Image Credit: Mayor Tim Kelly / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly gave his “State of the City” address earlier this month, telling the crowd of Chattanooga residents that the city is “strong.”
One thing Kelly failed to address, however, was the continually increasing crime that residents say plagues the city.
While a recent study done by the Manhattan Institute says that violent crime in Chattanooga has “largely receded,” that same study shows a rise in petty crimes, homelessness, and trash throughout the area.
Residents cite concerns about crimes such as vehicle break-ins and shootings, reiterating their fears that decreased police resources are leaving them vulnerable to crime that is not addressed or that is inaccurately reported.
Now, residents are not the only ones expressing their concern over the cycle of crime.
City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod released a letter, urging Chattanooga residents and community leaders to “pull together…to end the violence.”
In the letter, she notes that the city continues to see shootings and killings that are a “daily occurrence” and makes reference to the far-reaching effects of such violence, detailing how the psychological impacts affect education, as well as the city’s workforce.
Coonrod recognizes various measures that have been taken to try and curb violence, particularly among youth, but also acknowledges that those efforts fail because they do not get to the root of the problem.
“Programs are created, rooms are prepared, opportunities are made available – and still, those rooms remain empty. Empty, because the care and concern that should begin at home are absent,” Coonrod writes.
She goes on to urge the community to “confront these tragedies,” stating that “the cycle of violence must be broken, and that starts with us – with each and every one of us taking ownership of the future we want for our youth.”
In his address, Kelly noted a number of areas in which the city has made significant progress, from an increase in jobs and household incomes to a decrease in the number of homeless individuals across the city.
He also drew attention to several plans he has for the future of Chattanooga, including a proposal to secure an R1 rating for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, giving the university more access to research and doctoral programs, and a proposal to have the city designated as the first National Park City in the United States.
While Chattanooga may be thriving economically, ownership of the future of the city must begin at the top, and that includes acknowledging its shortcomings alongside its accomplishments.
One Response
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly is obviously a Lib. He’s a privileged rich kid who majored in German Comparative Literature at Columbia University and looks like Gavin Newsom. He claims he’s an “independent”.
People don’t vote in Chattanooga. What’s up with that? Kelly won with 16,000 votes. Pathetic. The internet says Chattanooga has a population of 187,000 people. The Chattanooga GOP needs to focus on turning out voters and sponsor a conservative candidate.