Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

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He's back

From April 27 to July 25, the k2k online discussion forum was deprived of the input of Mayor Victor Ashe, who stifled his urge to hit the "send" button for the duration of the campaign to recall him. When the Recallistas failed to get the required 15,000 signatures by the July deadline, Ashe held his peace another 10 days, but finally burst forth in mid-season form on July 25:

"There is an excellent group of letters to the editor on the Tennessee Theatre in the News Sentinel July 15 about the proposed $4 million funding for its renovation....it helps for council to see strong public support for this major expenditure downtown...on an historic project."

He got a bunch of responses, several of which echoed the following observation: "These letters look more like part of the 'Isn't Victor a wonderful guy?' orchestrated letter campaign than a spontaneous outpouring of support for the Tennessee [Theatre]. Not that there's anything wrong with that...it's often a useful device."

Exit Tree?

You know that huge white oak between Papermill and I-40, near the Northshore interchange? As it turns out, it may be as much as 250 years old, which would make it older than the city of Knoxville. It was already growing here when James White, William Blount, Andrew Jackson and others in three-cornered hats were speculating about founding a state with the unfamiliar name of Tennessee.

Though damaged by lightning about 20 years ago, the tree is healthy and has recently impressed some professional arborists. However, as it turns out, TDOT is proposing to cut it down. They think the site is better served by some electrical towers which reportedly need to be moved due to further expansion of this interstate exit. The city had plans to make the tree part of a public sidewalk area; we hear Mayor Ashe has written a letter formally protesting the decision.

Pass the Crumpets

Campaigning in the City Council's 2nd District is, well, a little different from campaigning in lots of other places outside the 37919 zip code. Take, for example, the GOP get-together out at the Copper Cellar West, where 2nd District Council candidate Barbara Pelot got up to give her spiel, and eyebrows started raising all over the room.

What did Pelot say that got their attention? She was recounting all the experience she's had in her long years of civic involvement: "I've worked with everybody from the trashman all the way up to the important people," she said.

And then there was the city swim meet the week before, held in the blistering August heat. Most of the spectators were there in shorts and flip-flops, so candidate Archie Ellis stood out when he came cruising through in a coat and tie. He promptly scooted out after somebody commented to him that he was a bit "overdressed," and returned some 20 minutes later in a Hawaiian shirt and short pants.

"...Are Gathered in Thy Name"

Knox County Executive Tommy Schumpert's office faxed out a "Media Advisory" this week saying there will be a meeting at First National Bank at 10514 Kingston Pike this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with Schump, some staff members, several county commissioners and members of Lenoir City Utility District present. It gave the executive's office phone number for "questions." Well, the obvious question, unaddressed in the announcement, was, "What's the meeting for?" So we asked. A staff member said it's "just a reception, for meeting and greeting," with no agenda, and affirmed that the only reason the announcement was sent out was to comply with the Sunshine Law, since more than one county commissioner was involved. We have to wish that government officials were as assiduous in complying with the law when there is an agenda.