MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The town of Mason, Tennessee, and State Comptroller Jason Mumpower are meeting on Tuesday and no one will be watching closer than Ford Motor Company.
With the closure of the privately-run prison, the tiny town of Mason's finances are in such shambles, so the state said it will take over its finances.
Here's where it gets interesting. Mason is a majority Black town, but only recently elected Black leaders.
Most of the financial problems over the past 20 years came from under a white mayor - leading many in Mason to label the takeover, after all this time, as "hostile" with racial motives.
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Of course, all this is going on as Ford gets set to break ground on its massive new $5.6 billion new electric vehicle plant less than five miles down the road, promising 26,000 jobs.
That's got Ford very nervous. The last thing it wants is controversy over race before it even gets going on the biggest project in the company's history.
Ford told the Tennessee Lookout it's in contact with Mumpower, with a spokesperson saying "We have reached out to state and local community leaders to express concern and learn more," adding, "As we ramp up construction of Blue Oval City, and move toward production in 2025, Ford is absolutely committed to being a good neighbor and providing inclusive and equitable opportunities."
No elected official in Mason said they've heard from Ford.
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