Metro Budget Spin Cycle
Good afternoon, everyone. It's wash, rinse, and repeat with Nashville tax dollars: Mayor O'Connell explains why he's giving money to a nonprofit with a political arm that campaigns on his behalf... Tales from the West Side: How to Save a Tree... Legislation filed to move the Office of Entertainment director role to the mayor's office... 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)
New TN U.S. Congressional District lookup Use your address to find your new district here.
Like what we do? Forward us to a friend!
Mayor Freddie O’Connell defends his budget funding for TIRRC: “It’s not a kickback.”
From Megan Podsiedlik
Mayor Freddie O’Connell says the $735,000 included in his budget for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition is simply business as usual. Never mind that the nonprofit also happens to have a 501(c)(4) arm that has engaged with thousands of Nashville voters in support of his candidacy in the past, O’Connell says TIRRC does work that receives bipartisan support.
“It started through ARP requests going to these organizations, and they were the ones that fulfilled the mission here, which is actually to support pathways to citizenship and either the securing of or maintaining legal status for immigrants, which is something that has strong bipartisan support,” said O’Connell during this morning’s media round table.
“It's not a kickback,” he continued. “Again…we didn't do this new this year. You can go back to multiple Metro budgets. They have been offering these legal services to people in their stakeholder community. TIRRC is not exclusively a political organization. They have a 501(c)(4), but they're a 501(c)(3) as a provider organization.”
Mayor’s office makes moves to control Office of Entertainment “Today we're filing legislation to solve structural challenges in the Office of Entertainment by moving the director's role to the mayor's office,” announced Mayor O’Connell. “So a qualified executive director can be hired in a timely fashion, we’re working with the Metro Council on funding to support the office and set it on a path to success in partnership with the National Entertainment Commission.”
✹ 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.
✹ HOW TO SAVE A TREE
The third installment in Tales from the West Side
From Rachel Gladstone
I’m a tree hugger. Always have been. And when I moved to the Nations in 2001, there were a lot of trees to get my arms around. But nowadays, that’s not the case. Old-growth trees are few and far between thanks to the multitude of developers who automatically give every parcel they buy a Brazilian to maximize profits.
In the face of this aggressive tree-clearing, something Nashville has no laws against, I’m no longer a simple Tree Hugger. No! I have become a Tree Saver, which I know sounds like a powerful position, but let me tell you; it’s anything but. There’s no squadron of tree-saving Ninjas at my side. And definitely no Department of Tree Police. But I dream about starting one with uniforms and everything. Stylin’ in my official hat, Bermuda shorts, and short-sleeved, button-down shirt, I’d look just like the human equivalent of Smokey the Bear or a Boy Scout who’s going through menopause.
✹ 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
- 💧 Where Tennessee’s long-term drought stands after recent rains. Tennessee has been in widespread drought since December, and even after recent steady rainfall, about 80 percent of the state remains in moderate drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. State climatologist Andrew Joyner noted ongoing long-term hydrological issues with groundwater, lakes, and streams not fully replenished, classifying it as a long-term drought affecting hydrology and ecology, with some areas like the Cumberland Plateau in extreme drought. (WPLN)
- 🚧 Leadership change coming at fledgling Nashville Worker Safety Board. Metro’s Contract and Compliance Board executive director Trey Adkisson has taken another job in the Department of General Services just as his one-year probationary period was ending, prompting a leadership transition for the fledgling board that oversees worker safety and wage issues on city projects. The board, proposed by Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda following worker deaths on Metro-related sites, continues to face delays in establishing procedures, authority, and agreements. (Banner)
- 🎰 TN Lottery CEO announces retirement weeks after lawmakers pass bill targeting board. Tennessee Education Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul announced she will retire at the end of 2026 after nearly 23 years leading the program, which funds college scholarships. This comes weeks after lawmakers passed a bill resetting the lottery board and making her compensation package (she earns $650,000 annually) a public record, amid recent revenue declines linked to sports gambling competition. (Lookout)
DEVELOPMENT
- Former Old Tent City site could become Nashville's next major riverfront park (Fox17)
- Wedgewood-Houston music studio building sells for $4.47M (Post)
- Six-story mixed-used structure proposed for Music Row (Post)
- Self-pour wine bar slated for The Gulch (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
🎸 rocknite @ JBJ's Nashville, 11:30a, Free, Info
+ feat. Cage the Elephant & Dexter, the Moonrocks and more...
🎸 Claypool Gold @ The Caverns, 7p, $119.50+, Info
🪕 Dale Ann Bradley @ Station Inn, $25, 9p, Info
🎸 The Wallflowers @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, 8p, $56.20, Info
🎸 Musicians Corner @ Centennial Park, 5p, Free, Info
🎸 CMA Fest @ Multiple Venues, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SATURDAY
🪕 The Band Loula @ Station Inn, $30, 8p, Info
🎸 Greg Hoy & the boys @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, Info
🎸 Musicians Corner @ Centennial Park, 12:05p, Free, Info
🎸 CMA Fest @ Multiple Venues, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SUNDAY
🪕 The Band Loula @ Station Inn, $30, 8p, Info
🎸 CMA Fest @ Multiple Venues, 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.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan