Crime
District 3 should be a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. Anyone who threatens that safety should be held accountable.
The state legislature continues to limit what local officials can do, and Mecklenburg County cannot address crime effectively without the authority to act. As a Dillon Rule state, North Carolina's state lawmakers hold a majority of decision-making power when it comes to addressing crime. I will introduce a local crime bill that reflects the needs of the county, and I will present this bill to state lawmakers to pressure them to take action. This bill is meant to force a conversation and show exactly what tools our community needs, and to hold state lawmakers accountable for meeting those needs. It will outline clear strategies to address violent crime as well as nonviolent offenses such as auto theft and retail theft, with special attention to youth involvement.
Additionally, I support stronger school safety measures, a zero-tolerance policy for physical violence in classrooms, and real investments that keep young people engaged and off the streets. Organized retail theft and auto theft are often driven by the same small group of repeat youth offenders, and we need a better response. Reopening our juvenile justice facility should be part of this effort so young offenders receive the structure and intervention they need before problems escalate. Focused deterrence, combined with paid youth jobs/internships, sports and extracurricular programs, conflict-resolution initiatives, and accessible community spaces during peak crime hours, can reduce these offenses while creating and incentivizing better pathways for young people.
We must also improve safety at the neighborhood level. Expanding initiatives like CROWN to high-crime areas will increase police visibility and deter crime through consistent, community-oriented patrols that support residents rather than harass them. By pursuing a crime bill that restores local authority, updating our crime response, and investing in the underlying causes of crime such as poverty and lack of opportunity, we can reduce both violent and nonviolent crime and make District 3 safer for everyone.