Local

Group of Charlotte leaders head for NYC, funds paying for trip unknown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A group of city, county and business leaders leave Charlotte for New York City on Tuesday morning for three days of tours and meetings.

The trip will also be a chance for them to learn how the country's largest city recruits jobs, turns around neighborhoods and embraces the arts.

Eyewitness News went through the agenda and found the group also plans to take a dinner cruise on the Hudson, meet the owner of the New York Giants and hear from the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Eyewitness News reached out to all 13 public servants going on the trip to see how many are paying their own way, about $3,000 per person, and how many are relying on tax dollars.

Only four of those attending have commented and one is paying her own way, the three others, including Mayor Anthony Foxx are using tax money.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Health Morrison is also attending, using the money from the superintendent's travel budget.

Eyewitness News asked the district why he is going when just roughly one hour of the entire trip deals with education reform.

Tonight the district was not available to respond.

The chamber group was supposed to go to London a few months ago, but when that trip fell through the chamber planned the current New York trip.