A resolution requesting Governor Phil Bredesen and the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to take the action necessary to eradicate the sale and use of crack cocaine within the Nashville inner-city.

WHEREAS, crack cocaine is very intoxicating form of cocaine that was introduced to American inner-city areas in the 1980's; and

WHEREAS, over the past twenty years, crack distribution has drastically escalated in inner-city neighborhoods nationwide due to the economic and social conditions of the neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, a University of California Berkeley report indicates that crack cocaine has caused an increase in murder rates, robberies, and aggravated assaults within the inner-cities; and

WHEREAS, Governor Bredesen and the Tennessee General Assembly have recently taken steps to crack down on the spread of methamphetamines in Tennessee, which is particularly plaguing the rural communities in the state; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Meth Watch program, initiated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in partnership with the Governor's Office and law enforcement agencies, combines a public information campaign with an intelligence collection system in an effort to deter the manufacturing of meth; and

WHEREAS, since crack use remains a serious problem in Nashville's inner-city neighborhoods, it is fitting and proper that the State of Tennessee take similar steps to create initiatives to deter the sale and use of crack cocaine within the inner-city.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting Governor Phil Bredesen and the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to take the action necessary to eradicate the sale and use of crack cocaine within the Nashville inner-city.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Governor Phil Bredesen and to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jamie Isabel, Pam Murray