On The Record: Budget plans impact NC's cities

.

>>> WE ARE ON THE RECORD WITH

GOVERNOR McCRORY WHO IS

CLEARLY UPSET WITH THE MEDICAID

MEMBERS.

>>> DEALING WITH TIGHTER

BUDGETS OF THEIR OWN WITH LESS

MONEY FROM THE STATE.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR

JOINING US.

WE WILL BE TALKING WITH

RALEIGH'S MAYOR NANCY McFAR

LAND AND JOE WAYNE, LATER.

>>> BUT GOVERNOR IS DEALING

WITH CRITICISM THAT A CABINET

MEMBER COULD HAVE A CONFLICT OF

INTEREST.

AND MEDICAID MONEY BY HIS

PREDECESSOR THAT IS NOWHERE TO

BE FOUND.

>> I CONTINUE TO GET BAD NEWS

ON MEDICAID.

JUST, YESTERDAY, I MET WITH

ALDENA VOSS AND WE ANTICIPATE

BUSTING FIGURES FOR MEDICAID

DUE TO INACCURATE PROJECTIONS

MADE LAST YEAR BY THE PREVIOUS

ADMINISTRATION.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD

NEWS FOR ME, THE HOUSE OR THE

SENATE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY

BETWEEN 100 AND $150 MILLION.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ADDED

ON.

WE HAVE TO REVISIT THE NUMBERS

IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

WHAT WILL IT MEAN?

ADDITIONAL CUTS.

>> IT MEANS PRIORITY TIEING

LIKE I DID -- PRIORITIZING LIKE

I DID.

AND I PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER

ALONG WITH THE DIGIT DIRECTOR.

WE WILL SEE SOME NEW REVENUES

COMING IN MORE POSITIVE THAN

ANTICIPATED AND AT THE SAME

TIME OUR MEDICAID COSTS

CONTINUE TO BE NOT MEETING

INITIAL PROJECTIONS THAT WERE

SET LAST YEAR.

>> IF YOU DON'T MIND.

WHEN YOU GOT THAT INFORMATION

AND YOU FOUND OUT, WE ARE

ANOTHER 100 OR $50 MILLION OFF.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I GOT

THE NEWS IN THE LAST MONTH AND

A HALF.

>> HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT

INTERNALLY?

>> THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO FIX

MEDICAID.

I HAVE GOT FOUR OR FIVE MAJOR

OBJECTIVES THAT ARE COMING

DIRECTLY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S

OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATION.

THE FIRST IS MEDICAID REFORM.

IF IT WE DO NOT FIX MEDICAID.

WE WILL NOT HAVE MONEY TO FIX

ANYTHING ELSE REGARDING

INFRASTRUCTURE AND I AM

REMINDED OF IT EVERY TWO WEEKS.

WE HAVE TO FIX MEDICAID.

DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE LEGISLATORS HAVE KIND OF

PRETENDED IT DIDN'T EXIST AND

DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BALANCED

BUDGET.

WE ARE DOING HONEST ACCOUNTING.

AND I AM ALSO NOTIFYING YOU.

AND WE WILL BE DOING A PRESS

RELEASE ON IT LATER TODAY.

REGARDING THE LATEST MEDICAID

COST OVERRUN AND IT IS NOT JUST

COST OVERRUNS, THERE WERE BAD

PROJECTIONS AND IN PAST YEARS,

THEY SWEPT IT UNDERSTAND THE

RUG AND DIDN'T COUNT IT IN THE

BUDGET.

I AM DOING HONEST ACCOUNTING.

WHAT WE ARE DOING.

MY MAJOR OBJECT PITCHIVES IS

MEDICAID REFORM.

TRANSPORTATION REFORM WITH A

MOBILITY FORMULA AND THE FIRST

CHANGE SINCE 19 # EIGHT.

THE THIRD IS HAVING TO DEAL

WITH COMMERCE REFORM.

WE ARE REORGANIZING COMMERCE

AND HOW WE RECRUIT AND OBTAIN

JOBS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE

FOURTH IS WITH THE PERSONNEL

ACT.

RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE AUTHORITY

TO HELP DEAL WITH GOOD

EMPLOYEES AND DEAL WITH BAD

EMPLOYEES AND NOT DOING IT IN

THE WORK.

MY MANAGEMENT TEAM DOESN'T HAVE

THE FLEXIBILITY AND WE HAVE

EFFICIENT SOUND AND OPERATIONS

IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

90% OF MY TIME RIGHT NOW IS

BEING SPENT ON OPERATIONS OF

STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> SOMETHING THAT IS IGNORED

FOR FAR TOO LONG.

>> IT HAS TO DO WITH POLICY AND

DECISION.

AND HOW CAN WE PROVIDE RELIABLE

SERVICE WITH LOWER COST AND

HIGHABLE.

>> I NEED TO CHANGE THE

FORMULA.

I NEED TO CHANGE COMMERCE.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE STATE

PERSONNEL ACT AND WE NEED

MEDICAID REFORM.

THOSE ARE MY FOUR MAJOR

OBJECTIVES OUT OF THIS

ADMINISTRATION AND IF I GET

THAT DONE, MY CABINET MEMBERS

WILL BE ABLE TO FIX A BROKEN

GOVERNMENT AND BROKEN ECONOMY.

>> COUPLE OF THINGS YOU

MENTIONED.

>> YES.

>> YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN

FAVOR OF WHAT THE SENATE WANTS

TO DO.

>> I NEVER ASKED FOR T AND I

HAVE ENOUGH ON MY PLATE.

>> THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE

OPERATIONAL ISSUES.

I HAVE MORE SERIOUS OPERATIONAL

ISSUES IN MEDICAID AND COMMERCE

AND IN TRANSPORTATION.

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE ARGUMENT

YET PRESENTED TO ME.

WHY THAT NEEDS TO BE TREATED.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> NO, I HEARD IT BEING

DISCUSSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT WAS DISCUSSED TWO YEARS AGO.

>> IF THEY PRESENT ME AN

ARGUMENT ON WHY IT NEEDS TO BE

DONE.

I WILL BE GLAD TO LISTEN TO IT.

THERE IS NO HEARINGS OR

DISCUSSION WITH ME ON THAT

ISSUE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET

AND THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO

WORK WITH.

AND REVENUE PROJECTIONS.

OR REVENUE REALITIES RIGHT NOW

ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU

ANTICIPATED.

>> NOT BY MUCH AND SOME OF IT

IS SHORT TERM.

INCOME TAX IS COMING IN VERY

WELL.

>> TALES TAX IS FLAT OR LESS.

AND THEN OUR MEDICAID COST

CONTINUE TO HAVE OVERRUNS IN

THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF

DOLLARS.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND.

A YEAR FROM NOW.

AM I GOING TO BE PAYING LESS IN

STATE INCOME TAX.

>> FOG WE GET TAX REFORM YOU

WILL BE.

BUT I AM LOOKING FOR A REVENUE

NEUTRAL TAX REFORM.

I HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE

NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING USED BY

BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE

AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARE

HONEST ACCOUNTING AND HOW MUCH

MONEY IS COMING IN.

AND HOW MUCH IS GOING OUT.

>> I SAID ON THE COME PAIN

TRAIL.

WE WILL DO HONEST ACCOUNTING

AND COUNT UNFOUNDED LIABILITIES

AND COUNT MEDICAID.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM

DOING.

>> ITS REVENUE NEUTRAL.

SOMEONE ARGUE, WHY CHANGE IT.

>> WE NEED TO CHANGE IT.

BECAUSE, I THINK, THE HIGH

CORPORATE TAX AND THE HIGH

INCOME TAX IS MAKING US LESS

COMPETITIVE.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEIGHBORING

STATES AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE.

THAT IS IMPACTING TOWNS LIKE

ROANOKE RAPIDS AND ELIZABETH

CITY AND AREAS IN GASTONIA AND

MECKLENBURG AND MOUNTAIN

COMMUNITIES NEAR TENNESSEE.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, IN BOONE, AND

ASHEVILLE AND IN COMPETING

RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER IN

TENNESSEE.

WE HAVE TO GET COMPETITIVE WITH

OUR NEIGHBORS AND NATIONALLY

AND INTERNATIONALLILY AND RIGHT

NOW OUR CORPORATE INCOMES TAX

IS HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON

THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

>>> DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

OTHER CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I

HAVE HAD.

YOU TALKED ABOUT ETHICS ALMOST

AS A HOLY GRAIL.

>> IT IS.

>> AND THERE WAS A REPORT, I

GUESS LAST MONTHS.

ABOUT SECRETARY SHANAHAN.

STILL DOING WORK FOR THE LAW

FIRM.

AND THE WIFE OF YOUR CHIEF OF

STAFF.

AND HE IS A REGISTERED LOBBYIST

AND ALL OF THAT MAY BE WELL IN

ORDER.

AND IT HAS RAISED A COUPLE OF

EYEBROWS AND SAYING.

DO THEY REALLY NEED TO BE DOING

THIS.

>> YOUR RESPONSE.

>> REGARDING MY CHIEF OF STAFF.

IT IS WELL KNOWN BEFORE HE

ACCEPTED THE JOB.

I BELIEVE HIS WIFE HAS EVERY

RIGHT TO MAKE A LIVING.

BUT HE ALSO HAS A

RESPONSIBILITY AND HIS WIFE HAS

A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP A FIRE

WALL.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I

INSURED WAS CREATED BETWEEN ANY

WORK THAT SHE DOES AND ANY WORK

BEING DONE INS EXECUTIVE

OFFICE.

AND WE HAVE THE FIRE WALL

REGARDING MY SECRETARY OF

PUBLIC SAFETY.

BELIEVE ME.

WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTAND TANK

OF WHAT HE CAN AND CANNOT DO.

>> THAT'S BEEN CLARIFIED ANY

MORE.

TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO

APPEARANCE OR THERE A A

CONSTRICT OF INTEREST IN ANY

WORK HIS FIRM DOES OR HE DOES.

AND HIS MAIN PRIORITIES IS ON

PUBLIC SAFETY.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME I AM VERY

PLEASED WITH HIS WORK.

>>> NOW, WE HE TALKED WITH

GOVERNOR McCRORY TUESDAY

MORNING.

AND WITHIN HOURS SHANAHAN'S LAW

FIRM ANNOUNCED HE WOULD BE

TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND

HE WILL SERVE IN THE McCRORY

CABINET.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY TWO

PROMINENT NORTH CAROLINA

MAYORS.

.

>>> WELCOME BACK.

MUCH OF THE WORK THAT AFFECTS

US ON A DAILY BASIS COMES FROM

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SOMETIMES THEY PLAY TUG OF WAR

WITH STATE LAWMAKERS FOR MONEY

AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR

CITIZENS.

WE ARE HE PLEASED TO HAVE

RALEIGH'S MAYOR.

NANCY McFARLAND AND FROM

HUNTERSVILLE.

JOE SWAIN.

>> MY THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR

BEING HERE.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE SIX

YEARS.

>> YES.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR

A LOT LESS.

>> ALMOST TWO.

>> FIRST QUESTION TO YOU MAYOR

McFARLAND, YOU WANTED THIS

JOB, YOU CAMPAIGNED FOR THIS

JOB, TELL ME THE BIGGEST

SURPRISE YOU HAVE HAD FROM THE

INSIDE THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE FROM

THE OUTSIDE.

>> WOW.

THAT IS A TOUGH ONE.

I THINK THAT IT IS EVEN BEING

ON THE COUNCIL, BEING THE MAYOR

OF A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED JOB.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT

PIECES OF MAKING A GREAT CITY,

THAT I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED.

>> OKAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT BOTH

OF YOU ARE DEALING WITH, WITH

BUDGETS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING

WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> HOW DIFFICULT, EXPLAIN TO

PEOPLE.

HOW DIFFICULT IT MAY BE TO GET

WHAT YOU NEED FROM LAWMAKERS.

EVEN LAWMAKERS WITH WHOM YOU

AGREE.

>> YOU ARE REPUBLICAN.

>> I AM.

>> AND YOU ARE INDEPENDENT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN LED

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> IS THAT EASIER FOR YOU OR

HARDER.

>> LET ME SAY THIS.

AND IN PART TAGGING WITH

NANCY'S LEFT ANSWER.

IT IS OF ESSENTIAL TO REMEMBER

THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE

MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE

HAVE A NONPARTISAN CHARTER.

FOR ME, IN ENTERING OFFICE,

THAT WAS THE MOST PLEASANT

SURPRISE WAS THAT WE ARE FORCED

TO TALK WITH EACH OTHER AT A

LOCAL BASIS AND DOESN'T MATTER

WHAT PARTY IS.

THE CHALLENGE FOR A

MUNICIPALITY IS THAT, I THINK

THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE OF A

PARTISAN FEEL IN RALEIGH.

AND COMPARED TO THE

MUNICIPALITIES THAT REALLY S.

>> IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH

SOMETIMES.

>> IS IT TOUGHER FOR YOU TO GET

WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR

MUNICIPALITIES.

>> I I SO.

>> -- I THINK SO.

>> WE ARE FORCED TO WORK

TOGETHER AND THEN IT TRANSLATES

TO THE STATE LEVEL.

WE ARE HAVING TO REALIZE THAT

IT IS MUCH MORE PART OF IT.

>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT DOROTHEA

DIX, YOU ARE HERE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT FRONT AND

CENTER FOR YOU AND FOR PEOPLE

WATCHING THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.

WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A DEAL.

>> THERE WAS A DEAL.

>> NOW THE LEGISLATURE SAID NOT

OSTEO FAST AND THE GOVERNOR

STOOD WITH YOU AND SAID, LET'S

DO THIS AND THERE IS OPPOSITION

IN THE SENATE.

YOU MUST BE GOING NUTS OVER

THIS.

>> IT IS PRETTY VALID WAY TO

PUT IT.

IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING.

>> WE CERTAINLY NEGOTIATED WITH

THE STATE IN GOOD FAITH.

AND WE DID EVERYTHING WE WERE

SUPPOSED TO.

AND HAD A VALID CONTRACT.

AND SIGNED.

AND STARTED WORKING RIGHT AWAY.

AND THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF YOU

KNOW, INVALIDATING A LEASE OR

THE STATE GOING BACK AND

INVALUE LAID DATING CONTRACTORS

IS DISTURBING ON MANY LEVELS.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND BACK TO DEALING WITH THIS.

>> I AM TRYING TO GET IT DONE.

>> DOROTHEA DIX IS A MILE AND

A HALF FROM WHERE WE ARE

SITTING AS WE TAKE THE PROGRAM.

>> IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO

BECOME THE CENTRAL PARK.

>> RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS IT AND YOU

WANT T AND PEOPLE HERE WANT IT

AND LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE SO

FAR HAS SAID.

WELL, MAYBE NOT.

DO YOU, HAVE YOU TALKED WITH

SENATOR BERGER.

>> I HAVE NOT TALKED WITH

SENATOR BERGER.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK WITH

HIM.

>> SURE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO

TALK WITH HIM.

>> HAVE YOU TRIED TO TALK WITH

HIM.

>> WE TRIED TO GET A MEETING OF

THE KEY PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNOR AND ME.

AND YOU KNOW, SENATOR BERGER

AND TOM TILLIS TOGETHER AND

THAT IS PART OF THE

COMPLICATING FACTOR AND THE

LAST TIME WHEN WE DID THIS

LEASE, WE WORKED WITH THE

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE THEY

SIGNED OFF AND THAT IS WHAT THE

LAWS ARE.

AND SO NOW, IT IS KIND OF

CONFUSING.

>> ON WHO ARE WE SUPPOSED TO

TALK TO.

>> ARE WE SUPPOSED TO TALK TO

THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE, THE GOVERNOR.

AND THE BILL THAT CAME OUT.

STILL, IN ESSENCE SAID THE

LEASE IS INVALID.

AND THEY GIVE US UNTIL APRIL OF

NEXT YEAR TO WORK WITH THE

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO COME UP

WITH A NEW DEAL.

>> IT SEEMS, UNIQUE THAT THE

STATE WOULD INVALIDATE

SOMETHING THE STATE DID --

SOMETHING THE STATE DID.

AS A MAYOR WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH

LEGISLATURE, DOES THIS SEND A

SIGNAL TO EVERY MAYOR IN THE

STATE.

BE CAREFUL WHAT THEY DO,

BECAUSE THEY MAY TURN AROUND IN

A YEAR AND SAID.

WE HAVE HAD A CHANGE OF

LEADERSHIP.

WE CHANGED OUR MIND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS.

>> I THINK.

IN BEING AWARE.

THAT OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ALSO

HAVE POWER OF CHANGING OUR

STATE CHARTER OR OUR TOWN

CHARTER.

>> SO, IT IS VITAL THAT WE WORK

WELL AND HAVE OPEN

COMMUNICATION CHANNELS WITH THE

PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US IN THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HERE

FROM VIEWERS AT TIMES.

THEY ARE SHOCKED THAT CITIES.

TOWNS, HUMANITIES, THEY CAN'T

DO -- MUNICIPALITIES AND THEY

CAN'T DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO

WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

>> RIGHT.

>> ARE WE LIKE THAT OR OTHER

STATES IN.

>> OTHER STATES.

AND HOME RULE STATE.

I MEAN.

ALL MUNICIPALITIES ARE GIVEN

THE AUTHORITY BY THE STATE.

WHICH THEY RESIDE.

IT IS JUST THAT A STATE HAS

HOME RULE, THEY HAVE A LITTLE

MORE LEEWAY IN THE DECISIONS

THEY CAN MAKE.

>> THERE ARE OTHER STATES.

AND ALL OF THEIR YOU KNOW,

ENABLING.

LEGISLATION COMES FROM THE

LEGISLATURE.

>> WE HAVE TO WORK IN CONCERT.

>> CITIES HAVE TO WORK IN

CONCERT.

>> NO REQUEST HE NO QUESTION

ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE ARE TIMES YOU WANT TO

DO THINGS.

EN AND YOU WANT THE STAMP OF

APPROVAL.

>> IT BOILS DOWN TO, WHO IS THE

CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU

KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITIES.

EVERY SINGLE DAY AND REALLY

HEAR WHAT THEY WANT.

AND WHAT THEIR COMMUNITIES

SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND SHAPE AND

GROW.

SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN

YOU ARE TRYING TO GO TO A

LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT IS NOT

INVOLVED IN THAT AND HEAR THAT

THEY WANTS TO TAKE THE POWER

AWAY FROM YOU TO MAKE THE

DECISIONS.

>> I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT

TO NOTE THAT THE METRO MAYOR'S

COALITION.

ESPECIALLY HAS BEEN VERY OPEN

IN SAYING TO THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY.

WE WANT TO BE THE CONDUIT D

BECAUSE WE ARE CLOSEST TO THE

PEOPLE.

>> ON THAT NOTE.

WE WILL TAKE A BREAK THEN WE

.

>>> WELCOME BACK.

WE ARE ON THE RECORD WITH THE

MAYOR NANCY McFARLAND AND WE

ARE GLAD BOTH OF YOU ARE HERE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

>> WHEN I MOVED HERE 19 YEARS

AGO, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT

OF TRAFFIC.

JUST YESTERDAY, I AM STUCK ON

THE ROAD TRYING TO GET INTO

DOWNTOWN AT FIVE POINTS AT

EIGHT OWE HE CLOCK IN THE

MORNING.

AND I THOUGHT WOULDN'T LIGHT

RAIL BE NICE TO TAKE ME ON INTO

WORK.

>> BOTH OF YOU WANT TO TALK

ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

YOU ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF

CHARLOTTE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR ISSUES

AND WITH THE TRANSPORTATION

BILL.

HOW DOES IT HELP OR HURT YOU.

>> WELL, WE HAVE GOT A PROPOSED

COMMUTER RAIL WHICH WE CALL THE

RED LINE THAT WE HAVE BEEN

TRYING FOR.

AT LEAST.

15 TO 18 YEARS TO TRY TO MOVE

THAT.

AND GET THAT TO BE ACTIVE.

>> IT IS NEXT TTECHNICALLY NEXT

ON THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY LIST

OR SYSTEM.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A VERY

CONGESTED I-77: THERE IS A

PROPOSAL NOW FOR MANAGED LANES

WHICH JUST PASSED WITH OUR

ORGANIZATION.

AND WHAT WE HAD BEEN TALKING

ABOUT EARLIER, IT IS NOW BECOME

A NO BRAINER THAT WE NEED A

TOTAL TRANSIT SYSTEM ALL ACROSS

THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR HAS

FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THE

NEW TRANSPORTATION BILL.

>> MAYOR McFARLAND.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE

DEBATE THAT IS GOING ON FOR A

LONG TIME.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE

ENABLING LEGISLATION WHICH WE

RECEIVED FOR THE TRIANGLE

TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

AND WE ARE STALE WAITING FOR

THE COMMISSIONERS TO PASS THE

REFERENDUM AND GET THE HALF

CENT SALES TAX IN PLACE AND IT

TALKS MORE TO, NOT ONLY THE

GROWTH WE HAVE SEEN SINCE YOU

MOVED HERE BUT THE EXPECTED

GROWTH AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE

MAPS.

>> EVERY LINE IS RED.

AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

GET OUT IN FRONT OF THAT.

AND GET A PLAN IN PLACE.

SO THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

WE GROW IN A WAY THAT WILL

SUPPORT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.

RATHER THAN HAVING TO COME BACK

AND RETROFIT SOMETHING.

WHICH IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE.

>> PEOPLE WHO NEVER EXPERIENCED

ANYTHING LIKE LIGHT RAIL.

WHY DO WE NEED THIS.

AND I WAS TALKING DURING THE

BREAK WHEN I LIVED IN DENVER.

>> 20 YEARS AGO.

THE STREETS WERE TORN UP AND

THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.

AND THE COMMUNITY COMPLAINED

ABOUT IT.

AND THEY HAVE 8,000 RIDER AS

DAY WHEN THEY OPENED.

>> IT IS CONTINUED TO GROW AND

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE

OPPORTUNITY FOR DIFFERENT MODE

OF TRAVEL SOMETIMES AND THEY

MAY TRY IT AND LIKE IT IN WAYS

THEY NEVER ANTICIPATED.

WE ALSO SHOULD NOTE AND WE ARE

TALKING ABOUT THE POINT OF VIEW

FROM METRO PAIR.

BUT WE KNOW IT IS VERY VITAL

FOR THE RURAL AREAS TO REACH

THE JOBS IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES

AND SO, IT IS NOT JUST GOING

OUT OR GOING IN.

>> IT IS BOTH.

AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO

REALIZE THAT OCCURS WITH THE

RAIL AND THE IT OCCURS WITH THE

HIGHWAYS.

AND EVEN THE SMALLER ROADS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A GIVE AND

TAKE.

AND THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT

PART, I THINK OF THE

TRANSPORTATION BILL.

>> I AM CURIOUS FOR BOTH OF

YOU.

THIS IS A PERSONAL/POLITICAL

QUESTION.

>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE MAYOR?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS IT

WAS SUSAN CLUTCH WHO SAID IT

BEST WHEN WE MET AT THE

GOVERNOR'S MANSION A COUPLE OF

MONTHS AGO.

SHE HAD BEEN ASKED, AS WE

PROBABLY HAVE BOTH BEEN ASKED.

DO WE HE WANT TO RUN FOR HIGHER

OFFICE AND MY PERSONAL FEELING

IS THAT SUSAN SAID THIS.

THERE IS NO HIGHER OFFICE.

THAT THE GOOD THINGS THAT CAN

HAPPEN IN THE CHANGE.

THAT CAN BE MADE.

>> I BELIEVE HAPPENS AT THE

LOCAL LEVEL.

>> I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT

THAT.

AND THE REWARDS ARE IMMENSE

WHEN YOU SEE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN

FOR YOUR TOWN.

>> MAYOR McFAR INLAND IT

REALLY IS.

>> IT REALLY IS TO ME.

IT IS THE WAY THE COMMUNITY

COMES TOGETHER AND FROM FAITH

COMMUNITIES TO NEIGHBORHOOD

COMMUNITIES AND NONPROFITS AND

THEY HAVE THE A GREAT

COLLECTIVE GOAL AND THE CHANGES

WE HAVE SEEN.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT YOU COULD BE

PART OF THAT.

AND HELP MAKE THAT BETTER AND

BETTER.

>> SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN

HERE A LONG TIME IS RUSSELL

ALLEN.

CITY MANAGER OF RALEIGH.

PRAISED BY MANY.

AND CRITICIZED BY SOME.

>> YOU FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME

FOR A CHANGE.

>> YES.

>> CAN YOU SHED MORE LIGHT ON A

MAN WHO APPEARS TO HAVE DONE A

PRETTY GOOD JOB OVER THE YEARS.

YOU SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> WELL, AND YOU KNOW, HE HAS

DONE I HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU

KNOW, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING

THAT HE HAS DONE AND HE WAS THE

PERFECT CITY MANAGER FOR THE

LAST 12 YEARS BUT RALEIGH IS

CHANGING A GREAT DEAL AND WE

ARE GOING TO BE FACING SOME

REAL CHALLENGES IN THE NEXT

YEAR ANDS COUNCIL AS A WHOLE

FELT THERE WERE SKILLS WE NOTED

AND APPRECIATED AND WORKED

REALLY WELL THEN, THAT THOSE

WERE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME

SORT OF SKILLS WE NEED TO LEAD

US FORWARD.

>> SO THE BROUHAHA OVER PARKING

SPACES.

>> IT IS SILLY.

>> IT SEEMED SILLY.

>> IT TELLS YOU THAT, YOU KNOW,

THROUGH THOUSANDS OF E-MAIL IT

IS OR WHAT EVER, THEY WENT

THROUGH AND THEY COULD FIND

SOMETHING ABOUT A PARKING

SPACE.

IT REALLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT TRIVIALIZED

SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL

TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> YOU HOPE TO HAVE A NEW CITY

MANAGER S PERMANENT MANAGER IN

PLACE BY WHEN?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE

DISCUSSIONS WE WILL BE HAVING

NEXT.

TO LOOK AT THE MAP.

>> WE HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT

SOONER THAN LATER AND IT IS

REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THE WORK

ON THE FRONT END AND DEVELOP

THE PROFILE AND YOU GET THE

RIGHT PERSON ON THE BACK.

AND I AM HOPING BY, SOMEWHERE

BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER.

>> YOU HOPE TO HAVE US RUNNING

IN THE PARK KNOWN AS DOROTHEA

DIX.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL HAVE A BIG CELEBRATION.

>> THEN, WE WILL HAVE A

COMMUTER RAIL OR LIGHT RAIL AND

OUR PEOPLE CAN HOLD IT.

>> DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.

>> MAYOR JO SWAIN, THANK YOU

FOR BEING HERE.

>> MAYOR FICK FAR LAND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO

THE COMMUNITIES AND TO THE

STATE AND BEST OF LUCK IN THE

FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM

YOU.

TWEET US AT TWITTER.COM/WRAL,

SNAIL MAIL.

POST OFFICE BOX 12,000 RALEIGH,

2,625.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN.

AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT