A weekend of rallies
🕺 Tons of protests happened over the weekend · Airport secrets · Budget season drawing down · Downtown library update · State park proposals · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we reveal the secret to picking someone up from BNA, look back at the weekend of rallies, count down to the end of Metro’s budget season, and anticipate some new state park proposals. First time reading? Sign up here.
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If you’re picking up someone from the airport, there’s only one correct way to do it and it requires ignoring the signs. Assuming most of you will be coming from the West, get off at the Departures exit, and follow the signs to Parking Garage 2. You’re then going to take a ticket, drive to a floor and park in one of the 30-minute free parking spots.
Now, wait in the car for your buddy to come to you, or walk out and meet them as they exit the terminal. If you get out of the garage in under 30 minutes, parking is free, so timing your arrival is crucial. DAVIS HUNT
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🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.
🪧 A Weekend Of Rallies The dance cards were full for Nashville activists and protesters this weekend. On Friday, organizers from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and CASA held a press conference outside of First Lutheran Church in opposition to current immigration enforcement operations. The groups also marched to the Nashville courthouse, where Kilmar Abrego Garcia was being arraigned.
Abrego Garcia made national headlines after being deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison in March. The situation turned into a standoff between the Trump administration, a Maryland federal judge, and the U.S. Supreme Court when his deportation was deemed illegal because of a 2019 court order.
The protestors hosted Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who spoke outside of the courthouse during her husband’s arraignment in Tennessee on Friday. Vasquez Sura has been supportive of Abrego Garcia, who pleaded not guilty to federal human smuggling charges, despite a history of domestic violence complaints.
According to reports, several thousand people also attended the “No Kings” rally at Bicentennial Park on Saturday. The event remained peaceful as demonstrators protested Trump’s policies. According to the New York Times, that morning the administration announced that it would end ICE raids on farms, restaurants, and hotels.
On Sunday, a rally in honor of Jillian Ludwig was held at Belmont University. In 2023, the tragic death of Ludwig—a freshman who was shot and killed in a park near Belmont campus—sparked controversy regarding catch and release policies in Nashville. Her accused killer, Shaquille Taylor, had been released from police custody shortly before the shooting occurred due to a loophole in the judicial system that deemed him too mentally unfit to stand trial, but too mentally competent to be involuntarily admitted to a facility.
The rally was held in anticipation of a court ruling set for today, which will determine whether Taylor is competent to stand trial for the murder of Ludwig. Last July, “Jillian’s Law” went into effect, requiring those deemed mentally unfit for trial to be involuntarily committed to a treatment facility.
💸 Budget Season Coming To A Close Tomorrow, the council might cast the final vote for FY 2026’s budget. According to multiple members, it looks like Budget & Finance Chair Delishia Porterfield’s proposal may face a competing substitute budget.
Councilmember Evans spelled out the council’s options in this week’s District 12 Dispatch. If the council doesn’t want to adopt the mayor’s budget proposal, it must either pass the Chair’s substitute (with or without amendments) or approve another budget before June 30.
Both Evans and Councilmember David Benton seem lukewarm about the prospects of an alternative budget with lower property tax rates. “I heard there is a third budget proposed by council members that will cut 100 million dollars in spending,” wrote Benton in his June newsletter. “For a typical resident looking at a 3 billion plus dollar budget, it might save you $10 dollars per month, depending on the value of your home.”
Benton said that with such a minimal adjustment, he’s not attracted to the proposal. Evans explained that the successful passage of the alternative budget is unlikely because there hasn’t been a public process, and she doesn’t think it has the votes.
📚 Downtown Library Update Though questions have been circulating online about the cause of last week’s damaging fire that left the Nashville Library Parking Garage out of service, the Nashville Department of Transportation does not currently suspect foul play. The Fire Department is continuing to investigate the fire, which resulted in a partial collapse of the structure. The Nashville Public Library Main Branch will remain closed through July 7, and the garage has been shut down indefinitely.
DEVELOPMENT
- North Davidson County site eyed for townhomes listed for sale (Post)
- ABC taps Wedgewood-Houston for 9-1-1: Nashville office (Post)
- Site plan approval sought for Gulch hotel project (Post)
✹ MORE STATE PARKS IN TENNESSEE
Governor Bill Lee’s administration plans to expand Tennessee’s state parks from 60 to 70 by 2027, sparking concern from state officials over costs and long-term strategy. At a recent commission meeting, officials questioned the necessity and sustainability of the expansion, especially given past budget crises that led to park closures. The Department of Environment and Conservation defended the plan as fulfilling the mission to preserve natural and cultural resources, with new parks—including a 449-acre site on the Buffalo River—aimed at underserved areas. (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
🪕 Kyle Tuttle's Bluegrass Monday @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info
🎸 Mt. Joy @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, 8p, $100, Info
🎸 Timbo & Lonesome Country @ Jane's Hideaway, 8p, Info
+ modern take on classic country, bluegrass & hillbilly Jazz
🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).