ARREST WILL COST CRUSADE

Prostitution Case Tips Scales For City Council On $40,000 For Stop The
Killing

The Rev. James Barnett's prostitution-related arrest three months ago
may one day be remembered as the $40,000 stunt.

City officials say Barnett's arrest was one of the main reasons
Charlotte's oldest anti-violence group will be denied taxpayer money
for the upcoming fiscal year. Barnett's Stop the Killing Crusade,
which started 16 years ago, had received $40,000 from the city each
year since 1998.

City Council is expected to formally cut the group loose tonight. A
preliminary vote earlier this month was unanimous.

"I've worked very closely with Reverend Barnett for the last 15 years.
I've walked in neighborhoods with him, trying to chase away drug
dealers," Mayor Pat McCrory told the Observer. "But his arrest and
subsequent explanation made me reconsider giving the group any
taxpayer money."

Barnett, 59, was arrested March 13, accused of agreeing to pay an
undercover Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer $20 for a sex act. He
said it was a publicity ploy in support of a police campaign to rid
the west Charlotte neighborhood of prostitution.

Looking back on the arrest, Barnett says he has no regrets.

"I would do the same thing," he said.

Asked about the impending loss of city funding, still no apologies.

"We got along without city funding before, and we'll get along without
it again."

Stop the Killing is best known for trying to raise awareness through
cookouts and vigils about black-on-black crime and, more recently,
violence among Latinos. The group's logo shows the silhouette of a
woman kneeling beside a body.

The group was created in 1988, simply called the Crusade, in a year
that police say there were 45 homicides. Members focused on ridding
predominantly black neighborhoods of drugs.

As crack dealers began battling for turf on Charlotte's streets, the
number of homicides rose in the early 1990s -- 115 in 1991 and a
record 129 killings in 1993. The Crusade became the "Stop the Killing
Crusade," focusing on the disproportionate number of black homicide
victims. Blacks comprise about 33 percent of the city's population,
according to U.S. census data.

So far this year, there have been 23 homicides, down from 29 at this
time last year. Eighteen of this year's victims -- about 78 percent --
were black, one more than the number of African Americans killed at
this time last year.

With the numbers down dramatically from the early 1990s, some city
officials question whether the group is effective, even necessary.
Police Chief Darrel Stephens was more diplomatic.

"I don't think anyone can say with any certainty that a program can be
tied directly to a change in the number of homicides," Stephens said.
"What (Stop the Killing) has done is raise the general awareness of
the level of violence in the community and specifically in the African
American community."

Barnett agreed, but challenged others to provide an alternative.

"We're tired of hearing about what works and what doesn't work," he
said. "If you want to stop funding Stop the Killing, that's fine. But
if you take it off the table, replace it with something else.
Black-on-black crime is not going away."

Remarks aimed at Turner

Council member Warren Turner proposed in a budget meeting last month
cutting the $40,000 to Stop the Killing. In a straw vote June 2,
members voted 10-0 (one member was absent) not to fund the group. The
county, looking for trims in its overall budget, cut about $30,000
from the group last year. The combined cuts leave Stop the Killing
with a budget of about $44,000 from private donations, city records
show.Despite the city and county cuts, Turner was the sole target last
week of a memorable tongue-lashing. Barnett spoke at a City Council
meeting for three minutes and without interruption.

"You're the only black member that's ever served on (the council)
since the existence of the Stop the Killing Crusade that has never
been to anything we've had," he said, addressing a silent Turner.
"Never asked any questions, never came for any information. But now
the new kid on the block has all the answers about the existence of
the Stop the Killing Crusade and whether it works."

He added that Turner should have come to him and discussed his
concerns before airing them in public. Barnett, in an interview, said
he was disappointed that it was a black man who he says led the charge
to cut the group's city funding.

Turner told the Observer he was disappointed about what he said was a
personal attack at last week's meeting. He said that in a tight budget
year, there would be many cuts. He said the Stop the Killing Crusade
didn't present any tangible results or clearly demonstrate how the
money was being spent.

"It's about accountability," Turner said. "We're not obligated to give
him the money."

Turner also said he attended two of the group's events in the early
1990s and questioned whether there was widespread community support
for the group. He also questioned whether cookouts and vigils could
effectively help reduce crime.

Barnett's March arrest may have been the last straw, he added.

"He brought negative attention to himself," said Turner. "It certainly
didn't help."

Council member John Tabor agreed.

"Most of us believe it's a worthy cause, but I just don't see the
return on the investment," Tabor said. "I didn't think it should have
been funded last year. Clearly his alleged criminal activity was the
catalyst for this decision."

Barnett intends to carry on

Barnett says the crusade will not stop.

In the past, he says Coca-Cola has donated soft drinks, convenience
stores have given food, and a few churches have handed over thousands
of dollars. He expects the help to continue.

Hours after appearing in court Friday -- the misdemeanor solicitation
case was continued until August -- Barnett led a citizen patrol in
west Charlotte. It began about 9:30 p.m. near Smallwood Grocery on
West Trade Street. As Barnett and a few core supporters walked toward
the store and struck up conversations with other adults, a crowd of
teens dispersed. Things grew quiet.

Inside the store the owner said she isn't convinced Stop the Killing's
presence will help.

What will happen the next night or next week, she asked?