Community meeting on convention center draws criticism

Councilwoman Karen Bennett sent an email to constituents this afternoon claiming a last-minute Inglewood community meeting on the proposed convention center was not what she agreed to attend weeks ago.

A message was posted on the Inglewood neighborhood listserv today stating,

“Dear neighbors, there will be a meeting on The Music City Convention Center at Las Maracas, 2704 Gallatin Pike, at 6:00 pm. Terry Clements from the Nashville Convention Center has a 15 min PowerPoint ...

presentation followed by Q & A. Council Lady Karen Bennett will be present. Sorry for the short notice. I just received this. Convention center information meeting in District 8: Host: Dianne Hunter Date: Thursday, 10/22, 6:00 pm. Location: Las Maracas (2704 Gallatin Road).”

In Bennett’s response to neighbors, she stated she was “not happy” with the situation she’s been put in.

“I was contacted several weeks ago by Ms. Hunter wishing to speak with me and bring a couple of her friends with her concerning the Convention Center,” Bennett said in her e-mail. “I told her I would be happy to speak with her but until we have the financing portion of the package that there was really no way of having an informed conversation.

“I also told her that I was planning a meeting in January concerning the Convention Center. The financial portion should be available by that time. She said that she wanted to meet anyway so I agreed.

“As your representative, I feel it is very important to provide you with as many of the facts on this issue and then listen to your wishes as my community. I must say that I am not very happy with the situation she has put me in.”

Councilman Mike Jameson isn’t happy about the situation either. Jameson has been engaged with Convention Center Executive Director Charles Starks in a conversation about ensuring community meetings about the proposed Music City Center are unbiased and posted in enough time to get the word out.

In his own email to Starks today, Jameson said it was inappropriate for a convention center lobbyist, Terry Clements, to be giving a Powerpoint presentation at a community meeting where the opposition voice isn’t heard.

“I understand the advantages of pressuring Council members while they are surrounded by MCC proponents during a PowerPoint presentation,” Jameson said. “But that is not a technique that assures a balanced and objective community debate. It’s just more lobbying.

“The timing of the meeting also seems unusual, since the Council and the public continue to await submission of the financing package.”

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