Tennessee
Roberts, a Nashville attorney and sponsor of an amendment to Nashville’s charter which would simplify and standardize the process whereby citizens can put a measure on the ballot. It’s called Hear the People. Jacob is a veteran of Initiative and Referendum battles across the nation in a decades long career helping citizens require their government to listen to them. They’ll be discussing Roberts’ Hear the People amendment and the election on 1/22.
One of the most valuable rights available to us as Americans is the right to petition Government for the redress of grievances. So valuable, in fact, it is recognized as one of our unalienable 1st Amendment rights along with free speech, freedom of the press and peaceful assembly. It puts Government in its place. Government governs with the consent of the governed. It’s Government of, by and for the People. It should surprise no one, then, if the most active opposition to Government being responsive to the People comes from Government.
Councilman Eric Crafton turned in the signatures of reportedly 12,503 registered Davidson County voters to the Metro Clerk’s office Thursday, clearing the way for the English Only charter amendment proposal to be on the ballot in November.
Crafton also conceded at least a portion of the approximately $20,000 the petition drive cost came from a national English First group. He said he did not know what percentage.
“I wasn’t the one adding them up, so I don’t know how much,” Crafton said.
Metro Nashville Councilman Eric Crafton, one of the driving forces behind the English-only ballot initiative, will deliver about 12,500 signed petition cards to the Metro clerk at noon tomorrow, Crafton said.
Crafton also has filed a bill that calls for individuals to pay a fee if they need translation to deal with Metro government. On Tuesday, the council will have the option to take the first of three votes on the translation fee measure.
A group of Knox County citizens is pushing for change within the county government by collecting signatures from registered voters.
Thursday, the group hit the streets shortly after it won approval from the election commission to begin the petition.
Sundown in the City offered the usual fun, food, and music, in addition to the chance to begin changing Knox County’s Government.
The Charter Petition Group was on hand collecting signatures of registered voters in an effort to get their issues on the November ballot.
A local anti-annexation group is launching an effort Monday to let voters decide whether to allow sales of liquor by the drink in Knox County outside the Knoxville and Farragut municipal limits.
Knox County Election Commissioner Greg Mackay said he met with the group’s leader and told him Tennessee law prohibits the sale of liquor by the drink outside the Knoxville or Farragut city limits.