Friday Wrap Up - DNC Follies Edition

CMPD Crack Down - Not on Jaywalkers or Occupy Protesters but on Officer's personal Facebook accounts. Word is that CMPD Command was not happy when The Charlotte Observer's Cleve Wooston emailed the department examples of a few CMPD Officer Facebook posts.


Wooston rather than doing a little work to build a story, simply emailed the posts to CMPD for comment. It didn't take long for CMPD Brass to mount a witch hunt.

One of the CMPD Officers called out had a somewhat harmless Facebook. Since then, the Officer has wiped their entire Facebook time line of CMPD photos and comments.

A couple of the posts provided to CMPD were F-Bomb laced tirades against the "hippies" the public and CMPD. Not exactly conduct becoming an Officer, but boys will be boys.

Further clarification and evidence of the fallout came from one of CP's readers who offered this to "true up" what CMPD rank and file were warned:

"Officers were advised that if their actions, self taken photos, duty assignments or Law Enforcement sensitive information made it onto social media web sites or forums like yours (specifically named) then the department would look into implementing a no personal cell phone use during the DNC."

Cedar Says: CP doesn't like to delete comments. But we are  just not going to have Officers putting the snipe on each other. Guys it is a hard enough job as it is. Pay it not what it should be, and this week it is going to be hot as hell and every one is pulling long shifts. The worst part is most of you are going to be bored senseless. Long hours, little sleep, fatigue, and boredom is deadly set of combinations. Stay focused, Stay sharp Stay safe.

Muslim Jumad at Marshall Park - The Islamic Wing Nut Jibril Hough had told Charlotte officials to expect 20,000 participants to Friday's Jumad (prayer service) but it actually drew only a handful, in fact no more than 100 Muslims.

Cedar's Take: Kinda reminds me of the Iraqi press officer known as Baghdad Bob, who despite the M-1 tanks in the background and F/A-18's over head insisted that the American Dogs were no where near Hussein's palace.

Ballantyne Corporate Park Parking Passes - Ballantyne employees were issued security checkpoint parking passes Friday afternoon.

The passes will be required to get through the CMPD/US Secret Service local traffic only check point at Ballantyne Commons Parkway and North Community House Road beginning on Monday. Ballantyne Employees were required to sign for the parking passes that are pretty none nondescript. The passes are not bar coded, there is no hidden RF chip, not even so much as a serial number.

Yet the pass allows the driver to get within less than 100 yards of the front door to the President's temporary Charlotte living quarters

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US Flag Lowered to Half-Staff Today Honoring Neil Armstrong

The Official Presidential Proclamation:

DEATH OF NEIL ARMSTRONG

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As a mark of respect for the memory of Neil Armstrong, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

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Percy Craven

It is the last day of August and the sun is still above the tree line of red and white oaks. There are signs that summer is fleeting on the river birch, as their leaves have begun to take on a slight hint of orange.

The heat mixes with the recent rain shower to give the air a feel of something close to smothering under a wet towel. This time of year the showers come and go in the North Carolina mountains. Cool is replaced by hot and humid as soon as the sun comes back out.

I watch my line settle up stream and begin to pull it back in.

"When I was a young boy all I needed was a cane pole, a hook and a paper cup full of worms and I'd catch a bucket full of fish." calls Percy.

He's perched on a rock, unhooking a good sized brook trout.

"You got a 5 hundred dollar fly rod and whole bunch of fancy stuff and you never catch fish" he adds.

I politely nod before he offers his advice,  "Might help if you just leave that line in the water a spell. Whatcha keep waving it around in the air for? Looks all fancy but-cha ain't going to catch you a fish thata way. " he voice trailing off into the damp woods.

Percy holds up a string of five fish. Three rainbow, one brook and a small sunfish. Besides the sunfish, not one of them less than a pound. Thankfully he's not using a cane pole.

His weapon of choice is a Zebco 202 spinning reel, a red and white plastic bobber and three prong hook. His bait, wheaty balls.  I've told him he can't use live bait on this stream to which he replies "wheaty balls aren't live bait."

The stream is artificial flies only but since we are dozen miles outside of Brevard North Carolina on private property I look the other way.  I am also silently praying the NC Wildlife guys are busy elsewhere.

Percy Craven has owned a State of North Carolina lifetime fishing license since 1952 the first year they offered them. At 88 I'd say he's gotten his monies worth.

An hour later we call it a day. Percy has 8 fish, I have none.

"Skunked ya again, I'd say". Percy reminds me and then repeats it just for good measure "Skunked ya again".

I offer my hand to help him up the bank the last five feet, before the gravel road.

He looks at me with his steel grey eyes, he's all serious. "Son, I might look old, but my knees and my heart are as good as when I was 18!" he chuckles.

All right but if you fall it will be on my watch and ....

"They'll think you pushed me!" adds Percy.

I tell him that the thought had crossed my mind.

The fish end up in the back of the truck, the doors creak and slam and I make a three point turn and head down the road. Percy pops a beer and offers me the first sip, which I remind him that I don't drink and drive. He says "your loss" and takes a couple of big swigs.

The shadows are long and the rain comes again and just when life seems that it will go on forever, Percy speaks up and says, "you know my days are numbered". I don't say anything, and just let the miles roll by in silence.

Then I remind him, "we have plenty of fish let to catch before we need to worry about that." To which Precy adds, "well some of us do".

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Thursday Odds and Ends - DNC 2012 Edition

Lakota Helicopters - These are ultra cool, twin engine, twin tail stabilizers, single tail rotor helos that have been spotted trailing CMPD motor cops practicing escort duties around Charlotte.

Two Lakota UH 72 Helos were spotted flying low over Charlotte this week.

Ballantyne Shut Down - If you happen to work in the Ballantyne area and thought you would be immune from the DNC 2012 by just staying away from Uptown, think again. Traffic will go to grid lock as President Obama and his handlers take over Ballantyne.

Most troubling is the complete shut down of Ballantyne Commons Parkway between Community House and Johnston Road.

More details on the Ballantyne road closings from Charlotte Business Journal's Susan Stabley here.

Were Are! The Secret Service! - Don't look at us. The feds charged with protecting the President have put tenants of the Harris Building in the Ballantyne Corporate Park on notice. Those with offices on the west side of the building have been told that their widow blinds and drapes must remain closed at all times next week.  Apparently the "most open and inclusive" convention in history doesn't mean being able to gawk at the president.



The Harris Building over looks The Lodge at Ballantyne.

Cages for Protesters? - Not really sure if this fencing is to keep the crazies out or for a holding area for those arrested.

Some serious metal at 8th and Brevard Streets

Mega props to the CP reader who took this photo of some serious fence that appears to be enough to fence in a city block. Only trouble is 8th and Brevard is a long way from the Cable Box. The construction of the fence is smilier to those steel fire pit grates used by the park service at camp grounds.

Cedar Posts Update: Sources tell CP that the fence is "non scalable" and is for the horses that mounted officers are bringing to Charlotte.

No Fly Zone Over Charlotte - All Civil and Commercial Aircraft Operations will be tightly controlled over Charlotte. The FAA has ordered a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) in a 30-35 mile area around Charlotte's Uptown.  The size of the area and so called inner rings will change from day to day. It is expected that the Ballantyne area will also have a "inner ring" set at ten miles while POTUS is in town.

The TFR means you won't see any banner planes flying over Charlotte but it won't ease the number of low flying commercial flights over Lake Norman.

Thinking of flying your "remote control" model plane in Charlotte next week? Guess again. Ditto for the science project and launching your hamster into space aboard your model rocket. NOT A GOOD IDEA and is forbiden by the TFR. The NOTAM (Notices to Airmen) can be found here.

BO's Crib In Charlotte - While nice, and somewhat upscale The Lodge at Ballantyne is no where near being "Presidential" and CP imagines there are some pretty long faces at the Ritz Uptown.

It also presents a pretty big security problem for the United States Secret Service even more so if POTUS beds down in the better part of the Lodge know as "The Cottage".

Overhead photo of The Lodge with the Cottage framed in red

The rooms at the Cottage are nice enough, but The Lodge concept has struggled to find a market, often totally vacant for days at a time. Maybe the Presidential stay will increase awareness.

Master Bedroom of The Cottage

Living Room at The Cottage

Major Props to Jeff Taylor for the photo link with additional photos of the Lodge and the Cottage which is here.  You can also compare to the Ritz Carlton Presidential Suite photos which are here.

Number of Protesters Arrested in Tampa so far? 3 - Can we expect the same low turnout in Charlotte?

From USA Today:

Tampa expected 15,000 protesters for the Republican National Convention. So far, the city has seen no more than "a couple thousand," Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor told reporters this morning.

Those protests have resulted in exactly three arrests, two of whom "showed a desire to get arrested," the police chief said. Full story is here.

CP's Take: Just goes to show you people aren't upset with the GOP just the President.

Temporary Cell Towers Spotted Around Charlotte - These don't seem to be very secret or very well secured. Props to a sharp eye CP reader.

Location Parking Lot Near WestPark Marriott

Location Behind the Men's Club
 

Cedar's Take: I suspect the equipment is in place to handle the expected large volume of cell phones active in the area during DNC 2012. I'd also guess that one is AT&T and the other Verizon.

CMPD Officer's Personal Cell Phones Taken Away - It is bad enough the CMPD Patrol Officers are working 12 hour shifts, but now CP has word that the use of personal cell phones during those 12 hours is forbidden. Still looking into this but 2 sources back up the report. No official word from Rob Tufano with CMPD.

CP Update: Seems the "Offical" word is more along the lines of "if you" or "if we" have a problume with cell use the Officers phones will be taken away. Please see comments below.

Some DNC Web Sites of Interest:

City of Charlotte DNC Information http://dncinfo.charlottenctenc.gov
Charlotte Area Transit System/ LYNX- http://www.ridetransit.org

Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee - http://charlottein2012.com
CarolinaFest - http://carolinafest2012.com
CMPD – http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CMPD/Pages/default.aspx
Democratic National Convention Committee - http://www.demconvention.com
Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions – http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
DNC advisory – http://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/noticeView.aspx?nid=3995
Mecklenburg County Courts Operational Schedule -
http://www.nccourts.org/County/Mecklenburg/Default.asp
North Carolina Department of Public Safety – http://www.ncdps.gov
U.S. Secret Service – http://www.secretservice.gov

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Muslims Plan To Invade Uptown?

A Muslim "Jumah" will be held at Marshall Park on Friday August 31, 2012 in connection with the DNC 2012 event. Numbers vary but organizers have said they expect to have at least 20,000 people attending.

Cedar's Take: This will not be the first time that the sounds of the adhan (Call to Prayer) will echo along the walls of Charlotte's Government buildings, but some the guest speakers have less than attractive views on the US Government.

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American Autumn

You can't be right unless you are informed.

The world is not perfect, and the world doesn't revolve around the 360 degree view of your backyard.

If it did you would be as happy as my two labs on a crisp fall morning.

To be informed you have to step outside the box, outside your comfort zone and for God's sake step away fromthe television and main stream media.

Do I agree with the message that is presented by "American Autumn"? No, not any more than I agree with Micheal Moore on GM or Al Gore on Global Warming.

Is viewing "American Autumn" worth an hour and fifteen minutes of your time? Nope probably not. But unless you see both sides you can't understand the other point of view.

The world is not myopic unless you happen to rule Libya, Iraq or Egypt. Of course we know what happened to those leaders. Soon we will add Bashar Assad of Syria to the list of "former dictators".

Understanding the other side is being informed. Just think, Hussein, Qaddafi, and Mubarak would all be enjoying a sunny day at the beach in Havana had they just been a little bit more informed.

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CMPD Officers File "Notice of Intent" to Protest at DNC

Cedar Posts has obtained an email sent last to all CMPD Officers over the weekend from FOP President Todd Walther:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg FOP Lodge # 9

Dear Brother's and Sister's,  

Over the past few months, as we have dealt with Pay and Benefit issues at City Council, it appears that the City has ignored most of our Committee's suggestions and recommendations. During numerous membership meetings, it has been discussed and agreed upon that we, as an organization, need to make a stand and try again to be heard. What a better way to get the message out than to stand opposed during the DNC- meaning that we make an assertion of our 1st Amendment Rights and protest against the way Charlotte City Council has turned away from the FOP and City Employees. In preparation for the upcoming DNC in Charlotte, we, the FOP, have filed a notification of intent to protest.

Now as you know, all CMPD and local agencies around Mecklenburg are working 24/7 for the DNC during August 30th through September 7th. This limits our membership to those retired or to spouses for whom we can call upon to help us protest against the City Council. On Sept. 4^th, we ask that you please take a few hours from your day to take a stand and speak out for your brother’s and sister's still in uniform.

If you are able and willing to participate on this day, we ask that you please try to be at the next membership meeting on Tuesday, August 28^th at 6:30pm.  We will be discussing further details on how, where and exactly when the protest will commence. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please reply by e-mail, and we can pass on the information.

Cedar's Take: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg FOP Lodge #9 has been shut out of most discussions regarding pay raises and benefits and the DNC2012 gives our Officers a chance to be heard and seen during a time when the nation is focused on Charlotte. This is an interesting situation as most of the protesterswill be family members and not CMPD Officers themselves.

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Beer Buses and Trains OK To Roll Says Charlotte City Council

From the Charlotte Observer:

The Charlotte City Council Monday objected to a recent decision by the city’s transit system to allow alcohol advertisements on the outside of buses and trains, and asked that future beer and liquor ads be stopped. In need of more revenue, the Metropolitan Transit Commission in June voted unanimously to allow alcohol ads on Charlotte Area Transit System vehicles and trains.

Olaf Kinard, who is the CATS marketing manager, said two contracts for alcohol ads have already been signed by Titan Advertising. Those ads could make their debut on buses and trains next week – in time for the Democratic National Convention.

The MTC was created in the late 1990s to govern CATS and how the half-cent sales tax for mass transit is spent. The city has two members on the MTC – City Manager Curt Walton and Mayor Anthony Foxx.

Foxx said he didn’t attend the June meeting when the alcohol policy was approved.

Cedar's Take: Mayor Foxx didn't attend the meeting, and didn't bother to read the minutes of the meeting he missed where Curt "The Clown" Walton voted in favor of the beer and liquor ads on buses.

What the hell?

In a city that is constantly trying to prove how progressive and forward thinking we are and how we stack up against bigger cities our Mayor Foxx again fails to fulfill his role as an elected leader.

Where was Anthony Foxx when Charlotte fell off the wagon?

During Monday's City Council meeting Democrat David Howard said he was strongly against the advertising adding that he envisioned buses that look like the Coors Light “bullet train” .

Mr. Howard you don't need to "envision" because when Phoenix, Arizona amended its advertising policy in September of last year, Coors Light was the first alcohol advertiser and five train wraps were included with a contract signed by the city.
 

Here is a small sample of transit systems that prohibit beer and liquor ads on buses and trains:

Chicago Transit Authority
Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Golden Gate Transportation District
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Alameda Contra Costa Transit District
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Los Angeles County, Metropolitan Transport Authority
City & County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority
King County Seattle Metro Transit Division\ Metropolitan
Transit Authority of Harris County Texas (Houston area)
Miami-Dade Transit Orange County Transportation Authority

Cedar Posts assumes the Mayors of the above cities actually attend the meetings where liquor ads are voted on.

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Whats Really Wrong With Our Country

Rocketman July 1969



Rocketman August 2012



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CMPD Officers Go To "All Hands On Deck" Again

Chief Rodney Monroe has given the order and the shift assignments are out.

CMPD is now on a 12 hour shift and some senior Officers are not happy about having to work the 1800 - 0600 shift. (6PM-6AM).

Nothing Like Working The Vampire Shift.

Traditionally those with the most seniority get the better duty assignments and hours. But nothing about the way Chief Monroe runs the department is traditional.  In fact as one Officer put it, "If you are not the right color you're working 1800-0600". Others have taken issue with that statement at least somewhat.

The inside story is that Monroe wants the department to be diversified in appearance, which means officers were apparently assigned based on color. Additionally it has been said that some of the more senior Officers may not be as prepared for the expected confrontation that has come to be expected.




Chief Monroe Wants These Guys to "Cover Up"

CP also has word that Chief Monroe has also ordered Officers to wear their covers (hats) during the DNC 2012. So you won't see any scenes like the one above. Of course this is just what the protesters want some hats to toss around.

Cedar's Take: "This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it." The quote from The Hunt for Red October pretty much says it all.

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Monday Morning Odds and Ends

DNC 2012 Comes to Ballantyne Corporate Park - Obama's Entourage comes to The Lodge
 

The Lodge view of the pond side.

CP has obtained a copy of Bissell's Friday email to their tenants:
 

MEMORANDUM

To: Harris Building Tenants

From: Bissell Property Management

Date: August 24, 2012

Re: Road Closure Update

Per the request of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), portions of streets in Ballantyne will be closed beginning Monday, September 3 at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, September 7 at noon.

There will be limited vehicular access for our tenants, including your employees, customers and guests, on Ballantyne Corporate Place and Ballantyne Commons Parkway. Specific details are included in the attached official advisory and aerial illustrations.

If you typically use the Johnston Road exit from I-485 to get to and from your office, we suggest you consider using the Rea Road exit during this week.

Beginning Friday, August 31 through Friday, September 7, there will be several restrictions on parking in the deck facing The Lodge at Ballantyne. Overnight parking will not be permitted. All vehicles must leave the parking deck by 7:30 p.m. nightly. In addition, there will be some parking restrictions during business hours.

There will be no restrictions on parking in the deck facing Ballantyne Commons Parkway. Additional parking will be available at the Woodward Building deck (access illustrated in attached aerial).

If you are expecting deliveries during the week of September 3, we encourage scheduling the deliveries for the week prior or after. At this time, we anticipate delivery restrictions.

We recognize that this will be challenging for everyone who lives or works in the Ballantyne area and appreciate your patience and understanding. Plans are subject to change. If further details emerge, we will share updates on a special section of www.go-ballantyne.com.

Please feel free to contact me at 704-248-2036 with any questions or concerns.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Cedar's Take: Given the input from several sources, it appeares that POTUS will indeed hold up at the Lodge at Ballantyne for at least one night and that the Re-Elect Obama Campaign will be operating from the location for most of the week.

This is just insane, the DNC2012 has now spread like a fungus across Charlotte. Not only are we facing gridlock uptown but it has now spread to South Charlotte as well.

 

Seriously who in Ballantyne wants the attention of the national media, the talking heads and protesters? Not to mention terrorist and nut case threats?

Anarchist Threat in Charlotte - Is apparently real and maybe more violent that local officials and media has been letting on.

A copy of a recently released Joint Intelligence Bulletin from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security spells it out here. The bulletin, which wasn't to be released to the media, details past and suspected future actions and methods.

CP's Bonus: How in the world did Guy Fawkes become the face of Anarchy? Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. ABC has a good piece from November of 2011 that gives some interesting background on Guy Fawkes here.

  

Rodney Monroe In Tampa - The Chief of Charlotte's Police Department is visiting Tampa tonight for a "first hand" look at how things go during the GOP Convention. Meanwhile CP has learned that dozens of outside Officers expected to help during the DNC event next week have backed out or never materialized. The number now expected is 50 percent of what was originally planned, which might explain the reason for the National Guard call up.

 

Charlotte's Gay Pride Festival - I don't know whether to laugh or cry. My guess is that being a "World Class City" requires that we have this sort of stupid from time to time.



JOHN D. SIMMONS - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserve"r.com/2012/08/25/3478231/pride-charlotte-festival-082512.html#storylink=cpy

Oh well, the Charlotte Observer photo caption read: "Tommy Feldman totes a rainbow rocket and sports a large pink fuzzy hat as he heads into the heart of the Pride Charlotte Festival Saturday on Tryon Street. Saturday, August 25, 2012 was the first day of a two-day Pride Charlotte Festival. Organizers of the annual festival expect to draw a 40,000-plus crowd at the event on S. Tryon St. between 4th and Stonewall Sts. The festival is the culmination of more than a week-long slate of events highlighting the social, cultural, ethnic, artistic and political diversity of the Carolina's and Metro Charlotte area's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities."

According to sources the turnout and far less than 40,000. No word on a number of arrests if any, but there were some heated exchanges between some protesters and a couple of lesbians. All things considered it was pretty much a non-event. And so it goes....

More on Charlotte's Gay Pride Fest from QNotes which is here.

New and Improved Rea Road - Made in India? - Nothing says progress like wiping out thousands of trees to build a bigger road. But progress can't be stopped so over the next year the City of Charlotte will work towards completing one of only a handful of road improvement projects in South Charlotte.

On the plus side Rea Road between the corner of Rea/Colony and Highway 51 (Pineville Matthews Road - For newbies) Rea will continue to be a two lane road. An added plus is a bike lane and landscaped median.

On the what are they thinking question there is this:

Made in India? Seriously?

You have to look closely because the name CAPITOL is a good distractor, but just to the left is "Made in India".  Yes, the storm sewer grates at the intersection of Highway 51 and Rea Road are made in India. I imagine that what we are looking at is the end result of "ship breaking" that goes on along the Indian coast.

However, further down Rea Road different:

Storm sewer grates waiting to be installed are made by US Foundry & Mfg Corp of Miami Florida and include the "Dump No Waste" and "Flows To River" warnings as well as a silhouette of a Rainbow Trout.

A call to Charlotte's DOT didn't clear up the question of why Highway 51 has "Made In India" storm sewer grates and Rea Road has made is USA products. Seems the contract for the Highway 51 portion of the project was handled by NC DOT where the Rea Road portion is a City of Charlotte contract.

City staff that CP spoke to didn't know if road construction contracts required the use of US products.

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Neil Armstrong 1930 - 2012

From the AP:

By the yardstick of history, Neil Armstrong was among the most accomplished men ever to walk on the planet that he looked upon from afar one magical week in July 1969.

Television news didn’t seem to fully recognize the importance of the first human to walk on the moon on the weekend he died.

In the hours after Armstrong’s death was announced, news networks were airing canned programming — jailhouse documentaries, a rerun interview with Rielle Hunter, Mike Huckabee’s weekend show. Menacing satellite pictures of Tropical Storm Isaac had much more air time than Armstrong’s dusty hops on the lunar surface. Talk of the upcoming GOP national convention sucked up the air.

A trio of factors played in to the lack of attention.

First, Armstrong died in Cincinnati on a Saturday. Not just any Saturday, when news organizations have a skeletal staff, but a late August weekend. Half the country is at the beach. It’s not a stretch to think inexperience on duty might have played a role in NBC News’ embarrassing gaffe: a website headline that read: “Astronaut Neil Young, first man to walk on the moon, dies at age 82.” (NBC called it a staffer error and said the mistake was taken down after seven minutes.)

His death came as somewhat of a surprise, too. Everyone dies, of course, and most news organizations have prepared material on hand to mark the passing of famous people. In many cases, though, there is advance word that someone is very ill, giving the media a chance to prepare and plan.

Armstrong’s determined effort to live a quiet, private life after his astronaut days also left TV at a disadvantage. There was relatively little tape on hand to roll from interviews reminiscing about his experiences, reunions with old astronauts or public appearances. No Armstrong chats with David Letterman. No appearances in music videos. There was the moon walk, and not much else.

Notable deaths often give viewers the chance to reflect, to put into perspective lives of great accomplishment or great notoriety.

Not so with Neil Armstrong. His death was like his life: strangely muted given the magnitude of his achievements.

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One Small Step For Man

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Here Fishey Fishey

 

Do They Bite?

 

Poking fun at the brother - in - law. There are great trout rivers out west. Big Gold Medal Brown Trout rivers. The smiling guy in the photo below is Cedar's brother in law, who apparently is afraid to hold his own fish for the photo. By the way I have several photos of Mrs. Cedar and my Sister holding their own fish. Which makes this photo a keeper.

 

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Friday Wrap-Up Mad World Edition

Do You Live In One Of Charlotte's "Top Gay" Neighborhoods?

Last month Charlotte's LGBT newspaper QNotes, asked their readers to identify which Charlotte "gay neighborhood" they called home.

Something doesn't past the smell test. Cedar Posts has always thought Plaza Midwood, Chantilly, and Elizabeth were Charlotte's big gay neighborhoods, maybe Dilworth and Segfield along with NoDa running a close 2nd. But a surprise to CP is that "East Charlotte" is the LGBT neighborhood of choice and to think I thought it was home to gangsta wannabes and taco trucks.  Even more shocking, I had no idea that Ballantyne was considered a "gay neighborhood".

CMPD Releases Customer Satisfaction Survey - The report was released by CMPD's Rob Tufono yesterday.

A total of 650, sixteen minute interviews were conducted by telephone between May 17 and June 21, 2012 the results of the 10th annual survey were held up as revisions to the wording were debated and the finished spin doctored version was released to the public as per normal CMPD "mo" that is, on a Friday afternoon. 

As with all surveys and polls there is a wide variances in interpretations. As an example the mean average for the question of overall perception of CMPD, gives the department a 7.7 on a scale of 1 to 10. Highest rating being a 10. But Rob T says it is good news, but must people see that as a C+ vs an A-.

Surprisingly the highest rating come from the homicide plagued East Charlotte and the lowest rating come not from the West Charlotte "Hood" but from North Charlotte.

The full report can be found here.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/24/3475704/ballantyne-road-closures-planned.html#storylink=cpy

Ballantyne Lock Down - According to the Charlotte Observer there will be a series of road closures and other restrictions in Ballantyne area during the Democratic National Convention.

Apparently some sort of "dignitary" will be in the area from September 3 until the morning of the 7th.

Notable is the closure of a portion of Ballantyne Commons Parkway between Johnston and North Community House roads. Interesting that Johnston Road is not being closed.

Which would explain why a bunch of suits were seen hanging out at the Lodge throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday rather than the Ballantyne Resot Hotel.

The Buzz is that POTUS himself will be staying in the area.

CP's Take: While I reluctantly accepted the DNC 2012 in Uptoon Charlotte I didn't agree or plan that the fungus would spread out to Ballantyne and south of the 485 Beltway.  Now that it is public knowledge you can expect that hordes of idiots will be in Ballantyne protesting everything from the 1%, to Abortion and Furry Critters Rights.

Frankly I can't imagine President Obama holding up at The Lodge for five days. But that doesn't mean Obama staffers who have turned their noses up at staying in Charlotte's over priced Uptoon digs won't set up house in exclusive South Charlotte.

Just the same, Mr. President don't you think that enough Americans are out of work? Why would you allow the DNC 2012 to spill over into a professional neighborhood on such short notice? Do you not understand that your presence will cause tremendous hardship to hundreds of hard working men and women?

 

Mrs. Cedar for one will have to drive an insane loop to make her way to work. Others will lose business as the security detail turns away customers. Gotta love how the Observer reports it as "great news"/.

New York New York - What main stream media first reported as another "mass shooting" this time in New York City, turned out to be a lone gunman in a "not an act of random violence" workplace dispute that ended in one person and the gunman being killed.

The dead gunman his hands handcuffed behind his back lies on the sidewalk.

Now about the "mass shooting" turns out that NYPD officers are pretty bad shots, oh they got the shooter but not until after their bullets hit nine by-standers. 16 shots fired in all and only two hit the gunman. The rest bounced around the concrete and asphalt shooting gallery until they found their victims.

Cedar's Take: The two officers who shot at Johnson were close enough to shake hands with the killer when he drew his weapon leaving both cops no choice but to shoot. But 16 rounds on a crowded street?

Cedar Bonus: Jeffery Johnson was known as a loner and a bird watcher. The AP posted this photo early Saturday morning.

By Jean M. Shun, AP
Jeffrey Johnson uses binoculars to search Central Park for the young offspring of popular red-tailed hawk local birdwatchers know as Pale Male. Police identified Johnson as a gunman who killed a former colleague.

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When The Secret Service Knocks

CP Says: The following is based on the real and recent events surrounding a Charlotte teen and her Facebook post which detailed her dream, where she attacked the president.

Imagine you are hard at work, having a productive day when your cell phone rings for the 6th time in 2 minutes. It is your 14 year old daughter and it is not out of the ordinary for her to call you at work, except she's hysterical. Between sobs and gasps, she explains that you need to come home because the Secret Service has come to your house and that they want to speak with you.

At first you lean towards thinking the entire call is a crazy prank, you glance at the caller ID and sure enough, it is your daughter. But she is totally incoherent, and she is saying something about Facebook, when a much old female voice interrupts and identifies herself as indeed an employee of the Federal Government more specifically the Secret Service.

Over the next hour you learn that, two months earlier your daughter posted on her Facebook page her recounting of a dream/nightmare she had while visiting a friend.  In her innocence she triggered an alert that was eventually linked to her and that her post had just a few "key" words and enough detail to cause a "field team" to visit your daughter.

She is not the first to be targeted by the US Secret Service for threats or perceived threats against the President of the United States.

What is interesting is the delay from the time the "dream" was detailed on Facebook and the time the Secret Service managed to knock on the door and determine that the not even old enough to drive teenager wasn't a threat.

The US Secret Service spends a considerable amount of time investigating threats. While the true number is not public information the general consensus is that the President receives about 3,000  threats a year. It isn't clear if the growth of Facebook and Twitter has increased the number or just made it easier.

CP's take: There are some things you just don't do, yell fire in a movie theather, use the word bomb on an airplane and make threats against the president.

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Sergio Garcia - Considers Stiffing His Wyndham Caddie

Add this to your "You have got to be kidding me" list of Golf Stories -- According to the AP - Sergio Garcia and his caddie, Gary Matthews, split up at the PGA Championship.

The Spaniard went to the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro in need of a caddie, and David Faircloth was in the right spot at the right time. Faircloth, a caddie at a private club in North Carolina, was working the pro-am for club member Bobby Long, who wound up recommending him to Garcia.

The rest of the week was a blur. Faircloth was on the bag as Garcia won his first PGA Tour event in four years.

Sergio Garcia and caddie David Faircloth / AP

Perhaps the classiest gesture came from Tony Navarro, a longtime PGA Tour caddie who has worked for Greg Norman, Adam Scott and now Bud Cauley. Garcia and Cauley played in the final group at Greensboro, and when Navarro realized how overwhelmed Faircloth was, he unscrewed the flag from the pin on the 18th hole, took it over to Faircloth and said, ''Well done this week. This is yours.''

''That flag is kind of our trophy,'' Navarro told The New York Post. ''I figured he didn't know, so I just did the right thing and gave it to him. He was a nice kid, and I could tell he was a bit emotional and excited.''

The payoff for Faircloth remains a mystery. Most regular tour caddies are on a weekly salary, along with a percentage of what the player earns, typically 10 percent if they win. Garcia earned $936,000.

But the Spaniard wasn't sure what he should give a club caddie who filled in for the week.
''I'll have to look at it,'' Garcia said. ''Obviously, he's not going to get what a normal caddie would get because his job was fairly easy.''

CP's Take: You have got to be kidding me? The guy is win less for four years, fires his caddy after he fails to make the cut at the PGA Championship last week and shows up with no one on the bag in Greensboro. Then just happens to win after a five day rain delayed event and claims that Faircloth had it easy? And that is his reason for not paying the guy a full share? I can't imagine anyone seeing this as right. If Garcia doesn't get the "AssClown" award of the year I don't know who does.

And then there is the Ryder Cup, and Karma which is sure to follow. Fine Sergio stiff the American paybacks in golf are always spectacular.

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Tuesday Odds and Ends

Keith Murray - Who is on the run after cutting off his electronic monitoring device may have bigger issue in that he has apparently taken his 15 year old son who has been living in foster care. Nothing firm on this so stay tuned.

CMPD Retirees Lose Big On Facebook - You wouldn't expect a group of retired cops to buy a bunch of Facebook stock. But that is just what North Carolina's State Employees Retirement Plan did. In the big picture the four million dollar paper loss might sound be but compared to the fund as a whole it isn't. Except that North Carolina taxpayers will ultimately end up taking the loss. The plan has been underfunded for years, and at some point the benefits offered will have to be scaled back. But the upside down plan will still have to fund for current employees who have been promised benefits that the plan will some day in the future be unable to provide. So taking a 4 million dollar hit doesn't help.

But not to worry ^ Janet Cowell's North Carolina's state treasurer say she will sue the firms who put together the Facebook deal to get back the loss. Janet Cowell said in a statement. "Our goal is to recover our pension fund's financial damages."

Then this is were it all gets interesting, former Clinton administration member Erskin Bowles' investment firm Carousel Capital manages millions of dollars in the state pension fund and Bowles wife, Crandall, was a fundraiser for Janet Cowell's recent election campaign. Bowles is also a board member of Morgan Stanley, one of the lead underwriters in the Facebook deal.

The state bought 685,737 shares of Facebook stock May 17 at the initial price of $38 a share. It sold a small portion the next day to make about $215,000. The state still holds about 618,000 shares. Facebook's stock closed Friday at $19.05.

CMPD Officer Formally Cleared in Shooting - In what was a good shoot to begin with yesterday Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray made formal in a letter.

"There is no evidence that Officer Holzhauer acted unlawfully” Murray’s letter to Police Chief Rodney Monroe said.

CP Take: It is troubling that it took nearly a month for this determination to be made.

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What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

Why doesn't CMPD give main stream media the full story?

The Charlotte Observer reports the following:

A police team that tracks violent criminals was searching Sunday for a Charlotte man who officers say sliced through his electronic monitoring bracelet. Keith Allen Murray, 51, was out of jail on bond after he was charged with breaking and entering and larceny. Police say he is now also charged with interfering with an electronic monitoring device.

August 15, 2012 Mug Shot of Keith Allen/Alan Murray

Murray is 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, with a white hair and a white beard. He was last seen near North Tryon Street and Tom Hunter Road, where officers say he cut off his monitor.

WSOC's Report:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are looking for a man who cut off his electronic monitor.
The Violent Criminal Apprehension Team said Keith Allen Murray, 51, is wanted on outstanding warrants for two counts of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and interfering with an electronic monitoring device.

Murray had been on electronic monitoring with the CMPD since his release from jail on April 12.
Murray was last seen near North Tryon Street and Tom Hunter Road where he cut his monitor off.

Fox News Charlotte:

Police are searching for a man wanted on outstanding warrants for two counts of breaking and entering and interfering with his electronic monitoring device. Keith Murray received the device after he was released from jail on April 12, 2012. Police say he was last seen near North Tryon Street and Tom Hunter Road.

What The Charlotte Observer, WSOC and Fox News Charlotte stories fail to communicate is the on Wednesday August 15, 2012 Keith Allen Murray was in the custody of CMPD and the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs office on a charge of assault and battery. Murray was released late on Friday night the 17th of August.

What the news missed is that Murray had been a guest of the Mecklenburg County Jail
for two weeks in March and April and three weeks in May and June.  Also missing is the fact that by being arrested for assault Murray violated a condition of his bond and should not have been released.

In fact being arrested in May on a possession of stolen goods felony should have been the end of his hall pass and he should have been removed from the electronic monitoring program.

Cedar Posts Take: CMPD's spin is at work 24/7 and as long as main stream media fails to question what they are told they will continue to be the megaphone for disinformation and in doing so they fail to communicate the truth.

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James A. McKay - Chief

Around our house, around the office and around the boat when someone said "Chief" you knew right away who they were speaking of and you knew it was going to be interesting.

My introduction to "Chief" was many years ago, but had it been just that one time, I would have never forgotten him. Much to my pleasure I've known "Chief" for most of my life.

The obituary in this morning's Charlotte Observer reads "James Anthony McKay, Sr. "Chief" - Mr. McKay, 81 of Matthews died Thursday, August 16, 2012 at home."

Nothing remarkable unless you knew Chief - With his health failing and the prospect of having to spend his final days in a hospital bed he proclaimed "the only way I'm leaving this house is FEET FIRST". On Thursday morning hearing of her father's death his youngest daughter Grace choked back her tears to say she was going home to make damn sure he went out the door "feet first".

Chief was a veteran of the Korean War, served in the United States Army as a Sergeant and later as merchant seaman and marine engineer thus the name "Chief". He sailed the world, earning the respect of so many while keeping a tight ship.

And speaking of ships, I've never looked at an engine room the same way after Chief told my father he needed to "Clean Up the Damn engine room" on his boat. I think right then I understood Chief was a "my way or the highway" sort of guy.

Gruff and sweet at the same time, a trade mark.

My sister went to visit Chief in the hospital several weeks ago hoping to cheer him up. Chief's hello was a simple and unexpected "are you pregnant?". My sister explained she wasn't and Chief promptly told her "well, you look like you are you need to lose some weight".

Chief went on to say "I wish I could fix an engine like I used to. My life's work and I can't do it anymore". My sister would tell you that his simple wish, broke her heart. She told him that she knew, and kissed him on the forehead. Tears gently fell and she said goodbye. and as she walk out the door unable to speak she looked back at Chief who said with a smile "You're really something kid".


Chief exploits are legend, just a few weeks ago he nearly "blew himself up". Chief was a smoker, a bad habit that all of us wished he would have kicked, but it was such a habit that he absent mindedly woke up in the middle of the night leaned across the bed to the night stand and lit up a cigarette. The only trouble was he was on oxygen and the room promptly burst into flames.

Some of us were surprised heeven survived, but "Chief" was a tough guy, bigger than life. If you made a movie about "Chief" you would have to cast John Wayne, the truth is they stopped making guys like "Chief" long ago.

Chief married his bride 58 years back, when the then Miss Catherine "Kay" Monahan became Kay McKay. And you couldn't fine a sweeter couple, Kay was "Chief's" soft side. Kay soft spoken and demure and Chief a sizable man with a rough exterior and strong voice but a heart of gold.

He was a soldier, sailor, husband, father, grandfather, great grand father, and everyone called him "Chief", right down to his 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

We'll raise a glass or two to "Chief" tonight; Fair Winds and Following Seas, God Speed dear friend. Bravo Zulu, well done, well done indeed.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 20, 2012 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, in the chapel. And oh the tales that will be told.

CP Update: As expected there was much to say during Monday's funeral service at St. Matthew's. Monsignor McSweeney shared his take on Chief noting that "Jim didn't want to be known as an Irish-American, as far as Jim was concerned he was just an American."

The Monsignor jokingly referred to Chief as "Archie", an inside joke for those old enough to remember the cranky character played by actor Carrol O'Conner.

In remembering Chief's career as a merchant seaman McSweeny pointed out how challenging it might have been for Chief's dear wife Kay raising children in his absence and having to balance his way vs her's, adding that he could imagine Kay saying to the kids"its only 3 more days and he'll be back on the ship."

Props to Monsignor McSweeny for giving us our monies worth by paying homage to our friend Chief, without passing the collection plate.  But somehow I expect Chief would have something to say about that as well, something along the lines of "Hey, you're not going to let them off that easy are you?Pass the damn collection plates, I don't want this service on my bill!"

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Sunday Change Up - Ol' Red Blake Shelton

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ShotSpotter CMPD Tool or Gimmick?

Shotspotter is up and running in Charlotte, and while CMPD won't say where the acoustic listening devices are located, Cedar Posts thinks this new equipment at the corner of 3rd and Church Streets fits the description.

Odd looking pizza box size squares, two of many recently added to Uptown light poles.

Besides the pizza to go boxes, along 3rd street and on top of a few uptown buildings, some questions have also popped up:

When CMPD's Deputy Chief Medlock first explained the Shotspotter concept and sought approval for a one year trial run, he told Charlotte City Council it wouldn't be up and running until after the DNC 2012 Convention. But as the CMPD email obtained by CP stated, the system went "live" last Monday. So, why the smoke screen?

Medlock also told council it would be deployed in a high crime area. However, Uptown where the equipment has been installed doesn't have a history of being either high crime area or an area plagued by gunfire and drive bys.

So why after all the talk of reducing crime was it not installed in East Charlotte or somewhere with a history of gun violence?

Since the Shotspotter technology has been installed in the area of the DNC 2012 and is now operational in time for the Democratic Convention why doesn't CMPD fund the project from DNC funds rather than taxpayers?

Then there is Medlock's assertion that you can't eavesdrop on conversations. Deputy Chief Medlock stated that "the sensors can’t record or detect human speech, and wouldn’t be used to spy on people" adding "it’s not a microphone.”

However, the Shotspotter technology is indeed able to pick up human speech as was the case with an audio recording of a street argument in New Bedford, MA that helped police arrest a suspect in a December 2011 murder.

Shotspotter officials say their acoustic sensors, are set up to detect gunfire, and are not designed to record conversations on the street. However, court documents show that audio surveillance helped provide specific details that enabled New Bedford Police to string together the sequence of events that ended in the fatal shooting. The full story is here.

CP's Take: Based on the above facts and quotes, Medlock is either not very well  informed, or if he is well informed and he knows about the case above then he's a liar.

Then there is Youngstown Ohio, where Shotspotter is getting mixed reviews after two years. "Last year, Shotspotter was activated more than 22,000 times. Gunfire accounted for more than 2,000 of the alerts." More from Youngstown Channel WYTV 33 News here.

CP's Take: If 90% of the calls are false alarms, is it really a good system? Are we going to send screaming police cars up Trade Street 22,000 times in the next year?

And finally Plainfield New Jersey where last Saturday night there was a double shooting that police say Shotspotter failed to detect. The full story is here.

CP's Final Word: I'm all in when it comes to giving our department the tools to get the thugs off the street.

But I have to wonder if using the highly patrolled Uptown area, during the first weeks of September when it will have more law enforcement officers in a four square mile area than the entire State of Texas is very smart. Wouldn't it make more sense to do a "trial run" somewhere that the police can't be 24/7? Somewhere like the Theresa Elder Park in the Avondale Oaks neighborhood?

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