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A right-leaning disgruntled Republican comments on the news of the day and any other thing he damn-well pleases.
Friday, August 28, 2015 at 1:00 PM - Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 11:30
This is not the meeting of the Nashville Chapter of Republican Assemblies, this is the National Convention. This is a big deal. If you have never heard of the Republican Assemblies, this is how they describe themselves:
The National Federation of Republican Assemblies is a grassroots movement to take back the Republican Party for the vast and disenfranchised majority of its members: Reagan conservatives, who believe in small government, lower taxes, free market capitalism, a strong defense, the right to life, and a decent America.Here are event details:
In short, we are the Republican Wing of the Republican Party.
Feb 22 thru Apr 15 | $227.00 |
Apr 16 thru July 4 | $247.00 |
July 5 thru Aug 18 | $297.00 |
Aug 19 thru day of event | $350.00 |
While Bill Freeman has spend the most money and spend more of his own money than any other candidate, other candidates have spend heavily also. For the Tennessean's analysis of campaign spending in the mayor's race follow this link.
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Diane Black |
In light of the undercover videos showing its employees discussing the harvesting of fetal organs, Congressman Black introduced The Defund Planned Parenthood Act – legislation placing an immediate moratorium on all federal funding of Planned Parenthood for one year while Congress conducts a full investigation.The Monday, August 3rd version of 1ST TUESDAY will be a powerful lunch you simply DO NOT WANT to miss!
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Braden H. Boucek |
There was a special council meeting on Tuesday July 28th to deal with the extraordinary large number of pending items on public hearing. When the current Council term ends, any pending rezoning items will have to start all over so that has led to a large number of rezoning request. The only items on the July 28th agenda were items on public hearing. To view the agenda, follow this link. There was no staff analysis accompanying this agenda or if there was it was not publicly posted. There were no zoning text changes or items of general interest so I have not even bothered to watch this council meeting. This is probably more boring than watching paint dry unless one of the proposed rezonings is next door to you. Anyway, here is the video of the meeting:
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Kathleen Starnes |
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David Fox |
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Rick Williams |
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Randy Reed, "bad cop" |
On December 5, 2005 James Denham had picked up a prostitute, smoked crack, and then attempted two robberies before leading Metro Nashville officers on a car chase that ended at the Demonbreun Street Bridge. Metro Police Sergeant William Randy Reed straddled Denham and crouched over him to apply handcuffs. Just then, the officer's gun shot and discharged accidentally. A single bullet shot off Denham's thumb and then entered his back. Denham died of his injuries and his 12-year-old daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. Nashville Metro has agreed to pay $100,000 to Denham's daughter. (link)After putting Reed on a desk job for a while, he was fired.
On Feb. 1, 1973, Reed answered a call on Crenshaw Street in Nashville, a short, dark alley near Lafayette Street, moments after Cedric Overton, 21, was shot four times by a rookie Metro officer. The rookie officer said Overton had moved suddenly with a metal object in his hand. But when officers searched the man, they found that Overton was unarmed, police said at the time.
Reed, after searching the area, claimed to have found the knife near Overton's body, possibly under pressure from a sergeant, according to published reports.
This should never be acceptable! It is amazing that a police officer can plant a knife on the scene, framing a dead man, have the department conclude he did it and still only get a 30-day suspension! I hope that would not be the outcome if such was to happen today. Planting evidence should be "one strike and your out." There should be no second chance. A 30-day suspension should be for padding your time sheet or unlawfully using a police vehicle for personal errands or missing roll call too many times. Officers found guilty of planting evidence at the scene of a crime should not only lose their job, they should go to prison! This should be a deadly serious matter. With "justice" like this, one can understand the distrust of the police by many in the Black community and the militancy of many Blacks. One can understand the "Black lives matter" mantra.An internal review by Metro police officials determined that the knife was planted. Reed was suspended for 30 days under a provision of department policy that includes dishonesty, immoral conduct and insubordination, department records indicate. The officer who shot Overton was fired, and a sergeant retired within days of the incident.
From the Tennessean, July 26:
But a new poll — one funded by an outside special interest group, not a mayoral campaign — says it's now a three-way statistical tie for first. And Freeman, the poll says, is no shoo-in to make a run-off.David Fox has ran a masterful campaign and followed his plan. Early on when Fox was at about 6% in the polls, near the bottom of the pack, he held back. His plan all along was to wait until the public started paying attention and then launch his ad campaign. It worked. He held back until June then started his ad campaign and has steady climbed in the polls. That took discipline.
A poll obtained by The Tennessean that was funded by the Tennessee Laborers PAC, which hasn't endorsed in the mayor's race but leans to the left, has Megan Barry in first with 20 percent of support from likely voters, followed by David Fox at 19 percent and Freeman at 18 percent. That puts the three in a statistical dead heat for the top spot. (link)
At 4 hours and 40 minutes long this is a long meeting. Most of it is hearings on zoning matters and I have just skimmed those quickly. To watch the meeting at a faster speed but if not offered that option, follow this link and click HTML5. That should then give you that option. I can usually watch it at double speed and not lose much content. One thing that makes this a long meeting is that the voting machine is not working and all roll call votes have to be taken by a show of hands.
To find a link to the agenda, the council staff analysis and my analysis and commentary follow this link.
Here are the items on public hearing of interest:
BILL NO. BL2015-1153 on amends the metro zoning code to provide for more alternative zoning districts.
The purpose of this is so that neighborhoods can be rezoned to allow a
more pedestrian friendly environment and a more urban feel without
requiring a SP zoning overlay. Some of the new zoning districts address
things such as smaller lots, alley access, and setbacks.It passes. No one speaks on it.
BILL NO. BL2015-1209 on public hearing which would rezone 525 acres from in North Nashville from AR2a and R10 to SP zoning to SP to permit a mixed use development is withdrawn at the request of the sponsor because the area has not undergone a Master Plan process for the Bordeaux Redevelopment District.
BILL NO. BL2015-1210 on public hearing amends the Metro zoning code to create “natural gas compressor station” as a new use to be permitted in the industrial zoning districts. That would mean they would be permitted only in industrial zoned districts. The impetus for this is to stop a proposed gas compression station planned in Joelton. There are a whole lot of people in support and a few in opposition. Those in opposition are people associated with the gas line project. State Rep Brenda Gilmore speaks in support and their are about 40 people wearing yellow tee shirts with the slogan "no pipeline compressor" in the audience and several speak in support. Without this bill the pipeline companies could build gas compression stations wherever they thought they were needed, subject to getting a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). However, the staff analysis says that Federal law prohibits local governments from regulating natural gas facilities through zoning so even if passed the courts would likely rule it not enforceable. See the public hearing see time stamp at time stamp 1:36:07 where Ken Jakes, citizen activist and candidate for Councilman at-large, speaks in favor. It passes second reading on a voice vote. For the full discussion see time stamp 52:21- 1:59:34.
BILL NO. BL2015-1273 creates the Bordeaux Redevelopment Plan
which would cover an area of 525 acres and would allow Tax Increment
financing to be available in the area covered by this plan. Under TIF
the increased property tax revenue generated by a development
is used to pay the debt service on loans for the construction
of improvements related to the project. Redevelopment plans must be
approved by the council under state law for the purpose of redeveloping
blighted areas. It passes.
BILL NO. BL2015-1274 approves the Cayce Place Redevelopment Plan.
Casey Homes is one of the cities oldest and worst public housing
projects, just off of Shelby Avenue. This plan would demolish that
housing and replace it with a mixed income housing development. As
explained above, this would make TIF available for this development. It passes.
BILL NO. BL2015-1167 by Councilman Scott Davis changes from SP to RS5 zoning on about 238 acres. “Specific Plan District,” generally known as “SP,” zoning
refers to a
type of base zoning district which is not subject
to traditional zoning districts’ development standards. Under an SP
zoning, design standards are established for that specific development
and are written into the zone change ordinance. RS5 is a medium
density residential zone requiring a minimum 5,000 square foot lot and
intended for single-family dwellings, prohibiting duplexes. This is deferred to the August 4th meeting.
BILL NO. BL2015-1168 on public hearing also by Councilman Scott Davis effects about 636 acres and would change the current zoning by making applicable the provisions of the DADU overlay.
DADU allows for accessory dwelling units, such as garage apartments, on
a property and provides a way to create affordable housing options
while
also maintaining the character of the existing street-facing homes. It is also deferred to the August 4th meeting.
Resolutions on the consent agenda pass. Included are these:
Councilman Tygard moves to amend the bill to establish a committee of stakeholders such as the Chamber of Commence and lenders and developers to work with the consultants over the next 180 days to help craft the proposal that will come back to the Council. Anthony Davis and Ronnie Stein speak against the amendment. The amendment fails on a roll call vote! Back on original bill Emily Evans urges caution on this bill and says it could have unintended consequences. Claiborne moves to defer one meeting. That motion fails on a roll call, then Councilman Clairborne attempts to suspend the rules to move to amend out the 14% set aside mandate in the bill. The effort to suspend the rules fails. The bill is then passed on a roll call vote.
Council members Phil Claiborne, Robert Duvall, Tony Tenpenny and Charlie Tygard were the lone "no" votes. I am disgusted that those council member who claim to be conservatives voted for this bill. To see the discussion see time stamp 3:49:32- 4:18:25.Here is The Tennessean's report on the meeting: Metro Council approves affordable housing bill.
I honestly don't know. I have resisted the urge to run with a story on this blog unless I could substantiate it. After about eight years of blogging, only once I have I reported something as factual and then had to retract it. In this post I am simply reporting a rumor. This is a "word on the street" report and I do not know if it is true or not. I have heard this rumor from three different sources and the sources told me where they heard it. It sounds believable. The rumor is that Bill Freeman has flown several local Black ministers to Washington for a meet and greet with President Obama.
As one of the nation's leading raiser of funds for President Obama, I do not doubt that Freeman could call in such a favor. As a person who has shown he will spend whatever it takes and do whatever it takes to get elected, I do not think it beyond something Bill Freeman would do. On the other hand, I think if it was true some of the Black ministers could not have resisted posting a selfie or bragging about their meeting with Obama on Facebook, so I don't know if it is true or not.
If I had the time and a staff, I would try to track down this rumor and determine if it is true. I don't so I am simply reporting what is being rumored. If anyone can refute or confirm this rumor please post a reply or contact me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com. I urge The Tennessean or some other news organization with resource to investigate this.
by Wood Caldwell, For The Tennessean, July 20, 2015 - Metro Council may pass an ordinance Tuesday evening that will make Nashville’s current affordable housing situation worse.Since The Tenneseean's content is now hidden behind a paywall and you may not be able to access this article I will summarize it. Here are the main points:
The ordinance — # BL2015-1139 — would mandate that 14 percent of the units in all new or renovated residential real estate in Nashville/Davidson County be set aside as “Affordable Housing” or “Workforce Housing,” which means they must be rented or sold at below-market rates.
While it may sound like an attractive idea to simply mandate that Nashville’s affordable housing issues disappear by councilmatic decree, the reality is anything but attractive.(link)
The most important item on the agenda is the bill to advance rent control and home price control. Last Council meeting it passed on Second reading by a vote of 27 in favor and ll opposed. Disappointingly, several of the "yes" votes were people who I normally think of as conservative, people like Larry Hager and Josh Stites. I hope those "good" councilmen, have seen the light and will vote against the bill this time. This is one of the worst bills, one of the most liberal bills, ever advanced in the Council. I have had one member tell me he voted for it because it only authorized a study. That is not correct. The bill tells the Planning Commission what should be in the bill they bring back to the Council. Another council member said he was going to vote for it because it was simply "feel good" legislation and the State legislature would never permit such a bill to become law. I don't know that that is true and in any event we should not pass a bad bill in hopes that the state legislature prohibits it from being enacted.
If you don't know what the Metro Council is voting on and you watch a
council meeting, you will find it really, really boring. If you have
your own copy of the Council agenda and staff analysis I am not saying the meeting will exactly be exciting but it will be less boring. To get your own copies, follow the highlighted links.
There are six appointees to Boards and Commissions on the agenda
for Council confirmation. This a pro forma exercise as the council seldom takes
it's confirmation duties seriously and rubber stamps whomever the Mayor
appoints rather than using the confirmation of mayoral appointees as an opportunity to influence policy.
There is one resolution and 36 bills on public hearing. Most bills on pubic
hearing are zoning bill and would usually concern no one but nearby
neighbors. I make no attempt to learn the pros and cons of every
rezoning proposal. However, occasionally there is a bill on public
hearing that is so controversial as to merit attention, has wider impact
than just the effected property, or changes the text to the code so
that I do pay attention. These are the bills on public hearing that I
find interesting:
Here is how they voted when the bill was on 2nd reading:
Those voting in favor were: Megan Barry, Ronnie Steine, Tim Garrett, Maynard, Matthews, Harrison, Hunt, Banks, Scott Davis, Westerholm, Anthony Davis, Bill Pridemore, Doug Pardue, Larry Hagar, Josh Stites, Stanley, Moore, Allen, Gilmore, Holleman, McGuire, Harmon, Johnson, Potts, Bedne, Dowell, Carter Todd (27)
Those who voted against were: Charlie Tygard, Karen Bennett, Phil Claiborne, Tony Tenpenny, Baker, Sheri Weiner, Emily Evans, Davette Blalock, Duane Dominy, Robert Duvall, Bo Mitchell (11).