Council Cage Match
💥 Council recap: the budget hearing special · Mayor vs. state: airport board takeover · Nashville expands property tax relief · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Metro Council recap: budget hearing, veiled threats, and a poetry slam... Mayor O’Connell coordinates effort to block state takeover of airport board... Nashville expands property tax relief program... And much more!
The Rise of Spencer Pratt Join us June 18th for a conversation with filmmaker Gabriel Mann on his work with Spencer Pratt and what's gone into his wildly successful campaign. (Buy Ticket)
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Nashville budget hearing: poetry, peril, and the price of everything.
From Megan Podsiedlik
A pattern emerged during last night’s annual budget hearing as council members heard from more than one hundred speakers: Nashville isn’t affordable.
Barnes Fund, social housing, and eviction prevention advocates got the most airtime. An honorary mention goes to Nashville General Hospital employees and supporters who showed up in solidarity to ask the body to fully fund the hospital.
Thinly veiled threats A handful of people warned the council of the sleeping giant they might awaken during election season if they don’t get affordability under control. Though, the starkest warning came from a District 20 resident speaking in favor of the Nashville People's Budget Coalition, which is advocating to include $10 million for social housing and $13 million for non-police safety programs in this year’s budget.
“Social housing would be more permanently affordable, and I think if you also look like me and your family or generations have benefited from land owning in the South, now is the time to start turning the tides,” said the commentator. “And if you vote against that, then I'm not saying anything, but you know there might be something after, you know, when you perish into the afterlife. I don't want to say anything, but, um, you know, do the right thing.”
The 800-pound gorilla Sam Reed of Jigsaw, a government relations firm that lobbies on the behalf of high-profile clients like Oracle, the Titans, and The Boring Co., also caught a stray from the council’s unofficial poet laureate and regular trans activist commentator, Trina:
Maybe we could get Sam to restore our power,
If only we could afford Jigsaw's billable hour.
Instead of wondering why Freddie’s staff wears Jigsaw swag,
Let's get us on his roster and get Sam Reed his bag.
Until we do, we should refuse all taxation,
When Sam's the only one here with real representation.
Offending the senses After being chastised for overseeing a process that forces people to “beg for scraps and pennies,” the council moved forward and passed budget legislation on second reading. Despite the beatdown, Budget Chair Kyonzté Toombs gracefully reminded community members of the extensive public engagement process, starting with pre-budget hearings held in February.
"When we get to today, where we have our public hearing, it's meant to be a conversation,” said Toombs. “It's not meant to be where the public has to come here and beg us to include things in the substitute budget.”
CBID budget fails Speaking of scraps, things almost got scrappy after a resolution to approve the Central Business Improvement District budget failed by one vote. Councilmember Jordan Huffman, who supported the legislation, and Councilmember Deonte Harrell, who voted against it, became embroiled in a heated exchange that prompted both to stand up from their seats.
Luckily, it didn’t come to blows, though a rumble on Robertson would make for great Metro Nashville Network ratings. Strong opposition to the use of Tennessee Highway Patrol officers was the main reason dissenters cited for rejecting the CBID budget.
It’s worth noting that the Gulch Central Business Improvement District budget passed its second of three readings. The two resolutions regarding the Nashville Electric Service’s response to this year’s ice storm were deferred indefinitely but could still show up on a future docket.
Also, the construction of data centers in Davidson County is an emerging topic that will likely take center stage after budget season. During last night’s meeting, regulations on data centers and other related legislation passed on introduction, with more legislation on the way.
✹ THE RISE OF SPENCER PRATT
The Rise of Spencer Pratt Filmmaker Gabriel Mann, a California native who fled to Nashville in 2021 and made his name with the wildfire documentary Hotshots, has been behind the scenes for Spencer Pratt's improbable rise from reality-star-turned-aggrieved-homeowner after the Palisades fire destroyed his home to a competitive candidate in LA's mayoral race.
Mann witnessed Pratt's transformation firsthand, starting in the aftermath of the fires, and has produced every one of the groundbreaking campaign ads that've captured the nation. Join us Thursday, June 18, at Bungalow Studios for the inside story.
This event benefits The Pamphleteer, Nashville and is priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free admittance.
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)
HEADLINES
- ✈️ Nashville, airport leaders team up to block state BNA takeover. Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Metro Nashville Airport Authority leaders are actively opposing a new Tennessee state law that grants state officials majority control over the boards of major airports, including BNA. Reminder: Tennessee previously passed a law in 2023 targeting only Nashville's airport board. It was struck down in court for violating the state constitution's Home Rule Amendment by singling out one city. The current 2026 law broadens the scope to multiple major regional airports (including Memphis and Knoxville) to address that legal issue. (Tennessean)
- 🧊 Davidson expands income limits for property tax relief, freeze programs. Davidson County has raised the income limits for its property tax relief and tax freeze programs for 2026, allowing more homeowners to qualify. The relief program limit increased to $38,470 (up nearly $1,000), and the freeze program limit rose to $63,470 (up about $1,500), with applications based on 2025 income and available starting this fall. (NewsChannel 5)
- 🗺️ Nashville, Middle Tennessee listings could be cut off from Zillow. RealTracs, the company that controls home listings in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, is fighting with Zillow over the rules for showing houses on their website. If they don’t reach a deal by June 8, homes for sale in that area could stop appearing on Zillow. Note: This is part of a broader national push by some MLS operators against Zillow. (WSMV)
DEVELOPMENT
- Historic Fontanel Mansion reopens with nod to the past, and focus on bright future (Main Street)
- Nashville Underground closed on May 31 after the DeGraw brothers exited ownership (NBJ)
- Buchanan Street building segment listed for sale (Post)
- Germantown commercial property offered for $1.4M (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
🪕 Ben Chapman's Peach Jam @ The Basement East, 8p, $27.32, Info
+ feat. Rome, Slater Nalley, Benny G, and Taylor McCall w/ Special Guest Emcee Cornbread Cowboi
🎸 Joshua Hedley's Western Wednesday @ Skinny Dennis, 7p, Free, Info
💀 Tennessee Dead @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
📰 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