Bright & Early: Urban Unrest Edition

Good morning, Nashville. It turns out our homeless were busy yesterday, marching through downtown and taking over an abandoned HUD home near Dickerson Road. The group, led by local nonprofit Nashville Homeless Power Project, were trying to make the point that houses shouldn’t be empty when people are living on the streets. Unfortunately the folks at Housing and Urban Development didn’t see it that way and had three people arrested and cited for trespassing, including NHPP’s Program Director Jeannie Alexander. Brian Sullivan, a spokesman for HUD’s office in Washington, DC told the Tennessean, “It’s a point we appreciate but we don’t advocate breaking the law to do it.” The group is already planning another demonstration for May 28th to defend Wednesday’s actions.

  • Job cuts for Metro: While Gov. Phil Bredesen was busy slicing 2000 jobs from the state budget yesterday, Mayor Karl Dean’s plan for the Metro budget could put nearly 200 Nashvillians out of work.
  • Trouble in Paradise: Two employees were robbed at gunpoint at a west Nashville Pizza Hut overnight. The suspects, who are still on the run, are said to have approached the workers as they took out the trash behind the restaurant wearing camouflage masks. Original!
  • Bits and Pieces: Funding for the new Sounds stadium is delayed in the House … Giant flashing LED church signs placed on Nashville’s “endangered” list … Man sends 5-year old nephew to school with cocaine and marijuana in East Nashville … Vandy extends winning streak to 5 with a 7-2 win over Tennessee Tech.

Photo by homelesspower.

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  1. Happy Hour: Uncivil Unrest