An Open Letter to Truman's Take

Just sent this to the Truman's Take blog in response to some incorrect assumptions they have made regarding our work. Thought it might clear things up for others as well.

Truman -

I am writing to clarify an assumption you have made incorrectly because I respect your work as a blogger. The Brentwood Watchdog is NOT affiliated with Citizens for Town Center. Unequivocally and without reservation this blog is an independent entity with no ties to any other group. As it states on the Brentwood Watchdog blog, we are "Dedicated to keeping the residents of Williamson County's premier city informed by asking questions others don't ask, sharing facts others choose not to, finding the untold stories, and encouraging healthy discussion about Brentwood's historic past, vibrant present, and possibility-filled future." The Citizens for Town Center, as we understand from their website, is primarily interested in a single issue -- the fate of the Town Center area.

Additionally, clarification should be made that NO INDIVIDUAL, PAIR, OR GROUP of candidates currently seeking Brentwood City Commission office is involved with the Brentwood Watchdog site. The information we put out is not of a "Gotcha" nature as you have claimed -- we didn't ask the questions, only shared the responses of the candidates. (As a side note, could you define the difference between what you label as "Gotcha" and, as an example, the Blackburn-Gore video you posted recently? Aren't these in the same realm? Curious to know.) As a self-professed conservative interested in keeping Middle Tennessee informed on the issues, an increase in sewer rates of 25% on 9,300 residents and 300 businesses would seem to be a newsworthy item you would follow. It's a step the entire seven-member commission took last March when they voted unanimously for passage of the ordinance that costs residents, on average, $81.24 annually. It's hard to believe you would be supportive of a property tax increase of the same amount. If the commission enacted a charge (calling it a tax OR a fee) of more than $80 per year on Brentwood residents I don't think you would stand behind that. Those seven included Mayor Reagan, Vice-Mayor Webb, and Commissioner Smithson (the three seeking re-election at this time).

Commissioner Smithson went a step further, however, in trying to set her record straight. To tell the people of Brentwood directly, in the midst of a city commission meeting, that "I would have to say we haven't raised fees on them (the citizens of Brentwood)" is making an untrue statement in the middle of a campaign while using the city meeting to make a platform speech. Commissioner Smithson and the other incumbents are free to run on their record but when doing so the record MUST be presented accurately -- that goes for all the commissioners including Mayor Reagan and Vice-Mayor Webb.

Labeling Brentwood Watchdog as an "attack" mechanism of any group or candidate is not only incorrect, it is short-sighted. Long after this Brentwood election is over Brentwood Watchdog will be here -- asking questions, sharing facts, finding untold stories, and encouraging discussion. In short, the Watchdog WILL be watching.

Respectfully and fiercely independently yours,

Brentwood Watchdog