Mayor Roberts focuses on transportation, public safety in state of city address

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts wrapped up her state of the city address Monday morning.

Roberts addressed senior students at her alma mater East Meck High School.

She placed a major focus on transportation, public safety, affordable housing and jobs.

Roberts looked back at the number of challenges the city faced in 2016, including riots that followed the Keith Scott shooting and the need to rebuild trust between police and the community.

She said she plans to follow through on promises the council made to the community, one of which was giving subpoena power to the citizen review board, the group that oversees officers’ misconduct.

Roberts also wants to implement former Pres. Barack Obama’s 21-century policing task force, as well as the city's commitment to investing $1 million into a workforce program designed to help those with barriers to employment.

She talked in length about Charlotte being an inclusive city, and the need to repeal House Bill Two.

"I think we recognize that some rural areas have different needs. Just let cities be cities. Greensboro, Wilmington, are feeling the same challenges with HB2 still in place,” Roberts said.

Roberts also said that affordable housing is a major crisis in Charlotte.

City Council has talked about adding 5,000 units in three years.

She said she asked the city manager for this to be the focus of the city planning process this year.

In case you missed it, you can watch Mayor Roberts' state of city below in our Facebook Live video:

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