13-05-2025
Turn Up Knox responds to cancelled contract, says it worked 4+ months without pay
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Violence prevention nonprofit Turn Up Knox (TUK) released a response after the City of Knoxville terminated their contract in February.
The statement responds to the city's criticisms of the nonprofit released in February. For example, the City said TUK's spending exceeded available funds, a claim TUK said is 'simply NOT true.'
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TUK also said the City failed to pay it for 139 days of work. It says it was not paid for work completed in September and October 2024, August 2023 and June through August 2022. The nonprofit did receive payment for some of these months in April 2024 after termination.
The City said there were delays in TUK submitting required reports, but TUK stated that the City's reporting requirements changed multiple times, often with little notice. The nonprofit said that its requests for clarity were unmet.
'[It] is difficult to submit a report when you have no idea what should be included in that report,' TUK said.
TUK also disputed many other statements from the City's release. For example, the City said it issued a warning that TUK said it never received.
TUK's Response to City's Overview of ContractDownload
Given its 'historic results' TUK said 'one has to wonder what the real reason' its contract was terminated.
In 2024, a Knoxville Police Department report stated that crime was down in nearly every category for 2024. This included a drop in homicides and non-fatal shootings.
For years, Black and Brown men and women in Knoxville have disproportionately been victims of homicide, with percentages consistently surpassing more than half of all lives lost to violence. Families, neighborhoods, and entire communities have felt the weight of this crisis, mourning loved ones while desperately calling for change.
But 2024 marked a historic shift. For the first time in recent history, the percentage of Black and Brown homicide victims dropped to 39%—a significant decrease from previous years. These are more than just statistics; these are lives saved,
TUK release
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After the City terminated their contact, TUK received outside funding that has helped it continue.
At the end of its response, TUK called on the City and City Council to reinstate the contract. The director is running for City Council.
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