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| The Nashville Voter
Volume 76, No 4-- April 2023
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| 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.
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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
Saturday, April 22nd from 2-4 p.m. Hillsboro West End Neighborhood Spring Plant Swap.
Bring what plants you have to share but if you're empty handed – don’t let that stop you!
Free plants, seeds & gardening tips. Come one, Come all! The Plant Swap will be held at the home of Russanne Buchi-Fotre’. Please reach out to Russanne at russanne@comcast.net for the address.
Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm CT. 2023 League of Women Voters of Tennessee’s (LWVTN) Convention. The attendee registration fee is $25.00 per individual. The convention will be held at Middle Tennessee State University in the Sam Ingram Building (2269 Middle Tennessee Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130). Click here for additional information: https://www.lwvtn.org/2023_lwvtnconvention_20230429
Friday, May 5, 2023 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CT. May Hot Topic: The History and Future of Ft. Negley in Nashville. Dr. Angela Sutton and Cyril Stewart will cover the history and future of Ft. Negley, and will present the plans for the enhancements to the park. Please join us to learn about the next phase for this park, which was designated in 2019 as a ‘Site of Memory’ on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Slave Route Project. Stay tuned for the link.
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| President's Message
This session of the TN General Assembly was intense, and I want to thank you for all the efforts to advocate for LWVN issues. You made phone calls, sent emails, and showed up at the Capitol. The tragic events at the Covenant School led to increased calls for real action on gun violence in Tennessee. Seeing so many people and especially young people show up at the Capitol was inspiring.
The proliferation of guns is a public health crisis as guns have surpassed vehicles as the number one killer of children. When people don’t feel safe to gather in community with each other, the lack of sensible regulations on guns is a threat to democracy. In the past, on issues of gun safety, we have partnered with Moms Demand Action and other groups advocating for common sense gun safety laws. We will continue to partner with these organizations and increase our advocacy work for common sense gun safety laws.
Lastly, the LWVN commends the Metro Nashville Council for their quick, unanimous work to appoint Rep. Justin Jones to his seat in the general assembly. Immediately after the expulsion hearing, many council members pledged their support to reinstate Rep. Jones, and the momentum quickly built to unanimous support to uphold the will of the voters in District 52.
Lara Webb
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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: Kelly Chambers, Kalynn Cook, Margaret Ereshefsky, Pamela Hicks, Alisa LaPolt,
Cynthia Mercante, Anne Smith, Rebecca Spencer, Jennifer Thompson, and Stephanie Williams.
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/.
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Hot Topics
By Karen Wieckert and Melissa Hanson
In last month’s Hot Topic, Juvenile Court Clerk Lonnell Matthews, Jr. discussed the future of juvenile justice in Nashville, and how he and Judge Sheila Calloway, his self-proclaimed "Partner in Justice," are shifting the culture of the juvenile court systems and operations 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. Williams provided data and commentary on the reduction in youth intersections with law enforcement and the courts and a detailed overview of the new development project and goals for continued reduction in harms.
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." Clerk Matthews and Judge Calloway go further to note that their roles at the Juvenile Court are responsible for making sure that every child and parent who passes through the court is met with justice, fairness, and hope.
The current Juvenile Justice Center, located on Woodland Street opened in 1994 with just 4 judicial officers, one elected juvenile court judge and three appointed juvenile court magistrates. Today, it houses 10 judicial officers, one elected juvenile court judge and 9 appointed juvenile court magistrates. The Juvenile court handles petitions to cover custody, visitation, establishing parentage, child support, guardianship, child abuse, neglect, dependency, delinquency, unruly and other juvenile related issues. In addition, the pre-trial housing facility houses an average of 35-40 justice-involved youth daily. Clerk Matthews noted that two-thirds of the court's business is devoted to family-conflict issues while one-third of the cases involve delinquency, unruliness or status offenses. Contrary to public perception, juvenile delinquency has decreased from 4745 cases in 2013 to 1921 cases in 2021 and can be partly attributed to the de-incarceration strategy of providing treatment, training and rehabilitation over criminalization.
The new Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment (“NYCE Campus”) on Brick Church Pike will be "a family-oriented, trauma-informed campus designed to support the intrinsic value of all members of our community. In addition to serving as the home of the Davidson County Juvenile Court and a pre-trial housing facility for justice-involved youth, the NYCE Campus will house resources and agencies that can provide immediate service delivery to families in need. A 24-hour Assessment Center will support youth in crisis, while maintaining the safety of the community. Spacious meeting rooms and courtrooms will allow Court staff, community partners, litigants, and attorneys to conduct private meetings and mediations to peacefully resolve family conflicts with dignity and respect. A safe exchange facility will allow for therapeutic custodial visitation to help strengthen families and build resilience in children. In short, the NYCE Campus will provide a center of growth, opportunity, and empowerment for young people in our community from birth through adulthood."
The 14-acre site was chosen based on its proximity to additional resources for children and families, easy access for attorneys and other court partners, accessibility to public transportation, adequate space for free parking for staff and the public.
View and read the entire master plan document at this link: Nashville Juvenile Justice Center Master Plan.
The LWV of Nashville will host the next Hot Topics presentation on Friday, May 5th at Noon. It will be a Zoom meeting.
On May 5th, the Hot Topic speakers will cover the history and future of Ft. Negley in Nashville. Dr. Angela Sutton and Cyril Stewart will present the plans for the enhancements to the park. Please join us to learn about the next phase for this park, which was designated in 2019 as a ‘Site of Memory’ on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Slave Route Project. Stay tuned for the link.
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Health Care/Public Health Committee
By Constance Caldwell and Claire Sullivan
The Public Health Committee has continued to follow legislation related to reproductive health. We have followed and written and called legislators in support or opposition to several bills this session. We supported efforts to decriminalize pregnancy terminations that are medically necessary to protect the health and well-being of women, and in cases of rape, incest and abuse. Along with the LWV TN we supported bills to expand TennCare, provide remote pregnancy monitoring in counties that lacked adequate obstetric care (almost two-thirds of Tennessee counties), reimbursement of doula services, and grants to broaden access to child care, child support, housing and workforce transition skills for young mothers and families. We opposed bills to weaken childhood immunization protocols, and to limit gender-affirming health care for trans-youth and adults. We've also added our voices and our presence to calls for stricter gun safety legislation.
Julieanna Huddle, the Executive Director of the Davidson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program presented at our March meeting about the tragic impact that the problems at the Department of Children's Services have had on children in foster care in Davidson County. She was hopeful that plans to develop a new Davidson County juvenile justice campus designed to be more family centered and to co-locate programs such as CASA and supportive trauma-informed care services, would make a lasting difference in protecting children, preventing abuse, and reuniting families.
Committee members are preparing to present our position statement on reproductive justice at the LWV Tennessee Convention on April 29th. We are also researching the potential impact of the loss of federal Title X funding on access to family planning services and reproductive health care in our county and across the state.
If you are interested in joining us please contact co-chairs Constance Caldwell [constancecaldwell269@gmail.com] or Clare Sullivan [clare.d.sullivan@gmail.com] and put LWV Public Health Committee in the subject line.
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Environment Committee
By Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Kalen Russell
The Environment Committee met in-person (woowoo!) on March 2nd. Environment is ripe for some action with the Inflation Reduction Act/ TN Waste and Reduction Act/ TN Clean Act/ Extended Producer bill (regarding packaging). We hope to focus on local sustainability in schools with Karen McIntyre, and local waste management with Jack and Karen leading us in the charge.
Please join us for the Hillsboro West End Neighborhood Spring Plant Swap on Saturday, April 22nd from 2-4 p.m. at the home of Russanne Buchi-Fotre’. Please reach out to Russanne at russanne@comcast.net for the address.
Bring what plants you have to share but if you're empty handed – don’t let that stop you!
Free plants, seeds & gardening tips. Come one, Come all!
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Metro Council Meeting
By Pat McCauley and Jack McFadden
Here’s a recap of the Metro Council Meetings from 03/16/23; 03/21/23; 4/04/23; and 04/10/23
PLANNING COMMISSION
VOTING/ELECTIONS
- On 4/4, there was a public hearing about the council size change. It was 2 hours long and the vast majority said to defer voting on the council maps, that 40 members was the correct number. Changing the council on this timetable was too fast and chaotic. That none of the proposed maps had been translated to other languages, etc. The resolution was withdrawn and the council did not vote on any maps. Jeff Roberts, head of election commission, was in the gallery.
- Lawyer Dietz announced at the 4/10 special meeting that Nashville won an injunction to stop the cutting of the metro council. Court ruled, 3-0, that the state violated the Home Rule amendment of the TN constitution. So for today, we are back to a 40 member election on Aug. 3 The State may appeal, and the Supreme Court may or may not take the case if the state appeals.
- The Metro Council voted to choose Justin Jones for District 52 vacancy. A Special Election for his seat must be held within 60 days.
HEALTH/ MEDICAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ UNHOUSED
- 1742: An ordinance passed on second reading requiring the Metro Division of Housing to establish a public dashboard on how the city is addressing the issue of housing affordability in Nashville and Davidson County.
EDUCATION/SCHOOLS/ IMMIGRATION
PUBLIC SAFETY/ TRANSPORTATION/ TRAFFIC/ POLICE
- A resolution passed urging bars and restaurants in Nashville and Davidson County to participate in the Safe Bar Program. Safe Bar program works to train staff on how to identify and intervene safely when they see sexual harassment or assault at their establishment. Safe Bars are given materials including coasters that can detect ketamine and GHB (gamma-hydoxybutyrate a sedative), fentanyl training and testing strips, a binder of information and resources for staff members to utilize when someone is in need of help, as well as posters with the Sexual Assault Center’s crisis hotline number as well as an additional training option to cover Narcan.
ENVIRONMENT
- An interesting ordinance that failed on 2 nd hearing, 5 yes, 27 no, and 4 abstaining, 1777 was a bill to rezone 80 acres of farmland to commercial in Joelton on White’s Creek Pike along I24. People spoke in favor saying they want a grocery store. Council people felt a regulatory overlay would be more appropriate. That commercial zoning would not guarantee that a grocery store would move in. With a regulatory overlay, what commercial businesses moved in could be controlled.
GENERAL
- 1741: Stadium bill on 2 nd reading has 20 amendments.
- Amendment 2 adding a $3 tax indexed to inflation to go to the General Fund passed. Got stuck on amendment 6. It was 1:30am and everyone was too tired to think. So a motion to defer one meeting and have a special meeting passed. So the meeting could be adjourned. If they don’t pass the stadium bill before May 1, it gets delayed to August because they work on a budget in May.
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:
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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.
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| 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!
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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.
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| 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
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