I Cannot Vote to Re-Elect John Rutherford in District 31

 Dear Neighbors:

I’m writing to explain why I have decided not to vote for the re-election of Councilman John Rutherford in the 31st District.

As a resident who has lived in this district since 2001, I have seen a gradual decline in our quality of life with rapid, unplanned growth and poor, unimproved infrastructure. Meanwhile, I’ve been forced to pay 37 percent more in property taxes (something the councilman supported) and increased assessments to help underwrite pet projects that have not benefited our area.

Councilman Rutherford means well, but unlike the previous two council members, he has often been asleep at the switch (while riding on Mayor Cooper’s coat tails). And his logic seems out of step on many issues. I know I sound harsh, but my quality of life has been affected. When construction of a huge charter school at a major crossroads begins before we know about it, that tells me all I need know about the level of his leadership. The same goes for Culbertson Road, which is now unnavigable without experiencing potential tire damage. Our trees have been chopped to pieces in some places. Add to that the months-long closing of Pettus Road, and one feels more than frustrated. There are no sidewalks along major thoroughfares (posing a danger to pedestrians), and the Mill Creek Greenway is being surrounded more and more by sudden development. Antioch continues to be a garbage dumping ground.

There’s an old saying/question: “Is your quality of life better now than it was four years ago?” 

I still need to contact the councilman’s opponent, Dia Hart, to understand her vision for our community. I may end up writing myself in on the ballot.

I apologize if I’m hurting anyone’s feelings. I believe it’s time for important change.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of your week.

Does Best Buy Deliver? (Perhaps Not)…

I’ve been shopping at Best Buy for years, so the disappointing experience I’ve been having with an appliance purchase and delivery has caught me by surprise.

I noticed that the retailer’s Geek Squad has ended its reviews, and for good reason. They don’t want to hear from people like me who have been treated unprofessionally.

Here’s what happened.

I purchased a dryer at the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, store. As an add-on, I paid $200 for their Geek Squad, which included free delivery and set-up for the new dryer. The earliest appointment was about two weeks, a long time to wait. I’ve been hang-drying my clothes.

Preparing for the delivery involved moving a few pieces of furniture to clear an easy path to the utility room. I even removed pictures off the walls on the stairway. 

Then I waited… and waited… and waited. Nobody called. Nobody came. Around 7 p.m., I called Best Buy customer service. After a long wait, the representative told me the delivery had been canceled, but she didn’t know why. After another long wait, she connected me to the Geek Squad. The lady there told me they had to reschedule because my utility room is upstairs. 

The question I have is obvious: Why wasn’t this handled on the front end? And why wasn’t I notified? I waited all day.

The next possible delivery date for me is Dec. 3. That means I will have waited an additional two weeks to have my dryer delivered.

I’ve talked to friends who have had similar experiences. More and more retailers are doing things like this without apology. They expect customers to put up with this kind of unprofessional behavior. That isn’t necessarily true.

My thought is to return all of the items I purchased and stop doing business with Best Buy (and any other retailer that treats me this way). If everyone did this, they would have to listen. Proper planning and communication are key. Best Buy and the Geek Squad dropped the ball. 

Alabama State Port Authority Stifles Mobile, Alabama’s, Tourism Potential

  MOBILE, Ala. — The Alabama State Docks is on a mission: To stifle Mobile, Alabama’s, tourism potential. The Port Authority doesn’t want to admit that, but it’s true.

It’s always been this way. The ASD rules the roost. If you look at Mobile’s significant population loss, you can at least partially blame the Port Authority, the State of Alabama, and the railroads that partner with them. 

Don’t get me wrong. All Mobilians should be proud that the Port City is one of the top seaports in the nation. But facts are facts. When it comes to tourism, which has been a boon for similar cities like Savannah and Charleston, a great Southern city like Mobile can never really grow in the midst of the ASD’s strong-armed, self-centered control.

Longtime Mobilians might remember how, in the 1970s, a company proposed restoring old warehouses and building a hotel along the Mobile River. That’s exactly what Savannah has done. The Docks would hear nothing of it. They convinced the City Commission, including Lambert C. Mims, to hand over much of the city’s waterfront to the ASD for a container shipping terminal. Now that part of the waterfront and some of the city’s history is gone forever. 

When it comes to Amtrak, it doesn’t matter that a station operated in that exact downtown location (the foot of Government Street) for decades. The ASD never wanted it there. It was a nuisance. Tourism was not a priority. Nor was the passenger service people wanted and needed. 

Today, the circumstances are just as pressing. Mobile faces going forward or backward. Tourism has become key to the growth of many historic cities, and the Port City stands to gain so much if it is connected to more successful tourist towns such as Biloxi and New Orleans. Mobile’s museums and other tourist attractions need a boost from a lack of visitors. The Dauphin Street Entertainment District would grow and thrive, too.

Every successful city’s downtown includes a train station, main library, stadium, and boardwalk. Downtown Mobile has none, although it does have a waterfront park, convention center, and cruise terminal. 

For some reason, the ASD seems convinced that placing the train station at the future Mobile Downtown Airport would be sufficient. What a nice, picture-taking arrival destination for visitors coming from Biloxi and New Orleans. I guess they could catch an Uber to see the beauty and history of downtown. 

But, of course, we know the Port Authority’s true goal. To prevent anything good that might be a nuisance to them. A true, caring Mobile company or operation would do all it could to help the city. They would bend over backward. That’s because they love the city. Not the ASD though. High fives all around if you’re one of them.

The ASD’s trend of stifling the city’s tourism has always been, and it will continue (unless the mayor, council and concerned citizens come to their senses and wrest away its  unreasonable control).

Mobile deserves to finally become the city it’s always had the potential to be. 

(Chuck Whiting was a longtime Mobilian who attended local schools and began his career at The Mobile Press Register.) 

A Letter to TransCanada - Columbia Pipeline

Editor's Note: TransCanada - Columbia Pipeline (a foreign company) has snuffed out the voices of Nashville citizens in its quest to build a large industrial complex with two turbine engines in the heart of a fast-growing residential community. Their actions may have been technically legal, but were the unethical tactics they used constitutional? You be the judge. The plant they are on the verge of building will affect Nashvillians for decades to come.

I recently wrote this letter to the project manager:

 

Jan. 10, 2018

Project Manager

TransCanada - Columbia Pipeline

Dear Project Manager:

It is with a very heavy heart and anger that I write you today.

I believe you already know the tremendous hardship TransCanada's compressor station is going to have on the thousands of people who live in Nashville (southern Davidson County). But there is something even more that grieves me.

In using its legal but unethical backdoor tactics, your terrible company snuffed out the voices of the people who live here. To me that is undemocratic and un-American. Your employment and collaboration with this makes you equally guilty of helping a foreign company exert its influence, will and control over the people who will have to endure pollution, noise, reduced property values, and a lower quality of life.

Gaining FERC's approval was probably a shoe-in. TransCanada has many utility friends there. It didn't matter that the Nashville mayor wrote to express her concerns, or that the Metro Council passed a bill to help protect its citizens. FERC ignored the hundreds of citizens who expressed concerns for their well-being and that of their children (while your PR guy was spinning the "good neighbor" and "dishwasher" nonsense). You and your company used your financial and lobbying influence to coax members of the Tennessee State Legislature to sponsor bills that would snuff out local opposition. All it took was Gov. Bill Haslam's signature, and your terrible project was a go. You can now all slap yourselves on the back and receive your bonuses. Meanwhile, Nashville residents will have to bear the burden of a polluting industrial plant. In my case, it will be across the street. This plant could have easily been built in an industrial park or rural area. Obviously, money is more important to you than people.

Shame on you and your colleagues for what you've done. I've visited many historical sites over the years. I wonder what Ben Franklin, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others would say to you if they were alive. The U.S. Constitution is supposed to guarantee everyone a voice. Instead, you and your colleagues have squashed it. Everything we've worked for in Antioch -- nice homes, parks, schools and walking trails -- has been ruined. For most of us, selling our homes now will be next to impossible.

There's an old saying. What you hand out (good or bad) will return to you 100 times over. I hope that's the case with you and your colleagues at TransCanada.

Nashville City Council Members Vote to Receive Paid Health Insurance for Life

     Here's how Nashville City Council members voted on Councilman Phil Clairborne's bill to overhaul the structure of Metro Council's comprehensive health care plan. The bill failed, giving current and former Council members health care coverage for life. Do you know any other part-time workers who receive these benefits? Council members' jobs are classified as part time. Adjunct professors at area colleges and universities are limited to a certain number of hours to exclude them from health care coverage. Nashville is the only city to offer these benefits.

HOW THEY VOTED

     Here’s how council members voted on Councilman Phil Claiborne’s bill to overhaul the structure of Metro Council’s comprehensive health care plan:

Aye (15): Megan Barry, Ronnie Steine, Tim Garrett, Charlie Tygard, Brady Banks, Peter Westerholm, Bill Pridemore, Josh Stites, Bruce Stanley, Phil Claiborne, Burkley Allen, Jason Holleman, Sean McGuire, Carter Todd, Bo Mitchell

No (18): Jerry Maynard, Lonnell Matthews Jr., Frank Harrison, Walter Hunt, Scott Davis, Anthony Davis, Doug Pardue, Larry Hagar, Tony Tenpenny, Erica Gilmore, Buddy Baker, Sheri Weiner, Emily Evans, Duane Dominy, Karen Johnson, Jason Potts, Fabian Bedne, Jacobia Dowell

(Note: Fabian Bedne is running unopposed in the next election.) 








Abstain (4): Karen Bennett, Sandra Moore, Chris Harmon, Davette Blalock

Absent (3): Steve Glover, Edith Langster, Robert Duvall

Responding to Barbra Streisand's Commentary on Climate Change...

     Editor's note: One of my clients is singer-songwriter Joyce Rouse (a.k.a. Earth Mama) whose mission is to save planet Earth one song at a time. She's helped open my eyes to climate change and its negative impact on the world around us. My late grandfather (on my Dad's side) was an avid Republican, and my late grandmother (on my Mom's side) was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. Thus explains why I'm stuck somewhere in the middle on the political spectrum. I'm the coveted "independent voter" (part of the swaying 7 percent) that presidential candidates target for advertising. Something tells me my grandfather (an "Ike" Republican) would have agreed with me on this issue.

     An an "in-betweener", I fall a bit progressive on the issue of climate change (global warming). Here's my response to commentary recently penned by Barbra Streisand. You can read her article at www.BarbraStreisand.com.

     I might be wrong, but I believe one reason most Republicans deny mankind's impact on climate change is pride stemming from their dislike of former Vice President Al Gore. (I can hear the feathers ruffling.) Add to that the fear that addressing this serious issue might hurt the fossil fuels industries, eliminating jobs. Yes, there will be a transition. And that won't be easy, especially in a state like West Virginia. Change can be hard. But it's critical to move quickly to reduce our dependency on coal and oil.

     It took 10 years to land a man on the moon. With that kind of determination and leadership, this crisis can be solved. Clean, renewable energy (wind and solar) is the answer. Even natural gas (which we have in abundance) would be preferable for the short term. It emits 50 percent less carbon dioxide than coal when burned.

    This morning, I read a startling article in USA Today. New studies in the journal Science reveal that although human population has doubled in the past 35 years, the number of invertebrate animals such as beetles, butterflies, spiders and worms has increased 45 percent during that same period. Most Republicans (and some Democrats) have their heads under oil barrels. They'd better come out of the fumes into reality before it's too late... for all our sakes.

Chuck Whiting and Amy Allen to Lead 'Reaching Your Dream' Artist Career/Publicity Workshop on July 26

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 2014) -- Artists of all kinds can receive invaluable insights on the professional steps needed to achieve success by attending the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 26 (Saturday) at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville, 6705 Charlotte Pike in West Nashville.

            The career and publicity training workshop will be led by country/blues/pop artist Amy Allen and award-winning publicist/educator/composer/author Chuck Whiting. Attendees will learn how to write and distribute press releases; develop a one-of-a-kind hook; believe in their talents; plan creative events; develop stage presence; form a team of experts; develop, manufacture, market and sell original products; obtain copyrights; and build Internet exposure.

Amy Allen

            Allen and Whiting will lead artists through the career-building and publicity process step by step with hands-on instructions, examples and feedback. Artist Q&A spotlights (case studies) will feature insights from Nashville filmmaker/visual artist Robyn Morshead, singer/songwriter/musician Sean O'Shea, and author/speaker/edu-tainer/edu-preneur Debbie Watts.

            Attendees will participate in an artist vision-sharing event called "Arts on the Row" from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. The first 15 professionals to sign up for the workshop will enjoy a complimentary tour and demonstrations at a local media operation on July 25 (Friday). They also will have the opportunity to receive complimentary writing and editing critiques during a brainstorming lunch on July 27 (Sunday).

            Tuition for the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop is $95 (registration by July 20) and $120 (registration after July 20). Participation in the "Arts on the Row" artist vision-sharing event, media tour, and critiques/Q&A sessions are included with registration. Meals are not included. Discounts are available for couples, company-sponsored groups, and non-profit organizations. Artist scholarships are available.

            For more information or to register for the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop, call (615) 423-9857 or (888) 80-SHINE, send an email inquiry to Arts@WhitingPublicity.com, or visit www.ReachingYourDream.net.

            "I hear many fellow artists say how overwhelmed they are with the multi-tasking involved in the career-building process," said Allen, who has collaborated with Whiting on product development, performances and publicity for her "Someday Is Today" CD project. "Overcoming self-doubt to believe in yourself can be a huge struggle. And many artists don't realize how important it is to establish a professional self-image. It's very important to develop a one-of-a-kind persona, top-notch marketing tools, and a great team. We also need to protect our intellectual property rights in a fast-changing digital world. Achieving success is a combination of heart and business."

            Allen recently landed two Top-15 country hits from her latest album, “Someday Is Today”. Amy has performed at venues ranging from the White House to the Ryman Auditorium, opening for stars such as John Conlee, Patty Loveless, and Brooks & Dunn. She has overcome a major health-related challenge to become successful in the arts. Learn more about Amy Allen at www.TheAmyAllen.com.

            A former newspaper reporter, Whiting founded Whiting Publicity and Promotions in Music City in 1993 to provide exposure for artists and the organizations that support them. He is the author/co-writer of the book/song “The Littlest Star”, editor of Music City Arts Update, and host of the songwriters show “Tunesmithing”. He teaches communication courses at Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College. Learn more about Chuck Whiting at www.WhitingPublicity.com.

Chuck Whiting

            "Our goal will be for each musician, author, actor or visual artist to have a career-changing hook, game plan, or press release in hand by the end of the weekend," said Whiting, who is completing a new CD of instrumentals and vocal tunes for release in 2014. "We will be available to provide feedback during a follow-up brainstorming lunch on Sunday."

            For more information about the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop, visit www.ReachingYourDream.net.

###

Mobile, Ala., Could Have Been Like Charleston and Savannah

          Whenever I visit Charleston or Savannah, I think of Mobile, Ala. 

          The first two cities had preservation societies that waged campaigns to save historic landmarks. Entrepreneurs saw the potential and invested in dilapidated houses. City governments were totally on board. 

          There are some beautiful landmarks in the Port City. But overall, Mobile has done a poor job on historic preservation... more of a "scattered" approach. Much of the damage was done in the '60s, '70s and '80s when the City Commission there failed to pass stricter building codes, essentially ignoring the loss of many historic landmarks and selling much of the waterfront to the Alabama State Docks. I remember reading about the demolition of a house possibly dating back to the 1700s. When I was a child, Government Street was beautiful from downtown to the Loop.  Now it's littered with filling stations and fast food restaurants. Visitors who passed through the city used to lament about the terrible transformation. 

          But you can't change the past. You have to move forward from where you are. Essentially, it's up to us to first care about historic preservation, then to act. The rewards are great.

The Fort Conde Inn is an example of what Mobile, Ala., can do. A house dating back to 1836 was rehabbed into a magnificent bed and breakfast in the Fort Conde Historic District. (Photo provided by the Fort Conde Inn)

          And, actually, it could be I'm being a little bit too hard on Mobile. Nashville could do a much better job as well. Historic preservation in Music City seems to be a lesser priority these days with all the new high rise buildings going up. So many historic buildings have been lost over the years. As as far as trees go, there's no comparison. Much of Broadway, West End, Church and Charlotte remain treeless.

          One bit of good news for Mobile. A house dating back to 1836 has been rehabbed into the magnificent Fort Conde Inn. Check out the photos at The Mobile Press Register:

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2014/06/cool_spaces_everything_old_is.html

High Fives to the Country Music Association

          Today, I'm high-fiving the Country Music Association and its annual event, CMA Music Festival. Where else in the world can you have access to so much free live entertainment?

          This year will offer a number of stages in downtown Nashville accessible to all free of charge. And, there will also be a host of booths with free giveaways, including ice cream and barbecue. Everything kicks off on Thursday, June 5 and ends on Sunday, June 8. Country music fans who weren't fortunate enough to buy a laminate for the sold-out evening shows at LP Field can take heart... There will be plenty of live music just about everywhere downtown day and night.

          Check out my arts news blog at www.MusicCityArtsUpdate.com for full details on free offerings at the CMA Music Festival. The article includes artist lineups, dates and times for a number of stages.

          Parking seems to be the biggest challenge. This weekend would be a good time for the mayor to promote the Amp. It's times like these (especially) when we need mass transit. 

'For The Love of Music' Documentary Moves Me... Kinda

          During the 2013 Nashville Film Festival, Nashville CVB head Butch Spyridon exclaimed: "This is the coolest damn city in the world." 

          Just about all of us would agree. But when it comes to telling Nashville's story, the CVB's documentary "For The Love of Music"  has "authentic" hits and misses. It moves me... kinda.

          The hits: "For the Love Of Music" features an impeccable cast of artists, including The Black Keys, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Kings of Leon, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, and a barefooted Vince Gill. All do an excellent job raving about Nashville's emergence as an "authentic, multi-genre city".

Kris Kristofferson

          

          The movie is likely to make musical and tourist waves in certain places when it airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday (May 21) on CMT. But it doesn't tell the whole story. Missing are a number of key ingredients: The Symphony's impact on the collaborative wonder of Nashville's musical landscape... the appreciation of CCM/gospel greats like Amy Grant (although Michael W. Smith was quoted briefly in the film)... the multitude of struggling songwriters who take nightclub stages every night (not just at the Bluebird) with the dream of landing a label or publishing deal. 

          The movie's focus is on the musicians and songwriters who've already made it. While this is probably the best direction to promote the city overall, it leaves a few "emotional" gaps in Nashville's story for me and some of the writers/musicians I work with. That opens the door for a sequel.

New Hotel Means Loss of Victorian-era Hamilton-Pilcher House... and the Trees

(Update: First the house... now the beautiful trees are gone. There's no mercy on the part of Richard Branson and his team, including David Chase. Rather than keep the large trees that had shaded and graced Music Row for decades, they chose to bulldoze everything. That's surprising for Branson, who claims to care about the environment. Maybe I was wrong to think that. The view from the ASCAP building now looks terrible.)

This is what I posted earlier:

From the "political" desk of Chuck Whiting...

Okay... I'm probably not the most politically minded person on the planet (not even close)! But like everyone out there, my feathers do occasionally get ruffled. So why not post an occasional "vent" or "praise" to let out my frustrations (or my delight)? 

Here's the first "vent" from "Politically Chuck".

On the surface, the new luxury hotel to be built by Virgin billionaire Richard Branson sounds incredible. I'm always happy to hear about Nashville moving forward. And I love the Music City Center, expanded Country Music Hall of Fame, new high-rise hotels, etc. all. What a wonderful time to be living and working in Music City.

Then I read the following in a Tennessean news story:

The site where the hotel is planned is considered an entrance to the Music Row area, which has drawn interest from multifamily and other developers because of its proximity to downtown and Midtown Nashville. A Victorian-era home built in the 1870s at 1 Music Square W. was demolished this week to make way for the project.

The Victorian-era Hamilton-Pilcher House
on Music Row was torn down by
Richard Branson and David Chase to
make way for a new luxury hotel.

 
Demolition of the 19th-century Hamilton-Pilcher House on the site drew an outcry from preservationists. David Chase said historically and architecturally significant items, including the bricks, were identified, cataloged and saved before demolition. 

“Our intent is to reuse as much of those materials in the hotel as we can, and what we do not use, I’m donating to the local historical preservationists’ society,” he said. 

Immediately, my heart sank. I love historic preservation. Whenever I see a developer take away an architectural marvel (especially one that dates back into the 1800s), I have to ask, "Why was it necessary?" Was it a good call for Branson, David Chase, Mark Broom, and Butch Spyridon to push for its destruction for the sake of economic progress? Nashville has lost so many historic landmarks over the years. Just think how wonderful it would have been to have had the home incorporated into the design of the hotel (instead of just its disassembled bricks).

I'm sure I'll love the new hotel on Music Row. But I'll never forget what was there before it was built. Now that it's gone, we can never get it back. Paradoxically, Branson, David, Mark and Butch made history!