Hello, Monday. It's Ashley, heading to Georgia with our team for the Axios Local retreat.

☀️ Weather: Sunny, with a high of 79 and a low of 57.

🧁 Happy birthday to our members Martha Harbison, Andre Collins and Crystal Katz!

Today's newsletter is 991 words — a 3.5-minute read.

This week, we're updating our lists of the highest-paid government employees for a transparent look at how taxpayer dollars are spent.

We include only base salaries, not benefits or bonuses.

1. Marcus Jones, Charlotte city manager

Salary: $499,210.43

Job description: He's where the buck stops in City Hall, overseeing a $4.49 billion budget and all departments, from the airport to the public transit system to economic development.

• Charlotte has a "weak mayor" form of government, meaning the city manager runs the city like a CEO. The mayor and council members set policy, and the manager carries it out day to day.
• Jones sits on many boards, including Charlotte Center City Partners, Charlotte Sports Foundation and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
• Jones left his position as city manager of Norfolk, Virginia, to come to Charlotte, a city roughly triple in size. He's been here 10 years now.

Fun fact: Jones' annual salary is more than the U.S. president's.

2. Andrea Leslie-Fite, city attorney

Salary: $350,699.72

Job description: Appointed in November 2025, Leslie-Fite leads a team of 52 staffers who provide policy and legal advice and litigation services to everyone within city hall, including Charlotte police and CATS.

• You'll hear her called upon often during city council meetings, especially when the body is discussing dicey topics, like whether the city has a say over Border Patrol's operations here or the legality of the city's data center moratorium.

3. Haley Gentry, aviation director

Salary: $342,122.33

Job description: Gentry is the head honcho at one of the world's busiest airports and one of the city's strongest economic engines.

• She'll stay busy this year as American Airlines negotiates a new lease at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by July.
• Plus, Gentry is balancing multiple construction projects at the city-owned airport, including concourse renovations and a fourth runway.
• The airport is also planning the Destination District, a mixed-use development next to the airport that will include new hotels, restaurants, a brewery and a medical office.

Fun fact: Gentry started her career at the airport as an intern in the '90s.

Keep reading for 4 and 5

News you can use from our partners.

• 🎶 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Mariachi El Bronx on Oct. 1 at Carolina Theatre. The band is touring again after a 10-year hiatus, bringing its punk-rock-meets-mariachi flair to stages across the country. Snag tickets.

🎙️ Panthers legend Cam Newton will record his podcast "4th&1" at the Roaring Riot tailgate in Uptown ahead of the Panthers vs. Lions game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 4. (X)

Former Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown, who was sentenced to federal prison last week, has appealed that sentence. (WBTV)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' chief communications officer Stephen Esposito was arrested and charged with driving while impaired Thursday night. (WFAE)

The Queen's Mahjery, Charlotte's new mahjong studio, opens on Oct. 1 in Oakhurst Commons near the Health Club and Mood House.

Why it matters: Founders Lauren Ulrey, Jennifer Ross and Patti Roth envision the space as a new third place for Charlotte. Not only will it be a place where people can gather to play mahjong, a centuries-old Chinese strategy game growing in popularity, but where people can also host baby showers or build a puzzle together.

The latest: There will be an open house at The Queen's Mahjery tomorrow and Wednesday from 10am-7pm. The open house will be free and open to the public.

What to expect: The space, which has ample parking, is just under 2,400 square and includes three rooms that can fit up to 17 tables total for mahjong (it can hold around 94 people for other events).

• The space has a playful, industrial vibe, with murals by local artist Meredith Riggins.

Take a look around

From a comedy show to silent book club, to your sourdough dreams, there's plenty to do in Charlotte this week.

🍞 Monday: Learn how to make sourdough at Dilworth United Methodist Church. | $45 | 6:30-8:30pm | Details

🤣 Tuesday: Laugh during an Engineering Comedy Town Hall featuring comedians Alex King and Sean Kett at Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte. | $12.51 | 7:30pm | Details

🍷 Wednesday: Emmy Lou's will host a wine tasting, with complimentary pours of three wines with pairing tips and optional food specials. | Free | 5-7pm | Details

📚 Thursday: Head to Silent Book at That's Novel Books. | Free | 6-8pm | Details

🎤 Friday: See Kacey Musgraves perform at Spectrum Center. | $61.60+ | 7:30pm | Details

Go deeper: 24 fun things to do in and around Charlotte this fall

Axios Social Club is bringing readers together for dinner to Charlotte's South End and SouthPark neighborhoods on Tuesday, Oct. 6. (South End is already sold out, but we still have a few seats left in SouthPark!)

Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven't met yet. We're making it easier to change that.

How it works: Take a quick quiz, reserve your seat and we'll match you with five fellow locals for dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

• Come solo or bring a friend.
• Your restaurant and dinner crew stay a surprise until event day.
• After dinner, all the tables meet up at a surprise after-party.

By the numbers: More than 1,200 Axios readers across the country are already signed up to join us Oct. 6.

If you go: Dinner starts at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15.99 per person, with food and drinks purchased separately.

The bottom line: Bring a friend — or come make a few new ones.

Save your seat

✈️ I'm putting our CLT lounge guide to good use this week between flights to Atlanta and Florida.

📚 McKenzie is reading "Famous Last Words" by Gillian McAllister.

🎧 Alex is romanticizing this CLT-ATL plane ride.

🎶 Alexis is listening to Erykah Badu's latest album on her drive to Atlanta this morning.

This newsletter was edited by Mike Szvetitz.