Will everyone who supports the Red Line please raise your hand?

NC Speaker Thom Tillis spoke at the North Mecklenburg Republican Women's meeting on Monday night.  One of the more interesting moments occurred when someone asked if he supported the Red Line.

His initial response was to ask all RLRR supporters to raise their hands.  Not a single hand shot up.  Then a few sort of inched up - a little.  None of the candidates for office who were in the room put their hands up.  None.


That struck me as odd because at least one candidate for NC Senate 41 has been a vocal backer of the project. 

Other interesting points included...

Recognition that several other counties in the state are vying for mass transit dollars - Wake, Guilford, and Buncomb counties for example.  Generally, RLRR support sounded like a tough sell in the Legislature.

Speaker Tillis also tossed around the idea of local option sales taxes which require a vote of the people as a different way to fund infrastructure projects at a regional level rather than through the State.  These taxes are used to fund specific efforts and then sunset when the project is paid off.

Personally, this second idea of local option sales taxes is rather appealing.  Yes, we've already voted on the existing 1/2 cent transit tax, but now the plan has changed dramatically.  Another vote on funding rail would be appropriate since future property taxes which impact all citizens will be supporting this project in a significant way.  More on this subject at a later date.