Dear Elected Official:

Please find the letter we are asking you to sign onto below. The letter requests Gov. Lee and the General Assembly to give local governments the authority and flexibility to properly respond to the economic and public health crises of COVID-19 by lifting overly restrictive state laws tying the hands of local officials. The letter will be publicly released after garnering signatures from local elected officials representing urban, suburban and rural communities across the state to show broad support.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,

#WeDecideTN
Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Chattanooga Area Labor Council
Memphis and West Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council
Tennessee Equality Project
A Better Balance
Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition
Tennessee Justice Center
Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH)
Stand Up Nashville
Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH)
Memphis For All
A VOICE for the Reduction of Poverty
The Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable
International Union of Painters District Council 91
 

Dear Governor Lee and Members of the Tennessee General Assembly,

As local elected officials from cities across our state, we understand how critical it is for state and local governments to work together collaboratively, especially in times of crisis. While the state has an essential role to play in protecting the health and well-being of all Tennesseans during this pandemic and recession, local leaders also need the freedom to use every available tool to address the unique and ever-changing impacts of this crisis on our local communities. As Governor Lee remarked during his press briefing on March 17th, “Local governments know better than we do what is needed in their local communities.”

Unfortunately, as we seek to navigate these difficult times and weigh the various options to protect our communities, we have found that our hands are tied on a range of important issues. Over the past several years, the state has restricted our ability to take action on broadband access, paid leave, affordable housing, and more. As a result, we have struggled to fully address the urgent health and economic needs of our constituents during this emergency.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis have taken a serious toll on working families in our cities. Families without access to broadband internet are struggling to keep up with education and work as life has moved online. Without paid sick leave, workers are faced with an impossible choice between protecting their health and paying their bills. The shortage of affordable housing, a problem we grappled with long before this crisis, threatens to destabilize our communities as unemployment benefits run out and evictions loom.

The consequences of this unprecedented crisis will last for years to come. As local leaders, we face our own unique challenges, but we are united by the belief that we need greater flexibility and autonomy to make decisions that are best for our communities, during COVID-19 and beyond. We urge you to consider all possible executive and legislative actions to restore authority to local governments. We look forward to continuing to build a cooperative partnership with the state as we navigate these challenging times together.

Signed,