The Ten Year Plan to address the plight of the chronically homeless was controversial before I came on the Knoxville City Council and, if anything, it is probably more controversial still. The statement I made at the recent Knoxville City Council meeting has been published on my website, as well as other forums. It was a decision I came to after careful thought and much prayer consideration.
Within two days of the Council meeting, I had received over 100 email letters and communications from folks all across the city, although with a heavy emphasis on South Knoxville. I was very pleased to see people so engaged as this may well be the most important issue facing our city during my tenure on the City Council. Naturally, there are differing opinions and all sorts of suggestions. Friends have told me the plan is flawed; some think the plan is not flawed, but the leadership and execution of the plan have been seriously flawed. Virtually everyone has suggestions for possible sites for facilities to house the homeless and many simply indicate they don’t want any such facility near their own neighborhood.
Some oppose the concept of a campus-like facility, while supporting the concept of various facilities located across the City of Knoxville. In short, the opinions and attitudes of folks are varied, to say the least. What I do hear from friends and constituents is that they don’t believe either the Council or the public have been getting complete answers from the proponents of the Ten Year Plan. They feel that the adherents of the Ten Year Plan have neglected to answer many of the difficult questions associated with this project and just about all the questions are difficult ones and they rightly believe both the Council and the public deserve answers to these questions. For this project to have even the remotest chance of survival, those questions are going to HAVE to be addressed. Lack of faith or trust or confidence in the execution of the plan or the leadership attempting to administer the plan will kill as surely as anything else. There has to be credibility in the leadership and execution of the Ten Year Plan for it to succeed. My own view was that I cannot support the Ten Year Plan in its current form. I don’t feel it is responsible for me as a member of City Council to support a plan without having ALL the answers necessary to move forward. For those who fault the leadership and execution of the plan I wonder if the Ten Year Plan could be saved by changing the leadership and hoping the new leadership could more effectively address community concerns and execute the plan faithfully?
Any site or facility is certainly likely to transgress upon someone or someone’s neighborhood. The Council must be mindful of those investments of tax dollars we’ve made in on-going projects as well, such as the Waterfront and those areas of downtown where we want to attract tourism.
I think it is going to be very difficult for the City Council to proceed if things remain as they are; there is every indication homeowners and neighborhood associations are mobilizing and a perception about the Ten Year Plan has been forming, yet again an example of a failure on the part of the leadership to communicate both properly and adequately.
For those of you who have told me that my statement helped to change both the nature of the discussion and the tenor of the debate, I thank you very much. I was disappointed with the result, but am not ready yet to surrender or admit defeat. If nothing else, my fellow Council members and the Administration have witnessed that South Knoxville will stand up and fight. South Knoxville’s voice will be heard and for that I am grateful.
Let me say I am not trying to discourage discussion or debate; quite the opposite. I would remind everyone each of us has an opinion and that is what made this country great. We should not condemn nor vilify our friends and neighbors if they don’t agree with us in every respect. As we move toward the future, South Knoxville’s greatest protection as well as our most effective weapon will be showing a united front to the powers that be. So many people have contributed interesting and very valid points and I thank each and every one. I have tried to acknowledge and thank every person who has sent me an email letter or comments. If I overlooked anyone, it was purely by accident and I apologize. Please let me continue to hear from you, share your thoughts and opinions. I don’t pretend to have all the answers and for me to represent you to the best of my abilities as your Councilman, I must have your help.
As always, I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Councilman and I hope to hear from you about any matter of concern to you or your family. Whenever I can be helpful to you or yours, please let me know.
