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# No. 588: The Floating City
- URL: https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-588-the-floating-city/
- Published: 2023-10-16T17:58:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-17T10:51:05.000Z
- Description: 📅 Today, Davis wonders if he's seeing things and Megan discusses the city's approach to "climate change."
- Author: The Pamphleteer
- Tags: Newsletter, #Import 2026-08-01 20:40

Good afternoon, everyone.

Out at a local watering hole this Friday, I stumbled upon a large group of fresh-faced Oracle employees relocated here in anticipation of the River North campus.

Once I heard the word *Oracle*, neurons started firing against the whiskey. Visions of high-paying jobs and a more diverse workforce flickered through my mind like a [Tony Scott movie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D97UVZECyKU&ref=pamphleteer.co). I gazed at this table of Oracle employees and beamed.

“Welcome to Nashville,” I proclaimed. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Been a while since I’d thought about that whole thing. If you can remember back to April 2021, Mayor Cooper was in a tizzy after Governor Lee signed legislation requiring middle and high school athletes to play on the team that aligns with their biological sex.

"I don't want to let us become viewed as a backwater, nationally," Cooper had [intoned](https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2021/04/05/cooper-lgbt-mendes.html?ref=pamphleteer.co) in response. Turns out, the politics of the state didn’t deter Oracle from moving forward with its deal with the city (money talks as it were) and here I am, two years later, reaping the benefits: talking with a fresh group of transplants at a god-forsaken place at a god-forsaken hour.

It got me thinking about the other deals inked over the past three years. Transformative is an accurate description, especially regarding the East Bank makeover, which hinges on the Titans’ stadium.

But there’s also Amazon’s two buildings and its promise to bring 5,000 high paying jobs to the area—a promise that seems more daunting given the [round of layoffs](https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/amazon-to-lay-off-another-9000-6210386/?ref=pamphleteer.co) tech behemoths have undergone in recent months.

Over in West Tennessee, there’s Ford’s massive EV vehicle facility, which received an [$884 million incentive package](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2021/10/20/tennessee-legislature-oks-884-million-incentive-package-ford-project/6109827001/?ref=pamphleteer.co) from the state. Ford is not the only auto manufacturer to bet big on electric vehicles, so it’s not alone in suffering from low demand for the vehicles in general.

As [reported](https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/electric-vehicle-buyer-interest-67b407cb?ref=pamphleteer.co) in the *WSJ*, Ford has pushed back its plan to produce 600,000 electric vehicles a year to late 2024 instead of the end of this year. Blue Oval City will be the centerpiece of Ford’s electric manufacturing capabilities once it is complete.

If EVs turn out to be duds on the consumer market (a position that I’ve maintained for going on ten years), what will this deal look like?

As fervently as the debate around these deals inflames public discourse, as soon as the deal is done and the checks are stroked, the promise and benefits of more jobs and tax revenue disappear like a mirage. We forget about them. If they fail, we mostly remain none the wiser.

But when you’re inebriated at midnight, they come back to you faintly as if in a dream. Oracle. Amazon. Ford. Batteries. Jobs. Diversity. Tax revenue. Giant apartment buildings. Bigger dog parks. Better restaurants. More activities. More people. More. More. More.

A better Nashville for all.

Onward.

  
[![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2023/07/office-hours-poster-ad-2.jpg)](https://pamphleteer.co/livestreams/)

**Get notified when we go live (*[**More Info*](https://www.youtube.com/@realpamphleteer/streams?ref=pamphleteer.co)**)*

![Nashville](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2021/10/nashville-label.png) 

### ✹ HAVE A SAY IN NASHVILLE’S CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA

“Climate change is arguably today’s single greatest threat to our society,” reads the landing page for Metro Nashville’s Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. Last week, O’Connell’s office reminded Nashvillians that an [online comment period](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCTO2NlUE9aAFLPIGTb-izI2VbL7iPIR34S2JCAxbx-YSP4Q/viewform?ref=pamphleteer.co) about the plan is now open to the public until October 31st, along with [two public virtual sessions](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/mayor/news/metro-seeks-input-climate-adaptation-and-resilience-plan-offers-two-public-comment-sessions?ref=pamphleteer.co) on October 18th: one from [11 a.m. to 1 p.m.](https://nashville.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/nashville/meeting/download/ec0ac3fc40894708b76c02b2645e7037?siteurl=nashville&MTID=m2ba1ff4d9ebb69f65efb830efb4d702e&ref=pamphleteer.co), and another from [5 p.m. to 7 p.m.](https://nashville.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/nashville/meeting/download/5ca076268235487cb33f5a82e6a0dce5?siteurl=nashville&MTID=m00a1694ba07a0cb4641c3443bef5c622&ref=pamphleteer.co)

The 172-page [document](https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/Climate-Adaptation-and-Resilience-Action-Plan-Review-Version-230919.pdf?ct=1695145988&ref=pamphleteer.co) outlines the initiatives that, according to “more than fifty Metro departments and hundreds of community stakeholders,” the city should adopt to address climate change. These include the creation of a Sustainability Advisory Committee, installing solar on Metro sites, streetlight upgrades, and a [C-PACER](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/trustee/c-pacer?ref=pamphleteer.co) program to give commercial developers incentives to introduce “sustainable and resilient” solutions—to name a few.

Though Freddie’s campaign made it a point to outline solar and sustainable energy “fixes,” the mayor was passed the baton by the Cooper administration: CARP is a byproduct of [Metro’s 2021 Climate Action Plan](https://www.thevoicenashville.com/environment/mayor-cooper-releases-climate-adaptation-and-resilience-plan/?ref=pamphleteer.co), which came out of Cooper’s ad hoc [Sustainability Advisory Committee](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/mayor/boards/sustainability-advisory-committee?ref=pamphleteer.co). 

Nashville’s march toward climate consciousness began with [the city’s](https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/cities/usa/united-states/nashville-tn/?ref=pamphleteer.co) allegiance to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, [a commitment](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/mayor/news/mayor-cooper-announces-multiple-initiatives-combat-climate-change-and-promote?ref=pamphleteer.co) Mayor Cooper undertook shortly after taking office in 2019\. The Global Covenant of Mayors was launched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg during the [UN Climate Summit](https://unfccc.int/news/un-climate-summit-ban-ki-moon-final-summary?ref=pamphleteer.co) in 2014 and was officially established in 2016\. 

Now, four years later, Davidson County residents have a [window of opportunity](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/mayor/news/metro-seeks-input-climate-adaptation-and-resilience-plan-offers-two-public-comment-sessions?ref=pamphleteer.co) to review the strategies drafted “to prepare the city for impacts resulting from a changing climate.”

#### WHAT’S THE DESIGN AND ON WHOSE DIME?

Though the CARP draft contains a myriad of initiatives most people can get on board with— including a goal to plant 500,000 trees by 2050— it does come down to dollars and *sense*. 

In the past, we’ve reported on the O’Connell administration’s goal to convert all Metro buildings to [100 percent solar](https://www.readyforfreddie.com/15-fixes?ref=pamphleteer.co) by 2027\. According to the CARP document, they also plan to do the following:

- Allocate and spend Metro-budgeted dollars on equitable climate adaptation and resilience
- Secure funding from grants for equitable climate adaptation and resilience
- Introduce a number of policies, ordinances, codes and other new requirements related to equitable climate adaptation and resilience

#### WHEN INCENTIVES ARE SHORT ON CHANGE

Unfortunately, Tennessee has seen what happens when incentivization moves too fast for innovation. Back in November 2022, General Skrmetti joined eight other attorneys general in sending a [letter](https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/news/2022/11/22/pr22-47.html?ref=pamphleteer.co) urging a handful of solar lending companies to suspend loan payments and interest for former customers of [Pink Energy](https://www.facebook.com/gopinkenergy/). 

Before the North Carolina company filed for [bankruptcy](https://www.wbtv.com/2022/10/11/pink-energy-solar-company-files-bankruptcy-leaving-customers-dark/?ref=pamphleteer.co) and closed its doors [last October](https://www.leafscore.com/blog/pink-energy-solar-closes-amid-a-tidal-wave-of-complaints/?ref=pamphleteer.co), their [promotional materials](https://gopinknashville.com/solar-panels/?ref=pamphleteer.co) attracted Middle Tennesseans with the promises of reduced energy bills, federal tax credits, and a potential increase in property values. Instead, they were left with unanswered questions and, according to one Pink Energy customer interviewed by [*WSMV*](https://www.wsmv.com/2022/10/08/solar-power-company-shuts-down-heres-what-customers-can-do-next/?ref=pamphleteer.co), “basically a paperweight on my roof.”

*Read more on the* [*demise of Pink Energy*](https://pamphleteer.co/post/is-solar-the-new-snake-oil/)*, the* [*CARP draft*](https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/Climate-Adaptation-and-Resilience-Action-Plan-Review-Version-230919.pdf?ct=1695145988&ref=pamphleteer.co)*, and submit your comment on the* [*Metro Nashville/Davidson County Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Comment Form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCTO2NlUE9aAFLPIGTb-izI2VbL7iPIR34S2JCAxbx-YSP4Q/viewform?ref=pamphleteer.co)*.*

*From [Megan Podsiedlik](https://pamphleteer.co/author/megan/)*

### ↯ GRAPH OF THE DAY: TAXED VS. SPENT

[![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2023/10/Screen-Shot-2023-10-16-at-11.44.52-AM-1.png)](https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/10/16/analysis-nashville-willamson-and-seviers-3-4b-prop-up-of-tennessees-tax-base/?ref=pamphleteer.co)

### HEADLINES

[**New airport law casts wide authority over Nashville building and land use permitting (TNJ)**](https://onthehill.tnjournal.net/new-airport-law-casts-wide-authority-over-nashville-building-and-land-use-permits/?ref=pamphleteer.co)The Metro Nashville Airport Authority has assumed broad new powers over zoning decisions and building permits within a large portion of its host county.

[**Cooper Team's Advice for O'Connell Administration (Scene)**](https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/cooper-teams-advice-for-oconnell-administration/article%5Ffc7c57d7-94ec-5a52-be7b-1c68c94f8d06.html?ref=pamphleteer.co)As detailed in the transition memos, released to *Scene* sister publication the *Nashville* *Post* in response to a public records request, Cooper's team thinks the O'Connell administration should be paying attention to several key issues.

[**Tourism dollars flow from Tennessee Whiskey Trail (Lookout)**](https://tennesseelookout.com/2023/10/16/tourism-dollars-flow-from-tennessee-whiskey-trail/?ref=pamphleteer.co)Whiskey is a strong driver of tourism and economic growth in Tennessee, making a $3.45 billion impact on the state economy through sales, overnight lodging, food, and beverage, according to a study commissioned by the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. In addition, whiskey tourism and sales supported 30,000 jobs in the state and created tax revenues of $441.1 million.

### DEVELOPMENT

- Johnny Cash's 'JC Unit One' tour bus arrives in Nashville ([Tennessean](https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/10/13/johnny-cashs-jc-unit-one-tour-bus-arrives-in-nashville-as-a-must-see-ryman-tourist-stop/71170030007/?utm%5Fsource=Nashville+Public+Radio&utm%5Fcampaign=529692ec72-Nashvillager%5F101623&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-ffaa545e30-%5BLIST%5FEMAIL%5FID%5D&mc%5Fcid=529692ec72&mc%5Feid=a55152012c))
- NYC wine bar planned for Germantown ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/retail/nyc-wine-bar-planned-for-germantown/article%5F332623ce-69fb-11ee-bb6b-2f121244f656.html?ref=pamphleteer.co))
- Music industry pro sells warehouse for $10.2M ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/music-industry-pro-sells-warehouse-for-10-2m/article%5Fd7154b42-6a0d-11ee-9bf2-db1a8b8594ad.html?ref=pamphleteer.co))
- West End retail building listed for $2.3M ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/real-estate-notes-west-end-retail-building-listed-for-2-3m/article%5F9b4a64c6-69e5-11ee-a626-b3b390cffa8b.html?ref=pamphleteer.co))

![Entertainment](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2022/01/Group-27.png) 

### THINGS TO DO

*View our calendar for the week* [*here*](https://pamphleteer.co/calendar/events-for-the-week-of-october-16/) *and our weekly film rundown* [*here*](https://pamphleteer.co/post/weekly-film-rundown-october-13-19/)*.*

📅 Visit our [On The Radar](https://pamphleteer.co/post/on-the-radar/) list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: [Pamphleteer's Picks](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46Yds4VbS47NzRa4blrWUY?si=2040311a7d7f403f&ref=pamphleteer.co), a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville [farmer's market guide](https://pamphleteer.co/post/nashville-farmers-market-guide/) and our 2023 [southern festival guide](https://pamphleteer.co/post/southeastern-music-festivals-2023/) and 🎥 [2023 movie guide](https://pamphleteer.co/post/the-pamphleteers-comprehensive-2023-movie-guide/).

#### TONIGHT

🎸 Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ Brooklyn Bowl, 8p, $32, [Info](https://www.brooklynbowl.com/nashville/events/detail/unknown-mortal-orchestra-g5viz9l68okvy?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
  
🎸 Horse Jumper of Love @ DRKMTTR, 7p, $17.28, [Info](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/horse-jumper-of-love-w-truth-club-at-drkmttr-tickets-694433929577?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=pamphleteer.co)  
\+ *shoegaze*

🪕 Bluegrass Monday w/ Missy Raines & Allegheny @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, [Info](https://deeslounge.com/event/bluegrass-monday-w-missy-raines-allegheny/?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
  
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 8p, Free, [Info](https://www.acmefeedandseed.com/calendar?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
  
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, [Info](https://the5spot.club/?ref=pamphleteer.co#calendar)

![In case you missed it...](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2023/01/Group-20.png) 

📰 *Check out the full newsletter archive [here](https://pamphleteer.co/tag/newsletter/)*. 

[No. 587: On Walking📅 Today, Davis talks about walking, and Megan talks about Gov. Lee’s day of prayer and fasting.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565768502425-079460b64877?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDV8fHNtb2t5JTIwbW91bnRhaW5zfGVufDB8fHx8MTY5NzIxNTAxM3ww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-587-on-walking/)

[No. 586: Coming to you live📅 Today, Davis reminds you to tune in, Jerod reviews the new Exorcist movie, and Megan rounds up some news involving participatory budgeting and the Franklin mayor’s race.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1602973240044-ac77578f6dc5?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDR8fHJlY29yZGluZ3xlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTcxMzAxNDJ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-586-coming-to-you-live/)

[No. 585: The Rise of Pants📅 Today, Davis talks about pants, Tyler Hummel reviews the latest docuseries from the Daily Wire, and Megan talks about Freddie O’Connell’s finance director, Kevin Crumbo.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1634564235572-cd6f37694266?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDQ3fHxwYW50c3xlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTcwNDU3NDZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-585-the-rise-of-pants/)

[No. 584: The Principled Thing📅 Today, Davis talks about the Current Thing delusion, Glen Gaugh joins us to recap the latest charter school victory in Jackson-Madison, and Megan recaps last night’s event at the JCC and bus route changes.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583484963886-cfe2bff2945f?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDcxfHxkZWZlbnNlJTIwdGVjaG5vbG9neXxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTY5NTgzNTd8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-584-the-principled-thing/)

[No. 583: A Different Kind of Politics📅 Today, Davis talks about the events that eclipsed Columbus Day, Miles breaks down the Titans’ loss to the Colts, and Megan surveys the responses of politicians in the state and city to the tragedy in Israel.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1578320781060-fdd7b66f1534?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDd8fGJhdHRsZSUyMHBhaW50aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTY5Njg3MzE0NXww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-583-a-different-kind-of-politics/)

### YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

- ✝️ David Gordon Green’s reimagining of *The Exorcist* classic is the definitive portrait of the American South. ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/local-color-and-the-exorcist-believer/))
- 🩸 The Daily Wire wants to leave a mark with its new True Crime series, *Convicting a Murderer* ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/review-dailywires-convicting-a-murderer/))
- 🧠 The rise of mental illness as a trendy identity marker in America's social media era ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/the-fashion-of-the-mind/))
- 🎞 *The Pamphleteer's* Fall 2023 Streaming Guide ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/the-pamphleteers-fall-2023-streaming-guide/))
- And check out our [podcast](https://www.buzzsprout.com/1986019?ref=pamphleteer.co), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@realpamphleteer?ref=pamphleteer.co), and [article archive](https://pamphleteer.co/post/) for more.