No. 316: Who's Tracking Who?

Good morning, everyone.

A brief newsletter this morning. Be sure to come by Lucky's 3 Star Bar (1401 4th Ave S) tonight at 6 PM for conversation and drinks!

Onward.

You can follow us on Twitter (@realpamphleteer) or Instagram (@realpamphleteer) for additional content.

Also, be sure to check out our podcast. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for reading.

❑ LPRS FOR SOME, BUT NOT OTHERS

Two bills limiting the use of License Plates Readers (LPRs) passed in Metro Council this week, one of them is now law. Let’s take a look at the history.

LPR BILLS PASSED THIS WEEK

A bill on second reading passed which will limit the use of LPRs to enforce abortion-related laws. While moving to approve the bill, Bob Mendes explained that Metro has reason to believe that a sort of “repressive, anti-woman, anti-civil rights, inhumane” reality may be coming to Tennessee in regards to enforcing laws that protect the unborn.

A bill that was passed into law on third reading also restricts LPR use in assisting law enforcement when used to “to verify or report the immigration status of any person.”

BACKGROUND

The use of LPRs at intersections in Davidson county has been a hot-button issue since the idea was first introduced to the council back in 2020. Though we hear ominous messages about the use of LPRs from council members in discussions on the floor, it was the very same council who introduced and passed the LPR pilot initiative into existence.

ASIDE FROM THE COUNCIL’S NARRATIVE

Middle Tennessee law enforcement officers expressed interest in the use of LPRs relating to Amber Alerts and the apprehension of stolen vehicles and weapons during a coordinated discussion with city leaders back in 2021. During the Council meeting on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Jim Shulman mentioned a police report that 870 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville so far this year. Police aslo report that stolen cars apprehended by law enforcement in Tennessee are often found with stolen guns in tow.

While political riffs between Metro City Council and anyone who rubs against their ideologies continue, it is worth noting that the actual pilot program for Davidson county LPRs has yet to be implemented.

⁕ WHERE'S THE STATE GET ITS MONEY?

HEADLINES

• The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair opens this week (Channel 5) The theme of this year’s fair is "95 Reasons to Celebrate Tennessee." Everyone will get the chance to see what's great about the entire state in one visit.
• Cost of renovated speedway at Nashville Fairgrounds has increased to $100M (Center Square) A deal to renovate the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is still not complete and will now cost $100 million instead of $75 million, according to a report from the Nashville Banner. Much of that funding is expected to come from $17 million directly appropriated from the state in this year’s budget and by the state and Metro Nashville giving all sales tax funds back to the speedway.
• Tennessee Families Still Waiting For School Voucher Program Approval (TCN) According to a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Education, 203 families had applied for the new Education Savings Program as of last week. The vouchers received through the program can be used to cover the cost of tuition at participating private schools, as well as other schooling-related expenses.
• Cost of employment lower in Tennessee than most states (Center Square) Tennessee ranked 46th in cost of employment, paying employees an average salary of $49,330 with an average of $3,048 in Social Security payments, $715 annually to Medicare and $2,960 in federal unemployment payments. Those federal payments ranked Tennessee 40th in federal costs.

POLITICS

• Bell stepping down from Senate early to take TWRA position (TNJ) Retiring state Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) is stepping down early to take a position as senior adviser for legislative affairs and policy with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

DEVELOPMENT

• Murfreesboro tapped for fifth M.L.Rose location (Post)
• Start date changed for Green Hills tower project (Post)
• West Nashville property near brewery offered for sale (Post)

➫ CHART OF THE DAY: WHO WORKS?

⚔ MISSIVES ⚔

• 🤡 A Chicago High School is implementing a race-based grading criteria in order to “adjust classroom grading scales to “account for skin color or ethnicity of its students.” A slide used in a presentation in which the new policy was announced claimed that “traditional grading practices perpetuate inequities.”
• 🏛 Rep. Liz Cheney said Wednesday she is contemplating a 2024 presidential bid as part of her stated mission to try to block former President Donald Trump from ever winning the White House again, a possibility that has both major political parties awaiting her next move.
• 💊 A federal judge in Ohio has ordered the companies owning CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies to pay $650 million over 15 years to two Ohio counties after a jury found them liable for contributing to the opioid epidemic.
• 🇬🇧 Consumer prices in Britain continued to jump higher in July, rising 10.1 percent from a year earlier. It was the fastest pace since 1982 and has intensified the pressure on household budgets being squeezed by surging energy and food costs.
• 🇮🇷 Iranian demands for guarantees from the U.S. have once again stalled efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear pact, leaving Washington and European capitals unsure if a deal is possible.
• 🇹🇼 The U.S. government will hold trade talks with Taiwan in a sign of support for the island democracy that China claims as its own territory, prompting Beijing to warn Thursday it will take action if necessary to “safeguard its sovereignty.”

THINGS TO DO

View our full calendar here.

🍺 The Pamphleteer hosts Bar Hours tonight at Lucky's 3 Star Bar from 6-8 PM. The first ten guests get drinks on the company tab. We do Bar Hours on the third Thursday of every month

🎪 Check out our favorite driving distance festivals this summer.

👨🏻‍🌾 The Pamphleteer farmer's market guide.

⚔️ Knights in Armor at the Frist starting July 1st: European arms and armor from the renowned collection of the Museo Stibbert in Florence, Italy.

🎭 Shakespeare in the park is every Thursday through Sunday from August 18th till September 11th

🎼 Listen to The Pamphleteer's Picks, our playlist of bands playing in Nashville each week.

TONIGHT

🍺 The Pamphleteer's Bar Hours @ Lucky's 3 Star Bar, 6p, Free

🎡 Williamson County Fair @ Lebanon Fairgrounds, 5p, $10, Info

🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelly’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

🎸 Open Mic @ Fox & Locke, 6:30p, Free, Info

🎻 Dawg Night @ Dee's Lounge, 8:30p, Free, Info
+ Music of David Grisman

ON THE RADAR

🚘 Demolition Derby @ Williamson County Fair (8/26-27), $10, Info

🐖 Roger Waters @ Bridgestone, (8/27), $39, Info

🎹 Stereolab @ Marathon Music Works, (9/6), $35, Info
+ Motorik post-rock synth avant-pop surrealist prismcore

🎸 My Morning Jacket @ Ascend Amphitheater, (9/23), $22.88, Info

⚔️ HELMET @ Marathon Music Works, (9/24), $35, Info
+ 90's alternative metal band from NY, a Pamphleteer favorite

🏜 ZZ Top & Beck @ First Bank Amphitheater, (9/27), $49+, Info

👾 Flamingosis @ Basement East (9/29), $20, Info

🎻 Gustav Holst's The Planets @ Schermerhorn (9/29-10/2), Info
+  Early 1900's orchestral suite, each movement is named after a planet

🕺 Remi Wolf @ Brooklyn Bowl (10/6), $30, Info
+ Young talented funk/pop/hip-hop singer, one of the few

🎻 Mozart & Tchaikovsky@ Schermerhorn, (10/28-29), $25+, Info

🎸 Smashing Pumpkins @ Bridgestone Arena, (10/10), $133+, Info
+ 90's alt-rock from Chicago

🎸 The Doobie Brothers @ Bridgestone Arena, (10/12), $43+, Info

🎺 Too Many Zooz @ Basement East, (10/31), $20, Info

🌶 The Gypsy Kings @ The Ryman (11/1), $39.50, Info
+ The roving band of flamenco guitarists

RECENT ESSAYS

RECENT PODCASTS

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• Regenerative Agriculture and Animal-Based Skincare (w/ Charles Mayfield) (Listen)
• The Problem with American Agriculture (w/ William Wheelwright) (Listen)
• Hillsdale's Charter School Program (w/ Dr. Kathleen O'Toole) (Listen)

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Words of Wisdom

"He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all."

Miguel de Cervantes

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Edward Landstreet (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).