On the smart front: Charlotte voters strike down arena referendum. I used to live there, and I'm glad.

``People are concerned about a living wage and affordable housing in this city and not an arena,'' said Donnie Garris, a Baptist minister and spokesman for the group Helping Empower Local People, which also opposed the referendum.

I was a marginal member of HELP's clergy caucus when I lived there. It's a really good community organizing group. Look at the things they've accomplished - scroll down front page.