theCLog

South Carolina’s governor has been a naughty boy.

In a press conference today, Mark Sanford, aka “runaway governor,” admitted to having an affair. According to The Charlotte Observer, he resigned as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, apologized to his wife and his staff and looked like an asshole while doing it all.

Sanford admits that his affair was with a friend from Argentina. And guess where the governor has been for the past five days?

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I will admit that I’m not PETA freak. Hell, I don’t really like dogs. So, I was one of those people who thought his sentence for dog fighting was way too extreme.

Then here’s the news that Donte Stallworth, who was driving drunk and killed a man in Miami, will spend one month in jail.

One month for a human life?

Twenty-four months for some dogs?

This makes no sense. Dogs can be replaced –and I know I’m going to get pounded for this. Dogs aren’t people and they don’t have families. Sure some pet owners treat Cujo like he’s a member of the family, but Mario Reyes will never see his family again.

His children and grand children will never talk to him, hug him or spend Christmas with him.

Stallworth could’ve called a cab. He could’ve had a limo pick him up from the hotel bar where he’d been drinking. But he decided to drive and endanger the lives of humans –not dogs.

One month in jail.

Some cash.

That’s the cost of a human life.

Two years in federal prison.

All of his money and his career.

That’s the value of dogs.

Our values are very messed up.

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Charlotte, somebody is mad at blacks and whites and it’s written all over Uptown’s utility boxes.

I wonder how long will it before this ends up as breaking news on TV. Better yet, when will this get washed away?

If you want to see these boxes for yourself, start on 12th Street.

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The man who used Craigslist to arrange for his wife to be raped was a sick ass dude.

And this is according to reports that have come out since the shocking case came to light.

The Charlotte Observer reports that:

According to the court document, the wife and her husband were in bed and confronted at about 2 a.m. by a 6-foot-tall assailant wielding a knife. He demanded $3,000. The wife said she had only a few hundred dollars.

“… the suspect said that was not enough and that he would get the money from her one way or the other,” the investigating officer wrote in the affidavit. “(The victim) stated that she was afraid for her children who were in another room directly across from her room.”

At the hospital, the victim described the events to the investigator.

“She also stated that her husband’s sexual fantasy is having sex with her and another male,” the investigator wrote in the affidavit. “She said that she has checked her husband’s e-mail in the past and found e-mail communication where he was requesting someone to please her.”

This man should be in jail and in therapy. Hiring someone to rape your wife isn’t about sexual fantasy–especially since your wife was not a willing participant.

Now this woman is left with the mental scars that are caused by sexual assaults. It’s made worse by the fact that the man who vowed to love and protect her made this happen.

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The death of a Rock Hill teenager and the decision not to charge police in the matter shows a troubling trend.

If you are in a blue uniform, you can get away with murder.

When police officers signed up for this job, they knew they would be taking a risk. If you’re too scared to do your job without reaching for your gun first, Harris Tetter may be hiring.

CMPD has done it’s share of “killing.” An officer was suspended for a few days after his improper use of a taser killed a teenager at a north Charlotte Food Lion in March, 2008.

In June, 2008, a CMPD officer shot a man in the back after he ran from the officer. The police said the man had a gun, but witnesses dispute that claim. The officer was never charged. Neither was the officer who shot a 16 year old in the back in east Charlotte in November, 2007.

Across the nation, trigger happy police men also get off with little or no consequences–even when they shoot one of their own.

A sergeant and two plainclothes officers in an unmarked police car saw the pursuit and made a U-turn to follow the men, Kelly said. One of the officers, identified Friday morning as Dunton, jumped out of the car and fired six times, hitting Edwards three times.

“The officer jumps out of the car. He decides to tell the officer that got killed something. The black guy that was in his car decides to take off running and then I hear four shots,” said Cardona.

Kelly said Edwards, who was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest, did not fire his weapon. He died at the Harlem Hospital Center about an hour after the shooting.

Maybe police departments ought to start signing up criminals to patrol to the streets. How is that any different than what’s going on now?

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An e-mail from the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence is asking for people call their state representative about cuts that are expected to be made to the programs designed to help protect victims of domestic violence.

The House still has not finalized recommendations for the budget so there is still time to contact House members TODAY! Please ask the House members listed below to restore the cuts that the Senate made to domestic violence funding. Thank you!

UPDATE: Your calls and e-mails are working! The House is under pressure to START with the cuts included in the Senate Budget which is a 6.4% cut to the domestic violence grants (as originally included in last year’s budget before cuts). However, they have expressed concerns about cutting our line item because of your calls. We expect a final recommendation from the General Government sub-committee today or tomorrow.

It is not too late to contact the members listed in this e-mail. Please keep up the pressure NOT TO CUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATE GRANT FUNDING! We need to maintain last year’s funding level (before cuts) as included in Governor Perdue’s budget. Thank you for your help!
NCCADV BUDGET ACTION ALERT
The Senate budget proposes devastating cuts to domestic violence programs by reducing all grants administered by the Council for Women/DV Commission by 6.4% (from the original amount in last year’s budget). At a time when the demand for services is steadily increasing due to the economic downtown, we cannot afford to make these cuts.
The House members are in the process of preparing their budget. We must contact key members of the House and ask them to restore these cuts so that essential services can be provided to domestic violence victims and their children.
Please contact the Chairs of the Appropriations Committee and the members of the General Government sub-committee (list below) and ask them to restore funding to domestic violence programs in the House budget. Let them know how cuts in funding will affect your program.
Talking Points

Approximately 90 local domestic violence programs in the state provide crisis intervention services for all 100 counties, including emergency shelter, crisis counseling, court advocacy and support groups.

At least 576 women, children, and men have been murdered as a result of domestic violence in NC from January 1, 2002 – April 19, 2009, according to information collected by NCCADV.

Attorney General Roy Cooper released a report in March 2009 stating that 131 domestic violence related homicides were committed in calendar year 2008. http://www.ncdoj.com/getdoc/b3b17042-810c-4cf6-9756-f33c6d13b227/2009-DV-Homicide-Report-Final.aspx

In FY 2007, local domestic violence programs served over 41,000 victims and responded to over 101,000 crisis line calls, according to the Council for Women/ Domestic Violence Commission.

The demand for services increases during an economic downturn. As financial stress increases for families, violence in the home often escalates.

Children who witness violence in the home are much more likely to continue the cycle of violence in the next generation.

Nationally, the cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year. Investing in services saves money.

Investing in critical life-saving services is a smart choice for North Carolina because this will not only save lives, but will also save money.

House Appropriations Chairs (click on name for contact information):

Senior Chairman Rep. Michaux
Chairman Rep. M. Alexander
Chairman Rep. Crawford
Chairman Rep. Haire
Chairman Rep. Jeffus
Chairman Rep. Tolson
Chairman Rep. Yongue

General Government Appropriations Committee (click on name for contact information):

Chairman Rep. Fisher
Chairman Rep. Underhill
Vice Chairman Rep. Steen
Vice Chairman Rep. Tucker
Members Rep. Brown , Rep. Cleveland, Rep. E. Floyd, Rep. Mills, Rep. Whilden

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Over the weekend, CMPD searched for a carjacker who beat a driver who had stopped at a red light at the corner of East W. T. Harris and The Plaza.

Officers said while the victim was at the stoplight, a man with a gun jumped in the passenger side door and started smashing the gun into the victim’s face. The gunman then forced the driver to drive to a nearby ATM and withdraw money.

Police said when the robber decided it wasn’t enough money, he started beating the victim again. Then he ran away. Neighbors in are on edge after the bold carjacking. Chris Anderson lives in the area and he said it’s scary to hear about this violent robbery. “You have to be aware of what’s going on around,” said Anderson. Officers said people need to be aware of their surroundings so something like this doesn’t happen to them. They suggest locking doors while driving and paying attention to what’s going on outside the car. Learned about the violent carjacking. He said he carries a gun for protection everywhere he goes, even at a stoplight. “If you open that door, you’ll get yourself killed. I’m not taking no chances,” said Paul.

If you didn’t already ride through the city with your doors locked, you should. Many newer cars lock the doors when you put the car in drive.

And despite the fact that police say crime is dropping in the city, we are in a recession and desperate times cause people to act out of desperation. No one is taking sympathy with the criminals, but don’t make yourself a victim. If you don’t have a criminal record, why not get yourself a gun and keep it in your car?

Law-abiding citizens need to start fighting back. But before you start shooting at people, use common sense.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Even if the person has the good looks of Denzel Washington, keep driving.

If you see someone broke down in the middle of the street, call 9-1-1 before you decide to help. There have been robberies and murders where the criminal used a “broken-down” car as an excuse to lure in a victim.

If you do get a gun, learn how to use it. You don’t want to get killed with your own weapon.

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Though Prop 8 is a hot button issue in California, gays around the country have a vested interest in the outcome of the California Supreme Court’s recent ruling not to overturn the anti-gay measure.

The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality will hold a rally this evening to bring awareness to equality issues.

Here’s their press release:

The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) will hold a Friday rally at Marshall Park and march through Uptown to the Government Center, to raise awareness on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) equality issues. The event is a direct response to the May 26, 2009, California Supreme Court ruling upholding the anti-gay Proposition 8. The rally and march will feature several local speakers, including a lesbian couple married in California prior to Proposition 8’s passage in November.

During the Friday event, CRANE will urge supporters to sign a petition in support of a resolution to be presented at the June 1, 2009 City Council Citizens’ Forum. The resolution asks Charlotte leaders to go on record supporting the right of same-sex couples to enter into legally-recognized, civil marriages. Similar resolutions have already been approved by the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils, and the City Council of Durham.

CRANE members will be present to show their support of the resolution at the Citizens’ Forum. Supporters will wear red shirts or other articles of clothing to signify their support. The full text of the proposed resolution can be read at  www.rainbowaction.org/taking-a-stand-bringing-it-home/

FRIDAY RALLY & MARCH SCHEDULE

5:30 p.m. : Rally at Marshall Park. Speakers include CRANE members, local LGBTQI and straight ally leaders.

6:15 p.m. : March through Uptown.
Route: West on 3rd St. from Marshall Park, North on Tryon St., West on Trade St., South on Davidson St., ending at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center at 600 E. 4th St.

After march rally and picket at Government Center and plaza (4th St. side). Includes speakers.

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The older and probably-should’ve-known-better woman involved in a fatal car crash police say was a result of an illegal street race, had her bond reduced today, according to News 36.

A judge has reduced bond for a driver allegedly involved in a street race that killed three people.

Carlene Atkinson is now being held on $900,000 bond. Before the court hearing on Thursday, Atkinson’s bond had been set at $3 million.

Atkinson is charged with three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Cynthia Furr, Furr’s 2-year-old daughter and 13-year-old Hunter Holt.

In court Thursday, Holt’s father argued against a lower bond for Atkinson, saying that she was a risk to the community.

The judge said if Atkinson posts bond, she will be under house arrest and not allowed to drive.

Also during the court hearing on Thursday new details came out about the alleged street race.

Atkinson is accused of racing 20-year-old Tyler Stasko. Prosecutors said Stasko and Atkinson apparently began racing at Carowinds. The race reached speeds up to 100 mph, according to a passenger in Stasko’s car who survived the crash.

Atkinson, her 13-year-old daughter, Hunter Holt and the second passenger in Stasko’s car had all been at Carowinds before the racing began.

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Call it Northlake’s attempt not to become the next Eastland Mall, or call it a wakeup for parents who think shopping centers are their damned nanny.

Northlake Mall now requires anyone under 18 to have adult supervision on Fridays and Saturdays.

Here’s the press release from the mall:

In an effort to help ensure continued safety, Northlake Mall will begin requiring that anyone under the age of 18 be accompanied by a supervising adult 21 years of age or older on Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m. The new policy, which was developed in consultation with community leaders throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg, goes into effect on June 12.

“Over the past year we have had a significant number of youth in the Mall on Friday and Saturday evenings without adult supervision,” said Phil Morosco, general manager of Northlake Mall, a 1.1 million-square-foot regional shopping center in north Charlotte.  “When you have such a large amount of unsupervised youngsters together, it is difficult to provide a safe environment. We believe that an adult supervision policy is in everyone’s best interests – safety must always be our No. 1 priority.”

In developing the adult supervision policy, Northlake Mall management sought the advice of business and community leaders and law enforcement.

“One of the most important challenges we face in Charlotte-Mecklenburg today is providing meaningful activities for our young people when they are not in school,” said James Mitchell Jr., District 2 representative on Charlotte City Council. “The safety situation that has developed at Northlake Mall is a reflection of this challenge, and I commend the Mall on implementing a policy that is fair and responsive and which has the best interests of our community as its primary goal.”

Northlake Mall also studied similar programs at shopping centers throughout the region and across the country. The Mall has incorporated best practices from those centers into its policy.

“A growing number of shopping centers have successfully implemented adult supervision policies that have been well received by community leadership, shoppers and retailers,” Morosco said. “There is heightened awareness everywhere concerning the safety of children and teens, which is reflected in our new policy.”

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