12/20/09

This is why we need newspapers

I didn't get to spend a ton of time with the Sunday Observer today, but two stories on the front page blew me away, and offered yet another reminder as to why newspapers are so valuable.

First, the story on the ridulously overpaid nonproft execs was an excellent piece of grunt-work investigative journalism. It takes hours of poring over tax forms, cultivating sources, and, yes, the occasional anonymous tip to uncover information like that. This is not sexy, United Way stuff. These are largely unknown charities, some not even in Charlote proper. But the salaries these people are making is a clear abuse of power, not to mention donor or taxpayer dollars. And you may think, well, yeah, but these... Read more »

Posted at 09:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

12/15/09

What goes around, comes around

Charlotte got more than its fair share of good press over the years. Now, the story has changed

Posted at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments: 6

12/08/09

Will Anthony Foxx be an impractical leader? I hope so

I watched most of the city council and mayoral swearing-in ceremonies on television last night, although I admit turning off the tube after the last of the new council members spoke. Lassiter and McCrory both gave excellent, classy farewell speeches--just what we've come to expect from each.

But I thought Anthony Foxx's speech was the most interesting. He covered the usual ground--thanking his predecessors, sharing his personal history, job creation, public safety. But he also confronted the issues of homelessness and education. In fact, that's where he showed the most emotion.

For the October issue, I wrote a short column titled "Being Impractical." In it, I... Read more »

Posted at 09:59 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

12/01/09

Tiger Woods should have listened to his elders

For the May/June 1997 issue of Charlotte mag, I wrote a story about Revolution Park Golf Course, a nine-holer on the West side where I (sort of) learned the game. I began the piece with a clubhouse scene:

"That Tiger Woods, now he's gonna be something if they can just keep the women off him."

"Hell, the boy's only twenty years old!"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about! He's twenty years old and he's got all that stuff just flowing in him, just oozing out of his skin. What's that called? Starts with a p, pu something..."

"Puberty?"

"Yeah, that's it. That's what I'm... Read more »

Posted at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0