NBA 2017 ALL STAR GAMES: CHARLOTTE vs ATLANTA

NBA ENTERS 2016 POLITICAL FRAY; LGBT v RACISM; ATLANTA v CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE IS A MUCH BETTER VENUE.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME JUST TRY LIVING IN ATLANTA FOR THREE MONTHS.

WHAT YOU SEE ON THE "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA" SHOW IS NOT ATLANTA.

Sources: The State, Newsmax, ABC 11Alive, AJC, Charlotte Observer, YouTube, 

Story Highlights:

April 2014 - Donald Sterling is banned by new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for mentioning Racist remarks secretly recorded by his girlfriend.

June 2015 - Charlotte, NC wins bid to host the 2017 NBA All-Star games.

February 2016 - Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed (Democrat) announces his endorsement for Hillary Clinton as President.

Charlotte City Council (Democrats) passes LGBT Bathroom Sharing Ordinance February 2016 despite widespread local voter opposition.

Gov McCrory repeals Charlotte's LGBT Bathroom Sharing Ordinance in March 22, 2016

Gov Nathan Deal vetoes the Georgia Religious Liberty legislation March 28, 2016 (the day after Easter Sunday)

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed calls on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to change its 2017 All-Star Game venue from Charlotte to Atlanta

Obama visits Atlanta, Ga March 29, 2016 to speak a symposium to combat Prescription Drug Abuse

NBA Spokesperson said they are trying to keep the 2017 All-Star in Charlotte.

**** NBA responds to Atlanta’s call to move All-Star Game from Charlotte

Atlanta City Council invites NBA to move All-Star weekend

Resolution points to passage of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 as reason to move

NBA still hopeful N.C. can work through ‘differences’

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/nation-world/national/article68968147.html#storylink=cpy

The Atlanta City Council is asking the NBA to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte to Atlanta after the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2, repealing portions of Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance.

During a committee hearing Tuesday, the resolution was introduced in Atlanta. It invites the NBA to consider relocating the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend “due to the passage of House Bill 2, a measure that discriminates against members of the LGBT community.”

The NBA says they are still hopeful Charlotte and North Carolina come to an agreement.

“We appreciate the invitation but are hopeful that the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina can work through their differences far in advance of the 2017 All-Star Game,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said about the proposal.

The day after the bill was signed, the National Basketball Association speculated that the bill might affect the Queen City’s hosting the 2017 All-Star Game. It’s scheduled for Feb. 17. 

“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events,” the organization said in a release via Twitter after House Bill 2 was passed.

“We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte,” the statement continued.

Charlotte won the bid to host the All-Star Game in June 2015. One month later, the city formally committed to spending $600,000 in general tax dollars to host the event. The total incentive package for the All-Star Game is about $5.9 million, according to WBTV’s news partner The Charlotte Observer.

“The City of Atlanta draws strength from our diverse community,” said Atlanta Council President Ceasar Mitchell. “This unity creates our city’s embracing spirit, a quality that has made Atlanta the destination of choice for numerous international business conventions, professional and college sporting events, as well as one of the largest concentrations

“Atlanta is a vibrant, energetic city that would be an outstanding host to the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend,” chairman Andre Dickens said. “As the home to the civil and human rights movement, our diverse set of people and businesses welcome this global event with open arms.”

Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance passed in February by a 7-4 vote from the Charlotte City Council. It broadly defined how businesses should treat gay, lesbian and transgender customers. The debate, as in other cities recently, focused on bathrooms.

After its passage, several high ranking North Carolina Republicans, including McCrory, voiced concerns about people having the ability to choose public restrooms corresponding to their gender identity.

McCrory signed the state bill repealing parts of the ordinance into law Wednesday night. Lawmakers passed the bill in a special session and the governor signed it within one day.

HILLARY CLINTON'S 2016 VP PICK IS KASIM REED?? BIG MISTAKE (RUMORS)

HILLARY CLINTON'S 2016 VP PICK IS KASIM REED?? BIG MISTAKE (RUMORS)

BETTER CHOICES:  JULIAN CASTRO OR ELIZABETH WARREN

Sources: AJC, 11Alive, WSB, YouTube

There are political rumors floating that 2016 Democrat presidential Frontrunner HILLARY CLINTON has added Atlanta Mayor KASIM REED to her VP pick shortlist.

If this rumor has legs or any credibility, I want to scream from the top of my lungs to Hillary's campaign staff, "NO!"

Before anyone takes this rumor seriously, I would encourage you to visit the city of Atlanta and risk driving over a death-defying Pothole.

Visit Atlanta and stuff your mouth with some Greasy, Ghetto fare.

By the way where are Atlanta's FARMERS MARKETS in the BLACK communities??

Finally I want to encourage you to travel through Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport and experienced being treated like Dirt by Atlanta's arrogant, extremely rude TSA agents who are arrogant & rude by choice.

Atlanta needs more Diversity as in WHITE voters and a WHITE Mayor to cancel out years of Complacent leadership practiced by BLACK leaders who have neglected their constituents.

Hillary Clinton choosing Kasim Reed as her VP is a long shot at this stage in the game.

A better choice would be someone like JULIAN CASTRO or ELIZABETH WARREN.

Kasim Reed would be a good fit for Congress one day but as a VP, let's just say he is not ready yet for politics on such a grand scale national level.

Kasim Reed is a skilled politician but he is NOT on Obama's level......yet.

**** Is Kasim Reed in the running to be vice president?

Hillary Clinton hasn’t locked up the Democratic nomination yet, but rumors are swirling already about her possible vice presidential pick. And one of the names that’s floating out there, at least among some in the local punditry class, is that of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

A local television crew on Wednesday asked the two-term Atlanta mayor, who appeared with Clinton at a campaign event last week, whether he’s been approached. He answered it the way virtually any politician would:

I don’t have any comment on that. I don’t know anything about it. The only thing I’m focused on is being the mayor of the city of Atlanta and going out and doing a great job for Secretary Clinton and making sure she’s the next president. I feel about this campaign the way I felt in 2012 when President Obama was running.

I don’t think any American can sit and watch what is going on in our national discourse and not want to get involved on one side or the other. We will hash it out and pick a president. I haven’t been asked to be considered for the vice presidency. I don’t know anything about that. The only thing I’m focused on is being mayor.

Recall, too, that Sen. David Perdue has answered similar questions about the possibility of being a running mate.

Reed also told our AJC colleague Scott Trubey that Democrats should count on Donald Trump to be the GOP nominee.

“I expect Mr. Trump to be the nominee unless they engineer a way to take the nomination from him. He’s either going to be the nominee or there are going to be a lot of people who voted for him that are going to have a lot of frustration because to avoid him being the nominee they are going to have to engineer a way to prevent him from getting it.”

WHITE MAYOR WANTED IN ATLANTA (KASIM REED'S ASCENSION)

WHITE MAYOR WANTED IN ATLANTA (KASIM REED'S ASCENSION):

On Nov 7, 2017 registered Atlanta voters will elect a new Mayor.

In the video above I explain why Atlanta is ready for a new more diverse image and why Atlanta's next Mayor should be WHITE.

Incumbent Atlanta Mayor KASIM REED's future reach for the office of U.S. Senator is also discussed.

**** Could One Of These Rumored Candidates Be Atlanta's Next Mayor?

Although the Atlanta mayoral contest is less than one year away, the rumor mill is busy speculating about candidates.

Mayor Kasim Reed is unable to run for a third consecutive term, so the field is wide open. These potential candidates are making moves that are creating a bit of buzz:

• Ceasar Mitchell: The current Atlanta council president hasn’t formally declared, but has long been seen as a front-runner in the 2017 race. A long-established political action committee for Mitchell shows no signs of slowing, either, with an upcoming fundraiser in his honor.

• Kwanza Hall: The Atlanta councilman hasn’t officially filed to run, but says he’s formed an exploratory committee to seriously consider a bid. Hall has also stepped up the number of public appearances with Mayor Kasim Reed in recent months.

• Margaret Kaiser: The state representative announced a desire to run earlier this year, following Woolard’s announcement, and repeated recently that she’s still interested in the seat. But for now, Kaiser said she’s focused on her state district.

• Peter Aman: The former Reed deputy and Bain & Co. partner has been quietly making the rounds across the city to chat with insiders about a potential run. He also moved into city limits in recent years, a clear sign of intent. This week, Aman said he’s “seriously considering” a bid. His most public move yet? Joining Twitter.

• Robb Pitts: The former Fulton commissioner and Atlanta councilman may not be done with politics. A spokeswoman for Pitts, who narrowly lost his bid for Fulton chairman in 2014, said he’s considering a run for mayor in 2017. Pitts ran for mayor in 2001 and lost to Franklin.

Sources:  AJC, Youtube, Wikipedia