Reading the License Plates

Good afternoon, everyone. Hope you're having a nice day out there. Onward.

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A few weeks ago, the mayor’s office announced that the protracted, often contentious discussion over LPRs would continue: three more community conversations about the technology would take place before Metro began final negotiations with data vendors. The meetings, which took place last week, were sparsely attended. 

“After a great deal of debate, and a few years off a lot of people’s lives, the council voted in February 2022…to allow the use of LPRs [for a pilot program],” Metro’s Director of Data and Innovation Dave Rosenberg said as he described the initiative's drawn-out timeline during the first meeting at Coleman Park Regional Community Center. Though the pilot program was successful — MNPD attributed the arrests of 112 criminals over the course of seven months to the LPRs — concerns about potential privacy violations remained.

Over the years, immigration advocates, libertarians, and those worried about the technology’s impact on minority communities coalesced on one side, arguing against the growing surveillance state and its potential to be abused by agencies such as ICE. Meanwhile, law enforcement, Metro leadership, and those living in neighborhoods plagued by drag racing and crime found themselves on another, citing the technology as an efficient tool that would help keep neighborhoods safe. 

Last fall, in spite of pushback, the council managed to pass a resolution to permanently install LPRs. As Metro takes final steps toward implementing the technology in Nashville, a few advocates took advantage of the mayor’s community conversations to rehash the same caveats.  

One of the remaining concerns is the possibility of open data sharing with other third-party agencies. “The ordinance was strictly written,” said Lieutenant Ricky Huddleston during April 25th’s conversation. According to Huddleston, only ten MNPD officers are given access to the data, and all scanner input is deleted within ten days. “We have a disciplinary matrix for a reason, and if it is misused we plan to use that,” he assured attendees. He also supported the idea of creating a publicly accessible dashboard for transparency and was emphatic that, as a resident and an officer, he wants to protect the data from abuse.

Another was the possible targeting of immigrants in relation to their legal status. “We’ve seen, time and time again, legislators talk about immigrant communities as invaders,” said Judith Clerjeune, Campaigns and Advocacy Director for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition during April 23rd’s meeting. “While we all can agree that our border situation has to be updated—we need immigration reform, we need policies that actually address what’s happening at the border—a lot of the policies we’re seeing from our state legislators do nothing to actually address that. They’re creating more chaos and making it more difficult for our communities.”

Similarly, the majority of council members who voted against LPRs last fall expressed concern about their effect on both the freedom of movement and marginalized communities. “The issue is…oftentimes these cameras are placed in areas that are either considered densely populated, or high-traffic areas,” said Organizing Director of the Southern Movement Committee Jamel Campbell-Gooch during his speech at the final meeting. “Which, across the country, usually mirror areas that are black and brown based.” Cautiously optimistic about Metro’s dedication to community input, Campbell-Gooch turned his focus toward community investment. He appealed to the audience, encouraging them to advocate for things such as access to fresh food, accountability in the classroom, attracting good jobs to Nashville, and investing in reliable transit. 

Though the mayor’s community conversations are over, the final legislation will likely revive the discourse for one last go-round in the council chambers. Negotiations with up to three separate data vendors are to take place before the agreements are brought before the council for a vote. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

🎨 Metro Arts Update Last Thursday, the Metro Arts Commission voted to appoint Paulette Coleman to the role of interim executive director as current executive director Daniel Singh remains on FMLA leave. Singh has not been reporting to work since February 23rd, stating, “The racist behavior of the Metro Government has affected my health.” On April 18th, the commission voted to place Singh on paid administrative leave as they seek to fill the leadership vacuum. 

“My recommendation is we all know where this is going,” Commissioner John Nefflen said at last Thursday’s meeting. “And I think we need to just go ahead and make the decision that we’re going to terminate him.” The hitch in the process is tied to Singh’s FMLA leave status, which does not permit him to respond to complaints at the root of his ouster. Multiple commissioners made clear that they did not feel comfortable moving forward with a vote to remove Singh without hearing from him first.

“Director Daniel Singh is being prohibited from doing his job and returning to work intermittently until his full release,” Singh’s attorney Jamie Hollin wrote in a letter released on April 18th. “The only thing that needs to happen now is simple. Allow him to do so by clearing up the FMLA matter and command all the various lawyers hired by the Dept. of Law (not lawyers hired by the Commission) to stop the nonsense.” Until Singh gets over the “racism”, you’re paying him to remain on paid administrative leave. DAVIS HUNT

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🚊 “He made the trains leave early” On Saturday morning, the WeGo Star train (which runs from Lebanon to downtown) offered a special for participants in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon, selling round-trip tickets for $15 a piece. But some riders were left stranded in Donelson when the train left five minutes earlier than scheduled. Making the trains run on time means they don’t arrive late or leave early. Sometimes easy to forget that.

In more somber marathon news, 26-year-old Yolan chef Joey Fecci collapsed during the race and later died after being rushed to the hospital. We’ve enjoyed many great meals at Yolan, and send our condolences to the Fecci family. “It is with unbearable grief and immense sorrow that we share our dear and beloved Joey transitioned to the other side on Saturday April 27th. He was a bright light of inspiration and positivity to everyone that was blessed to cross paths with him,” Fecci’s family said in a statement. “He was a treasured son, brother, boyfriend, and friend to so many. He leaves behind a broken family that loves him so very much.” We’re keeping him and his loved ones in our prayers. DAVIS HUNT

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🚔 Something Has to Change Yesterday, Fox17 released an interview with Chief John Drake about the ongoing trend of repeat offenders committing violent crimes in Nashville. He reflected on a recent case: a felon with 105 offenses under his belt in custody for charges of rape and kidnapping. “You would think somewhere along the way he would have been held accountable,” Drake said. “It still would have been a little harsher probation. Maybe some wraparound services if he was mentally incompetent or had some issues, or spending more time incarcerated.”

During a December media roundtable, Mayor O’Connell commented on this dynamic: “One thing that has come up repeatedly is that very often MNPD is not failing to apprehend suspects.” The mayor also implied that the current process deserves a closer look. “This is going to involve… some initial review of that criminal legal process that will involve the District Attorney's Office [and the] judiciary,” he added.

Drake said it will take the entire criminal justice system — the DA, parole, public defenders — to address the issue. Moreover, officers on the ground are having a hard time facing the victims of repeat violent offenders. “On this side of the fence, we’re tired of having those conversations,” he said. “We want it to stop.” MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

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🚺 What Is A Woman? Today, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is holding a press conference to address the steps he plans to take regarding the federal government’s overhaul of Title IX. Defending the rights of women in sports, education, and beyond has been a top priority for the AG since he assumed the position. In September of 2022, Skrmetti signed a letter condemning the Biden administration’s redefinition of “sex” in Title IX to include “gender identity.” Last year, he led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in urging the administration to uphold Title IX protections for women and girls. 

“TN has been fighting the Administration over its unlawful approach to Title IX since it first issued guidance in 2021,” Skremetti posted on X two weeks ago. “TN is prepared to defend Title IX and protect against unlawful regulations that redefine what sex really means.” MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

DEVELOPMENT

• California Closets Commercial Launches To Meet Nashville Development Demand (Now Next)
• Longtime Nashville restaurateur launches sports bar in East Nashville (NBJ)
• Waldo’s set to open near west side highway split (Post)
• Belmont opens $180M medical school building (Post)
• Mixed-use tower eyed for Pie Town (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

🎸 Greg Ashley @ The Blue Room, 7p, $12.95, Info
+ psych-folk

🎸 Spanish Love Songs & Oso Oso @ The Basement East, 7p, $24, Info

🎸 Iron and Wine In-Store @ Grimey's, 3p, Info

🪕 The Tennessee Bluegrass Band @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

🎸 Honky Tonk Tuesday @ American Legion Post 82, 5p, Free, Info‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
+ two-step lessons @ 7p, The Cowpokes @ 8p

🎺 Todd Day Wait @ The Underdog, 11:30p, Free, Info‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
+ Honky Tonk Tuesday afterparty, down the street