A majority of Chattanooga leaders support ongoing police protests but do not support calls to defund police amid nearly three weeks of unrest in the city following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
According to the latest Power Poll, while 31% of respondents said the protests are making matters worse and 12% said there's no difference at all, 56% of Chattanooga's business and community leaders think current protests against policy brutality, which have consumed the streets of Chattanooga nearly every night for 20 days, are helping race relations in the city.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga director of civic engagement and assistant professor of practice David Steele said that activism is an essential means of determining the direction of the city.
"A fundamental question facing all of us is whether or not we find the status quo sustainable, and a related question is whether that status quo is even desirable. If the answer to both questions is in the negative, then it is incumbent upon any who wish to 'lead' or 'serve' to step up and to constructively engage," Steele wrote. "Sitting on the sidelines with privileged tactical critiques is not the answer - and, frankly, never was. I truly hope Chattanooga rises to meet this moment."
Despite their support of protesting, just 36% of the respondents said they support the activists' demand for defunding the Chattanooga Police Department in order to aid other community programs.
"I don't think the funding question is a binary one. I believe that resources need to be allocated to sustainable community solutions that address systemic racism and economic inequality - most significantly education," Rock City Chief Operations Officer Susan Harris wrote.
About the Power Poll
The Power Poll surveys individuals who make or influence policy at the local, state and federal levels. It is composed of elected officials and leaders from business, civic and nonprofit organizations, media and education. The poll is not a scientific survey. To learn more, visit powerpoll.com.
"I am not certain that money needs to be shifted from the police department to make that happen. Public safety is critical to our community, and our current CPD leadership is well in tune with the challenges of our most vulnerable populations," she wrote. "I believe that our police can be part of community solutions and, most importantly, I think they want to be."
(READ MORE: 7 demands from 7 nights of George Floyd protests in Chattanooga)
Other questions asked of the 174 people polled showed that the 73 respondents varied on their assessments of the state of race in the city.
Asked about the direction of race relations and equity in the city, 52% said there was slight improvement, about 29% said there was no change and more than 9% said it's getting slightly worse.
While a majority, 68%, agreed that black and white citizens get different treatment by the police, more than 16% of respondents said there is equal treatment of black and white citizens and 15% said they were unsure.
Finally, leaders were divided on the outcome of the protests themselves, with 56% predicting the movement will endure and result in change, while the remaining respondents said they believe the movement will wane.
(READ MORE: Activists protest at Chattanooga council chairman's house)
Attorney Lee Davis said the real change will come from incoming leadership in several key local elections, people he calls on to address the role of policing in the community both during the campaign and once elected.
"With the mayoral election in 2021 and county elections following in 2022, Chattanooga and Hamilton County have an opportunity to address fundamental questions of police-community relationships," Davis wrote. "We need to address these problems and seek solutions that unify us. Community policing policies that address issues of trust in the community and respect for our officers is a good place to start. Candidates for city and county office need to share their plans on how best to guide our community forward during these unsettling times."
The Power Poll surveys people who are powerful influencers from a variety of professions, including non-profits, for-profits, government, media, sports, entertainment, and more. The poll is not a scientific survey.
Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416. Follow her on Twitter @_sarahgtaylor.