The citizens of Clarksville, TN are expressing their outrage over an ordinance approved by the Clarksville City Council that now declares nearly the entire downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods as “Blighted” which is the new buzz word for eminent domain!

The Clarksville Center Redevelopment Plan orchestrated by the Downtown District Partnership Board could place over 1300 acres of land and more than 1800 homes, churches, businesses and even the Historic County Courthouse in danger of seizure by private redevelopers who in turn receive big tax incentives.

A Public Debate & Forum on Eminent Domain and a community challenge to the City Council’s Vote will take place on Friday, December 14, 2007 at the H.O.P.E. Resource Center building, 120-A Legion Street, downtown Clarksville, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Nashville attorney John Summers, who’s representing many of the concerned residents along with the City Attorney, NAACP President, City Council members, Downtown District Partnership Board Chairman and Vice Chair, Clarksville Human Relations Commission members, elected officials and educators, are either scheduled or have been invited to speak at this event.
 
We are calling on the Clarksville City Council to rescind their earlier vote and ask that the redevelopment plan ordinance and its wording be restructured to protect the people and their property rights. The current way the ordinance is written is too vague and gives the powers that be a personal blank check to do as they please. In its present form the plan appears to be another obvious episode of the wealthy versus the poor.

At the last meeting on this issue more than 75 residents opposed to this plan wore buttons saying “No blight without a fight”.  Looks like the battle momentum will continue at this event so we highly recommend that you attend.

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS RELEASE:

Terry McMoore, Director, Urban Resource Center

(931) 378-1999 or (931) 552-9076     Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it