Williamson GOP mix and mingle Thursday Jan. 16th

See You Next Thursday! Republican Mix & Mingle at the Rutledge!

First Republican Mix & Mingle of 2020! Thursday, January 16, 2019 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Rutledge 105 International Drive (facing Carothers just south of Bakers Bridge Road) Franklin, TN 37067 It's a new year, and a big election year at that! Start the year off right by making plans to attend our first Republican Mix & Mingle at the Rutledge in Cool Springs. UPDATE! Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson also plans to attend and will share his perspective on the current refugee resettlement issue. Join us in the Sunroom for drinks, good food and great conversation with like-minded Republican friends! Let's talk about new year's resolutions, upcoming elections, the impeachment drama, our annual Reagan Day Gala, and how you can help us mobilize our voters to secure landslide victories for Republicans this year!! Hope to see you there!

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Mayor John Cooper Announces Areas of Focus, Expedited Timeline for FY2021 Budget

Metro press release, 1/7/2020 - Today, Mayor John Cooper announced six distinct areas of focus in his budget planning process for the 2021 fiscal year. The Mayor’s Office also released an expedited timeline that permits the administration to file a budget with the Metro Council by March 31st, a month ahead of the normal budgeting schedule, and would seek for the budget to be approved by Metro Council no later than May 31, 2020 in order to allow for review by the State Comptroller of the Treasury.

Mayor Cooper’s budget priorities are as follows:

• Education: We will begin addressing the funding needs with respect to teacher and staff compensation, as well as operational and fiscal efficiency opportunities in MNPS. 
• Public Safety: We will engage on funding needs with respect to first responder and emergency communications recruitment and staffing, and seek to ensure adequate enforcement coverage, community engagement, overall criminal justice system effectiveness, and first responder wellness.
• Transportation: We will make critical and needed investments to more efficiently connect our residents’ homes, schools, and workplaces. 
• Neighborhoods: We will make investments to further livable, walkable neighborhoods; to preserve our region’s natural resources; and to ensure foundational community infrastructure such as greenspace, recreation, libraries, and public health services and the planning/zoning services that guide and design them. 
• Affordable Housing: We will sustain and make more effective our approaches to affordable housing, supporting the building, funding, and preserving of housing options. 
• Effective and Sustainable Government: Beginning with cash management and fiscal strengthening, we will ensure that Metro Government meets expectations to be an accountable and efficient government. 

“I am fully committed to the responsible and effective use of taxpayer dollars to deliver core municipal services,” said Mayor Cooper. “With one of the strongest growing economies in the country, we will use the next four years to deliver on our commitment to a more effective government for all of Nashville, creating a city that works for everyone.”

To improve Metro’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars and create further means for investment, the Mayor’s Office will work with all Metro departments to seek cost-containment and efficiencies throughout the budgeting process. Mayor Cooper’s Chief of Operations and Performance, Kristin Wilson, will also work with Metro department heads to incorporate actionable metrics to align public expectations of resourcing and delivery. These metrics will be presented along with the proposed FY21 budget.

For proposed budget modifications, the Mayor Cooper’s administration will seek to prioritize investment in the key areas mentioned above. While resource constraints will be a factor in next year’s budget, the Mayor’s Office has requested to hear from all Metro departments regarding their overall needs to address the increasing demand for services throughout Davidson County in effective ways. If not funded in the upcoming budget cycle, departments’ requests will provide critical information for the administration’s long-term planning efforts.

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Move afoot to make Tennessee's Right to Work law a part of the Tennessee Counstitution

Rod – Next week, the Tennessee legislature will meet back in Nashville to begin the 2020 legislative session. I wanted to take a moment to share with you one of my legislative priorities for this year.  This morning, I filed a Constitutional Amendment that would add Tennessee's Right to Work law to our state constitution, guaranteeing future generations of Tennessee workers their right to work regardless of whether they choose to join a union. I am honored that Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and twelve other legislators have already signed on to support this resolution.  Tennessee’s Right to Work statute has been state law since 1947. It states that workers cannot be hired or fired based on their membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization. When introduced in 1947, supporters of the bill argued that it would “be of great advantage to the average member of organized labor.” It also protects the rights of those who choose not to join a union. Twenty-seven other states have Right to Work laws, and nine of those have passed constitutional amendments, including our neighboring states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. The Alabama amendment passed most recently in 2016. Another neighbor, Virginia, is presently considering repealing its Right to Work statute. A constitutional amendment would offer greater protection for workers against such repeal efforts. If passed by the General Assembly in 2020, SJR 648 would need to pass the by a two-thirds majority during the 2021 or 2022 legislative session in order to appear on the ballot for a statewide referendum in November 2022. The amendment would become part of the state constitution if adopted by a majority vote in the governor’s election. There is also already strong public support for the resolution. An October 2019 Beacon Center survey reported that 68 percent of Tennesseans favor the Right to Work policy, while 13 percent oppose, and 19 percent remain undecided. What are your legislative priorities this year? I would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 615-741-3036. It is an honor to serve as your state Senator.  Sincerely,

Rod's Comment: This is the first I had heard of this.  My initial reaction is that I think it is a good idea.

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Metro council considering $50 fine for idling more than 3 minutes in vehicle

This bill passed first reading Tuesday night Jan. 7th. All bills on first reading are lumped together and pass by a single vote.  Bills are considered by committee after first reading and before second reading.  If there is any discussion on the floor it will most likely happen at the next Council meeting, Jan 21, when the bill will be on second reading. Below is the text of the bill. 

Bill BL2020-114

An Ordinance to amend Chapter 10.56 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to limit the idling of motor vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Chapter 10.56 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by creating a new section 10.56.310 as follows:

10.56.310 – Idling Motor Vehicles

A. No person shall cause or permit the engine of a motor vehicle, other than an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in Section 12.04.020, to idle for longer than three minutes while parking, standing, or stopping.

B. No person shall cause or permit the engine of a motor vehicle, other than an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in Section 12.04.020, to idle for longer than one minute if such motor vehicle is within an established school zone while parking, standing, or stopping.

C. Subsections A and B shall not apply to the following:

1. When a vehicle is stopped for an official traffic control device or signal, for traffic conditions over which the driver has no control, including but not limited to a line of traffic, railroad crossing, construction zone, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer;

2. When necessary for safety or an emergency;
3. When necessary for vehicle maintenance;
4. When necessary to accomplish work for which the vehicle was designed, except transporting passengers, or to operate equipment;
5. School buses actively engaged in the discharge or pickup of students;
6. School buses idling for a period or periods aggregating not more than 20 minutes in any 60-minute period when temperatures are less than 40 Degrees Fahrenheit or greater than 75 Degrees Fahrenheit.

D. The driver of any vehicle found in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine in the amount of fifty dollars.

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsor(s)

Tonya Hancock

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Things are not gettings worse every day.

by Rod Williams- There are so many things people believe that just aren't so.  I think it is because recent bad news looms larger in our mind than old bad news and people just forget. Also, for some reason, I think people delight in thinking things are always getting worse.

One example is the price of groceries. I hear people all the time say that every time they go the grocery store pries have gone up. While in actual dollars it takes just a little bit more money to buy groceries than it did last year, in terms of dollar purchasing power 2019 was the third year in a row with deflating or lower-than-average inflating retail food prices. (link) Even that overstates the price of groceries.  The consumer price index measures the price of the same items over time. It does not take into account the way most people really shop.  I like steak and I like sea scallops. If steak is not on sale but sea scallops are buy-one-get-one-free, I buy sea scallops.  I think many people substitute to sale items when  they shop.

Also think of the way people react to changing gas prices.  Gas prices fluctuate. If gas goes from $2.49 a gallon to $2.59 a gallon people will say, "Gas prices are going through the roof, I had to pay $2.59 a gallon this morning."  If the drops back to $2.49, no one says, "Gas prices are falling like a rock; I got gas for $2.49 this morning!"  Gas prices adjusted for inflation are the lowest they have been since the 1970s (link) People enjoy awfulizing.

Another thing many conservatives are just wrong about is the view that marriage and intact families are a disappearing institution.  Actually, the divorce rate is down, the number of children born out of wedlock is down and the number of children being raised in intact families with a mother and father is up (link).  There is still a serious problem, especially in the Black community, and there is room for improvement, but we should not be afraid to acknowledge good news.

Look at the issue of crime. It is not worse than it ever has been.  It is not getting worse every day. Crime rates vary from year to year and there was a peak in the 1970's and then a decline and a peak in the 1990's and a decline since.  Crime rates are about the same as they were in the 1960's (link).  There have been some terrible murders in Nashville this year and a lot of people will think criminal homicides are up in Nashville.  They are not.  There were 107 in 2017, 88 in 2018, and only 76 in 2019 (link).

Juvenile crime has gotten a lot of attention this year.  Back in February there was the chilling case of a 12 year old girl and her friends killing in cold blood a 24 year-old Nashville musician in his front yard.  It was random.  They did not know the man.  They demanded his car keys and when he didn't hand them over they shot him (link).  Then there was the attention paid to the problems at the juvenile detention center when four detainees escaped.  These cases get our attention and they distort our perception of the problem of juvenile crime. The number of juvenile arrests in Nashville is down 49% since 2013.  Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 16, 2018, 553 teens were charged with 1,026 offenses. During the same time frame 2019, 427 teens were charged with 852 offenses. Juvenile homicide charges were  up this year from last year and so were aggravated robbery charges, but aggravated assault charges were down 14%, aggravated burglary charges were down 62% and charges of property theft over $1,000 were down 60%. Juvenile crime is not spiraling out of control. (link)

There are certainly problems in Nashville, America and the world, but all things are not getting worse.  The economy is booming. Unemployment is down.  African-Americans have greater employment rates than anytime is a long time.  Radical Islam is a threat and the mid-East is a mess, but compared to the dangers of the cold war, then was worse than now.  Wars are less frequent, of shorter duration and less deadly. The worlds literacy rate is at an all time high. The global poverty rate has dropped to an all time low of 10%.

People like to wax nostalgic about the 'good ole days.'  I am not so sure the good ole days were really that good.  This may be the best time in the history of man to be alive.

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What's on the Council agenda for 1-7-20: Taxing your water bill, regulating scooters, requiring permit to build a fence and relaxing the ban on home-based business.

by Rod Williams - The Metro Council will meet Tuesday, January 7th at 6:30 PM in the Council chamber at the Metro Courthouse. Here is a link to the Council agenda and the Council staff analysis. For those who want to watch the Council meeting and follow along, the meeting are more interesting if you know what the heck is going on.

You don't have to watch it and yet you can still be informed, because I will watch it for you and then a couple days later post a summary of the most important Council actions and I will post a video of the meeting and highlight the most interesting parts. Below is a summary of the agenda, highlighting what I deem to be the most important items.

Public Hearing: There are three resolutions and 16 bills on public hearings. The resolution are exempting businesses from the distance requirements for obtaining a beer permit.  The bill are rezoning bills or related items. I don't try to form an opinion on ever zoning bill. Quite frankly they bore me and usually only concern nearby neighbors.  I call attention to bills which have been disapproved by the Planning Commission, bills I think are likely to create a lot of opposition, or bills which have a greater policy impact beyond that particular rezoning.

Bill BL2019-8 would amend a portion of the code concerning the program that, under certain circumstances, allows developers to pay money into a sidewalk fund rather than build sidewalks in front of his development. Currently, that money is to stay in the "pedestrian benefit zone" from where the payment was made. This ordinance would instead require funds to stay within the Council district of the new development. The Planning Commission recommended indefinite deferral and the sponsor is expected to do so.  There is a special committee of the Council appointed by the Vice mayor to study the issues surrounding the building of sidewalks and this issue may be addressed  by that committee.

Bill BL2019-48 is a relaxation of the ban on home-based businesses. Home businesses now are allowed only if no customers are served by the business on the premises and the business employs no more than one employee who is not a resident. That neighbor who gives local kids piano lessons is operating illegally. That lady with one a one-chair beauty shop who does hair by appointment-only is illegal. This would allow home-based businesses if no more than three vehicle trips are generated each day related to the business, customer visits are by appointment-only and operating hours are between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  I support this. 

Resolutions:

Resolution RS2020-154 directs the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services to make payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes. The amount is $10 million. I don't oppose this because we are broke and need the money, but this is a con shell game and I don't like it.  The water department operates off of its own revenues but it is still a part of metro government.  This is like charging the schools a tax since they don't pay property taxes except the schools don't generate money. The money the Water Department generates is from the water bills we pay.  This is liking paying taxes with money that is in your left pocket rather than paying with money in your right pocket.   If the water department did not pay an "in lieu" payment our water bills would be lower.

Resolution RS2020-160 puts the Council on record asking the mayor to restore the $4.5 million he cut the Barnes Fund for affordable housing. The mayor cut that fund to balance the budget which he was required to do.  If he had not taken it from the Barnes Fund he would have had to take if from somewhere else.  He has done a remarkable job of fixing the financial mess he inherited.  I am not going to second guess him on this.  If I were serving in the Council, I would oppose this resolution. 

Bills on Second Reading:

Bill BL2019-109 makes changes in the city policy toward scooters or what is termed
"shared urban mobility devices (SUMDs)." Back in July 2019 the Council passed a bill cancelling all scooter permits and allowing existing scooter companies to operate with half the number of scooters they currently had on the streets while the Traffic and Parking came up with a RFP (request for proposal) system to replace the current system. This bill extends the time the Traffic and Parking Commission has to develop its RFP system and changes the guidelines for what would be in the RFP.  Some of the guidelines are more specific and this also authorizes the Traffic and Parking Commission to set fees to charge to the scooter companies to carry out the enforcement of the agreements. The Commission would not have to come back before the Council to have their fee amount approved. This is better than the previous bill in my view in that it does not limit the number of providers of scooters to only three, however it restrict each provider to only 500 scooters.  I don't support that restriction because there may be some economy of scale. This requires the RFP to have a commitment to safety including helmets.  I don't like requiring helmets.  There is a lot in this I don't like, but I fear if this does not pass a complete ban may pass and I do not want to see scooters banned.  So if I had a vote, I would reluctantly voted for this bill. 

Bills on Third Reading:

Bill BL2019-30 (as amended) bans barbed wire and razor wire fencing in the Urban Zoning Overlay District along arterial and collector roadways. They are already banned along sidewalks in the Urban Services District. While I sympathize with those property owners who are trying to protect their property, this type fencing creates a feeling of living in a war zone. It makes a street ugly and devalues enjoyment of public spaces. An Urban Design Overlay (UDO) is a zoning tool that requires specific design standards for development in a designated area.  This looks like a minor expansion of where this type fencing is banned. If I had a vote, I would vote for it.

Bill BL2019-31 (as amended) would require a permit for all new fencing except for property zoned AR, AG, R80, or RS80. We have never had this requirement before and I am unsure what problem calls for more burdensome regulation. I oppose this. For the sponsor's explanation see time stamp 1:08:40 at this link where it was discussed on second reading. It passes on a roll call vote of 27 to 9 and one abstention at that meeting. 

To watch the Council meeting, you can go to the courthouse and watch the meeting in person, or you can watch the broadcast live at Metro Nashville Network's Government TV on Nashville's Comcast Channel 3 and AT&T's U-verse 99 and it is streamed live at the Metro Nashville Network's livestream site. It is also available live on Roku. You can catch the meeting the next day (or the day after the next) on the Metro YouTube channel.   If can stand the suspense and just wait I will post the video here and provide commentary.

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Governor Bill Lee to be guest speaker at 1st Tuesday January 7th

Governor Bill Lee will be the guest speaker at 1st Tuesday on January 7th. I do not know if there are still tickets available, but if there are they will probably not last. If you are interested in attending this luncheon, I would attempt to purchase now. I bought my ticket last night and there were still tickets available. Don't expect to just show up and pay at the door for this event.

Given the recent decision of Gov. Lee to approve refugee resettlement in Tennessee, one can expect some tension in the room and sharp questions. One can also expect Governor Lee to lay out his legislative agenda for the coming year.  Most likely there will be discussion of continuing education reform and the status of vouchers, criminal justice reform, the Medicaid block grant proposal, and questions about the $732 million in unspent funds for needy families Tennessee is sitting on.

First Tuesday has been in existence for 35 years. I have been attending for about the last ten years and have had the privilege of hearing Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senator Rand Paul, both Tennessee senators, several of Tennessee's U. S. Congressmen, former Governor Bill Haslam, Kentucky Governor Matt Bivens,  candidates for office, office holders, mayors, authors, and other movers and shakers.

Membership is only $25 and luncheon tickets are only $20 for members.  To purchase tickets or for more information follow this link.

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Mayor Cooper made the right decision in not purchasing the Morris Memorial Building.

by Rod Williams - Mayor Cooper decided the city would not move forward with plans to purchase the historically significant Morris Memorial building. The previous administration had planned to purchase the property for $12 million. The Morris Memorial Building is a 65,200-square-foot, five-story building designed in the mid-1920’s by one of the nation's first African American architectural firms. It housed the National Baptist Convention, which published religious materials for African-American Baptist churches.  It is located at 330 Martin Luther King Blvd.

I am in favor of saving of old significant buildings. I am certainly pleased that the Ryman Auditorium and Union Station were not demolished as was once planned. There are lots of beautiful old buildings that were lost that were historically significant that I wish had been saved. While I support incentivizing the saving of old significant buildings, I don't think it is the roll of local government to buy them. Even if there were occasions when a building was so significant that the city government should step in and purchase it, now is not the time. The city is broke and we must prioritize. With a shortage of 911 dispatcher, policemen and firemen, purchasing an old building is a luxury we cannot afford.

Thank you Mayor Cooper for exercising financial discipline and good judgement.

(For more see link,.link.)

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The Refugee resetllement issue: Does the Governor have the authority to speak for the State?

Governor Bill Lee has chosen for Tennessee to accept refugees for resettlement in Tennessee. He has come under severe criticism from many Republican for this decision. I tend to support his decision simply because I think it the right thing to do. I know there is an issue of cost and I know that some refugees have been radicalized and become American terrorist. There is a security issue.  Nevertheless, with over 66 million people in the world displaced due to persecution, war and violence, the US should do its part to help resettle refugees.

Separate from  the merits of the decision itself  however, is the question of process. Does a governor have the authority to make this decision for the State?  David Fowler, chairman of FACT, in an article, "What to Make of Congressman Green’s Prescription for Saving America," argues that  the governor should not have that authority and that it is a violation of State sovereignty for the Federal government to assign such authority to the governor.  "The state’s constitution, not the federal government, decides who is to exercise certain powers belonging to the state", says Fowler. He goes on:

When the federal government creates a program and then designates who in state government can decide whether to participate in that program, who on behalf of state government can opt-out of a program already begun, or who or what agency in state government must carry out the federal program, an important aspect of state sovereignty is trampled on. Therein lies the problem with the federal refugee resettlement program, quite apart from the complained of fiscal issues.

…..The federal regulation allowing a governor to decide whether to opt in or out of a federal program is not within the federal government’s power. It is a violation of the state’s power to decide what branch of state government, state agency, or state official is authorized, under the state’s constitution, to make certain types of decisions for the state. The same can be said about the process that allows a governor to “consent” to the federal government’s use of private contractors as de facto resettlement agencies.

After the program was created and states opted in, the federal government adopted regulations that effectively allowed a governor or the governor’s designee to opt a state out of the federal refugee resettlement program. That regulation violates the sovereignty of the people of Tennessee, who alone get to decide who in state government should make policy decisions of this nature. 

While I support Governor Lee's decision, I agree with David Fowler that Lee he had no legitimate authority to make that decision. For a more detailed explanation of the issue of federalism and the principle of dual sovereign and background information on the refugee resetlement progarm follow this link and read the full article.

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Latinos for Tennessee Welcome back reception

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Mayor’s Night Out on Thursday, January 9, 2020

Press release, 1/2/2020- Mayor John Cooper is thrilled to host another Mayor’s Night Out. These events are held on the second Thursday of each month and Nashville residents are invited to have one-on-one conversations with the Mayor and his department personnel.

Event Location: IT Creswell Middle School of the Arts, 3500 John Mallette Drive' Nashville, TN 37218.
Event Date: Thursday, January 9, 2020, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Attendees

• Mayor John Cooper 
• Councilmember Jonathan Hall (District 1) 
• Councilmember Kyonzte Toombs (District 2) 
• Councilmember Jennifer Gamble (District 3) 
• Councilmember Freddie O’Connell (District 19) 
• Councilmember Mary Carolyn Roberts (District 20) 
• Councilmember Brandon Taylor (District 21) 

Note: There will be no availability for interviews or Q&A at this event.

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Mayor John Cooper Appoints long-time Republican operative Bill R. Phillips as Deputy Mayor, Chief of Staff

Press release, 1/2/2020 -  Mayor John Cooper today

Bill R. Phillips - Deputy Mayor, 

Chief of Staff

announced the appointment of Bill R. Phillips as Deputy Mayor, Chief of Staff effective Thursday, January 2, 2020. As a seasoned political operative with more than 40 years of public service and executive leadership experience, Phillips will manage the Mayor’s Office staff and serve as a senior adviser to Mayor Cooper.

“I look forward to once again serving the city I love so dearly,” said Phillips. “While I’m fond of the many experiences I’ve had in state and federal government, it’s the time I spent at City Hall that has been the most meaningful. Nashville is fortunate to have experienced such tremendous growth since my previous tenure as Deputy Mayor. We’re going to make sure that everyone in our city shares in its continued growth through hard work and the efficient use of our talent and resources.”

As founder of Bill Phillips Company, Phillips was a principal in Windrow Phillips Group before retiring in June 2019. He served for more than seven years as Deputy Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County under Mayor Bill Purcell. In 1994, Phillips became Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations at Vanderbilt University after concluding a yearlong fellowship at Vanderbilt’s First Amendment Center.

Previously, Phillips served as a Presidential appointee in various capacities during the executive administrations of President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush, and as Deputy Governor to Nevada Governor Robert List. He served as Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee and Manager of the 1988 Republican Convention, as well as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Education. Phillips has worked in three Presidential campaigns for Republican candidates, and in 1992, he was Assistant Campaign Manager for Operations of the Bush-Quayle Committee.

Phillips also worked as a newspaper journalist and editor for Gannett in California and Nevada. He is a Vietnam combat veteran

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