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# No. 688: Last Night at Metro Council
- URL: https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-688-last-night-at-metro-council/
- Published: 2024-03-20T18:19:10.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-17T11:00:15.000Z
- Description: 🗓️ Megan recaps last night's Metro Council meeting. Bagel places popping up. Californians buying property.
- Author: The Pamphleteer
- Tags: Newsletter, #Import 2026-08-01 20:40

Good afternoon, everyone.

First order of business: don't forget about our Bar Hours tomorrow with the guys over at [RidgeRunner](https://ridgerunnerusa.com/?ref=pamphleteer.co). Register for the event [here](https://lu.ma/ik1fspjo?ref=pamphleteer.co) to get the location. See y'all tomorrow.

Onward.

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

## ✹ COMMUNITY INPUT FOR ME, NOT FOR THEE

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

Last Friday, William Cheek [resigned](https://twitter.com/startleseasily/status/1768640808142455287/photo/1?ref=pamphleteer.co) from the [Arts Commission](https://nashville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6572068&GUID=65C778D3-8DE9-4A2C-AC81-C4C23828CAD8&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=cheek&ref=pamphleteer.co) amid a flurry of death threats. Though a handful of council members were prepared to give Cheek [the boot](https://nashville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6572068&GUID=65C778D3-8DE9-4A2C-AC81-C4C23828CAD8&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=william+cheek&ref=pamphleteer.co) this week, his decision, along with the deferral of [the bill](https://nashville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6557917&GUID=1903F239-9B30-431D-89E6-C1F1D110C477&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=fallon&FullText=1&ref=pamphleteer.co) to establish the East Bank development and lease agreements, took much of the bite out of last night’s agenda. Nonetheless, the body still had a few items to bark about.

#### NEST: THE END OF COMMUNITY INPUT?

Midway through the meeting, the council passed [a resolution](https://nashville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6557935&GUID=08235C92-AD1E-40B1-BEA7-8AB782EC2278&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=288&ref=pamphleteer.co) giving several Metro departments permission to conduct a “comprehensive analysis” of the effects of density and zoning changes in Davidson County. The legislation was filed in response to the deluge of bills introduced under the NEST initiative, which blindsided both council members and Nashvillians when they were brought forward by at-large Councilmember Quin Evans Segall two months ago

Though it will delay her legislation, Evans Segall added herself as a supporting sponsor on the resolution. That being said, the legislation appears to be less about community input and more about expert analysis. In fact, Councilmember Burkley Allen had Metro’s Assistant Director of Land Development, Lisa Milligan, explain how NEST is an extension of the [NashvilleNext](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/planning/nashvillenext/nashvillenext-plan?ref=pamphleteer.co) plan, an initiative which has *already* been vetted by Davidson County residents.

“...All of our decisions and the work that we do is grounded in NashvilleNext,” Milligan said to the council. “There was a huge amount of engagement that took place with NashvilleNext in regards to the overall community vision. And so that's definitely the backbone of all of the work that we do.”

In accordance with the deadline established by Councilmember Emily Benedict’s [amendment](https://nashville.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12765777&GUID=1E84A9E1-053F-4BE7-AEC1-6CC5D9A60010&ref=pamphleteer.co) to the resolution, departments’ analyses and recommendations must be submitted by March 31st, 2025.

While the council may be happy with their compromise, Mayor O’Connell seems a tad disappointed with how NEST was introduced. In an interview published by the [*Banner*](https://nashvillebanner.com/2024/03/20/nashville-housing-transit-arts/?ref=pamphleteer.co) this morning, O’Connell supported “Looking at Nashville Next and applying lessons learned, but taking a similar approach to what NashvilleNext did where they went out all over the county and got tens of thousands of points of input about growth. I think this is a great time to go have that conversation. I don’t feel like that is what the NEST bills did. That was not the spirit in which they were offered.”

#### REMEMBERING COVENANT

“I’m tired of thoughts and prayers,” Councilmember Sandy Ewing said after her resolution recognizing the anniversary of the Covenant shooting passed unanimously. Though the legislation honored the six victims and commended the bravery of both the school staff and the first responders, some council members felt it wasn’t enough. 

“I think we all wish that the Covenant community had not had to face this,” Ewing began. ”But they did. And their lives are forever changed.” After personally recognizing all of the victims that lost their lives, she divulged her disappointment with the state. “As a country, we have a gun problem,” Ewing explained. “...I would ask those who serve us at the state and federal level these questions: while we fund more CSOs in our schools, why are we not also funding more mental health professionals in schools? Why are we not working harder to control access to guns to curb gun violence?” 

“I call on every single person who occupies a position of power and influence at every single level— state, local, federal— to actually take action to make sure that we are honoring the memories of those who are lost,” added Councilmember Jeff Preptit. “Nobody in this country has to continue to be a victim of gun violence simply because of the influence of an outsized lobby.”

Councilmember Jacob Kupin rounded out the floor discussion by calling for gun reform: “How can we watch children die and do nothing? How can we claim thoughts and prayers, but not show actionable change…?”

### HEADLINES

[**Age vertification to view porn online proposed in Tennessee (Center Square)**](https://www.thecentersquare.com/tennessee/article%5F89003f92-e529-11ee-994e-af5d7707c020.html?ref=pamphleteer.co)A Tennessee bill would make it a felony for an adult content website to allow access to a minor without age verification. The offense would become a class C felony and the entity would be liable for damages, including attorney’s costs and court fees.

[**Tennessee considers live music fund to help venues and artists (Axios)**](https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/03/20/tennessee-live-music-fund-struggling-venues?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=newsletter%5Faxioslocal%5Fnashville&stream=top)Legislators are movingforward with a proposalto create a live music fund, which would eventually provide grants to concert venues and musicians. The pandemic, rising real estate values and increased competition from large companies combined to put independent music venues in a challenging position.

[**Tennessee schools sue social media companies, advocating for child protection (WZTV)**](https://fox17.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/tennessee-schools-sue-social-media-companies-advocating-for-child-protection-meta-facebook-instagram-tiktok-snapchat-google-whatsapp-and-youtube?utm%5Fsource=Chalkbeat&utm%5Fcampaign=c9ad5b2ec8-Tennessee+Retention+policy+for+4th+graders+would+e&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F9091015053-c9ad5b2ec8-%5BLIST%5FEMAIL%5FID%5D&mc%5Fcid=c9ad5b2ec8&mc%5Feid=1a3761b70f)Amid growing mental health concerns among students, 33 Tennessee school systems have filed similar lawsuits against social media companies pushing for protection for children across multiple platforms.

### DEVELOPMENT

- Get A Look Inside Prima, Now Leasing In The Nashville Gulch ([Now Next](https://citynownext.com/2024/03/19/get-a-look-inside-prima-now-leasing-in-the-nashville-gulch/?ref=pamphleteer.co))
- Long lines, buzz greet new West Nashville restaurant ([Tennessean](https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/03/20/benjis-bagel-buzz-long-waits-greet-new-west-nashville-restaurant/73016295007/?ref=pamphleteer.co))
- Crieve Hall Bagel Co. to open second location ([NBJ](https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/03/19/crieve-hall-bagel-inglewood-mlrose.html?utm%5Fsource=st&utm%5Fmedium=en&utm%5Fcampaign=me&utm%5Fcontent=NA&ana=e%5FNA%5Fme&j=34748900&senddate=2024-03-20&empos=p2))
- California apartment company adds to Nashville holdings ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/california-apartment-company-adds-to-nashville-holdings/article%5F80dece8a-e63e-11ee-98e6-9f46ada752b7.html?ref=pamphleteer.co))
- California apartment company makes first local acquisition ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/california-apartment-company-makes-first-local-acquisition/article%5F96a2d3a8-e623-11ee-b0ff-17b30fc75ec4.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-march-18/) *and our weekly film rundown* [*here*](https://pamphleteer.co/post/weekly-film-rundown-march-15-21/)*.*

📅 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/).

#### TONIGHT

🎸 Sierra Ferrell with Nikki Lane @ Ryman Auditorium, 7:30p, $35+, [Info](https://www.ryman.com/event/2024-sierra-ferrell?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
  
🎸 King Lazy Eye @ The Basement, 7p, $12.85, [Info](https://www.ticketweb.com/event/king-lazy-eye-w-high-the-basement-tickets/13481753?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
\+ *southern punk rock*  
  
🪕 Bluegrass & 2-4-1's Featuring Sheriff Scott & The Deputies @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Free, [Info](https://www.tnbrew.com/livemusic/2023/12/7/3w2ma9d4ye9kx80w853r7uryc0a5uw-ashl2-9m4kw-hwazh-9c5n5?ref=pamphleteer.co)  
\+ *bluegrass 6-8pm and 2-for-1 craft beer specials all day*  
  
🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, [Info](https://www.instagram.com/bluegrasswednesday/?hl=en&ref=pamphleteer.co)

![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. 687: Waiting for the Thunder🗓️ Davis predicts the weather and Megan talks about the morbid history of the Cumberland River.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504123010103-b1f3fe484a32?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDd8fGxpZ2h0bmluZ3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MTA4NDczNzF8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-687-waiting-for-the-thunder/)

[No. 686: Phoning in from El Salvador📅 Today, Davis delivers a dispatch, Miles lays out what to expect from this year’s NCAA tournament and Megan looks at the latest developments regarding the East Bank.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2024/03/IMG_7763.JPG)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-686-phoning-in-from-el-salvador/)

[No. 685: Mutiny On the Bounty📅 Today, Davis gives a Metro Arts update, Jerod reviews Poor Things, and Megan talks about the birds and the bees.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2024/03/474535_4x3.png)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-685-mutiny-on-the-bounty/)

[No. 684: Dispatch from the Road📅 Today, Davis is in NYC, Jerod reveals the ten best movies from last year, and Megan looks at a piece of legislation regarding farm easements.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2024/03/dameli-zhantas-gapRs3zsdg0-unsplash.jpg)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-684-dispatch-from-the-road/)

[No. 683: Number by Number Initiatives🗓️ Davis talks about how to market a government initiative, and Megan details one of those initiatives.![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/10/square-ico.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1633526543814-9718c8922b7a?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDN8fGNhbGVuZGFyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcxMDM0ODg4Nnww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/no-683-number-by-number-initiatives/)

### YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

- 🧠 The response to *Poor Things* exposes our inability to talk about art that defies ideology. ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/a-conflict-of-vision/))
- 🎞️ *The Pamphleteer’s* ten most anticipated films of 2024 ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/the-pamphleteers-ten-most-anticipated-films-of-2024/))
- ⛪️ Rob Reiner's documentary on Christian Nationalism completely misses the mark ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/review-god-country/))
- ☢️ A small Tennessee town's forgotten history as a nuclear leader ([Read](https://pamphleteer.co/post/atomic-hartsville/))
- 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.