Boring Into Boring
⛏️ Council members bore into Boring · John Rich vs. the TVA part deux · TN leaders want NES held accountable · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you to all who joined us for an evening with The Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis last night... Council bores into Boring Co. representatives during yesterday's Q&A... John Rich vs. the TVA, part deux... Lt. Gov. Randy McNally on NES: "The Three Stooges could have done a better job"... And much more!
Who funds your Councilmember? Checkout our new Council Watch tool. We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Explore)
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Boring Co. representatives duck and weave during yesterday's special council meeting.
From Megan Podsiedlik
Councilmembers took swings at The Boring Co. during yesterday’s special-called Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting, pressing company representatives over the proposed Music City Loop.
The underground tunnel project connecting Nashville International Airport to downtown continues to advance, but several council members voiced frustration over limitations on their involvement.
Questions centered on public safety, environmental impact, ADA compliance, and emergency response—with occasional barbs aimed at CEO Elon Musk underscoring the tension in the room.
Councilmember Olivia Hill—a former engineer—offered some technical defense supporting the viability of tunneling in Nashville, noting that Davidson County’s geology is well-suited for the project.
“We have numerous tunnels in Davidson County because we have good rock,” said Hill. “Our oldest one is DES. It was put in in 1974—really not that far from the Cumberland River—and they've not ever had any trouble with flooding or collapses or anything like that.”
Hill also recounted how a tunnel actually protected Vanderbilt Children's Hospital during the May 2010 flood: “That tunnel completely flooded in a matter of a few minutes, and it saved the Children's Hospital from flooding.”
The Boring Co. pledged to follow up with councilmembers to address outstanding questions from the presentation. Though the theatrics of the meeting drew attention, the council’s support—or lack thereof—ultimately carries limited weight.
Since its announcement, the Music City Loop has gone full steam ahead. Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously approved a lease agreement backing the 10-mile tunnel project. Under the deal, the Boring Co. will pay an annual licensing fee starting at $300,000 for the right to use airport property for up to 50 years. The company also agreed to pay the airport $5 per customer drop-off and pickup once the system is operational.
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
Who bankrolls your councilmember? We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Take a Look)
HEADLINES
- ⚡️ TVA pauses plan to build transmission line through a historic Sumner County family farm. The move comes after country artist John Rich went after the company for the proposal — marking the second time he’s come out against the TVA. (WKRN)
- 🔌 GOP wants Nashville leaders to act quickly on NES. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said Thursday that "the Three Stooges could have done a better job" preparing for last month's ice storm than the Nashville Electric Service leadership. (Axios)
- 📚 Nashville teacher allegedly threatened with termination after refusing to read LGBTQ+ book. A first-grade teacher at a Nashville charter school says he was threatened with termination and reassigned after requesting religious accommodation to avoid reading a children’s book depicting a same-sex family. (Fox 17)
✹ QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We used to have a form of government in the United States which was supposed to be every bit as powerful as the federal government, and we called those states.”
Sean Davis
DEVELOPMENT
- Austin burger spot Not A Damn Chance brings two-item menu to Arcade (NBJ)
- E3 Chophouse has closed to evaluate its next step (NBJ)
- GBX Group now owns historic Litterer Laboratory building (Post)
- Famed Music Row property sells for $3.85M (Post)
- Kane Brown-themed bar slated for Broadway (Post)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week 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
🪕 Billy Strings @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $57+, Info
🎸 Doom Mutual / Blood Root / Horsehell @ The East Room, 8p, $13.36, Info
🪕 Shadowgrass @ The Basement East, 11p, $33.44, Info
🎸 Shane Smith and the Saints @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $72+, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SATURDAY
🪕 Billy Strings @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $57+, Info
🎸 Shuteye / Growler / Caregiver / Last Garrison @ The East Room, 8p, $15.42, Info
🎸 Shane Smith and the Saints @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $72+, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SUNDAY
🪕 Billy Strings @ Ryman Auditorium, 7:30p, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together
🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.