Johnny Harris: Don’t let national politics disrupt Charlotte’s progress

A close City Council vote reflects a troubling shift away from public-private partnerships

The following is a column submitted to The Charlotte Ledger by Charlotte businessman Johnny Harris, the prominent developer and civic leader who is president of Quail Hollow Club. Read The Ledger’s news article about it in our June 27, 2025, issue.

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Opinion: The City Council’s 5-5 deadlock this week reflects a dangerous departure from the collaborative model that made Charlotte thrive

by Johnny Harris

Charlotte has long prided itself on being a city of progress — a place that welcomes ambition, invests in its people and plans with intention for the future. That’s why the recent 5-5 City Council deadlock on the Charlotte Airport Safety and Efficiency (CASE) ordinance is more than just a disappointing outcome.

It marks a troubling shift away from the “Charlotte Way” — the spirit of public-private partnership that helped turn Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) into one of the Southeast’s greatest economic engines, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions in economic output.

This vote reflects a Council increasingly driven by performative activism. The CASE ordinance was not a homegrown idea. It was pushed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a Washington, D.C.-based political organization, with little regard for Charlotte’s distinct values or economic realities. This is bad policy that would have far-reaching consequences for Charlotte residents.

Let’s be clear: the proposed ordinance would have imposed sweeping wage mandates on private contractors doing business with the city — mandates that would increase costs at CLT, eventually driving up ticket prices and weakening one of our region’s greatest competitive advantages. That is not progress. That’s economic malpractice, and Charlotte residents would have to pay the costs of the Council’s virtue signaling.

What’s more, some on the City Council are directly defying clear signals from the North Carolina General Assembly, which has preempted municipalities from enacting local wage mandates on private employers.

The N.C. Chamber recently outlined why such actions not only undermine state law but also chip away at the business-friendly climate that has made North Carolina one of the most attractive states for investment and growth. This wasn’t just an economic overreach — it was legally questionable and politically reckless.

Fortunately, several members of the Council stood tall for Charlotte’s long-term prosperity. Councilmembers Danté Anderson, Malcolm Graham, Marjorie Molina, Ed Driggs and Edwin Peacock — as well as Mayor Vi Lyles — deserve credit for rejecting an approach that would have harmed the very people it claimed to help. They recognized the right path is to continue the collaborative approach that has built Charlotte into the city it is today.

We succeed because we lead with balance, pragmatism, and a commitment to growth through partnership. Our business community, labor advocates, and public officials don’t always agree, but historically we’ve found ways to work together. We must return to that model. Charlotte doesn’t need headlines. It needs leadership.

Johnny Harris is the co‑founder and long‑time president of Lincoln Harris, which developed projects including Legacy Union and SouthPark’s Capitol Towers. He has served as president of Quail Hollow Club since 1988, where he spearheaded major golf tournaments such as the PGA Championship and Presidents Cup, while serving as a civic and philanthropic leader across Charlotte.

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