2 For Tuesday | October 6, 2026

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#1 It’s Time for Early Voting. You Are Voting, Right?

It’s that time again: Early voting begins October 15. And we are encouraging you to get out there, register, vote and tell others to vote.

Where should you go next? The Election Hub is a great resource for 2026 Election related material and aggregates all the information you need to make an informed decision when you vote. This includes candidate biographies, voting dates, and times.

The Election Hub was established in 2025 in partnership with The Charlotte Ledger, The Gaston Business Association, and The Cabarrus Chamber and has become a go to source come election time.

For additional information about elections around the state, including additional surrounding counties, please visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

 

My Take:  I’m going to start with a plug for a local business. If you are not a current subscriber to The Charlotte Ledger, you ought to be. They do a terrific job reporting, and their coverage of Real Estate Matters is second only to the 2 For Tuesday REBIC newsletter. I threw that in just to see if you were paying attention.

On a more serious note, Mecklenburg County turnout was just under 16% for the most recent 2026 Primary Election held this past March. Prior to that, the General Election results for 2025 produced a turnout of just south of 22%. The Primary Election for that same year saw just 8% of eligible voters turn out. Prior to that, during the General Election of 2024, a Presidential Election year, we had nearly 70% voter turnout. Now that’s more like it!

We should ask ourselves, why are we only showing up every four years to elect a president when most of our difficulties arise from decisions made at the local level? I challenge you to get educated and engaged each and every year, because the leaders we put in place, no matter the level of government, do have a direct role in shaping the future of our community, region, state, and nation.  

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#2 Housing Committee Update: A/C Mandate Advances to Full Council.

Below is an update from yesterday’s Charlotte Housing Committee meeting, where the Committee voted 3–1 to advance a proposed air conditioning mandate to the full City Council. Here is the staff presentation that was provided:

Policy Referral:  Minimum Housing Code

The proposed enforcement approach raises significant concerns for rental housing providers, particularly the 48-hour repair window. We will continue to work with our partners at the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association, who are taking the lead, to advocate for practical safeguards and address potential unintended consequences. Your input will help support our advocacy, and your participation in outreach or public comments as the process continues will be most helpful.

Proposed Ordinance Revisions

The proposed Minimum Housing Code amendments would:

• Amend Section 11-45(e): Add inoperable cooling equipment as an imminently dangerous condition during the months of May through September.
• Amend Section 11-81(r): Require every residential dwelling to provide cooling equipment capable of maintaining a maximum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit in at least two habitable rooms during May through September.

Proposed Implementation

Staff presented an implementation approach that reduces the previously discussed 72-hour repair window to 48 hours. The presentation outlined the following:

• Allow exceptions for scheduled repairs and work orders in place at the time of the initial inspection.
• If repairs are not completed within 48 hours, evaluate immediate repair or replacement through City Housing Services.
• Refer tenants for relocation services if repair or replacement is not an option.
• Proceed with the standard enforcement process, including civil penalties.

Staff also noted that additional resources would be necessary to implement responsive enforcement including weekend hours of operation for the Code Enforcement Department and presumably the hiring of additional workers to staff the office.

Existing Support Programs

Staff indicated that existing assistance would continue regardless of whether the ordinance changes are adopted and those include the following through the City’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services:

• Window units: Continue providing units to households without working A/C from May through September. Additional units may be provided based on household needs and the dwelling’s size or design.
• Rehabilitation programs: Eligible owner-occupied households may apply for City rehabilitation programs, including emergency repairs to address cooling equipment needs.
• HVAC Pilot Program: Support eligible multifamily rental properties with 5–49 units and single-family rental properties within city limits to install permanent, energy-efficient cooling in homes that previously lacked it.
• Installation assistance: The pilot reimburses 75% of eligible installation costs, up to $10,000 per unit, with a maximum of 10 units or $100,000 per owner or affiliate. Participation includes three-year affordability and maintenance requirements and compliance with the City’s source-of-income protections.

We will continue to keep you informed as the proposal moves through the process.

 

My Take:  This is one of those issues that seems like a no-brainer. Without question we want our residents to have dwellings that provide adequate and livable environments. The challenge comes in doing it without creating additional problems during the process. How many Charlotte residents currently reside in households without air conditioning? And could existing programs already provide the relief sought without imposing yet another regulation that could result in higher housing costs? These seem to be the important questions we should be asking. Also, are you aware that roughly 80% of European households remain A/C free? Only about 10% of U.S. homes or multifamily units are not air conditioned. There will be much more on this to come.  

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