As predicted here some months ago, Charlotte will have two African-American Cultural Centers once the new one is built. Essentially the city is giving back the old one to Little Rock AME Zion Church, from whom the city bought the old Af-Am building for $175,000 in 1979 and turned the former church into the Af-Am. The church moved into newer digs next door.

The city will continue to pay upkeep on the building — exactly the opposite direction the city has been heading with regard to other arts and cultural facilities in town, off-loading upkeep costs to outside groups. Not here. It would’ve been a better deal to sell the building outright to the church non-profit.

But not in an election year. Oh no.