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Cinematic Potpourri The buzz about the upcoming Nashville Film Festival is about the quality

 

 

In This Issue

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Drinking on the Job?

Veneereal Disease If you’re buying a new home, beware of brick veneer

Our Critics Picks Chris Difford, Sunday, 25^th

Mighty Neighborly Eastland Café gives the old ’hood something new to talk about

Station Identification Hotel owners to engineer restaurant in Union Station

Public Art

Gore Biking to Academy Awards Will also shave head to reflect heat back into space

Rank ’Em A gaggle of respected writers name their favorite books

 

 

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The Bad Man of Nolensville Road Detailing the sleazy practices of an influential Hispanic business leader

Less Than Zero On the 10-year anniversary of Tennessee schools’ zero tolerance policy, one girl learns about no exceptions the hard way

Good Night and Good Luck Local Spanish-language TV news comes to Nashville

Renaissance (Weather) Man A local TV meteorologist breaks the blogging mold

Liberal-On-Liberal Antagonism A terminated employee calls one of Nashville’s leading liberal activist organizations a racist ‘progressive plantation’

The Nativists Are Restless The backlash against immigrants is at full boil in Tennessee

Buddy Lee’s Love Child? A Georgia man claims that Music Row legend Buddy Lee abused his mother—and much, much more

 

 

The Author

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P.J. Tobia

 

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The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (THCC) has voted unanimously to suspend its president, Robert (a.k.a. “Ismael”) Chavez, following the cover story in last week’s Scene (“The Bad Man of Nolensville Road,” Jan. 15). Miguel Torres, who sits on the chamber’s board of directors says that Chavez’s sleazy business practices were “like a cancer” on the Hispanic community.

Among the Scene’s findings were that Chavez operated essentially as a housing agent for illegal immigrants, renting them apartments at above-market rates and profiting the excess. In addition, Chavez is being sued for defaulting on a $25,000 loan that he admits he signed for but that, in court documents, he says he’s not responsible for paying back. Among other negative claims agains him, sources say Chavez also was responsible for dismantling accountability within the chamber—taking on the roles of treasurer and vice president himself while serving as president and leaving other members in the dark.

The press release announcing the suspension says, “The board’s actions were based upon a recent cover story in the Scene which called into question certain actions of the president and the board's concerns over the resulting negative implications of the article on the chamber.”

“You did a good thing for the Hispanic community,” Torres says of the Scene. “The way that the chamber does business is going to change.”

Torres cited a pending internal audit as well as an external review of the THCC’s financials and business practices. The suspension will last 90 days, and Ramon Cisneros will assume the presidency of the organization.

“We’re going to restructure,” Torres says.

Some might question the audit process, however, given that Ralph Levy remains the THCC’s legal counsel. Levy’s law firm is currently the registered agent of the La Paz health care clinics of which Chavez is a part owner, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Levy did not immediately return calls for comment. Torres tells the Scene he wasn’t aware of Levy’s connection to Chavez.

Regardless, Torres and others on the board are convinced that the THCC has turned a corner.

“Without your article, we would never have known the true Chavez,” Torres says.