Megan Barry sworn in as mayor of Nashville

Megan Barry sworn in as mayor of Nashville

The Tennessean, by Joey Garrison, Sept. 26, 2015 - Megan Barry was sworn in Friday as Metro Nashville’s seventh mayor and the first woman to hold the top post, declaring that “today we shatter a glass ceiling” and using her first speech as mayor to call on Nashvillians for their ideas and help.

“I want to hear from you, Nashville,” Barry said repeatedly in a short, eight-minute inauguration speech dominated by a pledge to listen as well as themes from her campaign, including pitches about transit, affordable housing and public education. (link)

 I did not attend the event but watched it in double time in the above video. Mayor Barry and all members of the Council swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States "so help me God."

If you want to just see the swearing in of Barry and her comments, go to time stamp 41:26.

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Stopping Planned Parenthood’s Appalling Activity

Phil Roe

By U. S. Congressman Phil Roe - Since mid-July, several videos have been released showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing the organization’s most gruesome practices. I was saddened, sickened and appalled at how a fellow physician could casually discuss the dismemberment of babies for their body parts. As an OB-GYN who delivered nearly 5,000 babies and spent countless hours in the delivery room, I can’t begin to imagine how someone could watch a newborn deliver and not try everything in their power to keep that baby alive. That is certainly not health care.

What we have witnessed isn’t about being pro-life or pro-choice, though I am proud to say I will always be a defender of the right to life. This debate is about the despicable actions of an organization that receives about $500 million in government funding each year and the very serious allegations that some babies who survive abortion procedures are denied emergency medical care. Immediately after the first videos were released, I called on Congress to defund Planned Parenthood while congressional investigators looked into these claims.

I was proud to vote for two important bills that would protect newborn babies and defund Planned Parenthood. The first was H.R. 3504, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would provide legal protections to infants that survive an abortion. I spoke on the House floor in support of this bill, and you can find that video on my YouTube page. I’ve spent my life caring for patients, so this is an emotional issue for me. I fully believe in those sacred words that state all humans are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, the very first of these being life.

Next, I voted for H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act. H.R. 3134 would immediately ban all federal funding of Planned Parenthood for one year while Congress investigates the videos released this summer. I was proud to speak on the House floor in support of this bill as well, and that video is also on my YouTube page.

I was extremely disappointed to see Senate Democrats reject a plan that would fully fund the government through December while defunding Planned Parenthood. The plan would redirect roughly $235 million from Planned Parenthood to community health centers. Senate Democrats’ rejection of this commonsense proposal proves they are not interested in finding common ground and that this is not an issue of access to health care for them.

You can rest assured I will continue to support policies that will hold Planned Parenthood accountable.

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World Affairs Council Welcomes Ms. Samar Ali to the Board of Directors

From Tennessee's World Affairs Council, September 24, 2015, NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s World Affairs Council announced today that Ms. Samar S. Ali, distinguished local attorney and former Assistant State Commissioner for International Affairs, has been elected to the Board of Directors. Ali is a member of the Nashville law firm Bone, McAllester and Norton where she concentrates on cross-border transactions, international law and private diplomacy.

In making the announcement Council President Patrick Ryan said, “The Tennessee World Affairs Council’s ability to deliver global awareness education programs and resources to the community is greatly enhanced by the addition of Ms. Ali to our board.” He added, “She has built a sterling record of accomplishments advancing public and private interests in the global arena in Washington and in Tennessee and we are thrilled to have her as a member of our board.”

Samar Ali

 Ms. Ali, a Vanderbilt University alumna – undergrad and Law School – worked as a White House Fellow and adviser in the Homeland Security Department in Washington and in Doha, Qatar before being named by Governor Bill Haslam as an assistant commissioner in the Tennessee Economic and Community Development Department. There she managed the state’s global economic relations overseeing an international strategic plan to build international commerce related jobs and opening and managing offices around the world to boost Tennessee trade and investment.

In addition to working in Administrative Law, Business and Corporate Law and International Law practices at Bone, McAllester and Norton, Ms. Ali is Director at Lodestone Advisory Group in Nashville, specializing in international business development. “Ms. Ali’s work in the community includes numerous boards and projects serving public interests and we’re gratified that Nashville leaders of her caliber count the World Affairs Council as among the educational organizations that have earned their support,” said Ryan. “The Council’s mission of educating and inspiring people, especially youth, to learn more and engage more in global affairs is an important element of citizenship and I’m sure Ms. Ali’s time and talents will make a difference in tackling that challenge.”

The World Affairs Council is an independent, nonpartisan educational organization that is part of a 96-member network of similar grassroots organizations in the United States, the World Affairs Councils of America. They serve to educate Americans on international developments. “Although some of the country’s world affairs councils are almost 100 years old there had never been one in Tennessee until we established our Council several years ago in Cookeville,” said Ryan. “We’ve recently launched from Nashville after several years in Cookeville and it’s rewarding to know that leaders like Ms. Ali are directly supporting our service to the community and we can benefit from their vision.”

The Tennessee World Affairs Council, a nonprofit group, hosts town hall meetings where visiting speakers share insights and perspectives on global issues; small group discussions at venues around the city; and global awareness programs in schools like the WorldQuest program for students that encourages world affairs familiarity through competition. WorldQuest, which includes a trip for the state’s winning team to a national championship match in Washington, recently launched the 2015-2016 season. Past Nashville winners have included teams from Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet High School and Montgomery Bell Academy.

The speakers program, which is hosted at Belmont University, is very popular, said Ryan. He noted that visits from foreign Ambassadors, like past events with the Kazakh and Czech envoys, were popular and insightful. In addition other leaders and specialists are regularly featured and provide equally informative presentations. “We aim for monthly speaker events including about four ambassadors this year, and we’re in talks with the embassies of Russia, South Korea, Italy and others for visits.” On October 5th the Council and Belmont will host a Town Hall on US-China economic relations.

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Tennessee Ranked 4th Top State for doing Business in 2015

 Top States for Doing Business 2015: Site Selection Consultants Survey Results

Area Development - States that consistently rank at the top for business performance know what it takes to be successful — an attractive business environment (taxes, incentives, permitting), labor pool (cost, availability, education, skill level, training), and infrastructure/global access (transportation infrastructure, energy costs, intermodal capabilities, certified sites). When combined with a creative and proactive state economic development team, these advantages can seem irresistible to companies that are looking to locate or expand their operations. Companies want a quick, seamless startup. With an ever-widening global market, they need a well-integrated, modern transportation infrastructure to be competitive in these markets. Also, top-performing states know how to deal with tough times — something many CEOs still have in the back of their minds......

Top States For Doing Business 2015 
1.Georgia
2.Texas
3.South Carolina
4.Tennessee
5.Alabama 5T.Florida
6.Indiana
7.North Carolina
8.Louisiana
9.Ohio
10.Kentucky

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Heated conflict at the Election Commission. Democrat Commisioner Tricia Herzfeld has a point.

Disagreement over whether or not to give Kent Wall, the Davidson County Administrator of Elections, a routine across the board cost-of-living pay hike that all other Metro employees got has gone public and was reported in this morning's Tennessean. (link)

The five-member election commission, with one Republican member absent, voted 3-1 last month to award the 2.5 percent pay hike on top of Wall's current $102,500 annual salary. While the Election Commission budget must be approved by the Metro Council as part of the normal budget process and while employees of the Election Commission are Metro employees, the Election Commission determines the salary of their own employees.

The opposition to awarding the pay hike came from  Democrat Commissioner Tricia Herzfeld. Her primary reason for opposing the pay hike was that Wall has not pursued a certification of administrators from the Tennessee Secretary of State.

I think Herzfield has a point. If I were serving on the Election Commission, I think I would have voted with her.  We are the State's capital city. Nationwide we are the "it" city. For our election commission to be only one of 13 counties in the State without a certified administrator of elections is embarrassing. Some very small, rural, low-income counties have certified administrators of elections and Davidson County does not?  Also if the Administrator of Elections is certified, the State pays the County more money than if the Administrator is not certified.

To obtain certification,  administrators must complete a course of study that covers 40 election law topics and pass a  closed book, written test that can last up to three and a half hours which ask questions based on statutory requirements and range from voter registration to Election Day guidelines.  Secretary of State Tre Hargett is pushing to have all administrators of elections become certified. I think if 74-year-old Kent Wall does not want to get certified, he should resign his position. If he does not pursue certification, he certainly does not deserve a pay raise. 

The Tennessean reports that the Election Commission meeting where Herzfield made her case against giving Wall the pay raise, became heated with finger pointing and Chairman of the Election Commission Roy Buchanan and Herzfeld questioning each others motives.

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Inauguration Ceremony set for Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.

Press Release,NASHVILLE – The inauguration ceremony to be held at Public Square on Friday, Sept. 25 launches a new chapter in the Nashville story that Mayor-elect Megan Barry has named: We Make Nashville.

The visual for the swearing-in ceremony will include the words “We Make Nashville” in 10 languages. It celebrates Nashville's variety in business enterprises and musical forms, consolidated approach to government, and spirit of cooperation and humanity.

“This is about celebrating all of Nashville,” Barry said in the unveiling of the theme. “What makes Nashville great is the diversity of our economy, our culture, our ideas, our music and our spirit.”
“With our growing and vibrant economy and neighborhoods, Nashville is a place for everyone. I invite you to join us for the events on Sept. 25, as we embark on Nashville’s next chapter.”

Inauguration Event Details
WHO: Mayor-elect Megan Barry, Vice Mayor-elect David Briley, and new and current members of the Metro Council
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 25

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Interfaith prayer service (limited parking available)
• 2 – 3 p.m. Swearing-in ceremony
• 3 – 5 p.m. – Public reception with mayor, vice mayor and Metro Council members

WHERE:
Interfaith Prayer Service
Watson Grove Missionary Baptist Church
1415 Horton Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Swearing-in and Public Reception
Metro Courthouse
1 Public Square
Nashville, TN 37201

In case of rain, the swearing-in ceremony and public reception will take place in the Music City Center's grand ballroom. Public parking with shuttle service will be available in Lot A on Woodland Street beside Nissan Stadium.

Nashville MTA will provide free service on all routes Sept. 25. For attendees of the interfaith prayer service, MTA bus routes No. 2 – Belmont, No. 17 – 12^th Avenue South and No. 25 – Midtown serve the area with bus stops near the church.

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Who may seek either the governor's office or Corker's senate seat next election.

Rocky Top Politics has engaged in some Idle Speculation about who may seek either the governor's office or Corker's senate seat, next time those seats are up for election. Please visit that site for the commentary. Here is who they list: State Sen. Mark Green, Speaker Beth Harwell, Former ECD Commissioner Bill Hagerty, Current ECD Commissioner Randy Boyd, AFP State Director Andy Ogles, AFP State Director Andy Ogles, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Stephen Fincher, Senator Mark Norris, and Former State Rep. Joe Carr.

I realize AFP has a statewide organization, but I doubt it is strong enough to support a successful statewide race by Andy Ogles, although if he had sufficient funds he might could pull it off. I think he would be a long shot.

When State Rep. Joe Carr ran for Lamar Alexander's senate seat he did better than I thought he would, but I think people were voting against Alexander, not for Joe Carr. I think Joe Carr is too far outside the mainstream to be elected to statewide office. I suspect the more people know about Carr, the less they will like him.

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Sunset on the South Harpeth, September 26th.

If you like the great outdoors, if want to see Tennessee's natural beauty preserved, see beautiful waterfalls and majestic views saved for public use, and critical habitats protected, and see park lands extended, you need to support The Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation.  

Next weekend TPGF will be hosting one of the best deals I have ever seen in a fund raiser. Since the food and beverage and music and site is donated, the cost can be kept low for TPGF supporters. This would be a great deal even if the money did not go for a good cause. For a donation of $30 you get an outdoor meal served in a beautiful sitting, wine and other adult beverages, music, hay rides and fun around a bonfire.

Please join me in attending this event: 

Hosted on a beautiful farm on the South Harpeth River in Williamson County Saturday, September 26, 2015 - 3:00 PM. Program at 5:00 PM.
 ~ 1920s dairy barn
~ Hike along the South Harpeth River
~ Kayaking
~ Hayride
~ Horseback riding
~ Silent Auction
~ Music by Buckdancer’s Choice and Bevin Gregory & Gray Gordon
~ Bonfire
~ Camping

Tickets are $30 per person. Children twelve and under free. Reservations requested to Steve Walsh at (615) 545-0195 or Kim Holst kim@tenngreen.org. For more information, visit www.tenngreen.org.

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Downtown parking is going to get a little easier

Parking spaces in downtown Nashville can be hard to come by.  As Nashville has grown, surface parking has been gobbled up by new construction and new development has added new workers and increased tourism has brought more cars looking for parking spaces.

I seldom go downtown, except to attend First Tuesday.  When I do, I usually park in the library

1,183-space garage under construction at 505 Chruch

parking garage. On the rare occasion that I go to something else downtown I usually take Uber. To park at a parking lot off of lower Broadway can cost $20 and I can go round trip from my house by Uber for about $10.

Parking is going to get a little easier. Metro is planning to add 350 spaces to the public garage that adjoins the downtown Nashville Public Library in what is expected to be a $10 million job, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Two new levels will be added on top of the existing four-story garage.  During construction the garage will remain open. The project will take about 18 months to complete.

While I do not know the exact details of how this is funded, most public parking garages are not subsidized by tax payers and the parking revenue pays the bonds for the construction.  Read more here and here.

In addition to these new 350 parking spaces a 1,183-space garage is under construction at 505 Church Street.

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TONIGHT - DOWNTOWN, FROTHY MONKEY COFFEE HOUSE, 5th Avenue. "America in the World: What Next?"

TONIGHT - DOWNTOWN, FROTHY MONKEY COFFEE HOUSE, 5th Avenue. "America in the World: What Next?" Hosted by World Affairs Council. For details, follow this link.

Last night I enjoyed the lively discussion at the TNWAC hosted event on the same topic at another location.

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AFP-TN: Axe the Tax (Hendersonville) (Oct 1, 2015)

From Americans for Prosperity:

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:
Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (CDT), Barefoot Charlies, 125 Sanders Ferry Road Hendersonville, TN 37075

Some politicians are focused on raising the gas tax - just when we are finally getting a break at the pump. Join us for our Axe the Tax tour to learn how you can join in to defeat the looming gas tax increase. 

State Representative Courtney Rogers will be our featured speaker. We'll be discussing the gas tax and other issues that affect all Tennesseans. We'll provide the appetizers and first beverage for those who RSVP here.

For an updated list of where your legislator stands on raising the gas tax visit: www.axethetax.org

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2015 "On Eagle's Wings" Conference, October 3, 2015.

October 3, 2015, Embassy Suites Cool Springs, 820 Crescent Centre Drive, Franklin, Tennessee, 37067. Phone 1-615-515-5151. Conference: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Banquet with special Keynote Speakers will follow at 6:00 p.m.
Keynote Banquet Speaker: Kamal Saleem, Former radical Islamist.
Other Speakers for this year's spectacular conference are:

• Steven Bucci, expert on Foreign and National Security Policy, Heritage Foundation
• Mary Byrne, Ed.D., The History of Failing Standards
• Sen. Jack Johnson, Insure TN
• Clarke Forsythe, Author, The Inside Story of Roe v. Wade
• Don Warren, engineer, Progressive Math vs. Traditional Math
• Genevieve Wood, update on Immigration, Heritage Foundation
• Craig Honeycutt, Islam in TN classrooms
• David Folwer, Esq., Family Action Council, Impact of Supreme Court decision on marriage
• Myra Simons, YES on 1: The 15 Year Journey
• Billie Cash, Billie Cash Ministries
• Cameron Sheppard, TN RTL Speech, Let Us Bring Hope
• Ann Corcoran, Refugee Resettlement Watch
• Joy Pullman, Heartland Institute, All That Data
• Rep. Judd Matheny, Legislative Overview
• Frances Arthur, Teens See Legislature Up Close and Personal

Space is limited. To register, follow this link.

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Event: Nashville Federalist Society presents Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller on Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Nashville Lawyers’ Chapter of the Federalist Society presents "Supreme Court Practice as a State Solicitor General" with Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller on Thursday, September 24, 2015 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at The Law Offices of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, Nashville City Center , 511 Union Street, Suite 2700 Nashville, Tennessee, 37219.  Lunch Will Be Served, and CLE Credit Will Be Available RSVP Here: http://bit.ly/1N6f8GB.

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The Council should have its own swearing-in seperate from the Mayoral inauguration

Randy Foster

The following is a Facebook post by former Metro Councilman Randy Foster. It is worth reposting:

Not to be negative toward Mayor-Elect Barry's inauguration theme ("We Make Nashville), the logo displayed in the attached story (http://www.scrippsmedia.com/…/Mayor-Elect-Barry-Unveils-The…) focuses on her inauguration only. WHAT ABOUT THE METRO COUNCIL?

Alas, Metro inauguration day inevitably leaves the Council members as a pack of also-rans who troop in together, are ceremonially sworn-in together at what is really the new Mayor's party, and who are then (metaphorically) patted on the head and sent off to do the Mayor's bidding.  Until my dying day, I will continue to advocate for the Council to separate itself from the Mayor's office in every reasonable way it can. It exercises the legislative authority of Metro Government, is an important check on mayoral authority, and ought to act like it.

I am in complete agreement.  The Council should have its own swearing-in separate from the mayor and otherwise separate itself from the Mayor's office whenever it can. The Council should act like an independent, separate and equal branch of the government.  The Council should take itself seriously as a legislative body.

Unfortunately, the Council is very weak.  Part of that is because it is a forty-member body and part of it is because of term limits.  A major part of it is also because of the metro charter which makes it impossible for the council to cast a vote against the city budget and property tax increases.

Another reason we have such a weak council is because the council does not exercise what power it does have.  The council should carefully scrutinize and consider mayoral appointments to boards and commission and occasionally reject an appointee when there is a reason to do so.  If a department has not been cooperative with council request for services or information, then request from the 4% fund should be held up. The Council should also hold special hearing to investigate things that need investigating, such as when there is corruption at NES or when we have a sidewalk program that replaces perfectly serviceable sidewalks but builds few new sidewalks. Also, not all legislative initiates have to come from the mayors office.

The previous council showed little independence from the Mayor, but I fear this new council will set a new standard for being rubber stamps, lap dogs, and yes-men of the Mayor.

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Paychecks for Patriots job fair, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

The Tennessee Department of Labor has partnered with Dollar General and several major employers in Tennessee to connect veterans with jobs. The “Paychecks for Patriots” hiring fair will be held on Thursday October 1st 2015 throughout Tennessee and will feature local employers interested in putting veterans to work.

The Nashville event will be at the Tennessee Titans Nissan Stadium,10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. One needs to pre-register.  Sixty employers are participating in the Nashville event, including, Southwest Airlines, Coca Cola, Fed Ex, Comcast and TVA. For information on the event in other cities and to register, follow this link. 

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Trail West building demolished overnight.

The Trail West building on lower Broadway which was on the Register of Historical Places and listed by Historic Nashville as one of the most endangered historic building worth saving, is no more. The building was torn down overnight.  This site has been the subject of controversy. At one time a hotel wanted to build on the site and then Walgreen wanted to keep the buildings but open a Walgreen there. Council member Gilmore left these parcels out of a historic overlay protection for the site for a long time. They were only included in the last meeting of the last council.  A demolition permit was not issued for the site, but the attached link explains why that was not necessary. For an explanation of how and why this demolishing occurred follow this link.

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"America in the World: What Direction?" Global Dialogue discussion group series, TONIGHT or Tuesday or Wednesday or next week.

From Tennessee World Affairs Council:

• You're invited to the Global Dialogue discussion group series.
• One topic a month, four options -- dates/venues -- to participate.
   
• Learn and share perspectives on the United States global challenges and policies.
  There could be no more timely topic for us to share perspectives on than "America in the World: What Direction?"  Check below for details or visit our Web site.

The four locations are Lipscomb University on Monday, Green Hills Public Library on Tuesday, or downtown at the Frothy Monkey on Wednesday, or Belmont University on October 7th.   You need to register. There are also a list of suggested reading and questions.

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Bellevue Breakfast club meets Oct. 3

From Betty Hood:
We will be meeting Saturday, October 3 at 8 am at the Shoney's on Hwy 70.  Our guest speaker will be Vincent Kreul from the Americans for Prosperity.  There will be time for Q & A after his presentation.

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What do you know about communism?

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, many believe that communism is no longer a threat to the world. In fact, in many academic and political circles, the acceptance of Marxist Ideology is on the rise.

Exactly what is so dangerous about communism? Why must we remind younger generations about the atrocities perpetrated by communist regimes? Take this quiz and discover why communism remains a threat to human liberty.

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Nashville is in the top ten of happiest metropolitan areas.

I love list and am pleased to see Nashville at number one on so many list or at least in the top ten. This list of happiest metro areas was published in Science Daily in July 2014, based on data from 2010, so it is five years old now. Traffic is a little worse than it was five years ago and that was before the Music City Center, the new downtown baseball park and a lot of downtown growth. I wonder how we would compare now?  I assume we would still be in the top ten.

One thing I notice about this list is that they are all southern cities except for number ten, that is if you consider Washington DC a southern city.  Are there other factors these cities have in common? What is the occupations of people in these cities?  What is the poverty rate? Do they have great parks? To they have good places to eat, and good night life, professional sports teams, and good museums, and good schools?  Do they have mass transit? Washington D. C. has a subway system, but not a great system. I don't think the others do, bit I don't know.  Washington D.C also has terrible traffic and this is a list of the metropolitan area, so it includes those people who commute and sit in traffic two hours a day. Maybe bad traffic does not make people unhappy. Washington has great extremes of wealth and poverty, so apparently that does not create a lot of unhappy people. Washington D. C itself has terrible schools but since this is the Metro area, maybe the suburban communities have good schools. I don't know. I wish this report went further and examined the factors that make a happy metropolitan area.

I am surprised to see Atlanta, Georgia on this list.  Atlanta is always held up as an example of what we do not want Nashville to become, yet Atlanta ranks higher in happiness than Nashville. I notice that not a single California city is on the list. I know California has its problems with excessive taxation and drought, but I always thought San Fransisco would be a "happy" city. Austin Texas is not on the list. Portland Oregon is not on the list. New Orleans Louisiana is not on the list. Lots of places that seem in someway desirable places to live are not on the list. Almost everyone likes visiting the beach, yet only one of the ten is located on a beach.

What is the number one unhappiest metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million? New York City. I guess with all New York City has to offer, it still does not produce happy people.

Top 10 happiest metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million (as of 2010):

1. Richmond-Petersburg, VA
2. Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA
3. Washington, DC
4. Raleigh-Durham, NC
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Houston, TX
7. Jacksonville, FL
8. Nashville, TN
9. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
10. Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ

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