Charlotte declines to pull the lever on its own beheading

[Triana]

North Carolina’s legislature had Charlotte locked in a masterful trap: Heads we win, tails you lose. Pay me now or pay me later. And you’ll look bad doing it.

Republicans pushing to seize Charlotte Douglas International Airport from city control offered what they called a compromise. Instead of ramming through legislation on a thin rationale, they would create a commission to study the issue and make recommendations.

That sounded great. Slowing Sen. Bob Rucho’s bill down enough to figure out its ramifications was exactly what we and many Charlotte business leaders advocated all spring. But there was a catch. The 12-person commission would consist of eight members appointed by Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis, and four appointed by the Charlotte City Council.

. . .

Thus, the trap: The city could be a minority on a commission designed to back an authority it opposes, or it could decline, as it did Monday, and stand on the sidelines while the legislature creates the authority immediately. The process to do that is expected to be reignited in the House Finance Committee Wednesday morning.

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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/09/4155966/city-declines-to-aid-in-its-own.html

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[octoberlib]

2. I hope Charlotte sues.

If his optimism on that front is misplaced, we suspect Charlotte would eventually sue. Carlee said the city doesn’t want to do that but that all options are still on the table. Perhaps that was part of the city’s calculations as well: Participating in the study commission might dilute its legal options down the road.