September 12, 2005

Schools/Pedro Pushing Half-Cent Sales Tax Increase

Aka...Vote for Pedro, Part Duh.

The tactics that are being used inside Metro Schools to push the half-cent sales tax increase vote tomorrow are becoming quite questionable.

I've received information on flyers that were delivered to several area schools by Metro employees promoting the tax as well as an email sent out to Metro school teachers regarding those flyers and the potential legal ramifications.

Creative Liberty (who was unable to post from school) was questioned by their principal if they would be voting on Tuesday, and when CL responded that he would not be supporting it, the principal said that Metro School Director Pedro Garcia would be "livid" if he found out about his lack of support. According to the principal, it was Pedro's "baby" and he had been pushing it quite strongly at all of the principal meetings.

Here you see the flyers that were delievered to the Metro schools today:

Now, below is an email that was sent out to Metro Schools regarding these flyers:

Importance: High

We have received several calls in the Public Information Office this morning regarding flyers that have been distributed to schools to be sent home with students. These flyers urge parents to vote for the sales tax increase in tomorrow’s election.

Schools may not distribute campaign/election materials. Please do not send this information home with your students.

Thanks for your help.

Olivia Brown
MNPS Public Information Office

Well...after spending lots of money on printing these professional looking flyers (paid for by NashvilleTomorrow.com, but with the delivery of these to schools by Metro Employees ON Metro time makes me question just how close the school system is with NashvilleTomorrow) as well as the time in delivering them to each school, they suddenly realize that it wouldn't be legal. Of course, that hasn't stopped principals from pushing the tax at meetings with parents and open houses, now has it?

It's obvious that the Oberführer of Education does not like dissent in his ranks and does not care about legalities when it comes to pushing his "baby" tax increase...all of this under the watchful eye of Mayor Purcell. Are they afraid that it can't pass on its merits alone without resorting to questionable methods?

More: Nathan Moore takes on the Tennessean's unsigned editorial today pushing the sales-tax increase while taking pot shots at those that don't support it.

More II: More info from CreativeLiberty via email:

Today in the school mail there were several flyers delivered with the intentions for them to be sent home with all the students. Nashville Tomorrow is the group that has been heading up this Tax Increase Campaign and has been working in tandem with The Board of Education / Pedro Garcia.

A Metro employee wearing a Metro I.D. distributed the flyers. Pedro Garcia or the Board of Education sent the flyers out. After receiving several calls they decided to trash the idea…too late. It’s possible that Nashville Tomorrow decided to go to every school in Metro and deliver flyers on their own. Although, I don’t think that is the case. I think Garcia and the Board tried one last time to ram this down the throats of the parents and teachers by using children to deliver them. Also, this isn’t the first time Garcia has tried to politic his agenda through the school system. The email is below. It appears that the Board is in C.Y.A. mode. If the Board is not at fault then Olivia Brown is the glimmer of common sense that Metro needs.

More III: Don't forget about the illegal email that Pedro Garcia sent to all the schools requesting volunteers for the SEUI phone bank making calls in support of the sales tax increase.

All of this, plus more, should be investigated by the Metro Election Commission immediately. In other words, heads should roll.

Comments:

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You are known by the company you keep. Is there any other reason needed to vote no? Did anyone else wonder who the "students" trotted out by their matching t-shirted handlers(yes, if you were there that's what they were doing) really were. I noticed over the past week in an article about non-profits merging for purposes of economizing on overhead they're affiliated with the Oasis Center, our light fingered former vice mayor's favorite vehicle. You are known by the company you keep.

Posted by: George Rand at September 12, 2005 03:17 PM