60 days out: Who'll step up to stage the Strut?

[CMF Newsman]

Merchants, officers with Riverbend's Friends of the Festival, and Board members of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center plan to meet Thursday to begin drafting a master plan for staging the Bessie Smith Strut blues festival on ML King Boulevard June 11.

Tuesday, Friends of the Festival announced it would not stage the Strut on the Riverfront, as part of the Riverbend festival.

Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd believes the plan can't come quickly enough.

"Stop the double talk," Dodd told Channel 3 after a City Council meeting Tuesday. "Because at the end of the day, who's gonna be there (wherever the festival might be)? The police."

www.wrcbtv.com/story/17388812/60-days-out-wholl-step-up-to-stage-the-strut-on-ml-king-blvd

[Gary]

The Strut is generally one of my favorite nights of Riverbend. If they offer something comparable, it's highly likely I'll be there (if I'm not working).

[gridbug]

I will be at the Strut on MLK whether or not the City recognizes such an event. I believe if enough people do the same then we will end up with something comparable. Even better since the Funfascists won't chase us out before sunset.

[Tookie]

Hope they can work something out. I'll be there if they do!