News & Updates
Views and opinions about the key issues facing Nashville.
Views and opinions about the key issues facing Nashville.
I’ve been serving Metro in different ways since Mayor Dean appointed me to the NES Board in 2011. After four years with NES, eight as a Council member, and two as Chief Development Officer for Mayor O’Connell, my last work day with Metro was October 24.
When people ask me to reflect on my time with Metro, so many thoughts come to mind that it’s hard to make sense of them. The three main threads are about the people I’ve worked with, about how the work changes but never ends, and about the deepening polarization of America.
Thank you, Nashville. It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve you in the Metro Council since 2015.
Early voting has started and runs through July 29. Election Day is August 3. There almost certainly will be a runoff for Mayor and Council At-Large. The runoff election will be on September 14 with early voting in the weeks before then. Everyone should plan on voting in both elections. Here’s who I am supporting and then a few thoughts about the Mayor’s race.
The Metro Council will finalize the annual operating budget at our meeting on June 20, 2023. You can read my May 22 post about the Mayor’s proposed budget here. The substitute budget proposed by Budget and Finance Committee Chair Kevin Rhoten begins on page 487 of the Amendments Packet for our meeting tomorrow. Proposed amendments 1 through 23 begin at page 524 of the same amendments packet.
I’ve become convinced that the Titans intend to operate a live sportsbook gambling business at the new football stadium. I also think the Mayor’s Office knows this. The only conclusion I can reach is that they’ve decided to keep this part of the deal out of the public eye.
When the proposed football stadium comes up for a final vote on April 25, 2023, I’ll vote “NO.”
At the Council meeting on April 4, 2023, CM Angie Henderson moved to hold a public hearing about the proposed $2+ billion dollar football stadium. The motion lost by one vote. I hope the Council reconsiders this and holds a public hearing at a full Council meeting.
I watched the State House expel Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson yesterday with mixed emotions. Anger. Sadness. Hope. Admiration. Disbelief was not on the list. Nobody should be surprised at how low the Republican super-majority in Tennessee can go.
On April 3, 2023, the Mayor’s Office will share what it is calling the finance plan for the football stadium. The Sports Authority was briefed on it a few days ago on March 28, 2023. I’m concerned that they are still intentionally hiding the ball on how much captured tax money will be controlled by the Titans through the course of the 30 year lease.