Shawn Joseph ends journey dotted with legal, ethical issues

The narrative of the left and the majority of Black activist will be that Shawn Joseph was driven from office because Nashville is racist and Joseph is Black. Don't believe it. Joseph was ethically challenged, did not follow the law and mismanaged Metro Schools and the number of failing Metro Schools increased on his watch. Please read the following: Shawn Joseph ends journey dotted with legal, ethical issues.

Top Stories

Today was not Will Pinkstons last day. Rescinds resignation to a future uncertain date.

The Tennessean: MNPS board member Will Pinkston revises resignation date.

Top Stories

Metro hopes to cash in, seeks private company to operate and enforce street parking

While there are concerns that areas that now have free parking will switch to metered parking, probably they ought to.  As Nashville continues to grow, things are going to change.  Parking spaces have become more valuable. The price of parking should reflect the value of a parking space.  I don't want to pay more to park but realize it is reasonable to do so.

Also, face it; $11 is a cheep price for letting a meter expire; $25 seems like a more reasonable price.  For $11, one may not be too concerned about keeping the meter fed;  a fine of $25 will make one conscious about feeding the meter. I don't like the idea of ending free parking after 6pm and ending free Sunday parking, but Nashville is no longer a sleepy little city and there is no longer an abundance of parking at any time. Metered parking till 10PM also seems reasonable.

Putting in metered parking in places like Green Hills, Five Points, and 12Th Avenue South, may exacerbate the problem of people parking on side streets and taking on-street parking used by residents. There are details that need to be examined. However, the decision of where to put meters is not now a decision in the hands of local residents or the Metro Council.  The decision of where to put meters was already a power exercised by the Traffic and Parking Commission.

With the proposed deal, the city will get $17 million for each of the next two years and then a percentage of parking revenue thereafter. With the city broke, that sounds like a good deal to me. I would rather the city raise fees for services rather than raise taxes. While there may be details that need to be examined, I approve of the concept of privatizing metro's parking.

I am sure some will ask, why not do it ourselves?  Why have an outside firm? Often private companies can provide government services more efficiently than government.  Private firms do not create pension and retiree healthcare obligations for one thing. Also, it is hard to dismiss a public employee if fails to perform.  If done right, contracting for services is often a better deal than expanding government.

Top Stories

Swain tops $100K as Clemmons lags behind. Briley leads in fundraising.

See Nashville Post link.

Top Stories

An idea of biological sex

by Rod Williams- Sometimes I see or read things that just strike me as so ridiculous, that I am almost at a loss of words to comment, but I'll try. If there is not much to say about it, I at least want to point out how the "woke" are thinking. The woke and the rest of us live in two different worlds. We don't even speak the same language.

There is a bill advancing in the State legislation that would require the state attorney general to defend school districts' policies on bathroom use based on biological sex. Chris Sander, executive director of Tennessee Equality Project said of the bill:

This bill is still anchored in an idea of biological sex, which is a way of talking in code against trans people. The whole bill, with all its amendments, is still detrimental to the trans community.

Think about "an idea of biological sex."  Is biological sex  just an idea? I don't think so.  I don't think biological sex is just a social construct. I think it is a reality. I don't think biological sex is so fluid, that one gets to choose which sex you are. 

I know there is the rare case of someone who has differences in their sex chromosomes that can make the person not clearly fit into the category of “male” or “female.” There is also the rare intersex person whose bodies don’t fit typical definitions of male and female. That there are these rarities does not make biological sex just "an idea." While there is the rare anomaly, in general if you have a penis you are male and a vaginal makes you female.  If one has the wrong equipment to fit their identity they suffer from gender dysphoria and need help.  Among many today however, this is considered a bigoted and ignorant position.  They view these people as not in need of help but of simply needing acceptance. Some really "woke" parents are not even raising their infants as male or female and waiting until the infant becomes a talking child to inform the parent if it is male or female. 

I shake my head in disbelief.

Top Stories

Most rent is affordable for most people in Nashville. In fact, for the median income household in Nashville, rent is a bargain.

While there are people in Nashville who are "house-cost-burdened," most people are not. Most rent is affordable for most people in Nashville. In fact, for the median income household in Nashville, rent is a bargain.

• The actual median household income in Nashville is $54,549. To rent a median-priced 2-bedroom in Nashville, one will need an annual income of 45,240 to avoid becoming cost-burdened.

This means that if there is a couple, where one member earns $12 an hour or $24,960 a year, and the other member of the couple ears $9.75 an hour or $20,280 a year, they can afford the median-priced rental unit. Not everyone, of course can afford the median-priced unit; some can afford less and some can afford more. 

Of the 50 cities with the highest median-priced rents, Nashville comes in at number 49. There are cities where the median income household cannot afford thee median priced rental unit. Nashville is not one of them.  Here are some example where the median household can not afford the median priced rent and the income gap to afford it.

While we hear a lot about the problem of housing affordability in Nashville, we are better off than most of the country.  It is good to have a little perspective. Nashville should be doing things to make housing more affordable for the poor.  One thing Nashville should do is abandon policies that destroys affordable housing and policies that drive up prices and be more accommodating to developers who want to build affordable housing.

For more data, follow this link.


 

Top Stories

How the School Board members voted on the Shawn Joseph buyout.

by Rod Williams - The deal to get rid of Joseph will pay him his normal salary through July 31st which comes to $261,250, plus he will be paid for accumulated vacation time and potentially sick time. In addition Metro Schools will pay  $10,000 in legal fees to defend Joseph against a one-year suspension of his license by the Tennessee State Board of Education.

This is so wrong! Instead of defending him against the suspension of his license, we should be supporting the State in urging the revocation of his license. Most people who don't perform their job get fired and only get paid through the end of the day, not giving a bonus that may total $350,000 to leave. 

Those voting for this deal were Sharon Gentry, Rachael Anne Elrod, Christiane Buggs, Will Pinkston, and Gini Pupo-Walker.

Voting against  the deal were Jill Speering, Amy Frogge, and Fran Bush. Anna Shepherd was out sick.

Top Stories

Sumner County Reagan Day Dinner

When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 06:00 PM
Where: Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club in Hendersonville, TN

Speaker: Governor Bill Lee

View event

Top Stories

Congressman Roe Offers Amendment to Ensure Access to Affordable Health Coverage Options

Rep. Phil Roe

WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after offering an amendment during an Education and Labor Committee markup on H.R. 1010, which seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s “Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance” (STLDI) rule:

“Instead of working on a bipartisan basis to improve health care, today we considered legislation that will take essential health benefit options away from patients and make it more likely – not less likely – that patients choose to go without health insurance. I offered a simple amendment that would have gone in the opposite direction by codifying the current definition of STLDI plans and allowed for guaranteed renewability. This insures patients get to pick what essential health benefits they need, not the government.

“While my Democrat colleagues were pontificating and calling STLDI plans ‘junk,’ they refused to acknowledge that President Obama’s eleventh-hour change to the definition limiting these plans to a three-month duration instead of 12 months upended over 20 years of regulations in place since the Clinton administration – and in effect for the entire Obama administration. We need to be working together to increase affordable coverage options rather than eliminating them through one-size-fits-all government mandates.”

Top Stories

Shawn Joseph out with a golden parachute

The Tennessean: Nashville school board reaches exit deal with Shawn Joseph, bringing his tenure to an end

News Channel 5: Metro Nashville Public School board votes to buyout Dr. Shawn Joseph's contract

Top Stories

The Damaging Effects of a $15 Minimum Wage

Congressman Phil Roe

by Congressman Phil Roe - All Americans deserve to be compensated fairly for the work they do. Having previously helped to manage a business for over 30 years, I know from firsthand experience nothing makes you feel better than knowing an employee will be able to live comfortably and retire with peace of mind about their financial security.

Washington needs to get out of the way, keep taxes low, reduce unnecessary regulations, and pave the way for economic growth and job creation. That’s why I was proud to support the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which resulted in 3.1 percent GDP growth in 2018. It seems like common sense to me to keep this going. Instead, House Democrats have a radical proposal to more than double the minimum wage to $15 per hour as part of their bill, H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, which I voted against when it was considered in the House Education and Labor Committee.

According to an analysis of the bill, this raise will cost two million jobs and will hit the oldest, youngest, and lowest-skilled employees the hardest. The worst aspect of this legislation is that it treats small towns and rural areas as if they have the same labor markets and cost of living as large metropolitan urban areas. Some estimates indicate the cost-of-living in Washington, D.C. is 96.1 percent higher than Johnson City, Tennessee. Even within the state of Tennessee, the median home cost in Nashville is 189.4 percent higher than Newport. Cities and towns across America are different – different jobs, opportunities and costs-of-living – which is why a national $15 per hour minimum wage is so harmful.

People are now optimistic about our country’s financial future thanks to the economic growth rate and record low unemployment over the past two years. This legislation could undo this progress. In Tennessee, it is estimated that raising the wage to $15 an hour will cost 66,313 jobs. Even in a large city like Seattle, a study concluded that a locally implemented minimum wage of $13 an hour – $2 shy of what the Democrats proposed – caused reduced hours in low-income jobs. These proposals all too often hurt the very individuals the bill’s supporters claim they would help.

Small businesses are the true backbone of rural America. That’s why I believe we need to carefully consider the impacts of such a sweeping bill before allowing it to go into effect. When the House Education and Labor Committee held a markup on H.R. 582, I offered an amendment that would delay implementation until the Government Accountability Office – Congress’ nonpartisan investigative arm – conducts a study to determine the effects this bill would have on rural areas like East Tennessee. If more than 200,000 jobs would be lost because of H.R. 582, its implementation would be halted. While most East Tennesseans think it’s common sense to stop job-destroying legislation, committee Democrats defeated my amendment.

Instead of rushing legislation through the House that will do nothing but limit opportunity, we should work toward implementing policies that provide tools for all people to seek jobs with higher wages. In Morristown, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology provides students with an education that hosts a 75 percent student completion rate, 99 percent licensure rate for programs that require licensure and 97 percent rate of success in employing students in their field of study. Most impressively, students graduate with no student loan debt. In addition, in 2020, the University of Tennessee will be providing free tuition to Tennessee residents that come from a low-income household, encouraging more individuals to better their future through education. These students are getting the skills they need at our state to get jobs that pay much higher than the minimum wage.

Tennessee has worked hard as a state to help provide opportunities for its residents to attain the education and training needed to excel in higher paying jobs. Simply put, arbitrarily increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour does nothing but inhibit job growth for both employers and employees. Instead, we should be working on legislation that promotes economic opportunity for all Americans.

Phil Roe represents the First Congressional District of Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is physician and co-chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus and a member of the Health Caucus. Prior to serving in Congress, he served as the Mayor of Johnson City, Tennessee.

Top Stories

Stop the Divisive "Cultural Competency" Programs in TN School Systems.Sign the petition.

If you are concerned about schools in Tennessee using teacher in-service training to promote "white privilege" training and a leftist political agenda please sign this petition. This petition originated with the Williamson County Republican Party. Sign Our Letter Today

Top Stories

Williamson County Republican Party Reorganization Elections and Convention

Calling all Republicans

WCRP Reorganization Elections and Convention

Saturday, April 13

Registration 8:30AM-9:30AM

Welcome Coffee & Biscuits

Convention Begins 9:30

(No admission after convention begins)

New Location, Martin Fifty Forward Senior Center

960 Heritage Way, Brentwood, TN 37027



Avoid Check-in line & Register in Advance

(more time for an extra biscuit)

To participate in the Convention you need to be a Williamson County resident and bring valid picture ID with your current address. You also need to have voted in three of the last four State Republican primaries or provide documentation that you are a bona fide Republican by an officer of the Tennessee Republican Party, a member of the State Executive Committee or a member of the WCRP Executive Committee.

Top Stories

DCRP and Nashville YRs Joint Happy Hour!

Tuesday, April 9th from 5:30 - 7pm

Crows Nest, 2221 Bandywood Drive, Nashville

Join the Davidson County GOP and the Nashville Young Republicans for a joint April social at the Crows Nest in Green Hills.  DCRP and YR leaders Melissa Smithson and Judd Cowan will give a brief update on our plans for the year from each organization's perspective.  

With a number of Metro Council races and a mayoral contest, this is a busy election year for Nashville!  Come socialize with fellow like-minded conservatives, learn more about our plans for 2019 and how you can get involved. Event is dutch treat.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Top Stories

Who has picked up qualifying petitions to run for mayor, at-large and district council seats as of 4/5/2019

by Rod Williams - Below is the list of those who have picked up qualifying petitions to run for the office of mayor, vice mayor, at-large and district council seats as of Friday, April 5th.  Circled are the names of those I would vote for if these were the only choices and the elections were today and I could vote in that contest.  We know that these will not be the only choices so my selections are very preliminary.  I may be changing my mind, depending on who else gets in the race. Some choices I have not made because I do anticipate someone else to get in the race who I know I would prefer. Some incumbents who have said they are running have not yet picked up a qualifying petition as of Friday. There are some other challengers I know about who have not yet picked up qualifying petitions.  The list of those who have picked up qualifying petitions is updated every Friday by the election commission. You can access that list at this link.

One may pick up a qualifying petition up until the deadline for turning in qualifying petitions which is noon May 3rd.  I expect this list to get much longer by then. Once a qualifying petition is submitted and the petition is approved, then a candidate may withdraw his name up until noon May 23rd. In that case the name would not appear on the ballot. If a candidate decides not to seek the office after the May 23rd deadline, the candidate's name would still appear on the ballot.

Early voting will began July 12, election day is August 1, and if a runoff is necessary it will be September 12th.

At this time in the race for council at large,  I plan on voting Steve Glover, only.  One may vote for up to five candidates but to do so weakens the influence of your vote. You may think of it like this; voting for only one candidate is almost the equivalent of casting five votes for that candidate. I hate to see John Cooper not get elected, however. In my view he is the best of the current crop of existing at-large council members. He is fiscally responsible and sensible and knowledgeable.  I may change my mind before the election and vote for only Cooper instead of only Glover or may vote for both. There are a variety of factors that would influence that.

I wish John Cooper instead of running for reelection as a councilman at-large was running for mayor. For a long time it was thought that he would but then he announced he would not and would instead seek reelection to the Council.  I wish he would change his mind and run for mayor.  I know he is a Democrat and brother of our congressman, Jim Cooper, but he is fiscally conservative.  Nashville, is on a trajectory to have a financial crisis if we do not adjust course. If John Cooper was mayor, I think he would govern responsibly.

Given the current field, I will be voting for Carol Swain for mayor.  However, I think it is going to be an up hill climb for her to win.  Unfortunately, Swain is too closely identified as a Republican. I think Nashville could vote for a moderate Republican who has not had out-spoken views on social issues. Unfortunately, Carol Swain has a record. She is an author and a pundit. Her views will be misinterpreted. Her record as an opinionated scholar will be an  unfortunate hurdle to overcome to be elected mayor in a liberal city like Nashville. Nevertheless, at this time, she is the only reasonable alternative to more of the same.

Please look over this list.  It is not too late to run. Sometimes, on rare occasions, people waltz right in to office without opposition.  If you are thinking about running, it does not hurt and it doesn't cost anything to pick up a qualifying petition. If you then find someone else who you could support is running or someone else is too formidable for you to beat is running, you could simply not turn in the petition.

As to why some names are on the list but the line with their name says, "Petition has not been issued," I don't know. I will find out. 

 

Top Stories