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There's not that many Obama fans in Knoxville except in places like UT and the projects. Knoxville used to be safe in just about all areas back in the late 1960’s early 1970’s. When I was about 11 or 12 I could walk from downtown at the movie theatres to what is now the mission district. My dad worked at the phone company building. He worked evenings so I'd ride in with him, go catch a couple of movies, and I’d walk from downrown about 7:00pm to his office to ride home later that evening in a rural county outside Knoxville.

One thing harmed Knoxville bad was when they began releasing mental patients from Eastern State psychiatric hospital {aka Lakeshore now closed thanks to Haslam} who were long term patients unable to care for their needs and no means to get medication they needed. That started much of the homeless problem.

Within a few years downtown wasn’t as safe and around the Broadway Magnolia area it was wise to carry. My dads pickup was broken into plus my car he drove to work while I was in basic training was stolen. Who would steal a 61 Chevy LOL?

Now the mission district is a homeless hub that seems to be well know as far away as the northeastern states. The daily arrest shown on the sheriffs website will almost always show a half dozen as either homeless or a mission address. The city police end up having to deal with them. The missions on the other hand has become a booming NPO business. One Mission operates at least a halt dozen thrift stores {more now I think} to pay wages for staff and cost of the mission.

Politically the area is generally conservative although there is now a liberal mayor. Knoxville is congressman Jimmy Duncan’s district one his family has held for two generations. Complicating things even more is due to I-75, I-40, and I’81 Knoxville has become an illegal alien magnet. The county arrest show about a half dozen illegals on various charges also. Illegals have moved into what was once safe middle class blue collar communities.