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The United Way of Metropolitan Nashville does a lot of good things. They support many fine programs that help thousands of people in our community. They help those in crisis with food and shelter and health care and counseling, they have helped hundreds of Nashville families affected by the May 2009 flood, and United Way supports programs to help lift people out of poverty. I have personally contributed to United Way. I admire the work of the organization and hesitate to criticize them. I am disappointed, however, that United Way is supporting an agency that is a engaging in blatant liberal political activism. That organization is the Neighborhood Resource Center.
NRC is an organization devoted to community organizing. They do some good things that almost all would agree are worthy endeavors, but they definitely have a liberal agenda. According to the United Way 2009 Income Tax return, the Neighborhood Resource Center received three grants that year, one for $231,958 and two smaller grants, one for $3500 and one for $1,698. United Way has funded the Neighborhood Resource Center since 1997. I have emailed United Way asking what the current level of funding is for NRC and have asked what programs that funding supports. When I get an answer, I will update this report. If I do not get the courtesy of a reply, I will also update and let readers of this blog know. I have also offered United Way a chance to respond to this post.
I am sure that if United Way is asked about the funding for the Neighborhood Resource Center they will say that the grant is awarded for a specific program and funds received from United Way are not used for political activism. We all know that, that is not the way things really work. If NRC is receiving $237,000 from United Way, that funding is paying for overhead, salaries, and utilities and is also freeing up other NRC funds to be used for political activities.
On August 20, 2011 the Neighborhood Resource Center hosted a meeting at their Third Avenue headquarters for participants to discuss how to implement the Contract for the American Dream. The announcement for the meeting said, “We will be gathering to discuss how we can bring back our country and our state to one that values people over corporations and believes that we all do better when we all do better. Your ideas and networks are vital to the success of this Progressive movement.” Other organizations participating in the event included Progressive Democrats of America and Tennessee Citizens Action.
The Contract for the American Dream is a project of the far left MoveOn.Org. A whole host of other liberal and leftist organization are also partnering in the Contract for the American Dream campaign including Planned Parenthood, Progressive Congress.org, Progressive Democrats of America, Daily Kos, People for the American Way, and Code Pink.
The Contract for the American Dream is a major effort to energize the left. It calls for new massive government spending and wealth redistribution. The Contract calls for the following: “investment” in infrastructure, massive government “investment" in green jobs, a mandatory living wage, universal access to early childhood education and affordable higher education for all, universal single-payer health care, no changes to social security, higher taxes on the wealthy, an end to the wars and to bring home the troops now, a tax on “wall street speculator”, and to “ban anonymous political influence, slam shut the lobbyists' revolving door in D.C., and publicly finance elections.” Would not everyone agree that that is a liberal partisan agenda?
If you work at a company that encourages participation in a United Way workplace campaign, you may want to ask the United Way spokesman who comes to urge your participation, why you should contribute to an organization that is political in nature and who works to achieve political objectives with which you disagree. You may want to consider withholding your funding of United Way and contribute directly to an organization you trust. If you work for one of those companies that “strongly encourages” participation and you feel failure to participate could endanger your continued employment, you may want to look into designating your gift to a particular United Way agency rather than the United Way general fund.
In addition to United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, other funding sources for the Neighborhood Resource Center include the following: The HCA Foundation, The Frist Foundation, Regional Transportation Authority, The Memorial Foundation, The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, James Stephen Charitable Foundation, The Temple (Congregation Ohabai Sholom), Hermitage Environmental Leadership Project, 61st Avenue United Methodist Church, and Organized Neighbors of Edgehill.
If you have any influence with any of the above organizations you may wish to raise a question as to why they are funding a liberal activist organization.The Frist family are conservatives, are they not? Why are they funding this left-wing agenda? The Regional Transportation Authority operates on tax dollars. What are they doing supporting a partisan liberal political organization? Next time the local government is asked to fund RTA, someone should ask.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A controversial council resolution to honor students who worked against the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill ended differently than the last time it came up for a vote.
On Tuesday night, sponsor Jamie Hollin found a different way to put the resolution up for another vote. He proposed "non-binding memorializing resolution" that would put the council on record as supporting the actions of those students. It passed with overwhelming support.(link)
I was disappointed to see this resolution pass. From now on, when pro-life students protest in front of an abortion clinic, when students demonstrate to protect 2nd Amendment rights, when they participate in a tea party demonstration or engage in any laudatory political activity they should be honored with a resolution. Why stop at students? When senior citizens protest Obamacare or moms protest unionist efforts to sabotage school reform, they should be honored also. When Vandy students protest the Federal Reserve, they should be honored. Councilmen should load the agenda with resolutions honoring ever patriot and kook who holds a protest sign.
Here is how members of the Council voted:
Voting for the Resolution: Garrett, Barry, Tygard, Steine, Maynard, Matthews, Harrison, Hollin, Jameson, Cole, Jernigan, Stanley, Page, Moore, LaLonde, Langster, Evans, Holleman, McGuire, Adkins, Wilhoite, Todd, Mitchell (23)
Voting no: Craddock, Forkum, Ryman, Gotto, Burch, Foster, Dominy, Hodge, Toler, Duvall (10); Abstaining: Bennett, Claiborne, Crafton (3).
I Cordially invites you to a reception for Dave Patterson (District 4 Candidate) Josh Stites (District 13 Candidate) and Robert Duvall (District 33 Candidate) along with co-hosts Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell State Senator Jack Johnson State Senator Jim Tracy State Representative Jim Gotto Councilwoman Karen Bennett Councilwoman Davette Blalock Councilman Michael Craddock - Councilman Eric Crafton Councilman Duane Dominy Councilman-elect Steve Glover Councilman Jim Hodge - Councilman Tony Tenpenny Councilman Charlie Tygard John Ambrose - Tanya and Jerry Barlar - Lee Beaman Beth and Bill Campbell - Pat Carl Sandra and Neil Chaffin - Joe Conard Dr. Steve Dickerson - Ben Doubleday Chuck Grimes - Connie Hunter - Tootie Haskins Nathan James - Ken Marrero Tami and Andy Miller - William Morgan - Paul Ney Lora and Forrest Russell - Chuck Self John Shorter - Kathleen Starnes and Larry Maxwell Mary and Jack Stites - Dr. Mindy and Jeff Thompson Gail and Peter Voysey - Louella and Rod Williams Charles Williamson - Mark Winslow The Standard House Reception Hall 167 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard - Nashville, TN 37203 Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 Promptly at 7:00 pm Suggested contribution of $150 per person, $300 per couple. |
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