Former Charlotte City Council member Warren Turner, fired in July 2010 from his job as a state probation officer, has been reinstated.
Turner began working again with the state probation office earlier this month as a judicial services coordinator in Gaston County.
Pamela Walker, the N.C. Department of Public Safety's deputy director of communications, told the Observer in a prepared statement Friday that Turner had been reinstated after the N.C. Department of Correction reviewed the appeal of his firing.
"After careful consideration of the issues raised by both Mr. Turner and the DOC, the parties have reached a mutual settlement agreement," Walker said in the statement. "The department reviewed Mr. Turner's level of career experience and agrees to his reinstatement."
The settlement agreement calls for Turner to receive back pay between the time of his firing and reinstatement. The state also will pay $10,000 to Turner's legal counsel to cover the cost of his appeal.
Walker said the settlement that led to Turner's reinstatement was reached before the appeal came before the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings.
She also said Turner's annual salary of $41,451 is the same pay he received as a probation officer.
Judicial services coordinators are responsible for the intake of new probation cases, preparing pre-sentence reports and conducting initial risk-needs assessments.
Turner, 47, could not be reached for comment Friday. His attorney, Eric Montgomery, declined comment.
Montgomery said in 2010 that Turner would appeal his firing. He said the reasons listed by the DOC in the letter to Turner were "procedural BS."
Montgomery said the DOC decided it wanted to fire Turner and then looked for a way to do it.
Turner and his attorney have repeatedly said Turner didn't do anything wrong.
Turner, after eight years on the City Council, lost his bid for re-election in 2011. His last term was marred by accusations of sexual harassment.
A city investigation in 2010 found Turner had made sexually inappropriate comments to at least five female staff members. Turner denied the allegations. The City Council declined to censure him.
Turner was fired from his probation officer job for missing meetings or drug screenings with at least 14 probationers, according to a termination letter released by the DOC.
The DOC said Turner falsified at least one record of a home visit with a probationer. The agency also said Turner reported visiting with probationers on days that he was on leave or wasn't scheduled to work.
Turner also had been told not to conduct city business on state time, but then spent hours on his city-issued cellphone conducting city business during state work hours, according to the DOC. His actions, the agency said, were a "blatant disregard" of the earlier warning.
The DOC said it didn't find any evidence that Turner had made sexually inappropriate comments or harassed female probationers.
The Observer reported that in 2009 Mecklenburg County officials told Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton that they believed Turner had misrepresented himself as a county building inspector.
A woman told the Observer that Turner visited a construction site on South Tryon Street and showed his gun to laborers working there. She said he told them he was a building inspector and threatened to put them in jail if they didn't stop working on the house.
After the report, the DOC moved Turner to a desk job and took away his state-issued gun and car pending an investigation. The termination letter didn't address the allegation that Turner showed the laborers a gun.
Turner began his new job as judicial services coordinator Feb. 6. Coordinators do not carry weapons.
Turner has said repeatedly that he did nothing wrong.
Turner, a Democrat, had been a probation officer for 20 years. He was first elected to the City Council in 2003.
People who build low income housing want to move into Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood.
The proposed development would be right behind a school and next to a park, so neighbors want to make sure the apartments will be a good fit.
Elizabeth is considered one of the Queen City's hidden jewels, and neighbors want to keep it that way.
“It’s pretty much the closest I think you can be to a small town in Charlotte,” said Beth Haenni, the Vice President of the Elizabeth Community Association.
“We have an eclectic neighborhood, smart, and lots of people who are thinking hard about this project and want to know a lot more details about it before we'll blindly support it.”
The new project is low income housing that would be built right near Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School. There’s already a similar complex on North Davidson Street.
“Residents come here, they lease an apartment, they are able to stay as long as they want and we wrap supportive services around them to help them be successful,” said Pam Jefsen with McCreesh Place.
It’s called permanent supportive housing. People at risk for homelessness pay 30 percent of their income to live here and get a one bedroom apartment.
We are very selective about who can come here and live in a community like this one,” Jefsen added.
Jefsen says crime is a non-issue.
NewsChannel 36 checked and found very few calls for service to the facility.
The tree lined streets, the beautiful old homes, the walkability to bars and restaurants. Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood is one of just a few of its kind in the Queen City.
There are many stakeholders, from the residents to the nearby hospitals to the colleges to the businesses. Many have the same goal: growth. "We said we need to take a step back and make sure that we've got an overall picture for the community that we wanna push forward in the next 25 years," says Andy Misiaveg, the president of the Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood Foundation.
This week, the Elizabeth Area Plan was adopted by Charlotte city council. It's been in the works for four years. Its focuses include preserving residential areas close to busy streets and promoting the commercial development of Elizabeth Avenue. That's good news for Mike Dawson, co-owner of Crown Station Coffee House. He says, "A lot of things are directed toward Uptown businesses and it's nice to see them take care of the businesses on the outskirts of the Uptown area."
Independence Park is another important part of the Elizabeth Area Plan. Community leaders want to enhance the green space and protect it. Misiaveg says, "We feel like the park is in a pretty precarious position between the Elizabeth Avenue development, the hospital, CPCC, all encroaching right around the park land."
Leaders will try to secure a historic preservation designation for the park to permanently protect it from development.
Elizabeth Community Association President Monte Ritchey says the entire 25 year plan is a model for other Charlotte neighborhoods, as this area tries to grow responsibly but maintain it's unique identity. He says, "We still tend to get nipped away at year after year at the edges, we lose 2, 3, 4 structures a year."
Another priority in the Elizabeth Area Plan is pedestrian improvements along 7th street, especially after the recent deaths of people trying to cross the busy road. For starters, they want to add more cross walks ASAP.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have begun to enforce a new city ordinance prohibiting Occupy protesters from camping on the old City Hall lawn Monday afternoon.
A number of officers have begun to take down tents on the old City Hall lawn around 2:30 p.m. and a CMPD paddywagon pulled out of police headquarters, prepared for possible large-scale arrests.
Several protesters were heard chanting while police took down tents from the lawn. NewsChannel 36's Tony Burbeck reported that at least six protesters were arrested by police.
Authorities have the right to evict or arrest anyone who is camping, living or sleeping at old City Hall. Under the new rules tents on public property are OK as protection from the elements.
But they are not allowed - if people use them as a temporary home to sleep in or have personal belongings
As of Monday, at least 20 tents remained on the city hall property, and protesters weren't sure if they complied with the new law.
We’re concerned, said protester Michael Zitkow. We want to know in the morning if people will be arrested or if tents or private structures will be torn down.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Capt. Jeff Estes and other CMPD command staff met with the protesters to go over the rules Sunday evening.
If you have a shelter that is not in compliance, you will be warned to remove that property before any action is taken, Capt. Estes is seen telling the protesters on cell phone video captured by Zitkow.
Capt. Estes also read a warning about the ordinance to the protesters and passed out copies for them to read. It read, As of Monday, January 30th, 2012, any temporary shelter located on city property is deemed to be a public nuisance and must be removed immediately.
The warning said any shelter not removed in time would be removed by officers, and anyone interfering with the removal would be subject to arrest. The items for removal would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The protesters said Sunday night that their understanding of the ordinance is that only tents used for sleeping would be removed. Now they're not sure.
Laurel Green opened the tent she'd been sleeping in. She said she won't sleep in it anymore, but the tent is also being used as a place where protesters can “express themselves through art.
She's not sure if the bin of crayons and markers would be considered living accommodations or personal belongings under the new rules.
I am hoping I will be able to advocate for this as part of Occupy Charlotte, she said.
The protesters said they don’t want to be arrested, but they do want to continue to make their presence known around the clock.
Most people out here plan to be in compliance with these rules, said Zitkow. And plan to clear their tents of all barred materials and any storage or living purposes and have their tents open to show were in compliance with these rules."
I recently had a Long Conversation with Newly Elected Charlotte City Council Member LaWana Mayfield (D).
After speaking with her on Issues involving District 3 & improving the Quality of Life for ALL Charlotte Constituents, I now know that Voting for her was the RIGHT thing to do.
Ms. Mayfield is very Passionate about helping People & she's Passionate about Politics.
She is an Fierce Supporter of Pres. Obama & Equal Human Rights which includes Gay Rights.
Prior to being elected as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's FIRST Openly Gay Politician, Ms. Mayfield worked as a Community Activist & Community Organizer.
Although Ms. Mayfield is Charlotte-Mecklenburg's FIRST Openly Gay Politician, she doesn't use her Sexual Orientation as a Personal Soapbox.
Instead her Soap Box Issues are Issues that involve the People of Charlotte & Equal Human Rights for the People of Charlotte, which includes Gay Rights.
As a BLACK Political Blogger, I am using my Social Media Activism to Educate the BLACK Community about Gay Rights which are included in Human Rights.
Pres. Obama's Administration has to push Gay Rights Equality in order to help bring about REAL Equal Human Rights for EVERYONE! Including the BLACK Community.
This is because in America the Civil Rights Movement has been extremely SLOW to bring Real Change for BLACKS & Latinos.
Thus Equal Human Rights for EVERYONE, MUST include BLACKS, Latinos & the Gay Community!
Ms. Mayfield now serves in former Charlotte City Member Warren Turner's District 3, which houses a Population of 80,000 Constituents, Most of them BLACK & Latinos!
That's 80,000 Possible Votes For President Obama In November!!!!
I have often Blogged about Mr. Turner's Very Slack, Distant Relationship with his BLACK Constituents.
While in Office Mr. Turner ONLY seemed to Focus on his WHITE Constituency & Invested ONLY in those Areas.
While his BLACK Constituency in Southwest Charlotte suffered. For Ex: NO Economic Development Growth, Corrupt HOAs & Poor Public Transportation for Constituents who ride City Buses to Work & to visit their Physicians.
Mr. Turner who served 8 Years, was practically run out of Office by a Mob after being Publicly Humiliated following a Sexual Harassment Scandal.
I Pray his Family recovers from that Scandal but I'm happy he NO longer represents District 3!
Perhaps now Southwest Charlotte's 80,000 Constituents can Finally get some much needed LOVE!
I extend a Warm Welcome to Ms. Mayfield.
I believe she is important to the 2012 DNC & to the Charlotte Community.
I did NOT Vote for Anthony Foxx during his first bid as Charlotte's Mayor because at the time he appeared to represent Status Quo/ Elite Politics.
Especially as it relates to helping Charlotte's Homeless Population.
And because it appeared as if Mayor Foxx didn't give a darn about Charlotte's Homeless citizens, I spoke out Loudly against his Complacency on this issue on my Blog.
However over time I begin to notice a Change in his Governing style.
Mayor Foxx's Administration began to Focus on Helping Reduce Charlotte's Homeless Population by providing Resources for them so they can become Self-Sufficient.
So last November 2011, this time I DID Vote for Anthony Foxx!
Our BLACK & White Politicians Should Earn the BLACK Vote! Especially BLACK Politicians!
Versus Expecting to just receive the BLACK Vote with providing NOTHING for BLACK Voters in return.
I believe LaWana Mayfield's Previous Community Activism EARNED My Vote.
I am Blessed to have her as my Charlotte City Council Member.
LaWana Mayfield's election to the Charlotte City Council this fall was unusual in that she knocked off a long-serving incumbent.
It was historic in that she became the city's first openly Gay Council Member.
When she was preparing to run, Mayfield, a community organizer, said she and her friends wondered how her sexual orientation would play with voters.
What would people think? Would it dominate the campaign?
Not so much, as it turned out.
"We focused so much energy on being prepared to discuss my relationship, we were shocked it didn't come up," said Mayfield, 41. "I didn't have one person ask about my sexuality. I stood at doors and said 'Here is my platform. Do you have any questions?' "
Mayfield defeated Warren Turner in the Democratic primary in September. She then easily defeated Republican Ed Toney in the general election in November.
Mayfield doesn't discuss her sexuality unless asked. Her answer: She wants to represent everyone in her district.
She said she is mostly focused on two issues for her District 3, which includes low-income areas in west Charlotte: improving access to food for residents by attracting more grocery stores or better access to existing ones, and cracking down on absentee landlords.
Mayfield's election has also put focus on whether the city should offer benefits to same-sex partners, an issue that has been simmering for several years.
Mayfield said the issue should be studied, but she deferred on taking a lead role to council member Patsy Kinsey, a fellow Democrat.
Kinsey said she has been working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender groups for a year and believes she is close to getting the six votes needed to make the change.
"I want to do this the right way," Kinsey said.
Mayfield is a native of Opa-Locka, Fla., a Miami suburb. Both her parents died when she was in high school, and Mayfield said it took her a few years to decide what she wanted to do.
In her mid-twenties, she began volunteering, which was her entry into the world of Community Organizing.
She moved to Charlotte 12 years ago. She worked for the Red Cross and did disaster-relief work after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Iowa floods in 2008.
She has worked for the Immigrant Solidarity Committee and the Charlotte Community Justice Coalition.
After being sworn in Dec. 5, Mayfield, who lives in the Historic Camp Greene neighborhood, said she has been studying to get up to speed on city issues.
A week after taking office, she was one of nine council members to vote in favor of a controversial incentive package to bring Chiquita Brands International's headquarters to Charlotte.
"I did my research - the city provided the who, what, when, where and why," Mayfield said. "At the end of the day I will look at the facts. If I honestly believe it will be beneficial to Charlotte then I will support it."
Starting Monday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police will be able to evict or arrest people camping, living or sleeping on the muddy lawn at old City Hall, which has been used by Occupy Charlotte since the fall.
But the new police powers may not end the local protest movement, which has targeted its anger at the "top 1 percent," who the group believes hold too much wealth and political power.
Some protesters and attorneys say a small change in the anti-camping ordinance gives Occupy Charlotte an opportunity to keep their multicolored tents, which have vexed city officials.
An early draft of the anti-camping ordinance prohibited placing any tents or temporary structure on city property. But in response to a local conservative activist, who said tea party protesters needed sun shades during rallies in 2009, the city changed the ordinance. It now only prohibits tents or temporary structures if they are used for "living accommodation purposes."
One Occupy Charlotte member said some protesters plan to remove all personal belongings from their tents so the police couldn't construe them as being used for "living accommodations."
The tents would then be used as shelter from the elements, whether it's cold, wind, rain or sun, the protester said.
"We have to get our stuff out, and we have to keep it clean," said Ben Schooly, who has been with Occupy Charlotte for a few weeks. "We will try and keep the tents."
Some Occupy protesters have moved their tents to the plaza at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, but a camp at old City Hall remains.
Across the country, cities have been enforcing existing ordinances, or passing new anti-camping rules, to clear out Occupy protesters.
The possible removal of Occupy Charlotte would be the first example of the city's new efforts to give police more power in preparation for the Democratic National Convention in September. In addition to the anti-camping ordinance, the City Council recently passed new ordinances that give police more power during the convention.
Police will have greater power to search backpacks and satchels near the convention if officers suspect they are being used to conceal weapons.
The debate over what is and isn't allowed at Occupy Charlotte will likely be magnified during the DNC, as protesters seek to maximize their ability to promote their message.
Questions over Enforcement
What's undisputed is that the anti-camping ordinance doesn't require anyone to leave city property. Protesters can remain on the old City Hall lawn, or any other city-owned public space, 24 hours a day.
Katy Parker of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said a tent used to protect someone from the weather - and not for living or sleeping - could be allowed under the revised ordinance.
Parker said the ordinance would likely allow police to remove a tent filled with a sleeping bag, clothes and other personal items. But an empty tent being used by someone for non-living accommodations would be OK, she said.
"When you have the provision that allows the tents, I don't know how they are going to enforce this," Parker said.
Charlotte attorney Ken Davies, who has been consulting with Occupy protesters, said the wording of the ordinance could present the city and police with a "quandary."
He said it will be difficult for police to determine whether a person is sleeping inside a closed tent. Once they open the tent's doors, or request that someone open the tent, anyone who is sleeping inside will be awake, he said.
In addition, Davies said someone could be lying down and meditating in a tent, which is allowed.
"When you deal with First Amendment rights, you can't have the police making judgment calls," Davies said. "It's unfair to the police."
Charlotte City Attorney Bob Hagemann has said the change was implemented after tea party activist and former council candidate Matthew Ridenhour noted during a public hearing that conservative protesters had used sun shades or canopies and that the ordinance needed flexibility.
Hagemann has said he couldn't speculate on how police may interpret the new anti-camping ordinance.
"I don't how the police will approach it," Hagemann said. "If I speculate, it could reveal law enforcement tactics."
He added he doesn't want to get into a public discussion of how "people might play games" to continue camping on the site.
CMPD, in a statement to the Observer Thursday, said, "Each tent or temporary structure will be reviewed to determine if it is in violation of the ordinance. We will take into consideration the totality of the circumstances which includes the statements made by the occupiers and the how the tents have been used during their occupation."
Council members have been confused about what the anti-camping ordinance does. During the debate, some mistakenly thought there would be a curfew, for instance.
James Mitchell, a Democrat, said he didn't focus in-depth on what the camping ordinance said. His impression is that people could use tents for informational booths.
"The only way I can see tents being permitted is for parades and shows," Mitchell said.
John Autry, a Democrat who was the only council member to vote against the ordinances, said he believes the tents can stay "so long as you aren't sleeping in it."
"You can sit in the tent all day," Autry said. "As soon as you roll out a sleeping bag, that's a different issue."
Other Cities
In New York City, where the Occupy movement started, the private owner of Zuccotti Park prohibited tents and sleeping bags. The police then cleared the park, in keeping with the property owner's wishes.
In South Carolina, Occupy Columbia lost its bid to camp on the public State House grounds. In November, a lower court judge approved an injunction allowing them to resume full-time protests and approved them having sleeping bags and tents. In December, the state's Budget and Control Board, which Republican Gov. Nikki Haley leads as chairwoman, approved emergency regulations that banned camping and sleeping on State House grounds.
Reynolds Blankenship, a Columbia attorney who is advising the Occupy protesters, said the emergency rules specifically prohibited all camping tents from State House grounds. The protesters have since left, he said.
New Ordinance
The Charlotte City Council passed its anti-camping ordinance Jan. 23, along with other measures to give police more power during the Democratic National Convention. Council members delayed putting the anti-camping ordinance into effect until Jan. 30, giving police and Occupy members time to talk and make plans to clear the space.
CMPD chief Rodney Monroe told council members on Monday that police would meet with protesters and discuss the new city rules.
Michael Zytkow, an Occupy member, said his group is hoping to meet with police over the weekend to determine what's permissible. "Right now it's a work in progress," Zytkow said. "We're trying to be unified. It would be great if we could maintain the symbolic nature of the camp with tents."
Schooly said he anticipates some people will go home and some people will fight for what they believe is their right to camp on the lawn. Others, he said, will try to stay and keep their tents - and show the police they aren't being used for living accommodations.
Said Don Faix of Occupy Charlotte: "The intent is to stay there. We want to fight this."
Please note that what you have viewed on the video above is NOT the way Charlotte's Mass Transportation System functions Citywide.
Charlotte, NC like most Southern Cities is still 20 years behind Major Metropolitan Cities as it relates to the benefit Of Mass Public Transportation. Especially Major Metropolitan Cities on the East Coast. Charlotte City Leaders like other Southern City Leaders, believe ONLY Low Income Citizens use Public Transportation, thus they rarely invest in Improving that segment of Public Service. Of course Nothing could be further from the Truth! More than 85% Of New York City & New Jersey residents including Very Well-To-Do Citizens, frequently use Mass Public Transportation traveling to & from Work on a Daily basis. In fact there are many, many New Yorkers who have NEVER possessed a Drivers' License due to the city's Very Efficient Public Transportation System. i.e., Amtrak, Subway, Buses, Ferry. This includes thousands of Wall Street employees who live in Connecticut & Pennsylvania but prefer to travel via Public Transportation versus Driving hundreds of miles. By providing Efficient means of Mass Public Transportation in BLACK, Latino & WHITE Communities, in return those East Coast Major Metropolitan Cities reap HUGE Revenue Profits Annually from the Passengers! So it would be to the benefit of Charlotte's future to STOP Stereotyping the type of Passengers who utilize its Mass Public Transportation System & just invest in improving the entire Freaking System Citywide NOT just in Charlotte's WHITE Communities! Thank You
Still struggling with stagnant sales-tax revenue, the Charlotte Area Transit System is seeking a fare increase for bus and light rail - its fourth hike since 2008.
CATS is proposing to raise the one-way local fare for buses and trains to $2, up from $1.75.
The fare hike is expected to generate an additional $2.5 million in revenue. The transit system expects ridership to decline by 3 percent because of the hike.
CATS receives roughly half of its budget from the half-cent sales tax dedicated for transit. But since the 2008 recession began, tax revenues have plummeted.
Olaf Kinard, CATS director of marketing and communications, said the sales tax is stuck at 2005 levels.
"We have reduced over $23 million in expenses," Kinard said. "But you run against the sales tax. We don't know yet what will truly happen."
In 1998, the cost of a local one-way bus fare was 80 cents. The next fare hike was in 2004, when it increased to $1.10.
CATS has continued to have increases, in 2006 ($1.20); 2008 ($1.30); 2009 ($1.50); 2010 ($1.75) and now 2012 ($2).
The cost of express buses also would go up.
One-way express bus fares within Mecklenburg County would go from $2.40 to $2.75; one-way express bus fares outside of the county would go from $3.50 to $4.
The Metropolitan Transit Commission will hold a public hearing on the increases at its March 28 meeting.
Whenever a BLACK citizen tries to assert their Legal rights with a Charlotte Cop, that citizen ends up DEAD Or in a Coma. But get this! Charlotte has both a BLACK Police Chief & a BLACK Mayor! So what's going on? Is this some kind of local Conspiracy to run many of Charlotte's BLACK residents out of Charlotte? i.e., Mayor Bloomberg style in NYC? There have even been instances where BLACK College students have tried to assert their legal rights in a Civil manner with Charlotte Cops & those citizens were STILL Arrested! This is being done from the Top down! Its almost as if Charlotte's City Leaders & Charlotte Police Chief Actually HATES most of Charlotte's BLACK Citizens. Something sure smells fishy!
A teen charged with assaulting Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Captain Charles Adkins says he caught Adkins putting dog feces in a friend’s mailbox and that’s what started the fight.
CMPD is now investigating Capt. Adkins and his actions before that confrontation, as well as conducting a criminal investigation into his assault. Adkins was off-duty at the time.
Captain Adkins suffered severe lacerations, plus ended up kicked and punched. He is now on sick leave as a result of the injuries.
Jamel Williams, 16, says he looked out a window Wednesday in the Reedy Creek neighborhood and saw Adkins putting dog poop in friend Kendrick Neely's mailbox.
That is when Williams and Neely both went outside to confront him.
"He knew I knew it was him and he tried to walk away,” Williams said. "He just got all nasty and all angry and we were asking why he'd put it in the mailbox."
Williams claims Adkins admitted putting the dog poop in Neely's mailbox that day, plus several times over the last two weeks. Williams claims Adkins blames him and Neely for recent neighborhood crimes.
Neely was arrested January 10 on three counts of possession of stolen goods. Neely was also arrested January 16 for assault and battery, communicating threats and disorderly conduct.
Williams, meanwhile was arrested last December for breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods. Williams says he found a bag of stolen items in the woods and was arrested while looking through it but says he didn’t steal it.
Both of their pictures are on flyers distributed in the Reedy Creek neighborhood with the headline "Community Safety Alert." It’s unclear who distributed the flyer.
"He said we'd been doing things in the neighborhood that we haven’t been doing,” Williams said.
Williams says he asked Adkins several times if he was a police officer but didn't get an answer.
That's when Williams says he decided to follow Adkins home and told him he was going to call police on Adkins about the dog poop in the mailbox.
"When I said we were going to follow him to his house, that's when he punched me,” Williams said.
Williams has a swollen lip and bruised arm from the fight.
"He didn't want us to find out he was a cop and that's why he started this whole big thing,” Williams said.
Williams says he had a knife on him and showed it to Adkins but didn't use it in the fight. Williams was arrested and charged with assault and battery.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are putting Tasers back into officers' hands today, six months after use of the weapons was suspended following the death of a 21-year-old suspect.
In September, the Charlotte City Council voted to spend $1.83 million for 1,600 Taser X2 stun guns. Police says the new Tasers have safety features to prevent officers from possibly injuring or killing suspects.
The Taser X2 will replace the model previously used by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the X26 Taser.
The Taser X2, produced by Arizona-based Taser International, has a five-second limit on each electric charge, a function that makes the device more safe, police have said. Officers using the new Taser can also trigger a visible and audible warning that may convince suspects to comply without evening firing the weapon.
Use of the department's nearly 1,200 Taser X26 stun guns was suspended on July 21. The day before, police were called to a Lynx light rail station along Old Pineville Road after a report of a man beating and choking a woman. The suspect was identified as Lareko Williams.
The first officer to respond fired his X26 Taser just as Williams was about to strike the woman again, police said. Williams became unresponsive, police said, and the officer called for help. Williams died about an hour later.
Williams' death came only a day after a federal jury awarded $10 million to the family of Darryl Wayne Turner, the 17-year-old who died after a CMPD officer shocked him with a Taser in 2008. The jury found that Taser International failed to warn that the weapon could cause cardiac arrest. In that case, police said the officer violated policy when he shocked Turner for about 37 seconds. The city of Charlotte denied wrongdoing, but it paid $625,000 to Turner's family.
After Williams' death last summer, all of the department's Tasers were collected from officers, tested and inspected, police said. About a month later, police announced they'd finished a month-long internal review on Taser use but that officers would not carry the devices until a second, outside review was completed.
Then police examined the possibility of purchasing a newer model.
Police Chief Rodney Monroe said last year that Tasers enhance citizen safety by "giving officers a viable option to minimize injuries to themselves and others."
But the devices, which can discharge 50,000 volts to briefly incapacitate suspects, have been linked to hundreds of deaths across the country. Police in Fayetteville suspended their use of Tasers last year after a 56-year-old man died while officers tried to subdue him with one.
Last Wednesday Another Another Young, BLACK Man Was Killed Via Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers Wielding Taser Guns.
21 Year-Old Lareko Williams Was Pronounced DEAD At A Charlotte Hospital After Being Tasered By A CMPD Officer Who Responded To A Scene Involving Williams Allegedly Abusing A Woman Presumed To Be His Girlfriend.
The Incident Occurred At A Charlotte Light Rail Station.
i.e., Lynx Blue Line Trains Operated By CATS.
Earlier This Week The Family Of Another Young, BLACK Also Killed By Charlotte Police Officer Via A Taser Gun, Was Awarded $10 Million In A Lawsuit Against The Manufacturer Of Taser Guns Used By CMPD.
Since This Incident Occurred At A Charlotte Light Rail Station Its Imperative I Touch On Several Related Key Elements.
BLACK Citizens Who Ride Charlotte Light Rail Trains Are Treated Very Poorly By Both Charlotte Police Officers & CATS Employees.
Were It Not For BLACK Citizens Using Charlotte's Mass Public Transportation System, CATS Would Make Hardly Any Money To Operate The System Because Most Of Its Passengers Are In Fact BLACK.
Yet.....
Those Same BLACK Passengers Which Keeps CATS Functioning Are Treated Very Poorly i.e., Obvious, Blatant RACISM!
Yes RACISM!!
Whether Charlotte's Scared BLACK Mayor & Scared BLACK City Council Officials Wish To Ever Admit It, And Even Though Charlotte Won The 2012 DNC Bid, Charlotte, North Carolina Is STILL A City Largely Troubled & Divided By Centuries Old KKK Institutionalized RACISM!!
When BLACK Passengers Ride The Charlotte Light Rail If A BLACK Passenger Is Found To Be Riding The Light Rail Without A Ticket, They Are Immediately Given A $50.00 Citation Ticket By Either A CMPD Officer Or A CATS Light Rail Employee.
However....
If A WHITE Passenger Is Found To Be Riding Charlotte's Light Rail System Without A Ticket That WHITE Light Rail Passenger Is NEVER Given A Ticket!
Instead They Are Simply Allowed To Exit The Train At The Next Stop & All Is Well.
If That Isn't A Blatant Example Of Racism Then Please Explain To Me What Is??
If BLACK Passengers Are Loud & Rowdy On Charlotte's Light Rail Trains They Are Either Arrested By CMPD Officers Or Made To Exit At The Nearest Stop.
However....
If WHITE Passengers Are Loud & Rowdy On Charlotte's Light Rail Trains They Are Allowed To Continue Riding Without ANY Interference From CMPD Officers Or CATS Light Rail Employees.
If That Isn't Another Blatant Example Of Racism Then Please Explain To Me What Is??
In Charlotte's WHITE Or Predominantly Communities The Buses Are ALWAYS ON TIME.
However....
In Charlotte's BLACK Or Predominantly BLACK Communities (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) The Buses Are NEVER On Time!!
If That Isn't Another Blatant Example Of Racism Then Please Explain To Me What Is??
In Charlotte's WHITE Or Predominantly Communities The Buses Are ALWAYS Clean, NEW Or Well Maintained.
However.....
In Charlotte's BLACK Or Predominantly BLACK Communities (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) The Buses Are ALWAYS OLD, Raggedy, Roach-Infested & Poorly Maintained.
Despite The Fact That Both Charlotte's BLACK & WHITE Citizens Pay The SAME Fares To Use CATS Services, Its Quite Obvious Charlotte's WHITE Citizens Are Clearly Getting A Better Bang For Their Buck!
However....
If Charlotte's WHITE Citizens Choose To Complain About Charlotte's CATS Already GREAT Services In Their Communities, Charlotte Officials Including Mayor Anthony Foxx Immediately Sees To It Their Concerns Are Heard & Corrected.
However....
If Charlotte's BLACK Citizens Choose To Complain About Charlotte's CATS Blatantly POOR Services In Their Communities (East, Northwest, Southwest, West Charlotte), Charlotte Officials Including Mayor Anthony Foxx Immediately Sees To It Their Concerns Are NOT Heard & The Already POOR CATS Services In Charlotte's BLACK Communities (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Gets WORSE!!
i.e., RETALIATION FOR SPEAKING UP!!!
Again I Ask If That Isn't Another Blatant Example Of Racism Then Please Explain To Me What Is??
In Addition Charlotte's Light Rail System Was Built On Charlotte's South Side, An Area Of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Predominantly Occupied By Charlotte's Wealthy, WHITE Citizens.
But Where Did The Money Come From To Construct Charlotte's Light Rail System?
Charlotte's BLACK Citizens (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Because Charlotte's Public Mass Transportation System (CATS) Is Utilized By More BLACK Citizens Than WHITE Citizens At Least 10:1!
However.....
Despite This Fact Charlotte's BLACK Communities (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Have ONLY Been Given An Old Trolley & Raggedy, OLD, Roach-Infested Buses Which NEVER Run On Time!
Charlotte's 2nd BLACK Mayor In The City's History Anthony Foxx & Other BLACK City Council Officials Are Well Aware Of How POORLY Charlotte's BLACK Citizens (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Are Treated By CATS (Charlotte's Mass Public Transportation System) But Don't Seem To Care Or Give A Darn.
NO They Don't Seem To Give A Darn!
Even Though Were It NOT For Charlotte's BLACK Voters (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Neither Anthony Foxx, Nor Patrick Cannon, Warren Turner, James Mitchell, David Howard (All BLACK) Would Currently Be Serving In Public Office.
All Of That Brings Us Back To The Recent Situation At Hand About Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers Using Unnecessary Force On Charlotte's BLACK Residents ((East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte)) Whenever They Are Called To Respond To An Incident.
Especially If It Involves An Incident Which May Adversely Impact Charlotte's WHITE Citizens Who Ride The Light Rail Line. i.e., Lynx Blue Line.
As Mentioned Above Young, BLACK Male Citizen Mr. Lareko Williams (Now Deceased) Was Apparently Allegedgly Hitting His Presumed Girlfriend At A Charlotte Light Rail Station When CMPD Officers Were Called To The Scene By A Witness.
Notice I Said This Incident Occurred At A Charlotte Light Rail Station.
You Know The SAME Light Rail System Built Primarily To Service Charlotte's WHITE Citizens, At The Expense Of Charlotte's BLACK CATS Passengers Who Use Charlotte's CATS Services 10:1.
Now Since I Was NOT At The Scene Of The Crime, I Don't Know What Actually Happened.
But It Is Clear That Mr. Williams Did NOT Have A Gun Of Any Type On His Person, Nor Did He Pull A Weapon Of Any Type At The CMPD Officer Called To The Scene.
So Why Was He Tasered To DEATH??
Notice I Said To DEATH!!
As In The Officer Continued To Taser Mr. Williams Until He Died From Cardiac Arrest!
For The Record I Do NOT Advocate Or Endorse Domestic Violence Period?
NO I Don't!! Of Course Not!
Except The Way I See It Is Violence Is Violence Whether Its Perpetrated By A Regular Citizen Or An CMPD Officer.
Excuse Me But.....
Didn't The City Of Charlotte Just Pay Out A HUGE Settlement To The Family Of Another Young, BLACK Male Citizen, Darryl Turner Who Died After Being Tasered TO DEATH By Another CMPD Officer?
As In The Officer Continued To Taser Mr. Turner Until He Too Died From Cardiac Arrest?
YES!!
Excuse Me But.....
Didn't Darryl Turner's Family Recently Win A $10 Million Settlement From The Manufacturer Of Taser Guns Used By CMPD Officers?
YES!!
Neither Young, BLACK Male Citizen Killed By CMPD Officers Via Taser Guns, Were Carrying Weapons Or Threatened CMPD Officers With Weapons.
Unless....
Weapons Were Planted On Mr. Williams' & Mr. Turner's Person By CMPD Officers.
Or....
Unless CMPD Investigators Lied In Their Reports That Both Men DID Have Weapons In Their Possession When CMPD Officers Responded To The Calls Involving Both Men.
So Why Were Those Two Young, BLACK Male Citizens Killed By CMPD Officers??
Why Were Darryl Turner & Lareko Williams Tasered Until DEATH Occurred??
i.e., INTENTIONAL ACT; MURDER; MANSLAUGHTER!
Does Legally Wearing A Police Uniform & Police Badge Give CMPD Officers A License To Just Randomly KILL Young, BLACK Male Citizens Or Young, BLACK Female Citizens At Will???
NO!! At Least It Shouldn't!
Well Then Why Is It That Charlotte's Chief Of Police & Charlotte's Mayor (Both BLACK Men) Have Continued To Allow CMPD Officers To Use & KILL Charlotte's Young, BLACK Citizens With Taser Guns??
Is It Just To Make Charlotte's WHITE Citizens Feel Safe & To Prevent WHITE Flight From The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region ?
(i.e., Charlotte's New 2020 Vision Plan)
What About Making Charlotte's BLACK Citizens (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Feel SAFE Too?
Why Is It CMPD Officers REFUSE To Protect Charlotte's BLACK Citizens From Crime & Refuse To Help Solve Murders Against Charlotte's BLACK Citizens (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) In A Timely Manner Vs. How Quickly They Diligently Work To Solve Murders & Crime Committed Against Charlotte's WHITE Citizens?
But Yet.....
CMPD Officers Appear To Have NO Problem Working Diligently To Protect, Investigate & Solve Crimes/ Murders Against Charlotte's WHITE Citizens?
Such Injustices & Disparities Against BLACK Citizens Should NOT Be Happening In A Major, So-Called Metropolitan City, Run By A BLACK Mayor In The Year 2011!
After All Since Charlotte's BLACK Mayor Anthony Foxx & His BLACK City Council Colleagues (Patrick Cannon, Warren Turner, James Mitchell, David Howard) Frequently Boasts About "Charlotte Being A Diverse City", Why Have Charlotte's BLACK Citizens Been Treated More Poorly, More Unfairly & Been Offered Fewer Opportunities For Success Only AFTER Anthony Foxx Was Elected??
Inquiring Minds Would Like To Know! Like Yesterday!
Meanwhile Perhaps It Will Take More HUGE Lawsuit Settlements Against The City Of Charlotte & More HUGE Lawsuit Settlements Against The Manufacturer Of Taser Guns Used By CMPD Officers, Until The City Of Charlotte Is BROKE!!! Before Civil Rights & Equal Rights Is Truly Demonstrated To Charlotte's BLACK Citizens.
To The Family Of Mr. Lareko Williams, I'm So Sorry For Your Loss.
I Suggest You Hire An EXCELLENT Attorney Like The One Hired By Darryl Turner's Family, NOW!!!
Or Just Hire The SAME Attorney If Need Be Since He's Already Familiar With CMPD Officers Use Of Excessive Force Against Charlotte's Young, BLACK Citizens.
I Repeat: Such Injustices & Disparities Against BLACK Citizens (East, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, West Charlotte) Should NOT Be Happening In A Major, So-Called Metropolitan City, Run By A BLACK Mayor In The Year 2011!
As A BLACK Woman I Do Believe In Supporting BLACK Leaders.
But Only If Those Same BLACK Leaders Also Support Their BLACK Constituents AFTER Being Elected By BLACK Voters.
I Somehow Feel Obligated To Help Re-Elect Pres. Obama Because Whether I Agree With ALL Of His Policies Or Not, Barack Obama Is PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
To The Contrary Mayor Anthony Foxx Is Just Leader of ONE City.
Its Not Hard For Anthony Foxx To Demonstrate Equality & Fairness On His Level As A Mayor.
Anthony Foxx Is Managing a City NOT An Entire Nation!
i.e., FOXX Is NOT U.S. President Barack Obama, Thus He Has NO Excuse For NOT Demonstrating Equality & Fairness To ALL Of Charlotte's Citizens Versus Just Charlotte's WHITE Citizens.
However If Anthony Foxx Is Afraid To Demonstrate Equality & Fairness For ALL Of Charlotte's Citizens, Then Perhaps He Should NOT Be Re-Elected Mayor Of Charlotte.
If On The Other Hand Mayor Anthony Foxx Is NOT Afraid To Demonstrate Equality & Fairness For ALL Of Charlotte's Citizens Versus Just Charlotte's WHITE Citizens, Then Please Begin To Show It To Charlotte's BLACK Voters Prior To This Fall's Local Elections.
Let Us Pray & Vote Responsibly When Returning To The Polls This Fall.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is taking all of its Tasers off the streets for as many as 45 days, after a suspect died when he was shocked by an officer's X26 Taser at a Lynx light rail station.
Police say Lareko Williams, 21, was beating and choking a woman when confronted by Officer Michael Forbes at the station on Woodlawn Road around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Williams was pronounced dead about an hour later.
The death came just a day after a federal jury in Charlotte awarded $10 million to the family of 17-year-old Darryl Wayne Turner, who died in 2008 after a CMPD officer shocked him with a Taser.
In response to the jury's award against the company that makes Tasers, Charlotte City Attorney Mac McCarley said police officers would continue to use the weapons.
"It is still a very effective, nonlethal force to control a situation," he told the Observer Wednesday, just hours before the confrontation at the light rail station.
But the $10 million verdict and Wednesday's death are certain to revive debate over the weapons. Tasers can deliver a 50,000-volt shock that temporarily paralyzes suspects, and have been linked to hundreds of deaths across the country.
Earlier this year, the Union County town of Stallings stopped using Tasers because of liability issues.
CMPD on Thursday suspended use of its roughly 1,200 Tasers for 30 to 45 days as the weapons are tested to make sure they're working properly. The Taser used on Williams will be sent to an independent laboratory to be tested, police said.
The department will also review its Taser policies and procedures to ensure they're in line with established national standards.
Foxx supports chief's action
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx said Thursday that he wants to see the results of the CMPD review before taking any further action.
"I have spoken with Police Chief Rodney Monroe several times in the last 24 hours and he has assured me that all aspects of this incident will be reviewed thoroughly," Foxx said in a statement. "I also support his effort to inspect all Taser devices and protocols related to their use."
Police didn't respond to questions about Officer Forbes' training with the Taser. They also didn't respond to questions about where Williams was struck with the Taser prongs or how long he was shocked.
On Thursday, McCarley stood by his statements about Tasers being effective in helping officers control situations.
"In the vast majority of cases, fewer officers and fewer suspects sustain any sort of physical or permanent injuries," he said, speaking of Tasers. "But the other steps available are usually hard physical contact, something like a baton. And that is much more likely to cause some type of immediate or lasting physical harm."
But Ken Harris, who has represented Turner's family since the teen's death three years ago, said Williams' death may illustrate the Taser's dangers.
"This incident is just another example of why we have been so persistent in arguing that the Taser is a lethal weapon," Harris said.
"We wanted Darryl's legacy to be a reduction in the number of deaths related to the use of Tasers. This is just another tragedy."
At Woodlawn Lynx station
On Wednesday night, Williams and a female friend were riding the Lynx line home after watching a movie at the AMC movie theater on South Boulevard, said Ariel Terry, a friend of Williams who says she dated him for a year. At some point, he got into an argument with the woman, Terry said.
At 10:39 p.m., someone called police reporting that man was beating a woman at the Woodlawn Lynx station, a raised platform along the 4700 block of Old Pineville Road, according to a police statement.
Forbes was the first officer to respond.
Monroe told reporters Forbes fired his department-issued Taser as Williams was about to strike the woman again. Forbes used the Taser "in an attempt to gain compliance," according to a police statement.
Forbes soon realized the suspect was unresponsive and radioed for paramedics.
Terry said Williams treated her well when they dated. But she did acknowledge that Williams had been previously charged with assault on a female and other crimes.
She said Williams has a 1-year-old child and two children on the way. He was attending classes at Central Piedmont Community College, she said, trying to get his graduate equivalent diploma.
Monroe told reporters that investigators are analyzing video that apparently showed what happened during the confrontation.
"A host of cameras (are) in and around the area," Monroe said. "We're going through a very methodical process analyzing the data from those cameras."
Williams' family declined to comment. The Observer's news partner, WCNC-TV, reported that they had hired a lawyer.
Largest award against maker
A day before Williams died, Darryl Turner's family was awarded $10 million after a jury found that Taser International failed to warn that the weapon could cause cardiac arrest. The award was the largest ever against the makers of the Taser. The company said it will appeal.
The city of Charlotte paid $625,000 to Turner's family in 2009, though it denied wrongdoing.
Turner died in March 2008 after Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Jerry Dawson Jr. shocked him at a Food Lion grocery store in northeast Charlotte.
Turner, who worked at the store, died from cardiac arrest. The autopsy showed the teenager's heart was pumping so fast and chaotically from the Taser shot and stress from the confrontation that it stopped pumping blood properly. The autopsy found no pre-existing heart problems.
Dawson was not charged with any crime. Prosecutors said the officer was justified in using the Taser during the confrontation with Turner, who was found with three small bags of marijuana in his socks after the incident. He was also "agitated" and threw something at a manager, police said.
Dawson was suspended for five days without pay and required to undergo additional training. After Turner's death, all officers were required to undergo more training with Tasers.
Police didn't respond to questions about Forbes' training Thursday, but under the department's training regimen, he would have completed the additional training at least twice.
Taser International must pay $10 million to the family of a Charlotte teenager who died in 2008 after being shocked by a police officer - the biggest jury award ever against the company.
The lawyers for Darryl Turner's parents said Wednesday the federal jury found that Taser International failed to warn that discharging its Taser into the chest of a suspect near the heart poses a substantial risk of cardiac arrest. The company's animal studies, they said, demonstrated the risk.
John Burton, lead counsel for Turner's parents, Devoid Turner and Tammy Lou Fontenot, said Taser International has been irresponsible in representing its product's safety.
"Hopefully, this verdict will sound the alarm to police officers around the world that firing these weapons into the chests of people should be avoided," said Burton, whose law offices are in Pasadena, Calif. "No other family should have to endure the tragedy that the Turner and Fontenot families have experienced."
Taser International sought to persuade the jury that Turner, 17, had a medical condition that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in young adults. The company's lawyers also presented evidence about a U.S. Justice Department study, released in May, which said current research does not support a substantially increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia even if the Taser darts strike the front of the chest.
The company's lawyers intend to appeal the verdict.
Darryl Turner died in March 2008 after being shocked with a Taser by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Jerry Dawson Jr. at a Food Lion grocery store in north Charlotte.
Turner, who worked at the store, died from cardiac arrest. The autopsy showed the teenager's heart was pumping so fast and chaotically from the Taser shot and stress from the confrontation that it stopped pumping blood properly. The autopsy found no pre-existing heart problems.
Dawson was not charged with any crime. Prosecutors said the officer was justified in using the Taser during the confrontation with Turner, who was found with three small bags of marijuana in his socks after the incident. He was also "agitated" and threw something at a manager, police said.
Dawson was suspended for five days without pay and required to undergo additional training. Police said Dawson had violated policy when he shocked Turner with the Taser gun for about 37 seconds. Dawson held the trigger until Turner fell to the floor, according to police.
The city of Charlotte paid $625,000 to Turner's family in 2009, though the city denied wrongdoing. It was the largest police-related claim the city had paid out in nearly a decade.
City Attorney Mac McCarley told the Observer Wednesday that the city will continue to use Tasers.
"It is still a very effective, nonlethal force to control a situation," McCarley said.
After Turner's death, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police mandated additional training for all officers on the proper use of Tasers and other electronic control devices, said spokesman Rob Tufano.
The training "emphasized that repeated and prolonged deployment and exposure of the device is a strict violation of department policy," Tufano said. Police also trained personnel to look for other areas of the body to target with Tasers, like the lower abdomen and upper leg.
The use of Tasers by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police has decreased since 2007, when police shocked people with the devices nearly 140 times. In 2008, that number had dropped to about 120 and in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available, police deployed Tasers fewer than 80 times.
The Stallings Police Department in January abandoned the use of Tasers to reduce its liability risk.
Taser International, in a statement on its website about Tuesday's verdict, said there's been only one other adverse jury verdict against the company. That was for more than $7 million in 2008. Taser International appealed, and the verdict was reduced to about $200,000, the statement said.
"This was a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to Mr. Turner's family," Doug Klint, Taser International's president and general counsel, said in a statement.
"We can certainly understand how the jury felt deep compassion for Mr. Turner's family, and how this compassion may have overwhelmed the scientific evidence presented in this case. However, given the important nature of this case and the exclusion of key evidence that occurred, Taser International intends to appeal this verdict."
Taser International said U.S. District Judge Bob Conrad didn't allow the jury to hear evidence that Darryl Turner had three baggies of marijuana in his sock during the incident. The company said a screen for marijuana and other drugs was not performed at the autopsy or before the lab destroyed the teenager's blood evidence.
Taser International said the judge also did not instruct the jury on contributory negligence. Under N.C. law, the company said, if plaintiffs act in a negligent manner that contributes to their damages, they are barred from recovering damages from a third party.
The statement said the company's lawyers believe Turner's behavior at the grocery store was negligent and "necessitated the use of force by police."
Police were called to the store where Turner worked after the store manager had asked him to leave and he refused, according to court documents.
Store surveillance video showed Turner at the customer service desk, knocking over a display and throwing an umbrella. He then moved closer to a store manager and employee, at one point raising his arm and pointing at the manager.
Later, the soundless video shows Officer Dawson entering the store with a Taser in his hand. Turner took a step toward the officer, and police say that's when Dawson fired the Taser. Turner continued to walk past the officer with the Taser probes in his chest.
Taser International said its insurance will pay about $6 million of the award if the company is not successful on its appeal.
Charlotte attorney Ken Harris, who represents Turner's parents, said: "This has been a long and difficult journey for the family. We have consistently stated that no judgment would be sufficient to compensate the family relative to Darryl's loss.
"We are very happy with this benchmark result and the impact that it may have ... concerning the use of the Taser."
Welcome to the BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ Blog. (Established 2008)
My name is Laurel. (Author & Publisher)
I Blog with a focus on POLITICS, Business, and occasionally Entertainment.
FACTS ABOUT LAUREL:
Wife,
Mother of a U.S. Soldier,
Sister,
Woman of GOD,
Loyal Friend,
Creative,
Blood-related to a nationally known Charlotte Politician.
Black Female, Intelligent,
Married,
Love to Travel,
Credentialed by the RNC and DNC.
Political Blogger/ Commentator
Grassroots Activist,
PROFESSIONAL STATUS:
Credential Political Blogger/ Commentator,
Registered Independent Voter
Original Native of BROOKLYN, NY
Currently reside in CHARLOTTE, NC
I’m Nice but don’t get it twisted because my Mind is Sharp!
Since You’ve Chosen to Visit and Read the Contents of this Blog by Personal Choice, and of Your Own Free Will,
Please don’t ask me to Compensate you for Expressing individual commentary/ Posted Articles, which are protected by the First Amendment, citing Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Expression.
No Intentionally Malicious Slander, Libel or Defamation of Character content will be published and I will always Credit all Sources.
NOTE TO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, APPOINTED OFFICIALS & PUBLIC FIGURES:
Per the Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Case: 1964 case of New York Times v. Sullivan………
The Public has a Right to Criticize the People who Govern them, so the least Protection from Defamation is given to Public Officials. When officials are accused of something that involves their behavior in office, they have to prove all of the above elements of defamation and they must also prove that the defendant acted with “actual malice.” (For a definition of actual malice, see the “History of Defamation and the First Amendment, below.”)
People who aren’t Elected but who are Still Public Figures because they are influential or famous — like Actors, Actresses, Movie Stars, Singers & Entertainers, Journalists, TV Hosts, Bloggers, etc., — also have to Prove that Defamatory statements were made with Actual Malice, in most cases.
To the Associated Press and other Media Organizations:
When I use your Content Links., I’m also citing the Fair Use Doctrine (Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107) for further Copyright permission.
Posts and Links published on Black Political Buzz are not endorsed by Black Political Buzz Blog Author Laurel’s Employer, nor the Employers of other Black Political Buzz employees.
This includes Links, Posts and Comments posted on Black Political Buzz’s Facebook and Twitter account pages.
Comments, Links and Opinions of site visitors are Independently-Owned and not endorsed by Black Political Buzz employees, Blog Author Laurel or Laurel’s Employer.)
(No Personal Offense intended) Please know that Black Political Buzz is not responsible for nor do I endorse Requests for Donations from Third Parties on this Blog.
I will Only Endorse Requests for Donations made on behalf of BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ Blog for Business Purposes & Operating Expenses.
I will also Only Endorse Requests for Donations on behalf of Legitimate Politicians and Legitimate Political Candidates. PERIOD!!
If anyone else or another Organization wishes to post a link to Request Donations, I am NOT endorsing ANY of those Requests!
Unless I receive a personal Request to do so and I have Professionally Confirmed that the Third Party Organization or Charity is indeed a Legitimate Entity.
NOTE: Anyone who chooses to give to any Third Party Organization NOT Endorsed by BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ is doing so at his or her own risk.
BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ does NOT Discriminate against Politicians, Political Candidates, Organizations or Charities based on Race, Color, Nationality, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Faith, Disability, Political Affiliation, Creed, Education, Social Status, Age.
This disclaimer applies to ANY and All requests for Donations on this Blog. Thanks for understanding. Again No Personal Offense intended.
For Story Tips….Corrections…….. or Requests for Endorsements:
Please contact me via e-mail: blackpoliticalbuzz@gmail.com
or via my Facebook page: facebook.com/blackpoliticalbuzz
Thanks for stopping by
God Bless
Laurel @BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ
LINKS: POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE & INFORMATIONAL SITES
.jpg)
