As Uncertainty Persists, Gov. Stein Demands Answers from Kristi Noem

As Uncertainty Persists, Gov. Stein Demands Answers from Kristi Noem

Saturday marks a week since the arrival of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Charlotte for the beginning of an immigration crackdown dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” and an air of uncertainty looms over portions of the city as local and federal law enforcement officials report conflicting information.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office was the first to report on Thursday that officials with CBP had informed the department its agents had already left town. CMPD later confirmed that report. As media outlets began to report CBP’s exit from the city, officials with the agency countered that info, insisting in social media posts and official statements that Charlotte’s Web was still active.

At the time of this writing, Queen City Nerve was unaware of any documented instances of CBP actions in Charlotte after Thursday morning, though we continue to monitor social media and look into any such reports we receive.

In the meantime, Gov. Josh Stein is demanding answers about what exactly did occur during the first week of Charlotte’s Web in an open letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, decrying the “havoc” created by CBP agents operating in the Charlotte area.

“We have seen reports of American citizens having their car windows broken, enforcement actions taking place within the vicinity of school drop-offs, and people being racially profiled by federal agents,” Stein wrote. “We have seen our friends, neighbors, and colleagues afraid to go about their daily lives.”

Stein also pointed out a lack of transparency and communication from CBP, which failed to inform state law enforcement officials of any activities in the state since arriving on Nov. 15. He submitted to Noem a list of 12 questions he would like answered, including when exactly the operation was ended or will end.

You can read the full letter and list of questions here.

“State and local officials have been left guessing about what may happen next despite the critical role our law enforcement agencies play in ensuring that residents stay safe, protests remain peaceful, and communities are not driven to panic amid uncertainty and fear,” wrote Stein.

“Critical to ensuring our communities are safe is robust support for our state and local law enforcement agencies, which will continue to protect our public safety long after federal agents leave,” he continued. “I ask that you respond to these questions in earnest and better communicate with North Carolina officials on any such federal enforcement actions so that our state and local law enforcement have the information they need to keep our communities safe.”

City Commits Funding for Businesses Affected by CBP Crackdown

The city of Charlotte on Friday announced it has committed $100,000 in relief funding to go toward rent and utility bills for households adversely impacted by CBP’s Charlotte’s Web operation. The funds will support income-eligible households experiencing financial hardships due to economic disruptions, such as business closures and other related interruptions to household income.

“Last week, city staff began outreach to community stakeholders to better understand the potential economic impacts on families and understand what needs the City of Charlotte could help address,” Charlotte City Manager Marcus D. Jones stated in a release. “This approach, which was influenced by the feedback we received from community stakeholders and is aligned with established City Council priorities related to housing stability, allows the city to provide rapid support to households in need and is consistent with the city’s track record of supporting residents during extraordinary times such as displacement events and the COVID pandemic.”

Read more: With CBP Leaving Charlotte, Residents Shift Focus to Supporting Affected Communities

With Crisis Assistance Ministry serving as the administrative partner for the program, handling applications for funding and disbursements to households, the city worked with nonprofits including the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, ourBRIDGE for Kids, Latin American Coalition and Carolina Migrant Network to identify households affected by the federal enforcement actions.

“As we head into the holiday season, it’s important for all of us to lean in and support each other,” stated Mayor Vi Lyles in the release. “We know many law-abiding people across Charlotte were financially hurt, and this support will help provide reassurances and comfort in what should be a festive time of year. I’m proud of our community for coming together and I appreciate all the organizations which have committed to helping as our neighbors move forward.”

County Launches New Homeless Services Network in Historic West End

Mecklenburg County on Thursday announced a new strategy for addressing homelessness and other ongoing health and human service issues that have long affected the area surrounding Catherine Simmons Avenue off Beatties Ford Road in northwest Charlotte.

Working with a number of community partners, the county will implement a collaborative strategy to address unsheltered residents in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood, forming the plan based on the work of a task force convened to confront ongoing issues that have gone unaddressed or unresolved for years, according to a release on Thursday.

The task force aimed to develop a strategy to rapidly deploy resources in high-need areas, focusing on street outreach and resources ranging from behavioral and mental health, immunization and testing, emergency shelter and others.

Here’s what the strategy will look like in action: expanded street outreach services from a dedicated team at Hearts for the Invisible that will assess needs and connect residents to services and offer transportation to shelter or treatment, mobile showers from Project Outpour, assistance with obtaining identification and Social Security cards from the Just Do It Movement, testing services from Mecklenburg County Public Health, HIV support from RAIN, and expanded shelter opportunities from My Sister’s House and Roof Above’s Giles Center.

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners approved nearly $1 million to support the service expansions — including dedicated street outreach staff, hygiene services, shelter services and behavioral health services — on Nov. 12.

“The challenges in this community did not occur overnight and they will not be resolved quickly,” said County Manager Mike Bryant in an update to the BOCC on Tuesday. “The county’s role in this collaboration is centered on providing health and social services and I am happy to share that we have enacted a launch of the service enhancement plan.”

Concord Christmas Light Shooting Not a Random Event

A shooting that left four people wounded during the city of Concord’s official tree lighting ceremony on Friday evening was not a random act of violence directed at the public, the Concord Police Department announced in a release on Saturday.

The shooting is believed to have occurred between two suspects who are known to each other and police believe they have accounted for all parties involved.

“A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence, affecting everyone who was there,” said Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes. “Our community showed great strength and resilience as everyone came together to help one another and our officers. Due to the quick actions of our downtown businesses, the public, first responders, and law enforcement, we were able to quickly evacuate the area, prevent additional injuries, and identify all suspects involved.”

An 18-year-old Concord resident was identified as one of the shooters. He remains in critical condition as one of the four gunshot wound victims who was transported to the hospital, and upon release will be served with arrest warrants for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill and inciting a riot.

A second suspected shooter who is a juvenile is also in the hospital in critical condition and faces the same charges as the first suspect plus two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury.

A third suspect, a 17-year-old resident of Concord, is being charged as an adult with accessory after the fact and inciting a riot. He was not injured and was apprehended shortly after the incident. Two additional 17-year-old gunshot wound victims were also transported to the hospital. One has been released and the second remains in critical condition as of Saturday morning.

Opera Carolina Launches Fund for Classical Music Artists and Workers

Charlotte-based nonprofit Opera Carolina on Thursday announced the launch of the Classical Artists Fund, a new philanthropic initiative designed to provide vital support to the artists and creative professionals who bring opera to life, according to a press release.

Created during a period of uncertainty for performing arts professionals due to cuts in arts funding and other economic turmoil, the Classical Artists Fund will offer financial assistance across a spectrum of needs — from auditions, training, and professional development to emergency support and compensation for lost contracts.

The fund will extend beyond singers to encompass the full ecosystem of opera: stagehands, union crews, costume and set designers, directors, choreographers, musicians and more.

“Opera is powered by artists whose brilliance often outshines the challenges they face behind the scenes,” said Dr. Shanté Williams, general director of Opera Carolina, in a release on Thursday. “The Classical Artists Fund is our promise to them—that their work, their wellbeing, and their creative futures matter. We are building a safety net worthy of their talent.”