Love-Hate Mail
Powerless promises
Mr. Clement, enough already (“True Crime” Aug. 23). Your recent rants make me embarrassed to say I live in Nashville. It appears you long for the days of Bill Boner. One might question whether you have ever read the Constitution or the Articles of Incorporation for the City of Nashville.
The comments you’ve made about the public defender and prosecuting attorney collaborating to convict those accused who cannot afford representation causes me to wonder if only the wealthy (read campaign contributors) are entitled to a defense. The job of the public defender is to defend people accused of a crime who cannot afford representation. (That’s why their title is “public”—get it, paid for by tax dollars—“defender.”)
Now, about your tax pledge. This may come as a surprise, but the mayor cannot raise taxes. While the mayor can request a tax increase, the tax increase must first be passed by the Metro Council and then by a referendum. While there might be some questions about whether the referendum part would survive a legal challenge, until such time as there is a challenge, that is how taxes get raised: by a vote of the taxpayers, not by the mayor.
You have said you are going to improve the schools. How, pray tell? Nashville public schools are under the leadership of a superintendent who is (1) under contract and (2) hired by the school board. School board members are elected by the voters, not appointed by the mayor. Finally, curriculum and funding are primarily controlled by the state government.
Finally, you have been quoted in newspapers and on TV implying that you will fire the police chief. Well, Bob, again you misspoke. You see, the police chief has a contract, and his job is protected by civil service. You do know what civil service is, don’t you?
So stop promising things that are beyond your power to deliver. Stop sounding so desperate to be elected that you will promise anything. Enough already.
BILL BANK
billbank@comcast.net (Nashville)
A convenient truth
I was very impressed with Leonardo DiCaprio’s powerful documentary The 11th Hour (“Damn You, Environment!” Aug. 30). The film depicts the devastating impacts of global warming, including droughts, hurricanes and flooding of coastal areas. It features interviews with the brightest minds on our planet about the causes of this man-made environmental crisis.
A November report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization suggested a powerful solution. The report found that meat production accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That’s more than automobiles.
Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by the combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms and slaughterhouses. Much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.
The good news is that each of us can do our part to reduce global warming on our next trip to the supermarket. More details are available at CoolYourDiet.org.
JACK QUENTIN
Vigilance3000@yahoo.com (Nashville)
Georgia on my mind
And here we go again. I, along with many others, would love the chance to see the Stieglitz Collection (“Wal-Mart Radiator,” Aug. 30). I have tried without luck on numerous occasions to view the paintings. Would someone please get off their ass and make a decision on this collection. Six months in town and six months in Arkansas are better than 12 months boxed in a warehouse and a lot better than sold and out of town forever.
RICK SMITH
rismith@firsthorizon.com (Lebanon)
Don’t pay to play
I’m not writing to bitch about your lap dance article (“Why Lap Dances in Nashville Are Illegal but Group Sex Isn’t,” Aug. 23). One thing, though: lap dances are not against the law. Only paid lap dances are illegal, just as it’s illegal to pay for group sex. You kind of put a spin on it. It’s still a good article, but it is a bit misleading. I guess in the media you guys have to be a little dramatic.
SHAYNE WINGO
wildwingo@msn.com (Nashville)
Proper parade
I didn’t realize the Veterans Day parade was going to be on Nov. 12 (“Veterans Day Delay,” Aug. 23). Has the Fourth of July celebration ever been held on the fifth? The three most important days on every American’s calendar should be Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.
I know it’s practically against the law to move the NFL game to a later start, so why not start the parade at noon (instead of 11 a.m.) and end it at LP Field during halftime in front of 69,000 American-flag-waving, appreciative fans? Flyovers, optional. Goose bumps, priceless.
CARL J. STASIUNAS, USAF VETERAN
flairusa@yahoo.com (Nashville)
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