When you throw that much public money at a downtown Knoxville project, the do gooders are no gooders and the largest business on Market Square Mall is the SuperChamber. I hope they are the subject of the next federal raid.

City of Knoxville spends millions redeveloping the mall, federal government comes in in 3 hours and essentially thwarts those redevelopment efforts.

Knoxville could build a massive retail/residential project on the South Knox Waterfront. It would be a good use of tax dollars, because we don't want downtown to fail after the 300 million taxpayer dollars already invested in it do we?

It makes sense to invest another 90 million taxpayer dollars in the South Knox Water Front so we don't lose our previous investment in downtown Knoxville. This time it will be done right. I am sure with some new ordinances Knoxville can stop this drug problem. Knoxville could screen potential new businesses for any tax issues. Great minds are working on the problem this very moment.

I heard the Convention Center will come close to break-even in 2025. You have to keep the faith. Seriously, if we built they will come. Right?

I agree that these dopers are no good for Knoxville but I cannot believe that this has gone on for eleven years right under the noses of the City officials who dole out all this money. The West's were given such a sweet ride from the city it makes me sick. Does anybody remember just a few years ago when the city did everything possible, legal and otherwise, to harass business owners out of business on Market Square. All because they hated Frank Gencay who was sueing them. Frank, by the way, owned almost all of Market Square at the time. You could not sit outside with a beer in front of the Mercury Theatre or the Tomatoe Head or you would be arrested. Sometimes it was allowed at the Tomatoe Head depending on the mood at the moment. And don't forget the Snake Snatch Lodge which was run out of business because the city didn't like their name.Why is it ok to congregate on the mall if it's a Hot Summer Nights thing or if you are a bum but not if you look like a punk rocker. The current debockle is an example of what happens when liberal, left wing,hippy,dope dealers are the pied pipers for downtown redevelopment. They have no respect for the law and have probably been having a big long laugh at them for a long time. I say get the Hippies out and bring back the Merc.The only thing they sold was great live entertainment.Everybody who is anybody in modern music graced that stage at some point on their way to becoming stars. Maybe the city has grown up enough to handle it now.

Not devastating. Of course it's devastating. Downtown businesses raided by federal law enforcement, principals charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering.

Somebody poke that piece of lard and remind him he's paid $237,000 a year to bring new businesses to Knox County, not a bunch of drug dealers, dopers, and money launderers.

Even the strip clubs in town follow the law.

That would be interesting, but I'm not sure how they'd get that past the State of Tennessee or the feds.

"I know that is Libertarian fantasyland, but the rides are nice and the lines are relatively short."

The downside is having to pay tolls to use the privately-owned sidewalks.  

Just a little libertarian private property humor there, folks. 

Hey, Les, why don't we just call each other assholes and get it over with. - Somebody on the old Southknoxbubba.net (if that was you, claim your quote and win net.fame!)