FIRST BLIZZARD OF 2016 PUMMELS EAST COAST - CHARLOTTE TOO

@Blizzard2016

FIRST BLIZZARD OF 2016 PUMMELS EAST COAST - CHARLOTTE TOO:

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED.

MORE SNOW, ICY ROADS & POWER OUTAGES

PLEASE STAY HOME.


~ More Sleet, Snow Expected For Charlotte Region

The first winter storm of the season left icy roads across the Charlotte region Friday, and forecasters said several more rounds of snow and sleet are expected before the precipitation comes to an end Saturday.

If there was a bright spot to the storm, which is expected to turn into a raging blizzard farther up the East Coast, it was that Charlotte appeared to escape the heavy freezing rain that meteorologists had feared.

Instead, the heaviest freezing rain as of Friday afternoon fell in the South Carolina Upstate and to the east in the North Carolina Sandhills.

Duke Energy, which had recruited more than 1,000 out-of-state utility workers for possible line repairs, reported at mid-afternoon that there were about 30,000 power outages in the Carolinas.

Nearly half those – about 13,000 – were in Greenville County, S.C.

Instead, Charlotte-area residents dealt with heavy sleet and, farther to the northwest, several inches of snow.

The National Weather Service says the winter storm warning for Charlotte will extend until 7 p.m. Saturday. Sleet and some freezing rain are expected to continue in the region Friday afternoon and evening, but the precipitation is forecast to change to snow in the early-morning hours Saturday.

The Weather Service’s computer guidance indicated a band of heavy snow could form early Saturday in the Piedmont and Foothills, perhaps bringing 2 or 3 inches to parts of the Charlotte area.

Clearing is forecast Saturday evening, and the weather is expected to be clear and cold Sunday for the Panthers-Cardinals NFC Championship Game in Charlotte.

Meteorologists had warned that a half-inch of ice could accumulate in Charlotte – enough to cause major problems with downed tree limbs and power lines. Instead, it was mostly sleet that fell from the bands of precipitation that moved across the region during the day.

Sleet does not create power outage problems but is a major headache for road crews.

Local and state officials urged area residents to remain on guard, despite the several hours of precipitation-free conditions that developed late Friday morning.

“The big message here is it continues to be a fluid situation,” Charlotte City Manager Ron Carlee said. “We’re in a lull. As it’s been suggested, we’re in halftime. But the second half could be worse, and it could go into overtime.”

Gov. Pat McCrory said in a news conference in Raleigh, “Now is not the time to let down your guard.”

The precipitation began, as expected, shortly before midnight Thursday evening as rain. It changed to sleet a few hours later in Charlotte, coating the streets with a layer of congealed ice pellets.

To the north and northwest, the precipitation fell as snow. The National Weather Service said it received several reports of 8 inches or more in and around Asheville, and there were widespread reports of 4-7 inches along the Interstate 40 corridor.

Col. William Grey, head of the N.C. Highway Patrol, said troopers helped 100 motorists get their stranded vehicles off roads Friday morning. The Highway Patrol responded to 571 collisions through Friday morning and 800 calls for service.

Hickory police were investigating a fatal crash that might have been weather-related. Police said one person was killed when a car went off a roadway in the early-morning hours. Snow was falling at the time.

“We strongly encourage everyone not to travel unless absolutely necessary,” Grey said.

Charlotte Department of Transportation director Danny Pleasant said 72 crew members, divvied among 36 trucks, were working 12-hour shifts to cover area roads with salt and brine.

Duke Energy had called in 2,800 crew members from Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas to help manage outages in the Carolinas, said district manager Tim Gause. “The full impact of the storm system is unknown at this time, but I want you to be prepared,” he said.

American Airlines canceled all flights in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Friday.

The airline operates more than 90 percent of the daily flights in Charlotte, so air travel to and from the city was largely stopped until Saturday morning, when American plans to resume air service from the city.

Flights were also canceled Friday for Delta, United, Southwest, Lufthansa, Air Canada, ViaAir and JetBlue.

Schools across the region canceled classes, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced that SAT testing scheduled for Saturday would not take place.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame’s induction dinner and ceremony scheduled for Friday evening was postponed until 1 p.m. Saturday, said executive director Winston Kelley.

Charlotte area postal officials suspended mail collection from the family blue collection boxes Friday.

Mail delivery was suspended Friday for customers in ZIP codes beginning with 280, 281, 282, 287, 288 and 297.
Retail services also were suspended.


Sources: NBC News, Charlotte Observer, National Weather Service

Polar VORTEX Winter Hits United States: Coldest Winter In Decades!

ARTICLE: "Historic & Life-Threatening' Freeze Brings Rare Danger Warning"


On Monday morning, Nashville was 40 degrees colder than Albany, New York. Memphis, Tennessee, was 20 degrees colder than Anchorage, Alaska. And Atlanta was colder than Moscow.

But the U.S. South was downright balmy compared to the Great Lakes region, where temperatures hovered in the negative 20s -- before wind chill, which dropped temps to the negative 50s, making it very dangerous to go outside.

The bitter cold that a "polar vortex" is pushing into much of the United States is not just another winter storm. It's the coldest in 20 years in many areas, and breaking some records.

More than 3,500 flights nationwide were canceled by noon ET Monday, according to flightaware.com.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn declared a statewide disaster and activated the Illinois National Guard to help provide aid.

While the current weather patterns gave the Northeast a bit of a reprieve, it's in for a brutal drop as the arctic air works its way east. New York, where it was about 50 degrees with wind chill Monday morning, could go as low as minus 7 on Tuesday, said CNN meteorologist Indra Petersons. The region could face a 60-degree temperature change in a single day.

The temperature spread within the United States is a stunning 130 degrees, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said, with wind chill putting northern Minnesota at 60 below zero, while Key West, Florida, basks in its dreamy 70 degrees. Much of the West can also expect relatively pleasant weather through Tuesday.

But from Minneapolis to Chicago to Milwaukee, people are under health warnings to stay indoors. Many schools have closed.

"Skin freezes in just five minutes with a wind chill of minus 50," said HLN meteorologist Bob Van Dillen.

Frostbite occurs in 10 minutes with wind chills of minus 35, Hennen added.

Over the past week, at least 13 people have died of weather-related causes. Eleven people died in road accidents; one man in Wisconsin died of hypothermia, and an elderly woman with Alzheimer's disease who wandered away from her home in New York state was found dead in the snow in a wooded area about 100 yards away.

Rare warning

In a very rare move, Minneapolis issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning about the "historic and life-threatening cold." Such warnings are typically issued for tornadoes, said Petersons.

The National Weather Service adopted the Twitter hashtag "#Chiberia" for Chicago, where temperatures were at 14 below zero. (Parts of the vast Siberian region, such as Tobolsk, had Fahrenheit temps in the low teens Monday, though other parts had temperatures of 50 below zero.)

Some of the greatest concern surrounds the tens of thousands of Midwesterners without electricity.

More than 15,000 customers in Indiana, 6,800 in Illinois and 2,200 in Missouri didn't have power overnight, according to utility companies.

Chicago opened up 12 centers for residents to seek warmth, one of which was to stay open all night through Tuesday.

Libraries and some other city facilities would also be open, said Evelyn Diaz of the city's Department of Family and Support Services.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said 100 warming centers were open statewide.


Source: CNN

BILL DE BLASIO Shovels His Own Snow After Brutal Blizzard Strikes The Northeast (A Man Of The People)

#BillDeBlasioNYC

It's a welcome change to see NYC Mayor BILL DE BLASIO Shoveling his own snow during this Brutal Blizzard which has almost Paralyzed the Northeast.

I can assure you MICHAEL BLOOMBERG has NEVER shoveled snow!

At least NOT while he was Mayor of NYC.

BILL DE BLASIO is truly a Man of THE PEOPLE!

I will continue to Pray GOD'S Blessings on this Man....his Family....and his Administration daily.





"Blizzard Blasts Northeast With Snow, Wind And Bitter Cold"


The heavy snow falling along much of the mid-Atlantic Coast into New England is expected to taper off Friday as a nor'easter heads into Canada, leaving bitter cold in its wake, the National Weather Service said.

By early morning, the snowfall was nearly finished in the nation's capital; it was expected to stop by late morning in New York City, where 6 inches were covering Central Park, and by early afternoon in Boston, which got socked by nearly 15 inches.

North of Boston, residents of Topsfield, Massachusetts, got nearly 2 feet of snow.

The combination of cold and winds gusting more than 30 mph was expected to lower wind chill temperatures to less than 10 degrees over the mid-Atlantic and into the teens in New England.

And not just the Northeast will be hit, forecasters said.

About one-third of the nation -- approximately 100 million people in 22 states -- is in the path of this storm.

Snow was also predicted from the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes, with as much as 8 inches expected in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and additional snow possible along a cold front that extends through the Midwest and into the Central Plains, the service said.

Across the country, the weather has snarled travel plans for many.

FlightAware.com, which tracks cancellations due to weather and mechanical problems, said more than 2,000 flights had been canceled for Friday within, into or out of the United States. That's after more than 2,600 U.S. flights were canceled Thursday.

Flights were expected to resume later Friday in much of New England, though delays were predicted at some airports. Ticket holders were urged to check with their airlines.

Barb Plooster had planned to fly Friday from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, but her flight was canceled. She told CNN affiliate WICU that she was on the phone with United Airlines for five hours trying to find a way to get home but has concluded that she will have to wait until Monday. "We got a warm place to stay, get to visit the kids, the grandkids, so it's OK," she said.

Here's a breakdown of what to expect where:

New York and Long Island

A winter storm warning was to remain in effect across the five boroughs until 1 p.m., with wind gusts dropping wind chills to as low as 15 below, the mayor's office said.

"This has been and remains a dangerous storm," newly sworn-in Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday in a prepared statement. "The best things people can do are to stay off the roads so we can clear them as fast as possible, and to check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbors who might need help this morning."

New York City had gotten nearly 10 inches of snow by the time it abated late Friday morning, de Blasio told reporters. "It's hard to drive out there," he said. "If you do not need to travel today, please stay home."

Sanitation workers were on 12-hour shifts to clear the city's 6,200 miles of roadways, he said.

Long Island will be under a blizzard warning until 1 p.m. Friday, with wind chills as low as 10 below zero and sustained winds of at least 35 mph.

Flight operations resumed late Friday morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport; they were continuing -- despite hundreds of cancellations -- at LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Temperatures in the single digits were predicted for Saturday morning.

New York City public schools were closed Friday.

Upstate, the capital city of Albany could get buried under 14 inches of snow, with wind chills of 15 to 25 below zero, the National Weather Service said.

The weather had its fans. In Rochester, New York, CNN iReporter Blake Sampson, 29, took a picture from his apartment window. "I grew up in Minnesota, so I'm used to it," he said. "I like how quiet things get when there is a fresh blanket of snow."

Massachusetts

That blanket covered Boston, which expected to see 10 to 18 inches of snow and temperatures as low as 6 degrees below zero by Friday night.

But limited flights were continuing into and out of Boston's Logan Airport.

The state's emergency management agency predicted up to 2 feet of snow on parts of the North Shore, South Shore and Cape Cod.

Students in scores of school districts were told to stay home Friday.

"I guess Mother Nature wanted to give me one more gift," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said Thursday, one of his last days in the office he has held since 1993.

Blizzard warnings were in effect for parts of nearby Essex and Plymouth counties -- including the communities of Gloucester, Brockton and Plymouth -- as well as Cape Cod.

The state warned that midday high tides could produce "significant flooding" along the coast. The towns of Scituate and Duxbury requested voluntary evacuations of certain low-lying areas.

Connecticut and Delaware

Wind chills in parts of Connecticut were expected to range from -5 to -20 degrees Friday, and the National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for most of the state through Friday morning.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urged residents to take it slow and give themselves extra time for their commutes Friday. He said he expects delays but not cancellations in public transit.

Delaware said state offices were closed for all but "essential employees."

Chicago and points beyond

In the Windy City, wind chills Friday will creep down to minus 12, with more snow possible over the weekend.

The arctic blast was expected to be the coldest in 17 years, with temperatures predicted to drop below zero Sunday evening and not return to positive digits until Wednesday.

Though snow in Chicago in the winter is a common event, it "can still wreak havoc on daily routines," city emergency director Gary Schenkel said.

Next week could be no better for some U.S. residents.

A new shot of colder air will start to move into the northern Midwest by Saturday and will dive south Monday and Tuesday, carrying zero-degree cold as far south as Nashville. "That's the coldest air we've seen that far south in several years," CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said.

The cold air will kick off a new storm Sunday into Monday that could affect a number of NFL playoff games this weekend. In Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers will give a cold welcome to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, when temperatures could bottom out at -17.

The U.S. weather had international implications, too: All meetings were canceled Friday at the United Nations headquarters complex on New York's East Side.


Sources: CNN; USA Today, Youtube

Weiner Resigns! GOP Takes NYC For 2012?? Could Be

Today Brooklyn Congressman Anthony Weiner Resigned From Public Office Amid A Twitter Sexting Scandal.

I Must Admit This Situation Is NOTHING To Laugh About & Quite A Sad Day For Brooklyn, New York.

To The Hecklers Who Disrupted Weiner's Resignation Speech, What A Bunch Of Idiots!!

Weiner An Advocate For His City's "Underdog" Citizens, Used His Political Prowess & Loud Voice To Fight For Social Issues Which Affected America's Senior Citizens, Veterans, Young People, Middle Class & Low Income Voters.

But Due To Perhaps Receiving Wrong Advice, Embarrassment & His Ego, Weiner Mishandled, Actually More Like Terribly Bungled The Way This Scandal Played Out.

Thus He Was Forced To Resign In Disgrace.

Had He Handled This Scandal Correctly i.e., NOT Lying!

I Believe He Would Have Been Able To Ride It Out Until November 2012.

He Didn't So He Was Forced To Resign.

Prior To Resigning Weiner Was On The Fast Track To Become New York City's Next Mayor In 2013, And I Don't Doubt He Would Have Won.

New Yorkers Love Courageous, Loud, Hardworking People Who Also LOVE NEW YORK!

Since Anthony Weiner Possessed All Three Attributes, He Would Have Easily Won The Mayor's Seat.

Do I Still Believe That Despite Weiner's Personal Foolish Decision To Sext Photos Of His "Private Assets", This Entire Scandal Was A Set Up Backed By The GOP?

YES I Still Believe It Was A GOP Backed Trap Weiner Walked Right Into!

Who Was Behind This Set Up?

I Don't Know.

Perhaps......

Mayor Bloomberg (Remember The Brooklyn Snow Scandal?)

Rep. Peter King

Donald Trump

Sarah Palin

Andrew Breitbart

It Could Have Been A Number Of People!

Whomever It Was, Weiner Just Happened To Walk Right Into Their Trap.

You See GOP Leaders Are Hoping To Persuade New York City's Largely Democratic Voter Base To Vote Republican In 2012.

Why Do You Think Sarah Palin & Gov. Rick Perry Recently Spent Time In New York City?

GOP Leaders Know They Already Have Most Southern Voters In Their Pockets. ("Southern Strategy")

But In Order To Whip President Obama They Need "Yankees" Too.

They Want To Persuade Northern Voters To Vote Republican Come 2012!!

Now Do You See Why Republicans Didn't Want A Powerful, Liberal Voice Like Anthony Weiner To Continue Representing Brooklyn Up Until 2012??

I Know Pres. Obama Suggested Weiner Resign & He Was Correct!

Why?

Had Weiner Remained In Public Office, The Mainstream Media Would Have Continued Nagging Democrats Until Either He Resigned Or Until The 2012 Elections.

So It Was Imperative He Resign To Allow Fellow Congressional Democrats To Focus On Stopping Those Discriminatory, Unfair, Unequal, Medicare Killing, Destructive Educational Budget Cuts Disguised As "Deficit Reduction" Proposed By Current Congressional GOP Lawmakers.

Weiner's Resignation Not Only Leaves Brooklyn (9th District) With NO Congressional Representation, But Its A Possibility The 9th District May Be Phased Out Altogether.

However Folks All Is Not Lost!!

What Better Time For Brooklynites To Come Together & Quickly Demand That A Special Election Be Held.

Who Should Continue To Represent The 9th District?

Either A Democrat Or An Independent!

Democrats Or Independents Who Largely Vote For Democrats, SHOULD Continue To Represent Brooklyn (9th District).

That Said, I Suggest Brooklynites Who Reside In The 9th District Unite, Mobilize & Fight For Proper Representation & Fight To Keep Their Congressional District Active.

What Person To Better Help Brooklynites Keep What Belongs To Them Than Former Congressman ANTHONY DAVID WEINER???

That's Right!

Anthony Weiner Should Continue Demonstrating To The People Of New York City Especially Brooklynites, That He Cares MORE About THEM, Than He Does About Himself.

Weiner Should NOT Give Up & Lie Down!

He Should Of Course Get Some Necessary Mental Health Treatment And Than Get Back In The Political Ring Of Fire!

Anthony David Weiner Was Born To Be A Political Powerhouse For America's Senior Citizens, Veterans, Young People, Middle Class & Low Income Citizens.

Such A Calling Is His God-Given Destiny!

I Know God Will Forgive Anthony Weiner & So Should Mankind.

How Dare Any Of Us Choose NOT To Give Weiner A Second Chance When NONE Of Us Are Perfect!!

You Heard Me!

NO Human Being Is Perfect! Only God!

Now That Weiner Has Temporarily Stepped Down, He Should Begin To Map Out A Plan To Get Back In The Ring As Soon As Possible.

Anthony David Weiner, The People Of New York & America STILL Need You!

Get Well & Get Going Again Soon!

Please!

We Love You!

God Bless You & Your Family!




Weiner Quits House Seat Over ‘Mistakes’


Representative Anthony D. Weiner, a high-profile New York Democrat who had been considered a leading candidate to be the city’s next mayor, said Thursday that he was resigning from Congress following revelations of lewd online exchanges with several women.

“I’m here to apologize for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment that I have caused,” Mr. Weiner said, adding that he had hoped to be able to continue serving his constituents. “Unfortunately,” he said, “the distraction I created has made that impossible.”

Mr. Weiner announced his resignation in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, at a senior center where he announced his first campaign for City Council in 1991. But while that moment was filled with promise and excitement, his resignation occurred in a raucous and circuslike atmosphere, punctuated by shouting from a group of hecklers.

Mr. Weiner tried to deliver his brief statement in a restrained manner, but struggled to be heard above the din of the hecklers, some of whom shouted vulgarities and one of whom called him a “pervert.”

The departing congressman, who did not take any questions, said he had been proud to serve the people of his district who “represent the same middle class story as mine.” He said he was stepping down so that he could “continue to heal from the damage I have caused.”

Mr. Weiner’s decision reflected more than a personal failure, but followed an intense push from top Democrats who worried that the scandal was a distraction and was hurting the momentum they believed they were gaining against Republicans in the budget battle as they prepared for elections next year.

On Wednesday night, Mr. Weiner called Representatives Nancy Pelosi of California and Steve Israel of New York while they were at a White House picnic to inform them he had decided to resign, a top Democratic official said.

The news came as Democratic leaders prepared to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to strip the 46-year-old congressman of his committee assignments, a blow that would severely damage his effectiveness.

“Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations,” Ms. Pelosi, the House minority leader, said in a statement. “Today, he made the right judgment in resigning.”

Mr. Weiner began telling his most trusted advisers about his decision on Wednesday night by phone, informing them that it no longer seemed fair to his constituents and his colleagues for him to remain in office.

Mr. Weiner, a Democrat, came to the conclusion that he could no longer serve after having long discussions with his wife, Huma Abedin, when she returned to Washington on Wednesday after traveling abroad with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ms. Abedin did not appear by his side on Thursday.

“I’m sorry it has come to this, but I think it’s best for both him and his family and for the Congress,” said Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a fellow Democrat from New York. “While the disclosures of his behavior have been incredibly disappointing, I’m going to choose to remember all the good things he’s done for his district and our city.”

A special election to fill his seat will be called for by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and can occur 70 to 80 days after he makes the call, according to election law experts. The winner would serve out the rest of Mr. Weiner’s term, through 2012.

But the victor might have a brief political career since the district is a strong candidate to be eliminated as part of the redistricting process that is already under way.

The scandal involving Mr. Weiner erupted last month after a photograph of him wearing tight-fitting underpants was sent to a college student in Washington State. Mr. Weiner denied having anything to do with it, but during an emotional news conference on June 6, he admitted to having sent the image and to having had inappropriate online exchanges with at least six women.

Friends said that Mr. Weiner, who has been distraught for much of the past 10 days, seemed at peace with his decision on Wednesday night as he drafted his resignation speech.

Despite his decision, Mr. Weiner still had some supporters in his district, which includes neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.

“He did nothing to hurt the public interest,” said Arie Ciuraru, 55, as he stood outside a pizza restaurant in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where he works. “To face his wife, he paid already. I feel sorry for him.”

Pressure on Mr. Weiner to leave the House has been building for days, with top House Democrats, including Ms. Pelosi, coming forward over the weekend to urge him publicly to spare himself, his family and his party any more embarrassment.

But that pressure intensified earlier this week when President Obama publicly suggested that Mr. Weiner should step down and Ms. Pelosi told reporters that she was prepared to strip Mr. Weiner of his committee assignments if he did not leave.

At the same time, the House ethics committee had formally opened an inquiry into Mr. Weiner’s conduct, including trading private messages with a teenage girl in Delaware. The investigation raised the prospect that he would face formal charges and sanctions, including expulsion. But with his decision to resign, the investigation is expected to end, because the committee has jurisdiction only over the actions of members of Congress.


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Sources: CNN, Fox News, LA Times, MSNBC, NY Times, Washington Post, Youtube, Google Maps

Anthony Foxx Throws Dr. King Under The Bus For Snow & White Voters!

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (a Black Democrat) Publicly Endorses North Carolina's Decision To Use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Holiday As A Public School Snow Make-Up Day!

In Case You Weren't Aware 2011 Is An Re-election Year For Foxx.

He's Probably Trying To Win Back His Displeased White Voters.

Obviously A Move Straight Out of Pres. Obama's 2012 Centrist Political Playbook

Or....

Since its No Secret Anthony Foxx Is Extremely Partisan, Is It Possible He's Taking This Stance Due To Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Political Affiliation?

Dr. King Was A Registered Republican.

Never Thought I'd See The Day When A Black Politician Throws Dr. King Under The Bus!

Disgraceful!!

Were It Not For Courageous, Well-Educated Black Men Like Dr. King, Black Men Like Anthony Foxx Would Never Have Been Afforded The Opportunity To Become Mayors Of Metropolitan Cities.

I Expected Pres. Barack Obama To Throw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Under The Bus Because Obama Has Never Understood The Black American Struggle.

However Anthony Foxx Whose Ancestors Were Southerners, Former Slaves & Native American Indians, Should Most Certainly Know Better!

Where's YOUR Courage, Gratitude & Respect Mayor Foxx??

Check Out The Articles Below On This Issue.

For Shame!



Mayor Foxx: Kids Should Be In School, King Holiday Or Not


Mayor Anthony Foxx called it regrettable that Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will be used as a snow make-up day for Charlotte-Mecklenburg students, but said students should be in class.

“But given the challenges so many young people are facing,” Foxx said Saturday morning, “it’s hard for me to make the argument that if class is in session they shouldn’t go.”

Foxx spoke briefly to reporters following a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of King in Marshall Park uptown.

During the ceremony, Foxx urged Charlotteans to use Monday as a time “to reflect on our children and what kind of future we as a community want for them.”








Gov. Bev Perdue Says MLK School Day Decision Is Not A State Issue


Governor Bev Perdue says it is a local decision to open schools as a make-up day or keep them closed on the holiday set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Speaking in Charlotte, where schools will be kept open Monday, the Perdue said, "It is my hope that we can all honor the Martin Luther King Day holiday."

She also said it is not a decision that should be made by state government.

The Reverend Kojo Nantambu, who is the head of the local chapter of the NAACP, called on parents to keep students home on Monday saying it is the only holiday set aside to honor an African-American.

"We do not want to miss an opportunity for our children to experience that or to celebrate that," said Nantambu, "I think it is unfair."

Eric Davis the chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board said students would spend part of the day Monday learning about the history and importance of what Dr. King did for the country.

"We will honor him by educating students," said Davis.

Parents dropping off their children at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary in Charlotte had differing opinions of the decision to keep schools open.

"I think it would take away some of what it represents," said Latasha Harris. Harris said she had not yet decided if she would keep her child home.

“I think that it is fine," said Roger Stowe.

"I think the spirit of Martin Luther King should rest in your heart,” Stowe said. “You should really celebrate him wherever you are."




For Some Students In The South, A King Day Lacking That ‘Holiday’ Feature


Put yourself in the shoes of Michael Murray, the associate superintendent of a small school district in the North Carolina foothills.

He has to provide 180 days of education for his 6,000 students by June 10. This past week of unusually brutal ice and snow in the South put the district behind schedule, and he suspects that more snow days are coming.

By state law, the only holiday he cannot cancel is Veterans Day. His solution? Make children go to school on Monday, the day when most of the nation’s schools are closed to observe Martin Luther King’s Birthday.

In the South, where establishing an official holiday for Dr. King was long in coming, that kind of move can be particularly controversial. But administrators in a handful of districts in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina say they have no choice.

That is not going over well with some parents and politicians.

“It always seems like Martin Luther King day is the first one they are willing to give up,” said Dot Scott, president of the Charleston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton have also weighed in. “We’re urging people to keep their kids home,” Mr. Sharpton said. “It’s un-American not to observe the holiday.”

In South Carolina, the 17,400 students in the Rock Hill School District, 20 miles south of Charlotte, N.C., will be in school on Monday. Making up for snow days will also put them in school on Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day.

“There’s no intention on our part to dishonor Martin Luther King in any way,” said a district spokeswoman, Elaine Baker. She said that even black families had contacted the district to support the move and that Dr. King would not have had a problem with students learning on his holiday.

That is not good enough for State Representative John R. King, whose district includes Rock Hill.

“The amount of snow has nothing to do with it; this is a state holiday,” he said. “I think it’s blatant. I think it’s disrespectful. As the only African-American legislator in my area, it’s a slap in my face and in the faces of people who look like me.”

The move has Mr. King so concerned that he plans to introduce a bill next week that would require the entire state to close schools on the King holiday.

In North Carolina and South Carolina in particular, the holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has long been a sensitive topic. Senators John P. East and Jesse Helms, North Carolina Republicans, provided stiff opposition in a battle to have the day declared a national holiday, which Congress did through legislation that President Ronald Reagan signed in 1983. At the time, only 27 states and Washington observed it as a holiday.

South Carolina became the last state to do so, in 2000, the same year the Legislature voted to remove the familiar Confederate battle flag that flew atop the Statehouse. The state now flies a smaller version of the battle flag in front of the Statehouse, and it will be the target of a rally on the King holiday.

But school administrators are pleading for mercy. Students can have excused absences that day, if they like. In some schools, the curriculum will be based on Dr. King’s story and the history of civil rights.

Mr. Murray, of the McDowell County public schools in North Carolina, said that other holidays were likely to become school days before the year is out.

And he has one more piece of bad news for students: they have to go to school this Saturday, too.




NAACP Calls For Protest Of CMS Holding Classes On MLK Day


The NAACP held a press conference Friday morning, protesting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ decision to have classes on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Chapter president Kojo Nantambu said the decision to use the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a snow make-up day is disrespectful to the memory of Dr. King.

Nantambu called for a protest at the Government Center on Monday at 10 a.m. and urged parents to keep their children out of school and bring them to the protest.

He said after the protest, the children will be taken to the Levine Museum of the South and to the Harvey Gantt Center where they would learn about the legacy of Dr. King.

“We are appalled that of all the days they would choose – that the Board of Education of Charlotte-Mecklenburg would choose to use the Martin Luther King birthday as a make-up day for snow, “ Nantambu said.

On Thursday, CMS board chairman Eric Davis said there will be special programs in the schools on Monday to let students learn more about Dr. King.

The calendar of make-up days was written two years ago and the board recently agreed that in 2012, no matter what, Martin Luther King Jr. Day would not be used as a make-up day.



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Sources: Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, NAACP, NY Times, WCNC, Wikipedia, Youtube, Google Maps

Bev Perdue, MLK's Birthday & N.C. Schools: Claims Not State's Decision

Gov. Bev Perdue Says MLK School Day Decision Is Not A State Issue


Governor Bev Perdue says it is a local decision to open schools as a make-up day or keep them closed on the holiday set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Speaking in Charlotte, where schools will be kept open Monday, the Perdue said, "It is my hope that we can all honor the Martin Luther King Day holiday."

She also said it is not a decision that should be made by state government.

The Reverend Kojo Nantambu, who is the head of the local chapter of the NAACP, called on parents to keep students home on Monday saying it is the only holiday set aside to honor an African-American.

"We do not want to miss an opportunity for our children to experience that or to celebrate that," said Nantambu, "I think it is unfair."

Eric Davis the chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board said students would spend part of the day Monday learning about the history and importance of what Dr. King did for the country.

"We will honor him by educating students," said Davis.

Parents dropping off their children at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary in Charlotte had differing opinions of the decision to keep schools open.

"I think it would take away some of what it represents," said Latasha Harris. Harris said she had not yet decided if she would keep her child home.

“I think that it is fine," said Roger Stowe.

"I think the spirit of Martin Luther King should rest in your heart,” Stowe said. “You should really celebrate him wherever you are."




NAACP Calls For Protest Of CMS Holding Classes On MLK Day


The NAACP held a press conference Friday morning, protesting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ decision to have classes on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Chapter president Kojo Nantambu said the decision to use the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a snow make-up day is disrespectful to the memory of Dr. King.

Nantambu called for a protest at the Government Center on Monday at 10 a.m. and urged parents to keep their children out of school and bring them to the protest.

He said after the protest, the children will be taken to the Levine Museum of the South and to the Harvey Gantt Center where they would learn about the legacy of Dr. King.

“We are appalled that of all the days they would choose – that the Board of Education of Charlotte-Mecklenburg would choose to use the Martin Luther King birthday as a make-up day for snow, “ Nantambu said.

On Thursday, CMS board chairman Eric Davis said there will be special programs in the schools on Monday to let students learn more about Dr. King.

The calendar of make-up days was written two years ago and the board recently agreed that in 2012, no matter what, Martin Luther King Jr. Day would not be used as a make-up day.



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Sources: WCNC, Wikipedia, Google Maps

Foxx's Streetcar Idea Borrowed From DC's Adrian Fenty?

Anthony Foxx's dreams of developing a Streetcar line in Charlotte may have come from none other than his "buddy" DC Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Why do you think Foxx keeps running to DC?

Apparently he wants to become a Political "Star" like Fenty i.e., Personal Gain.

Yes Foxx has found a new political idol and now wants to turn Charlotte into a Washington, DC "lookalike".

Let's see Adrian Fenty doesn't really want to help the Homeless or DC's less fortunate and neither does Anthony Foxx.

Seems Fenty only wants to invest money into helping provide for DC's Elite, ditto for Foxx.

Does anyone remember last Winter when Adrian Fenty had city crews to plow and shovel DC's Wealthy communities first while leaving the city's less Wealthier citizens to fend for themselves?

Fenty wants to develop a Streetcar line, ditto for Foxx.

What's wrong with Anthony Foxx wanting to follow in Fenty's footsteps?

Well for starters Washington, DC already has a Modern, well-developed Public Mass Transportation system with high ridership.

Charlotte on the other hand does NOT!

Charlotte's Public Mass Transportation consists of a Segregated City Bus system.

Nice, Clean, well-maintained, on-schedule buses for Charlotte's White citizens and Bankers.

Raggedy, Cold/Hot, Late buses for Charlotte's Black citizens.

All of this even though both Black & White citizens pay the SAME exact fares.

Charlotte does have a Light Rail system but its incomplete.

Instead of Anthony Foxx using Federal funding to help expand the Light Rail as he promised while serving on the Charlotte City Council back in 2007, he wants to funnel millions of dollars into a 1.5 mile Streetcar.

Has Mayor Foxx ever considered that what works for DC might NOT be what's best for Charlotte at this time? (a Recession)




Well now you know where Mayor Anthony Foxx borrowed his Streetcar idea from.

Why doesn't Foxx focus on helping to lower Charlotte's extremely HIGH Crime rate and expanding the city's Light Rail system before copying his "buddy" Adrian Fenty's Streetcar project idea?

If Anthony Foxx forces the City Council to develop his "Streetcar named Desire" at this time during one of Charlotte's worst Economic crisis, do you think he will more than likely be a one-term Mayor?

I'll leave that decision up to Charlotte's voters in 2011.

I'm just saying.

Check out the articles and videos below.






Extra Car Could Be Added To Charlotte Lynx Light Rail


Crowded commuters on the city's light rail line could be getting some relief after transit officials this week proposed the addition of a third car on Lynx trains during peak travel times.

Longer trains would require the extension of passenger platforms and more powerful electrical systems to propel the additional car. Engineers believe the modifications would cost $66.9 million.

About 16,000 passengers ride the south corridor line each day, far exceeding original projections for the two year-old service, said Carolyn Flowers, CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System.

Three-car trains were originally planned, Flowers said, but the project was scaled back due to concerns about the cost of the line from I-485, near Pineville, to Uptown.

During the evening rush hour, Lynx trains are filled to near capacity, said Reggie Smith, a south Charlotte resident who said he has been riding the train since the service was launched in November 2007.

"You’re barely moving, and when the doors open up you’re praying 'please don’t let anyone else come on because I’m about to die'," Smith told NewsChannel 36.

An extension of the Lynx system is planned for northeast Charlotte, including stops along North Tryon, UNC-Charlotte, and I-485 in University City. Cost estimates for the project top $1 billion, and transit planners have said a recent decline in local funding could delay the start of service for the expanded system until 2019.

Officials have said the modifications on the south corridor could be made at the same time the new line is constructed.

The three-car trains will be required along the full length of the expanded light-rail system, transit planners have said, because the Lynx line is projected to draw nearly 25,000 daily passengers by 2030.

Still, some transit leaders are questioning the proposal to modify an existing train service when funding for other rail projects remains uncertain.

"It’s very difficult for me to justify expanding a line that is successful until we provide rail to the other areas who need it," Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain said during Wednesday's meeting of the Metropolitan Transit Commission.

A sharp decline in money collected from Mecklenburg's half-cent sales tax for transit has sparked recent debate among MTC members about which transit projects should be built first.

The commission is scheduled to decide next month whether to pursue federal funding for at least part of the modifications to the south corridor.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx said said the MTC will continue to weigh the plans for modifying existing transit service against the funding that is available for all construction.

"There are other projects that are in line for support and we have to listen to the professionals and then make a decision," he said.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

D.C. Mayor Says Federal Funds On The Way For Snowstorm Cleanup


The federal government will reimburse Washington authorities for snow cleanup in the wake of two massive snowstorms that recently hit the region, according to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

The mayor said that city agencies have done the best possible job clearing snow from roadways and sidewalks, but that the federal government will kick in disaster relief funds in order to defray growing costs for local governments.

Asked on MSNBC if the city has done the best job possible, Fenty said, "There's no question," but admitted that "there's always things you could do better."

Fenty also said that he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday, who assured him that the federal government will reimburse the cost to the D.C. government, a move he called "a big help."

Many area residents have become frustrated with the D.C. city government as well as Virginia and Maryland authorities because they believe not enough has been done to clear roads, sidewalks and transit lines.

But Fenty said D.C. averages 15 inches of snow per winter, and does not have the capacity to handle the 65 inches that have fallen on the city this year. He did say that in the future, the city would seek to expand agreements with private contractors and keep snow removal equipment better maintained.

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) said Wednesday that federal disaster relief funds administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, are likely on the way for the region.

Over 30 inches of snow has fallen on the region since last Friday, essentially paralyzing the city. The federal government has been closed all week and the House of Representatives has called off its votes for the rest of the week.

The Senate voted Tuesday, but it is unlikely it will vote again this week.

Both the House and the Senate are expected to keep their Presidents Day recess next week, meaning they will not return for votes until the following week.


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Sources: CNN, MSNBC, The Hill, Washington Post, WCNC, Google Maps

Northeast Hit By Another Snowstorm; 700,000 Lose Power

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700,000 Lose Power As Storm Slams Northeast


A windy winter storm has knocked out power to at least 700,000 homes and businesses in the Northeast, fanned a hotel fire in coastal New Hampshire, and disrupted travel.

In New Hampshire, even the state Emergency Operations Center was operating on a generator. A wind gust of more than 90 mph was reported in the state.

Officials are also blaming the wind for fanning a hotel fire in Hampton, N.H., and destroying an entire block of businesses.

Rain and flooding are the big problems in northern New England. Farther south, snow is clogging roads and airport runways. Thousands of flights have been canceled.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg has decided to give the nation's largest public school district a rare snow day after 17 inches fell there.

NBC News reported the National Weather Service measured 9.4 inches of snow in Central Park on Thursday. That breaks the 7.5 inches recorded in 1874.

From Pennsylvania to Maine
The strongest wind and heaviest snow was forecast for late Thursday and early Friday, with a foot or more of snow and high winds expected in parts of Pennsylvania, into New Jersey and New York and up to parts of New England.

Parts of western Maine received nearly a foot a snow, while Philadelphia received a dusting. About 9 inches of snow fell in New York City, where a man was killed by a falling snow-laden tree branch in Central Park — one of at least three deaths being blamed on the storm.

In parts of southern and mid-coastal Maine more than 3 inches of rain had fallen and forecasters say some areas could get more than 7 inches. The Presumpscot River in Westbrook was expected to crest at 9 feet over flood stage by Friday afternoon. The river in the flood-prone New Hampshire town of Goffstown was nearing flood stage and residents were told to prepare for possible evacuation.

Hundreds of flights were canceled at major East Coast airports.

The latest blast of winter was expected to linger more than 24 hours, meaning more headaches Friday. More snow is predicted for much of the region Saturday, too.

The National Weather Service put much of the East Coast under wind advisories and warnings until 7 a.m. Friday. The agency warned that winds could blow steadily between 20 and 30 mph in some areas, with gusts of 55 mph or higher in coastal and mountainous areas.

Even coastal New England, which was seeing rain but nothing like the 18 inches of snow expected in some parts of northern New Jersey and upstate New York, was under coastal flood watches.

While forecasters can predict the snow totals and what that will mean — slippery roads, a snow day for the kids — it's trickier to know whether winds might create havoc.

"Your tree may fall down; your neighbor's may not," said Kristina Pydynowski, a meteorologist for AccuWeather, a private forecasting company in State College, Pa.

She said dense, wet snow weighing down trees would make it more likely for strong winds to knock them down. And power will probably be hardest to restore in areas where heavy snow keeps repair crews at bay.

* In upstate New York, a storm that hit the area with up to 2 feet of snow Wednesday left some 150,000 homes and businesses without power. About 49,000 utility customers remained without power late Thursday, most in the Hudson Valley.

* Vermont had more than 10,000 outages. Nearly 4,900 utility customers in New Jersey were without electricity and there were about 2,000 customers without power throughout Pennsylvania.

* Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jack Lewis said National Guard forces rescued dozens of high school students on a ski trip in Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania when their buses got stuck on Route 374. The 70 students and chaperones were taken to a Red Cross center in Uniondale, and no injuries were reported.

* The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation banned motorcycles, recreation vehicles and commercial traffic on interstates 380 and 84 — with the exceptions of school buses and tow trucks responding to accidents. There was also a tractor-trailer ban on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension.


Jackknifed truck

After dropping his load of New York City trash at a landfill in Seneca Falls, N.Y., truck driver Carlos Quintero, 62, was heading back to the city on Interstate 380 in northeastern Pennsylvania when he lost control of his rig and it jackknifed.

For a few heart-stopping moments, Quintero thought he was going to plunge down a steep, 30-foot embankment. But the guardrail had just enough stopping power.

"I thought I go all the way down the hill," said Quintero, of Haddonfield, N.J. "It happened so fast I can't do nothing."

Traffic backed up for several miles as crews worked to free the big rig. The highway reopened after about 90 minutes.

Some road conditions worsened Thursday night. Trucks got stuck on Interstate 81 near Scranton, Pa., and part of Interstate 84 was closed at the Pennsylvania-New York state line due to a jackknifed tractor-trailer. In New Jersey, dozens of accidents were reported and speeds limits were reduced.


Flood fears

Parts of western Maine received nearly a foot a snow, while southern and mid-coastal sections of the state received more than 3 inches of rain and faced up to 7 more inches. The Presumpscot River in Westbrook was expected to crest at 9 feet over flood stage by Friday afternoon.

Several major roads were closed in the flood-prone New Hampshire town of Goffstown, police said, and slight flooding along the Piscataquog River had water creeping toward nearby houses. Residents were told to prepare for possible evacuation.


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Sources: MSNBC, Google Maps

Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx & Other Arrogant Black Mayors

This post is dedicated to all of America's Arrogant, Black Mayors.

Yes I'm well aware this is Black History Month and that I should be celebrating our nation's Black Leaders however....

Its kind of hard to do so when Black Leaders, especially Mayors are treating their own Black constituents (and Hispanic constituents) like crap!

So I've written a post dedicated to exposing a few Arrogant Black Mayors.

Perhaps the Commentary, informational articles & videos will cause them to reflect and change.

I'm targeting Mayors who were elected by the people but only serve an Elite few.

Mayors who embellished their Public Service records & Resumes to get elected.

Mayors who told blatant, outright LIES to get elected.

Mayors who sold out the Black and Hispanic Communities to get elected.

Mayors who encouraged or fooled thousands of Middle Class & Low Income citizens to vote Straight Ticket (Democrats) and than once in office "flipped the bird" on those same citizens.

Mayors who like Anthony Foxx of Charlotte, NC use their role in Public Office for Personal Gain in a Recession.

Mayors who basically don't do anything to uplift Urban or Minority Communities, including partnering with local schools for the purpose of ensuring that Minority Students receive an Equal, Quality Education. (Anthony Foxx, Adrian Fenty)

Mayors who high jack Federal and Public Funding for distribution to their cities' Wealthiest constituents, Fraternity and Sorority friends. (Bill Campbell, Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who raise property taxes at a whim to use as "Monopoly" money not to improve their regions but to waste or buy votes.

Mayors who only raise property taxes in Middle and Low Income communities, while refusing to raise property taxes for residents who reside in Wealthy, pre-dominantly White communities. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who use vote buying, 1.5 mile Streetcar schemes for White Citizens to ride uptown, as an excuse to raise property taxes ONLY in Minority communities. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who encourage their Council Members to increase term limits so they all can remain in public office forever, or almost forever.

Mayors who keep Middle Class & Low Income constituents poor so that they can't rise up and challenge them.

Mayors who during big snowstorms only send out City Snowplows to Wealthy communities while other residents have to fend for themselves. (Adrian Fenty)

Mayors who keep Homeless Shelters closed in Freezing temperatures (Anthony Foxx) claiming the city lacks funding, however later he hires friends to whom he pays high salaries.

Mayors who lie to Low Income, Black Senior citizens to get their votes and then cuts Funding for Public Transportation to Medical Clinics. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who slash funding for Mass Public Transportation thereby hindering many Low Income citizens from working.

Mayors who send City Buses that are well-maintained and clean into Wealthy White communities, while sending raggedy, broke down buses to Black/ Hispanic Communities.
Even though both White and Minority riders pay the same fares. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who use Donated Gifts for distribution to Poor citizens on themselves (Sheila Dixon & Bill Campbell) or their families and friends.

Mayors who cheat on their wives and try to bribe Police Officers (Kwame Kilpatrick).

Mayors who are cultivating an environment of Entitlement and Partisan, Political Corruption. (Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx, Bill Campbell, Kwame Kilpatrick and Sheila Dixon)

In fact evidence seems to suggest there is a distinct correlation between Black Political Leadership and Public Corruption.

Mayors who look down upon and talk down to Middle Class & Low Income citizens.

Mayors who govern with an "Us" vs "Them" mentality instead of a "We" mentality.

Its Mayors like Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx, Bill Campbell, Kwame Kilpatrick and Sheila Dixon that sort of pre-determine which members of American Society are "worth" serving, versus those who aren't.

Mayors who are setting a poor example for the next generation of Leaders, teaching them how to Misuse Power & Authority.

Mayors whose Arrogant behavior is destroying Public Trust in Black Leaders and Democrats.

Mayors who may only serve one term or at best two because Voters are tired of their Arrogance.

The only exception thus far is Mayor Corey Booker of Newark, NJ.

Corey Booker who although has an extremely impressive resume, proved he really cares about helping his city's less fortunate citizens and is truly dedicated to improving the lives of his city's youth through Education and Opportunity.

Instead of becoming jealous or "hating" on Corey Booker, I suggest Mayors like Adrian Fenty and Anthony Foxx adopt some of his governing practices.

To Voters I challenge you to get out there and change the Political Landscape like Scott Brown did!

You don't have to possess a degree from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell or Stanford to become Mayor.

You don't need Pres. Barack Obama's or Congressional Black Caucus members' endorsements to raise money.

If you have a good plan, have a pure heart for helping people and aren't afraid to articulate your views, YOU CAN win elections!

Check out the videos and articles below to learn why Arrogancy is a terrible trait for Public Servants to display, especially Mayors and why today's Black Mayors are giving Black Leadership a bad name.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(WARNING: Profanity near the end of this particular video.)




D.C. Mayor Says Federal Funds On The Way For Snowstorm Cleanup


The Federal Government will reimburse Washington authorities for snow cleanup in the wake of two massive snowstorms that recently hit the region, according to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

The mayor said that city agencies have done the best possible job clearing snow from roadways and sidewalks, but that the federal government will kick in disaster relief funds in order to defray growing costs for local governments.

Asked on MSNBC if the city has done the best job possible, Fenty said, "There's no question," but admitted that "there's always things you could do better."

Fenty also said that he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday, who assured him that the federal government will reimburse the cost to the D.C. government, a move he called "a big help."

Many area residents have become frustrated with the D.C. city government as well as Virginia and Maryland authorities because they believe not enough has been done to clear roads, sidewalks and transit lines.

But Fenty said D.C. averages 15 inches of snow per winter, and does not have the capacity to handle the 65 inches that have fallen on the city this year. He did say that in the future, the city would seek to expand agreements with private contractors and keep snow removal equipment better maintained.

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) said Wednesday that federal disaster relief funds administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, are likely on the way for the region.

Over 30 inches of snow has fallen on the region since last Friday, essentially paralyzing the city. The federal government has been closed all week and the House of Representatives has called off its votes for the rest of the week.

The Senate voted Tuesday, but it is unlikely it will vote again this week.

Both the House and the Senate are expected to keep their Presidents Day recess next week, meaning they will not return for votes until the following week.












Chris Matthews: Fenty Handled Snow Poorly


MSNBC personality Chris Matthews said on "Hardball" Wednesday that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has handled the city's snow removal poorly

He said Fenty, up for re-election this year, needs competition.

"I've watched the big cities where mayors lose their jobs over stuff like this," said Matthews, who lives in Chevy Chase, Md.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Metro Red Line Train Derails On Difficult Commuting Day


A Metrorail train derailed Friday morning near a frequently used stop in downtown Washington, but no injuries have been reported.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) acknowledged the accident and said that Metrorail officials and first responders are already on the scene to assist passengers off the train.

The derailment took place near the Farragut North station.

The incident happened on a day when D.C. area commuters have already experienced trouble traveling to work in the wake of two massive snowstorms that recently hit the area.

Snow has piled up on roadways, making it difficult to travel, and some Metro stations are still shuttered due to snow accumulation on track beds.

The front wheels of the lead car came off the tracks, according to WMATA. The incident took place at 10:13 a.m.

According to a reporter from The Hill, multiple ambulances and emergency vehicles are surrounding the stop.













Fenty responds to Hardball's Matthews

At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Fenty was asked to respond to criticism from MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews. To review, Mathews took aim at the mayor's handling of snow removal on "Hardball" on Wednesday and said Fenty needs some competition in his re-election bid this year.

With or without competition, Fenty said, "I will work around the clock to get reelected." The mayor noted that he's already started knocking on doors to make his case directly to voters.

"In all my campaigns," he said, "we've always started earlier and been the first to knock on doors."

And is he worried about the political implications of messing up the aftermath of such a big storm?

"I'm just focused on the operations of snow removal, not the politics of snow removal," Fenty said.











Snow plows clear the way for Fenty

What's the fastest way to get your street plowed after a massive storm?

Call a press conference with the mayor on your block.

At least that's what one Southeast resident, Rhonda Young, assumed when she saw a plow clearing 18th Street to the pavement just minutes before Mayor Adrian Fenty was scheduled to arrive for a photo opportunity with her neighbor.

"This is the clearest I've ever seen this street," said Young, an administrative assistant at D.C. Superior Court, who has lived on the street for nine years. "This is politics to the fullest."

Fenty, who is up for reelection, arrived at about 4:30 p.m. to help shovel the walkway of 76-year-old Vivian Freeman to highlight Serve D.C., a volunteer program that has been assisting seniors in the wake of the storm.

But the timing of the plowing appeared to be a coincidence. Daniel "Big Apple" Ellis, the plow operator on the street, said he had been out in the neighborhood since 7 a.m. The only reason he was still there by late afternoon, he said, was because "people are not letting us do our job. They're getting in the way."

Ellis said residents were dumping snow back into cleared streets as they tried to shovel out their cars and others were following his plow insisting that he also hit their streets.

"I didn't want to say, 'no,'" Ellis said, adding that he knew nothing of the mayor's plans.

Young still wasn't convinced. "These seniors need help all the time. Not just during campaign time," she said.

Before the mayor left, though, Young summoned her teenage son from inside to pose for a picture with the mayor.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lending a Helping (and Self-Helping) Hand

D.C. Council members are taking advantage of this week's consecutive snowstorms to help out their neighbors - and score some political points in the process.

On Tuesday, during whiteout conditions, council member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5) sent out a statement calling on Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to request more federal resources. Thomas opened his news release by noting that he had spent all morning "assisting residents stuck in the snow."

Later in the afternoon, council member Kwame Brown (D-At Large) also went on snow patrol. Monica Bell of Hillcrest sent The Washington Post a letter Tuesday afternoon praising Brown, who has an all-terrain vehicle, for plowing out residents' sidewalks and driveways.

"I heard my dog barking and went to the front door to see what all the fuss was about when I saw a man digging snow from around my minivan." Bell wrote. "Once he finished with our van, he moved across the street to my neighbor's car and so on and so forth ... I was absolutely touched."

Not to be outdone, council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) took the whole plow-out-the-neighbor theme even further. Graham hopped into a city snowplow this afternoon to ride along as it traversed Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant and Shaw.

"We have been all over," Graham said in a telephone interview from the plow.

By the end of the conversation, Graham sounded like any other snowplow driver.

"We're making progress, but part of the problem is people moving their cars and then they are getting stuck," said Graham, who chairs the committee that oversees the streets department. "Then we can't plow streets that need to be plowed."












Mayor Anthony Foxx's New Hire Draws Scrutiny


Among the nation’s largest cities with council-manager forms of government, Charlotte now joins those that have hired an assistant to help the mayor communicate with the media and the public.

The city of Charlotte recently hired Erica Johnson to assist Mayor Anthony Foxx as a communications assistant – a move that has drawn criticism from some fellow council members.

It’s the first time the mayor’s office has had such a job.

In Charlotte, the day-to-day operations of the city are handled by City Manager Curt Walton. The “weak-mayor” helps set overall policy, and is officially a part-time job.

Foxx said Johnson, who currently works a the Charlotte Chamber, will help him coordinate events such as setting up town hall meetings and an upcoming job creation summit. He said her job is “functional,” helping lay the ground work for him to better communicate with residents.

Foxx said Tuesday there will be times when the media communicates through Johnson instead of him. On Wednesday, he objected to the Observer saying in a story she would be a “spokesperson.”

“You won’t see any difference in access to me,” Foxx said Wednesday.

The mayors of Dallas and Phoenix, two of the largest cities with weak mayors, have a full-time communications person, or spokesperson, assigned to the mayor. Austin, which is about the same size as Charlotte, also has a communications person working directly with the mayor.

Las Vegas and Arlington, Texas, don’t have communications staffers assigned to their mayors. Neither does Raleigh.

Jennifer Roberts, chairwoman of the Mecklenburg County Commission, said she doesn’t have any staff members assigned to her office, though she does share the time of assistants.

The mayor’s office how has two administrative assistants and a policy assistant, Kevin Monroe, who replaced former Pat McCrory’s assistant, Dennis Marstall.

Johnson’s new position was created from a vacant position in the City Manager’s office, said city spokesperson Kim McMilllan. Some Republican council members questioned the new $70,000 a year job Tuesday, and were joined by some of Foxx’s fellow Democrats Wednesday.

“I hadn’t been aware (the job) was needed for the Mayor or members of council,” said Democrat Michael Barnes. “I was surprised to learn a person had been hired.”

Democrat Warren Turner said he thought the new hire was “bad timing” because of the recession.

The city’s early budget estimates for the upcoming fiscal year show a $9 million deficit. If the city gives a 3 percent raise to employees, that deficit could grow by another $10.3 million.

Foxx asked Walton for the new staff position.

During the mayoral campaign last fall, Foxx and Republican opponent John Lassiter differed on their visions for the office.

Lassiter said the mayoral job is part-time, which would have allowed him to continue running his legal staffing business. Foxx said the mayor’s job is a full-time position, and the city needed to recognize how much time it requires. He has said he doesn’t want to collect a salary based on a full-time job.











Its no secret last Fall Design Line Intl donated $4,000. to Foxx's Mayoral campaign fund.

Its also no secret that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (Democrat) was hired by Design Line Intl. after his election.

(Design Line Intl manufactures buses for the City of Charlotte.)

Now Design Line Intl. is being sued.

Who will represent them?

Your right! Mayor Anthony Foxx!

Well....

Did you know Design Line Intl has connections to former corrupt Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon?

According to the Meck Deck Blog:

Sheila Dixon hiked taxes on city parking lots by 18 percent in order to provide "Free" bus service via buses from DesignLine International.

Seems there was a little deal which took place between Dixon and Design Line to the tune of $40M for "Green Bus" purchases.

Sounds innocent doesn't it?

Not when you read the details.

Hmmmm

Didn't Sheila Dixon (Democrat) recently accept a Plea Deal for her involvement in Public Corruption?

Isn't this interesting?

Let's see how far this investigation will take us.

I wonder if Anthony Foxx had anything to do with Sheila Dixon going down.

In Dixon's defense at least she did a little to help Baltimore's citizens, Foxx on the other hand is only about helping himself.

I wonder just how low will Anthony Foxx go to keep his job with Design Line and remain in the Mayor's seat?

You can be rest assured that where's there is smoke, there is fire.

Check out the videos and articles below.

Even though Foxx is an Attorney, Mayor of Charlotte, Design Line Intl makes buses for the City of Charlotte and Design Line Intl is being sued, watch Foxx (first video below) explain how his new job with Design Line Intl doesn't present a Conflict of Interest.

Move along, nothing to see here folks. Wink, Wink


 



Sheila Dixon Agrees to Step Down in Baltimore Theft Case


Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore, who was convicted of embezzlement last month, said Wednesday that she would resign from office in early February as part of a deal negotiated with prosecutors.

Under the agreement, Ms. Dixon will not seek a new trial or run for city or state office before her probation ends. She agreed to contribute $45,000 to charity and will also plead guilty to certain counts of an outstanding perjury indictment.

In return, Ms. Dixon will receive four years of unsupervised probation and keep her $84,000-a-year pension.

Ms. Dixon, 56, was convicted on Dec. 1 of misappropriating about $500 in gift cards donated to the city for needy families when she was City Council president. She became mayor in 2007 and will be succeeded by the current City Council president, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

“I believe that it is in the best interest of the city, my family and me to bring this matter to closure,” Ms. Dixon, a Democrat, said in a written statement.

Robert A. Rohrbaugh, the state prosecutor, said he was happy to bring the matter to a close. “It was time for this case to end,” Mr. Rohrbaugh said. “This city can move forward.”

The plea agreement came on the day Ms. Dixon’s lawyers were scheduled to argue that her conviction should be overturned because of jury misconduct and faulty instructions by the trial judge.

Ms. Dixon was expected to be sentenced Jan. 21 on the embezzlement conviction. On March 1, she was scheduled for a second trial relating to two perjury counts for failing to report gifts on city ethics forms.

As part of the deal signed Wednesday in the chambers of Judge Dennis Sweeney of Baltimore Circuit Court, Ms. Dixon entered what is known as an Alford plea in which she did not acknowledge guilt but admitted that there was enough evidence to convict her of perjury.

Ms. Dixon agreed not to accept any payments for legal fees from the city and not to be employed by the state or city during her unsupervised probation. Ms. Dixon will sell the fur coats and electronics she bought with gift cards intended for needy families. That money will be donated to Youth Works, a nonprofit organization for Baltimore teenagers. She agreed to do 500 hours of community service at Our Daily Bread.

The agreement brings to a close a case that has cast a shadow over the city since the corruption investigation began in 2006. The case divided the city, as some residents were outraged by the accusations that the mayor stole from needy families while others expressed frustration that the prosecutor’s office was wasting time and money on minor offenses.

Douglas Colbert, a professor at the University of Maryland Law School, said the deal was probably the best that each side could have hoped for.

“The prosecution wanted the mayor’s resignation and guilty pleas,” he said. “The defense avoided a criminal record, avoided jail time and maintains her probation.”

Because Ms. Dixon was sentenced under a provision of Maryland law known as probation before judgment, she will not have a criminal record after she completes probation, Mr. Colbert said.

Despite the distractions created by the long corruption scandal, Ms. Dixon was generally popular among residents and claimed some major accomplishments. In 2008, for example, the city hit a 20-year low in homicides. Ms. Dixon also put in place changes that increased recycling by 53 percent and saved the city $7 million annually.















Mayor Anthony Foxx and His Real Job


I see that the UPoR attempted to answer the question last week’s Charlotte Business Journal dispatch on Anthony Foxx’s new day job left hanging: Will Mayor Foxx lobby other big city Democratic mayors to buy buses from DesignLine?

Foxx says no. Further, Foxx, and evidently City Attorney Mac MCarley as well, believes that the mayor can work for DesignLine without conflict while both the city-owned airport and city-managed CATS decide whether or not to buy buses from DesignLine. OK. Given that I suppose it is likewise not a conflict for Mayor Foxx to work for DesignLine while DesignLine works out of a warehouse property owned by Childress Klein. Childress Klein only interfaces non-stop with city government on a host of development issues.

Other items of note:

* DesignLine CEO Brad Glosson gave Foxx’s campaign $4000 back in October, as did Glosson’s father, retired Air Force general Buster Glosson. Both men are registered Republicans and supporters of GOP candidates, including former Mayor Pat McCrory, according to state campaign records.

* DesignLine’s Baltimore effort has been repeatedly delayed with some questioning the value of spending $13m. to buy 21 hybrid buses, which will cost a total of $40m. to operate. The latest drop-dead date for DesignLine buses to start regular service in Charm City is January 11th, six months behind schedule.

* The company’s website is being re-worked, but the firm does not own the domain name — designlineusa.com — referenced in its own marketing material.

One thing is for certain, the days of Mayor Pat turning on the VCR for Duke Power’s new hires orientation program are long gone.

Update: SEC filings show that former Gov. Jim Martin is a director for DesignLine.

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Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Sentenced To 4 Months


Calling him "arrogant and defiant," a Wayne County Circuit Judge on Tuesday sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to four months in jail with no early release under the terms of a plea deal.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty last month to two felony obstruction of justice charges stemming from his efforts to cover up an extramarital affair. He also pleaded no contest to charges of assaulting a police officer attempting to serve a subpoena on a Kilpatrick friend in that case.

In imposing the sentence, Judge David Groner harshly criticized Kilpatrick for his conduct, particularly for a televised speech that aired hours after he entered his pleas.

"That night, the community expected to hear a message of humility, remorse and apology," Groner said. "Instead, we heard an arrogant and defiant man who accused the governor, among others, for his downfall."

While a presentencing report submitted to the court said Kilpatrick accepts responsibility for his actions, Groner said he questioned the former mayor's sincerity.

"Many defendants have stood before this court. However, this case is different, and you are not the typical defendant," the judge said. "... You were expected to lead from the front and set an example."

Kilpatrick was accused of blocking a criminal investigation into his office and firing a police deputy to cover up an affair with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty. When that deputy, Gary Brown, filed a whistle-blower suit last summer, Kilpatrick and Beatty denied under oath that an affair had taken place.

Groner noted that after a jury found in Brown's favor, Kilpatrick publicly vowed to appeal, only to do a "180-degree" turn after he found out the plaintiffs were in possession of text messages that gave evidence of the affair. Brown then urged the City Council to approve settlements, which cost the city $8.4 million -- closer to $9 million after legal costs.

In January, the Detroit Free Press revealed the text messages that contradicted Kilpatrick's and Beatty's testimony.

After the text messages were made public, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Kilpatrick and Beatty with multiple counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. The most serious charges would have carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison upon conviction.

Beatty resigned her post after the text messages were made public, but the case against her remains pending, Worthy said. The Free Press reported Beatty has rejected several plea deal offers, the last of which would have required her to serve 150 days in jail.

Worthy told reporters after Kilpatrick's hearing that she was satisfied with the result, but could not comment extensively on Kilpatrick's case. "We have another defendant to try," she said. "I don't want to step over that line."

Kilpatrick must also pay the city of Detroit $1 million in restitution, Groner ordered, and forfeit any future pension.

He initially refused to resign, and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm had called a hearing on whether she should remove him from office at the request of the Detroit City Council. Granholm adjourned those hearings after Kilpatrick pleaded guilty and agreed to resign.

In the speech after he pleaded guilty September 4, Kilpatrick told reporters Granholm and city officials should work for the people of Detroit as hard as they did to get him out of office.

He told the crowd his marriage is better than ever, and kissed his wife to resounding applause when he concluded his remarks. He said he decided to step down so the city could move forward.

Groner also ordered Kilpatrick to sign an order of revocation regarding his law license. Because of a pending complaint against Kilpatrick, he could not surrender the license, but instead had to agree to revocation -- something his defense attorneys argued vehemently against. Groner told them the issue could be raised on appeal if necessary.

The judge did, however, deny prosecutors' request that Kilpatrick repay $22,000 in costs unique to prosecuting his case -- including the purchase of new door locks for their offices.

He also refused a prosecution request to order that Kilpatrick attend anger management counseling based on the July 24 incident involving the police officers, saying it was "an isolated incident" and he knows of no other evidence that Kilpatrick is violent or requires counseling.

Worthy said she was disappointed with that decision, but acknowledged, "It is unusual to ask for prosecutors' costs. ... A lot of judges aren't familiar with that."

On the law license, she said, "Frankly, I'm surprised we were even having that discussion," adding that defense attorneys, prosecutors and "everybody was clear that the license should be given up. He should not practice law."

Groner imposed the sentence at the end of a lengthy hearing featuring remarks from a phalanx of prosecutors and defense attorneys. The judge grew impatient with members of Kilpatrick's defense team, most of whom made extended remarks.

The hearing itself began more than a half hour late, as attorneys met to discuss terms of Kilpatrick's plea bargain, according to the Detroit News. And the imposition of the sentence was punctuated by two court recesses as attorneys wrangled over conditions.

During the hearing, Kilpatrick's defense attorneys pleaded with Groner to keep in mind the benefits he had brought to the city as mayor. But prosecutors read statements from both police officers involved in the incident, saying they had suffered lasting effects from it.










Bill Campbell: Atlanta's Former Mayor Sentenced To Prison


Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who presided over the city's economic renaissance of the 1990s, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison and fined more than $6,000 for tax evasion.

U.S. District Judge Richard Story praised Campbell, 53, for two decades of public service but said he could not ignore his crimes.

Campbell was convicted in March of three counts of tax evasion. He was cleared of charges that he lined his pockets with payoffs from a contractor but was found guilty of failing to pay taxes on what prosecutors said was illegally obtained money. Campbell said the money was gambling winnings. (Watch the prosecutor explain the crimes -- 3:19)

"Yes, Bill Campbell, you did good things, and there is a person in this room that recognizes this," Story said, referring to himself. He cited Campbell's work in improving public housing in Atlanta as an example.

But the judge added that during the trial he "was overcome, almost appalled, at the breadth of misconduct in your administration."

"I am going to send you to prison," Story told Campbell, who was mayor for eight years and served for 12 years on the City Council. Campbell must also settle with the Internal Revenue Service for $62,823 in taxes he failed to pay.

Story said the punishment was harsher than it might have been because Campbell had not been honest during a pre-sentencing investigation.

Campbell had denied getting documents -- tally sheets that reflected his gambling winnings -- from a prosecution witness before his trial. The witness said Tuesday that he gave Campbell the sheets.

Story also cited $45,000 in kickbacks he said Campbell received from a city contractor, even though the jury found that Campbell had not taken the money.

"Within my heart, I am not sure you have accepted responsibility for what happened," the judge said Tuesday.

Campbell, dressed in a dark suit and tie, his wife seated behind him, had no immediate response.

Later, he said he "disagrees vehemently" with the sentence. "This is not justice. We will appeal," he said. "We are very confident that we will prevail on appeal."

"I've never betrayed the public trust and the jury found that way," Campbell added. (Watch as Campbell reacts to the verdict outside the courthouse -- :56)

He described the sentence as "an attempt to undo the jury's verdict."

David Nahmias, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, disagreed. "We respect the jury's verdict." he said. "The jury found him guilty of three serious tax felonies."

He called the sentence "a fair result" and added, "I'll tell you today that his appeal will ultimately be denied."

The court found that Campbell intentionally failed to report more than $160,000 in income on three tax returns, Nahmias said.

Campbell will be assigned a date by the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence unless the judge grants him a bond pending appeal. Typically, people involved in white-collar crimes serve their sentence at low-security prisons.




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