December 4, 2025 • 36 mins
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!
Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing a press conference announcing a new initiative in the city of Charlotte, dubbed "Operation Safe Season". Among those in attendance were newly appointed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, and several others. According to Patterson, the purpose of the operation is to lay the groundwork for “reducing violent crime and disorder” during her first week as chief and into the future.
After the opening statements, Jensen notes that a question was raised about juveniles who may gather in the Uptown area and cause trouble during the holiday season. In response, Patterson said she understands that young people want to enjoy the community festivities, but emphasized they must be responsible and follow the law. Another topic addressed was the role the federal government will play in the operation. Ferguson said, in part, that the response will not be based on zone locations but on where crime is occurring.
Jensen concludes the show by discussing two additional local topics. The first concerns Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake, who represents District 2 and is once again running for a seat on the commission. The second focuses on the current state of the Carolina Panthers, who are on their bye week.
Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Hi oh, Let's go oh, Let's go oh, Let's go oh.
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jensen here with you on this Thursday night edition of
Breaking with Brett Jensen. As we go up until seven
o'clock tonight, seven oh four five, seven eleven ten. That
(00:44):
is the telephone number as always, that is also the
WBT text line, driven of course by Liberty Buick GMC.
And we've got a lot to get into tonight, a lot,
and it basically we're going to start off though with
there was a press conference this morning at the Government
Center where I say this morning, it was actually that
(01:05):
two o'clock. It was at two o'clock this afternoon, and
it was a press conference and you had the brand
new police chief for CMPD there, Estella Patterson. You had
rus Ferguson, the United States Attorney for Western North Carolina.
You had Spencer Meriweather, the Mecklimberre County District Attorney. You
also had Brian House, the Director of Alcohol Law Enforcement
(01:25):
AL Chief, Kevin Stone, the director of Law Enforcement for
the Mecklimburre County.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Alcohol the ABC Board.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You also had representative from the Mecklimore County Sheriff's Office
and a rep from the North count of State Highway Patrol.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So you had a lot of people there, like a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Of people, and they're talking about something called Operation Safe Season,
and there's a lot to get into. But the first
person you're going to hear is Chief Estella Patterson from
CMPD describing what Operation Safe Season is and why.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
They're doing it.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
As everyone is aware, my journey as Charlotte's police chief
is just beginning. However, even in this first week, I
want to make it clear that continuing to reduce violent
crime and disorder and addressing the perception of crime are
among the priorities that I have established to build a
safer and a stronger city. And this is why we
(02:20):
are here today with this press conference to introduce the
launch of our Operation Safe Season. Before providing information on
this operation, I just want to share with you that
I am pleased that our overall crime in Charlotte is down.
From the months of January to November, we are down
nine percent compared to last year this time. Also, I'm
(02:42):
proud to report that we have an overall twenty percent
decrease in violent crime and a six percent decrease in
property crime year to date. This achievement, of course, is
a direct testament of the hard work, the dedication, and
the professionalism of our officers and the work that they
do every single day, along with the many members of
(03:04):
the agencies who are standing with me on today. To
our officers and our law enforcement partners, I say thank
you for your service. It is really making a difference.
While overall crime is down across the Queen City, crime
in our Central Division or our Center City, has been
in the spotlight. Year to date, property crime in Central
Division is down, and I'm very pleased with that. We
(03:26):
have seen some significant decreases in our burglaries, which.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
We are happy for.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
However, our violent crime in the Central Division is up
fifteen percent. This includes ten homicides in twenty twenty five
as compared to four in twenty twenty four. As well,
we have seen a fifteen percent increase in aggravated assaults
compared to the same period last year. While we understand
that conflicts arise, arguments happen, disagreements occur, none of it
(03:55):
should ever end in tragedy. Violence is never a solution,
Yet we're seeing that more and more every day. We
are committed as a group to addressing this along with
aggressive panhandling, drug usage and sales, which our initiatives, and
things that have or crimes that have been focused on
by our Crown Unit and also our EDU or Entertainment
(04:18):
District unit. While we have seen some decreases in crime
and I'm proud of that, we recognize that safety goes
beyond the numbers. Truly, safety is about a sense of security,
people being secure in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and
their places of work and other places where they enjoy.
With that in mind, beginning tomorrow evening, we will launch
(04:41):
Operation Safe Season, which is a multi agency operation that
is aimed at promoting safety during the holiday season when
we tend to see those increased foot traffic and events happening,
particularly in our Uptown area. Our focus will be the
center city and we will expand to other areas of
the city where we see crime occurring or where we
see repeat incidents of violence. Operation Safe Season is about
(05:04):
being proactive, it's about being visible. We're going to be
increasing our presence during peak entertainment times and hours, reducing
opportunities for violent and property crimes, and we're going to
be doing it through saturation patrols, through law enforcement of
law enforcement and traffic, enforcement of safety violations, and strict
enforcement of nuisance and quality of life crimes.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
We want families and visitors and businesses.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
To feel confident that Uptown is a place where they
can gather safely. But we also want offenders to know
that if you come to the Uptown to commit crimes,
you will be held accountable for those crimes. While we
will not discuss specific operational details of Operation Safe Season,
the public can expect to see an increased presence of
(05:53):
law enforcement beginning tomorrow evening and into the coming weeks,
particularly here.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
In the center city.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
We are taking in all hands on deck approach. Specialized
CMPD units such as our cru or our Crime Reduction Units,
as well as JADE, our Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment Team,
our Motors, our DWI Task Force, our Crime Gun Suppression Team,
and our Firearm Task Force are to some of the
units is going to be assisting with this operation. Also
(06:22):
to North Carolina, ALEE and ABC will be visiting businesses
and educating them on applicable laws and taking enforcement actions
as necessary. North Carolina Highway Patrol will do what they do,
they do a lot for them, and the FBI and
other law enforcement partners will be right by our sides,
supplementing the work that we are doing. Private security will
(06:43):
also be enhanced and have visibility along our rail trail.
All of our personnel will be visible, will be approachable,
and we will respond to anything that occurs in our city.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Let me close by saying that Operation Safe Season isn't
just about seasonal enforcement. It's about reassurance.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
We want people to feel safe coming to our uptown,
supporting our local businesses, and enjoying all that our city
has to offer. We are confident that our collective efforts
of local resources local resources will have a lasting safety
impact on our uptown and will spread to other parts
of our city.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Okay, so that is new CMPD, Please, Chief is Stella
Patterson and then Spencer Marriweather disgital attorney spoke for a
couple of minutes, and then after that US Attorney for
Western North Carolina Russ Ferguson, who's no stranger to the show.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
He spoke and I'm Russ Ferguson. I'm the US Attorney
for the Western District of North Carolina. I'd like to
commend you for hitting the ground running, which is exactly
what our chief is doing with this new initiative. And
you know, safety and uptown is so important. And it's
not important because the people that live in uptown or
the people that work in uptown are more important than
any other residents in Charlotte, but it's important that Spencer
(07:59):
put it to me one time. Downtown Charlotte, Uptown Charlotte
is our city's living room. It's our hub, a literal
hub of our transportation system. It's where our major sports
and entertainment arenas are. It's where people from all corners
of Charlotte come to enjoy our parades, our festivals, our parks.
It's where the majority of our hotels are, our visitors come.
Our convention center is the artery of Charlotte, and as
(08:21):
a city, we have put a tremendous amount of investment
into our center city with the help of Charlotte Center
City Partners and others, and we've invested in all these things,
the entertainment venues, the stadiums, the parks, the convention center.
But all of that will be for nothing if uptown
is not safe and really all of that will be
for nothing. Up to Uptown doesn't feel safe, and so
(08:42):
much of this initiative is making sure that throughout this
season people feel safe when they're enjoying all the amenities
of Uptown that we've worked so hard to build. But
it will also help safety throughout the city. This is
not just about Uptown. It is our boldest criminals that
come downtown and frighten, that intimidate, to victimize people. They
come from all parts of the city and they leave
(09:03):
Uptown and go to all parts of the city, and
not just the city, but beyond that to other counties
in my district here in Western North Carolina.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
They don't know borders.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
Crime doesn't know borders. They come and they go. Violent
actors do not respect boundaries. So this is extremely important
and at the federal level, we're very proud to join
Chief Patterson in this effort and my office is fully
committed to it. We will use every federal tool available
to bring people to justice who commit crimes uptown.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
All right, So that is US Attorney for Western North Carolina,
rus Ferguson. And like I said, you had a whole
bunch of dignitaries there in terms of law enforcement. So
those are the opening statements. When we come back, that's
when some of the questions were asked, including my question, well,
if it's helping out safety in uptown, why are you
only doing this for one month and not all twelve months?
(09:53):
So you hear their answers when we return. Welcome back
to Breaking with Brett Jensen on this Thursday night as
we go all the way up until seven o'clock tonight.
By the way, guys, just make sure you follow me
on x at Brett underscored Jensen for all the Lettuce
(10:14):
and breaking news in and around the Charlotte area. So
you heard some of the opening statements from the press
conference this morning or this afternoon, I should say, from
Operation Safe season. Now, I will tell you that there
was another question that I wanted to ask and it
was about, Hey, pretty much every single year, starting like
December first, you guys really ramp up security at the malls,
(10:41):
like you put up press releases that you're doing security
really ramping it up at the malls South Park, north
Lake maybe what Carolina place I guess would be Pineville,
I don't know, but but you really ramp up security
and presence. There are you going to do that because
I wanted to ask that question. I did get a
chance ask that question, but I was later told that, yeah,
(11:01):
they'll be putting out announcements that they will be ramping
up security at other places, not just uptown for operations
safe season.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So the first question was.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
What do you have to say to juveniles that want
to hang out uptown during the holiday season and then
maybe looking just to be a pain in the rear
end or looking to cause trouble.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Absolutely, you know, for our juveniles, we understand that they're
young people. They want to be engaged, they want to
be in the community, they want to enjoy the festivities
of the Uptown and other parts of our city. We
will say to the juveniles that you have to follow
the law, you have to be responsible, and when you don't,
we have our Jade unit that is monitoring, that's going
to be out there, that is going to be talking
(11:46):
with these juveniles and intervening. We know that many juveniles
tend to think that they can commit adult crimes.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
We're not going to tolerate that.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
They're going to be held accountable for any crimes they commit,
But we want to work with our young people we
want to divert them from crime and want to make
sure that they're not engaging in activities that can be
lasting throughout their lives. And I think we have in
our Jade Unit some of our nonprofits being available to
help us.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
We can do exactly that. And mister Di, I don't
know if you want to add to that as well.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So and now she kicked it to Mecklmbrook County District
Attorney Spencer Merriweather to talk about juvenile crime uptown.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Yeah, So to parents, you have to be involved with
your children.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
You have, Sorry we skipt a head there, laren to
make sure that all people who are in possession of
dangerous weapons are held accountable.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
That includes young people.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
While we also want to make sure that our juvenile
system is one that treats children like children. The goal
of the people that you see standing before you is
to protect all of the children. Our Center City is
a place where children and young people ought to have
a wonderful opportunity to make memories, to go to play,
to recreate, and like, we want to make sure that
(13:00):
we're creating an atmosphere where that can happen.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
And we'll use the law to.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Do it, asked So then another television reporter asked, what
do you have to say to parents of these juveniles
that are going to be going uptown.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, so to parents, you have to be involved with
your children. You have to know where they are. I
think far too many times parents call the police to
police their children. I ad manage parents to be parents,
to make sure that you know where your children are
and if you are having difficulty with them, then seek
those proper resources to help with them.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, So then comes yours truly That's when I said, Okay,
so we know that crime.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Is going through the roof and uptown.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
We know all that with all the stats and everything else, right,
we know that crime in Uptown, specifically Uptown is violent.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Crime is way way high.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
So you're doing this big thing called Operations Safe Season
to protect people during the month of December. Well, why
aren't you doing this all twelve months of the year
instead of just one month.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I think what people have shared with us, there is
a disconnect. They sometimes they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Sorry went one uh one place too early on that.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Only crime as much as possible. So it's not that
this is a one and done kind of thing. We
are we will be continuing in, but we're just launching.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
It right now.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Okay, did we get all over it there? I don't
even know if we got.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
A many more foot traffic that kind of thing, but
certainly we will continue our efforts. I will also just
look over at my major four Central division because we
already have.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
Yeah, we are all messed up on this audio right here.
That is that is like way down the road. So
all right, that was like that was like the last question.
So basically, let's try this one more time. I know
we're all over the place here, Let's try this one
more time. The why not do why not do this
for all twelve months? As opposed to like, why not
(14:54):
just do this? Why are you doing it for just
one month and not all twelve months? Like that's that's
the big question that I wanted to know. So, you know,
are you going to be doing this more and more?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
If not? Why not?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Are committed to making sure that they try to mitigate
violent crime as much as possible, So it's not that
this is a one and done kind of thing. We
will be continuing in, but we're just launching it right now.
I think what people have shared with us there is
a disconnect. They sometimes they don't feel safe, and certainly
that could be for a number of reasons, and that's
(15:26):
part of the reason we're doing this initiative is so
that people can see an increased presence of officers and
an opportunity to talk to our officers, to approach us,
to ask us whatever questions you have to talk about
that perception. If you're feeling unsafe, the two should align.
Just like our district attorney said, you should feel safe.
And also to Russ you mentioned that you should feel
(15:49):
safe period that if you want to walk your dog,
if you want to just go on a stroll or
go running anywhere in our city, that you're safe to
do that, and you should feel safe regardless of what
the crime numbers are.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And so then you've got something about, hey, you know,
we're seeing some drones and some stuff like that. What
what are we seeing with the drones? Is that up
in Let me know when you get that ready, A
lot of you there's some drones going on where people
are seeing a lot of drones flying around in uptown.
Is there is there a reason why there are drones
(16:20):
flying around in Uptown? Is this is this part of
the operations safe season.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
I believe that we're using any drones at this time.
Major you want to kind of address this. I don't
believe that we are.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
After everyone on Major Genie Liam I serving the patrol
operations and particularly in uptown. If you're seeing drones, we're
probably going to get calls on that.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We haven't launched that program yet.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's forthcoming, but we we don't have any in operation
at this time.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Okay. And then finally they wanted to know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Okay, so you US Attorney for Western North Carolina, Rus Ferguson,
you talked about, uh, you talked about like federal crimes
and federal charges. Are you only going to be in
one specific area or are you going to be throughout
the entire city of Charlotte. So what role is the
federal government playing in all of this?
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Yeah, in the federal parts, So it will not be
by zone. There will not be a federal part of
Charlotte and a state part of Charlotte. It will be
by crime. So if you commit a federal crime, we
will take that. And for us, there's a variety of
federal crimes, but mostly it's your worst of the worst
repeat offender. So if you're a fella with a handgun
or something like that, we will take that case and
take it to federal court. That doesn't mean the State
DA's office necessarily hands that case over sometimes there's a
(17:32):
state crime and a federal crime.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
But will apprive.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Federal resources where we can, and we'll use our existing
resources to defect.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
And I would just close by saying, in terms of
just budget, we're operating within our budgets and we're not
pulling resources from other parts of the city necessarily. We're
relying heavily on a lot of our specialized units to
be able to make sure that our city is safe.
So other parts of Charlotte will have their regular staffing,
have their officers work in those areas.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Okay, So that us earlier today, and like I said,
it was about a forty minute press conference someone round there.
They had a lot of people there, And I will
be brutally honest with you, I'm glad all of them
didn't speak.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That would have taken forever and they all would have
been saying the exact same thing. That's the thing. They
all would have been saying the same thing.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
But you had the federal US attorney, you had the
local district attorney. And you had the police chief from
cmpd All speaking to the media today and again you
know you heard her say like, look, we're going to
have people out there throughout the rest of the city
and we're going to start launching some new operations and
(18:40):
hopefully this will go on throughout the entire year in
uptown because uptown needs it. And yes, while crime stats
are down, they didn't mention what crime stats are like
for for the last six months. It ain't good for
the whole city of Charlotte. It ain't good really since
about August first, it's been pretty bad, like actually really
really really really bad. All right, when we come back,
(19:03):
we'll get into a few more things on this Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Welcome back to Breaking with Brett.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Jensen on this Thursday night as we go up until
seven o'clock tonight. Okay, so you heard during the break
Mark Garrison's report on Vilma Leak deciding that she's going
to run again. Okay, she is at the very least
(19:33):
eighty four years old, at the very least well, Brett
and I have tried and tried and tried to find
her exact age, but I know she's at least eighty four.
And here's why you have to be at least eighteen
years old to register to vote.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
She registered to vote in nineteen sixty six. Okay, so
if you add eight teen plus fifty nine or you know, sixty,
so you're like, you're right there at eighty four. I mean,
(20:14):
you know, so you're like, okay, you start doing the math,
You're like, all right, so eight nineteen sixty six, so
that would make her, uh, you know, fifty nine years old.
And then you add oh, I guess it fifty nine. Yeah,
and then you add eighteen, so I guess it would
be minimum fifty eight, Like like you figure eighteen plus
(20:36):
fifty nine, So actually that would be My brain's like
doing a cramp right here. But so what Yeah, so
seventy eight. So I'm sorry, I said eighty four. So
you're looking at like seventy eight years old. So she's
minimum seventy eight. But everyone that I talked to says
(20:56):
she's in her eighties. So and she's had issues with
her health. She has a hard time getting around, you know,
sitting down. She's had a cane for quite a while,
and she is fiery. And the one thing about Vima Leek.
A few years ago, she tried a coupdeta. She tried
(21:19):
to overthrow the chair of the Meccamurre County Commissioners in
George Dunlop.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
That did not work out for her. She lost that.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
She also tried to overthrow and do some stuff on
school board that failed, also did not work.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Out for her, so she lost a lot of her
power and a lot of her luster.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
She still represents her district and she will tell you
every single night when she has a meeting with the
Mecamore County Commissioners of the most powerful district in Mecklenburg County, Okay.
But she doesn't have the influence or yield the power
that she once did, or at the very least thought
that she once did.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Nope, Nope, not at all.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
So then you look at I think the school board
has one more meeting and when they're going to do
the transition from the new.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
School board to the old school board.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
At the press conference this afternoon, you had a lot
of new members of the city Council that were in attendance.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Jd Arius, the new Socialist.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
On board who came to America as an illegal alien,
legal immigrant and then you've got also you had, like
I said, Joy Mayo, she was there beat Tijuana Brown,
Isaac's Girrell.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So some new members were there, so it will be
I will tell you know, you.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Have the same county commissioners for it least the next year, Okay,
the next twelve months. I'm curious to see what happens
with the Charlotte City Council. And here's what Tijuana Brown
did not fully understand. When you are elected, you are
not being elected to be an activist on council to
(23:24):
try and promote your activist agenda. And I hope jd
Arius understands this. You're there for the whole city, and
I promise you the overwhelming majority part of the city
is not socialist. I promise you that. So just because
(23:46):
you are in your one area doesn't mean that the
entire city wants to think like a socialist. But is
this how it starts the city of Charlotte and you
end up with a socialist mayor like they did in
New York? Is this how it starts? Jd areas? Okay,
(24:10):
So I'm curious to see over the next twelve months,
twenty four months, how much activism is going on within
the Charlotte City Council because you are in charge of
trying to do what's best for the entire city.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yes, your district, but also the entire city. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
And then the school board. Let me tell you something
about school board. There will be no pushback whatsoever on
Crystal Hill, the superintendent by anyone. Now, none of them
are going to push back whatever Crystal wants. They're probably
(24:53):
going to write a blank check. By the way, speaking
of Crystal Hill, how many times is she going to
do a re organization? I think that she's a three
straight years she's done a reorganization. Like you do a
reorganization because this is going to be better. Oh yeah,
now I gotta do another reorganization. Oh nope, that didn't
Now I need to do another. Like where's your vision?
(25:16):
Have a plan and stick to it. Three straight years
of reorganization?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What who does that?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Have your plan for the future and your in yours,
what you believe will be your path to success and
do that. Like if you keep ripping up the carpet
every twelve months, Lord, keep painting over the outside of
your house every twelve months, all right, Like we all
(25:50):
know that paint on top of paint, on top of
paint on top of paint looks horrible.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
We all know that.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
So yeah, strap it up, buckle in, because uh, it's
gonna be the next twelve months.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
It's gonna be quite interesting, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
School board, city council, county commissioners, County.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Commissioners to a lesser degree.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
But city council with all the infighting they all hate
each other, and the school board, well, no one will
argue with each other and they will just Crystal, I'm sorry,
what do you want, Crystal?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Here you go, No questions asked.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Okay, welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen on this
Thursday night. So tomorrow night, we've got the John Hancock
thirty first Annual Bikes for Kids Toy Drive Kids First.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Of the Carol, So that starts tomorrow from five to nine.
Now listen up.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I know the weather is supposed to be sketchy tomorrow,
but if it's just cold rain, then show up. You
don't even have to get out of your car. You
don't even have to get out of your truck. That's
what we will be here for. We have tons of workers.
All you will have to do is unlock the door
so we can get the bike out of your trunk
or out of your.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Back seat or out of the bet of your truck.
You don't have to do anything.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We got you covered and we're gonna be broadcasting live
from out there from five to nine. And here's the
way it works. When you pull up with a bike,
and you can get a bike, a brand new bike
at Walmart for forty five dollars. But when you pull
up and don't forget, don't forget, you know, bikes for
twelve years old twelve year olds and bikes for five
year olds, like, they don't ride the same bike.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Just remember that. And boys and girls don't ride the
same bike.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Just remember that, right my little pony versus he man
or something like, come on.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Let's just let's just remember that.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I don't need a bike with unicorns and pink hearts
and stars or you know, for a boy for a
twelve year old boy.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
But anyways, so when you.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Pull up tomorrow, because I know you're going to pull
up tomorrow, and when you do and we get the
bikes out of your car, out of your truck, whatever,
out of your van, there's a fifty to fifty chance
that someone with a microphone bo Beth Winnable, Pete. They
(28:42):
don't give me a microphone a lot of times because
they're scared of what.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I might do.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
But uh, but I'll have a microphone tomorrow. I think
from five point thirty to six thirty. I'll have a
microphone tomorrow. But there's a good chance someone is going
to come up to you live on radio, and you
need to know if they put a microphone in your face,
even while you're sitting behind the drivers with the drivers
the steering wheel, that it'll be live radio. So number one,
(29:12):
no swearing. It's rule number one. You'll be live on radio.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
It's number one. And they're gonna say, Hi, what's your name?
Speaker 1 (29:21):
And you can say, my name is Brett Jensen, my
name is Brett whatever it is you want to say.
You want to give your full name, give your full name. Hi,
where'd you come from?
Speaker 2 (29:30):
What part? Where do you live?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
I live in South Charlotte, I live in North mech
I live in Lincoln County. Whatever, Just say where you live.
They're not asking you for your street address, asking you
for your neighborhood or what part of Charlotte, or if
you live in Belmont whatever. So just know that there's
(29:53):
a fifty to fifty chance you'll be asked about why
did you do this, why did you feel the need
to to do this, what's your name? How many bikes
did you bring, and why did you decide to do this?
Standard operating procedures very common, So don't freak out and
(30:14):
go into panic mode. If someone comes up to you
in the driver's seat with a microphone, I promise you.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
It will not be me. I promise you I won't
do that to you. I give you my word it
will not be me. Because usually when I go up
to strangely, I get yelled at.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
So people go, wait, me, you're Bret Jensen. And next
thing I know, I'm here to string of four letter words.
So you're that guy, you're that so and so.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Yeah. So usually this true story.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Just about anyone can verify this that's ever met me
for the first time, and they'll go, oh, I listen
to you, and I'll go, I'm sorry. I feel like
I should immediately apologize. I listened to you all the
time on WBT. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. That is a
true story. I'm not even making that up.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
That is a true story.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So anyways, but yes, so that's what's going on tomorrow.
I took a poll of the guys in the studio.
Is this supposed to snow? Is it supposed to sleep?
Is it supposed to be freezing rain? Is it just
gonna be rainy and cold? And the consensus ss rainy
(31:36):
and cold. Right, No, Yes, things can change. But I remember,
I want to say, it was my very first year
ever doing this and they did it at South in
the parking lot at South Mack High School, and the
weather was the worst weather in the history of weather.
(31:58):
It rained, I'm not even joking. I think it rained
like three inches that day and it was pouring down
rain and it was like forty degrees outside. It was miserable,
absolutely miserable. But hey, you know what, we were out
there unloading the trucks. We had all kinds of employees, volunteers, everyone.
(32:22):
So again, and if you can't make it, Watson Insurance
is a good bike drop off tomorrow in Gaston County,
in Belmont.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Watson Insurance.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
So we got a lot going on tomorrow now since
I do not have a show tomorrow night, but we
will be live on air from five to nine but
since I did not have a show tomorrow night, let
me just briefly talk to you about your Carolina Panthers.
So here's the problem with Bryce Young. He had a
(32:54):
great game a couple of weeks ago against Atlanta and
crap the bed last week, and then had a really
really nice game again this past week against the La Rams, right,
which means he's due for another crap game this week.
(33:14):
He is the most inconsistent person quarterback wise that I
might be in the NFL, because quarterbacks are generally either
consistently bad or consistently good. Good game, bad game, good game,
bad game, just back and forth, back and forth, back
and forth. And but the good news is they're off
(33:38):
this week. They're on a buye, so maybe he'll get
the what would have been the bad game out of
his system. So when he returns next the two sundays
from now, it'll be a good game. Maybe he'll be
on that and they can win back to back. But
right now there's seven and six. They're just barely on
the outside of the playoffs, just barely, so there's a
(34:05):
chance they still win the division. But Bryce Shong has
to not have too many crap games. He needs to
play well and that's been the problem. And they asked
me earlier this week on wfn Z about an extension.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I'm like, oh, hell no.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
No, you have him for next year already. You don't
need to worry about an extension. No, And if he
doesn't really show any sign of improvement next.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Year, then you go get another quarterback. But I mean, what.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
To me, it's a lot like Jake Dilom And what
I'll say about this, Jake Dilom had more comebacks with
victories than any quarterback in Panthers history. Yes, you know
why they were always behind because he sucked. He was
always throwing in his exceptions in the first three quarters
and then would look like Brett Favre in the fourth
quarter and they would win by three points. They would
(35:08):
win despite Jake Delome, not because of Jake Dolome and
the fact that he's in the Ring of Honor. Dude,
are you serious right now? But anyways, so Bryce Young,
they're not winning because of Bryce Young. They're winning despite
(35:29):
Bryce Young. He's had some good games. That Atlanta game
was fantastic. They won that game because of Bryce Young.
Now in other games he didn't do he wasn't like
trying to He was just trying not to lose the game,
like Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Just don't lose the game, and that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
So right now, do not sign him to an extension,
keep him for one more year and if he doesn't
show any provement, ship his ass out. You can only
hope one day he's as good as Jake Delome, who was,
by the way, I don't think ever ranked higher than
fifteenth in quarterback rating.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
I'm beanging since here.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
I don't think he ever ranked higher than fifteenth. There's
only thirty two teams super nice guy quarterback Ring of Honor. Please,
all right, that's gonna do it for us tonight. Don't
forget tomorrow. The Handcock Bike Drive kids are the kids
first of the Carolinas. That's all coming up tomorrow is
(36:31):
starting at five o'clock, regular programming throughout the day and
then starting at five o'clock we will be taking the
bikes from you. All right, everyone, have a great night,
stay warm. My name is Brett Jensen, and you have
been listening to Breaking with Brett Jensen.
Hi oh, Let's go oh, Let's go oh, Let's go oh.
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT Brett
Jensen here with you on this Thursday night edition of
Breaking with Brett Jensen. As we go up until seven
o'clock tonight, seven oh four five, seven eleven ten. That
(00:44):
is the telephone number as always, that is also the
WBT text line, driven of course by Liberty Buick GMC.
And we've got a lot to get into tonight, a lot,
and it basically we're going to start off though with
there was a press conference this morning at the Government
Center where I say this morning, it was actually that
(01:05):
two o'clock. It was at two o'clock this afternoon, and
it was a press conference and you had the brand
new police chief for CMPD there, Estella Patterson. You had
rus Ferguson, the United States Attorney for Western North Carolina.
You had Spencer Meriweather, the Mecklimberre County District Attorney. You
also had Brian House, the Director of Alcohol Law Enforcement
(01:25):
AL Chief, Kevin Stone, the director of Law Enforcement for
the Mecklimburre County.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Alcohol the ABC Board.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
You also had representative from the Mecklimore County Sheriff's Office
and a rep from the North count of State Highway Patrol.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So you had a lot of people there, like a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Of people, and they're talking about something called Operation Safe Season,
and there's a lot to get into. But the first
person you're going to hear is Chief Estella Patterson from
CMPD describing what Operation Safe Season is and why.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
They're doing it.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
As everyone is aware, my journey as Charlotte's police chief
is just beginning. However, even in this first week, I
want to make it clear that continuing to reduce violent
crime and disorder and addressing the perception of crime are
among the priorities that I have established to build a
safer and a stronger city. And this is why we
(02:20):
are here today with this press conference to introduce the
launch of our Operation Safe Season. Before providing information on
this operation, I just want to share with you that
I am pleased that our overall crime in Charlotte is down.
From the months of January to November, we are down
nine percent compared to last year this time. Also, I'm
(02:42):
proud to report that we have an overall twenty percent
decrease in violent crime and a six percent decrease in
property crime year to date. This achievement, of course, is
a direct testament of the hard work, the dedication, and
the professionalism of our officers and the work that they
do every single day, along with the many members of
(03:04):
the agencies who are standing with me on today. To
our officers and our law enforcement partners, I say thank
you for your service. It is really making a difference.
While overall crime is down across the Queen City, crime
in our Central Division or our Center City, has been
in the spotlight. Year to date, property crime in Central
Division is down, and I'm very pleased with that. We
(03:26):
have seen some significant decreases in our burglaries, which.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
We are happy for.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
However, our violent crime in the Central Division is up
fifteen percent. This includes ten homicides in twenty twenty five
as compared to four in twenty twenty four. As well,
we have seen a fifteen percent increase in aggravated assaults
compared to the same period last year. While we understand
that conflicts arise, arguments happen, disagreements occur, none of it
(03:55):
should ever end in tragedy. Violence is never a solution,
Yet we're seeing that more and more every day. We
are committed as a group to addressing this along with
aggressive panhandling, drug usage and sales, which our initiatives, and
things that have or crimes that have been focused on
by our Crown Unit and also our EDU or Entertainment
(04:18):
District unit. While we have seen some decreases in crime
and I'm proud of that, we recognize that safety goes
beyond the numbers. Truly, safety is about a sense of security,
people being secure in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and
their places of work and other places where they enjoy.
With that in mind, beginning tomorrow evening, we will launch
(04:41):
Operation Safe Season, which is a multi agency operation that
is aimed at promoting safety during the holiday season when
we tend to see those increased foot traffic and events happening,
particularly in our Uptown area. Our focus will be the
center city and we will expand to other areas of
the city where we see crime occurring or where we
see repeat incidents of violence. Operation Safe Season is about
(05:04):
being proactive, it's about being visible. We're going to be
increasing our presence during peak entertainment times and hours, reducing
opportunities for violent and property crimes, and we're going to
be doing it through saturation patrols, through law enforcement of
law enforcement and traffic, enforcement of safety violations, and strict
enforcement of nuisance and quality of life crimes.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
We want families and visitors and businesses.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
To feel confident that Uptown is a place where they
can gather safely. But we also want offenders to know
that if you come to the Uptown to commit crimes,
you will be held accountable for those crimes. While we
will not discuss specific operational details of Operation Safe Season,
the public can expect to see an increased presence of
(05:53):
law enforcement beginning tomorrow evening and into the coming weeks,
particularly here.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
In the center city.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
We are taking in all hands on deck approach. Specialized
CMPD units such as our cru or our Crime Reduction Units,
as well as JADE, our Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment Team,
our Motors, our DWI Task Force, our Crime Gun Suppression Team,
and our Firearm Task Force are to some of the
units is going to be assisting with this operation. Also
(06:22):
to North Carolina, ALEE and ABC will be visiting businesses
and educating them on applicable laws and taking enforcement actions
as necessary. North Carolina Highway Patrol will do what they do,
they do a lot for them, and the FBI and
other law enforcement partners will be right by our sides,
supplementing the work that we are doing. Private security will
(06:43):
also be enhanced and have visibility along our rail trail.
All of our personnel will be visible, will be approachable,
and we will respond to anything that occurs in our city.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Let me close by saying that Operation Safe Season isn't
just about seasonal enforcement. It's about reassurance.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
We want people to feel safe coming to our uptown,
supporting our local businesses, and enjoying all that our city
has to offer. We are confident that our collective efforts
of local resources local resources will have a lasting safety
impact on our uptown and will spread to other parts
of our city.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Okay, so that is new CMPD, Please, Chief is Stella
Patterson and then Spencer Marriweather disgital attorney spoke for a
couple of minutes, and then after that US Attorney for
Western North Carolina Russ Ferguson, who's no stranger to the show.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
He spoke and I'm Russ Ferguson. I'm the US Attorney
for the Western District of North Carolina. I'd like to
commend you for hitting the ground running, which is exactly
what our chief is doing with this new initiative. And
you know, safety and uptown is so important. And it's
not important because the people that live in uptown or
the people that work in uptown are more important than
any other residents in Charlotte, but it's important that Spencer
(07:59):
put it to me one time. Downtown Charlotte, Uptown Charlotte
is our city's living room. It's our hub, a literal
hub of our transportation system. It's where our major sports
and entertainment arenas are. It's where people from all corners
of Charlotte come to enjoy our parades, our festivals, our parks.
It's where the majority of our hotels are, our visitors come.
Our convention center is the artery of Charlotte, and as
(08:21):
a city, we have put a tremendous amount of investment
into our center city with the help of Charlotte Center
City Partners and others, and we've invested in all these things,
the entertainment venues, the stadiums, the parks, the convention center.
But all of that will be for nothing if uptown
is not safe and really all of that will be
for nothing. Up to Uptown doesn't feel safe, and so
(08:42):
much of this initiative is making sure that throughout this
season people feel safe when they're enjoying all the amenities
of Uptown that we've worked so hard to build. But
it will also help safety throughout the city. This is
not just about Uptown. It is our boldest criminals that
come downtown and frighten, that intimidate, to victimize people. They
come from all parts of the city and they leave
(09:03):
Uptown and go to all parts of the city, and
not just the city, but beyond that to other counties
in my district here in Western North Carolina.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
They don't know borders.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
Crime doesn't know borders. They come and they go. Violent
actors do not respect boundaries. So this is extremely important
and at the federal level, we're very proud to join
Chief Patterson in this effort and my office is fully
committed to it. We will use every federal tool available
to bring people to justice who commit crimes uptown.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
All right, So that is US Attorney for Western North Carolina,
rus Ferguson. And like I said, you had a whole
bunch of dignitaries there in terms of law enforcement. So
those are the opening statements. When we come back, that's
when some of the questions were asked, including my question, well,
if it's helping out safety in uptown, why are you
only doing this for one month and not all twelve months?
(09:53):
So you hear their answers when we return. Welcome back
to Breaking with Brett Jensen on this Thursday night as
we go all the way up until seven o'clock tonight.
By the way, guys, just make sure you follow me
on x at Brett underscored Jensen for all the Lettuce
(10:14):
and breaking news in and around the Charlotte area. So
you heard some of the opening statements from the press
conference this morning or this afternoon, I should say, from
Operation Safe season. Now, I will tell you that there
was another question that I wanted to ask and it
was about, Hey, pretty much every single year, starting like
December first, you guys really ramp up security at the malls,
(10:41):
like you put up press releases that you're doing security
really ramping it up at the malls South Park, north
Lake maybe what Carolina place I guess would be Pineville,
I don't know, but but you really ramp up security
and presence. There are you going to do that because
I wanted to ask that question. I did get a
chance ask that question, but I was later told that, yeah,
(11:01):
they'll be putting out announcements that they will be ramping
up security at other places, not just uptown for operations
safe season.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So the first question was.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
What do you have to say to juveniles that want
to hang out uptown during the holiday season and then
maybe looking just to be a pain in the rear
end or looking to cause trouble.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Absolutely, you know, for our juveniles, we understand that they're
young people. They want to be engaged, they want to
be in the community, they want to enjoy the festivities
of the Uptown and other parts of our city. We
will say to the juveniles that you have to follow
the law, you have to be responsible, and when you don't,
we have our Jade unit that is monitoring, that's going
to be out there, that is going to be talking
(11:46):
with these juveniles and intervening. We know that many juveniles
tend to think that they can commit adult crimes.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
We're not going to tolerate that.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
They're going to be held accountable for any crimes they commit,
But we want to work with our young people we
want to divert them from crime and want to make
sure that they're not engaging in activities that can be
lasting throughout their lives. And I think we have in
our Jade Unit some of our nonprofits being available to
help us.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
We can do exactly that. And mister Di, I don't
know if you want to add to that as well.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
So and now she kicked it to Mecklmbrook County District
Attorney Spencer Merriweather to talk about juvenile crime uptown.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Yeah, So to parents, you have to be involved with
your children.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
You have, Sorry we skipt a head there, laren to
make sure that all people who are in possession of
dangerous weapons are held accountable.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
That includes young people.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
While we also want to make sure that our juvenile
system is one that treats children like children. The goal
of the people that you see standing before you is
to protect all of the children. Our Center City is
a place where children and young people ought to have
a wonderful opportunity to make memories, to go to play,
to recreate, and like, we want to make sure that
(13:00):
we're creating an atmosphere where that can happen.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
And we'll use the law to.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Do it, asked So then another television reporter asked, what
do you have to say to parents of these juveniles
that are going to be going uptown.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, so to parents, you have to be involved with
your children. You have to know where they are. I
think far too many times parents call the police to
police their children. I ad manage parents to be parents,
to make sure that you know where your children are
and if you are having difficulty with them, then seek
those proper resources to help with them.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, So then comes yours truly That's when I said, Okay,
so we know that crime.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Is going through the roof and uptown.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
We know all that with all the stats and everything else, right,
we know that crime in Uptown, specifically Uptown is violent.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Crime is way way high.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
So you're doing this big thing called Operations Safe Season
to protect people during the month of December. Well, why
aren't you doing this all twelve months of the year
instead of just one month.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I think what people have shared with us, there is
a disconnect. They sometimes they don't.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Sorry went one uh one place too early on that.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Only crime as much as possible. So it's not that
this is a one and done kind of thing. We
are we will be continuing in, but we're just launching.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
It right now.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Okay, did we get all over it there? I don't
even know if we got.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
A many more foot traffic that kind of thing, but
certainly we will continue our efforts. I will also just
look over at my major four Central division because we
already have.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
Yeah, we are all messed up on this audio right here.
That is that is like way down the road. So
all right, that was like that was like the last question.
So basically, let's try this one more time. I know
we're all over the place here, Let's try this one
more time. The why not do why not do this
for all twelve months? As opposed to like, why not
(14:54):
just do this? Why are you doing it for just
one month and not all twelve months? Like that's that's
the big question that I wanted to know. So, you know,
are you going to be doing this more and more?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
If not? Why not?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Are committed to making sure that they try to mitigate
violent crime as much as possible, So it's not that
this is a one and done kind of thing. We
will be continuing in, but we're just launching it right now.
I think what people have shared with us there is
a disconnect. They sometimes they don't feel safe, and certainly
that could be for a number of reasons, and that's
(15:26):
part of the reason we're doing this initiative is so
that people can see an increased presence of officers and
an opportunity to talk to our officers, to approach us,
to ask us whatever questions you have to talk about
that perception. If you're feeling unsafe, the two should align.
Just like our district attorney said, you should feel safe.
And also to Russ you mentioned that you should feel
(15:49):
safe period that if you want to walk your dog,
if you want to just go on a stroll or
go running anywhere in our city, that you're safe to
do that, and you should feel safe regardless of what
the crime numbers are.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And so then you've got something about, hey, you know,
we're seeing some drones and some stuff like that. What
what are we seeing with the drones? Is that up
in Let me know when you get that ready, A
lot of you there's some drones going on where people
are seeing a lot of drones flying around in uptown.
Is there is there a reason why there are drones
(16:20):
flying around in Uptown? Is this is this part of
the operations safe season.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
I believe that we're using any drones at this time.
Major you want to kind of address this. I don't
believe that we are.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
After everyone on Major Genie Liam I serving the patrol
operations and particularly in uptown. If you're seeing drones, we're
probably going to get calls on that.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We haven't launched that program yet.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's forthcoming, but we we don't have any in operation
at this time.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Okay. And then finally they wanted to know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Okay, so you US Attorney for Western North Carolina, Rus Ferguson,
you talked about, uh, you talked about like federal crimes
and federal charges. Are you only going to be in
one specific area or are you going to be throughout
the entire city of Charlotte. So what role is the
federal government playing in all of this?
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Yeah, in the federal parts, So it will not be
by zone. There will not be a federal part of
Charlotte and a state part of Charlotte. It will be
by crime. So if you commit a federal crime, we
will take that. And for us, there's a variety of
federal crimes, but mostly it's your worst of the worst
repeat offender. So if you're a fella with a handgun
or something like that, we will take that case and
take it to federal court. That doesn't mean the State
DA's office necessarily hands that case over sometimes there's a
(17:32):
state crime and a federal crime.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
But will apprive.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Federal resources where we can, and we'll use our existing
resources to defect.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
And I would just close by saying, in terms of
just budget, we're operating within our budgets and we're not
pulling resources from other parts of the city necessarily. We're
relying heavily on a lot of our specialized units to
be able to make sure that our city is safe.
So other parts of Charlotte will have their regular staffing,
have their officers work in those areas.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Okay, So that us earlier today, and like I said,
it was about a forty minute press conference someone round there.
They had a lot of people there, And I will
be brutally honest with you, I'm glad all of them
didn't speak.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That would have taken forever and they all would have
been saying the exact same thing. That's the thing. They
all would have been saying the same thing.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
But you had the federal US attorney, you had the
local district attorney. And you had the police chief from
cmpd All speaking to the media today and again you
know you heard her say like, look, we're going to
have people out there throughout the rest of the city
and we're going to start launching some new operations and
(18:40):
hopefully this will go on throughout the entire year in
uptown because uptown needs it. And yes, while crime stats
are down, they didn't mention what crime stats are like
for for the last six months. It ain't good for
the whole city of Charlotte. It ain't good really since
about August first, it's been pretty bad, like actually really
really really really bad. All right, when we come back,
(19:03):
we'll get into a few more things on this Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Welcome back to Breaking with Brett.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Jensen on this Thursday night as we go up until
seven o'clock tonight. Okay, so you heard during the break
Mark Garrison's report on Vilma Leak deciding that she's going
to run again. Okay, she is at the very least
(19:33):
eighty four years old, at the very least well, Brett
and I have tried and tried and tried to find
her exact age, but I know she's at least eighty four.
And here's why you have to be at least eighteen
years old to register to vote.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
She registered to vote in nineteen sixty six. Okay, so
if you add eight teen plus fifty nine or you know, sixty,
so you're like, you're right there at eighty four. I mean,
(20:14):
you know, so you're like, okay, you start doing the math,
You're like, all right, so eight nineteen sixty six, so
that would make her, uh, you know, fifty nine years old.
And then you add oh, I guess it fifty nine. Yeah,
and then you add eighteen, so I guess it would
be minimum fifty eight, Like like you figure eighteen plus
(20:36):
fifty nine, So actually that would be My brain's like
doing a cramp right here. But so what Yeah, so
seventy eight. So I'm sorry, I said eighty four. So
you're looking at like seventy eight years old. So she's
minimum seventy eight. But everyone that I talked to says
(20:56):
she's in her eighties. So and she's had issues with
her health. She has a hard time getting around, you know,
sitting down. She's had a cane for quite a while,
and she is fiery. And the one thing about Vima Leek.
A few years ago, she tried a coupdeta. She tried
(21:19):
to overthrow the chair of the Meccamurre County Commissioners in
George Dunlop.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
That did not work out for her. She lost that.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
She also tried to overthrow and do some stuff on
school board that failed, also did not work.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Out for her, so she lost a lot of her
power and a lot of her luster.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
She still represents her district and she will tell you
every single night when she has a meeting with the
Mecamore County Commissioners of the most powerful district in Mecklenburg County, Okay.
But she doesn't have the influence or yield the power
that she once did, or at the very least thought
that she once did.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Nope, Nope, not at all.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
So then you look at I think the school board
has one more meeting and when they're going to do
the transition from the new.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
School board to the old school board.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
At the press conference this afternoon, you had a lot
of new members of the city Council that were in attendance.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Jd Arius, the new Socialist.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
On board who came to America as an illegal alien,
legal immigrant and then you've got also you had, like
I said, Joy Mayo, she was there beat Tijuana Brown,
Isaac's Girrell.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So some new members were there, so it will be
I will tell you know, you.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Have the same county commissioners for it least the next year, Okay,
the next twelve months. I'm curious to see what happens
with the Charlotte City Council. And here's what Tijuana Brown
did not fully understand. When you are elected, you are
not being elected to be an activist on council to
(23:24):
try and promote your activist agenda. And I hope jd
Arius understands this. You're there for the whole city, and
I promise you the overwhelming majority part of the city
is not socialist. I promise you that. So just because
(23:46):
you are in your one area doesn't mean that the
entire city wants to think like a socialist. But is
this how it starts the city of Charlotte and you
end up with a socialist mayor like they did in
New York? Is this how it starts? Jd areas? Okay,
(24:10):
So I'm curious to see over the next twelve months,
twenty four months, how much activism is going on within
the Charlotte City Council because you are in charge of
trying to do what's best for the entire city.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yes, your district, but also the entire city. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
And then the school board. Let me tell you something
about school board. There will be no pushback whatsoever on
Crystal Hill, the superintendent by anyone. Now, none of them
are going to push back whatever Crystal wants. They're probably
(24:53):
going to write a blank check. By the way, speaking
of Crystal Hill, how many times is she going to
do a re organization? I think that she's a three
straight years she's done a reorganization. Like you do a
reorganization because this is going to be better. Oh yeah,
now I gotta do another reorganization. Oh nope, that didn't
Now I need to do another. Like where's your vision?
(25:16):
Have a plan and stick to it. Three straight years
of reorganization?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What who does that?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Have your plan for the future and your in yours,
what you believe will be your path to success and
do that. Like if you keep ripping up the carpet
every twelve months, Lord, keep painting over the outside of
your house every twelve months, all right, Like we all
(25:50):
know that paint on top of paint, on top of
paint on top of paint looks horrible.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
We all know that.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
So yeah, strap it up, buckle in, because uh, it's
gonna be the next twelve months.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
It's gonna be quite interesting, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
School board, city council, county commissioners, County.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Commissioners to a lesser degree.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
But city council with all the infighting they all hate
each other, and the school board, well, no one will
argue with each other and they will just Crystal, I'm sorry,
what do you want, Crystal?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Here you go, No questions asked.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Okay, welcome back to Breaking with Brett Jensen on this
Thursday night. So tomorrow night, we've got the John Hancock
thirty first Annual Bikes for Kids Toy Drive Kids First.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Of the Carol, So that starts tomorrow from five to nine.
Now listen up.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I know the weather is supposed to be sketchy tomorrow,
but if it's just cold rain, then show up. You
don't even have to get out of your car. You
don't even have to get out of your truck. That's
what we will be here for. We have tons of workers.
All you will have to do is unlock the door
so we can get the bike out of your trunk
or out of your.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Back seat or out of the bet of your truck.
You don't have to do anything.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We got you covered and we're gonna be broadcasting live
from out there from five to nine. And here's the
way it works. When you pull up with a bike,
and you can get a bike, a brand new bike
at Walmart for forty five dollars. But when you pull
up and don't forget, don't forget, you know, bikes for
twelve years old twelve year olds and bikes for five
year olds, like, they don't ride the same bike.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Just remember that. And boys and girls don't ride the
same bike.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Just remember that, right my little pony versus he man
or something like, come on.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Let's just let's just remember that.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I don't need a bike with unicorns and pink hearts
and stars or you know, for a boy for a
twelve year old boy.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
But anyways, so when you.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Pull up tomorrow, because I know you're going to pull
up tomorrow, and when you do and we get the
bikes out of your car, out of your truck, whatever,
out of your van, there's a fifty to fifty chance
that someone with a microphone bo Beth Winnable, Pete. They
(28:42):
don't give me a microphone a lot of times because
they're scared of what.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I might do.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
But uh, but I'll have a microphone tomorrow. I think
from five point thirty to six thirty. I'll have a
microphone tomorrow. But there's a good chance someone is going
to come up to you live on radio, and you
need to know if they put a microphone in your face,
even while you're sitting behind the drivers with the drivers
the steering wheel, that it'll be live radio. So number one,
(29:12):
no swearing. It's rule number one. You'll be live on radio.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
It's number one. And they're gonna say, Hi, what's your name?
Speaker 1 (29:21):
And you can say, my name is Brett Jensen, my
name is Brett whatever it is you want to say.
You want to give your full name, give your full name. Hi,
where'd you come from?
Speaker 2 (29:30):
What part? Where do you live?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
I live in South Charlotte, I live in North mech
I live in Lincoln County. Whatever, Just say where you live.
They're not asking you for your street address, asking you
for your neighborhood or what part of Charlotte, or if
you live in Belmont whatever. So just know that there's
(29:53):
a fifty to fifty chance you'll be asked about why
did you do this, why did you feel the need
to to do this, what's your name? How many bikes
did you bring, and why did you decide to do this?
Standard operating procedures very common, So don't freak out and
(30:14):
go into panic mode. If someone comes up to you
in the driver's seat with a microphone, I promise you.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
It will not be me. I promise you I won't
do that to you. I give you my word it
will not be me. Because usually when I go up
to strangely, I get yelled at.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
So people go, wait, me, you're Bret Jensen. And next
thing I know, I'm here to string of four letter words.
So you're that guy, you're that so and so.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Yeah. So usually this true story.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Just about anyone can verify this that's ever met me
for the first time, and they'll go, oh, I listen
to you, and I'll go, I'm sorry. I feel like
I should immediately apologize. I listened to you all the
time on WBT. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. That is a
true story. I'm not even making that up.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
That is a true story.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So anyways, but yes, so that's what's going on tomorrow.
I took a poll of the guys in the studio.
Is this supposed to snow? Is it supposed to sleep?
Is it supposed to be freezing rain? Is it just
gonna be rainy and cold? And the consensus ss rainy
(31:36):
and cold. Right, No, Yes, things can change. But I remember,
I want to say, it was my very first year
ever doing this and they did it at South in
the parking lot at South Mack High School, and the
weather was the worst weather in the history of weather.
(31:58):
It rained, I'm not even joking. I think it rained
like three inches that day and it was pouring down
rain and it was like forty degrees outside. It was miserable,
absolutely miserable. But hey, you know what, we were out
there unloading the trucks. We had all kinds of employees, volunteers, everyone.
(32:22):
So again, and if you can't make it, Watson Insurance
is a good bike drop off tomorrow in Gaston County,
in Belmont.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Watson Insurance.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
So we got a lot going on tomorrow now since
I do not have a show tomorrow night, but we
will be live on air from five to nine but
since I did not have a show tomorrow night, let
me just briefly talk to you about your Carolina Panthers.
So here's the problem with Bryce Young. He had a
(32:54):
great game a couple of weeks ago against Atlanta and
crap the bed last week, and then had a really
really nice game again this past week against the La Rams, right,
which means he's due for another crap game this week.
(33:14):
He is the most inconsistent person quarterback wise that I
might be in the NFL, because quarterbacks are generally either
consistently bad or consistently good. Good game, bad game, good game,
bad game, just back and forth, back and forth, back
and forth. And but the good news is they're off
(33:38):
this week. They're on a buye, so maybe he'll get
the what would have been the bad game out of
his system. So when he returns next the two sundays
from now, it'll be a good game. Maybe he'll be
on that and they can win back to back. But
right now there's seven and six. They're just barely on
the outside of the playoffs, just barely, so there's a
(34:05):
chance they still win the division. But Bryce Shong has
to not have too many crap games. He needs to
play well and that's been the problem. And they asked
me earlier this week on wfn Z about an extension.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
I'm like, oh, hell no.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
No, you have him for next year already. You don't
need to worry about an extension. No, And if he
doesn't really show any sign of improvement next.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Year, then you go get another quarterback. But I mean, what.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
To me, it's a lot like Jake Dilom And what
I'll say about this, Jake Dilom had more comebacks with
victories than any quarterback in Panthers history. Yes, you know
why they were always behind because he sucked. He was
always throwing in his exceptions in the first three quarters
and then would look like Brett Favre in the fourth
quarter and they would win by three points. They would
(35:08):
win despite Jake Delome, not because of Jake Dolome and
the fact that he's in the Ring of Honor. Dude,
are you serious right now? But anyways, so Bryce Young,
they're not winning because of Bryce Young. They're winning despite
(35:29):
Bryce Young. He's had some good games. That Atlanta game
was fantastic. They won that game because of Bryce Young.
Now in other games he didn't do he wasn't like
trying to He was just trying not to lose the game,
like Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Just don't lose the game, and that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
So right now, do not sign him to an extension,
keep him for one more year and if he doesn't
show any provement, ship his ass out. You can only
hope one day he's as good as Jake Delome, who was,
by the way, I don't think ever ranked higher than
fifteenth in quarterback rating.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
I'm beanging since here.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
I don't think he ever ranked higher than fifteenth. There's
only thirty two teams super nice guy quarterback Ring of Honor. Please,
all right, that's gonna do it for us tonight. Don't
forget tomorrow. The Handcock Bike Drive kids are the kids
first of the Carolinas. That's all coming up tomorrow is
(36:31):
starting at five o'clock, regular programming throughout the day and
then starting at five o'clock we will be taking the
bikes from you. All right, everyone, have a great night,
stay warm. My name is Brett Jensen, and you have
been listening to Breaking with Brett Jensen.
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