NASHVILLE, Tenn - Supporters and opponents of controversial projects the mayor wants included in next year's Capital Budget made their voices heard in big numbers in front of the Metro Council, Tuesday night.
Hundreds came out to give a piece of their mind on hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of projects -- the jail to South Nashville, police headquarters to North Nashville and even a flood wall downtown.
Public comment on the operating and capital budgets lasted nearly four hours.
Most of that focused on a plan to move the jail to South Nashville.
Jack Willey said moving the police headquarters and jail to more diverse areas of town will only encourage racial profiling he said already happens.
"They're not talking about moving to Green Hills. They're not talking about moving to 12 South. They're not talking about Five Points or West End," Willey said. "No they want to move the county jail to the same neighborhood where they have routinely racially profiled my neighbors."
Only a few Sheriff's Office employees spoke in support of the move.
"This improvement will actually be a shot in the arm per se to that area as more attention will be drawn to that location," said South Nashville resident Evin Baylis.
Council members will be able to make changes to both the operating and capital budgets before its next meeting on June 9.
