On Wednesday, a diverse coalition of community and business leaders announced the launch of Yes For Meck, a nonpartisan education campaign that supports the proposed 1-cent Mecklenburg County sales tax to fund transportation investments across our region. The campaign’s mission is to inform voters about the vital role this referendum plays in enhancing mobility, safety, sustainability, and economic opportunity throughout the region.
The campaign kicked off on Wednesday with an event attended by community, civic, and business leaders who support the transportation plan. Speakers included Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles; Campaign Co-Chairs Gene Woods and CEO of Advocate Health, David Longo, CEO of CBI Workforce Solutions and CLT Alliance Chair; Robyn Hamilton, CEO of Urban League, as well as community supporters.
“The Yes For Meck referendum moves our economy forward while also connecting people. This investment will help us attract and keep top talent, serve our clients more effectively, and strengthen the business ecosystem that has made Charlotte a national success story,” said Longo.
“Over the past three decades, I have seen Charlotte grow from a regional banking hub into a major league city. Now we must bring our transportation network up to the same level. The plan’s 40 percent investment in road improvements, 20 percent in buses, and 40 percent in rail creates a balanced system that serves residents and businesses across the county,” said Longo.
We are at a turning point for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. As shared by Robert McCutcheon, CLT Alliance CEO, 157 people are moving to the region every day. With a projected population growth of more than 50% in the next two decades, new opportunities arise, but so do significant demands on our infrastructure and mobility. Without strategic investments in infrastructure, this growth will inevitably lead to increased congestion and a decline in access, affordability, and economic mobility.
Investing in the county’s transportation infrastructure is crucial for relieving congestion, connecting the region, and expanding opportunities for residents. The proposed transportation plan, which will be funded by the referendum, will connect individuals to jobs, schools, essential services, and entertainment around the region. The plan empowers businesses to tap into a wider labor pool, stimulating economic mobility and fostering the development of more walkable, interconnected, and livable communities.
Community leaders shared their support and immediate need for the proposed 1-cent Mecklenburg County sales tax. “The future of Charlotte Mecklenburg depends on the choices we make right now. We can build a transportation system that truly reflects our values of equity, sustainability, and opportunity,” said Shannon Binns, Founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte. “This plan represents the chance to turn years of advocacy into action.”
Marlon Stover of Lions Services, an advocate for organizations that employ visually impaired community members, left the crowd impacted by his passionate plea for support. He said, “This plan is affordable, it’s accessible, and it opens real opportunity for blind and visually impaired people in our community to thrive. I can’t imagine the next 30 years if we turn back and don’t see this through. It may sound unusual, but with the progress we’re making and the doors this plan can open, it truly is a wonderful time to be blind.”
“Many of us walk on roads with no sidewalks and we wait at bus stops with no shelter, and when service breaks down, everything breaks down-work, child care, appointments, and our peace of mind,” said East Charlotte resident and member of the Public Transit Advisory Committee, Juan Contreras Juarez. “This is why this campaign matters. The transportation plan in front of us will help fix what has been broken for too long.”
Yes For Meck encourages all voters to educate themselves on the November referendum and vote yes. Visit yesformeck.com to learn more. Follow Yes For Meck on social media channels:
- Instagram: @yesformeck
- Facebook: @yesformeck
- LinkedIn: Yes for Meck
- X: @yesformeck
