By Chris Cannon
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The Contributor is Nashville's homeless paper. People who are homeless, or used to be sell the paper and keep the profits. It is a way for them to make a living that has caused a controversy in Franklin.
Contributor vendors purchase papers for .25 each, then sell the papers for $1. The paper has helped many people get off the streets.
"In the last three weeks I was able to make money everyday to move into a one bedroom apartment," according to Trisha McDaniel, a paper vendor.
You will find paper vendors on street corners across Nashville, and until recently in the Cool Springs area of Franklin.
Contributor vendors did not know they were breaking a long-standing law when they crossed the county border and into the Williamson County city.
"It essentially says the public right of ways, the sidewalks and the streets are not to be used for the sale of goods and services," explained city administrator Eric Stuckey.
Franklin Police have yet to issue any citations to Contributor vendors who are working in the city.
"I think we've really just done warnings at this point for The Contributor and others. We try to first give a reminder to folks and have them hopefully comply that way," Stuckey added.
At the Contributor office in Nashville, vendors question why there is a problem with the paper in Franklin.
"We're not hurting anyone. We're not knocking on doors, we're not knocking on cars, all we're doing is standing there with the paper," according to vendor Geri Kennedy.
She contends the Contributor has kept a lot of homeless people out of trouble and is worried what this ban from Franklin street corners will mean in the long run.
"The crime rate is not as high, but if we were out of a job, now what," Kennedy said.
Stuckey did point out that vendors are allowed to sell the Contributor on private property in Franklin, just as long as they are not next to the roadway.
Contributor managers will meet on Thursday to discuss the issues their vendors are dealing with in Franklin.
Email: ccannon@newchannel5.com
