A poll indicating 75% of residents believe crime is a major issue in Chattanooga was organized and funded by a group of local businessmen with growing concerns about safety in the city.
“I’ve lived downtown for 14 years and have seen many changes during that time,” Nick Macco, a co-founder of Legacybox, said in an email. “A few examples are: We have 110,000 square feet on Holtzclaw for Legacybox and have had to hire private security on behalf of employees. I’ve grown accustomed to petty crime by my home in Jefferson Heights. We have high school apprentices working for us that have lost family members to gang violence.”
Completed by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank based in New York City, the survey asked 550 city residents a series of questions about crime, including where they feel unsafe in the city, how much they trust people in the community and whether the city needs more police officers.
Macco said he funded the study alongside Barry Large of Dynamo Ventures, Kyle Bryant of Market Street Partners and other local entrepreneurs. The group is covering all research costs, but Macco said he would prefer not to disclose the amount. Bryant and Macco also co-chaired Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s transition team as he was preparing to step into office in September 2022.