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George Blakemore urges Black residents to 'tend to your own business,' criticizes officials
Summary
During public comment, George Blakemore urged Black residents to start and run businesses rather than rely on government, criticized elected officials as politicians not businesspeople, and warned that lack of local economic development creates a 'toxic environment.'
George Blakemore, the meeting’s lone public commenter, urged Black residents to pursue entrepreneurship and criticized elected officials for failing to foster economic development in Black neighborhoods.
Speaking during the Business and Economic Development Committee’s public-comment period, Blakemore said, “Tend to your own business, black people, and bring economic development,” and warned that without local businesses “you will have a toxic environment.” He repeatedly cautioned against waiting for what he called a “nonfunctional government” and referred to partisan or machine politics as a barrier to community-led economic growth.
Blakemore criticized local officeholders’ backgrounds and priorities, saying, “I don’t even think we have one businessman that’s on this board, a business lady. We have politician.” He called on people in attendance to listen to public commenters and chided an attendee for turning her back during his remarks. The clerk gave Blakemore time warnings during his turn.
Blakemore’s remarks did not prompt a response from committee members during the meeting. The committee then moved on to approve routine business and several tax-incentive requests before adjourning.
