City Council Meeting

Here are the comments I made at the March 15th Knoxville City Council Meeting.

Thank you mayor.

We are in a very important season in the life of the city with the coming announcement of your proposed budget in April.

I want to take this opportunity to make just a few comments that relate to the health, vision and direction of our city. The budget, in my mind, is more than a balance sheet. It is a strategic document. In a sense it is a moral document deciding what we think is good and bad, what we think is important, setting forth our priorities.

I like what you have done so far.

We are, to use your words “making Knoxville America’s premier city to live, work and raise a family.” And toward that end your goals for the city of Knoxville are: stronger and safer neighborhoods, more and better jobs, embracing cultural diversity and efficient, accountable and responsive government. I appreciate the humble and humane way that you do your work.

You are probably waiting for the but. But there is no but.

But there is an and. And because of the good work that you have done, we have done, the stage has been set for a logical next step.

I believe that that next step is a strategic focus on Park City, better known as east Knoxville. As we all know, city income is flat and expenses are increasing. By bringing this large community back, every part of the city will benefit economically from both savings in law enforcement and increases in property and business tax revenues.

We have a valuable housing stock of larger homes from the early 20th century. We also have large numbers of urban lots available for infill development. We must make this area a priority in a way that provides programs and resources that encourage home ownership, maintain affordable housing and that bring these home back to the tax rolls and become income producing for the city.

The area that I speak of is vice Mayor Mark Brown’s 6th district. I live and work in the 6th district and so I understand first hand the potential and beauty of which I speak. I used to think that Councilman Brown’s slogan, “the super six district” was a kind of gimmick but more and more I understand that it really is a flash of brilliance. Councilman Brown is saying two things: to the people who live in Park City, “you have value and worth and potential. Rise up and live up to it.” He is also saying to whoever else will listen in other parts of the city that this part of the city is filled with possibility for raising a family, restoring an old home, starting a business. Please come and join us.”

And so mayor while I understand that it is important how we do business I also think that it is critical where we do business. A case in point is our emphasis on downtown and the south waterfront. We can do the most for all of Knoxville by making the inner city an asset. Building off the momentum of downtown redevelopment it makes sense to me to move our efforts east. I welcome your comments or other councilmember’s comments. Thank you.