Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A long, loud city council meeting Tuesday featured public commenters accusing aldermen, the administration, and the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance of racism.

At issue is a $50, 000 provision in a contract the council agreed to April 15 that the alliance direct some attention to developing Springfield’s east side. The SSGA never signed the contract and sent a message through Ald. Ralph Hanauer that it would not accept terms it said were sprung without warning.

“It is infuriating to watch the subtleties of white supremacy play out,” said citizen Ken Pacha, referring to Hanauer as the alliance’s “waterboy.” Pacha said aldermen spend freely except for when “it’s that side of town (when) you start breaking out the calculator.”

The next morning on the WTAX Morning Newswatch, Hanauer defended the alliance, crediting it with bringing the Amazon and Frito-Lay projects to the area, adding that losing the alliance would set local development efforts back years.