The Charlotte City Council approved a $3.4 million, multi‑year marketing contract for CATS, prompting criticism amid recent stabbings on the Blue Line. Mecklenburg County GOP Chair Kyle Kirby called the campaign a "cover‑up" and said the funds should be redirected to policing and safety measures. The article recalls the Aug. 22 fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska and a Dec. 5 stabbing in which the victim survived; the latter suspect faces charges including illegal reentry and violence on a mass transit system. Officials and law enforcement were contacted for comment.
Charlotte Sparks Backlash Over $3.4M Transit Marketing Contract Amid Light‑Rail Stabbings
Charlotte prioritizes $3.4M transit marketing blitz over safety after recent stabbings, GOP chair says
The Charlotte City Council approved a $3.4 million, multi‑year communications and branding contract for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), a move that has drawn sharp criticism as the city grapples with a series of recent stabbings on the Blue Line light‑rail.
Council Decision and Local Reaction
City officials say the contract, awarded to a Texas‑based marketing firm, is unrelated to the recent attacks and that the timing was coincidental. That explanation was rejected by Mecklenburg County GOP Chair Kyle Kirby, who told Fox News Digital the expenditure appears to prioritize optics over safety.
Split of Charlotte, North Carolina train stabbing victim Kenyon Dobie and illegal immigrant suspect Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia. The Justice Department said he had been deported twice from the United States and has a criminal history in the U.S.
Kyle Kirby: 'It's pretty outrageous that the city would be allocating $3.4 million for a PR campaign basically to cover up the lack of safety and security on the light rail system rather than actually putting that money to good use, where we could have enclosed platforms or a police officer on every rail car.'
Recent Attacks Cited by Critics
Critics point to two high‑profile incidents on the Blue Line. On Aug. 22, 23‑year‑old Iryna Zarutska was reportedly stabbed to death while commuting; authorities say surveillance footage captured the attack. On Dec. 5, police say 33‑year‑old Oscar Gerardo Solorzano‑Garcia stabbed Kenyon Kareem‑Shemar Dobie during an argument on a light‑rail car. Dobie survived after being hospitalized.
According to police, Solorzano‑Garcia allegedly forced his way into a rail car carrying a large fixed‑blade knife with intent to commit a felony, was intoxicated, and challenged another passenger to a fight. He was arrested walking away from the scene and faces charges that include illegal reentry by a removed alien and committing an act of violence on a mass transportation system.
A view of the memorial dedicated to slain 23-year-old Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska at the East/West Blvd light-rail station in Charlotte on Sept. 11, 2025.
Safety, Perception, And Policy Debate
Kirby and other critics argue the $3.4 million would be better spent on policing or safety infrastructure — measures they say could prevent attacks and restore ridership. 'Perception in this case is absolutely reality,' Kirby said, adding that rail cars have been markedly emptier since the incidents.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden suggested media coverage — especially widely shared video — has amplified community fear. 'And we believe that the only reason that this caught national attention is because it was caught on video and it was displayed across the United States,' he said, defending efforts such as the proposal known locally as 'Iryna's Law.'
Sheriff Garry McFadden discussed Iryna's Law on Monday, Dec. 8.
Officials Sought Comment
Local officials continue to debate how best to address safety and public confidence on transit. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and CATS for comment on the marketing contract and on any planned safety measures.
What Remains Clear: The dispute highlights a larger conversation about how municipalities balance public‑relations efforts, infrastructure spending, and law enforcement in response to high‑profile violent incidents.
