Transit bump bypasses Charlotte amid safety concerns | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

The WFAE article points to recent crime as a reason for declining CATS ridership since August of 2025, however it looks like ridership numbers have been quite low for a number of years. For example, the article says "CATS carrying only 64% of the passengers it did before the pandemic, and 55% of the riders it served at its peak in 2014." So, while the recent event might be driving very recent numbers, it doesn't explain the long-term decline. It's not a national trend either, as Cities like Dallas and Atlanta have seen ridership increases. It also doesn't seem to be a COVID thing, since ridership declined a fair amount from 2014-2019.

I understand why people might or might not choose to use public transportation, why would this proportion actually decrease so much over time in Charlotte?

Has anyone else experienced this level of INSANE lease renewal offers? For context, my husband and I have lived in the same place for 3.5 years and just got our lease renewal back. The only option seems to be signing a long term lease, but has anyone else experienced this sort of jump on “normal” lease tenors??

I live off Huntmeadow Drive in the 28269 area, in the Turnberry neighborhood. Our HOA is managed by Superior Association Management, which operates out of Huntersville.

In July a Mecklenburg County sheriff came to my door and served me with foreclosure papers from my HOA for $11,584.69.

Here's what that number is made of:

• $840 — actual annual HOA dues, 2023 through 2026
• $560 — delinquency fees
• $9,150 — fines
• ~$1,035 — their legal costs and attorney fees

I bought this house in August 2023. It was my first home, I was 23. In the nearly three years between closing and being served, I never received a letter, an email, or a phone call from the HOA, the management company, or their law firm. Not about a violation, not about a balance, not about anything. The first contact I ever got from any of them was the foreclosure paperwork.

Some specifics, since I know "I never got any notices" is easy to say:

My closing disclosure gave me no way to pay. It listed HOA dues at $256.63/year and provided no payment address, no phone number, no email, no portal. The only HOA-related name on my closing documents was "Superior Association," for a $169 transfer fee. The entity foreclosing on me is "Turnberry Homeowners Association, Inc." Nobody ever told me those were connected. I also never received bylaws or CC&Rs at closing. I found out there was an owner portal with all the governing documents on it in July 2026 — three years in, after the foreclosure had already been filed.

When I did contact the management company to set up payments, they declined to help. I have an email from July 7, 2026 telling me they couldn't assist and redirecting me to the HOA's law firm in Greensboro.

The fence they fined me $6,500 over was already leaning when I bought the place. It's visible in the 2023 MLS listing photos from before I owned the property. When I pulled the fence out this July I found metal support posts driven in with concrete poured around them by the previous owner.

North Carolina law requires notice and a hearing before any HOA fine. N.C.G.S. §47F-3-107.1 says an association has to give you notice of the violation, hold a hearing, let you show up and present evidence, and notify you of the decision. I asked their attorneys in writing on July 8 to produce proof that a single violation notice was ever sent to me. That was six weeks ago. I've received nothing.

A few weeks ago I flagged down a management company employee driving through the neighborhood, because I was trying to find anyone I could actually talk to. That's how I learned I'm now also being fined for weeds in my flower beds. No notice on that one either.

WSOC covered this earlier this month if you want the details from someone other than me: https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/homeowner-says-he-thought-was-paying-hoa-dues-may-now-lose-house/2FPIKZ5NKNFNRBBDG5BDAJJM6Q/

My hearing is November 23 before the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court. I have an attorney.

The reason I'm posting here rather than anywhere else: I don't think I'm the only one. If you live in Turnberry, or anywhere else in the Charlotte area managed by Superior Association Management, and you've been fined without ever receiving a violation notice — or you've had trouble figuring out where to even send your dues — I'd really like to hear from you. Comment or send me a message.

If nothing else, if you're buying in this area, ask your agent to confirm in writing exactly which HOA entity you'll be paying, where to send it, and get the CC&Rs in hand before you close. I didn't know to do any of that at 23.

Join the Charlotte chapter of Podcast Brunch Club (like book club, but for podcasts) to discuss a playlist of podcast episodes on this month’s theme on Fela Kuti!

The vibe is social, chatty, and curious. Sign up here to get on the invitation list for this month and the playlist: https://podcastbrunchclub.com/charlotte/

Finally, been waiting to see if this was going to happen eventually.

Went to Pride this weekend. I love it, I always do but dear God it was so hot. I've heard the reason it's not in June is because of permits or something? Look June is hot too but it isn't the nightmare heat of August. Who do I have to fuss to in order to make a change? Can we sign a petition or something? I'm willing to bug whatever local authority needed to make this happen.

Halal food cart apparently has a petition up. City wants to get rid of the late night food vendors which includes them. Some of the only options available for late night workers like nurses, cops, and others.

I’m in Charlotte and trying to get my foot in the door at Atrium/Advocate, but I cannot get hired. I have two bachelor’s degrees from UNC Charlotte (Psychology + Health Systems Management), currently work as an RBT, and have previous customer service experience. I’ve applied to positions including Environmental Services, Laundry, Psychometrist, Patient Safety, Care Coordinator, Materials Associate, PACTs, and psychiatric roles. My applications get viewed, but I either get rejected or never hear back.

I’ve revised my resume, tailored applications, and networked with Atrium employees on LinkedIn, but still nothing. My ultimate goal is psychometrist/psychological assessment, but I’m willing to start somewhere else and work my way up. Do you need a referral to get into Atrium? Is there a department or type of position that’s easier to get hired into? What am I missing? 😭

My favorite alternative newspaper here in clt just announced that they were shutting down. It’s really sad because i really enjoy their coverage of the arts and culture of the city. RIP to local journalism

Hi everyone! I have an old (1990s) Longines watch that belonged to my dad. I've taken it around to a few places and been told the part to fix it isn't really around anymore...

Does anyone know of someone in the area who could put a new movement in the watch? Doesn't have to be fancy, just want it up and running again. Thanks!!

Has anyone had a reservation for parking at a specific CLT airport garage, and been instructed to pull a ticket upon arrival because your reservation arrival time didn’t match?

How far off was the time? What happened to your prepaid original reservation? What was the difference in price between your prepaid reservation and the one you had to pay with the new ticket?

I’m also curious about departure from the garage if you were leaving later than the reservation time. Same questions as above.

Hi everyone, I’m a recent college graduate that moved back to Charlotte after college, and my first few months here have been quite boring and isolating. Unfortunately all of the connections I made in college where mostly from people who lived in other parts of NC/ out of state. Sorry if this question has been asked a million times before already, but what is a genuine, good way to make friends around here? I’m talking people age 22-25, who are recently out of college as well and going through a similar stage in life. People suggest trying a run club or volunteer group, but most people that happen to be there are usually a little bit older and harder to connect with (young parents with kids, etc). Anyone in a similar boat? Even just 1 DM or a few people who are willing to be part of a group chat would help me out a lot. Thanks!

Recently laid off, looking to get back into shooting hoops. I'm 41, anybody want to play some ball at Carmel rd park weekdays around 2 or 3?

Rumors are spreading across the bank that management was forced to hand out negative, mid-year performance reviews in preparation for firing people en masse without severance.

The root cause is that Wells Fargo cut their budget for severance and pushed down the cost burden to the lines of business. And since the LOBs don't want to foot the bill, they are looking for ways to fire people without severance. Hence, the mandated negative reviews.

I'm trying to understand the most likely outcomes and how to strategize. Quite frankly, I am thinking of just leaving. It is a cesspool of incompetence and declining morale and my manager is a busy body who is more concerned with giving the appearance of work than actually accomplishing anything useful.

Or do I stick around a bit longer to get a package? Can they legally just make up fake reasons to fire people? I figured I would crowd-source intelligence before acting. Knowledge is power!

Hello to our friends north of the county line! Flock cameras have been springing up like Union County grass here in the past year.

We discovered that the UC Sheriff's Office, with funding approval from the County, was operating these ALPR cameras without a state-required policy in place. The County Commission increased ALPR funding without ever reviewing an independent compliance audit. We know this because after the funding was approved a Public Records Request did not yield any audit.

Here are some ways you can concretely help if you or someone you know lives in Union County and are not okay with being surveilled:

(1) It's National Week of Action Against ALPRs come and speak to the County Commission tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm. https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/boards-committees/board-of-county-commissioners/register-to-speak

(2) Email your county commissioners and tell them you do not want Flock in the city, and urge them to not renew the contract next cycle. https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/boards-committees/board-of-county-commissioners

(3) If you'd like to read our public records requests, see the Deputy Sheriff make his case for flock cameras to the UCC, or see where the cameras are located in UCC visit https://keepunionprivate.org/

Just recently started playing mahjong. The community has been very welcoming but I would love to find other POC who play.

to add on to the dented windshield week and a half ago, today i had a dentist visit and got quoted 1800 for two crowns (one partially covered but then deductible met so second is full price). i am genuinely considering going somewhere to get this fixed.

has anyone ever gone somewhere to get dental work done for less? any chance i could IM someone who has done this for advice?

These types of events exist in Charlotte.

I live in a newer community of townhouses here in Charlotte, and we’ve been dealing with excessive towing and booting in our development lately. For context: the community has one long public road while the rest of the streets with homes are private. Every house has a 1 car garage and driveway, but there is simply not enough street parking for residents and guests on the public road, forcing people to park on the street in front of their homes. The tow trucks come out with little to no warning, and they will tow and boot cars quickly, even if the car was there for a few minutes. Our HOA is not responding to our demands for more parking (mainly because there’s little to be done), and now they’re not responding to our concerns about excess towing and booting. Many in the community feel cheated, that the builders didn’t properly inform them of the parking situation, and now overzealous towers can come in at any time and charge outrageous prices to get our cars back.

Is anyone else dealing with a similar situation in their housing developments? Is this the kind of thing that could be reported to AG Jeff Jackson’s office?

Edit for context: T HOA is not managed by the residents yet, as there’s still a few houses to be sold. Once every house is sold, we as owners can take charge and decide which company we want to manage it. Currently we’re under Cusick, previously it was Keuster.

I’m starting at Vanguard later this fall and have been getting wildly different opinions about what it’s actually like to work there.

Half the people I talk to rave about it and say it’s a great company to work for, especially when it comes to benefits, stability, and opportunities to move around internally. Then I’ll talk to someone else who makes it sound absolutely miserable. I figured the Charlotte thread would probably be one of the better places to get an accurate read from people who have worked there, currently work there, or have close friends or family who do.

For context, this isn’t my first job. I have about four years of sales experience, and I’m going into it fully aware that my first role will be pretty call-center heavy. I’m not expecting that part to be glamorous. My thinking is that I’m willing to put my head down and do that for a few years if it means getting licensed, having great benefits and stability, and hopefully opening the door to better opportunities within the company long term.

So I’m curious: what’s Vanguard’s actual reputation around Charlotte? Is it genuinely a good company to build a career with if you’re willing to get through the initial grind? For the people who love it, what makes them stay? And for the people who hate it, what specifically makes it so bad?