O'Connell's gangplank walk
Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we review the timeline of Mayor O’Connell’s response to federal immigration deportation efforts in Nashville, mark the end of Old Tent City, take a look at alternative budgets cropping up in the council, and suggest some movies for you to stream at home. First time reading? Sign up here.
Like what we do? Forward us to a friend.
As rumors spread of a focused ICE deportation operation in Nashville, Mayor Freddie O'Connell made a series of decisions that have drawn the attention of federal authorities and resulted in an investigation into whether O'Connell interfered with federal law enforcement operations. A month on, here's how things played out.
May 4
Mayor O’Connell released an official statement regarding immigration enforcement operations that took place in Nashville on May 3 and the early hours of May 4. At the time, it was reported that 84 arrests were made. “This type of federal enforcement action is not focused on making us safer and leaves people in our community fearing any interaction with law enforcement when there is a crime occurring,” said O’Connell. The mayor also clarified that Metro Nashville Police Department was not involved with coordinating the operation, and that he would seek the names of those detained.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition also released a statement demanding transparency and calling the operations cruel and extreme.
May 5
Mayor O’Connell held a press conference regarding the operations and reiterated that they are seeking the names and charges against those detained. When asked if there was any way the city could alert people to these enforcement activities, he said that they have to be careful to comply with the law, but his administration was looking into it.
The mayor also announced that Metro joined the Community Foundation in launching the Belonging Fund to support immigrants in Nashville. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Conexion Americas, and Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors committed more than $30,000 as initial contributors. It’s worth noting Metro Government awarded TIRRC $1.8M in American Rescue Plan funds in 2022 to “expand critical immigrant legal services in Davidson County.”
The Metro Immigrant Caucus held its own press conference, which included the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition and Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors. As the chair of the caucus, Councilmember Terry Vo called upon Metro leadership to “clarify our city's role, if any, in these operations, and to recommit to policies that protect, not endanger, our neighbors.”
That same day, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would offer illegals $1,000 and paid travel if they voluntarily self-deport.
⧖⧗⧖ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ⧗⧖⧗
If you want to support our work at The Pamphleteer, a recurring donation is the best way. We have a $10/month Grub Street tier and a $50/month Bard tier. Membership gets you access to our comments section and free access to upcoming events.
🖋️ Mostly edited by Megan Podsiedlik.
⛺️ Old Tent City Washes Away The velvet gloves have grabbed hold of the jewels: Old Tent City is no more. Yesterday, June 2, was the last day of notice for the 100 or so people occupying the 20-acre lot South of Broadway along the Cumberland River. “Anyone still there in the morning would be trespassing,” Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron told the Banner on Monday. “That has been communicated to all. We are optimistic that enforcement will not be necessary.”
Much of the concern around the evictions from the camp has been around whether and how the city would house those it displaced. In the Banner story on the matter, one resident, Mama V, was moved into a house off Buchanan Street where she, her husband DC, friends, eight dogs and a cat will take up residence. The most likely relocation will be to a motel near the airport.
As for what the city will do with the 20-acre property, a long dormant park planned for the lot could come to fruition, but Councilmember Jacob Kupin had other ideas, suggesting a homeless service center. He may have just been pandering to his audience. We’ll see. DAVIS HUNT
💸 Alternative Budget Not Off The Table We’ll be hearing community comments on the budget during the public hearing at tonight’s Metro Council meeting. There has been some talk of an alternative budget proposal by council members to replace the Mayor’s $3.8 billion recommended budget and property tax increase. If that comes to fruition, it’s likely Nashvillians will see something filed this week.
During a Budget & Finance Work Session last week, Metro Director of Finance Jenneen Reed disclosed that members may run into legal ramifications if they try to change the proposed GSD/USD property tax rates. Likewise, Committee Chair Delishia Porterfield also clarified that members hoping to make cuts have to seek approval from department heads. That said, potential budget cuts, new rate proposals, and additional amendments are still on the table if the council can pass them before their deadline on June 30.
At his media roundtable on Friday, the mayor seemed pleased with how the council’s budgeting process has gone so far. After commending the body for adhering to an organized, “wishlist” submission process, he shed a bit more light on the fact that seeking department head approval to make cuts isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.
“Typically, you expect council members to be engaged with departments to have some sense of where they would be reallocating funding,” said O’Connell. At the time, he said he hadn’t gotten a chance to review the wishlist items, but was encouraged by Budget and Finance Chair Porterfield’s progress.
🏭 Closing Up Shop Bridgestone Americas has now made it official, filing a WARN notice with Tennessee that confirms its La Vergne truck- and bus-tire plant will shut down for good. The move will erase 658 jobs, with layoffs beginning July 31 and wrapping up by December 31, 2025, completing the closure first announced in January.
RIDE SHARE DROP OFF MOVES AT BNA
DEVELOPMENT
- Stephen Starr's Pastis to debut this summer (NBJ)
- South Nashville mosque property sells for $1.95M (Post)
- Development team lands $25M in equity for east side project (Post)
✹ THIS WEEK IN STREAMING (June 3rd)
The Accountant 2 (Prime) Ben Affleck reprises his role as the autistic bookkeeper for the criminal underworld, who teams up with his assassin brother (Jon Bernthal) to break open a conspiracy in the ultimate mashup of buddy movie and Deep State paranoid thriller. Premieres on 6/5.
Family Ties (Paramount+) Given Gen Z’s MAGA turn, now is as good a time as any to revisit the exploits of Reaganite teen Alex P. Keaton and his recovering hippie parents. The show that made Michael J. Fox a star while lampooning the politics of the Long 60s.
The Velvet Underground (AppleTV+) You’d be forgiven for missing this doc about Lou Reed and John Cale’s influential rock group that hit theaters at the height of COVID. But Todd Haynes (May December, Far From Heaven) manages to avoid the “Behind the Music” trappings in bringing the Velvets’ story to life while offering up an energetic new framework for the possibilities of documentary.
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
🎸 Stars for Second Harvest @ Ryman Auditorium, 7:30p, $148+, Info
+ feat. EARNEST, Zach Top and more...
🎸 Mei Simones @ DRKMTTR, 8p, $20.93, Info
🎸 Snorkeler @ The East Room, 8p, $13.36, Info
🎸 Honky Tonk Tuesday @ Eastside Bowl, 8p, $10, Info
+ two-step lessons @ 7p, The Cowpokes @ 8p
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Jerod Hollyfield (Crowd Corner), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).