Urban League calls out Commission as New Turf Proposal Discussed
UPDATE: The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga has clarified that they are still discussing potential responses to the Commission’s actions with the National Urban League.
They say they have not decided on any specific action at this time.
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Commission dealt with the fallout of their recent decision to take funding away from the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.
On November 15th, the Commission passed a resolution to reallocate a million dollars away from the Urban League to fund four new athletic fields across Hamilton County.
Now the Urban League says they are giving the Commission until the end of the week to give them back their money, and if not, they will be forced to respond.
One student of the Urban League, Wendell Pachello, told Commissioners, “In even the few months since I’ve started I have benefitted hugely with this program, not only educationally, also mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
The Urban League believes the recent decision by the Commission is a slap in the face to the students who take part in their programs.
The Senior Director of Policy and Administration for the Urban League, Sarah Concepcion, said, “It was actually an incredible opportunity for one of our students from Brainerd to come here and share his thoughts about everything that has been happening.”
However, some others in the community see their complaint as a slap in the face to the needed infrastructure improvements needed at county schools.
One Brainerd resident, Sean Stewart, told the Commission, “So for the Urban League to be here to go against what you fellow members are trying to do for the schools is flabbergasting.”
Urban League says this characterization of their position is inaccurate.
An Urban League Board Member, Dorothy E. Lee, said, “Not one time has Mrs. Johnson or anybody on the Urban League team said, don’t take care of Brainerd, don’t take care of the schools. That was never said.”
Hamilton County Commissioner David Sharpe brought forward a resolution that would expand the athletic turf installation to every Hamilton County School for 16 million dollars out of the county’s discretionary funds.
He said, “I appreciate these initiatives that have brought forward by the mayor, and maybe this is unorthodox, and frankly we’ve been operating in an unorthodox manner.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp told the commission it would be impractical to do every field at once.
He said, “It would be nice if they were on a staggered installment schedule, maintenance schedule.”
For the Urban League, they believe this could be funded by the 150 million dollars in the discretionary funds.
Lee said, “What we think is the surplus that it is in Hamilton County government can take care of all of the schools, and never do this again to take away funds from an organization.”
The Urban League is asking for the Commission to give their funding back by Friday.
