They Admit To Their Broken Promises
As the years have gone by, we’re reminded of something much larger than a calendar: we’ve been watching the countdown on public trust.
Charlotte’s leaders want you to believe that a new 1% sales tax, a TRIPLING of the transit tax that was supposed to deliver the Red Line to North Meck these past 25 years, is the path to redemption for a transit system long mired in failure. But behind the polished talking points and campaign slogans is a deeper truth: one that even they openly admit.
In a recent meeting, At-Large County Commissioner Leigh Altman laid bare what many of us have known for decades:
After 25 years, “Charlotte couldn't deliver it.”
Charlotte Couldn't Deliver It
Let that sink in. A quarter century. Five mayors. Multiple plans. Billions in spending. And still, no Red Line. And where did that money go? Buses in North Meck have been cut. Bus shelters throughout the city are largely non-existent or worn down. Safety, which costs 3x as much, is virtually non-existent.
This is not the first time Charlotte has made transit promises. It won’t be the first time they’ve asked residents to “invest” more. And if history is any guide, it won’t be the last time those promises are quietly broken once the check is cashed.
We’ve heard it all before:
- “This will fix the system.”
- “It’s a small price to pay.”
- “This time is different.”
But year after year, riders still stand in the rain without shelters. Routes are cut. Trains stall. Communities that rely on transit are not just overlooked, they’re forcibly removed through displacement. And the people making the decisions? They don’t even ride.
The Trust Deficit
Now, those same decision-makers want voters to believe they’ve changed, without offering a single binding safeguard, accountability measure, or structural reform. Just more promises.
How do you rebuild trust with the public? Not by repeating the same cycle that created the distrust in the first place.
This referendum isn’t just about a penny on the dollar. It’s about credibility. It’s about whether a government that admits to 25 years of failure has earned the right to demand more, from families already trying to make every dollar stretch.
The Real Question:
How much more time and money are we expected to give to a system that keeps breaking its word?
The truth is, time’s up. Not on public transit, but on giving blank checks to those who keep writing broken promises.
When you vote, remember: You’re not just voting on a tax. You’re voting on trust.
And after 25 years, the burden of proof isn’t on the public anymore. It’s on those asking for more of your money.