Need some help please

[rememberearth]

The little town that I love, which has great historical value Norris TN is in dire straights at the moment.
There is a city "pissing" contest of sorts to put a heavy industrial asphalt plant next to this pristine park rich with history. Not only was this town founded and designed by Eleanor Roosevelt, it is a few miles away from the Alex Haley farm.
This group and the neighboring city wants to practically destroy everything this place stands for.
Read more here;
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Now, who in their right mind would zone a heavy industrial plant next to a park? A historical park neighboring a historical town at that?
That I honestly cannot understand.
They do not want this plant and heavy industry in their backyard, so they want to destroy the environment elsewhere.
Its disgusting and any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
thanks for your time,
rememberearth

[GymGeekAus]

Actually, it sounds like your local grassroots organizations are totally on the ball here!

What's the next step, at the March 5th meeting? What do you want us to do, rememberearth?

[rememberearth]

I don't really know.

[rememberearth]

maybe a few letters, to a few choice people.
Hillary has ties to Norris, and so does Gore.

[Mr.Dude]

This is probably similar to the problems we had/have in California that led to our having a recall election of our Governor. Your politicians are only looking at the revenue they can get from allowing a business to move in.

You may need to recall the city council. That means you need replacements. The most important thing is you must be sure that the replacements you select will be different and will not just sell-out and take the easy way out of going for more tax dollars. That is a very short term view and leads to other problems.

When I ran for city council there was a quarry that was operating completely in violation of its lease with the city. The existing board members didn't want to get rid of the quarry because it generates massive tax revenues and the city was already facing a $50million shortfall. The developers were telling me "Yes yes! Close the quarry" because they already had an existing agreement with the city that when the quarry closes down they would get to build a 450 unit community. I was the only candidate trying to find an acceptable 3rd alternative - one that kept out the developers - one that closed the quarry - and make it so the area wouldn't change significantly. I lost. The quarry is still working and the developers are just waiting; licking their lips.

Good luck. It sounds like there's big money at work.

[rememberearth]

This is probably similar to the problems we had/have in California that led to our having a recall election of our Governor. Your politicians are only looking at the revenue they can get from allowing a business to move in.

You may need to recall the city council. That means you need replacements. The most important thing is you must be sure that the replacements you select will be different and will not just sell-out and take the easy way out of going for more tax dollars. That is a very short term view and leads to other problems.

When I ran for city council there was a quarry that was operating completely in violation of its lease with the city. The existing board members didn't want to get rid of the quarry because it generates massive tax revenues and the city was already facing a $50million shortfall. The developers were telling me "Yes yes! Close the quarry" because they already had an existing agreement with the city that when the quarry closes down they would get to build a 450 unit community. I was the only candidate trying to find an acceptable 3rd alternative - one that kept out the developers - one that closed the quarry - and make it so the area wouldn't change significantly. I lost. The quarry is still working and the developers are just waiting; licking their lips.

Good luck. It sounds like there's big money at work.
You don't know the half of it. Sooo many deals were made behind closed doors its not even funny. Plus the biggest backer of this deal is a family with lots of cash from and for the City of Clinton. No proof here, but any idiot can tell that they've bought off half the councilmen in clinton.
Its the worst sort of territorial pissing, akin to the "orks" out of a J.R.R. Tolken work. Someone has a bone to pick with Norris that's for damn sure and it sucks.

[rememberearth]

Actually, it sounds like your local grassroots organizations are totally on the ball here!

What's the next step, at the March 5th meeting? What do you want us to do, rememberearth?
Please write Phil Bredesen (the governor) asking him to save the historic Norris. The tourism depends on it, plus the Alex Haley Farm. PLUS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
Also write to Al Gore with the same concerns. I'm beginning to realize the more of a stink that's raised the better chance we have to save this place.

[Mr.Dude]

This was the the issue that was raised in the Supreme Court case of Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005). Once people get on the city council decides to use the power of eminent domain you are screwed. Therefore it becomes vital that you only elect people who do not believe the city or the state should their power to take private property from one person to give it to another private person for their gain.

That happened in Oakland, CA, a place noted for its liberal politicians. The city council condemned an area(that's how this is done) and gave it to some developers. The problem was there were thriving businesses in the area. The city council thought it would garner more tax dollars from a developer who wanted to build million dollar condos rather than let a bunch of little mom and pop businesses continue.

At the local election level it becomes vital to understand how greedy bastards work so you can tell when you have a problem.

Oakland is screwed. Nobody is gonna buy a million dollar condo to live in one of the most violent, crime ridden cities in America. It's a city with spectular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco at sunset, yet its citizens protest when the mayor tries to hire more police to fight crime, calling Jerry Brown racist(own own former Governor 'Moonbeam') and next week protesting that he doesn't do anything about the crime. Nobody is gonna buy a million dollar home to live in an area like that. But the city condemned the area and forced the mom and pops out.

Be extremely careful who you elect for city council. It may be necessary to(gasp) vote for somebody you hate because at least they don't try to pull the kind of crap you're currently going through.

I wish I could be more help. I personally love parks and would a reason a lot better than mere money to condemn one. And I personally wouldn't replace it with anything else but another park, even if you stuck a gun to my head.

Good luck.

[talidapali]

This is probably similar to the problems we had/have in California that led to our having a recall election of our Governor. Your politicians are only looking at the revenue they can get from allowing a business to move in.

You may need to recall the city council. That means you need replacements. The most important thing is you must be sure that the replacements you select will be different and will not just sell-out and take the easy way out of going for more tax dollars. That is a very short term view and leads to other problems.



Good luck. It sounds like there's big money at work.

Unfortunately in Tennessee there appears to be no way to have a special election to recall elected officials without the Legislature of the state voting and approving such an election (which will happen about the time pigs take wing). Believe me, if there were a way to do it, the citizens of Knox County would have been howling for a recall election over the recent County Commission fiasco we have had.

So we have to fight things like this by making a BIG stink in meetings. And by writing letters.

[Mr.Dude]

Unfortunately in Tennessee there appears to be no way to have a special election to recall elected officials without the Legislature of the state voting and approving such an election (which will happen about the time pigs take wing). Believe me, if there were a way to do it, the citizens of Knox County would have been howling for a recall election over the recent County Commission fiasco we have had.

So we have to fight things like this by making a BIG stink in meetings. And by writing letters.
Yea. You're bangaxed. You need to make sure of who you let get elected to the local level. I assure the rich and powerful do.

[rememberearth]

I work in Norris, and have lived in East TN around Norris my entire life. Recently a plan by the City of Clinton threatens the pristine environment of Norris and the surrounding area. They have annexed a portion of the Bethel Community for heavy industrial. Rogers Group has the intention of building and maintaining an asphault plant in this zone. Among the neighbors of the soon to be asphalt plant,5 schools (Andersonville Elem., Norris Elem., Norris Middle, Anderson County High, and Fairview Elem.).
The Alex Haley farm( one historic landmark), Norris Damn State park, and the historic town of Norris itself. To quote one of the concerned citizens (from the link provided below);
"The EPA states about asphalt processing that it “is a major source of air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol..."
Almost everyone we have contacted in this fight (such as Alexander), has turned a cold shoulder.
As a native of TN it is out of sheer desperation and the hope of common appreciation for the beauty and protection of the shared environment that I am writing to you today.
Please help us in this fight for clean air and the protection of beautiful, historic Norris, TN.
Thank you for your time,
Mrs. EDIT

p.s.
below are the links for up to date information on the fight for our health and the protection of the environment in this issue;
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]