Nashville – Senator Beverly Marrero of Memphis drew high marks Friday for her stewardship of the environment, receiving the highest ranking of any legislator on the Tennessee Conservation Voters’ annual scorecard.

“None of us are surprised to see Senator Marrero perched atop the scorecard for the General Assembly,” TCV executive director Chris Ford said. “Her voice is strong, and her door is always open to us. Be it advocating against nuclear waste or for clean water, this lady means business when it comes to our health and Tennessee way of life.

State Senator Beverly Marrero

Senator Marrero was particularly proud of her fight against a bill that would have rolled back restrictions on selenium in Tennessee’s water. The bill eventually was struck down by a vote in the House.

“This bill would have handcuffed Tennessee to the relaxed environmental regulations set by the EPA under the previous presidential administration,” she said.

“The selenium standard established in 2004 was based on unsound research and should not serve as a guideline for Tennesseans who care about their water quality.”

TCV evaluated all House and Senate members for their action on bills that affect the environment and awarded or subtracted points accordingly. Senator Marrero scored 11 points – more than anyone else in the House or Senate.

Other action that won Senator Marrero points with TCV:

• A measure to specify that landfills cannot receive nuclear or radioactive materials – which Senator Marrero will continue to push for when the legislature reconvenes.
• Opposition to a bill allowing gun carry permit holders to take handguns into parks and other similar public places.
• A bottle bill to reduce litter and encourage recycling.
• Tighter rules for the disposal of coal ash, like that which was spilled at a TVA plant last year, affecting 300 acres in Roane County and going into the Emory River.
• A bill setting minimum energy efficiency requirements for specified appliances.
• A requirement that environmental interests have more equitable representation on air, water and solid waste quality control boards.

About Tennessee Conservation Voters

Tennessee Conservation Voters is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to protect Tennessee’s environment and preserve the state’s natural resources through legislative advocacy.

About Senator Beverly Marrero

Senator Beverly Marrero represents portions of Memphis. Contact her at sen.beverly..gov or (615) 741-9128 or 312 War Memorial Building, Nashville, TN 37243-0028.

Washington – In the Obama Administration’s continued effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $620 million to over 500 communities across the country through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To view the list the full list of grantees receiving funding under this program, visit HUD’s Recovery Act website. Tennessee will receive over $13 million (see attached list).

The Recovery Act made available a total of $1 billion through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. On July 16th, HUD announced the first round of grants under this program to nearly 700 communities, totaling $360 million. With today’s announcement, all $1 billion are now in the hands of communities, working to create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods.

“Today, I am proud to announce that HUD has moved quickly to obligate more than $10 billion in Recovery Act funds,” said Donovan. “Nearly three quarters of our Recovery Act funds are now available to communities across the country and are being put to work creating jobs, making homes more energy efficient, and strengthening neighborhoods.”

CDBG enables state and local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing and create economic opportunities. Under the Recovery Act, recipients give priority to prudent and responsible projects for which contracts through a bidding process within 120 days of the grant agreement.

HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively, with the goal of generating tens of thousands of jobs and helping the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis. The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, most of which is funneled through existing programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant program. Nearly 75 percent of that funding was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law. Now, just over six months later, HUD has obligated, or awarded, nearly 75 percent of that funding to states and communities across the country. $10 billion out of $13.6 billion is now in the hands of grantees, available for spending.

President Obama directed all Recovery Act funding to be spent responsibly and in a transparent manner in order to provide a necessary economic boost, create jobs, and strengthen America’s middle class. In a letter to CDBG recipients of Recovery Act funds, Donovan wrote, “In accepting these funds, it is imperative that you be good stewards of these precious taxpayer dollars by focusing your efforts on the Recovery Act goals of investing in infrastructure that will create or sustain jobs in the near-term and generate maximum economic benefits in the long-term.”

Since 1974, CDBG has provided more than $127 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the construction and improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG funds, although the program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. Annual CDBG funds are distributed to communities according to statutory formulas based on population, poverty, pre-1940 housing stock, growth lag, and housing overcrowding.

Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD’s Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD’s funding notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD’s Recovery Act website.

Tennessee amounts

• Bristol: $62,790
• Chattanooga: $465,678
• Clarksville: $215,046
• Cleveland: $89,967
• Franklin City: $73,348
• Jackson: $157,518
• Johnson City: $131,467
• Kingsport: $109,233
• Knox County: $270,573
• Knoxville: $504,654
• Memphis: $2,177,302
• Morristown: $78,824
• Murfreesboro: $169,316
• Nashville-Davidson: $1,316,347
• Oak Ridge: $68,498
• Shelby County: $276,897
• State of Tennessee: $7,095,627

About the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

Tennessee State Capitol Building

On Thursday, the Tennessee House passed House Joint Resolution 0019, as amended, onto the Senate, by a 53-40 vote. The resolution calls for a study of the financial impact of legal gambling, not related to a state lottery, upon tax revenue collections of Memphis, Shelby County and Tennessee.

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Larry Miller, District 88 and amended by Rep Fitzhugh, District 82. The amended resolution calls for the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) and the University of Memphis conduct the study and report findings to the general assembly not later than January 1, 2010.

The resolution now awaits action in the state senate.

The House Democrat Review is a weekly feature that gives Tennesseans an in-depth look at what our Democratic state legislators have been working on this week, and a glimpse into what’s planned for the coming week at our state house. This week:

• Unemployment
• Education

House Democrats sponsor bill to let unemployed go back to school

Legislation allows laid off workers to retain unemployment benefits while going back to school

NASHVILLE – On Thursday, State Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville), along with all present members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, voted to give laid off Tennesseans the ability to go back to school without losing their unemployment.

“There are tens of thousands of Tennesseans who have lost their jobs during this economic slowdown and currently they can’t go back to school without losing the one thing keeping them from being out on the street,” said Pitts. “We should be helping these people retrain for the jobs of tomorrow, not forcing them to choose between a roof over their head or the classes they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy.”

Under the legislation sponsored by State Representatives Joe Towns (D-Memphis), G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) and Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville), a person who is currently receiving unemployment benefits due to losing their job would not be denied those benefits if they choose to go back to college while they continue their search for new employment.

“We have people of every age and background no longer able to find work because their skills don’t match the available jobs,” said Pitts. “This legislation allows people to gain the skills they need without having to sacrifice the only source of income available to them.”

The bill passed the House unanimously 96-0 and will now wait on the Senate to take action on the measure. Earlier this month the bill was placed in the General Subcommittee of Commerce, Labor and Agriculture. The United States Congress is also slated to take up similar legislation later this year.

Schlanger was chosen through a rigorous selection process because of his vision for creating brick column entrances to Rugby, a subdivision located in Frayser, a section of north Memphis.

The original brickyards of Memphis were in the Rugby area. “While the brickyards no longer exist, the clay soil is still perfect for brick making. I enjoy the concept of the work being made from the soil it sits upon,” Schlanger said.

Schlanger began this labor-intensive project with 80,000 pounds of Memphis clay. This clay will be made into two large, 4 square feet by 20 square feet tall, brick columns, and 10 smaller, 2 square feet by 20 square feet tall, brick columns. The two large columns will have raised letters, which will read “Rugby.” All columns will have relief images carved into them. These relief images will relate to the history of Rugby.

“These columns represent the public gateway to the neighborhood. I am very interested in exploring through my projects the potential of creating a better sense of place, (which will lead) to a respect for that place and the environment. I believe this can happen through community involvement,”  — Gregg Schlanger

Thus far, 26 high school students in Memphis spent five weeks helping Schlanger with his vision to rebuild the entrance to Rugby. Schlanger has conducted brief interviews with residents of the neighborhood to gain inspiration for the 10 smaller columns, which include the names of the residents on the 120 tiles.

“I am interested in the memorable experiences of the area, what their interest or connection to the area is, why they live there, what brought them there or keeps them there and any other stories about Rugby. I hope to bring to the dialogue on public art, new questions about public space, public accessibility and community involvement,” — Gregg Schlanger

Schlanger also chose to create a brick column gateway into Rugby, because several homes throughout Frayser have a similar entry marker. “I have chosen to use the very common visual image of a brick column pillar, one that is quickly identified. I hope that most people will relate to the use of this simple image,” he said.

In addition to his ongoing work with “Rugby Gates” Schlanger spent five weeks in Germany in 2007, researching issues on global water consumption. His research ended with an installation, titled “B. W. R. (basic water requirements) 50 Liters,” at Kunsthaus Postdam, a non-profit arts organization in Postdam, Germany.

“It has been established that the basic water requirements per person is 50 liters of water each day for basic human needs. Unfortunately 20 percent of the world’s population only uses around 5 liters each day. Global warming is another major threat to our supply of fresh water. Changing weather patterns and melting glaciers are contributing to reducing the available water supply. It would be my intention to bring awareness about this global crisis through this project,” — Gregg Schlanger

This installation consisted of a pool of water, placed in the middle of the gallery, with a skeletal shape of a house above it. The house form was used to represent the daily use of water. Water was circulating continually from the pool to a large shower head hanging above the center of the pool. Surrounding the pool were 170 glass water containers, which represented various countries and the average amount of water used per person per day in that country.

Schlanger’s third creation in the past 18 months showcases the history of Owensboro, Ky., and is now on permanent display in the Daviess County Public Library. Schlanger created a dozen digital print collages for the library, two of which were chosen to flank the entrance to the history wing of the library.

For more information on Schlanger’s artwork, contact the art department by telephone at (931) 221-7333.

Discriminatory legislation should be rejected

Yesterday, Rep. John Deberry (D-Memphis) and Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) filed companion bills that would prohibit “any individual who is cohabitating in a sexual relationship outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state from adopting a minor.”

The companion bills are SB3910 and HB3713. It is more than a little disturbing to realize that people believe–even in today’s world– that gay and lesbian people can not be (or already are) great parents. I think it goes deeper than that. Gay and lesbian people have consistently been the great whipping boys (and girls) of conservative neocons who appeal to a deep hatred for the gay community to help boost their own popularity. Sadly, this kind of contempt goes far beyond mere religious views.

Clarksville’s own representative, Rep. Joe Pitts, stands in stark contrast to Deberry and Stanley. Pitts has sponsored or co-sponsored several bills that directly affect a real threat to our children– child sexual offenders– which I applaud. These predators should be identified, deterred, and imprisoned at all cost. These vile predators are the real threats to our children, not loving, committed gay and lesbian people who want to provide safe homes for children.

Gays and lesbians aren’t the only people affected by this proposed bill. It states:

The prohibition of this section applies equally to cohabiting opposite-sex and same-sex individuals.

That’s right. Unless a couple is actually married, they would be prohibited from adopting. The bill does not affect singles who adopt.

This isn’t the first time such a bill has been proposed. Three years ago, a similar bill was introduced and died in legislation. One important fact we need to remember is that every single major medical and psychological organization in the country recognizes that homosexuality is neither a disease to be cured nor a disorder to be treated. The American Psychological Association has a policy statement on gay parenting which opposes any discrimination based on sexual orientation in matters of adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, and reproductive health services.

In an article dated Februrary 13, 2005, I wrote:

The American Psychiatric Association along with over a dozen other health and mental health organizations, has a clear understanding that homosexuality is neither a disorder to be treated nor a disease to be cured. These organizations include the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association and the National Association of Social Workers.

Another of these professional groups, the American Psychological Association, has gone on record regarding gay and lesbian parents: “Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, popularity with friends, development of social sex role identity or development of sexual orientation…” This statement and others are readily available on their website.

The reality is that our current system works. Children aren’t arbitrarily tossed into homes. In fact, judges currently have complete oversight as to who gets to adopt whom. Our judges are given the opportunity to weigh every single family situation, and they are given stacks of report from the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) on the viability of the adoptive parents’ homes.

Homes are studied and the would-be-parents are carefully screened and given psychological evaluation as to whether or not they’re fit to be parents. All of this has one thing at heart: the best interest of our children. Quite simply, a person’s sexual orientation is not a major consideration. DCS workers have far more important questions: Is the home safe? Is the couple (or individual) sound? Is there a history in their past that might jeopardize the safety of the children? And finally, what’s best for the child?

Apparently, there are those who believe that these highly qualified and skilled people should be denied the opportunity to consider thousands of committed, loving couples based solely on the nature of their relationship. It is simply not right, just, or even fair, that a vocal group of people who know little about the adoption process should think they’re better qualified to decide who gets to adopt. Their only consideration is that, as the Arkansas Supreme Court said in a ruling against a ban on gay adoption, they are biased against homosexuals.

In many cases, gay and lesbian couples are the ONLY people who’ll adopt older children, or children who have disabilities. Should these kids who’ve been rejected at every opportunity be denied their best, sometimes last, hope at finding a loving and stable home? Rep. Deberry and Senator Stanley seem to think so.

They are wrong.

My partner and I will seek to adopt in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future. The reason we haven’t already is that we both know we’re not in a financial place where we can support a family. That will change in the future.

Several friends of mine, including my own spiritual mentor, are in same-sex relationships and have either adopted successfully or are in the process of adopting. These are teachers, deputies, florists, and shop owners who all have one thing in common: they absolutely love children, and have devoted their lives to their kids. They’re great parents, and this fact is supported by the judges and DCS social workers who have closely evaluated their homes and lives.

I urge anyone to call their state representative and state senator to add their voices to those who oppose this hateful bill. It is unfair, it is discriminatory, and as I said before, it is just flat-out wrong. It has no place in our laws, nor in our great state.