They indicate that the Mayor's Office selectively invites certain residents and that staffers actually tell Metro officials whom not to invite. Karl Dean's advisers only include "friendly" organizations. They do not seem to rely on organic local leadership networks outside the courthouse but seem to look inward and paint an "us vs. them" atmosphere around the Fairgrounds issue. That is likely reason why the Mayor's Office selected only Keith Moorman to stand next to Mayor Dean on November 8 and tell the news media that South Nashville wants to be another Green Hills.
Note that the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods head, Billy Fields, is included in the request for neighborhood representatives. I do not recall seeing Mr. Fields in Salemtown or at North Nashville community meetings I've attended. That experience makes me wonder if he really has his finger on the pulse of South Nashville neighborhoods.
[Original Message]
From: Compton, Toby (Mayor's Office)
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 5:00 PM
To: Dozier, Buck (State Fair); Sanders Kenneth (State Fair)
Subject: FW: Fairgrounds neighborhoods
If you are aware of any key people from the community, or friendly organizations, it might be good to have them there.
Toby Compton
Office of Mayor Karl Dean
Legislative Director
(615) 862-6000
[--Forwarded Message--]
From: Hester, Jim (Mayor's Office) [senior adviser]
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 4:57 PM
To: Compton, Toby (Mayor's Office); Fields, Billy (Mayor's Office); Williams, Charlie (Mayor's Office) [ECD]
Cc: Poe, Alexia (ECD)
Subject: Fairgrounds neighborhoods
We would like to invite Fairgrounds neighborhood reps to press conference on Monday. Thats this Monday, September 13 [background on the event].
It will be at 2:15 at Sevier Park Community Center. The Mayor will be talking about Sevier Park but also plans for park space at the Fairgrounds.
Not sure who should be invited, if you do, please go ahead and contact.
Jim Hester
[Reply Message]
From: Dozier, Buck (State Fair)
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 5:22 PM
To: Compton, Toby (Mayor's Office)
Subject: RE: Fairgrounds neighborhoods
Will do. I assume our Councilpersons know about this?
[Reply Message]
From: Compton, Toby (Mayor's Office)
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 5:23 PM
To: Dozier, Buck (State Fair)
Subject: RE: Fairgrounds neighborhoods
Yes. Don't invite Lisa Leeds.
Need to call you in a bit about something unrelated, but you need the heads-up.
Toby Compton
Office of Mayor Karl Dean
Legislative Director
(615) 862-6000
[Reply Message]
From: Dozier, Buck (State Fair)
To: Compton, Toby (Mayor's Office)
Subject: RE: Fairgrounds neighborhoods
Date: Friday, September 10, 2010 5:26:41 PM
___________________________________________
Call me on my cell -- xxxxxxxx
So, do you think that the Mayor's Office hand picks and hand shuns community leaders in other neighborhood events it sponsors?
I will continue to publish more e-mails in the run-up to Tuesday's council consideration of the Fairgrounds bills. (Jump to Deanieleaks #1. Jump to Deanieleaks #2.)
My name is TC Weber and while I am a fan of yours I got to defend the invites from the Mayor's office. I was invited to one of the lunches and i'm certainly no fan of the mayor's plans. I told him straight up, "That Anna Page does a great job for us and she's a big supporter of his, even sometimes when its not the best thing politically for her". He looked at me kind of surprised and I said "Backing him doesn't always go over well in the Flatrock neighborhood". He smiled and said I get that. So in that instance, I got to say he was very gracious and willing to listen to dissenting views. Billy Fields is actually also one of the good guys. there is enough to criticize this administration for that I hate to see you drifting into shallow waters. Keep up the great work covering the Fair Grounds.
ReplyDeleteThey do not want Lisa Leeds at the meetings because she has the courage to speak the truth outloud. Many of us may think it, but she will tell it like it is. She doesn't accept his political answers that never answer anyone's questions. They simply spin the talk and frustrate the citizens.
ReplyDeleteDean doesn't like her because while she may not look very sharp, Lisa is on to him and his underhanded scheme to destroy the fairgrounds. She is just like the racing community to Dean. They are common blue collar people and he has no use for them. He just wants their land and any tax money he can squeeze out of them to pay for his pet projects for his rich friends.
That's sad when you purposely tell your staff that you want to make sure certain citizens are not part of the democratic process. How can he proclaim that he is mayor of all of the people of Nashville?
I have seen this before during the MCC thing. This not right there is always to sides to all things. But, not with Mayor Dean there is only one side HIS.
ReplyDelete