The annual Riverbend festival in downtown Chattanooga has for decades been very important and positive for our community.
It has been great fun for many people. The idea has been to boost goodwill. It also has helped the city economically.
But the Bessie Smith Strut, which has drawn large crowds to M.L. King Boulevard, recently has stirred a lot of serious concern about safety.
Of course, we want nothing but the best for all involved. Some have considered it to be unsafe to continue to have crowds milling in our streets.
The executive committee of Friends of the Festival has voted not to have the Strut at Riverbend's stages near the Tennessee River this year. The City Council has voted 9-0 to delay a resolution for a week to see if Friends of the Festival can obtain sufficient liability insurance to stage the event back on M.L. King Boulevard.
There are differing opinions about the best course for the future. But all of us should want nothing but goodwill and the avoidance of any potential danger to our citizens.