CHARLOTTE, NC ONE OF THREE FINAL CONTENDER CITIES FOR 2020 GOP CONVENTION BID

CHARLOTTE, NC ONE OF THREE FINAL CONTENDER CITIES FOR 2020 GOP CONVENTION BID:

IS CHARLOTTE READY FOR ANOTHER POLITICAL CONVENTION? (PREVIOUSLY HOSTED 2012 DNC CONVENTION)

WHAT ABOUT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, A ZOO, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY?

CHARLOTTE IS AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL BUT VERY BORING.

IF CHARLOTTE WINS 2020 GOP BID I HOPE THEY BEEF UP THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & SAFETY.


Post Sources: Charlotte Observer, WBTV, WCNC, Youtube


****** Charlotte's one of the final contenders for the 2020 RNC


The head of the state's Republican Party said Friday that he has been told the competition to host the 2020 Republican National Convention is down to about three cities, with Charlotte one of the strongest bids.

N.C. GOP executive director Dallas Woodhouse, who is attending the Republican National Committee meeting in Miami, said he has been told by numerous national Republicans that they were impressed by the city's Democratic leadership teaming up with statewide Republicans.

Woodhouse said he believed Las Vegas is a strong competitor.

CNN reported that Nevada GOP chairman Michael McDonald made a presentation this week to a site selection committee.

Woodhouse said Las Vegas appears to have placed a late bid to host the RNC.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the city of Las Vegas said they weren't aware of a bid.

A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Thursday that Republicans asked the city to bid, but it had to decline because it "doesn't have the facilities to accommodate the event."

On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said it was surprised by the story that Las Vegas was bidding.

It said it turned down the GOP with a letter earlier this year.

Las Vegas considered bidding for the 2016 RNC, but dropped out.

But the state Republican party appears to be moving forward with a bid, even if tourism officials aren't on board yet.

On Thursday, the San Antonio City Council decided in a closed session meeting not to bid.

"There's a reason that San Antonio has not pursued a political convention for the past 20 years and why so few cities seem interested in this convention," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, citing disruptions to traffic and neighborhoods.

As San Antonio council members prepared to consider a late bid, some Democratic activists said the city shouldn't seek the RNC.

They said the Trump administration's push for a border wall would damage the city's close ties with Mexico.

The bids for the RNC were originally due Feb. 28, but that deadline was pushed back.

In past years, cities have been vocal about wanting to land a political convention, which are said to be worth tens of millions in dollars in economic impact.

But this year only Charlotte and Las Vegas have said publicly they want it.

Charlotte hosted the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Woodhouse said he was told that as many as seven cities had expressed interested to the RNC, but some dropped out.

He doesn't know what the other city is, though he said he has heard Texas.

A tourism official in Dallas said the RNC approached the city about bidding, but the city declined.

A spokesperson for the Houston mayor's office declined to comment, but a City Council member said it had not been discussed.

"They were really impressed that a Democratic city and Democratic leaders have come together with Republicans to host the RNC," Woodhouse said.

He said the RNC will meet again in August. A decision could be made then, he said.

HAWAII - KING KAMEHAMEHA'S PALACE (HONOLULU)

HAWAII - KING KAMEHAMEHA'S PALACE:

Sources: YouTube, Wikipedia


Scenery from King KAMEHAMEHA'S palace in Honolulu, Hawaii.


His huge palace is a very popular Tourist attraction.

He was a great King of the Hawaiian Islands, who reigned in power from July 1782 until May of 1819.


King KAMEHAMEHA stood over seven feet tall in height.

GENO'S STEAKHOUSE: A PHILLY FAVORITE

GENO'S STEAKHOUSE: A PHILLY FAVORITE

GENO'S WINS MY CHEESESTEAK CONTEST.

Sources: GENO'S, Youtube

After conducting my own Philly Cheesesteak contest of two local Cheesesteak Connoiseurs GENO'S and PAT'S,  I've concluded that GENO'S Cheesesteak sandwich wins hands down.

The bread was not too soft, not too hard, the meat was seasoned well and the provolone cheese was melted.

Although I enjoyed my recent visit to PAT'S, when I return to Philadelphia GENO'S gets my business.

1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK THROWDOWN IN PHILADELPHIA (LIVE ON LOCATION

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK THROWDOWN IN PHILADELPHIA (LIVE):

Sources:  VisitPhilly.com, Fox News, Youtube

While visiting Philadelphia this week for the DNC Convention (July 25-28) I decided to conduct my own "Philly Cheesesteak Throwdown".

Philly is famous for its Cheesesteaks from these three establishments: 

PAT'S

GENO'S

TONY LUKE'S

In fact no real Tourist leaves Philly without paying a visit to one of these Cheesesteak connoisseurs.

Today I taste tested a Cheesesteak with Onions & Provolone from PAT'S.

It was Delicious and worth every cent of my $10.

Tomorrow I will visit GENOS and end my experiment at TONY LUKE'S.

The results of my "Throwdown" will be recorded and uploaded after I taste test a sandwich from TONY LUKE'S.

1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147

1801 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Bev "Anti-Black Agenda" Perdue Compares North Carolina With Mississippi; She's Delusional!

Gov. Bev "Anti-BLACK Agenda" Perdue claims North Carolina looks like Mississippi after the passage of Amendment One.
She's Delusional!


Perdue: 'We look like Mississippi' after amendment vote'


Passage of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman makes North Carolina "look like Mississippi," Gov. Beverly Perdue said Friday.

Perdue was in Greenville as part of her tour to tout her proposed state budget for 2012-2013. The governor was responding to a question on the amendment from a reporter from WITN-TV in Washington.

"I think it's wrong for North Carolina, clearly and simply," she said. "People around the country are watching us and they're really confused, to have been such a progressive, forward-thinking, economically driven state that invested in education and that stood up for the civil rights of people, including the civil rights marches back in the '50s and '60s and '70s.

"Folks are saying, 'What in the world is going on in North Carolina?' We look like Mississippi."

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant took offense at Perdue's comment.

"I am certainly disappointed by Gov. Perdue's statement regarding North Carolina's 'looking like Mississippi,'" Bryant said in a statement. "Apparently, North Carolina's voters are much more in line with Mississippi's traditional values on marriage than those of Gov. Perdue."

The chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party also issued a statement, saying his state is proud to stand with those who voted for the amendment in North Carolina and people in other states who support traditional marriage.

"Gov. Perdue is obviously out of touch with the voters of her own state and is trying to change the subject by attacking Mississippi," Mississippi GOP chairman Joe Nosef said.

On Tuesday, North Carolina became the 30th state to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The amendment passed with nearly 61 percent of voters supporting it.

Outside of Mississippi, however, many people are blasting North Carolina for approving the amendment, and some critics are letting their dollars do the talking.

Tourism officials from the Outer Banks to Asheville confirmed Friday that visitors are contacting them to say they won't vacation in North Carolina because of the amendment. The Facebook page for the state tourism office has been deluged by thousands of comments about the amendment, the majority of which are negative.

House Majority Leader Paul Stam, who sponsored the legislation that led to the amendment, said that doesn't prove anything.

"That's anecdotal evidence. South Carolina has (a similar amendment). Virginia has virtually the same thing. That's just trivial," said Stam, R-Wake.

Before North Carolina's vote, it had been three years since a state had voted on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, and attitudes toward gay marriage are quickly evolving. Two new polls show more than half of Americans now support same-sex marriage.

"We warned from the beginning that this was bad for business, bad for the economy, bad for tourism," said Stuart Campbell, executive director of Equality North Carolina. "We've seen it in other states where, when they passed anti-gay legislation, they suffered economically."

Tourism officials say it's too soon to tell how much impact the national furor could have on North Carolina.

Commerce Department spokesman Tim Crowley said he suspects it will pass eventually.

"Obviously, it's still fresh in people's minds. We're going to concentrate on what we've always done – making visitors welcome in North Carolina," Crowley said.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WRAL, Google Maps

Caylee Anthony's Death Exploited For Florida Tourism Dollars? Yes!!

Little Caylee Anthony Is Dead! Can We All Agree On That Fact?

She Was Murdered By Her Young, Very Selfish, Biological Mother Who Obviously Did NOT Want To Be A Parent Anymore Because Caring For Caylee Apparently Interfered With Her Busy, Partying Lifestyle.

I Repeat Caylee Anthony Is Dead! Murdered By Her Biological Mother!

NOT Intentionally Murdered But Murdered Nonetheless.

So Can Anyone Please Explain To Me Why Little Caylee's Death Is Being Exploited By The State Of Florida For Tourism Dollars??

While Its True Caylee's Mother, Casey Anthony (Premeditated, Cold-Blooded Child Murderer) Is Legally Entitled To A Fair Trial & The Right To Defend Herself, I Still Cannot Understand Why The State Of Florida Appears To Be Using This Trial To Attract Tourists & Bring In More Revenue.

I'm NOT Speaking Up Of Excessive Media Coverage, Although That Too Is Unfair Because If Caylee & Casey Were BLACK Such Media Coverage Would NEVER Have Occurred.

Instead I'm Speaking Of Regular Tourists Or People Visiting Florida Just For The Sake Of Hoping To Sit In On Casey Anthony's Trial, As If She Were Some Kind Of Celebrity Versus Being A Premeditated, Cold-Blooded Child Murderer!

Instead I'm Speaking Of Nosy Florida Residents Lining Up Outside Of The Courthouse Each Day This Trial Takes Place, Waiting & Hoping To Catch A Glimpse Of Casey Anthony: Premeditated, Cold-Blooded, Child Murderer As If She Were Paris Hilton!

Casey & Her Parents Are Probably Hoping To Use Her Trial To Snag A Movie Or Book Deal To Help Pay For Legal Fees And....

To Hopefully Later On Have Casey's Trial Or Guilty Verdict Thrown Out On A Legal Technicality.

Considering Casey's Unstable, Troubling Behavior I Will NEVER Understand Why Little Caylee's Grandparents Didn't Fight For Legal Custody Of Caylee.

Perhaps Neither Of Caylee's Grandparents Wanted The Responsibility Of Raising Caylee Just As Casey Did NOT.

Attention Mainstream Media & People Everywhere:

Casey Anthony Is NOT A Celebrity!

Casey Anthony Is NOT Mentally Ill!

Casey Anthony Is NOT Crazy!

Casey Anthony Is NOT Physically Sick!

Casey Anthony Was NOT Sexually Abused By Her Father or Brother!

Casey Anthony Is NOT A Victim At All!!

The Real Victim Is Little Caylee, Now Living In Heaven With God Because Her Mother Casey, Killed Her Via An Over-the-Counter Medicine & Chlorofoam Overdose So That She Could Go Out Partying One Night Or To Visit A Boyfriend.

Wait A Minute!!!

Has Anyone Forgotten Casey's Trial Is Being TOTALLY Funded With Taxpayer Dollars???

Isn't Florida Governor Rick Scott A Republican?

Aren't Republicans Constantly Whining About Waste, Fraud & Cutting Spending?

Okay So Than Why Is Gov. Rick Scott Allowing The Use Of Taxpayer Dollars To Be Used To Exploit A Dead Child?

A Child Whose Death Is Explicitly Being Used To Help Bring In More Summer Tourism Revenue Into The State Of Florida.

The Thought Of This Practice Is Sickening!!

I Say Casey's Trial Has Gone On Long Enough!

Its Time To Wrap Up This Fiasco.

Time To STOP Treating Casey Anthony (Premeditated, Cold-Blooded Child Murderer) Like A Celebrity Because She Isn't!

Either Throw This Chick In Jail For LIFE Or Sentence Her To Death!

R.I.P. Little Caylee.






Casey Anthony Case: a morbid sensation


Hours before sunrise, they line up on the sidewalk in front of the Orange County Courthouse by the dozens — an interior decorator from Savannah, a true-crime blogger from Illinois, a former Miami International Airport air traffic controller — all hoping for a chance to witness the blockbuster murder trial of Casey Anthony.

Armed with coffee and energy drinks, novels and crosswords puzzles, they sit or sprawl on the sidewalk waiting for 5:30 a.m. when the all-out — and much-videoed — sprint often begins to secure seats in the courtroom to watch a slice of the trial that has both fascinated and repelled the American public.

Often, the first person in line is Brian Maher, identifiable on Internet videos of the Black Friday-like stampede for seats as the guy wearing the distinctive neck brace. He arrives about 3 a.m. each day to vie for a seat, beating out the latecomers who show up at 5 a.m. or so. On Wednesday, the group waiting for tickets to claim about 50 seats available for the public in the courtroom on the 23rd floor included students and tourists, professionals who took a day off from work, along with two journalists from Tokyo there to take in the global saga.

It’s a surreal scene, a voyeuristic tableau, that has repeated daily during the trial of the 25-year-old Orlando mother charged with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have followed this case for three years, I am fascinated with her life and all the stories she has told,’’ says Tiffany Chaffin, 24, who along with an aunt and cousin traveled 150 miles from Lake City to score seats during the third week of the trial. They arrived in Orlando at 1 a.m. Wednesday, heading to the courthouse two hours later to snag positions 8, 9 and 10 in the line, guaranteeing courtroom seats.

“The whole world is watching this,’’ Chaffin marveled.

The story of Casey Marie Anthony, and her daughter, Caylee Marie, has evolved into a breathless soap opera with tabloid twists and turns, characters brought to life by lies, a phantom nanny accused of kidnapping the child, incest claims, the specter of a death sentence — and a rapt American audience that can’t seem to get enough of the spectacle playing out in Orlando, land of The Mouse.

Further stoking the interest: a blank-faced Anthony herself, who has displayed little emotion during the trial except when graphic details about her child’s remains emerged. She’s charged with first-degree murder, accused of suffocating her daughter with duct tape three summers ago, then storing the body in her car trunk. Her defense team contends the little girl drowned in the family pool.

As the trial enters its fourth week, the madness — delivered by a mass of media covering the trial live — shows no signs of abating. Along with the hundreds who are sufficiently curious to line up at the courthouse each day as early as midnight, millions more have tuned in by television, radio, newspapers, live streaming, blogs and internet chats, willingly held hostage by the coverage. In Orlando, more people watched the trial on three local stations combined than watched one of the Miami Heat/Dallas Mavericks NBA playoff games during prime time last week.

On Friday morning, as nearly 200 people lined up for entry tickets, police had to break up an early-morning scuffle and one woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance when she fell and the crowd of seat-seekers raced past and over her.

The public obsession echoes big cases from the past — OJ Simpson’s murder case, perhaps, or the trial of Michael Jackson. Yet even without the celebrity factor, the Casey Anthony case has captured the collective psyche, driven as much by contemporary social media as the monstrous details of an accused child killer.

“Once you start to take in the details, then you understand why people can’t look away. You have the horrible death of an adorable little girl, and by nature we are fascinated with human horrors. You have a young and pretty mother and the idea that she would, could kill her child to be free of her — which, in itself, is mystifying,’’ says Robert Thompson, a professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University. “You have imaginary friends and the double life and you have the whole month that the child was ‘missing’ and Casey seems all along to be doing fine. When you stack that amount of weirdness up, along with the ease of getting public information in Florida, and you have a story that takes on a life of its own.’’

Leonard and Renae Freeman arrived in Orlando Monday for a weeklong celebration of their 14th anniversary. But by the next morning, they were standing in front of the courthouse shooting pictures and trying to figure out a way to get into the trial.

“We watch it on television every day and have followed it since we saw the picture of that gorgeous little girl. You saw her face and you cared about her,’’ says Leonard Freeman, a maintenance worker in Tampa. “And then you keep asking yourself, how can someone kill her? Maybe it was an accident but then you have to ask yourself how can someone lie the way Casey Anthony does. It’s hard to let the case go.’’

The couple even ventured 10 miles outside of downtown to see the Anthony family house on Hopesprings Drive, a pale pink home with three signs near the door that read: “Love,” “Faith” and “Hope.” After lunch Tuesday, their persistence paid off. The two got passes for the seats of people who hadn’t returned for the afternoon court session. Testimony at that point focused on an odor from Anthony’s car trunk and the cadaver dogs.

“I wanted to see her personally. I wanted to see her face,’’ says Renae Freeman.

Caylee’s skeletal remains were discovered less than a mile from the family’s east Orange County home two weeks before Christmas. By then, the story was on the national radar: The little girl’s face had been on the cover of People twice and HLN television personality Nancy Grace was hosting a regular show on the latest slivers of news and analysis in the case, even nicknaming Anthony, “Tot mom.” When the trial started May 24, Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera and Grace were in the courtroom. About 700 journalists have been credentialed for the trial, including broadcasters for Fuji TV in Japan and a station in France.

A barren downtown lot across the from the courthouse dubbed Casey Town is where news organizations have parked satellite trucks and pitched tented studios, forming a temporary media village cordoned off from the public. The HLN and Turner networks’ two-story compound even has three large windows with views of the courthouse — that’s where Grace’s show airs live. On the back side of the court complex, one television station is broadcasting from the balcony of the Travelodge hotel.

“We planned as if this were a Category 5 hurricane,’’ says court spokeswoman Karen Levey, who researched the high-profile trials of Kobe Bryant and Scott Peterson to help with logistics. “But what we were most surprised by was the public’s engagement. With the amount of social media and live streaming, we assumed that people would stay home to watch, but they want to be here in the courtroom. We have a regular stream of people calling who are planning to come to a theme park and want to get in the trial and others who want to come in for the trial and throw in a day at the theme park.’’

Miami-based NBC correspondent Kerry Sanders has been covering the story for the Today show from the beginning.

“I have been covering grisly crimes in Florida courts for 30 years, from outlaw motorcyclists to pedophile murderers, and this one is seemingly more horrible because it’s incomprehensible that a 22-year-old mother could have murdered her 2-year-old so she can go out and party, as the prosecution contends. It’s hard to grasp that kind of narcissism,’’ says Sanders. “People are captivated by this. Not just people from Orlando or Florida, but across the United States and the world, especially because of social media. Twitter is ablaze with the Casey Anthony trial.”

Casey and Caylee Anthony’s tragic story became public three years ago with a panicked 9-1-1-call from the girl’s grandmother, Cindy Anthony, on July 15 after Casey admitted to her mother the child had been missing for 31 days. Anthony would later tell police that she dropped her daughter off with a nanny and when she returned, they were both gone.

From the beginning, as investigators searched for Caylee, the case and those associated with it — the Anthony family members, the bounty hunter, the meter reader and the babysitter — attracted national attention, led by Grace who kept the case in the public consciousness for the next two years.

“The trial plays out like a classic Greek tragedy with the love and hate dynamics between the grandmother, mother and daughter,” Grace told TVNewser. “In this particular case, you have a physically attractive defendant, articulate, and with great potential, the world at her feet, and now we see her charged with murder of her young daughter.”

Grace’s show attracted 1.1 million viewers in total during its first week of trial coverage.

“Early on, Nancy showed an interest in this case. It just had so much mystery and so many human elements — how a young mother raises her child, how grandparents participate in her life, what happens when they don’t like [the daughter’s] behavior,’’ said Scot Safon, HLN executive vice president and general manager. “On one level, this is about a dysfunctional family but on another you are looking at people who are relatable. And for Nancy Grace, especially since she has become a mother, one of her core focuses has been families and communities meeting their obligation to children and when they fail children.’’

For Brian Maher, otherwise known as “neck brace guy” in the world of the web, the daily trips to the courthouse were about something else: wiling away the time. Vertebrae surgery in April left him out of work as a truck driver five to six months. A bit of boredom and the hype of the case lured him to the courthouse, but it was a video clip of him sprinting for a seat with his neck brace on that brought him his own moment of dubious celebrity.

“I was just trying to kill the time while I deal with my injury but it really is an interesting case,’’ says Maher, who has gotten a seat at least seven times. “If I am not fishing, I am here.”


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Sources: CNN, Miami Herald.com, Google Maps

New York Celebrates Legal Gay Marriage & More Tourism Dollars! (God's Wrath?)

As The World Celebrates Passage Of New York's Legalized Gay Marriage Bill, I Now Wonder If New York City Will Soon Become The NEW Sodom & Gomorrah?

No Doubt In 30 Days Thousands Of Gay Couples Will Begin Flocking To New York City Each Year To Marry & Then Spend Ton$ Of Money On Tourism. (i.e., Hotels, Broadway Shows, Shopping, etc.,)

Wait A Minute!

Does Anyone Care If God Is Pleased With The Passage Of This New Law?

Will The World's Greatest City Finally Be Brought To Its Knees In Religious Judgment?

I Fear It Just May.

Only Time Will Tell.

You Don't Have To Agree With My Thoughts On The Situation But Its My Individual Opinion.

And For The Record NO I Don't Hate Gay People!

I Truly LOVE Gay People.

However I Still Believe That Marriage Is Between One Man & One Woman.

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

Gay Pride 2011: Marches And Celebrations Around The World


Friday night's legalization of same-sex marriage in New York isn't just being hailed as a major victory for the Empire State, but has also emboldened lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists and their allies around the world.

As the Associated Press is reporting, many Parisian revelers demanded that France follow New York's lead as they marched under a sea of rainbow-colored flags and jigged to thumping techno beats in a gay pride parade on Saturday. Despite the festivities, the mood was bittersweet in France, where lawmakers had rejected a bill seeking to legalize same-sex marriage despite growing public support for gay rights a mere two weeks ago.

Elsewhere, in demonstrations across Germany, Israel, Mexico and even Russia -- where 14 gay rights activists trying to hold an unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg were reportedly detained -- New York's legalization wasn't too far from everyone's mind, and many hoped it would be just the start. "The state of New York isn't the United States, unfortunately," 26-year-old German marcher Frederick Hartwig is quoted as saying. "The great victory for the United States will be when the middle of America — the middle of nowhere — will allow everyone to have such rights."


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Sources: CNN, Deseret News, Huffington Post, Meet The Press, MSNBC, NY Daily News, NY Times, Politico, Google Maps

Natalie Holloway Death Case Remains Unsolved; Jawbone Wasn't Hers

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

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

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

Aruba Jawbone Not Natalee Holloway's, Prosecutors Say


A jawbone with a tooth recently found on a beach in Aruba does not belong to missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, the prosecutor's office there said Tuesday.

The agency said that an analysis based on dental records rules out that the bone fragment came from her. It said forensic scientists in the Netherlands conducted a detailed examination.

Officials did say Tuesday that the jawbone is human, but it is unclear whom it belongs to.

Forensic scientists in the Netherlands requested Holloway's dental records last week to help them analyze it, which set off speculation that it could belong to Holloway.

The Mountain Brook, Ala. student was 18 when she disappeared while on a high school graduation trip in 2005.

She was last seen leaving a bar with Dutchman Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in her disappearance, on the final night of her trip.

Aruba prosecutors have repeatedly said they lack evidence to charge Van der Sloot, who is currently in jail in Peru, accused of killing a 21-year-old woman last May 30 — five years to the day after Holloway's disappearance. He has denied killing Holloway.

U.S. law enforcement officials have charged Van der Sloot with trying to extort money from Holloway's mother to reveal the location of Holloway's body.

Carol Standifer, who said she is close friends with the teen's mother, Beth Twitty, told CBS's "The Early Show" that Twitty was prepared for the results, regardless of the outcome.

"This is what we really have been searching for over five years," she said during the interview, which took place before officials announced the results. "I think if it is Natalee, there will be some semblance of closure. Of course, it won't be complete closure, because we really don't know for sure exactly what happened."


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Sources: MSNBC, Wikipedia, Google Maps

St. Louis Raising $60M For 2012 DNC: Unions Reject Charlotte

St. Louis Corporate Community Prepared To Step Up For DNC Bid


The local corporate community is prepared to step up in a big way to help land the 2012 Democratic National Convention, says the leader of one of the area's largest business groups.

Many of the city's most prominent companies have not yet been vocal about their support for the bid, but they are prepared to help raise the dollar amounts -- likely between $50 and $60 million -- needed to bring the Democrat's next presidential nominating convention to St. Louis, said Mike DeCola, head of Mississippi Lime Company and chairman of the Regional Business Council.

"The corporate community has to step up in a number of ways, certainly the fundraising is a big part of that," DeCola said. "We are keenly aware of the dollars we need to put up just to get the convention here."

Individual companies have not been assigned target amounts to raise, DeCola said, though "our members are aware that's coming."

St. Louis is one of four finalists to host the party, which is expected to announce its decision in the next month or so.

DeCola's comments come as St. Louis officials believe the competition is coming down to them and Charlotte, where the effort is being led by an outspoken utility chief, Duke Energy head Jim Rogers, who has led fundraising efforts and even sought to enlist basketball great Michael Jordan, currently owner of the city's NBA franchise, to lobby the White House.

DeCola said just because "we don't have guys that like to beat their chest in the press like that" doesn't mean St. Louis' business community is not serious about helping attract the convention, which will bring thousands of visitors, and perhaps more importantly, lasting civic prestige to the winner.

"The business leaders in this community all know what's involved, and they have all expressed very, very strong support to make this happen," DeCola said. "We have companies that are much bigger, much more globally well-known than Duke Energy."

DeCola was one of several executives who met with a scout team for the Democratic National Committee at a lunch at the Jewel Box while the group made its site visit here over the summer.

The Regional Business Council is made up of medium-sized companies, so-called "mid-caps."

However, any corporate effort to land the convention would likely need participation from the local business heavyweights: companies such as Express Scripts, Monsanto, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and, of course, Anheuser-Busch.

The Brewery has already signaled a support for the bid. In a statement issued Monday, A-B president David Peacock said the city already has a "track record" of hosting major events, such as last year's baseball All-Star game.

"The people here in St. Louis are very accommodating and they put a great face on the city for events of this size," Peacock said "We are excited the DNC is considering St. Louis, and we would be proud to have them here."

Meanwhile, Charlotte's corporate community may actually be a liability for its chances -- the city is home to financial institutions such as Bank of America, which accepted $40 billion in federal bailout money.








Unions To DNC 2012: Shun These Cities: Charlotte & Cleveland


A Union representing hotel workers has asked the Democratic National Committee to rule out two of its four convention-site finalists, Cleveland and Charlotte, N.C., because they lack sufficient unionized hotel facilities.

"Among the DNC's four finalist cities, only St. Louis and Minneapolis" have the capacity to "house a large portion of the delegates and other guests ... in unionized hotels," John Wilhelm, president of the international UNITE HERE union of hotel and textile workers, wrote in a letter to DNC Chairman Tim Kaine.

"Therefore, one of those two cities should be the DNC's choice for 2012. Unfortunately, Charlotte and Cleveland do not fit the bill, and they should be removed from the list."

Though the letter was dated Oct. 6, it wasn't publicized until this week, when the union's Minneapolis local, eager to enhance its city's chances, issued a press release on the subject.

"We're just very interested in having the convention here on a number of levels, and for the international it's a priority that it be in a union city," said Wade Luneberg, secretary-treasurer and political director of UNITE HERE Local 17 in Minneapolis. "We think it's important to differentiate between the four [finalist] cities and see that Minneapolis and St. Louis rise to the top."

Charlotte, N.C., has no unionized hotels, and its convention center's employees are not union members, according to Wilhelm's letter. Cleveland has some union hotels, but only a handful in the downtown area and about 10 in the larger region; they belong to a competing union, Workers United.

UNITE HERE under Wilhelm split with former President Bruce Raynor in a bitter and protracted battle that ended last year with Raynor leaving and founding Workers United.

Workers United, which has affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, says it has 150,000 members, while UNITE HERE, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, claims 265,000.

A subcommittee of the DNC visited potential convention sites over the summer to evaluate their logistical suitability and advise the committee on their findings. A decision is expected in late 2010 or early 2011.

Democratic sources familiar with the decision-making process say Charlotte and St. Louis are the current front-runners, with Charlotte at a slight disadvantage because of its small overall hotel room stock.

Political considerations — including last week's election results — are expected to play a major role in the decision-making process. The defeat of a Democratic governor in Ohio may have hurt Cleveland's chances, while Minneapolis could be helped if Minnesota's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Mark Dayton, hangs on to win. He currently leads in the count in a race that is likely to go to a recount.

The Minneapolis area has at least 20 union hotels totaling 5,300 rooms, with more than 2,000 workers, Wilhelm's letter notes. St. Louis, the letter says, has 10 union hotels with more than 3,000 rooms. Both cities' sports arenas and convention centers are unionized as well.

"Employees at union hotels are far more likely than employees in non-union hotels to get the sort of basic fair treatment for which the Democratic Party stands — good wages, affordable health benefits, stable long-term positions, and respect and a voice on the job," Wilhelm wrote. "For these reasons, those employees are more likely to provide delegates and guests with better service as well."

UNITE HERE official Pilar Weiss said the DNC was receptive to the union's concerns. "It's early on," she said. "We're having a dialogue with them."

A spokesman for the DNC, Hari Sevugan, said, "As always, we are looking at a number of factors and will have an announcement in the coming months."






Charlotte, St. Louis Are Convention Finalists


A St. Louis television station is reporting that Charlotte and St. Louis have emerged as finalists in the competition to serve as host of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

KTVI said Tuesday that the two cities have taken the lead over the other cities under consideration, Cleveland and Minneapolis.

Democratic Party officials have said they expect to make a choice later this year.

Both the St. Louis station and Politico.com said the issue of unionized hotels could tilt the competition against Charlotte. Most of the major hotels in St. Louis are unionized, while Charlotte's are not.

Labor unions have been a longtime bulwark of the Democratic Party.

Politico also noted that Charlotte has fewer hotel rooms than St. Louis.

Supporters of Charlotte's effort to win the convention have noted that Democrats held their 2008 national convention in Denver, where nearly all the hotels are not unionized.

The issue of unionized hotels has surfaced several times in recent weeks. Last month, a group composed of unionized hotel workers sent a letter to Democratic Party officials, asking that Charlotte and Cleveland be removed from consideration for the convention, because of a lack of unionized hotels.

Politico said Cleveland's AFL-CIO office sent a letter this week to Democratic Party Chairman Tom Kaine, saying the city has six union hotels downtown and a seventh near Hopkins International Airport.








Survey Reveals Charlotte's Crime Problem Is Not Improving


Respondents to a survey organized by a Charlotte community organization disagree with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police statistics showing a dropping crime rate in the city.

About 80 percent of the approximately 500 people who participated in the survey said the crime problem in Charlotte is either unchanged or has gotten worse over the past two years.

The study was conducted in recent weeks by Neighbors For A Safer Charlotte, a grassroots organization founded in April 2008.

Their study results contrast with a steady stream of monthly crime statistics from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, showing -- for the most part -- that the crime rate has been dropping over the past 12 to 18 months. Earlier this week, CMPD statistics through March showed the overall crime rate is down 15 percent since the same time a year ago.

The survey results show that if CMPD statistics are correct, the perception among residents is that crime remains a big problem.

Respondents did not fall into the "lock-them-up-and-throw-away-the-key" category, as most of them said they support more mental health and substance abuse programs -- and said they believe only violent offenders should be put in jail.

Here are results from some of the organization's questions:

How much of a problem do you feel crime is in the Charlotte area?

75% rated it "serious" or "very serious"

In the past two years, has crime in Charlotte increased, stayed the same, or decreased?

42% said it is worse. Another 38% said it has remained the same.

Do you own a gun for protection?

31% said they owned a gun. Another 18 percent said they are considering buying one.

Which factors tend to increase the crime problem locally?

91% said gang and drug activity.

83% said the absence of a responsible parent or role model tends to increase crime activity among juveniles.

75% said lenient sentencing equals more crime.

50% said racial tensions were not likely to contribute to crime.

Not rated as significant factors were unemployment and poverty, and the lack of a police presence.

Have the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County done enough to deal with the crime problem?

79% said more needs to be done.

Are the courts too lenient or too tough?

78% said they are too lenient.

Do you plan to vote in the District Attorney race in November?

91% said they plan to vote in that contest.

What would help solve the crime problem?

96% said tougher sentencing.

88% said more programs for juveniles outside regular school hours.

85% said more mental health and substance abuse programs.

70% said only violent offenders should be incarcerated.








Forbes.com Ranks Charlotte, N.C. 14th Most Dangerous City


(Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C. metropolitan statistical area)

Population: 1,635,133

Violent Crimes per 100,000: 721

To determine our list, we used violent crime statistics from the FBI's latest uniform crime report, issued in 2008.

The violent crime category is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

We evaluated U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by Federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--with more than 500,000 residents.


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Sources: CNN, CQ Press, DemComWatch, Forbes.com, McClatchy Newspapers, MSNBC, Neighbors For A Safer Charlotte, Politico, St. Louis Today, WCNC, Youtube, Google Maps

Thailand Fights To Keep Child Raping Tourists Out

Thailand Fights To Stem Tide Of Child Sex Tourists


He seemed a little confused and unsure of his surroundings. Karl Kraus sat alone in a cell, his blue, watery eyes following me as I entered the holding area of a Chiang Mai courthouse. Karl Kraus is 90 years old, hard of hearing, frail and, according to the police, a dangerous pedophile.

I'd wandered into the cells sure I would be rebuffed. Instead, the Second World War veteran seemed keen to talk to me. He explained how the allegations against him are motivated by greedy neighbors. He claimed they are trying to blackmail him. It's an argument he will make to judges in the coming weeks. Karl Kraus is thought to be the oldest person ever accused of child molestation in Thailand's over-burdened penal system.

Last year, 2,888 people were charged with having sex with children under 15 in Thailand. Thailand has become the destination of choice for sex tourists looking to prey on children. But now the police are raising their game, determined to turn the tide.

Police Lt. Col. Apichart Hattasin leads a small but very determined unit of officers in Chiang Mai, all dedicated to tracking down pedophiles.

The workload is going up each month; officers here aren't sure whether that is because they are simply uncovering more cases, or whether more and more pedophiles are choosing to relocate to Thailand.

But Col. Apichart is on a mission to catch them and that's not easy. He opened his files to CNN, showing us dozens of surveillance videos, photos and cases histories of suspected pedophiles. While he and his men may be convinced someone may be sexually molesting children, proving it in court is another matter. Often a case pivots on the testimonies of the young victims and that means defendants are often tempted to buy off families.

"Money can change a lot, it can change even the mind of the victims." he said.

"The suspect might try to approach the victim or the family of the victims, to convince them or give bribery to make them change their statement. And if they change their statement, it could be different or totally different I would say. That is the most challenge."

And Col.Apichart is clear the law needs reform.

"There is no specific law about having child pornography in possession," he said. "Thailand should issue the new law about child pornography specifically."

Ronnasit Proeksayajiva is with a small NGO called the Counter Human Trafficking Unit. He works closely with Col. Apichart, often accompanying officers on raids. His assessment is frank -- and bleak.

"Honestly right now I don't think it is getting better, I think it is getting worse, because I don't know, maybe they believe that Thailand is the best place for them to come to have sex with the children."

Karl Kraus is alleged to have lured girls into his modest rundown bungalow in Doi Saket near Chiang Mai. Just a few houses away, I met the mother of the four girls Karl Kraus is accused of abusing. She denied his claim that she is trying to extort money from him. Instead she breaks down and weeps as she goes into harrowing detail about the ordeal her daughters endured. The youngest girl Kraus is accused of abusing is just seven years old.

Kraus' case has received media attention because of his age, but there are many thousands of other cases in Thailand, which largely go unreported. Like Swiss banker Cornel Wietlisbach, who pleaded guilty to abusing young boys in Chiang Mai -- he was facing a four year sentence, but this was halved because he cooperated with the police. In the end, he was granted parole immediately and was deported back to Switzerland after he'd paid a 4,000 baht fine (about $125).

Such cases do little to discourage pedophiles from coming to Thailand. Col. Apichart says online forums are abuzz with talk about Thailand being a child molesters' paradise.

"There is a group of the pedophiles online, it is a community, they talk with each other and they like to come to a third world country where the criminal justice system is not strong enough to deal with them."

Another case working its way through the penal system is that of Robert Cutler, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar teaching biology at a Chiang Mai University. The police accuse him of sexually abusing young boys, something Cutler denies. Col. Apichart had him under surveillance for weeks. The photos show Cutler talking to groups of young boys on the street and taking other boys swimming at a local pool. A video of a police search of his apartment revealed semi-clothed youths in his bedroom. All this will form part of the case against him, which is due to start later this month.

Col. Apichart has this message to pedophiles thinking of coming to Thailand: "I would welcome them to come here, I'm looking for them and if they think they can escape let's try. I will get them one way or another. I will make sure they get punished."


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Sources: CNN, Google Maps

Charlotte vs Atlanta & New York City: No Comparison!

Charlotte vs Atlanta & New York City.

Is this a Fair comparison?

Since I hail from NYC, I may be a little biased.

However after reading my post on the subject, I'll let you be the judge and reach your own conclusion.

After recently vacationing on Long Island, NY (Suffolk county) I returned to Charlotte, NC my current place of residence.

My roots are in Brooklyn (my usual stomping ground) but this time I decided to spend my money elsewhere. Thus Long Island was selected as this year's pick.

If you've never visited Long Island I encourage you to get there right away and see what the fuss is all about.

Its especially beautiful and scenic this time of year.

Clean, quiet, somewhat diverse, an abundance of healthy trees, friendly residents, great (although expensive) public transportation including trains (not subways) that run all night, low crime, plenty of businesses, great schools, etc.,

And....it looks like Charlotte, NC! (sort of)

So what's the real difference between Charlotte, NC and New York City?

Or should I say Atlanta, Charlotte and New York City?

Well for starters there's actually something fun & interesting to do in Atlanta & New York City but basically nothing much to do in Charlotte.

What little Entertainment Charlotte provides pales in comparison to Atlanta & NYC.

This includes Charlotte's basically Segregated, tired Museums.

Museums for Charlotte's White citizens:

Mint, Bechtler.

And....

Museums for Charlotte's Black citizens:

The Harvey Gantt African-American Museum and some "Collard Green" Exhibit something or other.

Charlotte also lacks the Creativity and Urban Planning necessary for this "diamond in the rough" to step into the 21st Century.

In other words refusing to move forward yet expecting results similar to that of cities like Atlanta, Long Island and New York, NY is ludicrous!

Come on Charlotte where's your Zoo??

Atlanta has an Aquarium and New York City has a Real Zoo!

Can we also get a REAL Botanical Gardens?

Where's Charlotte's Aquarium, Botanical Gardens or Zoo?? Come on and get with it!

Isn't it time to catch up to the 21st Century?

How do Charlotte City leaders think they will be able to attract new families and encourage Tourists to stay when there's absolutely NOTHING here to do??

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Albert Einstein

Now here's another important factor.

Everywhere my husband and I ventured while on Long Island, the residents (mostly Caucasian population) welcomed us with open arms and were very kind.

These Northeastern, Wealthy White people treated us (two Blacks) with "Southern Hospitality" so often NOT seen in Charlotte, NC.

In Charlotte such demonstrations of "Southern Hospitality" and warmness are usually only reserved for White residents or White visitors but NOT Black citizens!

Black citizens visiting Charlotte are often treated indifferently even by other Blacks, unless of course those Black visitors are attending BIG money making events such as the CIAA Basketball tournament (a sports event which attracts Black tourists).

Is it any wonder as to why Bob Johnson blasted Charlotte for being "Small-Minded", "Incestuous" and "Racist" on his way out?

Charlotte's landscape while lovely like Long Island's, can't hide the ugly Racial Discrimination eating away at Charlotte's potential to become a World Class city.

Charlotte (nicknamed the "Queen City") should be equal if not more further along than Atlanta.

What's stopping Charlotte from realizing her true potential?

Extreme, Ugly Racism and...Small-Minded Black "Leaders" afraid of helping other Black citizens achieve levels of success equal to that of White citizens.

Deep rooted Racism derived from Charlotte's close alliance with the Klu Klux Klan organization.

Black Leaders stuck in time by accepting and allowing a Willie Lynch Mentality to paralyze them from rescuing Charlotte's Minority community.

Rescuing Charlotte's Minority community from Failure and Obscurity.

For example: Charlotte has a Light Rail system.

(only North Carolina city with a Light Rail system)

This Light Rail system primarily serves which local citizens?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White residents.

Now Charlotte Leaders wish to develop a Streetcar line.

Which communities and citizens will this Streetcar serve?

You betcha!

Charlotte's Wealthier citizens, White communities.

The cleaner, more modern city buses service which communities (on time)?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

Better Paying jobs, mainly Managerial positions, are reserved for which citizens?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White citizens.

Local public schools with More Experienced Teachers and Plenty of Resources are filled with type of students?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White students.

The region's best city & county services (trash collection, low water rates, low heating bills, faster Internet speed, low Cable bill rates, etc.,) are reserved for which communities?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

Better priced stores (Clothing, Grocery, Retail) with an abundance of Nice Businesses are found in which communities?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

Bike Trails, Free Wi-Fi, best Museums, Nature Trails, Nice Libraries, Nice Parks, Public Swimming Pools, etc., are reserved for which communities?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

While Crime in Charlotte's Black communities skyrockets, Excellent Public Safety efforts and Effective Neighborhood Partnerships with the region's Police dept. are reserved for which communities?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

Fair Business Opportunities and Fair Property Taxes are reserved for which citizens?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White residents.

Last but certainly not least, which local communities will probably NEVER see Affordable Housing units constructed within its perimeters?

That's right!

Charlotte's Wealthier, White communities.

On the other hand Progressive cities like Atlanta, Long Island and New York, NY are reaching out to Equally help ALL of their citizens regardless of Ethnicity and Socio-Economic status.

Now I know you would like to rationalize Charlotte's Indifference and Mistreatment of Minority residents by perhaps attributing it to Charlotte's Wealthier, White residents paying higher Property Taxes right?

WRONG!

Charlotte's Wealthier, White residents do NOT pay extra or more for their city/ county services.

In fact many of them pay far less than Charlotte's Minority residents.

How so?

Charlotte's Wealthier, White citizens are allowed to Legally NOT pay their Property Taxes without being penalized or thrown in jail.

Charlotte's Wealthier, White citizens also haven't experienced a Property Tax increase in 7 years, while Charlotte's Minority residents have received a Property Tax increase each year.

I could continue on on but I believe you comprehend what I'm conveying here.

However just in case you didn't get it, Charlotte's Progress is hindered by Extreme Racism.

What a shame!

Isn't it time for this kind of Regional Ignorance to be eliminated forever?

Doesn't Charlotte, NC have a Black Mayor you ask? (Anthony Foxx)

Yes but Mayor Foxx is just a Token with NO teeth.

He wanted the job more or less for personal gain versus wanting to do what's in Charlotte's Best Interest.

If Charlotte doesn't stop such foolishness it will NEVER rise to Atlanta and New York's fame of being World Class cities.

By the way using precious dollars to establish "Collard Green" Museums is NOT going to fix Charlotte's terrible Race Relations & Lack of Creativity issues.

After reading this post please don't tell me to move!

Instead why not channel some of that energy into improving Charlotte-Mecklenburg's status in comparison to other REAL World Class cities?

In the meantime carry on Atlanta, Long Island & New York with your bad selves! And I do mean good!


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Sources: Brainy Quote, Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, Wikipedia, Google Maps