In response to correspondence received from the Nashville, Tennessee Office of Housing and Urban Development dated May 20, 2008, the Clarksville Tennessee Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) would like to thank the Nashville HUD office for its prompt response.

Although several of our concerns were addressed in their response, we feel there is still serious discord between the intent of the Ordinance as approved by the City Council and the understanding the residents have concerning the impact the redevelopment plan will have on their communities.

It is factual that Section 13 of the Tennessee Code Annotated clearly states that certain and deliberate steps must be taken to establish a redevelopment district. In developing the local development plan, the Clarksville City Council has apparently ignored the code, cherry picking areas that meet their objectives. It is troubling to know that the redevelopment plan, as written, does not meet all the objectives of the City of Clarksville five-year consolidated plan.Future funding for low to moderate-income residents in Clarksville could be in jeopardy, due to the administrations refusal to abide by the laws established by the state. This insipid approach taken by the city council could affect future state and federal funding.The TCA states “The housing authority is the only entity that can declare property blighted.” This declaration can only be done through a Housing Authority plan, which has to be adopted by the city and county elected officials. The plan has to:

• specifically identify the area;
• define why its blighted;
• specify what measures the governmental body will impose to eliminate the blight and
• declare both how much it will cost and how long it will take to correct the blighted conditions.

The most important part of the plan is to define how it will benefit low to moderate-income persons. The city of Clarksville Redevelopment Plan does not address these elements as specified in section 13, TCA.

The Clarksville Branch of the NAACP is simply asking that TCA be followed. The resolution passed by the city council lacks the quality and detail specified in the code. The city council members who voted in favor of this flawed resolution sadden us. The obvious attempt by the elective body of the city government, minus three, to compel the citizens of the redevelopment area to adhere to their will is repressive and lacks moral ethics. The unity in their show of force should alert citizens of Clarksville to what type of people we have elected to serve our interest.

It is clear, that this issue will most likely not be resolved without the state and federal legislative bodies withholding state and federal funds from the city. Our first choice in resolving this matter would be to have a joint resolution, agreed to by residents of the impacted communities and city government. Reluctantly, this will be our goal until this flawed resolution is either withdrawn or resolved. We feel even these actions will not be enough to get the city legislative body’s attention, since they are so adamant about implementing this non-existent plan.

The Clarksville Branch of the NAACP will continue to address this flawed resolution until all of the residents in the redevelopment area voices are heard and their concerns properly addressed.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

Jackson, TN - The Tennessee State Conference NAACP today voiced its strong opposition to HB4053/SB4075, proposed legislation that strips nursing home residents of their rights to seek justice against abuse and neglect. The legislation comes at a time when the quality of care in Tennessee nursing homes is at a record low and the profits of nursing home operators continue to soar.

Gloria Sweet-Love, NAACP State President, said the organization is urging state legislators to reject the legislation, which is being backed by the billion-dollar nursing home industry in an attempt to protect its profits. NAACP members are contacting members of the General Assembly to inform them of the gross injustice this legislation imposes on nursing home residents who are often poor, infirm and have no one to defend them.

The NAACP joins several other statewide groups, including AARP, Tennessee Association for Justice, Tennessee Citizen Action, and Centers for Independent Living, in opposition to HB4053/SB4075. “This legislation is a slap in the face to some of the weakest members of our society, and the NAACP is bitterly opposed to it,” said Sweet-Love. “Our parents and grandparents stood up for our rights and now we must stand up for theirs. The nursing home industry is demonstrating how far it will go to protect itself, even if it means stomping on the dignity of the people it should be helping.”

Sweet-Love said the legislation is particularly concerning given the appalling state of nursing home care in Tennessee. In 2007, nursing home violations and admission suspensions were at an all time high in the state, more than double the year before. State Health Department inspectors found 152 health and safety violations that put Tennessee nursing home residents in “immediate jeopardy” of injury or death. Rather than improving care, the industry is seeking unprecedented protection from victims seeking justice. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Rep. Randy Rinks (D-Savannah), would force incoming nursing home residents to sign arbitration agreements prior to admission and place an arbitrary cap on non-economic damages.

The industry and its lobbyists shamelessly named the legislation the “Nursing Home Patient Protection Act of 2008” in a seeming attempt to mislead legislators and constituents about the true nature of the bill. In actuality, the legislation does nothing to address quality of care for nursing home residents, but rather seeks only to protect the nursing homes themselves. Though allegedly modeled on legislation of other states, it does not propose increases in staffing levels, training, inspections or other quality of care monitors as other states have.

“The nursing home industry’s efforts to deny the rights of society’s most vulnerable human beings is self serving, profit driven and despicable,” said Sweet-Love. “We strongly urge members of the General Assembly to protect the rights of our elderly and disabled citizens and ensure that everyone has equal rights under the law.” The bill is currently working its way through the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 at Noon in the House Civil Practice and Procedure sub-committee.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

Each representative is responsible for making sound and timely decisions on issues that are plaguing the survivability of our city, county, state, and nation. As responsible citizens we’re supposed to be the trumpets that sound the alarms signaling them to take actions.

Are we doing our forefathers justices by allowing these infractions of justice to continue unabated? Should we not be addressing these issues through the proper channels, reminding those in leadership positions that we will not permit their turning deaf ears to our uproar?

Clarksville is a growing metropolis. It is evident that in just a few short years our population will reach upward of 200,000, especially if the current sprawl is allowed to continue. With sprawl come the elements of prosperity. Some good … Some not so good. Now is the time to start preparing for the changes that will undoubtedly follow the course of action we have chosen through our election of the representatives who lead our city and county. Yes, whether we want them or not, with growth, whether define or undefined, come the imperfections associated with such progress.

As we move closer to the status of becoming a metropolitan community, we need to reconsider our ability to protect those who reside in our boundaries, identify methods to effectively deal with the inequities that will occur in our administering to a more diverse population, and start redefining how we will make the members of this great community feel more inclusive in the political, economic, and social affairs of our city and county. We also need to reassess the filling open leadership positions, and address the equity of the justice that’s being dispensed through our judicial system.

Each of those areas is pertinent in making citizens who reside within our borders feel more a part of the political and social environment. We have a constitutional mandate to demand the enforcement of local, state and federal laws that have been directed by legislative bodies who are chartered to regulate our commerce and justice systems.

We live in a country founded on the premise that equal justice is guaranteed to every citizen. Real justice begins with the establishing and dispersing the rule of law without exceptions. Laws designed to serve and protect every citizen. As citizens of this community, we need to be more aggressive in addressing the needs of our constituencies. If we are not vigilant, we are destined to become pawns of our own “inactions”.

The MLK holiday for some was just a day-off, but for members of the NAACP, it was a day-on. By this I mean a day set aside to pay homage to a man who made a tremendous difference in the way we live today. Believe it or not, there were some who chose simply to forget the contributions he made to freedom irregardless of race, creed or national origin.

We, the NAACP, chose to devote quality time to keep the dream alive by attending religious services, preparing and presenting workshops and marching. Although the march was symbolic, it had its relevance to society as we know it today.

As some of us reflect back to the days of the 60’s, we know the meaning behind the marches and the songs we sung. During that period, each song carried a distinct meaning and each step symbolized moving just a little closer to realizing the goal of equality; equality in education, economics, politics, as well as social recognitions.

We have not made it to the mountaintop yet, but we still strive. We strive to be the best citizens, best employees, best neighbors and best friends to members of our community. We strive to make sure our children get the best possible education, healthcare, and are equipped to assimilate into the spheres of adulthood. We strive to live our life in a way that serves as an icon to our peers as well as our subordinates. We strive to hold those accountable who are elected to represent our best interest.

The holiday has ended but our commitment to fight the fight of justice for all continues. It continues because we still have flaws in our fabrics. The fabric of democracy is going through a process of renewal. If she is to successfully complete that cycle, each of us have a role to play in mending it. As we look forward to the rest of 2008, let us focus on the greatness of the deeds done by Dr. King. His sacrifice, commitment and willingness to go to jail to help right the wrongs that were being inflicted upon the poor.

We are a great nation, great state, great city and most of all a great people. May God truly bless America in 2008.

Jimmie Garland, Sr.

Editor’s Note: Jimmie Garland is a contributor for Clarksville Online.

The guest speaker will be Chaplain Alvin Miller, Pastor of the South Chapel located on the Fort Campbell, KY military base. Both churches’ choirs will be combined for this occasion in order to perform the music for the service. Refreshments will be served.

On Monday January 21st from 9am-noon will feature a poster contest, educational classes, and informative seminars for all ages, starting at 9am at Burt Elementary School located in downtown Clarksville. These programs are sponsored by local sororities and other civic organizations.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorative march through the city will leave Burt School around noon.

The NAACP extends an open invitation to everyone regardless of their ethnicity to participate in these events.

The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. For questions or more information please call Elder Frank E. Washington at (931) 980-1918.

One might believe I am only referring to the plight of the blacks. That is far from the truth. Throughout the history of the United States, there were servants of all ethnicities and both genders.

I make this statement as a prelude for my response to Leaf Chronicle editorial (12.31.07). The editorial addressed the division of funds generated by the Tennessee Lottery to fund the HOPE Scholarship program. The apparent position of the writer was that anyone who can not maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average doesn’t deserve a chance to achieve a college education. Let me remind that writer that there have been presidents of this country who had less than a 3.0 GPA, and some who had no formal education at all.

The Tennessee Lottery was enacted as be a carrot for those children and their families who are not financially capable of providing an upper level education for their children. Basically, it was enacted as a beacon of hope to the underserved population of our communities.

Although we (humanity) can be quick to condemn individuals who look and act differently from the way we’ve been taught, it serves no purpose to deny our children an education simply because they failed to meet a standard we arbitrarily set.

Setting the GPA at 3.0 is simply a means of establishing a permanent underclass within our society. In other words, as long as we have those who cannot meet our standards, we will have the workforce that can be preyed upon to do the menial tasks we choose not to do.

In 2005, our state legislators voted to sanction a lottery system to generate funds for use in assisting our youth in the realization of the American dream: “an opportunity to acquire a college education.” With our approval, Tennessee was moving in the direction of becoming an inclusive state. Modeling the lottery after the neighboring states of Georgia and Kentucky, officials put in place a program that would soon become a catalyst to help the state’s disadvantaged children become productive citizens.

Lately, a growing trend is focused on taking away this beacon of HOPE. There are those who feel the monies collected as a result of enacting the Tennessee Lottery could be used for other purposes. According to the Leaf Chronicle opinion, building schools should be one of those alternatives.

The writer of the editorial surmised that a child who maintains less than a 3.0 GPA is not worthy of receiving support from the HOPE Scholarship Fund. This position, I believe, is based on personal bias and ingrained indignation for the child who is struggling to get out of a cold bed in the morning, dress him- or herself and make it to the bus stop because they hope a better day is just over the horizon.

That horizon includes the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, established to give deserving children a means of divesting themselves of the drab conditions they are forced to survive in each day of their lives. To these children, HOPE means they do have a chance to do better; they can strive to work for employers that will pay them more than minimum wage. It means not having to live from paycheck to paycheck. It means being able to afford to buy fruits and vegetables, having a real family, being able to afford medical insurance for themselves and their families, being able to provide dental care for themselves and their family, owning a nice car and being able to afford the fuel and maintenance required to maintain it, owning versus renting the house they reside in, and allowing them to build a retirement fund to be left to their children and their children’s children upon their demise. Believe it or not, ALL of these quality of life elements require an education.

Americans that I respect have vision, integrity, and pride. Let us stop stereotyping those who are less fortunate than we are and start encouraging our youth to reach for the stars. Simply put—Lets keep the HOPE in the Hope scholarship program.

The slogan, “get your head in the game,” is a profound statement that alludes to one’s taking responsibility for acts they are either required to or have failed to accomplish. You hear it recited in many places where its application is directly attributed to the degree of success associated with a desired outcome.

In some circles, this phrase is nothing more than a cliche, in others a chant, but in this venue it is a call for parents to wake up to the challenge that comes with raising their children. Please do not take this as an indictment on the methodology you have chosen to meet your objectives in child rearing.

This appeal challenges each of us work cohesively to ensure the best possible course of action when choosing the education tract for our children. In doing this, we must approach each decision that affects the success of our child as parents, not merely your sibling’s friend. Friendship has its place, but it should definitely take a back seat when making decisions that impact the growth and successful assimilation of our children into the global market.

Our cheers should be louder for their successful matriculation in the field of academia than they would be in complimenting a touchdown on the football field, home runs on the baseball field, or the successful execution of making a field goal on the basketball court. Not that the later is not important. Every positive contribution a child makes to society, no matter how trivial, should be cherished. Each contribution or effort should be considered as lessons learned as they graduate to the next level of society.

In today’s society, too many of our young men, especially our black men, find themselves caught up in a system that leaves them ill-prepared to function as effective members of society. While their skill in sports are being exploited, their inherent need for achievement in the area of academia is being neglected. They are honored for their athletic contribution to the team but are being deprived of a real chance to succeed as effective members of society. As students, they are being left behind to fend for themselves upon exit from public school.

How are we failing them? We are failing or young men by not making them realize they must earn the privilege to play sports. It is well known that every athlete will not make it to the pros. That being a reality, it is paramount that we keep our young men and women focused on the prize of a good education. It has been proven in numerous studies that a child that can not read at grade level at the age of three is destined for failure. They are more apt to drop out of school and very likely to wind up as wards of the state.

As responsible parents, let’s befriend them by demanding that they be accountable for good grades, a thorough understanding of the basic principles of communications, and a through obligation to be publicly aware of the issues that will undoubtedly carve out their path as they move up the ladder to adulthood.

We can start the healing process by demanding excellence in academic, correctness in social skills, and diligence in the way our siblings deal with the pressures that will affront them as they become recipients of the heritage we will surely leave them. Whatever that heritage will be, it will be the ingredients they will use to carve out their place in society. We can continue to allow them remain afloat on the sea of confusion, or we can refocus our energies to redefine the paths we have allowed them to take.

In this diverse society, inundated with all sorts of ethical and devious vices, we are our children’s link to the future. How effectively they connect within the political, social and moral structure of society is in our hands. We can continue on the course we are chartering or we can drop anchor, consider alternate courses of action, realign objectives that will compliment the growth and success of our children and continue our journey focused on goals that will ensure our children will be more apt to successfully traverse the societal maze that is certain to confront them in life.

Let not our past be defined as a period of indecisiveness and lackluster involvement in the education of our youth. Let us commit to restructuring our priorities to include how well our siblings are fairing in the field of academia.

Let us resolve to prepare our children to achieve academic excellence, corporate participation and other curricular activities last.

I am Jimmie M. Garland, candidate for re-election as District 5 representative for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board. It has been an honor to serve as your representative during the past four years. I would be honored to be your choice to represent you during this next session.

As board member, my focus will continue to be on the needs of the students. As your representative, my focus has been on ensuring that “ALL” means “ALL” when it comes to student achievement. That will continue to be the focus of my energies should your allow me to continue to serve.

The board has made significant strides during the past four years. We have worked with the leadership to the District to redirect the focus of energies to better serve the purpose of our existence, “the students”. We have done this by realigning curriculums, establishing obtainable goals, opening up communication channels between the staff and the public and established method of operations that allows employees to focus on assigned missions.

Though successful on some issues, we still have work to do. We need to find alternative ways to gain the trust and confidence of you the constituent. I pledge to work harder at meeting this objective by being open to your communication and responsive to your recommendation.

Why am I adamant about the stability of our current system of operation?

Through personal association with board members across the state and nation, I am convinced that our method of operation is one of the best in exist Nance. We have a school system that is gathering interest of systems across the nation. The recent recruitment of our Director is a signal that our system is reaching prominence. We are doing this while experiencing a deficit in per-pupil funding.

As your representative, I would like remain on the team to ensure our focus remains on track during the transition to our new Directorship. I would also like to be there for the children.

Other reasons I am interested in remaining a member of the team are:

1. Our children deserve better the best education as well as educators.
2. Our schools should be funded to the fullest extent possible.
3. Parents have in the past been victimized by a system that was out of touch with reality; today that bridge is being dissolved.
4. We need to continue the trends set during the past five years to ensure the successful ascension of our young adults into society.

What I believe:

I believe the business of operating a school system should be conducted in an open public forum.

I believe parents should be kept informed of the needs of the system to ensure the growth of our children.

I believe all elected officials should be held accountable for ensuring funds received to operate public trusts are spent wisely.

I believe the will of the majority of the community of interest voting population should form elected officials opinions and greatly influence their decisions.

A candidate who will hear their concerns and respond appropriately should represent CMCSS School Board District 5.

As your elected representative, I will continue to work diligently with members of the school board to improve the quality of our education system. I will do this by exercising good judgement, voting responsibly, and evaluating all issues impartially.

What I need from you the voter.

To accomplish the goals outlined above; I need your help to get the message out to residents of CMCSS School-Board, District 5, in particular. Please exercise your constitutional right this election season by voting to support positive change. I would appreciate it if your vote were cast for me on August 3, 2006.

Thank You.

Jimmie M. Garland
Incumbent, District 5
CMCSS School-Board
Tele: (931) 216-6745
Email: garlandj1@juno.com