September 5, 2025

This Week at The Charlotte Mercury: Transit Tax, District Races, ABC Hours, Zoning Fights

Nell Thomas010 mins

The Week Charlotte Mattered To Ballantyne

You can tell a city is serious when a penny on the dollar gets its own statute, a new transit authority, and a rail gate that waits for the Red Line to be halfway built before anything else moves. The Charlotte Mercury spent the week doing what it does best, which is explain power without the smoke machines. Here is the quick tour, with the Ballantyne lens on.

Strolling Ballantyne is part of The Mercury network. Find the parent newsroom at The Charlotte Mercury, where I also write.

Presented by Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte
Before we dig in, a thank-you to our neighbors at Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte. Read our profiles, then stop by the Polk Street showroom: Luxury Car Dealer in NC and Luxury Sales Leader With A Community Engine. Their mantra is simple: “Our customers aren’t transactions, they’re family.” The address is 950 N Polk St., Pineville. The main line is 704-889-4444. Ask for a private test drive and a calm playlist.

What The Mercury Published This Week

Charlotte’s 1% Transit Tax: What It Does, What It Costs, Who Runs It, and Where City Council Candidates Stand
A clear explainer of the P.A.V.E. Act, the new county transit authority, the mode split set in law, and the Red Line 50 percent gate. Includes a running table of candidate positions with sources. Read it here: Transit Tax Explainer. The Charlotte Mercury

The Penny That Could Redraw Mecklenburg
A primer on what the penny raises over 30 years, why the MTC gives way to a new authority, and what the household math looks like. It also notes the Board of County Commissioners vote that put the question on November’s ballot. Read: The Penny Piece. The Charlotte Mercury

Malcolm Graham, District 2
Committee roles, corridor investments, and a record that includes stadium renovations, public-order votes, and transit governance. Also where the District 2 race stands for 2025. Read: Graham Profile. The Charlotte Mercury

District 1 Rematch: Charlene Henderson vs. Danté Anderson
Your early-voting dates, the live policy differences, and how the airport labor debate and paperwork stories trail into a close primary. Read: District 1 Rematch. The Charlotte Mercury

District 3’s One-Vote Shock
The Black Political Caucus endorsement for Joi Mayo over Tiawana Brown came down to one vote. Why that matters in a small electorate, how Montravias King’s exit shifted the lane, and what consolidation looks like now. Read: District 3 Endorsement Analysis. The Charlotte Mercury

Mecklenburg County ABC Labor Day Hours
Eight spirits stores will open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Labor Day. One site is MXB-only for permit holders. Ballantyne readers, note Store 21 at 16019 Lancaster Highway on the open list. Details: ABC Holiday Hours. The Charlotte Mercury

Charlotte Council Clashes at Aug. 18 Zoning
Traffic, school capacity, trust. The meeting that put East Charlotte’s infrastructure promises and campaign positioning on the same dais. Read: Aug. 18 Zoning Recap. The Charlotte Mercury

When Neighbors Push Back
A focused look at the Hood Road case, where residents challenged a 94-townhome plan and City Council pressed on safety and school strain. Read: Hood Road Case. The Charlotte Mercury

Why Ballantyne Should Care

  • Your commutes and errands: The transit pieces explain what a one-cent county tax would fund, who runs it, and how the Red Line gate works. If you commute north, the Red Line sequence matters. If you drive daily on Johnston or Lancaster, road shares to towns matter too. The Charlotte Mercury+1
  • Your ballot: Close council races turn on small electorates. District coverage shows where candidates split on labor, transit, and code enforcement. The Charlotte Mercury+1
  • Your neighborhood fights: The zoning reporting is really about promises to neighborhoods. The themes, from sidewalks to school capacity, echo in South Charlotte as well. The Charlotte Mercury+1
  • Your holiday plans: If your charcuterie board requires a bottle on Sept. 1, you now know which stores open, and that Ballantyne’s Store 21 is on the list. The Charlotte Mercury

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About the Author

Nell Thomas files from a table near the register at Einstein Bros. Bagels — Ballantyne, where the address is 13736 Conlan Cir. The coffee is hot, the Everything bagel is reliable, and seasonal surprises like the Pretzel Bagel and Morning Mocktails keep the writing sprints interesting. Menu mainstays include Classic, Signature and Gourmet bagels with a full spread of shmears, plus egg sandwiches and deli favorites. Peek at the official menu pages if you need inspiration before you order: Einstein Menu and the bagel lineup under Bagels & Shmear. Einstein Bros.Einstein Bros. Bagels+1

You can also find my work at The Charlotte Mercury. Strolling Ballantyne is part of The Mercury.

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© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “This Week at The Charlotte Mercury: Transit Tax, District Races, ABC Hours, Zoning Fights,” by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

“This Week at The Charlotte Mercury: Transit Tax, District Races, ABC Hours, Zoning Fights”
by Nell Thomas, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)

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