CHARLOTTE — Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham called for CMPD to take over security on the light rail at a press conference Wednesday morning at the Charlotte Transit Station in Uptown.
The conference aimed to discuss transit safety, city leadership updates, and community development initiatives.
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CATS has its own security but revealed that the contractor it has been using is experiencing a staffing shortage.
Graham has been saying for a while he wants to fill that hap by having CMPD officers on the light rail and buses, but today he also pointed out what he believes are other safety issues in the city.
He stated a list of things he believes city leaders need to accomplish to make Charlotte a safer place.
He says he wants a facility built for people experiencing homelessness to keep them off the street and more access to mental health treatment.
He wants businesses allowing drug trafficking on their property to be held accountable along with more lighting and cameras in the city.
He’s also hoping for help from the state to fund more prosecutors for Mecklenburg County and closing the door for repeat offenders to keep getting out of jail.
Channel 9’s Eli Brand asked Graham if he had any specific ordinances he was prepared to put in front of council for a vote to achieve any of these goals.
“I think we ought to, within the next week or two, talk about how do we, moving forward, patrol the CATS system,” he said. “I want CMPD doing that work. There are some other things I want to talk with my colleagues about. One councilmember can’t do anything by themselves.”
At the press conference, Graham also said he wants more training required for magistrates. He pointed out that you do not currently need a law degree to serve in that role.
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