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There are leaders who want nothing more than to get a handout from the city. When money is being put towards something that doesn't go straight to what they want, they scream empty racism claims because they have no economically logical defense. Either they don't see or can't understand how capital projects can boost tax revenue to benefit their neighborhoods and city long-term. If the check isn't being cut with their name on it, they don't recognize the benefit.

The people who are the racists in this situation are the ones screaming "you're finished" at the rep who voted yes, simply because he has the same skin color as them yet didn't vote the way they wanted. It's sickening.

When economic development happens organically in a neighborhood like Avondale, the same people yelling "racism" are screaming "Gentrification!" At the same time, they want the city to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into Smithfield to artificially develop the community. The problem is that the Smithfield community doesn't have the financial means to support the development independently and the people who do don't want to visit Smithfield unless there is an event there (MCC, UAB games, etc). To make Smithfield attractive for year-round visitors, you would have to raze housing, displace current residents, and create attractive commercial developments, which is THE DEFINITION OF GENTRIFICATION.

The solution is exactly what the business community is pushing right now: new developments in a designated entertainment district that generates new jobs for surrounding communities and increases tax revenue to help the neighborhoods that need it, all without the gentrification the neighborhood leaders don't like.
But these "neighborhood leaders" call this "racism." I have no more words.