Violent crime in Charlotte, North Carolina, has ignited a political storm, with Republican lawmakers pointing to the city’s rising homicide rate as evidence that Mayor Vi Lyles’ leadership has faltered. Addul Ali, North Carolina District 12 GOP chairperson, told Fox News Digital that the mayor’s public perception of safety does not match the city’s violent reality. Recent federal immigration raids in the Charlotte area and calls for National Guard deployments have further complicated City Hall’s messaging on public safety.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s third-quarter report shows overall crime down 8% from January through September compared with a year earlier. Lyles has pointed to those numbers to argue that investments in recruiting, pay and targeted enforcement are working. However, the messaging comes as Charlotte faces intensifying scrutiny over violent crime, with Republican lawmakers pointing to the sharp rise in homicides and aggravated assaults in the Queen City’s bustling downtown.
Ali, who has attended multiple vigils for young children killed in Charlotte, stated that the perception the mayor is trying to create is at odds with the reality. He also suggested that there may be underreporting of certain crimes to manipulate statistics. The rise in violent crime has prompted Republican lawmakers to urge Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to deploy the National Guard. For now, the governor has resisted that call, and local officials have argued that public safety remains a local responsibility.
Lyles was most recently re-elected in November, winning a fifth term in office. Her re-election came after her leadership was scrutinized for her response to Iryna Zarutska’s violent stabbing in August. Ali acknowledged that, from a purely political standpoint, Lyles has shown skill in maintaining her seat. But Ali argued that her success reflects broader political dynamics rather than voter enthusiasm for her leadership.