Charlotte Job Seekers Ask Mayor For Help

Dozens of people looked for answers Tuesday night at the first of Mayor Anthony Foxx's town hall meetings on unemployment.

While the mayor couldn't offer jobs, he did offer some help. Groups like Joblink were also at the meeting to answer questions.

Phil Colepaugh lost his job as a delivery man, and is looking for mechanical work.

"Through what (the mayor) was saying tonight," Colepaugh said, "through other people who've talked to me a little bit, there's more stuff than I thought there was."

Colepaugh said because of Tuesday's meeting, he learned about training programs, to help him get a new job, and ways to help him pay for it. Mayor Foxx has talked about these meetings for months. He called jobs the city's number one priority, with no close second.

"We need to talk about the elephant in the room," Foxx said, "and the elephant in the room right now is unemployment."

Foxx said his intention was to turn people onto help they may not have known existed.

Betty Leake said she learn just that. She's trying to restart her home-care business.

"I liked how he directed the people according to their particular issue who could help them out."

The next town hall meeting is February 10th at the Goodwill building on freedom drive. Space is limited, so if you'd like to register call Urban League at 704-373-2256 ext: 206. Or email: Info@urbanleaguecc.Org