Attention Tourist: Free "Occupy" Camping in Downtown Nashville. Important update

Attention Tourist

Free Camping in Downtown Nashville

Have you wanted to visit Music City but been short of cash. There is a lot of cheap or free stuff to do in Nashville.

The biggest expense of a Nashville vacation is lodging. 

The Priceline price of a night in the Courtyard by Marriot or the Downtown Hilton is $169 a night! With sales tax and the Hotel-motel tax totaling 17.25% plus $2.50 per room per night additional tax, the real cost of lodging is over $200 a night!

You could stay at a Motel 6 or other cheap motel about 30 miles from downtown, but by the time you add the taxes, you will still be spending $50 a night. And, who wants to be miles out of town?

Governor Bill Haslam

Now, for a limited time only 

Camp free in downtown Nashville

The Governor has stated that he will not evict campers from this  prime public downtown space . Consider this a personal invitation from the Governor to come camp out in Nashville. 

Free: yes absolutely free! No hotel-motel tax, no camping fee, no liability insurance required.

 

Beautiful site: The camp site is the War Memorial Plaza in the shadow of Nashville's beautiful State Capital building, adjacent to the War Memorial Building, across the street from the Tennessee Museum and the Performing arts center. Be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the bubbling Plaza fountains.

Great Location: This camping site has the same advantages of the downtown hotels. Three blocks from Nashville's famed "lower Broadway." Visit the honkytonks of Nashville and walk back to your lodging site. No driving. Avoid the risk of a DWI. Also close to art galleries, restaurants, museums and historical sites.



Free Entertainment: There is free entertainment nightly on the Plaza. Occupy Nashville will be providing musical entertainment. This being Nashville, even our Occupy has talented musicians. In the absents of other musicians, there is always drumming. Also, storytelling, poetry and chanting.

Mild Temperatures: It is not cold yet! Tonight the temperature will only drop to 59 degrees, tomorrow the low is only 62. Mild temperatures usually prevail until late December.

Free Food: The Occupy group is offering free food and coffee. You may want to take at least part of your meals complements of Occupy.

Important update: Free Electrical Hook-up! I don't know why the State is giving away free electricity to campers on the Plaza but they are as revealed in this article.

Don't put it off, 

we do not know how much longer before the public demands and end to this policy of free camping on the War Memorial Plaza.

Options:  If you prefer camping on grass instead of marble, you may try camping in the nearby beautiful Bicentennial Mall with it's beautiful monuments, fountains, flowers, grass and trees. This park has not been officially designated as a place for free camping like the Plaza, but the same logic should apply. Also, you can drive right up to the camping areas and have your car nearby for out-of-the-trunk camping or you could park a pop-up camper or RV. To insure you are left alone and that you get the same free camping rights as the Plaza campers, just put a sign on your tent, pop-up, or RV that reads, "we are part of the 99%."

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Approve Volunteer Cab. Let the Market Determine the Need for Taxi Service.

by Rod Williams

Here in Nashville, a group of 61 cab drivers wish to form their own cab company.The cab drivers are all Ethiopian, all of them legal immigrants, some of them already American citizens and others in the process of becoming citizens. They are currently driving cabs for other companies.

Here is the way the taxicab system works in Nashville: A cab driver owns his own cab, he pays for his own fuel, maintenance and insurance. However he does not own the permit to operate a cab and must pay a weekly fee, called a "lick," of  $150 to $200 to the company that owns the permit.

The Ethiopian cab drivers have applied to Metro Government for the right to form a new company called Volunteer Cab. So far, they have been denied and a vote has been deferred until December 20. Existing cab companies are auguring against the entry of this new company into the market saying the market is saturated and the applicants can not show a need for a more cabs. Others are arguing that it is often hard to get a cab in Nashville and that there is a need for more cab service.

It is an outrage that Metro Government is denying this new company the right to form.  The whole taxi regulation system that views its function as protected existing cab owners rather than protecting the public needs to be repealed. We need to have an unlimited number of taxicabs and let the market determine the cab fare and the number of cabs.

I am not opposed to all regulations of taxi cabs or limousines. Tourist need to be assured that if they get into a cap that it is driven by a licensed driver, that the cab is carrying insurance, the vehicle is road-worthy and they are not likely to ripped off. Regulation should be for the benefit of the consumer, not protectionism for the provider. If we need for the government to set the taxi fare, the rate should be the maximum not the minimum. We need to rethink regulation of transportation. Nashville does not have to follow the model of other cities, we could become a leader in free-market transportation.

Congratulation Councilwoman Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson

Congratulation go to Councilwoman Karen Johnson, who has argued before the Taxi Licensing Commission on behalf of the drivers wishing to form the new taxi company. She has argued in favor of free enterprise and against a limit on the number of taxicabs. She has told the licensing board that free enterprise is the American way and that they should not limit the number of cabs. She told them, "The more the better." Perhaps Karen Johnson will emerge as the champion of free enterprise in the Metro Council.

To read the Tennessean article on this issue, click here.

To read how Metro tries to drive out of business economy limousine service in order to protect expensive limousine service, click here.

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Re: Occupy Nashville, Shut 'er Down!

by Rod Williams

Los Angels Mayor Villaraigosa has ordered the shutdown of Occupy LA effective 12:01 Monday morning, saying the city can no longer "maintain the public safety of long-term encampment."

It is about damn time cities started ending their occupation. Prohibiting people from camping in areas not designated for camping is not violating anyone's right of free speech. In Nashville, should tourist have the right to camp in Centennial Park or Riverfront Park? What if the Occupy Nashville decided to move from the Plaza to the actual grounds of the Capitol?  What if they decide to build more permanent structures for a long-term occupy or park campers on the grounds?  Is that protected speech?  To prohibit overnight camping is not violating anyone's first amendment rights no more than is prohibiting people from blocking streets.

Governor Haslam caved too easily after his first attempt to shut them down. I am beginning to lose confidence in Haslam's leadership abilities.  He is looking like a weakling. We the real 99%, not the loony left occupiers, need to reclaim our public spaces.

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I am Thankful for the 1%

I am Thankful for the 1%, and I wish I was one of them.

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Outraged yet? More Millions in the Pipeline to the Predators!

by Rod Williams


Watch the above news clip from Channel 5 to see more on the story of how the Predators are shamelessly ripping off the city. 

Excerpts from the clip:

"I had a client and so I don't know what they knew or didn't know. I would be surprised if they didn't know," he said.

In fact, we discovered that the Predators got the extra tax money after language was inserted into two different tax bills pushed by the Bredesen administration.

First, in 2008, the law took state and local sales taxes from non-hockey games -- concerts for example -- and sent the money to the Nashville Sports Authority, supposedly to help cover the cost of the arena.

Then, in 2009, a second bill ordered that money be sent to the Conventions and Visitors Bureau to be spent at the direction of the Predators.

That same bill also imposed a privilege tax on all National Hockey League players -- again to be spent by the Predators.

And, for the team, it's been big money.

This is an absolute outrage! There is $9.4 million dollars, so far, in sales tax revenue that will go to the Predators rather than the general fund. This in all extra money to the Predators.  This is money they get as a result of the State legislation that was passed. This is in addition to any contractual subsidy. 

If the Mayor proposes a tax increase this year don't buy that crap that it is necessary to properly fund the schools and to properly fund public safety. It will be because of corruption, waste and mismanagement.  Deals like the giveaway to the Predators and the massive corruption and mismanagement of the convention center project will be the real reason for any need for a tax increase. 

Any council member who does not vote to right these wrongs should be defeated next election. The Council has until December 31st to renegotiate the Predators contract or it automatically renews. We should expect some action and outrage on the part of members of the Metro Council.  The public should demand the Predator sales tax deal be undone!

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Nashville Gives Away the Store for Hockey

The Predators Deal is an Outrage!

I am not a big sports fan. I have only been to one Predators hockey game and that was as a guest of someone else. However, I know many people really love hockey and I can see that it benefits the city. The bars and restaurants of downtown are packed on a Predators game day.  Hockey brings a vibrancy and excitement to downtown. However, at what price should we pay to keep hockey in Nashville?

The Tennessean recently ran a story revealing that Nashville is unique in that unlike other cities we subsidize the operating cost of the arena.  To learn more about this squirrely deal, follow the above link.   We not only pay the bonds on the facility but we give the Predators $7.8 Million a year to operate the center.

In principle, I would prefer that government not subsidize arenas, stadiums, or convention centers. I would prefer that the private sector build those facilities. I am enough of a pragmatist, however, to realize that we must compete in the world in which we live. If other cities are going to build conventions centers, and stadiums and arenas,  we must do so also.  In building these facilities however we should base our decisions on whether or not it is a wise investment and we should strive to get the best deal possible for the city. It appears to me that we have made some poor business decisions. We have been snookered. We have been screwed.

During the debate about building the new convention center, proponents argued that the new convention center would not cost the tax payers one cent, that the convention center would be paid for out of the hotel-motel tax revenues. Well guess what?  The annual $7.8 million dollar subsidy the city has been paying the Predators for operating the arena was paid out of the hotel-motel tax  but now that revenue goes to pay the debt for the new convention center. The subsidy to the Predators will now have to come out of the General Fund. That means we must raise taxes or cut $7.8 million out of city services such as police and schools and libraries and parks and public works.

One of the most amazing things to be revealed in the Tennessean piece is that the more events that are held at the arena, the more the city must subsidize the Predators and yet we provide incentives to encourage more events. What kind of deal is that?  

In addition, if all of this was not bad enough, all sales tax generated by non-hockey events at the arena goes to the predators, not the city as revealed in this Channel 5 report below:


This is really an outrage! It is especially appalling that the Garth Brooks flood relief concert sales tax revenue went to the predators rather than the city. Someone in the State Legislature had the language inserted into a tax bill giving this tax revenue to the Predators. The Dean administration claim to have had no roll in this but that had to be complicit or asleep at the wheel to allow that to happen.

The Hockey deal must be renegotiated. For starters, as soon as the Legislature reconvenes, the sweet-heart tax deal giving the Arena-generated sales tax to the Predators should be repealed. The Metro Council needs to pass a resolution urging that this be done.

Then, the rest of the deal needs to be renegotiated. Unless we can get a better deal, hockey may not be worth the price.

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Sharia Alert! Sharia Alert! Your Thanksgiving Turkey may be a Muslim

The creeping Sharia alarmist are all over the internet warming us that the turkey we eat at Thanksgiving may be Halal. You see, making our turkeys Halal is part of the Islamization of America plot. First of all they get you used to the idea of eating Halal turkeys and then the next thing you know your women will be wearing burqas. See the connection? I'm not sure I do; we have had kosher stuff in the grocery stores for years and I am not yet Jewish. Anyway, they want us to boycott Butterball. I don't really care if it is Halal, Kosher, or been kissed by the Pope, if it is good I will eat it.

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Draconian Sequestration Budget Cuts and the National Debt

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Are Homeowner's Associations a Communist Plot?

Periodically stories emerge about a Homeowners association not letting someone fly the American Flag and a lot of patriotic American get real upset. Recently The Blaze and Fox news ran a story about someone who was fined for violating a Homeowners Association rule on signs.  The sign in questions was a “Wake Up America” sign.  “Wake Up America” was a 9-12 project and 9-12 was originally an organization founded by conservative talk show host Glen Beck.  The Blaze commentor’s called the HOA communist. One commenter said, “HOAs are just another way the libs and progressives try to force people into uniform acceptance of things.”

I am all for flying the American Flag. I don’t mind political yard signs.  I like Christmas decorations. However, if you move into a community with deed restrictions or covenants that prohibit flags or yard sings, or Christmas decorations, or parking your company truck in the driveway, don’t complain about it. If you violate your HOA rules don’t play the patriot card and expect my support.  If you buy property that provides for the creation of a homeowners association and the homeowners association is empowered to set rules for what is permitted in the community, do not buy in that community.  It really is that simple.

Restrictions of this nature are not restrictions on your free speech rights.  The First Amendment does not mean you cannot voluntarily agree to give up your right to fly the flag or post yard signs. If you voluntarily agree to be governed by a Homeowners association you have no one to blame but yourself.  If you didn’t read your closing documents before you signed them; shame on you.

You have a lot less restrictions if you move to a community without an HOA but you will still be governed by some restrictions.  If you think you want to put aluminum siding on your home or paint it any color you want or change the period features of the house with modern upgrades, you want to avoid a neighborhood with a historical overlay or conservation overlay.

If you move to a neighborhood without an overlay you will still have zoning and codes restrictions.  If you want to open a lawnmower repair shop in the basement of your home you probably cannot do that in most residential zoned neighborhoods.  If you want to install a flashing LED “Wake Up America” sign in your front yard, you probably can’t do that. You may want to become acquainted with the codes, zoning and sign ordinances of your community if you think you will want to do anything drastically different from what your neighbors are doing.

If you want to have cars up on cement blocks in your front yard and a mobile home next to the main house and fly a flag as big as a football field and paint the barn "Wake up America," you can move to an unincorporated area way out in the country and probably no one will bother you.

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Stephen Colbert Occupies Occupy Wall Street

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Colbert Super PAC - Stephen Colbert Occupies Occupy Wall Street Pt. 1
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

I assume this is a comedy routine and these are not "real" people but I don't know. Anyway, it is insightful and very, very funny.

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'The Daily Show' Takes On Occupy Wall Street's Own Class Warfare

I seldom watch the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. Unfortunately, a lot of young people who think they are informed get a lot of their "news" from these two programs, along with SNL. This shows are so significant in shaping public opinion that they cannot be ignored. All of them definitely have a liberal slant, however occasionally the left is so ridiculous that even liberal comics cannot help poke fun. This is funny and insightful. (Unfortunately, you have to watch a short capitalist advertisement before you get to the good stuff.)
 

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Teach-in Reveals How the Left Thinks

As reported in this article about a "teach-in" at Florida International University, the speaker had ten chairs brought to the front of the stage and a person set in each chair, he then moved nine of the students to share three of the chairs to illustrate how wealth is distributed in the US.

This teach-in illustrates how the left thinks. They think there is only ten chairs. They think that if someone else has more, you have less. They are obsessed about distribution of wealth. The left thinks the economic pie is fixed and the slices should be of equal proportions. They see the economy as a zero-sum game. In America and in much of the world, we have always baked a bigger pie or added more chairs. If I can get enough, I don't care that someone else has more.  As long as we can add more chairs, I am OK if someone else has more than one chair. That is not my chair they have.

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