It was not long ago that the government decided who was and was not “essential” and could therefore be allowed to make a living, or not. They were dark times. As Libertarians, we should be ready for the powers that be to try it again. Recall how our federal income tax dollars were doled out in rescue plans deemed urgent and necessary, though those who actually lost work barely saw any of the money, while massive corporations with healthy campaign contribution budgets received major bailouts (yet again).
Government programs funneled money through intermediaries in the form of “paycheck protection payment” loans. The intent sounded good, federal tax money goes back to the employers to keep paying their people deemed non-essential so people don’t go hungry.
As predictable as it was, there have been numerous accounts in the years since of these loans going out to various fraudsters, requesting money to pay employees that didn’t exist or setting up front companies to cash in, sometimes from overseas. This week news broke that one of our own Charlotte City Council members was among the potential fraudsters.
https://www.wbtv.com/2025/05/22/charlotte-city-councilwoman-indicted-federal-charges/
https://www.wbtv.com/2025/05/23/indicted-charlotte-city-council-member-pleads-not-guilty-wire-fraud/
While we are not handing down a verdict of public opinion, we decided to get the public’s feeling since she is not only fighting the charges but refusing to step down from her position on the council. I’m getting Marion Barry vibes. On Wednesday, Councilwoman Brown hosted a town hall event for the 3rd district at Good Shepherd Church in Steele Creek. I attended the event and learned some about crime in the district, city zoning processes, I-77 toll expansion plans and Charlotte transit scheming.
I waited patiently to the end when Ms. Brown nervously opened the floor up for the Q&A portion of the evening and watched local residents line up behind the two microphones. Various news outlets lined the back walls, and yet we heard no questions about her federal wire fraud charges. Not being a District 3 resident since 2013, I didn’t feel it was my place to step up and hit her with the accusations while those that did live in her district asked for clarifications on crime stats, road plans and the like. I did however note that several people seemed to just be wasting time on the microphones, and I have to wonder if she coordinated some time killers to stave off the potential criticisms. I’m sure a five minute advertisement for a church movie night for teens tied into the evening presentations, but it felt contrived.
No matter how this plays out, we see the accusations as a good opening to take a shot at running a Libertarian for City Council in the 3rd District. It has easily become the worst section of the city as far as traffic goes, and all the council seems to care about is cramming in more housing, so I assume there are some eminent domain and zoning fights we could wade into.
Join us in the Libertarian Party of Mecklenburg County, let us know if you are willing to run or support a new candidate for Charlotte City Council in the 3rd District. This district covers most of the southwest of the county, so we know we have some Libertarians out there. If you can’t get directly involved, please donate so we have the resources we need to run a contender.
James Higgins,
Chair, Libertarian Party of Mecklenburg County