by Rod Williams - At the October 1 meeting of the Metro Council which was the first meeting of the new Council, the Council passed a memorializing resolution adopting a "Community Covenant." This document could be interpreted as committing the council to a progressive agenda that includes adopting certain policies. On the other hand it could be interpreted as adopting aspirational goals and does not suggest specific policies to achieve those goals. That is the way I am interpreting it. As an example, I support "living wages and family-friendly benefits" but oppose a mandatory $15 an hour minimum wage or mandated maternity leave. The best way to achieve a living wage is to create an environment where more people are worth $15 an hour but recognize that jobs paying $7.25 are entry level jobs that help people build the skills necessary to earn $15 an hour. I favor ending poverty but think that capitalism and a free-market economy do a better job than redistribution and making people dependent on welfare.
The document does contain some relatively specific policy proposals such as, "the Council
should continue to dedicate robust funding for the Barnes Fund for
Affordable Housing." However, "robust" is not defined.
This resolution was signed by the mayor. Resolutions that do nothing and are simply expressing the will of the Council are often not signed by the mayor. When the Council shares an opinion with the U.S. Congress, for instance, those are not signed by the mayor. I would have preferred the mayor had not signed this since it clearly is only, "expressing the support and commitment of the
Metropolitan Council." I do not know why this was signed by the mayor.
Typically, the Council attorney does not provide an analysis of memorializing resolutions and he did not provide analysis of this resolution.
This resolutions puts the Council on record for something, but thankfully it is vague enough to make it mean whatever one wants it to mean. Luckily for those who thing it means rent control or a $15 an hour minimum wage for Nashville or sanctuary city status for Nashville or a lot of other progressive values will find themselves frustrated by State law and a State legislature that will not allow Nashville to wonder to far off into progressive la-la land. Below is the text of the resolution as amended.
Resolution RS2019-31 (as amended)
A resolution expressing the support and commitment of the
Metropolitan Council toward principles constituting a Community Covenant
with the aim of increasing prosperity and reducing poverty in Nashville
and Davidson County.
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council recognizes that all citizens
and residents of Nashville and Davidson County should have the
opportunity to participate in Nashville's burgeoning economic growth,
and that ensuring a more equitable city for all Nashvillians requires
adoption of public policies and business practices that will foster
equal access to equitable opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the
Metropolitan Council further recognizes that equitable growth gives all
Nashvillians the opportunity to participate in and benefit from
Nashville's growing economy, and that equity -- rather than simple
equality -- should be considered when making public investments,
allocating resources, choosing service vendors and contractors, and
enacting budgets; and
WHEREAS, diversity and equity should be
reflected in all departments and agencies of the Metropolitan
Government, as well as in the non-profits and businesses throughout
Nashville; and steps should be taken to identify, recruit, and hire
candidates from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds;
and
WHEREAS, living wages and family-friendly benefits support
and advance upward economic mobility, financial independence, and family
stability. Accordingly, the Council should endeavor to partner with
those businesses that provide living wages, quality affordable
healthcare, and other family-friendly benefits; and
WHEREAS,
reasonable access to affordable housing promotes community stability and
development while preventing displacement. Therefore, the Council
should continue to dedicate robust funding for the Barnes Fund for
Affordable Housing and further establish a comprehensive plan, developed
with community input, that addresses Nashville’s affordable housing
crisis; and
WHEREAS, public transportation should connect
residents to their homes, work, and surrounding neighborhoods. In light
of Nashville’s growing transportation crisis, the Council should pursue a
comprehensive development plan for public transportation that is
conceived, developed, and implemented with a community-driven approach;
and
WHEREAS, workforce development is vital to connect unemployed
and under-employed residents to meaningful job opportunities.
Consequently, the Metropolitan Government should seek partnerships with
colleges, businesses, non-profits, and apprenticeship programs to
connect job seekers with employers and opportunities in order to provide
them with opportunities to develop essential workplace skills. The
Metropolitan Government should also improve opportunity for minority and
woman-owned businesses, and be more accountable publicly about the
effectiveness of these efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan
Council believes the principles recited herein above are proper,
necessary, and effective toward the reduction of poverty throughout
Nashville and Davidson County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY THAT:
Section
1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as expressing its
commitment to the principles recited herein above as a Community
Covenant for the reduction of poverty in Nashville and encourages the
Mayor to express a similar commitment.
Section 2. The
Metropolitan Council will adopt practices to implement the principles
recited herein through its committee structure and upon a vote of the
council, and encourages the Mayor to also adopt practices with the aim
of implementing the principles recited herein.
Section 3. The
Metropolitan Council encourages all Metropolitan Departments,
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, and the Metropolitan Transit
Authority to adopt practices to implement the principles recited herein
to assist with increasing prosperity and reducing poverty throughout
Nashville and Davidson County.
Section 4. This resolution shall
take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of the Metropolitan
Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Sponsor(s)
Bob Mendes, Brett Withers, Colby Sledge, Bob Nash, Jeff
Syracuse, Kathleen Murphy, Thomas Cash, Nancy VanReece, Sharon Hurt,
Tanaka Vercher, Kyonzté Toombs, Ginny Welsch, Emily Benedict, Sean
Parker, Delishia Porterfield, Joy Styles, Russ Bradford, Gloria Hausser,
Jennifer Gamble, Freddie O'Connell, Zachary Young, Burkley Allen,
Zulfat Suara
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