Of interest to folks in Metro Council District 4...

I have sent the following to Metro 4th District Councilman Brent Swope concerning a proposed development for Nolensville Pike at Hold Hills Road:

Dear Mr. Swope,

I posted the following to my Facebook page, Holt Woods Page for Free Expression. I wanted to share it with you as well...

The HOA sent out an email today discussing a proposed development at the corner of Nolensville Rd. & Holt Rd. A message from Councilman Swope stated:

“Goodall Homes would like to propose an adult community covering approximately 37 acres, averaging 3 units an acre, or around 115 units. This property would also include amenities such as walking trails and a clubhouse. This project would not burden the school system and would generate 50% less traffic than a single-family development.”

The person who sent the email then went into a rant that appears to oppose this idea.

I responded to the person with the following:

"You cannot prevent someone else from developing their property forever. As a former planning commissioner, I believe this looks like the best scenario for the property. This sounds like a great project. Or would you prefer apartment buildings?"

Folks, you can't stop projects forever. I have served as a planning commissioner, and I think I know a bit more about property rights and density than the person from the HOA. That property owner has a right to legally develop their property. If developers continue to be shut out, either a developer or the property owner will start suing people. Whether the city gets sued, or a clueless homeowner's association that resorts to knee-jerk reactions instead of thinking things through gets sued, we all will pay.

When I think of all the things that COULD be on that property, this sounds like the least objectionable possibility. As for traffic, lean on Councilman Swope to have Stop signs or stoplights installed at Holt Rd. & Holt Hills Rd. And for heavens sake, let's all lean on Swope to AT LEAST get some guard rails on those two crazy curves on Edmondson Pike. For southbound traffic, that's one heck of a drop-off next to the road.

Councilman Swope will hold an informational meeting about this on Thursday (4th) at 6:30 pm at the Oglesby Community Center across from the Nippers Corner Kroger. Based on what I know at this time, I support this project and urge you to consider doing so as well.

Paul Jensen

Flippant Stray Thoughts for Wednesday, 11/11/2015

Happy Veterans Day! Please be sure to thank any veterans you see today for their service to our country...

Their sacrifice allows low-level hacks such as myself to spout off flippant stray thoughts worldwide...

-0-

This is the first Flippant column on the new page. Probably won't keep a schedule here either...

Here comes the Progressives

The train wreck known as Megan Barry is already rolling out her progressive agenda. First she created new six-figure salaried positions so we can have more over-paid bureaucrats. Now Metro won't be asking job candidates if they have a criminal record...

So we're going to have Metro employees working with our children without knowing whether or not they have a criminal background?

We better not ask them if they have any experience or training either, because that might be unfaaaaiiiirrr. Or perhaps raaaaaaacist...

-0-

Why do I think the Franklin Kia guy thought of his advertising campaign all by himself?

If he's trying to be like the 399 Sofa characters, he's missing the mark. By a lot...

The sofa guys

-0-

Smoking and oxygen tanks do not mix well...

Standard time sucks...

I told you the Titans were more than a quarterback away from the playoffs...

-0-

I'm starting to educate Metro Council members on what happens when the minimum wage is raised. Glad to report my councilman, Robert Swope, is on board. Swope wrote back...

 "When I learned my craft, I worked for FREE. not $5 an hour, and definitely not $15 an hour. I suspect that if this world goes the way in which you have revealed…… everyone will be a millionaire… and NOTHING will ever be accomplished again.

"Not my definition of reality."

I had a job in high school unloading trucks and washing tanks. Not very exciting, but I worked for a wonderful man and I liked it. I started at minimum wage, but received several raises during my two years there. So I don't want to hear any crap from someone working at Wendy's for eight years and is still making minimum wage...

If that's you, that is on you. Try showing up on time and not leaving early. Be courteous to customers and co-workers. Do your job. Let them know if you're not going to be able to come in. Don't show up at work drunk or stoned. Bathe. If that doesn't get you anything, get another job. You're working for an a-hole...

But don't go around whining that you deserve $15/hr. No you don't. You haven't earned it. You don't have any job skills beyond living and breathing. Besides, you're being manipulated by union hacks who are only interested in stealing part of your hard-earned pay so they can pass it off to union fat-cat bosses whom they'll never meet..

With that, I must say adieu until next time. See ya...

Email sent to all Metro Councilmen re: Street Vendors

As you consider the ordinance regarding the street vendors, please make sure you have facts to work from. I do not know the answer to this question, but you certainly should.

How many accident reports involving street vendors does Metro Police have for the past 5 years? Injuries? Deaths? Property damage? I have heard Councilman Glover on several media outlets discussing this ordinance, and not once did I hear him cite any statistics.

I presume you understand the consequences of this ordinance. Several hundred homeless people, who are working every day in all kinds of weather, would lose what is probably the only source of income they have. Several have been able to pull themselves out of homelessness and get an apartment. They have hope. Councilman Glover wishes to destroy any hope they have. I wrote Mr. Glover several days ago and he has chosen not to respond.

There are also several fundraisers held each year by collecting donations on street corners. This money goes to charities that help to make our community a better place. This type of commerce is common in major cities and small towns across America.

I hope you will consider these thoughts I have shared with you, and thank you for your service to this great community. 

Sincerely,

Paul Jensen

District 4

Responses

Bob Mendes (At Large):

• "I  agree.  I think more regulation on the vendors is not needed.  I think the Council will likely pass it on 1st (of 3) reading so that it can go to Committee -- nearly everything at least goes to a committee meeting.  I believe it will do poorly in Committee and be defeated by the Council.  I will work against it."

Sharon Hurt (At Large)

• "Thank you for  your outreach to me and I will consider your letter when I make my decision."

Brett Withers (District 6):

• "Thank you for your comments.  I support The Contributor and the men and women who work hard every day selling newspapers for a living."

Larry Hagar (District 11):

• "I have had no negative encounters with these vendors nor complaints from residents. I do not plan to vote for this bill."

Mina Johnson (District 23)

• "Thank you for your feedback. I believe in providing tools to help people who had to live on the street to pick themselves up rather than make it difficult for them. We will find a common sense solution."

Email sent to Metro Councilman Steve Glover re: Street Vendors

Mr. Glover,

You have said there is a problem with the street vendors. What exactly is that problem? Could you please share with me the accident records involving these vendors for the past five years? You did get that information from our police department before introducing your ordinance, didn't you? I am surprised that I have seen you discuss this issue on several of our local news outlets, and on none of them did you mention any statistics. You claim there is a problem. Police records would prove or disprove your claim.

Sincerely,

--

Paul Jensen

Is Nashville Moving In The Right Direction?

The Tennessean recently posted a question on Facebook: Do you think Nashville is headed in the right direction? It was linked to an article headlined When Megan Barry has success, Nashville has success.

The latter is a nonsense statement and of course I agree with it. Megan Barry is the mayor, and naturally if she is successful, Nashville will be successful. But what is success? That takes me back to the first question. Is Nashville headed in the right direction?

Not being shy, I waded into the conversation and said that if she succeeds in doing the things she campaigned on, then no, we are not headed in the right direction. As expected, the blow-back from low-information liberals who frequent that page was immediate.

It always amazes me how liberals are so willing to jump into a discussion without doing any research or having any facts. I was asked why I was a Sad Sam? Why was I so negative? I decided to go for the low-hanging fruit and a topic I spent endless hours researching during the campaign.

I went for the minimum wage.

It has become trendy for "progressive" cities to raise their minimum wage, so they are more "fair" and a high school dropout can somehow support a family of four while working at Burger King. There is also a consistent record of job loss and business cessation. For example, Seattle lost 1,000 restaurant jobs in the first month after raising their minimum wage to $11/hr. (on the way to $15/hr.). Barry wants to raise Nashville's minimum wage to $15/hr.

I explained this to my adversary and provided some links. This is where liberals usually reply with crickets. But she claimed Nashville is somehow different than other cities and that's not going to happen here.

At this point I should have realized I was dealing with an advanced form of stupidity and should stop wasting my time. But nooooo, that's not what I did.

I inquired as to what made Nashville different than anyplace else? Well, we're the "It City" and our businesses would not do that. She then went into an extended rant about how her family has been in Tennessee for 500 generations and so she truly cares about Nashville. I guess if one chooses to live in Nashville, that person (me) cannot love Nashville.

???

Why in the hell did she think I chose to live here? I did not come here because of a job. Or school. Or family. We could have lived anywhere in the country. Really, anywhere on the planet. Other cities were considered. Tennessee and Nashville was easily the choice.

I told her that length of residency in Tennessee has no affect on the dynamics of business. I then aborted the conversation because one cannot fix stupid.

So now we wait and see how events play out. I will give Barry props for not evicting the homeless from their camp at Fort Negley, as her idol Karl Dean was about to do. She's letting them stay until spring while the politicians try to figure out what to do with them.

I am not a blind cheerleader. Nashville's future is uncertain. I hope for the best. As far as the new mayor is concerned, I am a skeptic.