Some offended when speaker dismissed city’s history of redlining
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Several community members said a meeting to discuss plans to revitalize West Louisville offended many in attendance.The meeting was hosted on Wednesday by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Governor Matt Bevin spoke about his commitment to the West End.
The crowd also heard from two advisors to President Donald Trump.
“In my opinion, redlining is more imagined than real,” speaker Dr. Darrell Scott said. “We want to have that mentality that the white man is trying to keep us down or is holding us back.”
Scott is the CEO of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump.
He dismissed the city’s history of redlining.
Redlining refers to a time when the government graded neighborhoods based on investment potential.
In most cases, black and poor neighborhoods were given lower grades.
“I think it’s something that we use as an excuse,” Scott said.
It was remarks like those that left many in the crowd unhappy and offended.
“There were some comments made during the conversation from those two folks that were very dismissive of the community of West Louisville,” said Metro Council President David James.
James said he thought the meeting would discuss a 13-point plan to revitalize West Louisville.
Instead, he left with few details and said he was insulted by Scott.
“West Louisville wants those opportunities and they want to be just like the rest of the city,” James said. “To be dismissive of that fact and to be demeaning to the people who want those things for their children and families, is very inappropriate.”
Louisville Urban League President Sadiqa Reynolds said the meeting was disappointing.
“We will not have our time wasted,” she said. “We will not have our intelligence insulted. And in some cases, we are smarter than a whole lot of people who think they know best for us. I’m sick of it.”
WLKY News reached out to the governor’s office for comment on the community’s concerns with the speakers.
We have not yet received a response.
Source: Community leaders ‘offended’ by West Louisville revitalization meeting
