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Seven Days

Wednesday, Jan. 21
The Tennessee state lottery takes in $10.8 million in its first day of operation, which amounts to about $1.87 for every Tennessee resident. About one-third of those funds will go toward secondary education, meaning that ever college kid in the state can now afford a brand new Pocket Pal.

Thursday, Jan. 22
A News Sentinel story entitled "UT trustee quits amid probe" reports that a university music professor has resigned in the wake of an investigation, but doesn't specify the nature of the alleged incident being investigated. Turns out it involved a rape allegation by a man who'd been a laborer in the prof's home, so we figure the headline pretty much tells the whole story.

Friday, Jan 23
A 2.5-ton remnant of the World Trade Center goes on display at the East Tennessee Historical Center. Visitors don't notice, thinking it's another leftover from the last year of downtown construction follies.

Saturday, Jan. 24
The University of Tennessee women's basketball team ekes out a three-point victory over top-ranked Duke, just as we've come to expect.

Sunday, Jan. 25
The University of Tennessee men's hoops team ekes out a three-point loss to highly-rated Louisville...just as we've come to expect.

Monday, Jan. 26
Knox County commissioners turn back the seemingly unconstitutional "God resolution"—recognizing God as the foundation of American government—for the second time in three months. Praise be.

Tuesday, Jan. 27
Don't ask us what we think of you,

'Cause we might not give the answer that you want us to.

Knoxville Found

(Click photo for larger image)

What is this? Every week in "Knoxville Found," we'll print the photo of a local curiosity. If you're the first person to correctly identify this oddity, you'll win a special prize plucked from the desk of the editor (keep in mind that the editor hasn't cleaned his desk in five years). E-mail your guesses, or send 'em to "Knoxville Found" c/o Metro Pulse, 505 Market St., Suite 300, Knoxville, TN 37902.

Last Week's Photo:
Previously gracing the entrance to Emory Park off of North Broadway, the monument honoring fallen firefighters pictured was appropriately placed in front of the Knoxville Fire Department Headquarters at the intersection of Summit Hill Drive and Locust Street in the 1950s. Congratulations and a thank you to Harry K. Ogden for not only correctly identifying the statue, but also taking the time to send a hand-written note with a response. For his attention to detail, we are happy to present him with a pair of tickets to see the Knoxville Ice Bears. We know where you live, Mr. Ogden, and we will be in touch.

Meet Your City
A calendar of upcoming public meetings you should attend

KNOXVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 3
7 p.m.
City County Bldg.
Main Assembly Room
400 Main St.
Regular meeting.

Brown Speaks
Looking ahead with the city's vice mayor

Downtown lawyer and city councilman Mark Brown holds the designation of vice mayor, and is only the second African American to do so. In a recent interview, he weighed in on his responsibilities, Mayor Bill Haslam, City Council, historic preservation and the diversity of leadership within our city.

Formally elected by vote of the nine-member City Council, the vice mayor is responsible for chairing Council workshops, convening Council workshops, and supervising Council staff; he also chairs Council meetings in the absence of the mayor. If the mayor is unable to attend a function, the mayor could delegate the vice mayor to go as an official representative of the city. Brown says, however, "There's nothing that specifically says that."

In addition, if the mayor were to leave office before the end of his or her term, the vice mayor would become acting mayor for up to 10 days. At that point, the Council would convene and then elect from its own number a person to be the acting mayor until the new mayor is elected.

The current City Council features a number of relatively inexperienced members. Meetings are fast-paced with thoughtful discussion and light banter between members. The Council members are informed, active and participatory. "Older City Council members, those of us that are into our third year"—he laughs—"are moving forward, and I think that we've got a group of Council members who are eager to move forward."

With more cooperation between the City of Knoxville and Knox County than in recent years—as evidenced by participation in the recent education summit—Brown is optimistic about the prospect for more teamwork. Mayor Haslam and Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale are working together for the betterment of the citizens of the city of Knoxville and Knox County. And in order to increase business in the city and county, Brown believes that mutual trust is imperative. "I perceive that those two will work hard to make sure that the lines of communication and information exchange are open."

In a money-saving effort to streamline the decision-making process within the city, Haslam announced that his departments would be combined, decreasing the number from 14 to nine. "I feel that it fits his purview to determine how he is going to structure his staff to service our community. And I feel that we have to give him deference to try and structure that, because his vision is in some way tied to his goals...for the city," Brown says. "I think that, rather than second-guessing whether he has 14 or eight or nine, it's his call."

Late in his term, former city Mayor Victor Ashe took a step forward as a champion of historic preservation. Brown believes in preserving buildings, if doing so benefits the economic vitality of the community. "I think that it's important to have economic community development in those structures that need saving. I don't think that every building that is over X number of years old should be saved," he says.

Other than as a preservation advocate, Brown would like to be remembered as an advocate of community improvement throughout the entire city. "As we look to develop downtown, it is also important that we develop those major arteries that feed into downtown..."

He says development should not be kept in one particular section of the city, that it should resonate throughout the city. "Hopefully, one day you will not be able to tell from looking at buildings what part of town you're in," Brown adds.

In line with his development philosophy, a recent federal grant of $900,000 was appointed to the development of the Five Points area; the money is earmarked for an anchor grocery and stores to complement. Brown anticipates a groundbreaking for the development in the next 60 to 90 days.

As an African-American, Brown believes Knoxville is making great strides with regard to the issue of diversity. "We're beginning to look at the tops.... We're not all white males. This city is comprised of whites, blacks, men, women and Hispanics now. And so, across the board you start seeing leadership positions being held by people with different backgrounds, races and genders; I think it's a benefit for the city," he says.

"We've got two African Americans on the KUB Board, not that that's a first, but they're young. I'm excited to see that some of the younger African-American generation are beginning to take leadership roles. With Sam [Anderson] and Alvin [Nance] and the folks who are at KUB and on KCDC's board and myself as vice mayor, I'm very proud of the way things are looking. It's my hometown, and I'm very proud of how it looks right now."

Brown sheepishly denies any aspirations to run for Mayor. "I just want to be the best city councilman and vice mayor that I can be," he says, smiling. "What comes after that comes after that."

—Clint Casey