A breezy evening in the chambers

The council wrapped things up in record time last night. After only two hours, the meeting concluded: Nashville’s budget and tax levy passed on first reading and were deferred until June to track with the budget schedule. The council also approved the economic impact plan for the Rivergate Mall Economic Development Project, but not without a bit of drama.

While Sponsor Jennifer Frensley Webb commended the mayor’s office and Metro Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes for their work on the plan, Councilmember Joy Styles wanted to remind the administration about the Global Mall redevelopment in her district. 

“I just want to make sure, as we're excited about this second mall, we don't forget about our first mall [and] make sure that the studies that need to get done get done,” said Styles. “We are still waiting for our project to move forward. So, I fully support you, I want you to have great things in your district, I just want to make sure we don't forget about District 32 that's been sitting here for over a decade.”

“We weren't looking to be involved in a ‘second blighted mall’ as the council member [Styles] referenced,” explained Mendes, “but this developer came to us with contracts with three different parties to be able to move forward and…a master plan that was already partially way through the planning commission process.”

He went on to explain that this is the administration’s “first tax agreement, financing transaction” and it’s a great investment because a third party will rejuvenate the community for less than half the cost to Metro compared to purchasing and demolishing the site.

Movement on other important legislation included the final approval of a bill that changes the structure of boards and commissions, the passage of a proposal creating a separate Department of Waste Services and legislation ending Nashville’s stormwater capacity fee on second reading, and the approval of a bill ending parking requirements for bars and nightclubs on the first reading. Oh, and the military training resolutions were withdrawn. 

That said, the sad state of public safety in certain areas of Nashville was revealed during the public comment period. While holding back tears, Steven Modlin explained to the council that he has to close the doors of his mixed martial arts and self-defense studio on Brawner Ave due to crime. Modlin is a disabled U.S. Army combat veteran who spent two tours in Iraq and trains students of all levels at the Agoge Training Center.

“November of 2023, I opened up a business on Brawner Avenue, and since that time I've had three shootings in one city block,” said Modlin. “I've had overdoses, I've had prostitution, I've had people defecating in front of children in the middle of the street.” 

Two additional speakers stepped up to the mic with concerns about Brawner and begged for the attention of the council regarding “the crime and the nonsense and the lack of accountability” in the area. Eldon Spraker, who owns the building that houses the martial arts studio, spoke about the lack of safety in the area. “We have a wonderful tenant in there, Steven Modlin, and he teaches all sorts of self defense, teaches children, teaches women's self defense,” he said. “But our problem is, he can't do that with this type of activity. People just don't want to come anymore.” 

Tanya Zuckerman, who assists Spraker with property management, told the council that Agoge Training Center is a community asset that deserves to be saved. Vice Mayor Angie Henderson encouraged the speakers to talk with their district council member, Tonya Hancock, and at-large representatives to find a solution. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.

💸 Clean Audits When we hear from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, we usually hear about mismanagement, negligence, and fraud, but 14 counties came back with pristine books after this year’s audit. Bedford, Campbell, Cannon, Dickson, Grainger, Houston, Loudon, Putnam, Robertson, Scott, Sevier, Stewart, Unicoi, and Weakley all received a clean audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

“These 14 counties have demonstrated a commitment to sound financial management and internal controls,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “A clean audit is a significant achievement that requires diligence and accountability. Congratulations to the elected officials, leaders, and staff members in these counties for their hard work.”

Campbell, Cannon, and Sevier counties also received special recognition since they’ve all landed three consecutive clean audits. Of the 91 counties audited this year, the comptroller’s office found 260 findings in fiscal year 2024. “This represents an average of 2.86 findings per county, which is a historically low number,” reads the press release. “In fiscal year 2023, Tennessee counties received an average of 3.57 findings in their annual audit reports.”

You can review all of the audit reports here.

🚔 New Nashville FOP President During last night’s council meeting, the new president of Nashville’s Federal Order of Police, Joel Cottrill, introduced himself to the body. “As many of you know, we represent approximately 2,000 members of law enforcement in Nashville/Davidson County,” he said. “So I'm looking forward to getting to know and working with each of you in the near future.”

Andrew Jackson Lodge #5 is the name of the FOP established in Music City. “We aggressively engage in political action in pursuit of law enforcement legislation in the federal, state and local governments,” reads their website. 

Not only does the group provide legal aid and other support for its law enforcement members, but it also endorses candidates during election season. The lodge also actively engages in the community by serving underprivileged children and supporting the Special Olympics, Concerns of Police Survivors, and other causes.

🏡 Eviction Assistance Softening Federal support for Nashville’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program will stop on June 30 after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut off funding. The Metropolitan Action Commission, which has already distributed about $2 million to renters, says only a few weeks of aid remain and is scrambling for roughly $300,000 more to clear last-minute applications. When the money runs out, the program—and its protection against eviction—shuts down for good.

DEVELOPMENT

• Fifth Third to move local office to Neuhoff District (Post)

✹ REPEAT OFFENDER ALL-STAR OF THE DAY

Got another hall of famer today, a real old-timer. Andrew Walker has a long rap sheet that goes back to the 80s in Nashville. He must steal a lot because he’s been caught doing it quite a bit and hasn’t slowed his roll. If anything, his ambition has only increased with each passing year. At 61, he seems to have tapped into the lucrative world of stealing boxes and cartons of cigarettes. Most of Warren Buffett’s came after he turned 65, and though Walker is just four years short and he’s currently in jail, it seems he was on a similar trajectory. (More Info)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🪕 The Gravel Yard @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

🎸 Halsey @ Ascend Amphitheater, 7p, $32, Info

🎸 Woods Wednesdays @ The Basement, $12.85, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

Sticking it to the man

🪖 Kimbrough balks on military exercise · Budget season · Lee doesn’t grant clemency · Repeat Offender All-Star · Week in streaming · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Visions of Nashville’s Past

🪷 The story of Ben Allen · Freddie won’t interfere with ICE · Segall balks at tax hike · Casada / Cothren decision · Civic engagement · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

O’Connell Sheepishly Admits Trump Hasn’t Frozen Metro Funds

💸 Freddie recants comments on federal funding drop · Vigilante justice · Transit suit moving up · Vouchers takeoff · Film rundown · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Down by the river

⚡️ The future of the TVA · Ogles calls out Freddie · Bailing on Blind Bond · Bezos’ Workshop · Federal safety net in T · Much more!

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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).