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The Surfer, staring Nicolas Cage, rides a wave of psycho-social madness. See it at The Belcourt this month!
Steve Bland is the head of WeGo Public Transit. Officially, he is the CEO for the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Middle Tennessee, but both of those authorities are doing business under the brand of “WeGo Public Transit.”
Bland, who has been leading WeGo since August 2014, shared that he’s always known he wanted to work in transportation.
“I grew up in northern New Jersey, the New York City area,” he said. “My earliest recollections of childhood were my parents taking me into New York City riding the subway. Whatever we were going to do, whether it was to see a ball game or the circus or whatever, the highlight of my trip was always riding the subway.”
In November, Nashvillians voted for a half-penny sales tax surcharge that created a dedicated funding source for a transportation improvement program called Choose How You Move. While it includes improvements to sidewalks, signals, and safety, a huge focus is on public transit improvements — and Bland and his team have been busy working on it.
What are the first priorities under Choose How You Move?
We’re working on two focus areas. One, are things that we can deliver pretty quickly so people see proof of concept of what we’re trying to do. They’re shorter-term goals.
The other is starting the groundwork for projects we know take a long time to develop. But if you don't start them early that means you just push things out further and eventually you hit the wall on service enhancements you can make. On those, you’ll see a lot of money identified for things that will happen seven or eight years [down the road].
On the shorter-term goals, we actually just recently completed public engagement in our Title VI process for our Choose How You Move. The MTA Board approved those service changes that include improvements for Access on Demand, which is a door-to-door system for persons with disabilities. We’ve had requests from our customers for quite some time to expand that to weekends. It had only been Monday through Friday. So that's one of the service enhancements that's funded through Choose How You Move that will go into effect on May 31.
If you're familiar with our WeGo Link* program, which is the First Mile/Last Mile connector. We'll be adding two WeGo Links in June, one is the Broadmoor area of East Nashville, where we had quite a bit of demand. The other is in the Elm Hill Pike area in Donelson. [Moving forward] you'll see more WeGo Link zones added a couple times a year.
For longer-term projects that we're starting to fund yearly development on:
Q&A with Steve Bland A
BY JUDITH TACKETT
WeGo system changes go into effect July 6
Increased service possible because of Choose How You Move
Effective Sunday, July 6, 2025, WeGo Public Transit will implement system-wide service changes that include frequency improvements, Access on Demand weekend service, and additional WeGo Link zones. These changes reflect customer input and community feedback. They were approved by the Nashville MTA Board on April 24.
SUMMER 2025 SERVICE CHANGES
Weekday Midday Frequency Improvements
6 Lebanon Pike – from hourly to every 30 minutes
Weekday Evening Frequency Improvements
55 Murfreesboro Pike – from 20 minutes to 15 minutes
56 Gallatin Pike – from 20 minutes to 15 minutes
Weekend Frequency Improvements
• 23 Dickerson Pike – from 25 minutes to 15 minutes (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• 50 Charlotte Pike – from 20-30 minutes to 15 minutes. (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• 55 Murfreesboro Pike – from 20 minutes to 15 minutes (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.); from 20-30 minutes to 15 minutes (weekend evenings)
56 Gallatin Pike – from 20 minutes to 15 minutes (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.); from 20-30 minutes to 15 minutes (weekend evenings)
Service Improvements
6 Lebanon Pike - will operate on McGavock Pike between Lebanon Pike and McGavock High School twice a day on school days
• 52 Nolensville Pike - will operate on Antioch Pike between Nolensville Pike and Glencliff High School twice a day on school days
• WeGo Link – expand service in the Maplewood/Broadmoor area of East Nashville and the Elm Hill Pike area of Donelson Access on Demand – add service on Saturdays (4:45 a.m. to 1 a.m.) and Sundays/ Holidays (4:45 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Route Adjustments
19 Herman – move end of the line from Tennessee & 51st to Charlotte & 53rd Ave. N
• Route 77 Thompson-Wedgewood will no longer pull into the East Thompson Lane Kroger grocery store parking lot. There is a street stop.
One is the second Downtown Hub South of Broadway. We were allocated funding to start the development and planning for that as well as a new additional bus operations and maintenance facility. When we do all the service improvements contained in Choose How You Move, the fleet will increase by about 100 buses and vans. We just don't have enough room to maintain or operate all that. Those facilities take a long time to come on board.
*WeGo Links is explained at https://www.wegotransit.com/assets/1/6/2025-04_WeGo_Link_FAQ.pdf
Where in SoBro is the second Downtown Hub going to be?
It’s those vacant lots right across from the Greyhound Bus station. Actually, they’re owned right now by the Convention Authority, and they bought them back in 2018 when the last [transit] referendum was going through. They’re using them for staging right now. But the intent was always to work with us to build a southern center.
Which of these priorities have already started?
This first round of the Access on De -
mand and WeGo Link zones are planned before July. The first rounds of fixed-route improvements will start by July. There will be another round of improvements in January, where we’ll likely go to the public for comment in August or September.
In addition to just getting started on the SoBro Hub, we are awarding a design contract for the Donelson Transit Center. That will be located at the Donelson rail station. We’re also working with Metro and Councilmember Joy Styles on a Transit Center in Antioch in conjunction with the Global Mall redevelopment down there.
Every one of [our new transit centers] will reorient and improve the services in the area. They will be designed based on the neighborhood that they’re in and what people are interested in seeing.
With the Dr. Ernest Rip Patton, Jr. Transit Center in North Nashville we did things like improve the frequency on the 22 Bordeaux bus; we extended the Metro Center bus to serve there; and we created the new Trinity crosstown line. Now there are seven different routes that converge on that location. We improved the frequency on the 75 Midtown, the 77 Thompson/ Wedgewood Connector, and as a result
of all that, beyond the facility itself, we really improved connections from different neighborhoods in the city.
Now you can get from North Nashville to East Nashville without going Downtown. You can get from North Nashville into the Metro Center offices without going Downtown. You can get to the Vanderbilt area or South Nashville without going Downtown. The overall, long-term goal – once we develop this network of centers and improve the services cross-town with better frequency – is that every trip does not have to go through WeGo Central Downtown.
In North Nashville, we opened that building last year, and within six months we saw a 36-percent increase in ridership on the routes that serve the North Nashville Transit Center. That's part of the goal, to make the system more convenient, more usable for more people, and make the travel time shorter. And if you’re in the North Nashville neighborhood – obviously the facility is nice – but with the service improvements, we calculated that the number of jobs that someone in that neighborhood could reach within an average of a 45-minute bus ride expanded by over 100,000.
So, a lot of the vision of this is to expand the range of opportunities that people have by offering one-seat rides, shorter rides and more frequent services.
How have the federal spending cuts affected your budget and your plans under Choose How You Move?
[As of this publication date], we have not seen any reduction or disruption in our federal funding. We still have grants in the pipeline. We’ve had grants recently awarded; that includes two discretionary grant awards, one of the Antioch Transit Center and one for the Donelson Transit Center. We were intentionally conservative in Choose How You Move about what percentage of federal money would be involved in that. Most of the federal money that we targeted beyond our regular formula
THEME: MOTHER'S DAY
73. "____ no evil, hear no evil"
74. Tennis-affected joint DOWN
1. Took place
2. Yoked team
3. Capital of Latvia
4. Kind of ray
5. Cast-off skin
6. French Riviera city
7. "To" follower
8. Wood turning device
9. Tulip starter
10. Leo's Karenina
11. ____ gum, food additive
12. Put metal to the pedal, p.t.
15. Difficult to detect
20. With ample space
"Metamorphoses" poet
*The Beatles: "Mother ____ comes to me"
Morse code dash 53. Remainder of a cigarette 55. Before skip and a jump 57. *Mother of ____, a.k.a. Daenerys Targaryen
*Mother ____, Missionaries of Charity founder
PassÈ
Stir or fuss
Add together
69. Anomie, alt. sp.
70. Decompose
71. Very angry
72. Puppy sounds
22. Employ
24. Green and lush, as in trees
25. *Mother ____, investigative journalism nonprofit
26. Convex molding
27. Twofold
29. Cambodia's neighbor
31. A in UAE
32. Heaped
33. Famous Teatro alla
34. *Mother ____, personification of planet
36. Shower with affection
38. Abominable snowman
42. River in Hades
45. Personify
49. *Mother Superior is the head one at the convent
51. Foray
54. Former Russian leaders
56. *Mother of ____, a.k.a. nacre
57. June 6, 1944
58. Raja's wife
59. On the surface
60. Emeralds and rubies
61. Carrying bag
62. Hunk of something
63. Lowest female singing voice
66. Female forest ruminant
68. Archery bow wood
For the Sake of Rock & Roll / Part 1
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman,
If I was to sell my soul for the Sake of Rock & Roll? So the song could one day be sung? So the story would eventually be told? I wouldn’t do it for all of the Gold. Because some things in life, Can’t be bought and sold. Here I am feeling Brazen and Bold, And forgetting I’m getting tired and old. They’re reading what I’ve written, And I’m right there with them, Right here in Music City. Now, that’s another amazing story, Just waiting to be told.
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
If I could express my ultimate goal? It’s to cross paths with The Master himself... “Billy Joel”
To shake hands with “The Piano Man”
With a Long Island, New York, Heart and Soul. For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
Every two weeks I get to speak. That’s what they expect from me. I can’t sing or play guitar, So I can only take it just so far. My stage is a page in The Contributor. I’m not a beggar. I sell the paper. Something to say, well worth being sold. For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
God Bless all those people who cross my path. May they find their happily ever after. If I could make, someone’s day that much better, Just because I got up - got out - and got off my ass. What the Good Lord feels free, to give unto me? I know I should feel free to give back? You know?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
Remember? “WCJK, 96.3 - Jack FM” Thank you Jack that you’ve got my back. You keep me strong when things go wrong, And thanks to you and what you do, You give me a reason to keep hanging on, Simply by “Playing What We Want.” There’s something about a Radio Station, That plays Never Forgotten, Forever Remembered, Classic Old Time Rock and Roll. That touches a Heavy Heart, And comforts a Weary Soul, Because some things - Just never - Get old.
If you never find 96.3 Jack FM, While visiting Nashville, Tennessee. You totally miss Music’s Message. Music City is so much more?
Than Just Country! WCJK, Jack FM, 96.3
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll / Part 2
This is... Crazy and impossible, you’re way too lazy, And it’s so improbable, to make it before you’re too old.
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
If they don’t write them like that anymore? What the hell am I doing this for?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
Am I so wrapped up in it that I don’t even know? When I’m eventually, supposed to let go?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
Yes, I’ve got my struggles. Yea, I’ve got my pains. I’ve got my reasons. I’ve got my excuses, And Legitimate Complaints. I’de like to get people to know me, Who might have something to gain?
Who else can use Rhythm, Rhyme and Reason? Without Music to explain?
Ha... Ha... Ha... - He... He... - Haw... Haw... Are you sure you’re up for a little more? They say I’m a very bad influence. That comes from way too much experience. Sooner or later you have to throw the dice, And deal with the consequence. You can either be good at being real, Or really, really good at pretend. I don’t give a damn, who gets upset, Or who the truth offends.
You start with a part of a Carpenters heart, And the unity that comes - From being among friends. It’s true “We the People” can do the amazing, When we understand “This Land is Your Land” Priority one is a garbage can.
A dumpster dropped off would be well worth the cost, But who’s going to pay the expense? How can you not be inspired to do?
Something truly so good for them?
So say the people of the mountain.
Have you ever noticed?
How so many of our Self-Preservation-Plans, so often depend, Upon the people, we consider, to be our friends. There are some things that we as Americans, Need to be ready to stand up for and defend. I can see the beauty, I believe them to be, Fully capable to create - If only given the chance. Set the example and share with others, The benefits of their experience. To me it makes perfect sense... If this cock-a-maimy-plan has any chance to succeed, It must first be explained in simple terms, that what’s being spent, Is not so much an extravagance - It’s simply a basic need. I’m not worried, I’m not scared, and I damn sure, am not upset. Someone had to say the things that needed to be said, Like a farmer must first Plant a Seed. They may have found it out, out on the street, But they wouldn’t have found it, if it weren’t for me.
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
For the Sake of Rock & Roll?
Vendor #0015
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
Learn More About the Politicization of Encampment Closures
Against the outcry of neighborhoods and businesses, cities like Nashville have been desperate to find quick and highly publicized solutions to shut down encampments and reduce homelessness. This allows politicians to look like they are doing something — or at least that has been their theory.
By now, we know that focusing solely on large encampment closures at the cost of actually building an effective system that helps people access permanent housing within 90 to 120 days is not working.
Let me state that Nashville is not the only city jumping on the bandwagon of politicizing the closure of large encampments. The goal is apparent. Making homelessness less visible leads to higher polling rates. But if it is not implemented with the primary focus on actually ending homelessness long-term for the people living in those encampments, we are not achieving the goal of improving the quality of life for everyone in our community.
Too often, these showcasing efforts of encampment closures happen at the cost of a city’s ability to actually serve more people and build sustainable efforts. Consequences are that states and local governments have increased the criminalization of homelessness, essentially making undesirable populations invisible by locking them up.
I commend Nashville, which so far has refrained from pursuing that approach. Plus, Nashville does have an outdoor homelessness strategy in place that it adopted from the Continuum of Care, a group of community stakeholders working together to build a system to prevent and end homelessness. That plan can be viewed online at https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/ files/2025-02/Outdoor-Homelessness-Strategy-December-2024.pdf.
I am not entirely critical of the fact that the city focuses on closing encampments. For one, they are not healthy places, and we need to help people move out of there by housing them.
Second, the vast majority of people who are living outdoors want to access housing, if there is actual housing available. What I mean by that is that some are not willing to move into a shelter location where, for various reasons, they may not feel safe. Others cannot access available shelter beds because they may have a pet or due to a disability.
I am also not an advocate for sanctioned encampments as solutions to homelessness — especially in the current political climate. It scares me to think how sanctioned encampments may be viewed as a solution, especially under the current federal administration, by herding people into a location that is not much (if any) better than the places they already occupy.
And finally, I am not a fan of the other current political fad of utilizing pods as shelters or temporary housing. When you google “pods,” you’ll see that they’re used as storage units. Enough said. The politicization of encampment closures, as we see it happen currently in Nashville, is aimed at making it appear that we are solving homelessness. In reality, Nashville does not have enough permanent housing lined up before closing encampments to help people move out of temporary housing into permanent housing in a reasonable time frame.
BY JUDITH TACKETT
Cities, including Nashville, tout in media releases how their strategies house people. They tend to focus on outputs rather than outcomes. Here is the difference: It does not really matter how many services we provide and how many people we house, if we do not end homelessness for them. So rather than merely adding up numbers, the measures we should focus on in a highly functioning system are housing retention and increases in income.
Instead, Metro tends to list how many people have been housed through their latest encampment closures, and then they wrongfully call it a housing surge, when in fact, they only fill existing empty beds that were already in the system.
A housing surge, in my book, is when we add permanent housing opportunities and house more people.
I worked for Metro government for more than a decade. We first started using the term housing surge when Nashville, through the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), received $10 million in federal COVID grants through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. ESG was given out through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a focus on moving the most vulnerable people who were living outdoors to permanent housing — meaning they would hold their own annual lease and control how long they stay.
When we measured this housing surge, we differentiated between the permanent housing placements from the $10-million investment and already existing community resources. Our goal was to house 400 people within one year. In actuality, Nashville housed more than 600 people between October 2020 and December 2021.
When we spoke about a housing surge, it meant finding new permanent housing opportunities for people, which is hugely different from the current approach of placing people in temporary situations, where they remain homeless.
Metro has kept approximately 80 temporary beds open for over a year since spring of 2024 in anticipation of the current encampment closure of Old Tent City, the largest camp in town. The Office of Homeless Services continues to explain that they did not pay for those open beds.
Whether the beds were paid for or not is completely irrelevant. Keeping beds intentionally open when people are forced to live outside is unethical, to say the least, especially when Metro has the financial means to pivot quickly and offer those beds to vulnerable people in need. Instead, Metro kept people outdoors, even during cold winter months, while sitting on beds that were left unoccupied.
What bugs me is that no one is holding Metro accountable for this lack of ethical leadership. The Office of Homelessness is controlled directly by the Mayor’s Office.
I am familiar with the history of why these beds were unoccupied and am able to counteract any excuses that come from the administration. Bottom line is that these beds were open for a year because of a lack of planning, coordination, and administrative failure. In short, it shows a lack of leadership and a gross neglect of putting people’s well-being first.
In a functioning system, having 80 temporary or shelter beds means we could serve up to 240 people in a year. Here is how this works. Tempo-
rary housing should provide intensive services that speed up the permanent housing process.
In a coordinated homelessness system, once you work with people on permanent housing, they ought to be able to access it within an average of 90 to 120 days. That means if we have 80 beds, they should turn over to the next person within an average of 120 days. Hence, approximately 240 people should have been served by these beds that Metro could have utilized. I would like to mention here that, according to Metro, there were 125 people in Old Tent City when they were notified of the impending encampment closure.
Metro’s own data shows that the average length from encampments to permanent housing was close to a year in the designated temporary housing facility used to shut down encampments. With a $50-million investment since 2022 and with tripling the Metro budget dedicated solely to the Office of Homeless Services, we should see better outcomes.
Something is clearly not working.
Metro adopted an Outdoor Homelessness Strategy and updated it in December 2024. Prior to the updates, a Continuum of Care committee took three months to seek input from service providers, members of the Office of Homeless Services, people with lived experience, and funders from local private charitable foundations “to help examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the Outdoor Homelessness Plan and contribute to an updated, edited and improved plan.”
A document presented to all committee members in September 2024, named the following strengths of the Outdoor Homelessness Strategy (summarized here):
• A community that cares;
• A standalone Metro department dedicated to homeless services;
• An increase in resources; and
• Outreach.
The same document listed the following areas as challenges and development opportunities:
• Discord within the community;
• Adequate resources;
• Transparency – around the encampment closure prioritization;
• Communication:
» Between the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and nonprofit service providers;
» Among service providers;
» Among OHS, nonprofit service providers and encampment residents;
» Between OHS and nonprofit leaders and funders.
• Collaboration:
» Between OHS and nonprofit service providers;
» Among service providers.
• Coordination:
» Between OHS and nonprofit service providers;
» Among service providers;
» Among OHS, nonprofit service providers and encampment residents.
Looking at this evaluation, what stood out to me is a clear lack of communication, collaboration and coordination. That is essentially the main role of the Office of Homeless Services. And the way the Office of Homeless Services has announced the closure of Old Tent City shows
that Metro has yet to improve on that front. For one, the notification of the encampment closure was an orchestrated publicity stunt that was kept a big secret until the day that the notices were handed out to Old Tent City residents. It was such a secret that other Metro departments, including the Metro Nashville Police Department, were not notified. Service providers did not know either.
The fact that Metro departments and service providers, some of whom learned about the closure through media reports, were not notified, shows a clear lack of collaboration and coordination.
Office of Homeless Services leaders had been asked about the closure of Old Tent City in various public meetings since at least July 2024, but refused to provide clear answers. Instead, they claimed that in order to follow a harm-reduction approach, they needed to notify encampment residents first.
However, what Office of Homeless Services leaders clearly do not understand is that they had months in which they had sufficient time to put together a designated collaborative team of Metro and nonprofit outreach specialists and partner with health-care professionals to work with people in Old Tent City on removing barriers to housing and link them with services.
During that time, they should have kept residents and providers informed about the impending closure and let them know what was happening as soon as they had a timeline. Such an approach is recommended by Clutch Consulting, a national group that the Office of Homeless Services says they have worked with.
Instead, being secretive creates chaos and fear among residents. It is the opposite of harm reduction.
Office of Homeless Services leaders like to tout how much Nashville is praised by national leaders for its encampment approach. We all know that these leaders receive their information and talking points from Metro.
My decade of experience at Metro showed me that closing encampments is hard and always controversial, especially when you approach it with a long-term goal in mind. I do not believe that Metro should keep Old Tent City or other encampments open, especially when they have 80 temporary beds that could help move people indoors. The focus should be on building a process that leads to permanent housing — if not directly from an encampment then at least within 90-120 days after leaving an encampment.
I believe with Metro’s $50 million investment, the system that we started building prior to COVID should have been improved enough by now that we could see an actual reduction in overall homelessness in our city.
We all know that under the current federal political climate, things do not look favorable in terms of funding and resources for housing, health care, and homelessness. Consequently, having strong local leadership that understands how to build trust through clear and transparent communication, coordination and collaboration is more important than ever.
Unfortunately, as shown by the example of Old Tent City, we currently don’t have that local leadership in place. In the end, it is up to Mayor Freddie O’Connell to make the changes to strengthen the city’s leadership on homelessness.
LA NOTICIA
“The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.
“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.
Año
E l l u n e s d e Pascua, 21 de abril de 2025, el mundo perdió no solo al líder de la Iglesia Católica, sino a un pastor que se atrevió a recordar nos q u e l a m i s e r i c o rdia, la humildad y la justicia son las e x p r e s i o n e s m á s ve r d a d e r a s d e l a fe El Papa Francisco, nacido Jorge Mario Bergoglio, falleció a los 88 años en la sencille z de su residencia en la Casa Santa Mar ta, lejos de la pompa del Vaticano y exactamente como vivió: con humildad, intención y cercanía al pueblo.
Por decisión suya, aprobada en 2024, sus funerales se guirán un rito renovado, más sencillo, centrado en la esperanza cristiana de la resur recc i ó n E l a r z o b i s p o D i e go Rave l l i e x p l i c ó q u e e l nu evo r i t o bu s c a mostrar al Papa como “pastor y disc í p u l o d e C r i s t o, n o c o m o u n poderoso de este mundo” Ese contraste resume su le gado: Francisco fue un servidor, no un soberano
Mientras los cardenales se pre paran para ele gir a su sucesor, el mundo queda con su ejemplo moral: no perf e c t o, p e r o f i e l N o o m n i p o t e n t e , pero profundamente humano Un Papa que eligió la pobre za evangélica sobre el poder ter renal
E l C a r d e n a l Kev i n Fa r r e l l , C a m a r l e n go d e l a S a n t a I gl e s i a Ro m a n a , e x p r e s ó e n s u a nu n c i o : “Toda su vida estuvo dedicada al servicio del Señor y de su Iglesia ” Y ese servicio, bajo su pontificado, fue prof u n d a m e n t e t r a n s fo r m a d o r Francisco hizo de la Iglesia no un tribunal de condena, sino un refugio para los heridos, los olvidados, los pobres Su visión no fue la de una institución encer rada en la doctrina, sino impulsada por la compasión
Fue el primer Papa de América, el primer jesuita y el primero en tomar el nombre de Francisco, en honor a San Francisco de Asís, patrono de los p o b r e s y d e l a c r e a c i ó n E s t o s “primeros” no fueron meras coincid e n c i a s , s i n o s e ñ a l e s p r o f é t i c a s
Desde el inicio de su pontificado en 2013, sor prendió al mundo al rechazar los lujos del Palacio Apostólico,
pagar su cuenta de hotel y pedir a la multitud en la Plaza de San Pedro que orara por él antes de darles su bendición
Su liderazgo fue pastoral, no imperial Ante desafíos globales desde la mig ración y la desigualdad hasta el cambio climático y los abusos en la Iglesia no se escondió Se acercó S u s e n c í c l i c a s , c o m o L a u d at o S i ’ s o b r e e l c u i d a d o d e l p l a n e t a , y Fratelli Tutti sobre la frater nidad humana, no fueron tratados teológicos, sino llamados a la conciencia
A b r a z ó a mu s u l m a n e s , j u d í o s , a g n ó s t i c o s B e s ó l o s p i e s d e mig rantes, visitó cárceles, lavó los pies de mujeres y discapacitados en Jueves Santo
Algunos lo acusaron de ser demasiado político Pero Francisco no hablaba como un político; hablaba como pastor Y los pastores conocen las h e r i d a s d e s u r e b a ñ o S e ñ al ó l o s
Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada?
Mantenerse callado Sólo dar nombre y apellido No mentir Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos No revelar su situación migratoria No llevar documentación de otro país En caso de ser arrestado, mostrar la Tarjeta Miranda sados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un ogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda go de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs Arizona, 4 U S 436, de 1966
excesos del sistema económico, crit i c ó l a i n d u s t r i a a r m a m e n t i s t a y llamó al mundo a acoger al mig rante como a un her mano No solo predicó el Evangelio Lo vivió
Incluso en su fragilidad física fue testimonio de for tale za Habiendo perdido par te de un pulmón en su juventud, y sufriendo re petidas afecciones respiratorias en sus últimos años, nunca dejó de servir Su hospitalización en febrero de 2025, y su posterior recuperación en el Vaticano, m o s t r a r o n u n a vo l u n t a d i n q u ebrantable de se guir siendo pastor hasta el final
M u r i ó e n l a o c t ava d e Pa s c u a ,
t i e m p o d e R e s u r r e c c i ó n U n a
c o i n c i d e n c i a c a r g a d a d e s i m b o l i s -
m o Pa r e c i e r a q u e l a P r ov i d e n c i a
l e c o n c e d i ó e s e ú l t i m o a c t o : p a r t i r
a l Pa d r e j u s t o c u a n d o l a I g l e s i a
p r o c l a m a “ ¡ H a r e s u c i t a d o ! ”
Francisco decía que la Iglesia debía ser como un hospital de campaña tras la batalla, donde primero se curan las heridas Él nunca dejó de curarlas Más allá de la religión, su mensaje fue universal: la misericordia guía a la justicia, el amor vence al miedo, y la paz se constr uye con las manos, no solo con discursos
Mientras su cuer po re posa en la Basílica de San Pedro y los fieles acuden a despedirlo, el mundo despide no solo a un pontífice, sino a un profeta de nuestro tiempo Y quizás, en el silencio, volvamos a oír su voz preguntando: “¿Quién soy yo para juzgar?”
Q u e a l r e c o r d a r a Fr a n c i s c o, n o l o h
Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper com ó 615-582-3757
La Noticia Newspaper Nashville
Por Yuri Cunza Editor in Chief @LaNoticiaNe ws
Pope Francis hugs a young boy during his weekly General Audience on August 17, 2022 (Source: Vatican Ne ws)
The flag at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville at half-staff honoring the passing of Pope Francis
Source: Vatican News
Source:
Music News From Down On The Corner
“”Many of my readers know I LOVE ALL KINDS of music. Occasionally people roll down their windows to share what they’re listening to with me, especially if my radio isn’t playing.
Every now and then someone will try to stump me with a song they are certain I won’t know the lyrics to. It’s a game kind of like Name That Tune. One of my favorites who did this was a group of guys I called the Georgia Lineman. They came through my line regularly to work on the Google Fiber line. They’d roll down the window and if I knew the song they were playing they’d all pitch in and buy a paper. If I knew the artist, or could link it to a movie, that was like the bonus round, which usually meant I got a bigger tip. It was fun! Though it didn’t happen very often, every now and then they’d win.
Even kids have asked me about a song or two and I had to admit I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. One example of this is Peaches by Jack Black from the Super Mario Bros. Movie. The kid asked if I knew it, and I was totally lost. He even played part of it for me, still lost, he settled for a song from The Lion King instead, and I came home and watched the Super Mario Bros. Movie so I’d be better prepared next time he came through my line.
Most recently a country fella in a pickup truck and a cool cowboy hat all the way from Texas found himself stuck in my line. (There was an accident so nobody was going
Cancer is a disease that waits for no one, so when the hospital kept pushing back a patient’s appointment, I became confused and worried. The day he finally came in, I found him sitting in the clinic room alone, and without thinking I asked, “No friends or family with you today?” I caught a glint of shame in his eyes right before his head drooped, and he said “I’m homeless.”
I profusely apologized for my thoughtless question, but he chuckled and said it was fine. He had family in the area, but they’d cut ties with him — and remained distant even upon hearing he’d been diagnosed with cancer. “Nearly every family around the world is affected by cancer,” according to data from the World Health Organization, but what happens when your family doesn’t care? I’ve learned that cancer is a battle that can’t be fought alone. I’ve grown accustomed to seeing spouses, parents, children, siblings and friends accompany patients to doctor’s appointments or radiation treatment. Whether chauffeurs for the day, designated notetakers or emotional support,
BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
anywhere for a while.) He rolled down his window and said, “I see you out here singin’ all the time, but I’ll bet you don’t know this one,” and he began to play Don’t Call Him A Cowboy by Conway Twitty.
I smiled and said, “You must be new in the neighborhood,” and I chimed right in, and started singing. I knew every word!
At first he was surprised, that is until I told him I was raised on country music from people like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. I added, “I consider Sumner County home, and that’s where the former Twitty City is located,”(that was Conway’s home for many years). “I performed there many times with my school choir. I even did a story on it in The Contributor when they were planning to demolish it. So if you’re going to try to play a song I don’t know, you’re gonna have to try something other than Conway Twitty, sir.”
Although he didn’t buy a paper that day (I didn’t have the one about Twitty City in my bag at the time, but I did offer to get a copy for him), he said: “I’ll think about it.”
I’m going to go through my older issues at home to see if I have one. If not, I’ll pick one up at the office so I’ll have it just in case he stops by again.
Even If he doesn’t, I consider it a positive experience. As I’ve ALWAYS said, “It’s all about the connections you make,” and I KNOW a connection was made that day!
On another occasion recently, a guy was stopped right in front of as me as I was sit-
ting in my chair listening to an old Casey Kasum countdown from 1979 on Hippie Radio (that’s 94.5 on your FM dial for anyone who’d like to check it out) compliments of another customer who turned me on to it. The song that was playing got his attention. It was Reunited by Peaches & Herb. He pulled into the parking lot and told me that it was appropriate ‘cuz he hadn’t seen me in over a year! I said well, where have you been, ‘cuz I’ve been here! He didn’t answer my question, instead he asked if I could start it over. I said no, unfortunately I can’t this is actually part of a pre-recorded radio show.
He then pulled out his phone and asked if I’d sing it, if he played it. I said sure I’ll give it a try. (I had done it in karaoke with some friends of mine before.) I asked if he’d like to sing along, it is a duet after all, but again he didn’t answer my question.
I started to sing and at just the right moment he chimed in! At first, I was shocked. Usually when I ask a customer if they want to sing along they say no, you go ahead, and he didn’t say ANYTHING, but he sure could sing!
He said: “You haven’t changed a bit!”
I said I don’t know about that, I’m DEFINITELY getting older, and my voice isn’t as reliable as it once was. Thankfully it was working that day.
I think it’s safe to say we BOTH had a good time. After a nice visit and some much needed catchin’ up, he bought a few papers and then he was gone.
Op-Ed: Cancer on the Streets
BY LIYU HUANG., CONTRIBUTOR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
they’re vital for patients’ treatment and, hopefully, recovery. Yet, many people who are unhoused have little to no family support. And with cancer ranking as the second-highest cause of premature death among our homeless neighbors, who is there for them?
I spoke with Brian Wolz, a vendor who has been with The Contributor for the last 15 years. He said he used to be very sociable. He was the type of person who would get up early to go to paper release meetings. He enjoyed selling the paper outdoors. But after years of UV exposure with little to no sunscreen use, he was diagnosed with melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. It invaded his nerves, blood vessels and bones, requiring him to undergo radiation therapy.
Brian needed a means of transport to the TriStar Centennial Medical Center every day for a month to receive treatment. He was no longer able to sell the paper, making it hard to pay his bills. Our community here at The Contributor stepped in and set up a GoFundMe page for him. They made
sure he received proper wound care and access to treatments and physical therapy. Through The Contributor, Brian found not only a source of income but also a community that has been there for him through the highs and lows of his cancer journey.
Brian’s story highlights the importance of support in cancer care, but it also demonstrates that support doesn’t only come from family, especially for those who are homeless or have experienced homelessness. For Brian and countless others battling health issues, community organizations serve as a source of humanity and connection. Beyond The Contributor, organizations like Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn offer shelter, People Loving Nashville and The Beat provide meals and Shower the People and Nashville Street Barbers aid with maintaining hygiene. Together, these form a vital network in Middle Tennessee that directly supports and maintains the health of our homeless neighbors. In addition, these programs unite people willing to help each other and be there for one
The last incident I will mention here was someone who was stopped in my line as I was sitting in my chair. Many are aware I’m listening to music, it helps the time pass quicker especially if people aren’t stopping. If I am sitting in my chair I’ll often gesture and some can identify the song by the time they get to me. One day as I was listening to Love Can Build A Bridge by the Judds. The song lyrics say in part, “Love can build a bridge,” (when that line comes up I point to the sidewalk-it’s kind of a bridge) “between your heart and mine” (I point at them, then to my heart) “don’t you think it’s time” (I point to my wrist, by now hopefully you get the idea). Well, I have a hat that says LOVE in multicolored stones, and each time they sing “love” in the song I point to the hat. (I’m also known for wearing hats.) One day a young man rolls down his window and says ever so politely, “You’re wearing the wrong hat for that song,” but he went on to say, “I’m gonna help you out.” He then cranked up We Are the Champions by Queen. At first, I was confused until he pointed to my hat. I took it off then I understood. I was actually wearing my QUEEN hat. Both are denim and both have bling so it was an easy mistake to make, or maybe I was just in a hurry that day and wasn’t paying attention, but one thing’s for certain — he was!
That’s all for now, so until next time just keep reading and listening to music — I will end on that note!
another, creating a family forged not by blood but by interdependence and resilience.
Indeed, there are people like Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) Homeless Health Services team who provide vital medical care for the unhoused. But I’ve seen first-hand the power and impact created through the partnership between VUMC Homeless Health Services and The Contributor, which together address both the physical and emotional burdens of disease. In Brian’s words, cancer is a disease that “plays heavy on your mind.” Even when the physical battle is won, the ongoing emotional battle lingers — one that can only be fought with human support and empathy.
As cancer emerges as the leading cause of premature death in 57 countries and counting, we need to fund and support not only cancer research and treatment but also community organizations. These organizations create the unconditional love and support only a chosen family can provide, because the will to fight cancer is half the war itself.
HOBOSCOPES
GEMINI
I’ll be right with you, Gemini, but first I need to figure out who keeps putting these needles in my haystack. This is the sixth one this week. They probably think I won’t find them, and I guess it’s possible I’ve missed one or two. But, as you know, I pay a great deal of attention to what goes into my haystack and these needles make me mistrust this entire process. Now I’m worried that finding the person who’s doing this will be like … I can’t think of an adequate metaphor, Gemini, but it will come to me. Try to keep your eyes on the big picture this week, Gemini. I’ll be sorting my haystack.
CANCER
I try not to drink coffee past 3 p.m. I just know that when I have a bad night’s sleep I can usually trace it back to a late afternoon espresso. Of course, today’s different. I mean, I need it today. I’ve got all these horoscopes to write and I can’t be nodding off before I even get to Aquarius. Lucky for you, Cancer, I’m wide awake right now. And I can see that you’ll be looking for a good balance of work and rest. Just trust that whenever you get too much of one, it won’t be long till it balances with the other.
LEO
There was just the one water fountain by the back door to the playground. And after we all spent a hot afternoon playing tetherball or four-square, we’d all line up at that water fountain — sweaty and out of breath. And as each kid’s turn came, the PE teacher would count gulps. 1,2,3 … up to 10. That was all you got. We had a line to get through after all. And here I am 40 years later and whenever I’m extra worn out and thirsty and I start to pound a glass of cold water I realize that I’m counting the gulps and when I get to 10 I stop. And I wonder, Leo, what things you’re doing just because you used to do them that way.
VIRGO
My dad used to tell me “Son, always keep three things in your pocket.” You might expect that this would be followed by a list of three things like “some cash, a stick of gum, and a paperclip” or “your keys, a pocket knife, and a copy of the Constitution.” But my dad never really got that into specifics. I think he just wanted to make sure I was prepared for whatever I needed and he knew that he couldn’t guess what that was. So I pass that advice on to you, Virgo. Find what you need and hang on to it. Keep it at the ready. Three things. Today I’ve got my headphones, a harmonica and a post-it note that says “call your dad” on it.
LIBRA
Alright, Libra, we’re excited and ready for your presentation! If you could go ahead and connect to the network you should be able to share your screen with the projector. Oh, I see. So you brought a USB drive with everything on it? We might be able to plug that … oh you mean you brought, like, a CD with your files? I mean, our IT guy might have an old drive that still takes … Oh, no, Libra. That’s just a piece of orange construction paper where you’ve written “Make Bigger Money!” and surrounded it with dollar signs. You may be a little behind the times, but your ideas are still unarguably great. Stand up there and show us what you’ve got.
SCORPIO
When I want to feel more like Superman, I just dramatically take my glasses off while I square my shoulders and step forward dramatically. But it’s not really doing the trick anymore, Scorpio. I even tried wearing a second pair of glasses under my first pair and taking them off in dramatic succession. Somehow I still just feel like a boring old Clark Kent. It reminds me, Scorpio, that even when we’re not feeling super, we’ve still got what it takes to do what we need to do today. If the cape isn’t helping, go ahead and unfasten it. It might even be what’s slowing you down.
SAGITTARIUS
A friend of mine was complaining about the “current culture of instant offense.” He says everybody just walks around looking for any reason to get their feelings hurt and then hold it against the offender forever. Now I know this particular friend can be pretty sensitive, so I was careful when I asked who he had offended. Then I asked if he had apologized or just made excuses. He said “But I was only joking!” (Then I apologized because I know that “only joking” is very important to his identity.) And then I asked what it would cost him to just say he was sorry without making excuses. And how scary did it sound to ask that person how he could do better in the future. He said he could try. And I guess I can try too. We’re better when we’re trying, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN
Do you think this is going to be more of a local anesthetic situation or would you like to be put all the way under? I know you’ve been in some pain lately, Capricorn, and I know the easiest thing is often to turn it all the way off in whatever way you can. I’m more of a local guy, I’ll just ignore the part where the pain lives. But I think there’s an even better way to get through some of this, Capricorn. And I’m afraid it involves going un-numbed. Just try looking right at that pain. Notice exactly what it feels like. Where are the edges? Notice where it stops. Describe it to yourself as specifically as you can. I think you’re going to make it through this.
Mr. Mysterio is not
AQUARIUS
A recent study showed that 80 percent of Aquarians think of themselves as at least 25 percent more concerned with the truth than 60 percent of Libras. That’s why I’m sure you’ll be disappointed to hear that that’s a statistic I just made up. Somehow it feels true, though, doesn’t it? And it’s good to remember that most people believe that they’re interested in the truth. And just about everybody is ready to fall for made up statistics as long as they reinforce what we already think. 75 percent of ameteur astrologers think you can be more cautious about what statistics you believe this week. (And, no, I can’t tell you how I answered that survey.)
PISCES
People used to tell me that the older they got, the less they cared about what everybody else thinks of them. That hasn’t really been my experience, Pisces. Maybe I’ve just got some personal work to do, but the older I get the more worried I am that I’m disappointing everyone. But maybe I’m just assigning my own feelings about myself to other people who aren’t thinking about me much at all? Thanks for helping me think this through, Pisces. I hope you’re not disappointed that I didn’t have much astrological wisdom for you. But maybe I’m not too worried about it.
ARIES
These new noise cancelling headphones were expensive, but they’re great! Whenever I’m trying to work I get so overwhelmed by the noise from my fridge and my fish tank and the train down the street and then I pop these things in and shhhwow, it’s just all gone. So I asked the guy at the headphone store if they make these for brains. Like just something I could pop in there to stop all those unwanted and distracting thoughts that pull me away from the moment I’m in. He said the best solution he’s found isn’t blocking out the thoughts, it’s acknowledging them. Whenever Headphone Store Guy has a thought jump up that he doesn’t want or like, he just says “Oh, wow. A thought.” And then it’s easier to let them go. He gave me that for free!
TAURUS
If there’s one person I’m jealous of, Taurus, it’s the lady at the desk on the 9 o’clock news. Not because of her perfectly sculpted hair or her unmoving, lint-free, solid-blue blouse. Those things are great, but I’m mostly just jealous of the teleprompter. She doesn’t have to think about what to say next because it’s right there on the screen. She can confidently look into the camera and know that the words she’s choosing are exactly the ones she’s supposed to say. We don’t have that advantage, Taurus. But I think we should talk anyway. Even if it’s awkward and we sometimes pick the wrong words or even the wrong ideas altogether. I think we can just look into each other’s eyes and say whatever comes up.
anesthesiologist. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1.
The Surfer rides a wave of psycho-social madness at The Belcourt
Lorcan Finnegan’s new Nicolas Cage thriller, The Surfer, premiered at Cannes last spring but it only hit American theater screens on May 1. I love surfing and surfing films and this movie has a retro score, lots of footage of sundrenched waves crashing on pristine sandy shores and a good dose of water and wax philosophizing about harmony and nature, wind, sun and balance. Like any good surf film, The Surfer delivers the goods, and fans of Endless Summer, Point Break , and Big Wednesday will feel right at home scanning the horizons with Finnegan. Of course, this is also a Nicolas Cage movie, and you might guess that The Surfer ’s good vibes are as temporary as the tides.
Finnegan is an Irish filmmaker. His movie Vivarium premiered at Cannes in 2019, and the horror/science fiction film about raising a family in a suburban dystopia was hard to enjoy when it was part of the first wave of films that opted for limited theatrical releases and same-
BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC
day home streaming in the early days of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. At first blush that film has little in common with The Surfer, but both movies demonstrate Finnegan’s flare for disturbing tones and striking visuals. The Surfer also shares Vivarium ’s unexpected turns and themes of deceiving appearances. Thomas Martin’s script manages to pay homage to the surf genre trope of bullies-at-the-beach, while also delivering a story about a middle-aged man trying to bridge the gap between his childhood and his own son whom he’s co-parenting with his ex-wife. Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) is a sandy slap-stick musical with the Rat Pack motorcycle gang providing comic relief. Martin makes the bad guys mean and dangerous, and manages to deliver a tense thriller about masculinity and family, and the moral fabric of society that’s more Peckinpah than Panama Jack.
The Surfer pulls his teenage son out of school for a day to take him surfing
at Luna Beach. The unnamed wave-rider grew up on the Australian beach and he’s about to close a deal to buy back his old family home on the cliffs overlooking the water. But when father and son take to the sand, they’re greeted by a band of hostile surfers who threaten them and tell them the beach is for locals only.
I was reminded of the struggles over public spaces we’ve had in Nashville. When The Surfer’s closing on the house becomes a prolonged bidding war he starts living in his luxury Lexus in the parking lot above the beach. There’s a concession stand where The Surfer pays for coffee using his phone. The conversations with his realtor are packed with zeros. Things seem like they might work out until his board gets stolen and a dead car battery finds The Surfer stranded in the parking lot where he befriends another man who is living out of a car. Finnegan’s film’s flashier flourishes recall the Australian New Wave and director Nicolas Roeg. The Surfer revels
in paying homage to movies like Walkabout , with Finnegan using flash-forwards and flashbacks, zooming shots and retro music cues to follow his title character through a personal meltdown.
The Surfer should also be added to the New Folk Horror discussion it’s got cults, an alluring natural landscape; and an isolated outsider who seems unable to resist the pull of the place.
Cage is very good here, making measured choices and letting Finnegan’s surreal editing — along with attentive makeup and costume departments — do a lot of the talking for the troubled Surfer. It’s a great collaboration here between the actor, writer and director. A smart, fun, haunted genre gem.
The Surfer is at The Belcourt Theatre
Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.
