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Council deadlocks, rejects resolution endorsing phased community responder plan
Summary
After extended public testimony and council debate, the Knoxville City Council voted 4–4 on a resolution to endorse phase 1 of a community (alternative) responder plan; the tie vote caused the measure to fail, leaving questions about next steps, funding and county participation.
Council members voted in a 4–4 tie and failed to endorse phase 1 of a proposed community responder program after more than two hours of public testimony and council debate.
Supporters, including members of Knoxville Heart and mental-health advocates, urged the council to endorse the plan as a non‑budgetary step to keep momentum and to explore a pilot that could divert low‑level, nonviolent 911 calls from police. "We respectfully ask that you vote yes in support of this micro transit design study because this is a step toward dignity, access, and opportunity for so many in our city," Mary Alice Richardson, of Justice Knox, told the council in support of related transit and access work; Elizabeth Roland of Knoxville Heart described national experience with community…
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