Dear neighbor, I call Knoxville home. I grew up here and attended Bearden Elementary, Bearden Jr. High and Bearden High School. I left Knoxville at 18 years old. School and a career as a clothing designer took me around the world. In a twist of fate, I returned to Knoxville after 22 years and honestly, I did not recognize the place – and I stayed because I love it here. Knoxville is attractive to a wide cross section of people and businesses. We have a vibrant arts community with a renowned symphony, opera, art museum and several community theatres. Our business community boasts continued growth in entrepreneurship and high technology. Knoxville has incredible outdoor amenities, right here at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Our tourism spending has grown 31% in the last 5 years making Knoxville a great destination. Knoxville is the regional hub for culture, entertainment, healthcare, shopping and dining. We love our neighbors sharing in our rich environment and appreciate their support through sales tax when they are in town. The local option sales tax is paid significantly by those who don’t live in the City but shop here as a tourist or as a regional visitor. 78% of the retail in Knox County is inside the City limits and serves all those who visit. I am asking you to vote with me for the ½ cent sales tax increase. The Neighborhood Investment Plan protects our quality of life while we are experiencing growth. Let’s don’t wait until after we grow to tackle needed projects. If you care about our wonderful City and growth for the entire region, then support this sales tax increase. Connecting our greenways, improved parks, sidewalks near schools, road safety projects and affordable housing are all things everyone in our city can benefit from. VOTE FOR KNOXVILLE. Sincerely, Margaret Rodgers |
