CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new Charlotte City Council is sworn in Monday, Dec. 4, with familiar faces filling all but one seat.
Newcomer Tiawana Brown will be representing Charlotte's District 3. Brown is replacing Victoria Watlington, who will now serve in an at-large position on the council.
Watlington and Councilman Tariq Bokhari appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint, outlining their priorities for the new council.
"We've got a lot to do," Bokhari said.
Council faces a shortened term this year because of delayed census data, so Bokhari and Watlington expressed an interest in tackling a lot of ongoing issues.
"It's housing, it's economic mobility, it's transportation," said Watlington, who is a Democrat.
For years, the city has struggled to create more affordable housing. And, until recently, its sweeping transportation plan remained stalled with few glimmers of hope.
Bokhari, one of two Republicans on the council, said public safety was his priority. He said this includes increasing officer morale and cracking down on crimes.
"It also has to include a real hard, yet empathetic look at homelessness and aggressive panhandling," he said.
Council members are sworn in Monday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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