Accessibility an issue at West Knoxville driver services center | Victor Ashe

The location of the new driver services center at 209 Gore Road off Kingston Pike isn't popular with everyone. Nicholas Cazana of Commercial and Investment Properties told me, “You will need a GPS to find the new licensing place. Very strange location. ...”

The state is leasing the location for 10 years from Blackhorse Capital Partners. There are nine years left on the lease. State General Services Commissioner Christi Branscom said the west location was chosen to be far enough away from the Strawberry Plains center to serve residents in different parts of Knox County. She says the site is accessible from KAT bus lines. However, it is a walk on a narrow road up a short but steep hill with no sidewalk to reach Kingston Pike. Older people or anyone with mobility issues might face challenges.

Mayor Glenn Jacobs has spoken about the possible loss of revenue for county schools if the city suspends the license of the beer vendor at Neyland Stadium over illegal sales to underage customers (who were adult Knoxville police cadets working covertly). Things seem to be on a collision course with the city with little consideration to its final fiscal impact on schools and the University of Tennessee. Someone in the city administration needs to determine how sales to minors can be avoided without such a massive loss of revenue. The vendor, Aramark, sold more than 232,000 beers and seltzers in 2021, and each of those purchases is subject to sales tax.

This is the latest episode where Mayors Indya Kincannon and Jacobs have differing views on issues. A few weeks ago, it was the Christmas drag show at the Tennessee Theatre. Kincannon and her entire family (all adults) publicly attended while Jacobs denounced it and backed legislation to bar anyone under 18 from going. Both were very open in their opposing views.

And it was not that long ago when Jacobs and Kincannon had opposite views on mask rules and how to handle COVID-19.

The state Supreme Court justice to replace Sharon Lee may be one of two Knox County residents. Judge Kristi Davis and Dwight Tarwater, former legal counsel to Gov. Bill Haslam, have been nominated by the governor to fill the upcoming vacancy. The third nominee is Judge Tom Greenholtz from Chattanooga. Justice Lee leaves the court Aug. 31.

Gov. Bill Lee will interview all three and then choose one. It is hard to imagine any of these three having any problem being confirmed by a supermajority GOP legislature. All are well qualified and considered conservative. The governor is fortunate to have such strong choices.

Democrats may ask more questions than they have in the past during the confirmation process, especially as they relate to Roe vs. Wade and abortion. Candidates may be asked their views on choosing the state attorney general, as Tennessee is the only state whose Supreme Court makes that pivotal decision. Most states use popular election.

Gov. Lee lost a lawsuit in Nashville over his withholding of the $3.8 million report by consultant McKinsey and Co. on the state’s response to COVID-19 in 2020. Lee sought office in 2018 pledging transparency.

Mike Chase’s first restaurant in Knoxville was the Copper Cellar on Cumberland Avenue. It got its name from the copper bar upstairs and the basement where food was served. Chase now has 21 popular and successful restaurants in four counties.

Birthdays 

Jan. 27: Attorney Mark Pienkowski is 36. Chief Justice John Roberts is 68.

Jan. 28: Sam Carey is 67. Andrew Spatz is 45. Retired school principal Lula Powell is 92.

Jan. 29: Oprah Winfrey is 69. Tom Boyd is 68. Eden Slater is 33. Clifford Hawks is 54. Sarah Penegar is 83. Sam Bills is 83. Mike Fowler is 78. Bo Townsend is 67. Attorney and former U.S. Senate nominee Gordon Ball is 74.

Jan. 30: Janea Peterson is 34. David Skov is 66. Jordan's King Abdullah is 61. Dominique Oakley is 42. King Felipe VI of Spain is 55. Attorney Harry Ogden is 74.

Jan. 31: Former state Rep. Jimmy Kyle Davis is 69. Trust Company’s David Martin is 72. Former state revenue commissioner John King is 83. Thom J. Rasnick is 59. Zane Duncan is 37.

Feb. 1: Reid Lederer is 54. Bo Shafer is 86. Brian Dickens is 53. Julie Blaylock is 44. Bill Mason is 74.

Feb. 2: Anthony Anderson and Jenae Easterly are 34. Councilman Tommy Smith is 42. Christine Cloninger, Dunstan Kendrick and County Commissioner Dasha Lundy are 43. Allison Lederer is 46.

Victor Ashe can be reached at vhashe@aol.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Accessibility an issue at West Knoxville driver services center