Councilman JD Mazuera Arias

07/14/2026

The Charlotte branch of a national architect organization is opposing the pending demolition of a 100-year-old building’s historic facade in uptown.

But the developer, who is planning to expand an existing data center at the site, has already filed for a demolition permit with Mecklenburg County.

Read more: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article316446026.html

07/10/2026

The Data Center task force/focus group has been postponed. Thank you to the community for raising your concerns.

Charlotte staff pauses data center focus group after City Council kept in the dark

07/09/2026

The Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and partner airlines are still working on a long-term lease agreement amid extended negotiations.

07/09/2026

The loophole has cost municipalities millions in lost tax revenue, especially in the state’s urban counties.

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

“City Council members weren’t aware the task force was convening, much to their frustration. In an email chain shared with the Observer, council members told Bolick and other top officials they were disappointed by the process and felt the city lacked clear internal procedures.

Councilman JD Mazuera Arias represents District 5 in east Charlotte, where the American Tower Corporation’s proposed data center in a residential area galvanized data center opposition. Mazuera Arias told the Observer he didn’t learn about the task force until Thursday, the same day as its initial meeting.

Mazuera Arias said the city might select “an echo chamber of people” to reinforce its thinking without an open process. He still doesn’t know who’s on the task force. “We do have a lack of communication problem within the city,” Mazuera Arias said. “This is not calculus or algebra. This is basic fundamentals of how you create a task force. The way it was created is not how you go about it.” Mazuera Arias said the city should course correct, which means pausing the task force and restarting with advance notice and the chance for anybody, including impacted residents, to apply.

Mazuera Arias said City Council members are in touch with city staff to figure out what happened and how they can proceed. “While I am disappointed, this is an opportunity for us to learn and improve the way we go about these scenarios and initiatives,” Mazuera Arias said. “City staff have been hard at work to make sure we are answering the right policy questions. This fell through the cracks.””

Read more at:

City staff were still recruiting members the same morning the task force was supposed to begin.

07/09/2026

STATEMENT ON DATA CENTER TASK FORCE:

I want to share an important update on the data center moratorium.

Today, I learned that a data center task force has been formed and will hold its first meeting tonight, with another meeting scheduled for July 23. City Council learned about this today. While I support a serious and thoughtful process to guide policy recommendations, I am disappointed by the lack of advance communication, transparency, and public engagement around how this task force was created.

Districts 4 and 5 have been deeply engaged on this issue because our communities have been directly impacted by recent data center proposals. Residents, neighborhood leaders, business district organizations, environmental justice advocates, and community-based groups deserve to be part of the conversation from the beginning, not after decisions are already moving forward.

This is exactly why the way we do things has to change.

Growth cannot keep happening behind closed doors, with communities finding out after the fact. If Charlotte is going to make decisions about land use, infrastructure, energy, water, neighborhood impacts, and future development, then the people most affected need a real seat at the table.

I have requested answers from City staff about who is on the task force, how members were selected, what policy questions are being considered, what the timeline looks like, and how directly impacted residents can still be included.

My hope is that we can correct course quickly and create a real opportunity for additional community members, especially those from impacted neighborhoods, to be involved before recommendations are finalized.

To be clear: this is not about stopping thoughtful policy work. It is about making sure the process is transparent, inclusive, and worthy of public trust.

Charlotte can grow, but growth must happen with people, not to people.

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Rob Harrington assumes office as Charlotte's new mayor amid rapid growth and pressing challenges.