Lee Gans
@grumplefish.bsky.social
I'm a political data analyst and former neuroscientist. I'm starting a leftist political data blog: https://leegans.substack.com/
Pinned
Lee Gans
@grumplefish.bsky.social
· Jun 12
An INDY investigation found that in an unprecedented and still-murky saga, landlords and companies like IBM and Blackstone won billions in property tax appeals.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax appeals. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
So proud of the work I did with @writingthings.bsky.social to produce this reporting!
@writingthings.bsky.social and I were interviewed about our investigation of how commercial property tax appeals led to the city's revenue shortfall on @wunc.org's Due South! Thanks Leoneda Inge & Cole del Charco for having us on! www.wunc.org/show/due-sou...
Durham's property tax challenge, and a local "Black queer daddy" goes on RuPaul's Drag Race
Plus, why Charlotte soccer fans think the city should host matches in the 2031 Women's World Cup.
www.wunc.org
June 26, 2026 at 12:19 AM
@writingthings.bsky.social and I were interviewed about our investigation of how commercial property tax appeals led to the city's revenue shortfall on @wunc.org's Due South! Thanks Leoneda Inge & Cole del Charco for having us on! www.wunc.org/show/due-sou...
Reposted by Lee Gans
Some truly remarkable and important reporting from Lena. This side of budgeting simply isn't the easiest to explain, but she breaks it down very well. Great visuals help explain the issue as well.
As a Durham resident, this is...uh...very concerning to me.
As a Durham resident, this is...uh...very concerning to me.
An INDY investigation found that in an unprecedented and still-murky saga, landlords and companies like IBM and Blackstone won billions in property tax appeals.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax appeals. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
June 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Some truly remarkable and important reporting from Lena. This side of budgeting simply isn't the easiest to explain, but she breaks it down very well. Great visuals help explain the issue as well.
As a Durham resident, this is...uh...very concerning to me.
As a Durham resident, this is...uh...very concerning to me.
Reposted by Lee Gans
Some fantastic reporting and analysis by Lena Geller (@writingthings.bsky.social) and Lee Gans (@grumblefish.bsky.social) on a very troubling trend in these property tax appeals cases. It’s worth your time to read this! 😡😡😡
An INDY investigation found that in an unprecedented and still-murky saga, landlords and companies like IBM and Blackstone won billions in property tax appeals.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax appeals. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
June 12, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Some fantastic reporting and analysis by Lena Geller (@writingthings.bsky.social) and Lee Gans (@grumblefish.bsky.social) on a very troubling trend in these property tax appeals cases. It’s worth your time to read this! 😡😡😡
Reposted by Lee Gans
This is a small example, compared to how corporations are screwing over the public globally, but some incredible reporting by @indyweek.bsky.social on how corporate property owners are avoiding taxes at the expense of the rest of us in Durham. indyweek.com/news/durham-...
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax reductions. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
June 12, 2026 at 5:49 PM
This is a small example, compared to how corporations are screwing over the public globally, but some incredible reporting by @indyweek.bsky.social on how corporate property owners are avoiding taxes at the expense of the rest of us in Durham. indyweek.com/news/durham-...
So proud of the work I did with @writingthings.bsky.social to produce this reporting!
An INDY investigation found that in an unprecedented and still-murky saga, landlords and companies like IBM and Blackstone won billions in property tax appeals.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax appeals. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
June 12, 2026 at 6:29 PM
So proud of the work I did with @writingthings.bsky.social to produce this reporting!
Reposted by Lee Gans
Much of what we found does not line up with how the tax office has explained the budget deficit.
We also found that the tax office didn't telegraph the scale of the cuts until April—well into budget season, forcing city leaders to eliminate jobs and freeze raises to close the gap.
We also found that the tax office didn't telegraph the scale of the cuts until April—well into budget season, forcing city leaders to eliminate jobs and freeze raises to close the gap.
June 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Much of what we found does not line up with how the tax office has explained the budget deficit.
We also found that the tax office didn't telegraph the scale of the cuts until April—well into budget season, forcing city leaders to eliminate jobs and freeze raises to close the gap.
We also found that the tax office didn't telegraph the scale of the cuts until April—well into budget season, forcing city leaders to eliminate jobs and freeze raises to close the gap.
Reposted by Lee Gans
I've spent weeks working with @grumplefish.bsky.social to figure out how $4 billion came off Durham's tax rolls and blew a hole in the city's budget.
The gist: in a murky saga, a county board handed corporations tax cuts left & right while the burden stayed on the shoulders of ordinary residents.
The gist: in a murky saga, a county board handed corporations tax cuts left & right while the burden stayed on the shoulders of ordinary residents.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Benefiting Corporate Landlords—and Blowing a Hole in the City Budget
Landlords and national companies won billions in property tax reductions. City leadership, banking on the revenue, didn’t know until April.
indyweek.com
June 12, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I've spent weeks working with @grumplefish.bsky.social to figure out how $4 billion came off Durham's tax rolls and blew a hole in the city's budget.
The gist: in a murky saga, a county board handed corporations tax cuts left & right while the burden stayed on the shoulders of ordinary residents.
The gist: in a murky saga, a county board handed corporations tax cuts left & right while the burden stayed on the shoulders of ordinary residents.
Reposted by Lee Gans
Tell Rep. Cunningham (NC HD 106) we stand with immigrants in Charlotte.
Comment form: www.carlacunninghamnchouse.com/contact-8
Twitter: x.com/CunninghamNC...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carladcunnin...
If she blocks you, let her know that's illegal: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Comment form: www.carlacunninghamnchouse.com/contact-8
Twitter: x.com/CunninghamNC...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carladcunnin...
If she blocks you, let her know that's illegal: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Carla Cunningham (@CunninghamNCRep) / X
Carla Cunningham (@CunninghamNCRep) / X
x.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Tell Rep. Cunningham (NC HD 106) we stand with immigrants in Charlotte.
Comment form: www.carlacunninghamnchouse.com/contact-8
Twitter: x.com/CunninghamNC...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carladcunnin...
If she blocks you, let her know that's illegal: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Comment form: www.carlacunninghamnchouse.com/contact-8
Twitter: x.com/CunninghamNC...
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carladcunnin...
If she blocks you, let her know that's illegal: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Charlotte NC House Rep. Carla Cunningham's office seems to be spending more time silencing critics on social media than on protecting her constituents from violence committed by ICE/CBP. open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Charlotte Rep. Carla Cunningham is violating my First Amendment rights
The extreme, MAGA Democrat representing NC House District 106 is illegally censoring her critics on social media. Meanwhile, CBP is terrorizing families in Charlotte.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Charlotte NC House Rep. Carla Cunningham's office seems to be spending more time silencing critics on social media than on protecting her constituents from violence committed by ICE/CBP. open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Mr. Show: The Devastator
YouTube video by Better Call Bob!
www.youtube.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Lee Gans
Dem reps Carla Cunningham and Shelly Willingham voted with Republicans in the State Legislature to overturn a veto of SB 266, which allows Duke to raise rates for plants that haven't been built. They are two of Duke's top campaign fund recipients in the entire state.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
August 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Dem reps Carla Cunningham and Shelly Willingham voted with Republicans in the State Legislature to overturn a veto of SB 266, which allows Duke to raise rates for plants that haven't been built. They are two of Duke's top campaign fund recipients in the entire state.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Lee Gans
YDNC condemns Rep. Carla Cunningham’s hateful, anti-immigrant remarks.
“To Rep. Cunningham:
Your override vote was shameful.
Your words were abhorrent.
And you will be held accountable by your community.”
See our statement. ⬇️
“To Rep. Cunningham:
Your override vote was shameful.
Your words were abhorrent.
And you will be held accountable by your community.”
See our statement. ⬇️
August 1, 2025 at 1:00 AM
YDNC condemns Rep. Carla Cunningham’s hateful, anti-immigrant remarks.
“To Rep. Cunningham:
Your override vote was shameful.
Your words were abhorrent.
And you will be held accountable by your community.”
See our statement. ⬇️
“To Rep. Cunningham:
Your override vote was shameful.
Your words were abhorrent.
And you will be held accountable by your community.”
See our statement. ⬇️
Some constituents informed me Carla Cunningham claimed "everyone is getting PAC money from Duke Energy" at her town hall. If she said that, it's not true:
leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
Carla Cunningham's politics have no place in Charlotte
She doesn't represent the city's politics —and she might not even live there
leegans.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Some constituents informed me Carla Cunningham claimed "everyone is getting PAC money from Duke Energy" at her town hall. If she said that, it's not true:
leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
Reposted by Lee Gans
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts? Tell me who they are. I’m a political data analyst and I’m taking requests for races to model.
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Send me requests: Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts?
I do. Tell me who yours are. Let's kick them out of office together.
open.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts? Tell me who they are. I’m a political data analyst and I’m taking requests for races to model.
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Progressive Rodney Pierce knows how to primary corporate Democrats
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
NC House Rep. Rodney Pierce knows how to primary corporate Democrats from the left
He represents the values of rural North Carolina. His opponent, Michael Wray, represents Duke Energy.
open.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Progressive Rodney Pierce knows how to primary corporate Democrats
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
More proof calls to primary Carla Cunningham (D) in NC House District 106 are, in fact, 'organic', booed by her own constituents: www.instagram.com/reel/DNfrMJO...
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www.instagram.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
More proof calls to primary Carla Cunningham (D) in NC House District 106 are, in fact, 'organic', booed by her own constituents: www.instagram.com/reel/DNfrMJO...
Does Carla Cunningham even LIVE in her district?
Carla Cunningham is the Democratic NC House Rep. for District 106 in Charlotte. She’s always overriding @ncgovernor.bsky.social 's vetos. She owns this $750k AirBnB in Stanly County. Is this her full-time job? leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
Carla Cunningham is the Democratic NC House Rep. for District 106 in Charlotte. She’s always overriding @ncgovernor.bsky.social 's vetos. She owns this $750k AirBnB in Stanly County. Is this her full-time job? leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
August 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Does Carla Cunningham even LIVE in her district?
Carla Cunningham is the Democratic NC House Rep. for District 106 in Charlotte. She’s always overriding @ncgovernor.bsky.social 's vetos. She owns this $750k AirBnB in Stanly County. Is this her full-time job? leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
Carla Cunningham is the Democratic NC House Rep. for District 106 in Charlotte. She’s always overriding @ncgovernor.bsky.social 's vetos. She owns this $750k AirBnB in Stanly County. Is this her full-time job? leegans.substack.com/p/lets-keep-...
Reposted by Lee Gans
Orders from the U.S. Department of Energy to save coal plants from retirement could cost ratepayers more than $3 billion per year, according to a new report ncnewsline.com/2025/08/18/t... @stateline.org #ncpol
Trump’s bid to support coal could cost ratepayers billions, report finds • NC Newsline
Orders from the U.S. Department of Energy to save coal plants from retirement could cost ratepayers more than $3 billion per year, according to a new report.
ncnewsline.com
August 18, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Orders from the U.S. Department of Energy to save coal plants from retirement could cost ratepayers more than $3 billion per year, according to a new report ncnewsline.com/2025/08/18/t... @stateline.org #ncpol
Charlotte NC: Here's a realistic path for defeating Carla "All Cultures Are Not Equal" Cunningham in House District 106 open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Let’s keep Duke Energy Democrats out of power in North Carolina: Part II
Duke Energy shill, Carla Cunningham, believes "All cultures are not equal"
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Charlotte NC: Here's a realistic path for defeating Carla "All Cultures Are Not Equal" Cunningham in House District 106 open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
@abreezeclayton.bsky.social @ncnewsline.com I'm a political data analyst and I modeled what it will take to defeat the Veto Overriders in the NC House of Representatives. Here's proof that progressives can win even in rural communities in the South:
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts?
I do. Tell me who yours are. Let's kick them out of office together.
open.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 8:52 PM
@abreezeclayton.bsky.social @ncnewsline.com I'm a political data analyst and I modeled what it will take to defeat the Veto Overriders in the NC House of Representatives. Here's proof that progressives can win even in rural communities in the South:
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts? Tell me who they are. I’m a political data analyst and I’m taking requests for races to model.
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts?
I do. Tell me who yours are. Let's kick them out of office together.
open.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Do you know Democrats who need to be primaried? Republicans in swing districts? Tell me who they are. I’m a political data analyst and I’m taking requests for races to model.
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
open.substack.com/pub/leegans/...
THANK YOU to @brianturnernc.bsky.social for confirming he will vote nay on S266!!! leegans.substack.com/p/update-rep...
Update: NC House Democrat Brian Turner will uphold Governor's veto on S266
The long-time environmentalist lawmaker is holding true to his values
leegans.substack.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
THANK YOU to @brianturnernc.bsky.social for confirming he will vote nay on S266!!! leegans.substack.com/p/update-rep...
UPDATE: Representative Bryan Cohn has confirmed he will uphold Governor Stein's veto on S266. leegans.substack.com/p/update-nc-...
Update: NC House Democrat Bryan Cohn will uphold Governor's veto on S266
Rep. Cohn, whose swing district is solid purple, also said he'd support converting Duke Energy to a public utility
leegans.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
UPDATE: Representative Bryan Cohn has confirmed he will uphold Governor Stein's veto on S266. leegans.substack.com/p/update-nc-...