CHAMPIONING DISABILITY RIGHTS

WITH A WORLD LEADER ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Rabbi Marvin Hier founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Museum of Tolerance + Moriah Films. 

I was gratified to talk to him this week about increasing disability awareness at the Museum of Tolerance.

We met after the World Premiere of The Hollywood Rabbi.

The Hollywood Rabbi, "the story of Marvin Hier who won 2 Academy Awards, worked with 8 Presidents + a Who's Who of Hollywood royalty while dedicating his life to healing the world through tolerance."

I was happy to attend World Premiere, at the Miami Film Festival, on 4-14-26.

I am well aware that Rabbi Marvin Hier is controversial.

He gave an invocation at 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump, despite #47 spouting intolerance.

The greater good was the opportunity to preach my gospel of disability inclusion.

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

To create a curriculum, East Tennessee REALTORS^® (ETNR) is using some of its $7,500 NAR grant to hire local land-use lawyers and a planning consultant.

They want to ensure that it complies with continuing education standards, so REALTORS^® can benefit from the course.

As she builds a course for a growing region, Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for ETNR, emphasizes that the key is offering technical assistance.

She advises other REALTOR^® boards and associations to take a non-intrusive approach to informing elected and appointed officials on best practices.

The goal is to finalize ETNR's course this fall and roll it out in early 2026.

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

"Local governments have an incredible amount of flexibility in how they can support infrastructure, said Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for East Tennessee REALTORS^®

We are sampling defining those paths," she said.

"We are saying that if you do it right, if you put together the right [deals], growth can pay for itself."

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for East Tennessee REALTORS^®, said ETNR aims to explain policy best practices to local governments.

 "We can help them explore payment in lieu of taxes.

If a developer needs a stoplight for the development, the developer can fund that up front in a payment in lieu of taxes agreement.

Our legal and land-use experts can provide assistance in creating the proper framework."

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

The East Tennessee REALTORS^®, proactive toolkit will include advice for smaller municipalities.

ETNR governmental affairs and policy director McHale is quick to point out that some small jurisdictions are not populated enough to have large planning and economic development staffs.

This program could be as simple as presenting ideas to a city planner, mayor or commission member.

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for East Tennessee REALTORS^® (ETNR), said housing is no longer solely a private-market issue.

"Making sure housing is accessible is a shared opportunity between local government, economic development and planning agencies, and industry groups — everyone should care about housing and do everything we can to support it from a policy standpoint.

Housing affects jobs, the workforce and the shared economic health and success of the entire region."

HELPING WITH SMART GROWTH AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

REALTORS® TAKE ACTION

Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for East Tennessee REALTORS^® (ETNR), said like many regions in the United States, the East Tennessee area was not building enough homes for years.

Then the post-pandemic boom created more stresses.

"It is not my job to help a county set its budget," she said. "It is my job to help REALTORS® be more proactive in creating housing and infrastructure to support it."