City Smart: Charlotte named a ‘Startup Hotbed’ to Jeremy Lin’s hair

• Key endorsement in run-off election. In a press conference on Monday, Councilman David Howard endorsed current mayor Dan Clodfelter over former county commissioners chairwoman Jennifer Roberts. Howard said he interviewed both of the candidates privately and decided to endorse Clodfelter because the mayor’s plans and policy thoughts had more precision and depth. Early voting for the second primary (run-off) is going on right now. Vote. Vote. Vote. (OK, just vote once, but don’t forget to vote!) 
• Westward Ho! Center City Charlotte Partners is expanding to the west side of Charlotte. This week, Alysia Osborne joins CCCP as the director of the Historic West End. She is charged with building coalitions among the area businesses, Johnson C. Smith University and local government to spur new development and investment. CCCP plans to host events, create public awareness campaigns, and recruit businesses and retail along West Trade Street and Beatties Ford Road, following the Gold Line streetcar route. The project is support by a $1.5 million grant from the Knight Foundation.
• “Affiliate party committees” or “slush funds”? In an amendment to H373, which moves the North Carolina primary to March 15, 2016, North Carolina legislators also voted to allow four elected officials (the Speaker of the House, Senate President Pro Tempore, House minority leader and Senate minority leader) to have and lead “affiliate party committees” which can have their own bank accounts. Right now, legislators are not allowed to fund-raise during legislative sessions, however these four elected officials would be allowed to raise unlimited dollars from corporations and lobbyists for the affiliate party committees. These committee funds will likely be used to help get other candidates elected, but the funds are under the complete authority of the person who leads it. It has passed the House and Senate, and a few watch groups are calling on Governor McCrory to veto the bill.

2 Happy Things

• N.C. House Rep. Becky Carney returned to the house after having heart surgery! Check out this video of her addressing the General Assembly (point of personal privilege!).

• Inc. listed Charlotte as a Startup Hotbed. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty happy any time I make a list and the word “hot” is part of the evaluation. Bonus: shout outs to Packard Place and Queen City Forward in the article.

1 Random Thing

• Charlotte Hornets player Jeremy Lin’s current hair style makes him 6’6″. Without an awkward amount of hair gel and long-ish locks, Jeremy is normally 6’3″