Gaston County Community Talk

07/05/2025

🚨 Wilmington Officer Incorrectly Told Driver It’s Illegal to Record Police—It’s NOT. Here's What Happened and What You Can Do. 🎥📱

A recent incident in Wilmington, NC has reignited important conversations about our rights and accountability.

An Uber driver—who also happens to be a defense attorney—was pulled over by Wilmington police and began recording the traffic stop. That’s when Sgt. Kenneth Becker falsely told him it was against North Carolina law to record police and ordered him to stop filming.

📌 FACT CHECK:

There is no such law in North Carolina. It is 100% legal to record police officers in public as long as you’re not interfering with their duties.

The driver stood his ground and kept filming. Despite the pressure, no illegal items were found, and the video later made its way to the public. After backlash, the Wilmington Police Department launched an internal investigation. Sgt. Becker was ultimately demoted and given a 5% pay cut for the incident.

Why This Matters for Gaston County Residents

Traffic stops can be stressful, and sometimes dangerous—especially when misinformation or abuse of authority comes into play.

But drivers do have tools.

🛡️ Apps like TurnSignl are designed to protect your rights:

* When pulled over, the app immediately **starts recording** using your phone’s camera.
* It connects you via **live video chat to a licensed attorney** who can speak with both you and the officer in real time.
* All footage is saved to the cloud—just in case.

Know Your Rights, Stay Safe

Whether you're in Wilmington or Gastonia, remember:

✅ You have the right to record public officials, including police.
✅ You do NOT have to stop filming unless ordered by a court.
✅ Apps like TurnSignl can serve as an extra layer of protection and legal access—right from your phone.

Let’s stay informed. Let’s stay safe. Let’s hold systems accountable. 💪🏽📲⚖️

07/05/2025

🚨 Catawba River Warning: Pollution, Crumbling Infrastructure, and Broken Promises 🚨

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation has issued yet another warning after a recent sewage spill—one of many we've seen over the years.

These spills are happening because our sewer systems and infrastructure are failing. Raw sewage is leaking into our waterways, polluting the Catawba River and its tributaries, impacting fishing, kayaking, swimming, and the local wildlife that depend on this river.

💧 These are not accidents—they're the result of years of neglect.

Meanwhile, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” just passed—and guess what?

❌ No new money for fixing roads, bridges, water systems, or railways.

❌ No support for the kind of infrastructure that communities like Gaston County actually need.

❌ But billions are going to military contractors, space shuttles, and airports most of us will never use.

And if that wasn’t enough, they’ve also slashed SNAP and Medicaid, threatening jobs and support for working families, seniors, and kids.

We’re told this is what will “make America great again”?

How is a polluted river, crumbling roads, and cuts to basic needs “great”?

We deserve clean water, working infrastructure, and real investment in people—not just defense contractors and donors.

📢 Let’s demand better for Gaston County.

✊🏽 Our health, our environment, and our future depend on it.

07/03/2025

🚨 SNAP Cuts Would Hurt Farmers, Workers & Small Businesses in Gaston County🚨

Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” doesn’t just hurt low-income families—it threatens *everyone* connected to the food system. That includes small farmers, market vendors, grocery workers, and rural retailers across North Carolina.

Here’s how it would affect **Gaston County**:

🛒 **Lower Sales for Farmers & Markets**
Less SNAP = fewer purchases at local farms, farmers markets, and grocery stores.

🚜 **Job Losses in the Food Supply Chain**
Farm workers, clerks, drivers, and vendors rely on SNAP dollars flowing through our communities.

🏡 **Rural Areas Hit Hardest**
Grocery stores in SNAP-reliant towns could shutter—leaving food deserts behind.

💸 **Economic Ripple Effect**
Local spending drops, businesses cut back, and jobs disappear—all from cutting food aid to those who spend it locally.

SNAP isn’t charity—it’s an **economic driver**. Hurting working families hurts *all of us*.

📢 Let’s speak up before this bill becomes law. Gaston County deserves better.

07/03/2025

🚨 Trump’s "Big Beautiful Bill" Could Devastate North Carolina — Especially Gaston County 🚨

Hey Gaston County Community Talk friends, here’s what you need to know 👇

📍 Impact on Gaston County (primarily rural)

Local Hospital Strain: CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia serves as a critical lifeline for our community. Funding changes—like caps on provider taxes—threaten to reduce Medicaid reimbursement, putting rural hospitals at risk of scaling back or even shutting down emergency and maternal care services.

([axios.com][1], [en.wikipedia.org][2]).

Higher Unemployment & Economic Woes: Studies have shown that rural hospital closures lead to per capita income losses of \$700–\$1,300, along with rising unemployment .

([northcarolinahealthnews.org][3]). Fewer health jobs = fewer dollars in our local economy.

SNAP Recipients in Gaston: Over 40,000 county residents relied on SNAP in 2022, representing roughly 17.7% of households

([northcarolinahealthnews.org][3]). Proposed cuts to SNAP funding threaten food access for thousands of our neighbors.

✅ Statewide North Carolina Impacts

Medicaid Coverage Loss: About 663,000 NC residents could lose Medicaid—especially rural families in Gaston—leading to overwhelmed ERs and rising medical debt ([axios.com][1]).

SNAP & Hunger Crisis: A proposed 20% cut could remove benefits from over 1.5 million NC residents, pushing more households into food insecurity ([axios.com][1]).

Clean Energy & Jobs in Jeopardy: Federal support rollback would harm NC’s solar and EV industries—slowing economic growth and raising energy costs.

Squeezing Rural Health: Medicaid cuts plus new paperwork and work requirements could result in coverage gaps, especially in remote areas .

⛔ Who Pays for the “Big Beautiful” Giveaway?

Winners vs Losers

Winner: 💼 Wealthy & Corporations: Tax breaks & giveaways | Everyday families bear the long-term costs
|
Loser: 🏥 Rural Healthcare: None directly benefit | Faced with reduced funding, potential service reductions at CaroMont & clinics

Loser: 🧑‍👩‍👧‍👦 SNAP Families: None directly benefit | Over 40,000 Gaston residents could lose food aid support

Loser:🏭 Economy: Short-term gains for businesses | Long-term job losses in healthcare and clean-energy sectors |

🔥 Call to Action — Our Voice Matters

Demand accountability from our local, state, and congressional reps: We deserve leadership that protects healthcare, access to food, and local jobs—NOT costly giveaways to the wealthy.

Share your story: Know somebody who relies on SNAP or Medicaid? Tag them, comment below, and tell your community why this matters.

📢 Let’s make it clear: Gaston County counts—and we deserve better policies.**



* [axios.com](https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/07/01/north-carolina-medicaid-cuts-big-beautiful-bill?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/07/01/trump-big-beautiful-bill-health-care-medicaid-impacts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[1]: https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/07/01/north-carolina-medicaid-cuts-big-beautiful-bill?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Hundreds of thousands in North Carolina at risk of losing health care coverage"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CaroMont_Regional_Medical_Center?utm_source=chatgpt.com "CaroMont Regional Medical Center"
[3]: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2025/02/17/medicaid-cuts-in-rural-nc/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Rural North Carolina counties would suffer most from Medicaid cuts"

06/30/2025

06/16/2025

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06/14/2025

02/22/2025

Gastonia Mayor Oversteps Authority in Heated City Council Exchange

By Scotty Reid



In a contentious moment during a recent Gastonia City Council meeting, Gastonia’s Mayor Richard Franks attempted to have Councilwoman Donyell Barber forcibly removed by sheriff’s deputies from a city council meeting —an act that raises serious questions about the limits of his authority and the abuse of power in local government.

The exchange began when the mayor requested more time to review council documents. Councilwoman Barber, in response, posed what she called a rhetorical question: why he needed additional time when all council members had received the documents at the same time. Rather than addressing the issue professionally, Mayor Franks became visibly agitated, diverting the discussion to his personal struggles, including a claim that his granddaughter’s mother had abandoned her and that he had a lot on his mind.

Instead of keeping the meeting focused on city business, Franks escalated the situation further by accusing Barber of using the exchange as a political maneuver to position herself for a future mayoral run. The back-and-forth culminated in the mayor attempting to order sheriff’s deputies to remove Barber from the chamber—an act that raises legal and ethical concerns about his role as presiding officer.

Does the Mayor Have the Authority to Remove a Council Member?

North Carolina law grants mayors the power to preside over city council meetings, but it does not explicitly give them unilateral authority to remove an elected council member for engaging in debate or disagreement. Typically, the enforcement of order during council meetings follows a structured process, often dictated by city ordinances or procedural rules such as Robert’s Rules of Order.

For a council member to be removed, there usually must be a clear case of disruptive behavior that significantly obstructs the meeting. Even then, the decision often requires a motion and vote by the council rather than a unilateral order from the mayor. In this case, Barber was participating in a discussion relevant to the meeting agenda—questioning why the mayor needed additional time to review documents. This does not meet the threshold for disorderly conduct, making Franks’ actions appear not only excessive but also a misuse of his authority.

Political Intimidation and Abuse of Power?

Mayor Franks’ reaction suggests that his attempt to remove Barber was not about maintaining order but rather about silencing a fellow elected official questioning his ability to manage his time in conducting city business. By bringing up his personal life, making accusations about Barber’s political ambitions, and ultimately trying to use law enforcement to eject her, he demonstrated a troubling disregard for the principles of democratic governance.

This kind of behavior sets a dangerous precedent. If mayors or other officials can weaponize law enforcement to remove colleagues who ask difficult or inconvenient questions, it threatens the integrity of local government. City council meetings are meant to be forums for discussion, debate, and decision-making—not arenas where personal grievances take precedence over policy and procedure.

What Happens Next?

The Gastonia City Council and legal experts should review whether the mayor acted within his authority. If he overstepped his role, there should be discussions about holding him accountable and ensuring that future meetings remain focused on governance rather than personal conflicts. Transparency and accountability are essential to preventing elected officials from abusing their positions to silence opposition.

For now, this incident serves as a stark reminder of why it is crucial for public officials to respect the democratic process, follow established procedures, and uphold the standards of conduct expected in public office. The people of Gastonia deserve leaders who prioritize governance over personal grievances—and who understand that disagreement is not disorder, but democracy in action.