages, we've
addressed crime problems, we've addressed morale problems within the Charlott
mckaburgh Police Department, and the meetings turn in to something that,
(02:02):
you know, it seems there's an interest from the party
that we're talking to. While we're there, we expressed our
frustrations and we express solutions because that's obviously what we
want is to see something come from this. But when
we walk out of the room, we feel like we
had a good meeting and that progress may have been made.
(02:23):
But here we are now seven years since I first
spoke in front of city Council talking about some issues,
and we are no better off today than we were
seven years ago. So the need for this, you know,
it obviously comes after the death of Arena Zaritska. You know,
unfortunately she died tragically in Charlotte. Was another was just
one of dozens of homicide victims in this city. But
(02:47):
something was special with her and that you know she
was she was she was a different victim. You know,
she fled Ukraine, which was in battled in war and
came to all it only to get murdered by a
career criminal. So why it is that we've had hundreds,
if not thousands of homicides over the past several years,
(03:10):
in decades, and our city leadership just now decides is
the moment that they want to stand in front of
the public and say, hey, we have the answers. I
think they've had their time. I think they've showed us
that they haven't cared enough in the past, and this
is not an opportunity for them to end up on
their soapbox and pound their chest and give us the
(03:32):
answers and the solutions that we've been asking for for years.
They have failed us, and I do not think that
it is appropriate for them to walk away from this
with their head held high thinking that they've made a difference,
because they've had their chance and they have failed us.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Speaking with Fraternal Order of Police President here in the
Charlotte Chapter, Daniel Redford. The FP earlier this morning put
out a letter addressed to President Trump, Governor Stein, and
Mayor Lyle's request seeing help from the National Guard. Daniel,
in that letter, you actually cite stats and saying how
your several hundred officers short. Can you go into that
area a little bit more and give us some specifics?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
So a few weeks ago I sent a letter to
city leaders addressing the allocated numbers that the City of
Charlotte budget is Budgets Charlotte, and how that number is
actually reduced by I believe it was forty six police
officers in the past five to six years. So that
means that the City of Charlotte has lowered the budget
(04:34):
for police officers by nearly fifty over the past six years,
which allows CMPD to publicly show that they're not as
they're not as short as they once were. But it's
just a manipulation of numbers. And you know, but they
count hirebacks, which are part time officers who are not
capable of being able to do the duties of a
(04:55):
full time officer. Answering Answering nine to one calls for
one as an example. But you know, we're close to
three hundred officers short just based off of what the
city budgets. But when you look at an article that
came out from the Department of Justice, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, it shows that a city with a population
(05:16):
the size of a million, which Charlotte would fall under,
should have three officers for every one thousand citizens, which
means that we are over a thousand officers, close to
thirteen hundred officers and be specific short in Charlotte. So
those staffing shortages obviously create more of an impact and
more of responsibility per officer in CMPD than it would
(05:38):
if we were completely staffed. So, you know, we have
a city with a drug problem that we have, and
we have fewer than a dozen, if not fewer than
ten officers in our vice unit out there to go
and get drugs off the streets, human tracking, all this
other stuff. You know, really it really impacts our ability
to go out and do the level of policing and
(05:59):
getting bad is off the street that our citizens deserve.
And you know, I think, I think our crime and
the shootings and I think our citizens are starting to
open their eyes and pay attention to that because crime
is hitting areas of Charlotte that aren't used to experiencing it.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
What do you think will come of this?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Do you think Governor Stein or Mayor vile Lyles will
actually heed your request and actually bring in or want
to bring in the National Guard.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
I think I probably have a better shot of getting
a call from the President himself than from Mayor of Vilyles.
We'll see where it goes. You know, listen, I've gone
I've gone four almost four years, does the president of
the FOP, and you know going on ten years as
being a board member of the FOP, and that once
as the city manager or the mayor ever picked their
(06:44):
phone up to call me to ask me my opinion
of anything, said Brett, I'm going to tell you I'm
not going to.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Hold by breath.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Charlotte Meckeenberg Fraternal Order of Police President Daniel Reford, I
really do appreciate your time tonight.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Thank you, Brett as always.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Okay, again, thanks to Daniel Effort for joining me.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So here's the thing, here's the big takeaway that a
lot of people are gonna miss and that they are
currently missing, including many of the media members. This isn't
necessarily about crime being really really high. And yes, we've
had fifteen murders in the city of Charlotte over the
last five weeks since Arena was brutally stabbed. That's not
even including Arena's murder. But at the same point, this
(07:22):
is more about staffing shortages within the CNPD. And yes,
calls are up requesting of officers, those are up, arrests
are up, police interaction, officer interactions with people, that's up.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
So you got all these calls and all these.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Instances actually increasing, yet the staff is not increasing, and
they're what three hundred short or so, and probably actually
several hundred more after that and what they actually probably
should have. So my point is people are going to say,
oh my gosh, they think crime and Charlott's out of control. Well, look,
it is up over over one hundred percent in Uptown.
I get that, but as a city as a whole,
(08:00):
it's not. In Uptown absolutely one hundred percent. But again,
this is more about staffing shortages. We're looking for bodies
to help us. If the National Guard can patrol uptown
and alleviate some of the officers, that will go a
long long way. Yes, they can't arrest anyone, but you
know what they can do maybe calm the situation. When
(08:21):
you see people walking around the streets and officers and
fatigues and stuff like that. It might tear quite a
few situations that may otherwise have risen up and come
to a head. So again, yes they can't arrest anyone,
but just the sheer presence who's the mayor of Washington, DC.
How that worked out for them, worked out very, very
very well. So that's what the FOP is doing. They're like, look,
(08:43):
we need bodies to help us because we're short staffed,
not because crime is through the roof and we can't
handle the crime. We just don't have enough bodies. Please
help us. And that's what all this is about. And
of course at the press conference today and all the
Democrats and a lot of the other people, including the media,
they they misunderstood what Daniel Reford with the FOP was
(09:03):
trying to say. Okay, when we come back, let's get
into some of the press conference.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I wanted to do everything's in chronological order.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So now the press conference is next, we'll hear some
of the questions I asked to the media and some
of the non answer answers giving back to the media.
My name is Brett Jenson and you're listening to Breaking
with Brett Jenson. Welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen
(09:48):
on this beautiful fall Friday evening.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
As we go up until seven o'clock. TJ.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Ritchie coming to you live from the Speedway starting at
seven o'clock. Okay, So they had the press conference today
and at first the first fifteen minutes people spoke, and
then the last fifteen minutes they took questions from the media.
I will tell you that pretty much what they said
while speaking was irrelevant, although Rusty Knox, the mayor of Davidson,
(10:14):
like he kind of stepped in it with one of
his statements saying that nothing could have prevented Arena's murder
or you know, yes, yes, actually they could have been
if they checked tickets. He would not have been allowed
on the light rail if you don't let him on
the light rail, and again that. But other than that,
there's really nothing that was said during their opening statements.
So here are some highlights from the press conference, and
(10:35):
you'll hear me ask a couple of questions as well.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Sure, mister Cagle and.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
There was talk of the Honors report living around forty
son of of the officers, he's enough to lead to
keep system safe and the increased perception of safety.
Speaker 8 (10:52):
Yes, so the auditor did note in his report one
element of the contract armed secure curity. I think it's
important to remember that one element of the contract doesn't
represent the position entirely on how to provide proper security
throughout the system. We know visible presence is important, and
(11:15):
so what we have is a more than one hundred
percent increase in staffing across certified law enforcement, armed security
as well as unarmed security, all serving working together to
protect the system. And all of that is backed up
in conjunction with CMPD and our partnerships with law enforcement,
(11:38):
and so yes, we do believe that this is a
solid strategy. The other thing I'll say, and others have
talked about this, as we think about staffing, we also
know we need more staffing, and so we're committed to
growing that contract as we move forward. But when we
(12:00):
entered into the agreement, the partnership with PPS, it was
about creating that right mix to create better visible presence
and a stronger security position across the entire system.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Signs here with Channel nine.
Speaker 9 (12:16):
I have a question for you in regards to the
Fraternal Order of Police have requested that the National Guard
now come to Charlotte after all of this and recent
Final Pride. Do you believe the National Guard should come
to Charlotte.
Speaker 10 (12:32):
I believe in Charlotte first and foremost, Hunter, I believe
that we have the ability in this community. The number
of people that are engaged now to make this a
safer city is from every part of our community. It's
from the business community, it's from our educational works and
(12:52):
all of that. So what I believe is that given
the time that we have to work with the White
House and the other federal eral offices, that we will
not need the Guard to come to Charlotte.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
Mister Tingles David Hodge WBTV. So the point that the
auditors made about the amount of armed security repubtrals and
train paps, COBC and.
Speaker 11 (13:15):
Armed security officer every single PATS light rail cab moving forward.
Speaker 8 (13:19):
After this, Yeah, as I've said before, we don't believe
that that is feasible. We also don't believe it creates
a force that can stay mobile to respond throughout the
system if there are significant numbers of security on every vehicle.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
If those trains.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Need to be stopped for some reason, that means those
security are stationary with that train. And so again it's
not about are there personnel on every vehicle every day.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
All day long.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
It's are their personnel visibly present throughout the entire system,
always throughout the day.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Grant KG Bret Jenson w met you radio. In terms of.
Speaker 12 (14:03):
Making sure that everyone has a ticket to get on
live early or whatever. The people that you're going to
have their checking the tickets are the light bill itself.
Are they going to be women, Are they going to
be pad Are they going to be able to prevent themselves,
to prevent themoe getting on and really wants to get on,
like to call us brown, How will that happen?
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Because if there's someone that can't handle themselves, we'll be.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Back here in two years from now talking about how
someone was assaulted trying to prevent someone from getting on
while trying to check tickets.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
So they will all be trained security. That's where we
are now. We will be looking at and we've said
this publicly. Many transit agencies have transitioned fair inspection or
ticket checkers over to non security, and we do intend
to evaluate that and possibly execute that. They are then
(14:56):
trained for how to de escalate and how to handle
those situations. But they are not there to provide a
security function. They are there to be supported by security
as they're conducting their activities.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Right, So how would they prevent Similk from actually getting
on if they wanted to get on.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
They're not there to prevent someone from getting on. They're
there to identify someone who hasn't paid, and if that
person refuses, security is there to remove them from the system.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Great Dago Kenneth leave the Fae. Are you guys think
can go handing turnstiles to.
Speaker 8 (15:31):
The castor come growth that has come up frequently for
the Blue Line. The Blue Line was constructed originally as
an open system versus a closed system. Closed systems have turnstiles,
open systems do not. It is not something that we
have looked at, but certainly it's something that will continue
to have conversations about with the MTC or ultimately the
(15:54):
Transit authority. If this referendum passes on November fourth, would you.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Be in favor of name of the librail station after
Rina Zerizka.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Thee's the boulevard we're going to wrap this up.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
We appreciate you guys. She answer that question, though, what
the are you in favor?
Speaker 12 (16:10):
There's been a call to named the East West Boulevard
station after Arina Zerizka.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Would you be in favor of that?
Speaker 10 (16:15):
Mayor? I am not able to speak to that, as
you would say right now, I think that that is
a really important decision and a decision that shouldn't be
made by someone that's just stepping up like this today.
We have a lot to do and I hope that
you understand that that's why we're standing here today, is
(16:36):
to answer as many questions as possible, but also to
think about what would be the best thing to help
our city be who we can be. And so what
I want to say is thank you all for coming
to do this.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Okay, So those were some of the highlights of the
press conference today. If you want to see the entire
press conference, and it was a pretty much a big
nothing burger, But if you want to watch it, go
to the City of Charlotte's YouTube page. They streamed it
and it's there on their YouTube page on the City
of Charlotte. And again it's completely free for those of
you who don't know how YouTube works. Okay, when we
(17:08):
come back, we're gonna hear from Malcolm Graham's Charlotte City
Council member, as well as Edwin Peacock, Sharlott City council member.
Just talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jensen here with you on this Friday night of Breaking
(17:28):
with Brett Jenson as.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
We go up until seven o'clock and TJ. Ritchie will
be joining you from the speedway.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
All right, So after the press conference and everything, I
was able to catch up with a couple of council
members city council members. The first one was Malcolm Graham,
so one hundred signs of WSC and I the two
of us talked to Malcolm Graham, the Sharlotta City council
member about the FOP, asking for the National Guard and
light rail safety and everything else. And you'll hear me
(17:56):
question him a couple of things on a couple of
things that he says. So just listen to the interview yourself,
like you'll understand what I'm talking about. Because I thought
he was being a little unfair and so I questioned
him about that. There's two questions that I have one
is obviously the FP you know, asking for the National
Guards strictly because of the numbers they don't have enough manpower.
(18:20):
Do you have arguments about them being short of manpower
or needing help.
Speaker 13 (18:25):
I have argument about putting military on our streets of Charlotte, right.
I don't want to give into the political noise coming
from outside of the city. I think we have a
responsibility to focus on things that we can control here locally,
working with our state partners, our local partners obviously will
work with the federal government, but the City of Charlotte
(18:45):
does not need National Guards on the street. We will
continue to work with senile PD, providing them the resources
that they need, whether it's additional police officers. I would
fund that and a heartbeat making sure that we have
a great lateral entry program for those individuals who are
currently in law enforcement that want to come to City
of Charlotte. Do we need to increase the pay I
(19:05):
will vote for that as well. But I think we
need to be really focused here locally and try not
to give into the national conversation, which really is in
the tackle in urban communities.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
But isn't that where the crime is a lot of
times the urban Memphis is three hundred and fifty percent above.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
The national abage.
Speaker 13 (19:20):
Crime is everywhere throughout the country, and I clearly understand
that bad things happen to get people. My sister as
an example of that. Crime is rampant throughout the country,
and so we have to be very focused, block out
the noise and focus on what we can control, and
I think we are we doing that here locally. This
is a great step forward from the fifteenth floor, for sure,
(19:44):
and I hope we could do more of this, being
very accountable, very accessible, speaking truth to power, letting you
guys know what we're currently doing. We're currently doing a lot.
I think it's time that we share our stories. Is
it's really disappointing. Every morning, whether it's on channel our,
channel thirty six, channel three, we hear about shootings, we
(20:04):
hear about stabbings, we hear about something that happened three
weeks ago. So the proliferation of crime stories really impact
how people think our city is right, and I still
agree that if you don't feel safe, then you're not safe,
and so we have to be very assertive about policing.
And this conversation for me goes beyond just what happened
(20:25):
on the light rail. We have to be concerned about
policing throughout the city of Charlotte.
Speaker 14 (20:29):
Am I clear and understanding regarding the National Guard that
you believe the City of Charlotte and this state can
solve this problem on its own.
Speaker 13 (20:37):
It's a local problem that we need to resolve. We're
a major city now and unfortunately, bad things happen to
get people. But I think we have to resources, demand power,
to intellect, and the comport from the community to solve
it locally. Public safety as a team sport, so all
of us, whether you're privacists and are our government official,
(20:59):
have to leaning together to try to solve the problem.
Speaker 14 (21:01):
One of the ideas here was fair evasion. I know
we heard a lot of higher level ideas of what
the city and NTC is going to look at, but
really we didn't hear a.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Lot of details in the proposals.
Speaker 14 (21:12):
What would you like to see when it comes to
fair evasion tactics for our light rail system?
Speaker 13 (21:17):
That's a very good question, and it devils into details, right.
These are high level conversations based on how the system
was currently built, and so how do we retrofect that
system to ensure that those who jump on the bus
Jose would jump on the light reil dustry car are
paying their fair share. That's going to take a little
bit of time to kind of figure out. Do we
install stalls. I'm not sure do we have a whole
(21:39):
new system in a month based on the transit vote.
So I think now's the time to analyze, to study,
to ask questions, and they really be responsive to those
things that we hear.
Speaker 14 (21:53):
You've been in this a long time. What do you
see to people who hear that and then wonder, well,
that's just more talk and less action.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How long is this tough? Take?
Speaker 13 (22:02):
Well, I think we've taken a number of actions since
the unfortunate murder. Right, we got CMPD officers now engaging
with the private security providing a high level of visibility
on the system. You see they roll out today of
the man vehicles to ensure more visibility. I think there's
(22:22):
a high focus now on public safety. Has always been there,
and now people are really paying close attention to it.
And so I think we all just need to lean
into what we're doing and be very honest and transparent
about what we can do and what we can't do. Right,
uh and just be very transparent. These are tough issues. Again,
bad things happen to get people throughout this country. Charlotte
(22:45):
is no exception to it. But the spotlight is on
Charlotte for a wide variety of reasons, you being a
blue city. Let's be honest about that.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Do you think that the light rail station has been
called for it, the supposed Bulevard light rail station to
be named after her in her honor.
Speaker 13 (23:00):
Whether or not we should rename the station, I really
have not given that any thought at all. I think
we need to again focus on the main thing, which
is ensuring that whether or not you jump on the
bus the streetcar are the transit, the riders feel safe
and secure.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
There's been three murders with the gad systems, two at
the center and then one on the light rail and
then another man that is now a quadriplegic after beating
within an each of his life. So when people say
it's safe, but there's been three murders in another person
paralyzed and that's all just recently.
Speaker 13 (23:33):
Again, these are unfortunate situations. You know, if I had
a magic wand the first time we do is the
proliferation of guns. Now community is it's just awful. There's
everyone has a gun and they're not afraid to pull
the trigger. Problem number one. Problem number two is we
need to assure that we have more cops on the street.
(23:55):
Problem number three is making sure that we have to
fund it necessary to support the court systems, das public defenders,
the reform of the magistrate office. Right, all those things
require the help from different levels of government. It's just
not the city a Charlotte by itself. So we will
work with our federal partners, we will work with our
(24:17):
state partners. We'll do what we can locally within our
jurisdiction to ensure that everyone feels safe. The transit station
Uptown probably needs to be relocated. Outlived its useful existence.
It's too small, it's too cramp. Is an open environment,
you don't really need to take it to go there.
So I think we really need to take a step
(24:37):
back and examine everything that we're doing from a transfer perspective.
But one last point, my focus is enshowing that we
do have a safe transit system. But my primary focus
is to make sure that we have a safe Charlotte.
Whether you're riding the bus, whether you're walking into a bank,
whether or not you're in a neighborhood community that everyone
(24:57):
in our city deserves to feel and that's my own objective.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Again, he made it sound like that they were purposely
targeting Democrat cities and the urban areas of the Democrat cities. Well,
guess what, that's where all the crimesats say the majority
of the crime is. Yes, of course, crime is everywhere.
Yes it's in the cornfields of Nebraska, but at a
far lesser rate than it is in some of the
(25:23):
you know, the bad.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Areas of Charlotte and Baltimore and Memphis. You heard me
mention Memphis.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
I mean again, like, you can't say that people are
specifically targeting you when that's exactly where the crime is
and all the data shows it. It just does.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean, people are not getting.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Murdered at Providence Country Club or you know, Valatine or
Huntersville or Cornelius at the same rates in other parts
of the city.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
They're just not. That is a statistical fact.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
So that's why I wanted to call him out on that,
or not call him out, but that's why I wanted
to like question him about that, because I just thought
that was a you know, an unfair accusation.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
That he was making.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
But look, I like Malcolm a lot, and we continue
to talk and he's always been very good to me
and and hopefully I've been good to him as well. Okay,
so when we return now, I'm going to talk to
edwind Peacock. I was able to speak to him one
on one. He was also at the press conference today,
and we're going to talk about you know, hey, how
are you going to make sure that people are getting
on the light rail that only you supposed to be
(26:25):
on the light rail? And also does the city actually
have to have more money to keep doing all the
things that they want to do. Isn't eighteen million dollars
a year in security enough? So we'll talk about that
when we return. Welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen
(26:58):
on this Friday night for a few more minutes before
we send it on.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Over to TJ.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And he's coming to you live from the Speedway Club
over there at Sharlot Motor Speedway as they get ready
for the roval tomorrow night. By the way, speaking of tomorrow,
I believe the rebels tomorrow. But by the way, speaking
of tomorrow, Talktoberfest starts tomorrow and Sunday starting at six o'clock.
And if you can't watch it everything like can't watch
it live, it will also be posted on Facebook, so
(27:24):
make sure you check it out there.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
But again, t.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Octoberfest starts this weekend six o'clock Saturday and Sunday, going
through the month of October. Okay, So after I was
done talking with Malcolm Graham, I was able to grab
Charlotte City Council Member Edwin Peacock to talk to him
and get his thoughts about the whole press conference and
what he liked and what he didn't like. Are you
satisfied with everything that you heard today?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I was satisfied with two things.
Speaker 11 (27:49):
Number One, you hear an emphasis on having an armed
and unarmed presence on the train. And secondly, we are
taking fair evasion seriously and I'm so thankful for that.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Said that they can't have security on every single car,
even though it would only be twenty cars. What how
if you can't have security on every car, how are
you going to have people checking tickets.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
On every car. I've argued that you need to have
two things.
Speaker 11 (28:12):
One you need to have a PA system announcement to
remind riders that they're going to have to pay if
they're going to ride, or they're going to be removed,
or they're going to be paying a fine. The second
thing is is that I think we need to have
individuals either volunteer or paid, that act in the in
the in the case of what most people might know
in other countries is like a bobby, someone that's there,
just as for fair evasion, that announces when they get on,
(28:32):
they're here to chant, here to check train's check tickets.
I don't think I don't think you need to overthink it.
I think we need to have, you know, basically essentially
a presence of people to let people know that's there.
I'm going to make a referral to the Transportation Committee
about some technology that I'd read about in Australia, which
was using the phone to actually scan as you go
in and it knows if you haven't paid, and basically
(28:54):
if you've got a credit card on your phone, it
actually charges you. So there's technology. I mean, you can
respond to fair evasion using technology. Obviously, one thing has
to come is we need the money. And so obviously
if the trans attack does not pass, then where will
we find the money for that obviously the system upgrades
need to come.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Well, I think some people to argue that the transportation
the security contract tripled from five and a half million
five point eight million to over eighteen million, and people said, well,
wait a minute, you just increased it by thirteen million
dollars a year and you're telling me you need more money.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
Yeah. Well, first of all, the more money is obviously
for the bigger expansion, as we heard going up to
Mayor Knox's final stop at Davidson. But you asked the
very question that we all want to know is what
are we getting for our money? Is it actually working?
And that's where the emphasis has been since the tragedy.
The emphasis obviously needs to be back on safety on trains,
fair evasion is over gone. Are the days of thinking
(29:49):
that this is a free system. If it's free, nobody
appreciates it.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I've asked two people so far and they've given non
answer answers, So you'll be the third. There is a
push and a lot of people would like to see
the light rail station at East was Boulevard at least
have Arena's Riskus name on it.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
What are your initial thoughts about that? I will be
making a referral.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
I'll be making sending to my colleagues today a recommendation
to refer that item to the Transportation Committee. So let's
see if I know I'll have a second to that referral.
I hope that my council members will actually support that action.
So that's what I hope will come.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Bret, anything else that you'd like to say about today's
press conference.
Speaker 11 (30:28):
Again, I'm just I'm pleased that we're actually putting the
emphasis on this. You heard the most assertive statements I've
seen so far about uniformed and unarmed officers. And secondly,
obviously fair evasion is over, so that in that regard
we've moved.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
We've moved a lot in this discussion.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Today, and I think a lot of people were initially
as upset that people feel like they're being reactive as
opposed to being proactive.
Speaker 11 (30:51):
Yep, yeah, I mean, clearly, right now, we have to
be proactive about crime reduction in this city from all
four corners. It can no longer be a situation where
our top focus area is great neighborhoods. How do we
have a great neighborhood if we have a safe neighborhood,
how do we have a great transportation system. If it's
not the safe transportation system, everything emanates from safety and
(31:11):
it has to get back to being the top priority.
I know our law enforcement officials feel that way. I
know that PPS wants to do a good job, and
I believe in our heart that our CAT system wants
to do that. But we have to be the board
leaders that are going to actually push.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
To make that happen.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
All right, Once again, thanks to Edwin Peacock, that Charlotte
City Council member. By the way, he's running for Charlotte
City Council at large, so again thanks for him, to
him for joining me tonight. All right, So look, the
press conference itself, let's just wrap it up and put
a big bow on this. A lot not a lot
was learned, Very very little was actually learned. We're discussing
(31:46):
the plans and we're going to put forward plans and
stuff like that, but without actually saying what the plans are,
what they're going to put forward. And then you know,
you heard me ask the mayor about do you want
to name the light rail station after her?
Speaker 4 (31:59):
And she's like, oh, well, you know I can't answer that.
I can't answer that well, actually you could if you
wanted to.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But you know, the odds I think of that happening
are very slim, just because again she does not want
to be reminded every day of the biggest failure of
her tenure as mayor. And I will tell you, if
this one sales tax doesn't pass, that will be a
close number two to the situation involving Arena Zaruska. And
when I say failures, I mean the press release, the
(32:26):
way she handled it, refusing to make statements, you know,
just a lot of things about it, and it could
not have gone worse for her. And so again the
press conference, not a lot was learned today. It was
just trust us, Just trust us. We've got your best
interest at heart. Yeah, that hasn't worked out so well
over the last several years.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
But anyways, so that was tonight.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
And again also want to say thanks to Malcolm Graham
who joined me and let me do an interview with him,
as well as Charlotte FOP president Daniel Redford. When I
broke the story earlier this morning about the letter that
the fo P was asking for the National Guard's help.
All right, everyone that's gonna do it for us tonight?
Have a great weekend. I should say, try and have
a great weekend, enjoy the weather and again. October Fest
(33:10):
starts tomorrow at six o'clock on Facebook and TJ Ritchie
Now is coming to you live from the Speedway. My
name is Brett Jenson, and you've been listening to Breaking
with Brett Jenson.
Hi oh, Let's go hi oh, Let's go oh, Let's
go hi oh, Let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jenson here with you on this Friday Night of Breaking
with Brett Jensen as we go up until seven o'clock
tonight seven oh four five, seven oh eleven ten and guys,
make sure you follow me on accept Brett Underscore Jensen
for all the latest and breaking news in and around
the Charlotte area, and we have got a jam packed
(00:52):
show for you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
As a lot happened early this morning. My day started
at about five forty five am, and I'm still going here.
We are what thirteen hours later, thirteen hours later, still
going so again, well I guess I guess what twelve.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Hours and fifteen minutes later I should say.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
But nonetheless, it started with you know, the FOP making
their announcement about the letter asking for the National Guard,
and then we had the big press conference earlier today.
So what we're going to do is do things in
chronological order. So the very first thing you're going to
hear now is my interview with Daniel Redford, the President
of the Charlotte Meckenburg Fraternal Order of Police about asking
(01:29):
for the National Guard. So, first of all, Daniel Redford,
thanks for joining me tonight. And second of all, why
did the FOP feel the need to put out this
letter asking for the National Guard.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Listen, you know, we've had a crime problem in Charlotte
for many, many years. The FOP has met with city
leaders from the city manager all the way down to
the police chief. Many times. We've addressed staffing shortages, we've
addressed crime problems, we've addressed morale problems within the Charlott
mckaburgh Police Department, and the meetings turn in to something that,
(02:02):
you know, it seems there's an interest from the party
that we're talking to. While we're there, we expressed our
frustrations and we express solutions because that's obviously what we
want is to see something come from this. But when
we walk out of the room, we feel like we
had a good meeting and that progress may have been made.
(02:23):
But here we are now seven years since I first
spoke in front of city Council talking about some issues,
and we are no better off today than we were
seven years ago. So the need for this, you know,
it obviously comes after the death of Arena Zaritska. You know,
unfortunately she died tragically in Charlotte. Was another was just
one of dozens of homicide victims in this city. But
(02:47):
something was special with her and that you know she
was she was she was a different victim. You know,
she fled Ukraine, which was in battled in war and
came to all it only to get murdered by a
career criminal. So why it is that we've had hundreds,
if not thousands of homicides over the past several years,
(03:10):
in decades, and our city leadership just now decides is
the moment that they want to stand in front of
the public and say, hey, we have the answers. I
think they've had their time. I think they've showed us
that they haven't cared enough in the past, and this
is not an opportunity for them to end up on
their soapbox and pound their chest and give us the
(03:32):
answers and the solutions that we've been asking for for years.
They have failed us, and I do not think that
it is appropriate for them to walk away from this
with their head held high thinking that they've made a difference,
because they've had their chance and they have failed us.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Speaking with Fraternal Order of Police President here in the
Charlotte Chapter, Daniel Redford. The FP earlier this morning put
out a letter addressed to President Trump, Governor Stein, and
Mayor Lyle's request seeing help from the National Guard. Daniel,
in that letter, you actually cite stats and saying how
your several hundred officers short. Can you go into that
area a little bit more and give us some specifics?
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
So a few weeks ago I sent a letter to
city leaders addressing the allocated numbers that the City of
Charlotte budget is Budgets Charlotte, and how that number is
actually reduced by I believe it was forty six police
officers in the past five to six years. So that
means that the City of Charlotte has lowered the budget
(04:34):
for police officers by nearly fifty over the past six years,
which allows CMPD to publicly show that they're not as
they're not as short as they once were. But it's
just a manipulation of numbers. And you know, but they
count hirebacks, which are part time officers who are not
capable of being able to do the duties of a
(04:55):
full time officer. Answering Answering nine to one calls for
one as an example. But you know, we're close to
three hundred officers short just based off of what the
city budgets. But when you look at an article that
came out from the Department of Justice, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, it shows that a city with a population
(05:16):
the size of a million, which Charlotte would fall under,
should have three officers for every one thousand citizens, which
means that we are over a thousand officers, close to
thirteen hundred officers and be specific short in Charlotte. So
those staffing shortages obviously create more of an impact and
more of responsibility per officer in CMPD than it would
(05:38):
if we were completely staffed. So, you know, we have
a city with a drug problem that we have, and
we have fewer than a dozen, if not fewer than
ten officers in our vice unit out there to go
and get drugs off the streets, human tracking, all this
other stuff. You know, really it really impacts our ability
to go out and do the level of policing and
(05:59):
getting bad is off the street that our citizens deserve.
And you know, I think, I think our crime and
the shootings and I think our citizens are starting to
open their eyes and pay attention to that because crime
is hitting areas of Charlotte that aren't used to experiencing it.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
What do you think will come of this?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Do you think Governor Stein or Mayor vile Lyles will
actually heed your request and actually bring in or want
to bring in the National Guard.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
I think I probably have a better shot of getting
a call from the President himself than from Mayor of Vilyles.
We'll see where it goes. You know, listen, I've gone
I've gone four almost four years, does the president of
the FOP, and you know going on ten years as
being a board member of the FOP, and that once
as the city manager or the mayor ever picked their
(06:44):
phone up to call me to ask me my opinion
of anything, said Brett, I'm going to tell you I'm
not going to.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Hold by breath.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Charlotte Meckeenberg Fraternal Order of Police President Daniel Reford, I
really do appreciate your time tonight.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Thank you, Brett as always.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Okay, again, thanks to Daniel Effort for joining me.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So here's the thing, here's the big takeaway that a
lot of people are gonna miss and that they are
currently missing, including many of the media members. This isn't
necessarily about crime being really really high. And yes, we've
had fifteen murders in the city of Charlotte over the
last five weeks since Arena was brutally stabbed. That's not
even including Arena's murder. But at the same point, this
(07:22):
is more about staffing shortages within the CNPD. And yes,
calls are up requesting of officers, those are up, arrests
are up, police interaction, officer interactions with people, that's up.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
So you got all these calls and all these.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Instances actually increasing, yet the staff is not increasing, and
they're what three hundred short or so, and probably actually
several hundred more after that and what they actually probably
should have. So my point is people are going to say,
oh my gosh, they think crime and Charlott's out of control. Well, look,
it is up over over one hundred percent in Uptown.
I get that, but as a city as a whole,
(08:00):
it's not. In Uptown absolutely one hundred percent. But again,
this is more about staffing shortages. We're looking for bodies
to help us. If the National Guard can patrol uptown
and alleviate some of the officers, that will go a
long long way. Yes, they can't arrest anyone, but you
know what they can do maybe calm the situation. When
(08:21):
you see people walking around the streets and officers and
fatigues and stuff like that. It might tear quite a
few situations that may otherwise have risen up and come
to a head. So again, yes they can't arrest anyone,
but just the sheer presence who's the mayor of Washington, DC.
How that worked out for them, worked out very, very
very well. So that's what the FOP is doing. They're like, look,
(08:43):
we need bodies to help us because we're short staffed,
not because crime is through the roof and we can't
handle the crime. We just don't have enough bodies. Please
help us. And that's what all this is about. And
of course at the press conference today and all the
Democrats and a lot of the other people, including the media,
they they misunderstood what Daniel Reford with the FOP was
(09:03):
trying to say. Okay, when we come back, let's get
into some of the press conference.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
I wanted to do everything's in chronological order.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So now the press conference is next, we'll hear some
of the questions I asked to the media and some
of the non answer answers giving back to the media.
My name is Brett Jenson and you're listening to Breaking
with Brett Jenson. Welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen
(09:48):
on this beautiful fall Friday evening.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
As we go up until seven o'clock. TJ.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Ritchie coming to you live from the Speedway starting at
seven o'clock. Okay, So they had the press conference today
and at first the first fifteen minutes people spoke, and
then the last fifteen minutes they took questions from the media.
I will tell you that pretty much what they said
while speaking was irrelevant, although Rusty Knox, the mayor of Davidson,
(10:14):
like he kind of stepped in it with one of
his statements saying that nothing could have prevented Arena's murder
or you know, yes, yes, actually they could have been
if they checked tickets. He would not have been allowed
on the light rail if you don't let him on
the light rail, and again that. But other than that,
there's really nothing that was said during their opening statements.
So here are some highlights from the press conference, and
(10:35):
you'll hear me ask a couple of questions as well.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Sure, mister Cagle and.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
There was talk of the Honors report living around forty
son of of the officers, he's enough to lead to
keep system safe and the increased perception of safety.
Speaker 8 (10:52):
Yes, so the auditor did note in his report one
element of the contract armed secure curity. I think it's
important to remember that one element of the contract doesn't
represent the position entirely on how to provide proper security
throughout the system. We know visible presence is important, and
(11:15):
so what we have is a more than one hundred
percent increase in staffing across certified law enforcement, armed security
as well as unarmed security, all serving working together to
protect the system. And all of that is backed up
in conjunction with CMPD and our partnerships with law enforcement,
(11:38):
and so yes, we do believe that this is a
solid strategy. The other thing I'll say, and others have
talked about this, as we think about staffing, we also
know we need more staffing, and so we're committed to
growing that contract as we move forward. But when we
(12:00):
entered into the agreement, the partnership with PPS, it was
about creating that right mix to create better visible presence
and a stronger security position across the entire system.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Signs here with Channel nine.
Speaker 9 (12:16):
I have a question for you in regards to the
Fraternal Order of Police have requested that the National Guard
now come to Charlotte after all of this and recent
Final Pride. Do you believe the National Guard should come
to Charlotte.
Speaker 10 (12:32):
I believe in Charlotte first and foremost, Hunter, I believe
that we have the ability in this community. The number
of people that are engaged now to make this a
safer city is from every part of our community. It's
from the business community, it's from our educational works and
(12:52):
all of that. So what I believe is that given
the time that we have to work with the White
House and the other federal eral offices, that we will
not need the Guard to come to Charlotte.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
Mister Tingles David Hodge WBTV. So the point that the
auditors made about the amount of armed security repubtrals and
train paps, COBC and.
Speaker 11 (13:15):
Armed security officer every single PATS light rail cab moving forward.
Speaker 8 (13:19):
After this, Yeah, as I've said before, we don't believe
that that is feasible. We also don't believe it creates
a force that can stay mobile to respond throughout the
system if there are significant numbers of security on every vehicle.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
If those trains.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Need to be stopped for some reason, that means those
security are stationary with that train. And so again it's
not about are there personnel on every vehicle every day.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
All day long.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
It's are their personnel visibly present throughout the entire system,
always throughout the day.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Grant KG Bret Jenson w met you radio. In terms of.
Speaker 12 (14:03):
Making sure that everyone has a ticket to get on
live early or whatever. The people that you're going to
have their checking the tickets are the light bill itself.
Are they going to be women, Are they going to
be pad Are they going to be able to prevent themselves,
to prevent themoe getting on and really wants to get on,
like to call us brown, How will that happen?
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Because if there's someone that can't handle themselves, we'll be.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Back here in two years from now talking about how
someone was assaulted trying to prevent someone from getting on
while trying to check tickets.
Speaker 8 (14:31):
So they will all be trained security. That's where we
are now. We will be looking at and we've said
this publicly. Many transit agencies have transitioned fair inspection or
ticket checkers over to non security, and we do intend
to evaluate that and possibly execute that. They are then
(14:56):
trained for how to de escalate and how to handle
those situations. But they are not there to provide a
security function. They are there to be supported by security
as they're conducting their activities.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Right, So how would they prevent Similk from actually getting
on if they wanted to get on.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
They're not there to prevent someone from getting on. They're
there to identify someone who hasn't paid, and if that
person refuses, security is there to remove them from the system.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Great Dago Kenneth leave the Fae. Are you guys think
can go handing turnstiles to.
Speaker 8 (15:31):
The castor come growth that has come up frequently for
the Blue Line. The Blue Line was constructed originally as
an open system versus a closed system. Closed systems have turnstiles,
open systems do not. It is not something that we
have looked at, but certainly it's something that will continue
to have conversations about with the MTC or ultimately the
(15:54):
Transit authority. If this referendum passes on November fourth, would you.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Be in favor of name of the librail station after
Rina Zerizka.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Thee's the boulevard we're going to wrap this up.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
We appreciate you guys. She answer that question, though, what
the are you in favor?
Speaker 12 (16:10):
There's been a call to named the East West Boulevard
station after Arina Zerizka.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Would you be in favor of that?
Speaker 10 (16:15):
Mayor? I am not able to speak to that, as
you would say right now, I think that that is
a really important decision and a decision that shouldn't be
made by someone that's just stepping up like this today.
We have a lot to do and I hope that
you understand that that's why we're standing here today, is
(16:36):
to answer as many questions as possible, but also to
think about what would be the best thing to help
our city be who we can be. And so what
I want to say is thank you all for coming
to do this.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Okay, So those were some of the highlights of the
press conference today. If you want to see the entire
press conference, and it was a pretty much a big
nothing burger, But if you want to watch it, go
to the City of Charlotte's YouTube page. They streamed it
and it's there on their YouTube page on the City
of Charlotte. And again it's completely free for those of
you who don't know how YouTube works. Okay, when we
(17:08):
come back, we're gonna hear from Malcolm Graham's Charlotte City
Council member, as well as Edwin Peacock, Sharlott City council member.
Just talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jensen here with you on this Friday night of Breaking
(17:28):
with Brett Jenson as.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
We go up until seven o'clock and TJ. Ritchie will
be joining you from the speedway.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
All right, So after the press conference and everything, I
was able to catch up with a couple of council
members city council members. The first one was Malcolm Graham,
so one hundred signs of WSC and I the two
of us talked to Malcolm Graham, the Sharlotta City council
member about the FOP, asking for the National Guard and
light rail safety and everything else. And you'll hear me
(17:56):
question him a couple of things on a couple of
things that he says. So just listen to the interview yourself,
like you'll understand what I'm talking about. Because I thought
he was being a little unfair and so I questioned
him about that. There's two questions that I have one
is obviously the FP you know, asking for the National
Guards strictly because of the numbers they don't have enough manpower.
(18:20):
Do you have arguments about them being short of manpower
or needing help.
Speaker 13 (18:25):
I have argument about putting military on our streets of Charlotte, right.
I don't want to give into the political noise coming
from outside of the city. I think we have a
responsibility to focus on things that we can control here locally,
working with our state partners, our local partners obviously will
work with the federal government, but the City of Charlotte
(18:45):
does not need National Guards on the street. We will
continue to work with senile PD, providing them the resources
that they need, whether it's additional police officers. I would
fund that and a heartbeat making sure that we have
a great lateral entry program for those individuals who are
currently in law enforcement that want to come to City
of Charlotte. Do we need to increase the pay I
(19:05):
will vote for that as well. But I think we
need to be really focused here locally and try not
to give into the national conversation, which really is in
the tackle in urban communities.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
But isn't that where the crime is a lot of
times the urban Memphis is three hundred and fifty percent above.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
The national abage.
Speaker 13 (19:20):
Crime is everywhere throughout the country, and I clearly understand
that bad things happen to get people. My sister as
an example of that. Crime is rampant throughout the country,
and so we have to be very focused, block out
the noise and focus on what we can control, and
I think we are we doing that here locally. This
is a great step forward from the fifteenth floor, for sure,
(19:44):
and I hope we could do more of this, being
very accountable, very accessible, speaking truth to power, letting you
guys know what we're currently doing. We're currently doing a lot.
I think it's time that we share our stories. Is
it's really disappointing. Every morning, whether it's on channel our,
channel thirty six, channel three, we hear about shootings, we
(20:04):
hear about stabbings, we hear about something that happened three
weeks ago. So the proliferation of crime stories really impact
how people think our city is right, and I still
agree that if you don't feel safe, then you're not safe,
and so we have to be very assertive about policing.
And this conversation for me goes beyond just what happened
(20:25):
on the light rail. We have to be concerned about
policing throughout the city of Charlotte.
Speaker 14 (20:29):
Am I clear and understanding regarding the National Guard that
you believe the City of Charlotte and this state can
solve this problem on its own.
Speaker 13 (20:37):
It's a local problem that we need to resolve. We're
a major city now and unfortunately, bad things happen to
get people. But I think we have to resources, demand power,
to intellect, and the comport from the community to solve
it locally. Public safety as a team sport, so all
of us, whether you're privacists and are our government official,
(20:59):
have to leaning together to try to solve the problem.
Speaker 14 (21:01):
One of the ideas here was fair evasion. I know
we heard a lot of higher level ideas of what
the city and NTC is going to look at, but
really we didn't hear a.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Lot of details in the proposals.
Speaker 14 (21:12):
What would you like to see when it comes to
fair evasion tactics for our light rail system?
Speaker 13 (21:17):
That's a very good question, and it devils into details, right.
These are high level conversations based on how the system
was currently built, and so how do we retrofect that
system to ensure that those who jump on the bus
Jose would jump on the light reil dustry car are
paying their fair share. That's going to take a little
bit of time to kind of figure out. Do we
install stalls. I'm not sure do we have a whole
(21:39):
new system in a month based on the transit vote.
So I think now's the time to analyze, to study,
to ask questions, and they really be responsive to those
things that we hear.
Speaker 14 (21:53):
You've been in this a long time. What do you
see to people who hear that and then wonder, well,
that's just more talk and less action.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How long is this tough? Take?
Speaker 13 (22:02):
Well, I think we've taken a number of actions since
the unfortunate murder. Right, we got CMPD officers now engaging
with the private security providing a high level of visibility
on the system. You see they roll out today of
the man vehicles to ensure more visibility. I think there's
(22:22):
a high focus now on public safety. Has always been there,
and now people are really paying close attention to it.
And so I think we all just need to lean
into what we're doing and be very honest and transparent
about what we can do and what we can't do. Right,
uh and just be very transparent. These are tough issues. Again,
bad things happen to get people throughout this country. Charlotte
(22:45):
is no exception to it. But the spotlight is on
Charlotte for a wide variety of reasons, you being a
blue city. Let's be honest about that.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Do you think that the light rail station has been
called for it, the supposed Bulevard light rail station to
be named after her in her honor.
Speaker 13 (23:00):
Whether or not we should rename the station, I really
have not given that any thought at all. I think
we need to again focus on the main thing, which
is ensuring that whether or not you jump on the
bus the streetcar are the transit, the riders feel safe
and secure.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
There's been three murders with the gad systems, two at
the center and then one on the light rail and
then another man that is now a quadriplegic after beating
within an each of his life. So when people say
it's safe, but there's been three murders in another person
paralyzed and that's all just recently.
Speaker 13 (23:33):
Again, these are unfortunate situations. You know, if I had
a magic wand the first time we do is the
proliferation of guns. Now community is it's just awful. There's
everyone has a gun and they're not afraid to pull
the trigger. Problem number one. Problem number two is we
need to assure that we have more cops on the street.
(23:55):
Problem number three is making sure that we have to
fund it necessary to support the court systems, das public defenders,
the reform of the magistrate office. Right, all those things
require the help from different levels of government. It's just
not the city a Charlotte by itself. So we will
work with our federal partners, we will work with our
(24:17):
state partners. We'll do what we can locally within our
jurisdiction to ensure that everyone feels safe. The transit station
Uptown probably needs to be relocated. Outlived its useful existence.
It's too small, it's too cramp. Is an open environment,
you don't really need to take it to go there.
So I think we really need to take a step
(24:37):
back and examine everything that we're doing from a transfer perspective.
But one last point, my focus is enshowing that we
do have a safe transit system. But my primary focus
is to make sure that we have a safe Charlotte.
Whether you're riding the bus, whether you're walking into a bank,
whether or not you're in a neighborhood community that everyone
(24:57):
in our city deserves to feel and that's my own objective.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Again, he made it sound like that they were purposely
targeting Democrat cities and the urban areas of the Democrat cities. Well,
guess what, that's where all the crimesats say the majority
of the crime is. Yes, of course, crime is everywhere.
Yes it's in the cornfields of Nebraska, but at a
far lesser rate than it is in some of the
(25:23):
you know, the bad.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Areas of Charlotte and Baltimore and Memphis. You heard me
mention Memphis.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
I mean again, like, you can't say that people are
specifically targeting you when that's exactly where the crime is
and all the data shows it. It just does.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean, people are not getting.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Murdered at Providence Country Club or you know, Valatine or
Huntersville or Cornelius at the same rates in other parts
of the city.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
They're just not. That is a statistical fact.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
So that's why I wanted to call him out on that,
or not call him out, but that's why I wanted
to like question him about that, because I just thought
that was a you know, an unfair accusation.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
That he was making.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
But look, I like Malcolm a lot, and we continue
to talk and he's always been very good to me
and and hopefully I've been good to him as well. Okay,
so when we return now, I'm going to talk to
edwind Peacock. I was able to speak to him one
on one. He was also at the press conference today,
and we're going to talk about you know, hey, how
are you going to make sure that people are getting
on the light rail that only you supposed to be
(26:25):
on the light rail? And also does the city actually
have to have more money to keep doing all the
things that they want to do. Isn't eighteen million dollars
a year in security enough? So we'll talk about that
when we return. Welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen
(26:58):
on this Friday night for a few more minutes before
we send it on.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Over to TJ.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
And he's coming to you live from the Speedway Club
over there at Sharlot Motor Speedway as they get ready
for the roval tomorrow night. By the way, speaking of tomorrow,
I believe the rebels tomorrow. But by the way, speaking
of tomorrow, Talktoberfest starts tomorrow and Sunday starting at six o'clock.
And if you can't watch it everything like can't watch
it live, it will also be posted on Facebook, so
(27:24):
make sure you check it out there.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
But again, t.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Octoberfest starts this weekend six o'clock Saturday and Sunday, going
through the month of October. Okay, So after I was
done talking with Malcolm Graham, I was able to grab
Charlotte City Council Member Edwin Peacock to talk to him
and get his thoughts about the whole press conference and
what he liked and what he didn't like. Are you
satisfied with everything that you heard today?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I was satisfied with two things.
Speaker 11 (27:49):
Number One, you hear an emphasis on having an armed
and unarmed presence on the train. And secondly, we are
taking fair evasion seriously and I'm so thankful for that.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Said that they can't have security on every single car,
even though it would only be twenty cars. What how
if you can't have security on every car, how are
you going to have people checking tickets.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
On every car. I've argued that you need to have
two things.
Speaker 11 (28:12):
One you need to have a PA system announcement to
remind riders that they're going to have to pay if
they're going to ride, or they're going to be removed,
or they're going to be paying a fine. The second
thing is is that I think we need to have
individuals either volunteer or paid, that act in the in
the in the case of what most people might know
in other countries is like a bobby, someone that's there,
just as for fair evasion, that announces when they get on,
(28:32):
they're here to chant, here to check train's check tickets.
I don't think I don't think you need to overthink it.
I think we need to have, you know, basically essentially
a presence of people to let people know that's there.
I'm going to make a referral to the Transportation Committee
about some technology that I'd read about in Australia, which
was using the phone to actually scan as you go
in and it knows if you haven't paid, and basically
(28:54):
if you've got a credit card on your phone, it
actually charges you. So there's technology. I mean, you can
respond to fair evasion using technology. Obviously, one thing has
to come is we need the money. And so obviously
if the trans attack does not pass, then where will
we find the money for that obviously the system upgrades
need to come.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Well, I think some people to argue that the transportation
the security contract tripled from five and a half million
five point eight million to over eighteen million, and people said, well,
wait a minute, you just increased it by thirteen million
dollars a year and you're telling me you need more money.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
Yeah. Well, first of all, the more money is obviously
for the bigger expansion, as we heard going up to
Mayor Knox's final stop at Davidson. But you asked the
very question that we all want to know is what
are we getting for our money? Is it actually working?
And that's where the emphasis has been since the tragedy.
The emphasis obviously needs to be back on safety on trains,
fair evasion is over gone. Are the days of thinking
(29:49):
that this is a free system. If it's free, nobody
appreciates it.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I've asked two people so far and they've given non
answer answers, So you'll be the third. There is a
push and a lot of people would like to see
the light rail station at East was Boulevard at least
have Arena's Riskus name on it.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
What are your initial thoughts about that? I will be
making a referral.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
I'll be making sending to my colleagues today a recommendation
to refer that item to the Transportation Committee. So let's
see if I know I'll have a second to that referral.
I hope that my council members will actually support that action.
So that's what I hope will come.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Bret, anything else that you'd like to say about today's
press conference.
Speaker 11 (30:28):
Again, I'm just I'm pleased that we're actually putting the
emphasis on this. You heard the most assertive statements I've
seen so far about uniformed and unarmed officers. And secondly,
obviously fair evasion is over, so that in that regard
we've moved.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
We've moved a lot in this discussion.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Today, and I think a lot of people were initially
as upset that people feel like they're being reactive as
opposed to being proactive.
Speaker 11 (30:51):
Yep, yeah, I mean, clearly, right now, we have to
be proactive about crime reduction in this city from all
four corners. It can no longer be a situation where
our top focus area is great neighborhoods. How do we
have a great neighborhood if we have a safe neighborhood,
how do we have a great transportation system. If it's
not the safe transportation system, everything emanates from safety and
(31:11):
it has to get back to being the top priority.
I know our law enforcement officials feel that way. I
know that PPS wants to do a good job, and
I believe in our heart that our CAT system wants
to do that. But we have to be the board
leaders that are going to actually push.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
To make that happen.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
All right, Once again, thanks to Edwin Peacock, that Charlotte
City Council member. By the way, he's running for Charlotte
City Council at large, so again thanks for him, to
him for joining me tonight. All right, So look, the
press conference itself, let's just wrap it up and put
a big bow on this. A lot not a lot
was learned, Very very little was actually learned. We're discussing
(31:46):
the plans and we're going to put forward plans and
stuff like that, but without actually saying what the plans are,
what they're going to put forward. And then you know,
you heard me ask the mayor about do you want
to name the light rail station after her?
Speaker 4 (31:59):
And she's like, oh, well, you know I can't answer that.
I can't answer that well, actually you could if you
wanted to.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But you know, the odds I think of that happening
are very slim, just because again she does not want
to be reminded every day of the biggest failure of
her tenure as mayor. And I will tell you, if
this one sales tax doesn't pass, that will be a
close number two to the situation involving Arena Zaruska. And
when I say failures, I mean the press release, the
(32:26):
way she handled it, refusing to make statements, you know,
just a lot of things about it, and it could
not have gone worse for her. And so again the
press conference, not a lot was learned today. It was
just trust us, Just trust us. We've got your best
interest at heart. Yeah, that hasn't worked out so well
over the last several years.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
But anyways, so that was tonight.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
And again also want to say thanks to Malcolm Graham
who joined me and let me do an interview with him,
as well as Charlotte FOP president Daniel Redford. When I
broke the story earlier this morning about the letter that
the fo P was asking for the National Guard's help.
All right, everyone that's gonna do it for us tonight?
Have a great weekend. I should say, try and have
a great weekend, enjoy the weather and again. October Fest
(33:10):
starts tomorrow at six o'clock on Facebook and TJ Ritchie
Now is coming to you live from the Speedway. My
name is Brett Jenson, and you've been listening to Breaking
with Brett Jenson.
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