Charlotte councilman wants more ‘assertive’ approach to these crime issues
A Charlotte City Council member says the city needs to be more “assertive” in its approach to public safety issues after facing questions about crime in 2025.
District 2 Democrat Malcolm Graham, a member of the City Council’s Safety Committee, spoke about the state of crime in Charlotte at a news conference Thursday. Graham said he remains supportive of collaboration with Mecklenburg County and local nonprofits, and of services for people dealing with homelessness, addiction and mental health issues.
“But if we do all of that and folks are still breaking the law, then I think we need to be very assertive in enforcing the laws that are already on the book,” Graham said.
He specifically cited loitering, panhandling and other “quality of life” issues as areas where the city should be “a lot more assertive.” The City Council voted in 2024 to recriminalize multiple city ordinances despite concerns from some advocates after uptown residents came forward with health and safety concerns.
“We just need to be at no tolerance on a wide variety of issues moving forward,” said Graham, whose district includes parts of uptown.
His comments come after a mixed year for public safety in Charlotte in 2025. Statistics show drops in many crime categories year-over-year. But high-profile incidents — especially the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on LYNX Blue Line light rail — sparked widespread debate about the city’s handling of crime.
Graham said he was pleased to see a “high concentration” of law enforcement while out and about during the holiday season. And he lauded new Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson’s “energy and enthusiasm” for her position.
The city will know more about how much progress has been made when CMPD releases its full 2025 crime report, Graham said. He expects that to be released next week.
“The proof is in the pudding,” he said.
In addition to looking at the latest data, Graham added the city is also “still addressing issues relating to perception.”
As chair of the city council’s intergovernmental relations committee, Graham called for the city, county and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance to present a unified front when lobbying state legislators on public safety issues, including more funding for the local judicial system.
“I think the state of North Carolina really wants to be a partner with us,” he said.
A former state legislator, Graham plans to attend the Jan. 29 state House Oversight Committee hearing on safety in Charlotte, the city’s public transit system and DEI initiatives. Mayor Vi Lyles and other local leaders are expected to testify.
“I hope that the discussion can be collaborative, that folks are talking to each other and not at each other,” he said.
