No. 691: Straight Talk
📅 Today, Davis talks about Antioch, Miles celebrates Pat Summitt's career, and Megan takes a look at the latest regarding the East Bank Authority.
Good afternoon, everyone.
An article in the Nashville Banner this morning about the city's purchase of the now blighted Global Mall at The Crossings (formerly known as Hickory Hollow Mall) stuck out to me for two reasons.
First, for Councilmember Joy Styles’ fierce rhetoric in favor of turning the mall into a specific community asset for Antioch, rather than offering it up on the vague altar of affordable housing. "I have plenty of apartment buildings. What I need is a place for community," Styles said in response to a question about whether the site would go towards more housing. "I don’t want to hear about what the whole city wants for my district. I want to know what my community wants for our district."
We would all be so lucky to have a representative this vocally defensive of the interests of her district against the expanding demands of downtown.
Second, for the author’s failure to account for the reason the mall is blighted in the first place: a rapid increase in violent crime in Antioch beginning in 2004. Antioch still has these issues. Since opening in October of last year, the Tanger Outlet Mall has been overwhelmed by theft.
On the one hand, it's admirable for a councilmember to go to the mat for her community and constituents. On the other hand, the lack of straight talk about the problems that led to the mall's demise indicates similar pitfalls may await any revitalization efforts.
Onward.
✶ THE LEGACY OF PAT SUMMITT
From Miles Harrington
It has been well established that College Basketball has been king of March for years. From the anticipation of Selection Sunday, to filling out dozens of brackets, to Cinderella stealing the dance, March Madness is nothing short of being culture. However, history shows every king is stronger with a dynamic and strong-willed queen. That queen of college basketball departed this world nearly a decade ago, but her influence on the sport lives on well beyond her mortal body.
Patricia “Pat” Summitt (nee: Head) was born in Clarksville in 1952 and was immediately destined for greatness. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, girls’ basketball did not have nearly the societal focus it does today, but that did not stop her family from moving to Henrietta so their prodigy of a daughter could play higher level high school basketball. Known as “Trish” to her family and Cheatham County High School classmates, she was a community favorite being voted “Most Popular” and “Basketball Sweetheart” during her Senior year – I guess she hadn’t quite developed the infamous Summitt Snarl just yet.
✳︎ GRUMBLINGS OVER THE EAST BANK AUTHORITY
From Megan Podsiedlik
A month ago, Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) proposed a bill to establish an East Bank Development Authority. Since then, the legislation has been shuffled around both the Senate and the House, potentially signaling some apprehension from state legislators, mirroring some of the skepticism we’ve heard bubbling up from their constituents.
On March 14th, the House Calendar and Rules Committee sent the bill back to the Local Government Committee with no discussion on the floor. And though the Senate placed it on third and final reading last week, Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) kicked it back to the Finance Committee “given the fiscal circumstances.” As of this writing, the bill remains unamended, with no fiscal note attached to the original document.
On Saturday, the Nashville Conservatives Breakfast Club shared their concerns about the legislation. It awards way too much power to Metro-appointed positions, most agreed. At present, the mayor and the council would appoint all seven voting board members, while the state would be represented by three non-voting ex officio members: the comptroller of the treasury, the state treasurer, and the secretary of state. Some suggested that the state should be allowed a few voting members on the board; others implied they would feel more comfortable if the council had more appointments than the mayor.
Though he agrees the state has vested interest in the development, Rep. Freeman thinks the arrangement is sufficient. “The state of Tennessee has a material investment in the East Bank that deserves protection,” he said during the House’s Local Government Committee meeting on March 12th. “This is going to be a professional body that is solely responsible for ensuring our investment is taken care of wisely.”
It’s worth noting that the bill removes some financing powers from Metro Government and gives them to the authority, which will be audited annually by the comptroller of the treasury. Whether the Metro Council will be on board with this change is yet to be seen. Even if the bill passes through the state legislature, it will require a two-thirds vote from the council to take effect.
Then there’s eminent domain, a worry for stakeholders in the area. The stretch of land mentioned in the legislation goes beyond what is owned by Metro, including all parcels bounded between Interstate 24 and Interstate 65. According to the bill, the authority will be able to “enforce compliance” and “own, acquire, purchase, option, convey, exchange, donate, sell, gift, rent, lease, improve, maintain, operate, and equip real and personal property,” all “without the need for separate approval from the Metropolitan Government or any agency.” This gives the board purchasing and leasing power within its own discretion.
In any case, the bill needs a lot of tweaking to pass muster among locals. And if the legislation makes it to the council floor, the financial compensation for both the board and the proposed CEO must be addressed.
❏ MIDDLE TENNESSEE GROWTH CONTINUES
HEADLINES
Gov. Lee Signs ELVIS Act Into Law (Scene) Gov. Bill Lee signed the ELVIS Act into law on Thursday, making Tennessee the first state to ensure likeness, voice and image protections for individuals as artificial intelligence technology continues to advance.
Metro Adds $3 Million to Cover All Grants Promised by Metro Arts (Banner) Surplus funding of $3 million from Metro’s FY23 budget, on top of $2 million that was already promised, will be directed to Metro Arts to pay off a “mounting deficit” and fully fund grant commitments made to independent artists and arts organizations this year.
Anti-LGBTQ foster, adoptive parents can’t be denied child placements under proposed law (Lookout) The proposed Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act would prohibit the Department of Children’s Services from excluding parents who want to foster or adopt a child based on the parents’ moral or religious objections to LGBTQ identity.
DEVELOPMENT
- Developer Breaks Ground On Mass-Timber Condos In Murfreesboro, TN (Now Next)
- TailGate taps Murfreesboro for eighth taproom (Post)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown 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
🎸 bar italia @ The Blue Room, 8p, $32.36, Info
+ elusive London-based rock band
🪕 Bronwyn Keith-Hynes @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $12.51, Info
🪕 Lindsay Lou & Sam Grisman + friends @ Dee's Lounge, 8:30p, $12.51, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 8p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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- And check out our podcast, YouTube, and article archive for more.