Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission uses police-state tactics to squash limo competition

Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission Admits To Using Police Badges

NASHVILLE -- Last fall, The Huffington Post reported that the city of Nashville had begun to push new regulations that were driven by big limo companies and aimed at squashing independent competition. The small car companies fought back, filing a lawsuit to overturn the new requirements.
That's when it got ugly.

Drivers allege that after the lawsuit was filed, city inspectors, working on behalf of the Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission, began targeting independent operators by pulling their cars over and issuing citations -- even when presented with the legal documents in question -- and harassing off-duty drivers in their personal vehicles.Read more

This is an outrage! Please read this story! A former inspector for the TLC is coming out and telling how the  inspectors for the Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission have been impersonating police officers and how they have been on a mission to destroy the independent private car service companies.

Not only has the city tried to force competitors of the big limo companies out of business by imposing minimum fare price-fixing, the Transportation Licensing Commission has been acting like police-state gangsters, illegally impersonating police officers, illegally using blue lights, writing tickets on phony trumped-up charges and intimidating and threatening drivers of the independent private car services.

Many of the drivers of the independent car companies are immigrants and some come from authoritarian countries where the police are feared and corrupt. They may be more susceptible to "police" intimidation than native-born Americans. If there is a thorough investigation this history of abuse of authority and intimidation and corruption will come to light.

This whole episode of how Metro has used price-fixing and police-state tactics to squash companies that dared to try to compete with the politically-connected luxury limo companies is disgusting. I am thankful that the Huffington Post has investigated this story but it is a shame that no local media has shown an interest. Why has the local media, not shown an interest in this story?

The Mayor should demand that TLC's Brian McQuistion resign immediately, the Attorney General's office should investigate McQuistion for criminal activity and bring criminal charges against TLC inspectors who impersonated police officers,  the Metro Council's public safety committee should hold hearings on this criminal activity and abuse of authority, and the Council should repeal limo price-fixing. 

(To learn more about this issue and read related stories click here.)

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Obama says GOP budget would close "hundreds" of national parks.

Obama told a gathering of newspaper editors in Washington that the GOP budget would leave needy children to starve, cut 10 million college students' financial aid payments, close hundreds of national parks, and even prevent weather forecasters from spotting deadly storms. (link)

The United States has 58 national parks. (link)

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Human Relations Budget Hearing. An agency that should be abolished.

Watch the video

Summary of the Human Relations Budget hearings


Caroline Blackwell, the Executive Director makes the presentation. A 2% reduction in the budget would negatively impact the agency. The agency would be less able to fund guest speakers for the proposed Student Human Relations Summit and would otherwise impact the agencies outreach effort. 

My View

Most people have probably never heard of the Metro Human Relations Commission. They are a relatively small agency with a  budget of $234,100 and a staff of three.  To learn more about the agency visit their website. 

Below is a description of their function:

The Metro Human Relations Commission protects and promotes the dignity of all people through a menu of services that help ensure safety, health, security, peace and general welfare in Davidson County. Committed to community education and advocacy for diversity—and for the cultural awareness, understanding, and behaviors needed to foster inclusion—the Commission assists individuals and organizations in understanding and defending their civil and human rights.

The MHRC core services include educational resources that promote effective intergroup relations, diversity training, dialogue, study circles and other group facilitation models, Title VI training and compliance support, data collection, intake and timely processing of discrimination inquiries and complaints, community forums, ADR and community problem-solving, policy recommendations, public hearings and Commission reports.

This agency could better be named The Agency for Political Correctness and Indoctrination.  It is not that I do not share some of the objectives of the agency. I am opposed to hate and bullying and I want Nashville to be a welcoming community that appreciates our cultural diversity and I am a pretty tolerant guy. I do not, however, think that an agency of government should be devoted to the functions of this agency. All of the functions of this agency could either be done by existing government agencies such as Fair Housing, the Attorney General's Office, and law enforcement or by private liberal advocacy agencies such as the Scarritt Bennett Center, the First Amendment Center, The Peace and Justice Center, The Neighborhood Resource Center, The NAACP or any of a number of other advocacy groups.

Back in the 80's when I was serving in the Metro Council during a particularly tight budget year, the Council defunded the agency, essentially closing it down for a year, or maybe two. The Commission still existed but had no staff and could not do much. I was instrumental in helping that to occur. It is one of my proudest accomplishments of my service in the Council. I was aided in this effort by the fact that we had a particularly outspoken director of the agency at the time who had had the agency participate in Gay Rights events and who had written a letter on Metro Human Relations letterhead opposing the war in Nicaragua where the US was supporting the anti-Communist freedom fighters know as the Contras.  The director at that time had been able to offend quite a few people by his promotion of a very left-wing agenda.

Metro Government should not be in the business of progressive indoctrination and community organizing.  Rather than raise taxes one cent, this agency should be abolished.

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Marsha Blackburn has no Republican opponent

Below is the list of candidates seeking the District 7 seat.

District 7
Akin, William – I
Amouzouvik, Credo – D
Arnold, Jack – I
Blackburn, Marsha – R
Ladner, Leonard (Lenny) – I
District 7 – (continued)
Martin, Chris – D

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Charlotte Bergmann seeks nomination to challenge Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen, the most liberal member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation by far, and one of the most liberal members of congress scoring a perfect 100% from the ADA,  has one primary opponent and three independent opponents.  There are three Republicans running in the Republican primary including Charlotte Bergmann, who was the Republican nominee who challenged Cohen two years ago.

I know nothing about this race except I know I like Charlotte Bergmann and would love to see Steve Cohen defeated. It is my understanding that the district is majority Black. Cohen is white and Bergmann is Black. I hope the three independents are strong candidates and all liberal and a couple strong Black liberals. All of the independents of course will be on the ballot; there is no "independent" primary.  It Charlotte gets the Republican nomination and three independents and Cohen are in the race, she might just win.

President Obama has already endorsed Steve Cohen. When asked for her comment about the Obama endorsement, Bergman said “birds of a feather flock together.” Asked to explain, she said Cohen and Obama share “the same ideology” to “advance socialism and the redistribution of wealth.”

If I read something that sheds more insight on this race, I will update. Below is the list of all candidates in the 9th District race.

District 9
Cohen, Steve – D
Bass, Herbert A. – I
Bergmann, Charlotte – R
Flinn Jr., George S. – R
Hart, Tomeka – D
Joiner, Gregory M. – I
Lunati, Ernest – R
Saulsberry, Brian L. – I
Stooksberry, Rollin Wilson – R

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Look who is running for U. S. Senate from Tennessee

Anderson, Fred – R
Clayton, Mark – D
Clemens, Mark Twain – R (Mark Twain!)
Corker, Bob – R
Crim, Larry – D  (This is the Larry Crim who runs for everything and publishes the Larry Crim News.)
Crowell, Shaun E. – I
Davis, Gary – D
Gatchell, David – I
Hancock, Dave – D
Higdon, James – I
King, Ashley – D
Lenard, Brenda S. – R
Long, Michel – I
Overall, Park – D (This is an enviornmental activist and actress from east Tennessee)
Owens, T.K. – D
Poskevich, Zach – R (This is the TEA party challenge from the right)
Roberts, Benjamin – D
Scoggin, Troy Stephen – I

For insight on this race read this:

Corker draws challengers from the left and right
By Michael Collins,April 5, 2012 at 7:16 p.m. Knox News.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will face a challenge from Democrats on the left and the tea party on the right as he tries to persuade voters to give him a second six-year term. Eight Democrats are seeking their party's nomination for the right to run against Corker, a Chattanooga Republican, in the November general election. But before Corker will face off against the Democratic nominee, he first will have to get past four Republican challengers in the GOP primary. keep reading

I am going to go out on a limb and say Corker will win the nomination by a landslide and will easily win reelection. 

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Look who is running against Jim Cooper

Jones, Justin – R
Ries, Bob – R
Smith, John (Big John) – R
Staats, Brad – R
Tarum, Tracy – R

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Look who is running for School Board

Sharon Gentry **	4109 Kings Ln, Nashville, 37218	School Dist 1
Edward T. Kindall***	2512 Scovel St, Nashville, 37208	School Dist 1
Jarod DeLozier	1201 Littonwood Dr, Nashville, 37216	School Dist 3
W. Fred Lee, jr.	916 Graceland Ct, Goodlettsville, 37072	School Dist 3
Jill Smith Speering	1131 Fernbank Av, Madison, 37115	School Dist 3
Rick Williams +++	1733 Neelys Bend Rd, Madison, 37115	School Dist 3
John E. Haubenreich	1615 Fatherland St, Nashville, 37206	School Dist 5
Elissa Kim	811 Fatherland St, Nashville, 37206	School Dist 5
Erica Lanier	1707 Neal Tr, Nashville,  37203	School Dist 5
Gracie Porter ***	808 Russell St, Nashville, 37206	School Dist 5
Anna Page  (withdrew petition, not running)	222 Wheeler Av, Nashville, 37211	School Dist 7
Will Pinkston ++	937 Battlefield Dr, Nashville, 37204	School Dist 7
Alan C. Sharp	212 Shawn Dr, Nashville, 37211	School Dist 7
Hillyard Al. Wilkins	6525 Arvington Wy, Antioch, 37013	School Dist 7
Bob Bogen *	6755 Pennywell Dr, Nashville, 37205	School Dist 9
Eric Crafton	7557 Oakhaven Tc, Nashville, 37209	School Dist 9
Margaret O. Dolan+	6108 Hickory Valley Rd, Nashville, 37205	School Dist 9
Amy Frogge	7237 Riverfront Dr, Nashville, 37221	School Dist 9
Juliet "Julie" Lamb	207 Bellevue Rd, Nashville, 37221	School Dist 9
Ronnie Osborne	716 Magnolia Tl, Nashville, 37221	School Dist 9

*Former Metro Councilman and MNEA Executive Director Bob Bogen

** Incumbent member, Wife of former Vice Mayor Howard Gentry

*** Incumbent member

+ VP of of Community Relations at Ingram Industries

++ a former Gov. Bredesen aide

+++ a long-time political campaign volunteer, Doug Henry's "sign" man, a Democrat, opponent of Metro's limo price-fixing scheme 

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Look who is running for office.

The following is an unofficial List of 2012 State Legislative Candidates as provided by the Tennessee Secretary of State's office. Petitions have not yet been verified.

Tennessee Senate District 20

Democratic	James A. Baxter	216 New Brick Church Pk, Goodlettsville 37072	Davidson
Republican	Steven Dickerson	93 Victoria Park, Nashville 37205	Davidson
Republican	David Hall	5673 Lickton Pk, Goodlettsville 37072	Davidson
Republican	Rob Mortensen	1204 Harding PL, Nashville 37215	Davidson
Democratic	Phillip L. North	109 Menees Ln, Madison 37115	Davidson

Tennessee House District 50

Republican	D J Farris	6820 Highway 70 S, Apt. 111, Nashville 37221	Davidson
Republican	Dave Hall	5673 Lickton Pk, Goodlettsville 37072	Davidson
Democratic	Bo Mitchell	6421 Riverplace Dr, Nashville 37221	Davidson
Republican	Charles Williamson	2360 Baker Rd, Goodlettsville 37072	Davidson

Tennessee House District 51
Democratic, Michael L. Turner 1408 Hadley Av, Old Hickory 37138 Davidson
No Democratic primary or Republican opponent

Tennessee House District 52

Independent	Daniel Lewis	611 Brooksboro Terrace, Nashville 37217	Davidson
Democratic	Michael Stewart	410 N 16th St, Nashville 37206	Davidson

I assume this is Daniel Lewis, Chairman of the Davidson County Libertarian Party. The State Legislature needs one libertarian.

Tennessee House District 53

Republican	Ben Claybaker	5845 Nolensville Pk, Apt 417, Nashville 37211	Davidson
Republican	Tonya Miller	2802 Ennis Rd, Nashville 37210	Davidson
Democratic	Jason Potts	3914 East Ridge Dr, Nashville 37211	Davidson
Democratic	Jason Powell	1007 Warren St, Nashville 37208	Davidson

Tennessee House District 54
Democratic Brenda Gilmore 3009 Vista Valley Ct, Nashville 37218 Davidson
No primary or Republican opponent.

Tennessee House District 55
Democratic Gary Odom 119 Dunham Springs Ln, Nashville 37205 Davidson
No primary or Republican opponent.

Tennessee House District 56
Republican Beth Harwell 413 West Tyne Dr, Nashville 37205 Davidson
No primary or Democratic opponent

Tennessee House District 57

Republican	Linda Elam	3005 S.Waterford Ct, Mt Juliet, TN 37122	Wilson
Republican	Susan Lynn	510 Barton Shore Court, Lebanon 37087	Wilson

No Democratic candidates

Tennessee House District 58

Democratic	Harold M. Love	2516 Buchanan St, Nashville 37208	Davidson
Democratic	Mary Pruitt	1813 Hillside Av, Nashville 37203	Davidson
Democratic	Steven Turner	1109 Pennock Av, Nashville 37207	Davidson

No Republican candidates

Tennessee House District 59

Republican	Robert Duvall	308 Cambridge Pl, Antioch 37013	Davidson
Democratic	Sherry Jones	4947 Sherman Oaks Dr, Nashville 37211	Davidson

 Tennessee House District 60

Republican	Jim Gotto	5108 John Hagar Rd, Hermitage 37076	Davidson
Democratic	Darren Jernigan	4837 Rainier Dr, Old Hickory 37138	Davidson

Tennessee House District 61

Republican	Rob Hathaway	137 Clarendon Cr, Franklin 37069	Williamson
Republican	Charles M. Sargent Jr.	117 Ashton Park Blvd, Franklin 37067	Williamson

No Democrat candidates

Tennessee House District 62
Republican Pat Marsh 2105 Hwy 130 E, Shelbyville 37160 Bedford
No opponents.


Tennessee House District 63
Republican Glen Casada 3144 Natoma Cr, Thompson's Station 37179 Williamson
No opponents.

Tennessee House District 64

Democratic	Brian Brewer	998 Old Lewisburg Highway, Columbia 38401	Maury
Republican	Sheila Butt	3870 Albert Mathews Road, Columbia 38401	Maury

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TNGOP Chairman's Statement On Democrat Gary Moore's Decision Not To Seek Re-Election

NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney released the following statement on Democrat State Representative Gary Moore’s decision not to seek re-election. Moore is now the eleventh Democrat legislator who has announced he will not be seeking re-election this year.

"We wish Gary Moore well. It is obvious that his big labor ties were going to be a drag on his candidacy.  Moore’s stance on the issues epitomize why Democrats are having so much trouble connecting with Tennessee voters," said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney.

In August of last year, Moore was elected to serve as President of the Tennessee Chapter of the AFL-CIO Labor Council, a big union that has once again enthusiastically endorsed President Obama’s campaign.  Soon after that announcement, TNGOP Chairman Chris Devaney sent Moore a letter asking him to make a choice between serving the interests of his constituents or the interests of the AFL-CIO.

“While I never received a response from Representative Moore, today, Tennesseans are being made well aware of whom he would prefer to serve,” concluded Devaney. 

Recent Democrat retirements include four state senators (Joe Haynes, Roy Herron, Eric Stewart and Andy Berke) and seven state representatives (Eddie Bass, Bill Harmon, Mike McDonald, Gary Moore, Jimmy Naifeh, Janis Sontany and Harry Tindell).

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Gary Moore announced he is NOT seeking re-election!

WOW!  Gary Moore announced he is NOT seeking re-election!

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Michelle Obama is Coming to Town

You can have lunch with the First Lady on April 17th for $500. For $5000 you can have lunch and have your picture taken with her. To be part of the host committee will set you back $30,000. You can charge it to your credit card. read more.

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