|
|
|
|
| The Nashville Voter
Volume 76, No 3-- March 2023
| |
| Welcome to this issue of the LWVN Voter. You'll notice that the Emma page design allows you to access the LWVN Calendar by pressing a button at the top of the page!
Please note, you can increase your screen size within your personal information manager (i.e., Microsoft Outlook). In the Microsoft Outlook Message Bar at the top of the e-mail page, choose "Other Actions'' and then in the dropdown menu choose "Zoom." The Zoom window allows you to increase the file size; try 140% for easier onscreen reading.
Also, please note that if you want to share/forward this newsletter to others, you MUST click on the envelope icon at the upper right side of this emailed version.
| |
Today, March 22, 2023 at 4:30pm and 6:30pm. Important Metro Council Meetings about Redistricting. There are two meetings about redistricting in Nashville related to the new law about reducing the size of the council. There is a Planning and Zoning meeting at 4:30pm and a Council Meeting at 6:30pm. Committee meetings and the Council meeting will be held in the Historic Metro Courthouse located at 1 Public Square. Parking is available in the Public Square parking garage underneath the Historic Metro Courthouse and will be validated for meeting attendees. You can also watch the meetings online at Stream.Nashville.gov.
Friday, April 7, 2023 at 12:00pm on Zoom. April Hot Topic: Discussing the Future of Juvenile Justice with Clerk Lonnell Matthews. Clerk Lonnell Matthews will discuss the future juvenile justice in Nashville, and how he and Judge Sheila Calloway are shifting the culture of juvenile court to prepare for the opening of the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment. Juvenile Court is responsible for making sure that every child and parent who passes through our court is met with justice, fairness, and hope. Click here to register.
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 1:00pm at via Zoom. League of Women Voters Williamson County Chapter April Program: Kylie Graves, LWVWC’s April program guest, works as a policy specialist with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the agency responsible for monitoring child well-being in our state. You are invited to learn how Tennessee compares to other states on measures of child well-being and how advocacy can improve outcomes for underserved and unprotected Tennessee children. Register here: https://brentwood-tn.libcal.com/event/10268363
| |
| President's Message
As you may know, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill that would limit the size of Metro Nashville’s city council to 20 members. While there are still many things that are uncertain right now, I know one thing for sure—we will have our work cut out for us! This uncertainty will cause voter confusion and result in voter suppression. We can play a critical role in voter education and outreach. Board members spent some time last month making plans for forums and researching voter resources. There will be many opportunities to get involved, and I hope you will join us. If you have some spare time and would like to get involved in planning for voter education and outreach for the city election please email lwebbteacher@gmail.com or lwvnash@gmail.com.
Lara Webb
| |
Membership Committee
By Reba Holmes
With great delight, we announce and welcome our new and returning members that joined the Nashville League of Women Voters. It is our privilege to welcome these individuals to the organization: Pamela Atkins, Erin Crawford, Joy Hunter, Elizabeth O’Shea, Ross O’Shea, Katherine Sanford, and Donna Yurdin.
We are grateful to these members and all our members that support the League’s activities, programs, and underwriting.
Membership New or Renewal
Need to renew or start a new membership? Membership allows you to share a year’s worth of experiences promoting democracy, educating others in the community, participating in political discourse, and registering new voters, to name a few. Plus, the annual membership includes membership to the national, state, and local LWV organizations. Details regarding the various support levels may be found on our secure website https://lwvnashville.org/membership/.
| |
Hot Topics
By Karen Wieckert and Melissa Hanson
The March 2023 Hot Topics provided the league with an overview of the Tennessee Waste Reduction and Recycling Act (TWRRA). Dr. Dan Firth, Chair of the Solid Waste & Mining Committee of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, gave a thorough analysis of:
● Tennessee's trash problem
● Why recycling, although not a complete solution, is necessary
● Why producers must be responsible for supporting recycling programs throughout the state, both in urban and rural jurisdictions
● Why producers must focus on reducing the amount of packaging for their products as well as remove harmful chemicals of concern used in their packaging; and
● How the TWRRA addresses these issues.
Although introduced this January, further legislative action on the TWRRA will happen in 2024. For continuing updates about the bill, please contact ReimaginePackagingTN@gmail.com.
The LWV of Nashville hosts the next Hot Topics presentation on Friday April 7th at noon. It will be a Zoom meeting.
Clerk Lonnell Matthews will discuss the future juvenile justice in Nashville, and how he and Judge Sheila Calloway are shifting the culture of juvenile court to prepare for the opening of the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment. Juvenile Court is responsible for making sure that every child and parent who passes through our court is met with justice, fairness, and hope. As described by Tennessee Code Annotated Section 37-1-101, the purpose of juvenile court is: “To provide for the care, protection, and wholesome moral, mental and physical development of the children coming within its provisions.”
Lonnell Matthews, Jr. was elected as Nashville’s first African American Juvenile Court Clerk in 2018, and re-elected to this position in 2022. In addition to his elected office, Lonnell serves as the Co-Founder of the My Brother’s Keeper Nashville Alliance, where he works with partners to close achievement gaps for boys and young men of color. Prior to his Clerk position, Matthews career in public service, including being the youngest African American elected to Nashville’s City Council at age 27, in 2007 and serving on the cabinet of Nashville’s first female Mayor, Megan Barry.
| |
Health Care/Public Health Committee
By Constance Caldwell and Claire Sullivan
The LWVNashville Public Health committee has been working with the LWVTN Advocacy Committee to monitor and develop comments on several key bills still working their way through the General Assembly. The LWVNashville was well represented with at least eight members present when key bills related to amending Tennessee's abortion ban were scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary and House Population Health subcommittee this past week.
Bills sponsored by Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville to codify Roe v. Wade into Tennessee law and to add exceptions for rape and incest were not allowed to move out of the House Population Health Subcommittee which means the Senate companion bills sponsored by Sen. Heidi Campbell of Nashville will not have a path forward in the Senate. Meanwhile, two bills [HB883/SB745] sponsored by Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes and Sen. Richard Briggs and [HB778/SB983] sponsored by Rep. Helton-Haynes and Sen. Ken Yager] attempt to clarify the definition of medically necessary abortions as those that protect life and bodily function of a mother, and are exempted from criminalization. The delay in hearing these bills, which may be merged, is due to negotiation over language that is acceptable to the Tennessee Right to Life organization and medical providers.
As we understand it, neither bill considers risks to the mental health of a pregnant woman which the LWV Nashville position statement feels is essential, nor makes any exceptions for rape, incest or child abuse. Both Senate bills are now scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 21 at 1:00 PM. House Bill 778 is currently scheduled to be heard in the House Population Health subcommittee on March 21 at 3:00 PM and HB883 in the full House Health Committee on March 22 at 3:30 PM.
The bill [HB 252/SB644] which has already passed the House that would set a precedent of exempting home-schooled children (who also participate in school field-trips, after school activities, and child care settings) from any and all childhood vaccination requirements will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on March 22 at 3:00 PM.. Our committee opposes this effort to further undermine established public health policy that has nearly eradicated measles, mumps, chicken pox, diphtheria et al. Exemptions from vaccine requirements for legitimate medical or religious grounds already exist in Tennessee law.
| |
Environment Committee
By Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Kalen Russell
Although we are well into Lent season this idea isn’t tied to any particular time frame:
CARBON FAST LENT
Week 1 – Fast from Consumerism (buy nothing)
Week 2 – Fast from meat, dairy or desserts
Week 3 – Fast from cheese, chocolate, & coffee
Week 4 – Fast from long showers and using the clothes dryer
Week 5 – Fast from temperature luxury
Week 6 – Fast from driving
Restricting those things that we take for granted can give us a whole new perspective. GIVE IT A TRY!
Reminder: We will be participating in Food Waste Awareness Week from April 10 - 16. Take the pledge to reduce food waste here and be on the lookout for more information on how to reduce food waste via social media and next month's voter!
| |
Metro Council Meeting
By Pat McCauley and Jack McFadden
Here's an update from the past 2 Metro council meetings (2/21/23 and 3/7/23).
VOTING/ ELECTIONS
State bills to cut council of Nashville to 20 members passed and was signed by the Governor on 3/9/23. Bill also does away with runoff elections for metro council members not getting over 50% of vote. Bill has built in extension of current council members term to August 2024, if needed. If have council election in 2024, those council members have a one time 3 year term, and current council members will have term extended for one year. Currently there are 35 districts, so cannot just combine two districts – odd number. Need complete redraw of council districts. It will be very difficult to have council election in 2023 as early voting starts on July 14, but this has not been determined yet. The 2023 election of mayor of vice mayor should proceed on schedule.
HEALTH/ MEDICAL
Resolution passed accepting a grant for $800K from US Dept of Health & Human Services for prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV.
ENVIRONMENT
Bill to protect urban tree canopy was withdrawn due to the state being hostile to it, even though surrounding counties are passing similar legislation. Discussions will begin again next summer.
GENERAL
Resolution authorizing the Mayor’s proposed capital spending plan of $479 million passed. $314 million for the General Government, $139 million for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, and a contingency of $26 million. Included is a new Juvenile Justice Center and campus, and a new fire department headquarters.
An ordinance passed on first reading relating to the development and funding of a new, enclosed stadium. Second reading is deferred to first meeting in April to allow for many work sessions. Note that stadium deal of $2.2 billion is more than 4 times Metro’s annual budget..
Metro Council Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public. Here’s where you can watch Metro Council Meetings:
| |
Williamson County Update
By Bette Holmes and Linda Sherman
Child Well-Being in Tennessee
Our children are our future, yet many of Tennessee’s children and youth live in poverty, experience abuse or neglect, and lack the opportunities they need to thrive. Kylie Graves, LWVWC’s April program guest, works as a policy specialist with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the agency responsible for monitoring child well-being in our state.
Ms. Graves earned a BA in Social Entrepreneurship from Belmont University and an MA in Public Policy from the University of Tennessee. She also serves as the Director of the Second Look Commission, reviewing cases of children who have suffered severe abuse. You are invited to learn how Tennessee compares to other states on measures of child well-being and how advocacy can improve outcomes for underserved and unprotected Tennessee children.
The League of Women Voters of Williamson County invites you to attend this informative program on April 19, 1:00 on Zoom only.
| |
| Stay Informed about Upcoming Calendar Events!
If you get the electronic version of the Voter, we want you to know that the upcoming calendar events are available on our wonderful, new website – www.lwvnashville.org. On The calendar scrolls on the events of the current and upcoming events thanks to Tracy Depp, who keeps the calendar current. If you haven’t taken a look, do so to make sure you mark your calendar so you won’t miss a thing!
| |
|
ATTENTION: The Nashville Voter is a digital publication. If you have received this copy of the Voter in the mail, it means the League of Women Voters of Nashville does not have an e-mail address for you. Please help us by sending your e-mail address to LWVNash@gmail.com. Being on the LWVN e-mail database ensures your receipt of all LWVN newsletters, event invitations, meeting announcements, and Call to Action alerts.
| |
| 2022-2023 LWVN Board of Directors
Co-Presidents: Lara Webb
Immediate Past President: Madeline Garr
1st Vice Presidents: Melissa Hanson and Karen Weickert
Secretary: Elise Lamar
Treasurer Susan Mattson
Portfolio Chairs
Communications: Ophelia Doe
Community Connections: Sabina Mohyuddin and Katelyn Benhoff
Education: Harper-Grace Niedermeyer
Environment: Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Kalen Russell
Health Care/Public Health: Constance Caldwell and Clare Sullivan
Membership: Reba Holmes
Metro Government: Pat McCauley and Jack McFadden
Voter Services: Beth Gordon and Emily Grohs
Williamson County Representative: June Bond
Nominating Committee Chair: Senator Brenda Gilmore
Nominating Committee Members: Betsy Walkup, Constance Caldwell, Hasina Mohyuddin, June Bond, and Brenda Wynn
| |
|
|
|
|
|
