Unusual Suspect

By Kleinheider Posted on April 2, 2009 at 4:33 pm

Councilman Craddock takes after the Mayor’s office on the convention center:

Craddock said he sees an unfortunate order of events unfolding where Council is potentially taking more money out of the pockets of Nashville residents. Pointing to the recent water rate increase, combined with the potential for property taxes to go up, and now perhaps tax payer-backed bonds for the Convention Center, Craddock said the “perfect storm was brewing.”

“There is word that [the administration is] going to bring the Convention Center to the Council in either April or May,” Craddock said. “They’re going to bring the Convention Center with almost a $1 billion bill. We just voted for a water rate increase, times are tough and my God more people are out of work today than they’ve been in 40 years.

“How on earth can we justify a property tax increase? How on earth can we justify using tax payer money to build a Convention Center. I’d crawl under the table before I’d tell these people that I’m going to up and raise their taxes.”

permalink | 1 Comment

Tags: Convention Center, Michael Craddock  

Conservatives “Liberal” On Immigrant Tax

By Kleinheider Posted on August 20, 2008 at 10:00 am

Mike Byrd notes that several Metro Councilmen of a conservative bent eschewed their proclivity to vote against the raising of fees in one curious instance:

What needs to be underscored is the fact that many of the members on this list, Craddock, Gotto, Tygard, Hodge, Duvall claim to be conservatives on budget issues and they have railed and will rail against raising revenues through taxes or fees. This vote should come back to haunt them in the future whenever they grandstand and posture “for the taxpayers” against raising other fees.

And on the subject of opposing raising government fees, how come the Tennessee Tax Revolt didn’t aggressively oppose Eric Crafton’s attempt to raise interpreter’s fees? Is the Revolt more anti-immigrant than anti-fee?

permalink | 6 Comments

Tags: Charlie Tygard, Eric Crafton, Jim Gotto, Michael Craddock, Mike Hodge, Robert Duvall  

Not At Any Price

By Kleinheider Posted on July 22, 2008 at 8:05 am

Nate Rau reports on Joy Ford’s fight against the Metro Development and Housing Agency’s attempt to seize her land:

Metro Councilman Michael Craddock said a group of “half the Metro Council members” was ready to support a bill that could intercede on Ford’s behalf if necessary.

Craddock did not explain the details of the bill, but said a draft was completed and ready to be filed.

“It’s been prepared,” Craddock said of the bill. “I’m so concerned about what MDHA is doing that I’m looking for any alternative possible to stop them. The bill has been drawn. It has been prepared. I’m waiting for the outcome of this and whether or not MDHA will come to their senses.”

The 23 Music Center East property is part of a redevelopment district instituted by Metro Council in 1999. The redevelopment plan labeled Ford’s Country International Records property as “blighted” and MDHA subsequently sought to negotiate with her to purchase the property. Ford has steadfastly refused.

In order to take the blighted claim off Ford’s property, Council would possibly have to remove the redevelopment district, which is a move Craddock said he did not take lightly.

SEE ALSO:
Photos and reporting from the press conference by Old Broad.
A WPLN report

permalink | Comment on this post

Tags: eminent domain, Joy Ford, Lionstone, MDHA, Michael Craddock, Music Row