{"id":2519717,"date":"2025-12-10T15:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T20:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-charlotte-3-4m-to-change-public-perception-of-public-transit\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T15:15:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T20:15:47","slug":"in-charlotte-3-4m-to-change-public-perception-of-public-transit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-charlotte-3-4m-to-change-public-perception-of-public-transit\/","title":{"rendered":"In Charlotte, $3.4M to change public perception of public transit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-charlotte-3-4m-to-change-public-perception-of-public-transit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2519717&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The city of Charlotte is investing at least $3.4 million in a Washington-based public relations firm to improve the public&#8217;s perception and use of public transit in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. This decision followed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-begins-kicking-out-8000-homeless-from-hotels-as-city-weathers-crime-spike\/\" title=\"New York Begins Kicking Out 8,000 Homeless From Hotels As ... Weathers Crime Spike\">recent violent incidents<\/a> on light rail trains, including the widely publicized stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska in August and another stabbing that critically injured a passenger. The City Council unanimously approved the contract,which allows for three one-year terms with potential price adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has contracted the Sherry Matthews Group for services including marketing, branding, public relations, community engagement, media and event planning, and crisis dialog support. However, an audit initiated by Republican state auditor Dave Boliek highlighted important safety concerns: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/7-moments-that-show-lebron-james-used-to-have-a-very-different-attitude-on-police\/\" title=\"7 Moments That Show LeBron James Used To Have A Very Different Attitude On Police\">armed security personnel<\/a> on CATS transit have decreased by 55%, while contract costs have risen dramatically from $5.9 million in 2022 to $18.4 million in 2023. The audit also revealed a large number of vacant armed guard positions (82.1%) despite coverage allowing guards on all train cars together. CATS serves nearly 925,000 people with extensive rail and bus networks covering a large area, underscoring the challenges in balancing transit safety, security, and public trust.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">In Charlotte, $3.4M to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chris-christie-doubts-indictment-would-help-trump-in-2024\/\" title=\"Chris Christie Doubts Indictment Would Help Trump In 2024\">change public perception<\/a> of embattled public transit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2440940\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\">Charlotte<\/a> taxpayers are spending a minimum of $3.4 million and possibly more for a Washington public relations firm&rsquo;s aim of &ldquo;enhancing the public&rsquo;s perception and use of public <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/transportation\/\">transit<\/a> in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Nine Democrats and two Republicans on the City Council delivered a unanimous vote to climax the Sept. 11 issuance of request for proposals. That was six days after the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released video footage of the Aug. 22 stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seattle-media-doesnt-mention-that-homeless-man-who-brutally-assaulted-62-year-old-nurse-is-homeless\/\" title=\"Seattle Media Doesn\u2019t Mention That Homeless Man Who Brutally Assaulted 62-Year-Old Nurse Is Homeless\">light rail train<\/a>, a video that went viral and led to foundational change through new state law named for the victim.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3913764\/ohio-unions-sinking-millions-into-political-campaigns-report\/\">Ohio unions sinking millions into political campaigns: Report<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3913767\/georgia-power-puts-new-agreement-on-table-data-center-loads\/\">Georgia Power puts new agreement on the table for data center loads<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3913518\/cbs-news-move-morning-co-host-evening-viewers-hungry-fairness\/\">CBS News to move morning co-host to evening as viewers are &#8216;hungry for fairness&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The vote comes four days after another stabbing on a Charlotte light rail train. The victim was critically injured, and federal authorities say the suspect charged with first-degree murder is illegally in America.<\/p>\n<p>The Charlotte Area Transit System, known colloquially as CATS, is paying the Sherry Matthews Group to &ldquo;supplement CATS&rsquo;s internal resources by providing specialized expertise in areas such as general marketing and advertising, branding, public relations, public affairs, digital communications, community engagement, media planning, event planning, and crisis communications.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>City Council correspondence says the deal is three one-year terms, with renewals a time for potential price adjustments &ldquo;based on legitimate and justified increases in the cost of doing business.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Following the death of Zarutska, first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek took a different route, opening an investigation into safety and spending.<\/p>\n<p>His staff&rsquo;s preliminary audit found a 55% reduction in armed security staff, 211% increase in contract value, and ties to diversity, equity and inclusion in a damning analysis released Sept. 30.<\/p>\n<p>Armed security personnel for CATS were between 68 and 88 in a 2018 contract with G4S Secure Solutions. September&rsquo;s detail was 39.<\/p>\n<p>PSS has the contract today. The pact was for $5.9 million in 2022 and is $18.4 million this year.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3911965\/time-magazine-2025-person-of-the-year-charlie-kirk\/\">TIME&rsquo;S 2025 PERSON OF THE YEAR SHOULD BE AN OBVIOUS CHOICE: CHARLIE KIRK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the audit was released, the contract allowed up to 219 personnel. That means 82.1% of the available jobs were vacant in an agreement allowing armed guards on all 48 train cars at once.<\/p>\n<p>The audit said CATS had ridership of 14.9 million in fiscal year 2024 in a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >675-square-mile service area<\/a> for the nation&rsquo;s 14th largest city with population of about 925,000. There are 48 train cars in two rail services; more than 330 buses on 67 routes and more than 3,000 stops; and four transit centers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charlotte spends $3.4M to improve public transit image<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3854,"featured_media":2519718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP090129161114.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[20464,36174,40582,40985,39819],"class_list":["post-2519717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-charlotte","tag-public-perception","tag-public-transit","tag-transportation-funding","tag-urban-development"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP090129161114.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3854"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2519717"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519721,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519717\/revisions\/2519721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}