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Metro settles Teen Challenge religious discrimination lawsuit
Metro government and the U.S. Department of Justice have agreed to a settlement in a case where local government allegedly structured its land use policies to discriminate against a Christian substance abuse treatment program.
The government alleged in a 2008 civil rights lawsuit that Metro discriminated against individuals with disabilities, violating the Fair Housing Act, and imposed a substantial burden on religious exercise in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
According to the Justice Department complaint, Metro denied Teen Challenge a building permit to operate in Goodlettsville and then amended Metro zoning codes in a manner that prevented Teen Challenge from using the property.
The City Paper first broke the story that Metro was being investigated by the Justice Department over Teen Challenge.
The settlement places the burden on Metro of training about 100 employees and officials who make zoning and land use decisions on the requirements of the two federal laws Metro violated. Metro also must appoint compliance officer to receive complaints, ensure compliance with the settlement and provide periodic reports to the Justice Department.
“Discrimination of the type alleged in this case should never be tolerated by a free society,” said Middle Tennessee District U. S. Attorney Ed Yarbrough. “Substance abuse programs perform a valuable service to persons suffering from addiction.”
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Looks like metro got caught again. Discrimination of any kind is illegal, guess you can fight city hall and win.
Council Representative Rip Ryman knew this was wrong but they all went along anyway - more of the grandstanding crowd. This kind of stuff just keeps costing us, the taxpayers, legal fees. Someone should keep a running tab.
I wonder why CP didn't put Rip's name in this article ? He definitely deservesthe bill on this one.Is there no way to make this jerkwad pay ?
Sue Cain strikes again.She left us open on that Cival Servive hearing against Sgt Reed too.Starting to wonder about the relationship between her and Dean. She certainly don't seem to be qualified to run Metro Legal.
"Cival Servive hearing"Is that like corporate survival training or laser tag?
I moved out of that neighborhood just as Teen Challenge was trying to move in. There are some wealthy folks who have big houses nearby, and they were organizing to oppose Teen Challenge. I'm sure that's why Metro didn't let them operate there. Whether it was Ryman or others, I'm sure that the folks who live their showed their gratitude in the form of campaign contributions. I don't know much about Sue Cain, but I don't think she had much say in this one way or another. The case was a dog; there was probably no way to win it. It's a shame; it would have been an ideal location for the sort of program Tenn Challenge wanted to put there.
Mr. Ryman should be pleased to know that, due to his efforts to block Teen Challenge from his neighborhood, a scholarship fund has been set up using funds from the settlement. Because of his and the council's tactics, people will receive the help they need to battle the powers of addiction. God has taken something evil & turned it into good. He's very good at doing that.Metro-Council deserves some praise as well. Though they make bad decisions from time-to-time, more often than not, they don't get enough credit for the good things they do. These are people that have chosen to serve their local communities and face extraordinary criticism from different directions on a continual basis. Please join with me in continuing to pray for them. They need strength, wisdom, and guidance. And the next time you run into a council-member, thank them for the job they are doing for your community.
Well, benthinking, I could agree with youif the scholarship was funded by money taken directly from Ryman's pocket, and not from the taxpayers of Davidson county.However, you comments on Metro council are proof that you don't live here.
Panda,Unfortunately the money does not come out of Mr. Ryman's pocket. If the taxpayers are unhappy with what he's done and how much money has been spent due to his (and other's) actions, then perhaps they will voice their displeasure during the next election. As for my residency, you're correct. I am not a resident of Davidson County...or, perhaps I should say, I'm no longer a resident of Davidson County. I've spent much of my adult life as a resident of Nashville and Davidson County. My residency goes back to 1993. I finally left Nashville in 2007 in order to raise my family in a smaller town environment.I'm not sure what your last comment was referring to or if there was some underlying meaning to that statement, but I can assure you that I stand by my comments on Metro Council. Those folks voluntarily accept a position that puts them in "the line of fire" from the public. When they take the job as a council-member, they know that there will be very little praise and a whole lot of criticism. In general, we (John Q. Public) are VERY quick to point out the negative and just as slow to applaud the positive. Surely you can think of SOMETHING good that's been done by the council or a council member? If not, then that's all the more reason to pray for the things I mentioned earlier. And while we're praying, let's ask God to help us see more of the good in His world because we are tired of seeing the evil.