All Rights Reserved w/ Guests: Councilmen Reuben Blackwell & Andre Knight

In this heavy-hitting episode of All Rights Reserved, Yolanda Taylor, "The People’s Attorney," steps into the eye of the storm. Rocky Mount, NC has been a fixture in the headlines lately, rife with talk of budget shortfalls, administrative instability, and community backlash. But behind the soundbites lies a deeper story about who controls the money and who gets left out of the math.Joining Yolanda are Councilman Andre Knight (Ward 1) and Councilman Reuben Blackwell, IV (Ward 2). This isn't a conversation about personalities; it’s a masterclass in municipal power.Inside the 30-Minute Deep Dive:The 2003 Pivot: Why the budget was a "white power document" for 136 years and how the first Black majority council finally put sidewalks and housing in underserved wards on the line item.The Police & Fire Pay Spike: The guests break down how former City Manager Keith Rogers bypassed the council to grant 35% and 25% raises to public safety departments just weeks into his tenure—and why that move left public works employees (predominantly Black) out in the cold.The $117 Million Question: Clarifying the narrative around Rocky Mount’s financial health. The guests detail the fund balance left by former manager Rochelle Small-Tony and challenge the "bankruptcy" rumors circulating on social media.Institutional Resistance: A candid look at "white flight" within city government and the friction that occurs when legacy department heads are asked to take direction from strong Black leadership.Budgeting as Advocacy: Why your local budget is the most important civil rights document in your city, and why being "at the table" means nothing if you don't understand the flow of revenue.Meet the Guests:Councilman Andre Knight (Ward 1): A graduate of NC Central University and a pastor known for his outspoken advocacy. Knight views his seat not as a title, but as a megaphone for justice and civil rights in his native Rocky Mount.Councilman Reuben Blackwell, IV (Ward 2): CEO of the Rocky Mount OIC and a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus. Blackwell’s focus remains on workforce development, closing health inequities, and the "resolute" pursuit of economic mobility for the poor.🎧 Listen to the full episode of All Rights Reserved on Choice FM and your favorite podcast platforms.Connect with Choice FM🎧 Listen Live: 92.1 FM (WRSV)📞 Message Line: 919-872-1055📺 YouTube: @ILoveChoiceFM📘 Facebook: I Love Choice FM🌐 www.ilovechoicefm.com