There are several items to report on today. The Charlotte City Council Committees met yesterday for the first time in 2026 and there have been a few changes worth noting. Along with the addition of several new council members, the Safety Committee now becoming a stand-alone entity. Finally the meeting times have been changed. Here are the new committee assignments along with links to additional committee information including agendas and links to presentations, all contained within these agenda links:
LaWana Mayfield, Chair
J.D. Mazuera Arias
Reneé Johnson
Joi Mayo
Kimberly Owens
Economic Development and Workforce Committee
Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell, Chair
Danté Anderson
J.D. Mazuera Arias
LaWana Mayfield
Victoria Watlington
Danté Anderson, Chair
Dimple Ajmera
Ed Driggs
Malcolm Graham
Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell
Budget, Governance, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Malcolm Graham, Chair
Dimple Ajmera
Joi Mayo
Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell
Kimberly Owens
Transportation, Planning, and Development Committee
Ed Driggs, Chair
Malcolm Graham
Reneé Johnson
LaWana Mayfield
Victoria Watlington
My Take: Starting on a positive note, I would say it was a good move to create a stand-alone Safety Committee. I have a lot of confidence in Councilmember Anderson and her ability to steer the committee to a positive outcome. Also, the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) pilot program has far more participation than was predicted. This is a good thing, but it is indicative of a broader problem that exists – housing is less attainable today than it was just a handful of years ago and it’s getting worse (UNC Charlotte’s State of Housing in Charlotte 2025). That’s why a couple of things I heard during the final moments of the Transportation, Planning, and Development Committee gave me pause. Several committee members indicated they wanted to explore the imposition of ADDITIONAL regulatory barriers to the development process. Seriously? Shouldn’t we be exploring ways of reducing barriers and getting more people into homes? I’m hopeful this was just more of the same rhetoric aimed at pleasing the uninformed few, not those who are clamoring for more housing. In the long run though, this is not the direction we should be heading.
What’s in a “Getting Real With Rob” (GRWR) podcast? Well, we laugh a lot. But we also get right down to it. Rated as one of the top 5 Real Estate Podcasts in Charlotte, our guests are all regional leaders who are shaping our future as a prosperous, energetic, and innovative region. From Educators, Attorneys, Commercial and Residential Developers, Municipal Planners, Politicians, Business Leaders and Changemakers, all had a voice and a platform this last year with 14 Guests gracing the podcast booth. Honest, personal (the Lighting Round question segment is just fun!), and definitely transparent, we covered the facts and elevated solutions.
If there’s anything better than getting your news from 2 For Tuesday, it’s listening to our REBIC podcast, Getting Real With Rob. Share the link, and ask your teams, connections, and friends to not only subscribe to this newsletter, but become loyal listeners. Our short (episodes average only 25 minutes in length) but powerful interviews will give you the inside story on our most pressing issues.
Here’s a link to all our 2025 guests. Check them out!
Karla Knotts – VP Knotts Development and Industry Advocate
Patrick Mumford – President | CEO Gaston Business Association
James Pressley – Pressley Residential | Civic Leader
Rep Tim Moore – US Congressman NC 14th District
Alyson Craig – Assistant City Manager, Charlotte
Richard Buttimer – Dean, Belk College of Business, UNC Charlotte
Michael Foess – Montrose LLC | REBIC Board President 2025
Rodney Faulkner, and William Haygood, III – Boundary Street Advisors
Bobbi Jo Lazarus – Tax Shareholder | Elliott Davis
Sagar Rathie – Crescent Communities | NAIOP 2025 President
Torrey Feimster – CEO Ascension Community Development
Dan Puvak – Operations Partner, True Homes
Aaron Houck – Land Use Attorney, Political Scientist
Interested in viewing a quick video of each guest? Check out our YouTube Page!
Do you have a guest suggestion? Please let us know!
My Take: When we started the podcast several years ago, I wasn’t sure how quickly it would catch on, and if a platform of blending personal conversations with deep factual discussions would be sustainable. And even though I didn’t really know what I was doing, the guests came! Those who have been willing to come on the show and tell their respective stories have made it a success. A huge thank you to those of you who sat down in the booth with me and educated our listeners on matters of importance to our regional community with eagerness and excitement. We’re looking forward to taking it up a notch in 2026, so as requested, if you have an idea for a guest, let us know!
“On March 3, 2026, Charlotte will hold its County Primaries, selecting the leaders who will guide Mecklenburg County for the next two years. I invite you to join us for an important conversation with Chair Mark Jerrell and Vice Chair Leigh Altman. They will be discussing key issues facing our County, a valuable opportunity to hear directly from these leaders, ask questions, and gain insight into their vision for Mecklenburg County. I believe that thoughtful, responsible leadership is essential, and both these individuals are committed to serving our community with integrity and purpose. I’ve personally vetted them and believe they are well-equipped to continue serving our community with dedication and heart.”
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | CBI Workplace Solutions – Client and Community Center, 4110 Old Pineville Road, Charlotte, NC 28217
If you’re able to attend, please RSVP to [email protected]
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