Who makes the big decisions in Charlotte — and how has that changed?
In the 1970s and 1980s, a small collection of local business leaders known as “The Group” would meet regularly and call the shots. It consisted of the CEOs of Charlotte’s biggest banks, and they favored a vibrant downtown and more arts funding.
Today, the influence of Charlotte’s business community has waned, and the city’s politics has more diverse voices — leaving the decision-making more fractured.
Longtime Charlotte journalist Jim Morrill discusses that evolution of power in Charlotte in this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast. Morrill, who retired in 2021 after 40 years as a reporter at The Charlotte Observer, examined that issue in-depth in a February 2023 cover article in Charlotte magazine entitled “Who’s in Charge in Charlotte?”
In his discussion with Charlotte Ledger editor Tony Mecia, Morrill discusses:
Who were members of “The Group,” and how did they shape modern-day Charlotte?
The drive to make Charlotte into a “world-class city”
The vision of then-NationsBank CEO Hugh McColl Jr.
The strategy behind reinvigorating uptown Charlotte
How the political involvement of the city’s business community has changed over the years
Who calls the shots in Charlotte nowadays?
We hope you enjoy the conversation.
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.
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