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WEDNESDAY • JULY 29, 2009 • 75¢
WEDNESDAY • JULY 29, 2009 • 75¢ charlotteobserver.com
• +
50 police
CHARLOTTE MAYORAL FORUM
officers to
be hired
Federal stimulus grant for up to three years, after
will be used for police which local agencies would
have to pick up the tab.
to patrol high-crime Since becoming chief in
areas, says Monroe. June 2008, Monroe has fo-
cused on getting more offi-
By Ely Portillo cers on the streets, even
elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com though the department hasn’t
Charlotte-Mecklenburg increased its ranks of about
police plan to hire 50 more of- 1,600 officers during his ten-
ficers with a federal stimulus ure. He has reorganized the
grant and are seeking city department to
money for another 75, Chief add more patrol
Rodney Monroe announced officers and
Tuesday. shift resources
The officers, who will be to crime hot
hired using the $8.5 million spots.
grant, will be assigned to pa- “That’s one
trol high-crime areas, Mon- Monroe of the reasons
roe said. crime goes
ROBERT LAHSER – rlahser@charlotteobserver.com The federal government is down,” Monroe said, “our
Charlotte mayoral candidates Republican John Lassiter (left) and Democrat Anthony Foxx talk before an audience of about 50 in giving almost $1 billion to po- visibility and presence.”
uptown’s Third Ward on Tuesday night. Both are trying to succeed seven-term incumbent Pat McCrory, a Republican. lice departments across the The 50 federally funded of-
country under the Communi- ficers could be on the streets
Rivals tout
EASTSIDE CITY COUNCIL FORUM ty Oriented Policing Services as early as next spring.
program, called COPS. The If CMPD also gets the addi-
money will pay for 4,699 new tional 75 officers it wants
officers’ salaries and benefits SEE POLICE, 9A
leadership, Health care stakes big
as Obama visits N.C.
experience Today’s Raleigh stop 118,000 people here. Medical
schools churn out doctors
comes as companies,
Foxx and Lassiter pitches to an audience of about torn between careers as spe-
50 residents of uptown’s Third agencies are spending cialists or taking the less lu-
unofficially kick off city
Ward. millions on lobbying. crative but sorely needed
races; topics include “I’m not coming to you as a DIEDRA LAIRD – dlaird@charlotteobserver.com path of primary care. And
police, jobs, streetcars. leader interested simply in re- Across town from the mayor’s forum, residents of east By Barbara Barrett major corporations such as
casting the same old ideas,” Charlotte had a chance Tuesday to interrogate some of the Washington Correspondent Mooresville-based Lowe’s
By Jim Morrill said Foxx, 38. candidates for Charlotte City Council. The forum at the WASHINGTON — When Presi- are trying to figure out how to
jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com Lassiter, 54, ticked off a list of Hickory Grove recreation center hit on such sore spots as dent Obama comes to Ra- cover their employees’ med-
They talked about street- efforts he helped champion, the decline of Eastland Mall and the Independence leigh today, he’ll visit a state ical needs.
cars, cops and jobs. But leader- from the uptown arts complex Boulevard corridor. The candidates vowed to make public heavily invested in the health In all, N.C. companies and
ship and experience were the to the Metropolitan develop- safety or economic development top priorities. Story, 10A. care debate and spending agencies with an interest in
main themes as Charlotte’s ment to a summer jobs pro- millions to shape its outcome. shaping the debate over the
two leading mayoral candi- gram for kids. POLL SPARKS DEBATE The pharmaceutical indus- nation’s health care system
dates made their case Tuesday “That ain’t charisma, but Republican John Lassiter touts his strong showing in a poll try, working to fight off new have spent $4.8 million this
night to be Charlotte’s first that’s leadership,” he said in re- whose methodology has been questioned by Democrat generic competitors and Ca- year in Washington lobbying
new mayor in 14 years. ply to a question. Anthony Foxx. 10A nadian imports, employs SEE HEALTH CARE, 7A
On a night when city races As the two took questions
unofficially kicked off, Demo- from the crowd at the Gateway ARE YOU READY TO VOTE? MORE COVERAGE, 7A
crat Anthony Foxx and Repub- YMCA on West Trade Street, Early voting in Charlotte’s city primaries starts Aug. 27. • Obama works to reassure seniors during online forum.
lican John Lassiter made their SEE MAYORAL, 10A Are you registered? 10A • Wrangling continues in House and Senate.
Philip Morris plant $15.2 million more in cuts for CMS
School district says it will eliminate staff positions,
pare back field trips and change start time for two
shuts down tonight schools. 1B
Changing times for
changing toddlers
By Adam Bell
abell@charlotteobserver.com
Cabarrus County Disposable training
unemployment rate pants have become
About 9 p.m. tonight, the last Marlboro
cigarettes will roll off the line at the sprawl-
ing Philip Morris USA plant in Concord, as
12% dispensable for increas-
ing numbers of frugal
Q Aid? Music fest
an era closes on a once-mighty tobacco
presence in the state.
The move to shutter what was once one
parents. 16A
could benefit all
of the region’s largest factories displaces 8% Charlotte-area home prices post a gain What are your ideas on how to help local charities
about 1,000 more workers in Cabarrus Uptick in May is the biggest monthly gain in a in this time of need? Join other residents and submit
County, already confronting its highest un- year. But sales prices are still down compared your idea to our survey at charlottemissionpossible
employment rate in at least 25 years. It also with a year ago. 11A .org. Interested in what ideas are coming in? We’ll
means the loss of the county’s biggest tax-
4% run excerpts from some this week.
payer. And the recession makes it uncertain Panel endorses Supreme Court nominee
when the 2,023-acre site might land a new This is from Quincy Foil of Charlotte:
owner. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is only Republican
In June 2007, Philip Morris parent Altria who voted to approve Judge Sonia Sotomayor. 6A “We have terrific venues and resources in Char-
said it would consolidate Concord’s oper- ’08 0
’08 ’09
0 lotte. Let’s use them to benefit our nonprofit organi-
J J A S O N D J F M A M J
ations into its Richmond, Va., plant in 2010
SOURCE: N.C. Employment Security Commission
Southern friendship at musical’s heart zations. Create an annual large-scale music festival,
in part because of falling U.S. cigarette “GRITS: The Musical” serves up Southern charm,
STAFF CHART similar to Farm Aid and/or the Roth-
sales. Nearly 2,500 people worked at the
Layoffs and transfers theater critic Lawrence Toppman says. 1D bury Festival, to benefit local organiza-
Concord plant at the time.
But in April, as the rate of cigarette sales Since June 2007, when the tions. Host it at the speedway or the
kept dropping, Altria moved to end oper- company announced it was Ask Amy ............7D stadium. Promote it, selling tickets
ations this month. Between 1996 and 2006,
annual U.S. cigarette consumption fell by
24 percent.
closing the plant:
• 1,280 employees were laid off
or will be laid off, including
83 o
69 o Business..........11A
Classified...........6C
Comics...............6D
nationally. Bring in big and diverse
musical talent. Promoters could get the
“For all my life, we referred to ‘King To- More rain: Scattered showers and Editorial ...........14A talent to donate their time or reduce
about 100 who will be let go Foil
bacco,’ and that’s no longer the case in Horoscope.........6D their fees. The banks and other corpo-
after they finish helping wind storms. 6B
Movies ...............5D
North Carolina,” Concord Mayor Scott down operations today. rations would underwrite the cost in exchange for
Obituaries..........4B
Padgett said. “And I don’t think you replace • About 615 retired or volun- Sports ................1C advertising.”
something as large as Philip Morris.” tarily left. TV.......................5D
• 565 transferred or plan to + © 2009 The Charlotte Observer In September, all the submitted ideas will be re-
Vol. 140, No. 210 Delivery
THE RIPPLE EFFECT transfer to Richmond, Va., plant. Assistance or to viewed, and the best ones will receive coverage by
How the closing affects the workers, the (More than 1,000 were offered Subscribe local media.
community, social services and the plant. 8A transfers.) ....... 800-532-5350