A salute, a scolding and a stack of annexations
Ten years after Mother Emanuel, a moment of grace
Mayor Vi Lyles opened Monday’s meeting by honoring District 2 Council-member Malcolm Graham and memorializing his sister Cynthia, one of nine parishioners murdered at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME a decade ago. The chamber—usually restless while phones glow—fell silent. Graham’s composure set a sober tone that would not last long.
ADA Pride Day: unanimous, overdue
Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson read a proclamation declaring July 26, 2025 “ADA Pride Day”—the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Leslie Briggs, the city’s ADA manager, accepted the document and a standing ovation. The pledge: stricter compliance reviews of city facilities and digital tools. ♿️
Public Forum: bikes, nukes, trees—and tempers
- Vision Zero & last-mile gaps – Bike Advisory Committee chair Lauren Patterson pleaded for faster funding so cyclists aren’t “dodging 45-mph traffic just to cross a missing 200-foot segment.”
- Anti-nuke resolution – Activist Mr. Cohn urged Charlotte to endorse the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; Council took the paperwork but no promises.
- Door-to-door sales at 9 p.m.? – Resident John Dean begged for an ordinance overhaul that respects “NO SOLICITING” signs. His neighbors applauded.
- Airport cabin-cleaner fatigue – Maribel McBeth spoke for SEIU-aligned workers who sanitize planes for $14/hr with “barely any breaks to eat.” Three clergy members backed her demand for a public hearing on the CASE ordinance. No vote was scheduled.
- Tree Charlotte love-fest – Rick Pennebaker floated an October “Charlotte Tree Month” proclamation. The Mayor promised her signature. 🌳
Two annexations, zero controversy
Council annexed the Kenmore Area (District 3) and Shorewood (District 4) without debate, effective immediately. Expect zoning petitions in—checks watch—three weeks.
Community area plan update: not tonight
Planning Director Monica Holmes briefed Council on the 14-plan package. With 800+ public comments still under review, the adoption vote slides to August. Council-member Victoria Watlington asked for another evening webinar; staff agreed.
Street-vending friction heads uptown
Council approved amendments making NoDa Charlotte’s second Congested Business District (CBD) after Tryon Street. Vendors now need a $50 monthly permit, must clear 6-foot pedestrian paths, and can’t block storefronts. Council-member LaWana Mayfield scolded “Goldilocks merchants” who pop up in front of brick-and-mortars; Watlington insisted the new rules “balance creativity with food-safety.”
Why Ballantyne cares: Plaza Midwood is already lobbying for CBD designation. Expect similar calls along Ballantyne Commons if weekend pop-ups clog the greenway trailhead.
Quick hits
- Water-sewer refunding bonds—$210 M OK’d to lower interest costs.
- Symphony Park streetscape—$8 M reimbursement green-lit for SouthPark Community Partners.
- Airport fuel-farm expansion—30-year lease approved; more gates, more jet-A. ✈️
Summit Coffee: 25 years of ‘moments of joy’ ☕️
A tip of the travel mug to Summit Coffee—celebrating a quarter-century from its Davidson flagship to soon-to-open cafés in Nexton and Mt. Pleasant. The Basecamp Blend kept this reporter on deadline. Summit’s 1% for the Community gives local races, live-music nights and employee-led service projects real caffeine.
Partner shout-outs 🎉
Thanks to every Ballantyne business that lets us keep the lights on—and your stories in print:
- At The Hop: The Secret to Ballantyne’s Shiniest Cars
- Ballantyne Veterinary Clinic: Whole-Household Care
- Copper & Thyme’s Chef Alicia Charolle—From Wall Street to Weeknight Wonder
- Many more live under our Partners tag—browse and book local!
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About the Author
Nell Thomas writes political dispatches for The Charlotte Mercury and hyper-local deep dives for Strolling Ballantyne. When not fact-checking late into the night, she’s refueling on cold-brew from the Einstein Bros. Bagels Ballantyne shop. Ask her about Council procedure—or the best schmear-to-bagel ratio.
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© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “Charlotte Council’s June 23 Marathon: ADA Pride, Annexations & A Testy Street-Vending Showdown,” by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Charlotte Council’s June 23 Marathon: ADA Pride, Annexations & A Testy Street-Vending Showdown”
by Nell Thomas, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)
