Outlying Growth Spells Doom for "Lower Taxes" Claims

Pick your cliché: double-edged sword, handwriting-on-the-wall, catch-22, chickens-coming-home-to-roost, goes-around-comes-around. You name it, and it will fit: anti-taxation advocates argue that lower suburban taxes spur greater outlying growth compared to urban areas. But those advocates rarely mention the factual flip-side: growth and resulting strain create greater demand for services, which paradoxically necessitates higher revenues. Mythic suburban opportunism contains the seeds of its own undoing.

Volunteer firefighters are a quaint idea. But as time goes by and as growth continues, will increasing numbers of Wilson County residents demand more sophisticated levels of profe$$ionalism from their first responders for the safety of their families?

Southern Baptist Affiliate Seminary Cans Female Professor Because She Is Female

Originally published at Free Tennessee:

Despite the fact that her husband has chronic illnesses that require her to generate the primary income for their family, Hebrew Professor Sheri Klouda was dismissed from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas because she is a woman and despite her academic accolades.  Fundamentalist Seminary President Paige Patterson has maintained that scripture requires submission and silence from women in church and that men are more qualified than women to train men to be pastors at the Seminary, which has direct administrative and financial ties to the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention.  Charges of gender discrimination are flying around the faith-based blogosphere, according to Associated Baptist Press.

Southern Baptist Convention Blacklisted

Originally published at Free Tennessee:

Christianaggression.org, an Indian website seeking to educate about alleged Christian "atrocities that conversions bring," has put the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention on its blacklist of Christian groups that aggressively pursue converts in India.  While the website acknowledges that the mainstream media is recently revealing the sexual exploitation of children in U.S. churches by ministers, sexual crimes by foreign missionaries and Christian ministers in other countries remain largely ignored (WARNING:  website displays some disturbing and graphic images of allegedly abused victims that readers may find objectionable).

Metro Council Member Emily Evans Put Her Discretionary Funds Up for Neighborhood Group Consideration

This morning I received copies of list serv correspondence between District 23 member Emily Evans and her Hillwood neighborhood constituents regarding the expenditure of the Council's discretionary "infrastructure/non-profit" funds. The discussion included Hillwood constituent support for Council Member Mike Jameson's handling of District 6's discretionary funds as reported in Enclave yesterday. Also, Hillwood constituents criticized District 17 Council Member Ronnie Greer's unopposed "giveaways" to the religious-based programs of the Nashville Inner City Ministries (as reported on Free Tennessee) and Aphesis House.

For her part, Council Member Evans mentions to her Hillwood constituents that she sent out a request to neighborhood groups in her district via their list serv asking for ideas on how to spend the funds. Ms. Evans's list based on that feedback includes both private non-profit and public projects:

• $10,000 to Senior Citizens, Inc. for programming services; Ms. Evans says that this non-profit serves "quite a number" of West Meade residents
• $10,750 to the Alliance for Public Education to purchase books for the Hillwood High School Library; she maintains that rules dictate that money earmarked for schools have to be sent through non-profits rather than directly to the School District
• $5,000 to replace a foot bridge in Percy Warner Park and to purchase a new bench
• $10,000 to fund a Dry Stone Conservancy Workshop at Traveler's Rest to teach members of the West Meade Conservancy and Metro employees how to build and restore the dry stack stone walls around the 23rd District; she told leaders that she could not use funds for the Belle Meade Plantation because she serves on their board (a refreshing change of pace from many of her peers on the Council)
• An amount to be designated in the future to fund a survey of all of the dry stack stone walls in the 23rd District; she hopes that the survey will make possible a protection ordinance for the historic walls

Emily Evans should be applauded for involving the neighborhood groups in her district in the decision on how to spend her discretionary funds. While a significant amount is still going to non-profits, at least residents were openly invited to define the earmarks and some infrastructure that serves the broader public is going to be served, too.

In fact--outside of Mike Jameson's impressive prospective expenditures--more public infrastructure will be funded by Ms. Evans's resolution than by all of the other members' requests put together so far. She also avoided the unethical appearance that she was bringing in booty for personally favored private organizations with which she is connected.

Worse than Rathergate

Obama dresses down Faux News for their habitual perpetuation of unsubstantiated rumors and damned lies.

Big Deal. What's So "Bold" About That?

Yeah, I know. I got the same press release from Ben Hall that you did touting Bob Clement's "bold new initiative" to create an "Office of Volunteerism" in the Mayor's Office. But I don't see why it is such a bold initiative to be a conduit between volunteers and non-profits or schools. The Mayor's Office already does some of the connecting in places. But more importantly, I would like to know why Mr. Clement needs to be a Mayor in order to take initiative on promoting voluntarism and networking volunteers? He could do that just as easily outside of government on name recognition alone. I want to know how Mr. Clement is going to make local governance itself better. The Mayor should be a leader in government first and in the non-profit sector second.

Salemtown Association Votes to Oppose Car Wash Exemption Resolution

Salemtown Neighbors Neighborhood Association voted unanimously tonight to authorize their Executive Board to send a letter to Metro Council Members and the Mayor opposing the Car Wash Exemption Bill, which has already caused an ethics controversy for Council Member Diane Neighbors and has spurred outcries among other neighborhood groups. SNNA joins several other associations and the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance in opposing special exemptions for select businesses. Once the letter is written, signed, and sent I will post it to Enclave.

Candidate Announces Run for the 19th District Council Seat

Blogger Sean Braisted is reporting that Janice Davis announced her intention tonight to run for the District 19 Council Seat, which will be vacated by term-limited Ludye Wallace at the end of the year. If it is the same Janice Davis who appeared in a January 18 News 2 report on her opposition in the Edgehill Neighborhood of a Belmont University plan to expand sports facilities into public Rose Park, then the ostensible impression she left with me is not bad. She tells Metro officials introducing the plan:

This is our lives, our houses, our homes, and I think you all have to remember that you are our employees.

Ms. Davis does live in the district she would represent.

Metro Police Considering "Quality of Life" Unit to Enforce Codes

At tonight's Salemtown Neighbors Neighborhood Association meeting, we found out from our community police officers that Chief Ronal Serpas is considering the idea of forming "Quality of Life" Units. Accordingly, at least one officer in each precinct would be trained and certified in codes enforcement, and those officers would be able to cite codes violators, even if present to address other violations.

Given the plodding, bureaucratic process resulting from reporting codes violations to Metro Codes, I think that Serpas's idea is an outstanding one. Anything that the police can do to help maintain our codes standards against violators (overwhelming vegetation, vehicles in yards, excessive trash, etc.) should make our neighborhoods better. The plans are only preliminary at this point, so please consider contacting Chief Serpas (jump to the on-line police form) and encouraging him to follow through on those plans, and please contact your council members (including the at-Large ones) and ask to support this idea.

Take Note, Metro Council: This is the Way That Discretionary Funds, Being Tax Dollars, Are Supposed to Be Spent

Once again Mike Jameson shows the way to his fellows on Metro Council, and we finally have infrastructure funds being recommended for actual infrastructure. In an unprecedented move for this gaggle of self-serving and unaccountable elected officials, Mr. Jameson offered up his discretionary funds to a vote among the neighborhoods in his district, according to the Tennessean.

Here are the results (pending Council approval) for East Nashville:

• An electronic informational sign for Cayce Homes on 7th Street ($7,000)
• 55 ornamental trees for each of the 10 neighborhoods in the district ($12,850)
• 4 bus shelters with an artistic component ($20,000)

Up to this point the cat herd Metro Council had spent over $400,000 in discretionary funds only on private non-profit groups (including narrowly religious ones) and none on actual Metro services or infrastructure. Jameson's option is an example of taking collected property taxes and plowing them back into the neighborhoods to increase quality of life and, in turn, property values.

North Georgia Today; Tennessee Tomorrow?

The situation for Hispanic jornaleros in North Georgia--a hotbed of white supremicist and Southern "heritage" activist movements--currently looks bleak as they are becoming increasingly the victims of hate crimes. It seems that some local whites are posing as construction contractors, promising the day laborers an attractive hourly pay, and taking them out to remote areas and assaulting them.

Compare and Contrast

[Local Christian] Pastor Charles Cowan believes if someone is going to serve the United States of America, they should make their promise the way it's always been done on the United States of America .... "America being founded on the Christian principles, I believe that we should continue to put our hand on the Bible [when swearing an oath]."

- - News 2 Reporter Jamey Tucker's report on one conservative evangelical's response to a Muslim Congressman taking the oath on the Qu'ran

Swear not at all; neither by heaven ... nor by earth .... But let your "yea" be "yea," and let your "nay" be "nay."

- - Jesus in that Christian Bible that conservative Christians want elected officials to swear on

With such hypocrisy in the recent oath-taking tempest, it is no wonder that evangelicals are buckling under a bad name. They've earned it.

Mayor Authorizes $5,000 Payment to Nashville Inner City Ministry, Inc.

Originally published at Free Tennessee:

A day after the Metro Council adopted a request for $5,000 for the Churches of Christ's Nashville Inner City Ministry, Inc., Mayor Bill Purcell signed the resolution. I assume that the Mayor's January 17 approval means that Metro Legal has dropped its Establishment Clause concerns, but I am waiting for a response from them after I inquired about the matter.

Shots Fired in Salemtown

The sounds of two or three rounds of semi-automatic gunfire peppered 4th Avenue in Salemtown last night just before 10:00. We heard the shots from our house, and like several others we immediately called the police, who showed up in several crusiers in a matter of minutes.

Neighbors who witnessed the shooting told police that a late 80s/early 90s dark colored Honda sedan (4 door) fired shots at a mid-90s Thunderbird in the parking lot of an apartment complex (pictured above) at 1609 4th Av., N. Reportedly, the shooters sent a couple of volleys into the complex from the alley between 4th and 5th and then drove around to 4th and shot into the complex's front-side driveway from the street. Witnesses say that a number of cars were hit by bullets. No person was hit. Police say this morning that they have no suspects in the shooting.

The apartment complex, which is near Morgan Park, already has a rough reputation for being a rumored center for drug sales. Also, the apartment building stays covered with the graffiti of the predominately Mexican "Brown Pride" gang. The complex, which according to Metro records is owned by Iunian and Doina Gherghescu of Old Hickory, TN, has been allowed to fall into a shabby, almost blighted appearance to match the criminal activity that goes on there. Along with the Shiloh Apartments just a few feet away, this complex is a liability to our neighborhood, and it is now attracting criminal activities that endanger its neighbors.


UPDATE: Police report that ballistics identified the weapon fired as either a .380 caliber or a 9 mm semi-automatic. A total of 4 cars were hit. Still no suspects.

Car Wash Exemption Bill Continues to Lack Planning Department's Revisions, Despite Co-sponsors' Claims

After the Public Hearing on Metro Council's Car Wash Exemption Bill, co-sponsor Charlie Tygard claimed responsibility in his remarks in chambers for not communicating to neighborhood residents all of the design conditions that new car washes would have to meet. Many of those residents oppose this bill. He also litanized some of what he called "upscale" conditions: monument-type brick signs, short knee-walls, and landscaping.

However, many of those "upscale" conditions--as recommended by the Planning Department--are not in the bill which is slated for third and final reading February 6. Compare the current Council resolution to the Planning Department's version (after the jump scroll to Item #13 on p. 76). Notice that Planning's recommendations are in bold in their document and notice that they are totally invisible in the Council version. As such, if it had not been for co-sponsor Diane Neighbors's medical procedure delaying its third and final reading on January 16, the bill that Council passed would have lacked a number of the very conditions Mr. Tygard cited to try and soften the blow to neighborhoods of exempting car washes from getting their consent.

As long as Mr. Tygard is taking responsibility, he needs to be accountable for misleading his audience into believing that the exemption bill says more than it actually does. If this bill passes in February without the Planning conditions, then bill co-sponsors' misrepresentation of the conditions will be codified and imposed upon the affected neighborhoods. That will merely be adding insult to injury.

Gang News Buzzing in Each Tennessee Metropolitan Area in January

Many Nashvillians are aware of local news involving the indictment of local gang members. But the other city dailies have been buzzing this new year with various gang stories.

• The Chattanooga Times Free Press has a story on a north Georgia exurb's police efforts against teenage gangs. Vandalism through gang-graffiti-tagging is the primary crime.
• The Knoxville News Sentinel has a piece on a gang member at the center of a landmark court ruling on classifying violent acts committed by criminals too young to vote.
• The Memphis Commercial Appeal has an article on changes in the ways local police handled violent robberies, which lead to the conviction of members of a notorious gang that was active in murder, bank robberies, and petty thefts.

It is obvious that gang-related activities are not just a local problem, but represent a statewide and regional challenge.

Duke Scientists Find "Charity Spot" in Human Brain

But before assuming that scientific reductionism and determinism win, keep in mind (so to speak) that the experiment merely indicates activity in one spot among "altruistic types." Science has its own internal philosophical tensions indicated themselves by this statement:

Science has grappled with why people will put the welfare of others ahead of their own, even at personal cost. From an evolutionary viewpoint it makes little sense because it does not increase the chances of someone passing on their genes.

Such is indication that science should not swallow certain assumptions about human behavior uncritically, but draw on different possibilities than a limited set of explanations. When pure species self-interest drives an anthropology of human nature in the sciences before experiments begin, then there is bound to be conflict when data do not correspond with hard hypotheses.

There are just as many problems with "rational choice" theory in sociology, which has a hard time explaining altruistic behavior without reference to risk and benefit, even though there are altruists who do not factor risks and benefits as strictly as rational choice suggests.

12South to Start Neighborhood Watch

In the wake of a number of reported break-ins in November and December and after reports of a teenage group (4-8 kids) attacking and otherwise intimidating neighborhood locals since the New Year, the 12South Neighborhood Association President announced a meeting to launch the area's first neighborhood crime watch. The watch will be formed with the help of Metro Police at a Monday, January 22 meeting at Sevier Park Community Center.

What surprises me about this announcement--made to the 12South list serv--is that the neighborhood did not already have an operating crime watch. The list serv seems to have been functioning in that fashion and I just assumed that they had an organized watch, given the regular reports of burglaries, thefts, and break-ins that I've seen posted. Hopefully, greater organization will translate to more crime deterrence for the 12Southies.

Monoliths to the North End

The Fat Cats' Bill Has Come Due in Congress

While the bloated oil tycoons may still be free to jack up their prices and scoop up windfall profits to pay for corporate jets, palacial homes, and personal tax advisors showing how to make even more obscene amounts of money off international oil dependence, they will no longer be doing so free from giving back something to their homeland. Congress rescinds the Bush oil tax breaks and adds the royalties that should be charged for taking oil on public property. Now when they charge us more at the pump, we know that at least some of it will be going to help Americans in general rather than the just the children, grandchildren, and personal caddies of Exxon CEOs.

A Blues Singer's Comparison of the Two Capital "T" State Capitols

I found this gem in a 5-year-old Austin newspaper article:

"In Nashville, everybody hates everybody; it's not loving like it is here. Clifford Antone was, 'Come in to the Home of the Blues.' Just welcomed me. And thank God for [Continental Club owner] Steve Wertheimer. He's there all the way, so hands-on. That's why the club is jumping all the time. I love this town. I kiss it.

The first time I won Best Female Vocalist, I thought, 'What?!' And Lou Ann [Barton] says to me, 'Well, honey, you deserve it.' That's how Austin is, open arms. In Nashville everyone's like, 'Oh, you're trying to get my piece of cheese!' But here, we've got plenty of cheese for everyone.'"

- - Toni Price, former Nashvillian, long-time host of Tuesday Night "Hippie Hour" at Austin's Continental Club

East G-town Rendered

Thanks, Congressional Republicans, for Nothing

Wa-Po reports that U.S. Senate Republicans killed congressional ethics reform.


Update: Republicans reverse their PR blunder.

Walking a Thin Line; Tottering a Bit

A Nashville City Paper editorial tip-toes its way through the car wash exemption controversy today, bracketing the question of ethics but underscoring the importance of questioning campaign financing in Metro Council politics. Except for a couple of missteps, it is worth the read. There has been no response whatsoever (outside of Diane Neighbors's response) from the council members supporting this bill as to their relationship with the car wash special interests. It is important especially for members like Buck Dozier, who is running for Mayor, to be explicit about those ties.

The problems that I see in the NCP editorial concern its characterization of the sides in this debate. It erroneously suggests that the pro-neighborhood side is not pro-development. I don't know any neighborhood advocates who see development of city neighborhoods as at odds with their goals. Development, if responsibly pursued, supports the interests of neighborhood residents and leaders. The law requiring neighborhood and council member consent on development stipulated that developers and neighbors should work together for the overall good. Absentee developers should be responsible to the folk who actually live near the development. That is pro-development; just not pro-any-kind-of-development-whatsoever.

Likewise, editors should not pit communities against "the progress of development," precisely because not all development is progressive in nature. For instance, does clogging neighborhood streets with 200 to 300 cars resulting from new car washes really count as progress? Would that count as progress in your neighborhood? It is progress for the individual who owns the wash and his bank account; but does it really count as overall community progress? Moreover, introducing the labels "liberal" and "conservative" into the mix strains analogy, since the political spectrum spans both sides of the car wash issue.

The most glaring error in the NCP editorial was the mention that the letter was from a handful of neighborhood groups. The letter came from the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance, which represents more than a "handful" of associations. Granted the number of the most vocal neighborhood groups who take issue with the car washes are the few currently facing car washes in their neighborhoods. But notice: the NCP editors failed to point out that the special business interests involved on the "development" side constitute something closer to a "handful": three individual car wash entrepreneurs. Throw council members behind them and that is a handful.

East Germantown Warehouse Sold for Over $3M

According to a regular at the Nashville Charrette, the giant green and white warehouse in East Germantown has been sold to an out-of-state buyer, who is said to be "interested in the long term growth of the neighborhood," although "it will continue to be a big green and white box until it makes sense to do something else with it." The property sold for $3,150,000.

Last year I tried to coax Bob Bernstein to expand Bongo Nation to the North End by mentioning this available property to him. He told me he was looking for a warehouse. We needed a Bongo Java. This property is nestled right next to Neuhoff, a short jog from Germantown. It seemed like the perfect fit to me. For him, I guess, not so much. Let's hope the promising overtures made by the new owner on behalf of the neighborhood become real.

Confusing Words on "English Official" at the NCP

The City Paper Metro beat writer's explanation of the differences between "English Official" and "English Only" bills confuses rather than clarifies the differences. He writes:

The Metro Council last night voted to make English the official language of Davidson County. The Metro Council at its next meeting, in February, will again vote whether to make English the official language of Davidson County. The English resolution approved Tuesday was a peace-making attempt that newly-elected Councilman Jim Hodge introduced intending to put an end to tensions created by an English ordinance sponsored by Councilman Eric Crafton that also would make English the city’s official language but that could possibly, as opposed to Hodge’s resolution, have some hard effect on Metro.

It is not exactly true that both measures would "make" English the official language. Last night's resolution, a "memorializing" resolution, declares the position and intent of the council without the coercion or limits of imposing a law. By voting for last night's resolution, the Council was voting essentially to recognize and to promote English as Metro's official language.

Eric Crafton's English Only bill would force Metro employees to limit their interaction with the public to one uniform way. Using vague terms like "hard effect" or cynical insider descriptions like "peace-making attempt" lends nothing to understanding that difference. I do not know how much the City Paper's standing as a "center-right" publication affects their reportage, but they need to tighten up the clarity of their reports so as not to confuse the subjects.

Council Approves Money for Ministry; Will Metro?

Details here.

Metro Council Approves $5,000 to Proselytizing Ministry; Not Clear Whether Metro Legal Will Allow It

Originally published at Free Tennessee:

Metro Council Member Ronnie Greer re-introduced his resolution earmarking $5,000 for the Churches of Christ's Nashville Inner City Ministry after the ministry submitted a statement a few hours before last night's council meeting saying that their "Lifeskills" classes are not based on biblical principles. Mr. Greer argued on behalf of the resolution saying that the classes, which would directly benefit from the public funds, are based on broader moral and character-based issues and that resubmitting the resolution was "just the right thing to do."

A council office official told members that it still is not clear whether Metro Legal will allow the funds to be sent to NICM, since they had not had time to look over the submitted statement. He also told them that the council office itself would like to see more language in the Lifeskills statement. Council Member Randy Foster, a Churches of Christ member, stood in support of the bill and said he wanted the message sent to Metro Legal that no organization should have to set aside Judeo-Christian values for the sake of broader moral principles. The council approved Greer's request.

I'll continue to follow this matter to see if public funds get sent to this Ministry. If the funds do get dispersed, I would want to know what kind of oversight Metro is going to exercise to make sure that the Establishment Clause is not being violated.

Social Conservative Superfluous Soap Box of the Night

The social conservatives on the Metro Council say so many interesting things in the course of a typical council meeting that they could be cited every other Wednesday for their comments the night before.

Last night's superfluous soap box citation goes to Eric Crafton who on a housekeeping resolution--the sole purpose of which was to bring a contract that Metro has had since 2004 with STD Free, Inc. (for educational services) into compliance with new state laws on lobbying and conflicts of interest--asked this question:

So, do they teach that abstinence is the one 100% way you won't get a sexually transmitted disease?

What was he going to do if the co-sponsor said, "no"? Encourage other members to lawlessness by voting against bringing a Metro contract into compliance with state law?

Council English Declaration Passes

[I]t's ludicrous to think that laws need to be created to help protect the language of Shakespeare.

- - Joey, West Wing

The memorializing resolution declaring English to be the "official language of the Metropolitan Government" passed overwhelming tonight. The difference between this resolution (co-sponsored by Jim Hodge and Randy Foster) and Eric Crafton's English Only bill (to be debated on third reading in February) is that the former does not codify English as the only or first language that Metro employees are permitted to use. It affirms English as the common language while still allowing latitiude to Metro employees to be flexible in offering services.

If you missed tonight's debate on it you missed Eric Crafton blowing a gasket and lashing out verbally at Vice Mayor Howard Gentry when Mr. Gentry prompted him to stay off discussions about his English Only bill in an effort to sink Hodge's bill. It was quite a yelling spectacle on Crafton's part. Mr. Gentry did exactly what he was supposed to do as Chair of the meeting, including keeping his cool when Mr. Crafton lost his. Ludye Wallace made perhaps the most intelligent point in the debate later when he said that the declaration of English as the official language was something members on all sides of Mr. Crafton's bill could agree on and Mr. Wallace added that it is contradictory to support any more coercive bill on the matter and vote against this bill. Nonetheless, 7 members showed how uncompromising they could be by voting against it.

It is said that being bilingual staves off the onset of dementia. Being bilingual surely did not stave off a temper tantrum by the sponsor of English Only tonight in Council Chambers.

Car Wash Exemption Resolution Deferred

Council voted tonight to defer bill BL2006-1178 to the next meeting.

Planning Commission Conditions Are NOT Included in Current Car Wash Exemption Bill

Car wash exemption advocates (including Diane Neighbors as late as today in the City Paper) keep invoking the Planning Commission's approval of the exemption bill, but Planning Department conditions continue to be left out of latest version of BL2006-1178. I just got off the phone with a Planning Department official who told me that bill co-sponsors have not included Planning conditions in the bill, which is up for third and final reading tonight. If Planning's approval is significant enough to invoke for this bill's fortunes, why aren't their recommendations worthy to be incorporated into this bill?

Tennessean Has Latest Response from Diane Neighbors

Council Member at Large Diane Neighbors, the subject of allegations of deceiving constituents and showing favoritism to special business interests, sent out an e-mail to her fellows this morning, and she shared it with the Tennessean. She insists that "ample time" has been given to the public for what a previous bill sponsor hoped would be a "full and honest" discussion of a special exemption for car wash developers, who will no longer have to consult neighborhood associations or council members before building if the resolution passes tonight on third reading.

HT: Volunteer Voters

More Local Tax Dollars To Be Sluiced for Private Groups Tonight

A slate of new initiatives on tonight's Metro Council Agenda would continue to subsidize private non-profits with public tax dollars, even though the primary designation of those funds is "infrastructure." I've already established the question as to whether a bill that would send $14,000 of our tax dollars to an association-run baseball field in Shelby Park is more private than public. And I've already mentioned that Ronnie Greer has rolled away the stone and has resurrected his bid to send $5,000 to a Church of Christ ministry that converts the people it serves. But here is the entire list on tonight's agenda.

• $14,000 for improvement to the Shelby Park Baseball Field, which is controlled by the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association (Rip Ryman [sits on NOTBA board], Jim Forkum [sits on NOTBA board], Diane Neighbors, David Briley, Mike Jameson, Lynn Williams)
• $5,000 for Nashville Inner City Ministry, Inc. (Ronnie Greer; opposed by the Metro's Legal Eagles because of Establishment problems).
• $1,000 for the Nashville Humane Association (Charlie Tygard)
• $5,000 for the Stand for Children Leadership Center (Briley)
• $9,500 for Ujima House, Inc. (Greer, Brenda Gilmore, Ed Whitmore)
• $10,000 for Aphesis House, Inc. (Greer)

If you are keeping score at home, all of the non-profit requests for "infrastructure" funds made since October have been approved with no debate and little challenge (with the exception of Greer's "Ministry" request), so we can expect that all of these will breeze through easily.

I'll reiterate that I don't think that public support for private organizations is a bad thing. But why earmark all of that money to private groups when public services need it, too? Why choose a private domestic violence program when our police domestic violence task force can use the funds? Why should Metro pay the Humane Association money when Animal Control does not have enough resources to help control our stray dog problems? What are council members getting from these private groups in return for their largesse with our money?

Council Ethics Splashed in Print

The Car Wash Exemption/Campaign Ethics Boondoggle hits hard copy this morning. Nothing much new to the story. Outside of the newsprint, we're still left with the images of Ludye Wallace shaking a car wash developer's hand after the latter spoke as the sole proponent of car wash exemption and the irony of Harold White's argument that the Council should not be influenced by a few neighborhood association people (he forgot to add "unless those few people want to build some car washes"). We can add to those Diane Neighbors's rather perplexing, equivocal comment to the Tennessean that she has not worked "for" or "against" this bill, even as she has received campaign help from car wash developers. If she has not worked "for" the bill, then why did she vote "for" it twice? Wouldn't a bill sponsor not working "for" or "against" a bill abstain when it came time to vote? Or better yet, why wouldn't she just shepherd the bill to the leadership of another co-sponsor to bring through the process in order to keep her name from being tied to the fortunes of special business interests?

White Bridge President Claims that Car Wash Developer's Lawyers Agreed to Abide by Association's Opposition

According to a letter from the White Bridge Neighborhood Association President Paula Lovett, the attorneys of Tim Cameron (the developer who plans to build a car wash on White Bridge Road) told WBNA that they would abide by the association's opposition to the car wash after they met in July 2006 and the WBNA Board voted against the plans. According to Ms. Lovett, Mr. Cameron was only proposing to buy the White Bridge property when they first met, but after Resolution BL2006-1178 was introduced, Mr. Cameron purchased the property and proceeded with plans to build a car wash.

Ms. Lovett also charges that Diane Neighbors promised to defer the car wash exemption bill indefinitely at a Planning Meeting in September after all sides agreed that the earlier bill that included car washes in its restrictions had not been in existence long enough to see if it worked.

The White Bridge Association was the only group to oppose the bill in Public Hearing on January 2 (even though Glencliff and Woodbine had also organized opposition to it before the Public Hearing).

The Frustration of Missed Opportunities

The public gallery was packed on January 2 with people attending the Metro Council Meeting to speak out against the highly visible Downtown Westin Hotel Development. There was no space where there weren't neighborhood leaders. I even saw one or two from the Historic Germantown neighborhood.

Yet, not one other leader--outside of the three expressly present to oppose it--rose to speak against the attempt by Diane Neighbors et al. to let car washes get unimpeded into neighborhoods through this backdoor ordinance. That's a head-scratcher.

You cannot convince me that partially blocking the Broadway view of the Cumberland with a supersized Westin Hotel would be more diasterous to our actual quality of life than building several car washes in neighborhoods where traffic is already choked, where noise and sight pollution clog the senses. I cannot believe that those leaders in the gallery did not rise as readily to oppose car wash exemptions as they did to oppose the Westin. It's beyond me.

Telling Moments from the Car Wash Exemption Debate on January 2

You should do yourself a favor and watch the two specific video files in the council archives that show the car wash exemption bill public hearing and the ensuing council debate. You should see these highlights for yourself:

• There was only one proponent to speak in favor of the car wash exemption during the Public Hearing. His name is Joe Meeks and he is one of the property owners intending to build a car wash. After his speaking time ended, Ludye Wallace (Dist. 19) came up to him, said something, and shook his hand. That may or may not be significant, but Ludye failed to show opponents such partiality.
• Mayoral candidate Buck Dozier (at Large) attempted to end Council debate on the car wash exemption bill immediately after the bill's two co-sponsors, Diane Neighbors and Charlie Tygard responded to the Public Hearing feedback. Dozier called for "the previous question"--which effectively ends deliberations and prompts a vote on the bill--before any bill opponents had the chance to speak. When the council voted on Dozier's motion, there were enough "no" votes to kill it and keep deliberations going. Buck Dozier has not yet disclosed any ties to car wash developers, even though he has built a substantial campaign war chest in his run for Mayor. Given his attempt to cut off debate, I am bound to ask whether Dozier is as committed as original sponsor Amanda McClendon to a "full and honest" debate. If we ever do find out his financial ties, this vote might hang like an albatross around his mayoral hopes.
• During council debate car wash exemption proponents kept referring to the Planning Commission's approval of their bill. However, when Ludye Wallace asked a Planning official whether he thought Tygard's defense of the bill was "true," the Planning official did not exactly leap forward with a glowing endorsement. He brushed Wallace off and he stated that the bill lacked conditions that the Planning Commission had recommended, including one "to address the needs for parking restrictions on automatic car washes." That official said he was in the middle of e-mailing Tygard about that omission when Ludye called on him. What a futile attempt to get rubber stamped that proved to be.
• Despite the fact that during the Public Hearing opponents of the exemption bill outnumbered proponents 3-to-1, Harold White (Dist. 14) barked to his fellows, "I do not believe that one group of two people coming from White Bridge Road to be against [the exemption bill] represents all of Davidson County." And one self-interested car wash developer does represent the County, Mr. White?
• John Summers (Dist. 24) cut to the chase in his opposing comments:

  [The car wash exemption] bill is here because there are some people that want to be able to put in a car wash where they want to put in a car wash. And rather than sitting down and working with you as the district Council Member and working with neighbors ... and working with other property owners and trying to find a compromise, they just want to be able to go down to Codes and get their permit.

The Nashville Post Has a Response from Diane Neighbors

E. Thomas Wood and Walker Duncan at the Post have a comment from Vice Mayoral Candidate and Council Member Diane Neighbors in the wake of the car wash exemption controversy. It seems unchanged from what she, Charlie Tygard, and other co-sponsors have argued in public council deliberations.

Ms. Neighbors still does not address the matter of whether she promised neighborhood leaders one thing and then did another in moving for approval on January 2; nor does she divulge any information regarding financial or campaign ties she may or may not have to car wash exemption proponents. Just as she did on January 2, she also ignores the primary concern driving neighborhood opposition to the bill: that neighborhood streets off of the main arterials will be flooded with traffic because of new car wash developments.

District 23 Metro Council Member Emily Evans Says She Will Not Support Car Wash Exemption on Tuesday

Metro Council Member Emily Evans (Dist. 23) sent me the following e-mail yesterday evening:

I was absent from the car wash bill vote but I do not intend to vote for it. There has been a good deal of opposition to the bill voiced by residents of my district. Many of them are avid readers of your blog so I thought I’d save them a bit of trouble and let you know where I stand.

Sincerely,
Emily Evans
Metro Council District 23

Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association Opposed Car Wash Exemption

In an e-mail to Metro Council last Friday, Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association President Rob Robinson expressed opposition to the Car Wash Exemption Bill and he reiterated that the previous SPNA President had contacted Metro Council in December with the news that SPNA "voted unanimously after thoughtful discussion to formally oppose this bill."

Glencliff Neighborhood President Says That They Would Have Attended Public Hearing Save Council Member's Pledge to Defer

In an e-mail to Metro Council Members, Glencliff Neighborhood Association President Noel Whitley states that GNA would have attended the January 2 Public Hearing on the Car Wash Exemption Bill if they had not understood that bill co-sponsor Diane Neighbors had pledged to defer the bill beforehand. Had they attended, according to the e-mail, their intention would have been to communicate their opposition to the bill. President Whitley also asked the Council to vote "no" on the bill on third reading next Tuesday.

The Question of a "Full and Honest Discussion": Compare and Contrast

Councillady [Amanda] McClendon ... stated that she never intended for car washes to be a part of [a previous bill requiring neighborhood consent], and she felt like she was deceitful when she moved it forward by not acknowledging that. I spoke to Judge McClendon this afternoon. She still feels that way. She just wants to move it forward and vote it up or down. So, with that I renew my motion for approval [of exempting car washes].

- - Council Member Diane Neighbors after the January 2 Public Hearing closed with only one neighborhood association rising to oppose the vote

Because I never mentioned to Council that car washes were included - and it was, therefore, not discussed, I felt that I had inadvertently deceived the council. I filed the bill to bring it to the council's attention, Diane Neighbors co-sponsored this bill at my request and as a courtesy to me since I had to resign. Personally, I think that they (car washes) are fine in the existing used car lot bill but the council should decide that with a full and honest discussion.

- - Former Council Member Amanda McClendon in an e-mail to a Woodbine Neighbors leader, who had encouraged members of a District 16 list serv to oppose on January 2; no Woodbine leaders spoke on January 2

Do Any of the 26 Metro Council Members Voting with Diane Neighbors in Support of Car Wash Exemption Have Conflicts of Interest?

One of the requests made by the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance is that supporters of the controversial Car Wash Exemption Bill recuse themselves from voting on Tuesday if they have ties to campaign contributors like John Hobbs and others with a vested interest in putting car washes in neighborhoods without regard to neighborhood consent. The NNA charges that Diane Neighbors has ties to campaign contributors that influence her stance on the bill.

26 other council members voted with Ms. Neighbors, but it is as yet unclear as to whether they have ties to groups lobbying on behalf of car wash interests. At least one of those voting "aye" is Buck Dozier, who is running for Mayor this year and should immediately disclose whether some of the considerable campaign funds he has received have come from these specific contributors and recuse himself from voting on Tuesday if so.

In the interest of helping constituents find out more details from council members, I have listed the names, e-mail addresses, and links to district maps of members who voted for the bill on second reading and of members who were absent that evening below:

Members Voting In Favor of Exempting Car Wash Developments

Buck Dozier (buck.dozier@nashville.gov) -- at Large
Diane Neighbors (diane.neighbors@nashville.gov) -- at Large
Adam Dread (adam.dread@nashville.gov) -- at Large
Brenda Gilmore (brenda.gilmore@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 1
Jamey Isabel (jamie.isabel@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 2
Walter Hunt (whuntnash@aol.com) -- Dist. 3
Michael Craddock (michael.craddock@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 4
Pam Murray (pam.murray@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 5
Erik Cole (erik.cole@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 7
Jim Forkum (jim.forkum@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 9
Rip Ryman (rip.ryman@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 10
Feller Brown (feller.brown@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 11
Jim Gotto (jim.gotto@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 12
Carl Burch (carl.burch@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 13
Harold White (whw777@comcast.net) -- Dist. 14
J.B. Loring (j.b.loring@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 15
Ronnie Greer (ronnie.greer@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 17
Ludye Wallace (ludye.wallace@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 19
Billy Joe Walls (billyjoe.walls@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 20
Ed Whitmore (edward.whitmore@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 21
Jason Alexander (jason.alexander@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 28
Jim Hodge (jim.hodge@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 30
Parker Toler (parker.toler@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 31
Sam Coleman (sam.coleman@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 32
Robert Duvall (robert.duvall@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 33
Lynn Williams (lynn.williams@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 34
Charlie Tygard (charlie.tygard@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 35

Members Absent on January 2

David Briley (david.briley@nashville.gov) -- at Large (also running for Mayor)
Jason Hart (jason.hart@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 8
Eric Crafton (eric.crafton@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 22
Emily Evans (emily.evans@nashville.gov) -- Dist. 23


(Carolyn Baldwin Tucker and Mike Jameson abstained from voting; Page, Hausser, Summers, Shulman, Adkins, Foster, Wilhoite were the members voting against exempting car washes).

Text of the Ethics Complaint Letter Against Council Member Diane Neighbors

Below is the text of the letter that the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance sent to the Mayor and to the Metro Council today regarding improprieties that it charges Diane Neighbors with regarding her handling of a resolution exempting car wash developments from neighborhood review and consent.

Take note of one point that I did not underscore before: the conflict of interest in question regards Ms. Neighbors's receipt of campaign funds from specific sources that allegedly influenced her handling of both the bill and of her constituents who opposed the bill.

We are saddened to write to you today to share our deep concern with regard to recent events that have taken place surrounding Council Bill 2006-1178.

While we are in opposition to the bill itself and encourage you to vote “No”, we are even more troubled by actions taken by Council Member Diane Neighbors in the sponsoring and promotion of this legislation.

£ A clear conflict of interest is present.

Ethically, Council Member Neighbors should have recused herself from this matter entirely rather than sponsor legislation on behalf or with the support of at least one individual who we believe has contributed significant funds/support to her campaign.

Specifically, at least one campaign contributor, John A. Hobbs, has made substantive support to the campaign of Council Member Diane Neighbors – contributions that, in our opinion, appear to have impacted the handling of the bill.

Please make special note that we are not making any statements that should imply or be construed as evidence or implication of any wrong doing by John Hobbs, Joe Meeks, Tim Cameron or their families, companies or any political action group to which they are associated.

£ Disregard for the interests of impacted constituents.

The actions taken by Council Member Diane Neighbors appear particularly suspect given that that they go against the expressed interest of individuals and neighborhood organizations in areas targeted for these types of uses.

Specifically, it is our understanding that one major focus for the supporters of this bill is the development of at least one car wash location that has been opposed by the local resident organization, White Bridge Road Neighborhood Association, Inc., and their District Council Member, John Summers. While spending substantive time reviewing the development proposal, they all came to the conclusion that it was not in the best interest of the communities involved.

We also believe that it is not in the best interest of the citizens of Davidson County for Council Members to lose control over the placement and citing restrictions on land uses in their district that can have such a tremendous impact.

£ Council Member Diane Neighbors, chief sponsor, made promises to neighborhood leaders and others with regard to the handling of this bill, and, without explanation, failed to follow through on those agreements.

Concerned citizens and elected officials contacted Council Member Diane Neighbors with regard to her plans for the bill at second reading. A meeting was held at the Planning Department attended by Paula Lovett, President of White Bridge Neighborhood Association, Inc.; Irwin Venick, President of Woodlawn West Historic Neighborhood Association; John Stern, Chairman of the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance; District 24 Council Member John Summers; Jennifer Carlat, Planning Department Staff, and Council Member at Large Diane Neighbors. Ms. Neighbors promised the group that she would defer the bill, indefinitely, prior to public hearing. The group also agreed to work together on identifying more thorough criteria for locating car washes in SP zoned areas.

£ The actions taken by Council Member Neighbors subverted the Public Hearing Process.

Concerned citizens were specifically told by Council Member Neighbors that this legislation would be deferred indefinitely prior to the public hearing and second reading. Neighborhood groups such as the Glencliff Neighborhood Association understood that there would be no public hearing and did not attend the scheduled 2nd reading of the bill based on this information. While one may question the prudence of the decision not to attend the Council meeting, it should be remembered that this decision was made based on a level of trust in the word of a Council Member at Large who has claimed and continues to claim to be a neighborhood friendly elected official.

Based on the aforementioned information and supporting evidence, the Executive Committee of the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance is in the process of composing an ethics complaint to the Council Board of Conduct.

In the meantime, we are asking members of Council to do three things:
1) Immediately and publicly disclose any and all campaign or other financial ties to any member of the John A. Hobbs, Joe Meeks or Tim Cameron families, corporate support through PACs and or direct contributions from themselves.
2) Request all of the current sponsors and any Council Member with financial ties to the supporters above RECUSE THEMSELVES from any future vote / deliberation or other actions in support of Council Bill 2006-1178.
3) Encourage all other Council Members to disapprove this bill and to take all necessary actions to get it defeated.

The Executive Committee of the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance approached our actions on this matter with considerable deliberation and write to you today as part of our long-standing, non-partisan commitment to support the health, well being and safety of neighborhood organizations, their resident leadership, and in support of the citizenry and the Future of Neighborhoods of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. We know that most of you take your responsibility to represent the citizens of Nashville seriously, and we appreciate your commitment and service to Davidson County.

Thank you for your time and attention to this sensitive and distressing situation.


John Stern, Chairman
Eugene TeSelle, President
Thomas E. Epperson, Vice-President
Christopher Catanzaro, Secretary
Patricia Totty, Treasurer

BREAKING: Ethics Complaint to Be Filed Against Metro Council Member at Large

In a letter dated today and addressed to Mayor Bill Purcell, Vice Mayor Howard Gentry, and Members of the Metro Council, the Executive Committee of the Nashville Neighborhood Alliance says that it intends to file a formal ethics complaint against Council Member at Large (and candidate for Vice Mayor) Diane Neighbors with the Council Board of Conduct. The NNA alleges that Ms. Neighbors:

• Sponsored and promoted the "Car Wash Exemption Bill" despite a conflict of interest (the bill passed on second reading on January 2; must pass on third reading next Tuesday, January 16, to become law)
• Disregarded the interests of the impacted constituents
• Failed to follow through on promises to defer the bill made at a Planning Meeting
• Subverted the Public Hearing Process

That last allegation, if true, is particularly troubling. According to the NNA, neighborhood groups like the Glencliff Neighborhood Association did not attend the Public Hearing because Ms. Neighbors left them with the impression that she was going to defer; thus, there was no need to come to speak against the bill.

The week before last, I was critical of neighborhood groups for allowing car wash proponents on the Council to marginalize bill opponents by not showing up for the Public Hearing. But if Ms. Neighbors did attempt to subvert the process by leading constituents to think that she would defer before actually shepherding the bill through, then I take my criticism of them back. If these allegations are true, then their only fault was in trusting that their elected representative would do as she said she would do.

I Declare! I Believe We Have Our First Council Discretionary Bill For Public Infrastructure! (Or Maybe Not).

Do my eyes deceive me? Seven Council Members are pooling their "Reserve Council Infrastructure [Yada, Yada, Yada] Account" Funds to request $14,000 for a new scoreboard for the Shelby Park Baseball Field. Last time I checked, Shelby Park was a Metro Park, and Metro Parks were publicly funded; therefore, these monies actually count as "public" and they are actually going to be spent on "infrastructure." Assuming that a majority of the Council approves of actually spending public dollars on public services on Tuesday, that brings the public services vs. private non-profits tally to $14,000 (less than 3.5%) vs. over $400,000 (greater than 96.5%). Even with a new Shelby Ballpark Scoreboard, council members have quite a deficit to make up to match private non-profit spending so far. Could they make this a horse race? Maybe if it were a private, not-for-profit steeplechase they could.


UPDATE: If the first commenter below is correct, then the public infrastructure tally is once again at $0.00 (0%) of the taxes that council members are spending on Metro services instead of on non-profits. I suppose it depends on what a "facility use permit" entails and what "the Shelby Park Baseball Field utilized by the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association" means.

Here's what the NOTBA website says about the field:

The Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association took over operation of the field in 1990. The Stan Musial Southeast Regional tournament was hosted at the facility by the Old Timers for several years. During that time many improvements were made to the field and facility by the Old Timers.

The facility continues to improve. The clubhouse interior has been remodeled and refurnished. A windscreen, winged foul poles, and fence cap have been added to the outfield fence. Additional lights, in-ground water sprinklers, two batting cages, double mounded bull pens, a new PA system and scoreboard have been installed. New dugouts have been constructed along with a new garage and storage barn for field equipment. This year Centurian Stone was added to all the structures to improve the appearance of the park.

That makes it sound like the NOTBA, rather than the public, has charge of the field. It also clearly states that NOTBA made previous improvements themselves (which insinuates the absence of public funds). If NOTBA still has charge, then they cannot take credit for the proposed scoreboard, which will be funded by our tax dollars. The question is how does this public contribution lead to public use?


UPDATE: Bill co-sponsors Rip Ryman and Jim Forkum both sit on the Board of the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association. Conflict of interest if the field is used exclusively by the private association?

When Did This Happen?

In the Metro Council Agenda and Agenda Analysis, the "Reserve Council Infrastructure Program" is now called the "Reserve Council Infrastructure Program, Nonprofit Grants and Council Initiatives Account." It looks like all of Metro's archived documents have been retro-fitted accordingly.

When did that start happening? When it started looking like 100% of the funds were going to non-profits and none to infrastructure? Why is infrastructure still listed first, as if it were primary? Will we being seeing the "Nonprofit Grants" usurp "Infrastructure's" primary position the more that Metro tax dollars are spent on private non-profits?

Ronnie Greer Brings Back Bill to Give Proselytizing Non-Profit $5,000

Despite warnings from Metro Legal that his resolution violates the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and despite the clearly defined proselytizing mission of the Nashville Inner City Ministry, Inc., Council Member Ronnie Greer put his request for $5,000 back on the January 16, 2007 Metro Council Meeting Agenda. The question remains: will Metro pay parochial NICMI thousands of public tax dollars, even if Council approves?

Parks Removes Gang Tags From Community Center

Morgan Park Community Center was tagged on Sunday. I notified Parks on Monday. The results:

Sunday

Today

Just Another January: Gang-Related Graffiti Re-Tags the North End

Despite media attention on law enforcement's progress in targeting gang activity in Nashville, gang-related graffiti re-appeared on private and public property in this new year just like previous new years. In this case, two youths--one looking like a teen and the other looking like a pre-teen--hit Salemtown buildings with blue spray paint. Not long afterward, other unidentified gang youths covered some of the blue paint with their own gang symbols in red and black paint. Here's gallery of this year's vandalism:

6th & Garfield

5th & Buchanan (Plumbers of Nashville)

4th & Coffee

North-by-NorthWestin Points

• In-town Will penalizes Scene's Kreyling for over-melodramatizing Lower Broad.
• Westin Investors purported to bail on smaller hotel.
• Still no word from preservationists on Mike Jameson's dilemma (i.e., a hotel is going to be built on the property, given the zoning: either one with no restrictions or the current set-back proposal that includes historic overlay for Lower Broad; either way the hallowed sight-lines to the river will be obstructed; which do you want: more or less obstruction?).
• The last time preservationists won a similar Downtown fight, Downtown was left with a parking lot on Church Street. Is permanent impermeable parking supposed to be a vindication of historic preservation?

In Memory of Kay

Our house is filled with sadness and saturated with spirit after my mother-in-law passed on this past Epiphany morning. Her leaving was imminent but untimely in the daily strides of those of us related to her. We are paused and reeling.

She was one of my most faithful readers and she was persistently supportive of Enclave, even though we rarely agreed on the political issues that I engage. She was generous in her praise of my writing and I tried to reciprocate by posting family pictures regularly, but solely for her benefit, because I knew she stopped by daily. I shy away from sharing my personal life in this impersonal medium full of faceless people willing to take advantage of such dispensations. But posting family pictures was always worth the risk when I knew that it would make her happy to break up my ponderous writing with bright photos of her very own family. I had no other reason.

Now that she is elsewhere, we are finding out that she had a much grander reputation in her small Missouri hometown than she let on, than we bothered to unearth. Her passing was front-page news there. The public library is going to name one of their special collection rooms for her. When I consider all of that in this relatively puny blog, then I think myself lucky to have called her my mother-in-law. But I am merely one lucky soul among a host of fortunate family and friends.

So, I owe her this one last photo of a granddaughter's love and the perpetual wish, "Godspeed, Kay."

News 2 Provides No Balance in Story on Muslim Congressman

Originally published at Free Tennessee:

Despite diverse responses to a decision made by Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison--the first Muslim in Congress--to take his ceremonial oath on Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Qu'ran instead of the Bible, WKRN Faith and Ethics reporter Jamey Tucker runs with a report on local reaction to Ellison that exclusively documents the negative response of one conservative Madison pastor.  Pastor Charles Cowen told Tucker:

America, the United States, being founded on the Christian principles, I believe that we should continue to put our hand on that Bible ....  [Tucker interjects that those like Rev. Cowan see Ellison's oath-swearing as "another example" of Christian principles "eroding away"] If we mix all of this together then somewhere with the persecution that's happening in our country today, where God and Jesus and Christianity's concerned, that that would get pushed totally to the background.

Tucker selected a pastor who clearly leans toward a theocratic view of government, but he never bothered to clarify in the story what Christian principles were being eroded.
Rev. Cowen's church subscribes to the principle of New Testament infallibility.  The Pentecostal Bible School that the pastor graduated from emphasizes its own controversial history of faith healing, speaking in tongues, and what is popularly referred to as the "success gospel" (e.g., the belief that God multiplies blessings on those who give money).  So, it seems that the person at the center of Tucker's interview has himself a rather extreme religious background to which other Christians could object.

As with previous stories, Jamey Tucker's story overloads the picture of local response with one ultra-conservative point of view and without any prevailing alternative.  That leaves the impression that there are no alternative responses to actions that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called "swearing allegiance to a document consistent with [one's] faith."

Faith and Ethics Reporter Did Not Follow Through As Promised

[A]bout the pagan roots of Christian traditions, I have done this story in every market I've worked. I'll get to it here. It's only November.

- - WKRN Faith and Ethics VJ Jamey Tucker (11/2006)

At the risk of being accused of "shooting the messenger" again, I should point out that News 2 reporter Jamey Tucker did not make good on his word to do a story on the pagan roots of Christmas like the one he did on the pagan roots of Halloween. His failure to do so supports my contention that his reporting is not balanced, but promotional in a conservative evangelical manner. I guess gathering all of those celebrities to read the Christmas Eve bible devotional on air ate up the time that would have allowed Tucker to be fair.

Update: Jamey Tucker is getting started early on slanted stories in 2007. In a separate story, the News 2 VJ reported on local response to U.S. Representative and Muslim Keith Ellison's swearing in. The problem is that Tucker only interviewed a lone Pentecostal pastor, as if Pentecostals themselves did not "raise eyebrows" even among other Christians. More details for Free after the jump.

Twelfth Night is On Us and No Christmas Warriors Are Left

I noticed yesterday as I drove past the Courthouse that Metro took down the Public Square Christmas Tree. I would like to take this opportunity to note the total vacuum of criticism on the conservative side of the culture war. Remember how social conservatives pitched a fit that the "word" Christmas was under attack (cue the black helicopters)? Remember their outcry last year when "Christmas" got called "Holy Day" "Holiday"?

Well, where is all of that outcry and kowtowed media attention now that Metro is not observing the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas? This is historically a time of feasting and celebration in an observance older than the habit of putting up an evergreen. Classically, Christmas is not over until Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the Three Wise Men. Yet, where is all of the protest about taking down the tree before Twelfth Night has ended?

The Metro Christmas Tree was nothing more than a de facto "Holiday Tree" because it was taken down before Twelfth Night (and that does not threaten me in the least; the things of Caesar belong to Caesar). But the social conservatives in Nashville who once groaned that we were losing the "reason for the season" because of superficial labels are now silent, which indicates to me that their bluster had more to do with political opportunism, superfluous semantics, and whipping up emotions and less to do with a sincere faith in the Spirit of Christmas.

As for me, my trees and lights and garland will stay up until Epiphany morning breaks this weekend. It just seems the Christian thing to do. Why celebrate the "reason for the season" without seeing the season to its end?

Choose Your Own Nashville Adventure; Unless You Choose Kijiji

In fall 2005, former Nashville Scene writer John Spragens wrote a little piece on a couple of North-by-Northwest neighborhoods, which together he called "Jeffertown." This week Scene editors not only resurrected Spragens's ill-chosen title (which failed to stick with those of us who live here; is anyone else using it?), but they also re-packaged and re-gifted Spragens's lyrics as their Annual Manual 2007 description for our neighborhoods.

Hence, the Scene's understanding of who we are is dated and irrelevant, given the dramatic changes over the past 15 months in the area. It suggests that they have not chosen an adventure themselves here in some time. If they had, they would have found that the Kijiji Coffeehouse has been closed for months and that the owners sold their building on Jeff St. in order to down-size to what they call a "kiosk" format (at the airport and at the GEC). I don't know whether Jeff St./Fisk denizens will still "relax" at that location as the Scene says they do, but if they do, it will be by the "Stillwaters," rather than the "Kijiji."

I assume that the Scene's Annual Manual is a cover for the interruption of the holiday break and that, no matter how cynical it sounds, it is an opportunity just to publish "something, anything" rather than face a dead week. But surely--before they went to press--the Scene editors could have written an up-to-date description of the North End or they could have at least tried to know enough about Kijiji's changes to re-write Spragens' original piece. But if you have the ability to travel back in time for an October 2005 adventure in a place called "Jeffertown," they've got you covered.

Metro Council Ignores White Bridge Neighborhood Association

One of last night's council votes that passed under the mainstream media's radar was on the resolution that would exempt car washes from a previous bill that required certain businesses to get neighborhood approval. The council voted to approve the resolution on 2nd reading after a public hearing. One proponent, a vendor, spoke in favor of the bill; three opponents, including the White Bridge President, spoke against the bill.

Some White Bridge neighborhood leaders interpreted last night's exemption bill to be a means of sneaking previously denied businesses "in the back door." Council Member John Summers charged during the debate that that was exactly what was happening in one of his neighborhoods, which had rejected a car wash proposal. According to Summers that proposal came from the friend of exemption bill co-sponsor, Charlie Tygard.

For his part, Tygard argued that the businesses that could go into these commercial properties could be worse than a car wash (he mentioned over-21 video stores and halfway houses). And he argued that the car washes that were going in were going to be "upscale." He failed completely, along with co-sponsor Diane Neighbors or any other proponent of the bill, to address opponents' concerns about huge increases in traffic congestion. Summers stated during the debate that Metro Traffic and Parking would not commit to do anything to limit traffic overflow from the arterial streets into the neighborhoods.

At-large member Diane Neighbors apparently has her own public relations problems on this issue. Reportedly, she made earlier promises to neighborhood leaders about deferring this bill indefinitely. I have heard from a Nashville Neighborhood Alliance source that once again Diane Neighbors promised to defer this bill during last night's council meeting. However, after the public hearing closed she moved for approval (the bill will need to be voted on a third time at a future meeting in order to become law). Diane Neighbors gave no indication of motivation in her remarks, other than ex-council member and original bill co-sponsor Amanda McClendon never intended for car washes to be included in the original resolution providing for neighborhood support.

In my judgment, the absence of neighborhood leaders beyond the White Bridge Association allowed bill proponents to minimize and to marginalize the opponents of the bill. The council has shown itself to patronize business leaders at the expense of neighborhood associations. Yet, how many neighborhoods would welcome the congestion that car washes bring if they are given a choice? They had a choice--and probably their last opportunity--last night, and either the political will in the public is lacking or the larger inter-neighborhood alliances failed to mobilize their affiliates.

Craddock Clamps Down on Itinerants

No one would ever accuse Metro Councilman Michael Craddock of having a big heart, like Mayberry's Sheriff Taylor, and looking after the small corner merchant who, in the words of fictional big-box retailer Ben Weaver, "Doesn't have a proper structure." Bruce Barry has the details on Craddock's crusade at last night's council meeting. Is Craddock supposed to be modeling the conservative ideal of a free market?

The Conservative Kiss of Death

If mayoral candidate Bob Clement is really angling against partisan, petty politics, as he told the City Paper, then associating with Davidson County Republican Party Chair Jon Crisp will fail him. We've seen Jon Crisp's "non-partisanship" in action during a council episode I affectionately refer to as "The Kay Brooks Fiasco."

Clement obviously tried to distance himself from such in his statement to the NCP, but even having Crisp's name mentioned with his campaign can be corrosive.

"Prime Piece of Metro Real Estate"

The Tennessean has the story this morning on the re-opening of Jones Paideia School (corner of 9th and Buchanan) on Monday. Salemtown Neighbors and Historic Germantown joined forces with the Jones PTO to help save the school in late 2005 after the School Board toyed with the idea of closing the important neighborhood center to save money. The Jones campus also has a terrific playground that neighborhood children can use. I've taken our toddler there several times. This is a happy ending to a new beginning for the North End.

Metro Council Passes Amended Westin Resolution on Second Reading

Council member Mike Jameson's amended bill making way for a 19-story Westin hotel on Lower Broadway passed on second reading at tonight's meeting.

The Exurban Democratic Class of the 110th

Molly Ivins made fun last month of conservative claims of victory in the last congressional election because of their theory that so many of the new Democratic class are conservative (she ends by asking conservative commentators to explain how the next Republican win will likewise be a victory for liberalism).

Ezra Klein over at The American Prospect Blog makes a comparative observation that undermines those claims of victory:

Pre-1994, Democrats had a powerful, large, and very senior block of conservative Southerners [in Congress] who not only controlled votes, but headed committees and wielded seniority. And they were a sight more conservative than this year's crop of [Democratic] suburban freshmen. Indeed, the decline of a serious Southern bloc among House Democrats should open the path to much more progressive legislation than was ever possible when the Dixiecrats needed to be continually placated. While indeed true that some -- and some is a key qualifier there -- of the frosh are a bit to the right of, say, [John] Dingell, they're not to his right by much, and they're not going to exercise the sort of hammerlock on the party's progressive wing that the Dixiecrats once did.

That's more than a slight wrench in the conservative spin of their losses in Congress last November.

North End New Years Sparkle

Scenes from the New Years Eve Street Party in Germantown

We grabbed a bottle of champagne last night and joined our neighbors in Germantown for New Years Eve street revels, which included fire works and the dropping of a dirigible (instead of a ball) from the top of the Mad Platter. The airship, named "Hindenburg," was set on fire by the pyrotechnic people atop a ladder as it descended to the street (that's historically accurate, right?). The pyrotechnic people probably should have practiced the torching, because it was after midnight and well after revelers shouted "Oh, the humanity!" for the 628th time that the blimp finally caught fire and crashed into 6th Av.