> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://pamphleteer.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Selective Vision - URL: https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/selective-vision/ - Published: 2026-09-21T19:41:27.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-21T19:41:27.000Z - Description: 🙈 O’Connell’s MNPS blind spot · NES' current problem: CROW · Will racing ban petition cross the finish line? · Much more! - Author: The Pamphleteer - Tags: Newsletter ****Good afternoon, everyone.** Is Mayor Freddie O’Connell ignoring the red flags at MNPS?... Looks like organizers could have enough signatures to put the fairgrounds racing ban on the ballot... NES says a crow caused of thousands of outages in South Nashville as temperatures reached triple digits... And much more! ****Upcoming Pamphleteer Activities** We have a flurry of events over the next two months with more on the way. From our end of summer happy hour this week to Peter Thiel's series of lectures. Bard-level perks apply to all of these events. We hope to see you out there. ([View Events](https://luma.com/realpamphleteer?ref=pamphleteer.co)) ****Big Council Watch Update.** Our council tracking tool is no longer just a campaign finance scorecard. Follow your councilmember, and we'll tell you what they actually do. ([Take a look](https://councilwatch.pamphleteer.co/?ref=pamphleteer.co)) ****Like what we do?** Forward us to a friend. #### Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s MNPS highlight reel has some missing footage. *From [Megan Podsiedlik](https://pamphleteer.co/author/megan/)* Despite growing scrutiny, Mayor Freddie O’Connell touted Metro Nashville Public Schools’ progress last week. “We can't talk about investments paying off without acknowledging the excellence we've seen from Metro Schools over the past couple of years,” said O’Connell during Friday’s media roundtable. “The highest graduation rates in our history, TCAP scores outpacing many of our peer school districts, improvements in every single critical subject, more opportunity through programs like University MNPS, \[and\] more students graduating with hands-on experience or a job thanks to the academy's program.” But the mayor’s highlight reel seems to stand in stark contrast with the reality on the ground. **A Different Picture Inside MNPS** An award-winning MNPS teacher recently made national headlines after resigning, alleging that district leaders pressured her to [falsify grades](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/is/), fail to protect teachers from harassment, and [discourage teachers from documenting](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/how-to-polish-a-rotten-report-card/) classroom disruptions. **Questions About the Numbers** The State Department of Education has also[ launched an investigation](https://www.wsmv.com/2026/09/16/state-opens-investigation-into-nashville-high-school-grade-manipulation-allegations-heres-what-we-know/?ref=pamphleteer.co) into “academic dishonesty” claims at Stratford High School after several MNPS educators came forward alleging MNPS [manipulated grades](https://www.wsmv.com/2026/09/01/third-former-educator-alleges-grade-manipulation-metro-nashville-public-schools/?ref=pamphleteer.co) to boost graduation rates. **Scrutiny From Metro & the State** Meanwhile, House Speaker Cameron Sexton has confirmed that state lawmakers are considering a [forensic audit of MNPS](https://fox17.com/news/local/state-leaders-discussing-audit-of-metro-schools-house-speaker-confirms?ref=pamphleteer.co) as Metro Government proceeds with its performance audit of the district [despite pushback](https://nashvillebanner.com/2026/06/25/metro-council-mnps-performance-audit-funding/?ref=pamphleteer.co) from the school board.Earlier this year, MNPS leaders were questioned by the Tennessee State Board of Education after [six MNPS schools received an “F”](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mnps-leaders-questioned-state-accountability-225624756.html?ref=pamphleteer.co) under the state’s accountability system. “All this excellence is exactly why we dug deep to build a bridge, rather than let one-time federal pandemic funding cause our district to fall off a fiscal cliff,” continued O’Connell on Friday. “We have made some of the difficult decisions, the sacrifices, and trade-offs necessary to continue funding programs that are paying off for our students that have created an environment more conducive to learning.” But according to other Metro officials, the fiscal cliff O’Connell describes was not inevitable—it was preventable. **A Cliff of MNPS’ Own Making** During Metro Council’s 2025 budget season, members questioned [MNPS’ ballooning budget](https://fox17.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/nashville-schools-face-funding-issues-as-federal-aid-ends-mayor-seeks-14-billion?ref=pamphleteer.co). At the time, Councilmember Courtney Johnston pointed out that MNPS hinged long-term investments on [Covid-era ESSER](https://www.tn.gov/tn-public-charter-school-commission/district-resources/esser-3-0-information.html?ref=pamphleteer.co) funds. “Those funds were never intended, even from the federal government, to create new programming that, then, at the end when those funds sunsetted, the local taxpayer would have to pick up the tab and sustain those funds—which is exactly what's happening here,” said Johnston. “We did a pretty good job in Metro of not creating a funding cliff, but it looks like MNPS has created quite a funding cliff.” **The Growing Gap** For O’Connell, the stakes are clear. With a reelection campaign expected in 2027, MNPS gives the mayor a ready-made example of his administration’s argument that its investments are producing results. But as scrutiny of the district grows, the gap between the administration’s portrayal of MNPS and the concerns raised by teachers, lawmakers, and other officials is becoming harder to ignore. ✰ ✰ ✰ #### ✹ UPCOMING PAMPHLETEER ACTIVITIES [![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2026/09/summer-schedule-2026.jpg)](https://luma.com/realpamphleteer?ref=pamphleteer.co) **Upcoming Pamphleteer Activities** We have a flurry of events over the next two months, with more on the way. From our end-of-summer happy hour this week to Peter Thiel's series of lectures. Bard-level perks apply to all of these events. We hope to see you out there. ([View Events](https://luma.com/realpamphleteer?ref=pamphleteer.co)) ✰ ✰ ✰ #### HEADLINES - 🏁 **Organizers turn in enough signatures to put fairgrounds racing ban on the ballot.** The group Restore Our Fairgrounds says it submitted more than 74,900 signatures, well above the roughly 41,000 needed to advance its proposal concerning auto racing at the Nashville Fairgrounds. The proposal would ban auto racing at the fairgrounds and support workforce/affordable housing. The Davidson County Election Commission must first verify the signatures. If certified, voters could consider the issue in August 2027 (assuming lawsuits don’t cause delay). ([Axios](https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/18/embargo-organizers-turn-in-enough-signatures-to-put-fairgrounds-racing-ban-on-the-ballot?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=newsletter%5Faxioslocal%5Fnashville&stream=top)) - **🐦 NES says an animal was the cause of thousands of outages in South Nashville.** Nashville Electric Service said a crow got into equipment at a local substation, causing an outage that affected more than 3,000 customers in South Nashville. The outage occurred as temperatures were approaching triple digits, and NES crews worked to restore service. ([WSMV](https://www.wsmv.com/2026/09/19/nes-says-this-animal-was-cause-thousands-outages-south-nashville/?utm%5Fsource=newsfore&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=16933&pnespid=veBoCCMcNKVFh%5FuYt222So2JvBn2WsMvdbPkx%5FExrh9mpXdPv1rFEmZu.h%5FysUgCJZb93a5rnQ)) - **🟣 TN saw highest rate of women killed by men in nearly 30 years.** Tennessee recorded 2.6 women killed by men per 100,000 women in 2024, up from 1.6 in 2014 and nearly twice the national rate, according to a Violence Policy Center report. Of the 97 women killed by men, 73 percent were killed with firearms and 86 percent knew their killer. The 2024 data is the most recent available from the FBI.([WKRN](https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tennessee-women-killed-highest-rate-report/?utm%5Fcampaign=snd-autopilot&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=twitter%5FWKRN)) ✰ ✰ ✰ #### ✹ **PAMPHLETEER TOOLS** ![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/2026/09/Metro-in-english.png) **Pamphleteer Tools** [Council Watch](https://councilwatch.pamphleteer.co/?ref=pamphleteer.co) tells you who funds your councilmember and how they vote. The [Property Tax Calculator](https://tax.pamphleteer.co/?ref=pamphleteer.co) tells you what that cost you. ✰ ✰ ✰ #### DEVELOPMENT - D9 Development and Land Innovations are developing 10 homes around the historic William S. Campbell House ([NBJ](https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2026/09/18/magnolia-hall-franklin-development-bernie-butler.html?utm%5Fsource=st&utm%5Fmedium=en&utm%5Fcampaign=me&utm%5Fcontent=NA&ana=e%5FNA%5Fme&j=47575264&senddate=2026-09-21&utm%5Fterm=ep2&empos=p2)) - The Boring Co. spends $7 million on car dealership site along tunnel route ([NBJ](https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2026/09/17/boring-buys-murfreesboro-pike-site.html?utm%5Fsource=st&utm%5Fmedium=en&utm%5Fcampaign=me&utm%5Fcontent=NA&ana=e%5FNA%5Fme&j=47575264&senddate=2026-09-21&utm%5Fterm=ep7&empos=p7)) - Music Row buildings once owned by deceased industry pro listed ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/music-row-buildings-once-owned-by-deceased-industry-pro-listed/article%5F957b4539-6088-49ae-9831-bb17be48f884.html?utm%5Fsource=ActiveCampaign&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=PM%20News%3A%20Fairgrounds%20petition%20delivered%20to%20Metro&utm%5Fcampaign=Nashville%20Post%20091826%20Friday%20AM%20%28Copy%29&vgo%5Fee=ajCPNd44uMYYxteHxnNyXRLVl4S89i8Q2hY9XA%3D%3D%3AwWuZ2RPABS1%2BYeowaIRY%2BDgKnYqqyoAO)) - Music Row building previously home to Randy Travis sells for $1.7M ([Post](https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/music-row-building-sells-for-1-7m/article%5Fdcaef0c1-56ea-4a60-be1f-fa71ef85bfd2.html?utm%5Fsource=ActiveCampaign&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=AM%20News%3A%20Coca-Cola%20bottling%20plant%20considered%20for%20Historic%20National%20Register&utm%5Fcampaign=Nashville%20Post%20092126%20Monday&vgo%5Fee=2pii9nEaBiasYcaf%2FlyI48JI9%2BDuUzTstmDS2OcTYF%2Fnpis%3D%3AybeEjd8jzuJv6%2BvAx%2FfwvUBwjHCneHz8)) ✰ ✰ ✰ ![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-september-21st/)*.* 📅 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 🪕 Bluegrass Mondays with Kyle Tuttle @ Dee's Lounge, 6p, $10, [Info](https://tunehatch.com/shows/bluegrass-mondays-featuring-kyle-tuttle-2?ref=pamphleteer.co) 🪕 The Time Jumpers @ 3rd and Lindsley, 8p, $25.61, [Info](https://tunehatch.com/shows/bluegrass-mondays-featuring-kyle-tuttle-3?ref=pamphleteer.co) 💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, [Info](https://www.acmefeedandseed.com/calendar1?%5Fgl=1%2Abf6r9a%2A%5Fup%2AMQ..%2A%5Fga%2AMzU1Mjc0MjExLjE3ODM4NzA2MTc.%2A%5Fga%5FBCZPTYVEEB%2AczE3ODM4NzA2MTckbzEkZzAkdDE3ODM4NzA2MTckajYwJGwwJGgxOTA4NTUwMjc4&ref=pamphleteer.co) 🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, [Info](https://the5spotnashville.com/?ref=pamphleteer.co) 🪕 Val Storey, Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, [Info](https://stationinn.com/event/val-storey-larry-cordle-carl-jackson-new-monday/2026-09-21/?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/)*. [A View From Above🏙 O’Connell reflects on three years in office · Both 5th Congressional District candidates have odd ties to Columbia prostitution investigation · The Nations Bar and Grill Takes a Dive · Much more!![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/icon/square-ico-84c65207-d383-4285-99d1-8f8c12421748.png)The PamphleteerMegan Lee Podsiedlik![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1526470608268-f674ce90ebd4-a9658560-cc81-49c9-bcc8-4f4a98329a1c)](https://pamphleteer.co/post/a-view-from-above/) [The Sun Also Rises on Music City☀️ Metro advances another solar initiative as it inches toward 2041 Green New Deal target · TN to investigate MNPS over academic dishonesty allegations · Vandy Muslim Student Association condemns TPUSA film screening · Much more!![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/icon/square-ico-a58b6956-c0f6-4afb-a4b5-7c6ea91ed587.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1594315590298-329f49c8dcb9-4305beb0-b3db-42d4-9b08-552ed1db2376)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/the-sun-also-rises-in-music-city/) [The Ventilation Chamber💨 Metro Council Recap: Hang up, study up, & take the pittance· Cheekwood added to neighborhood lawsuit · The Capitol is going pink again for Dolly · Much more!![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/icon/square-ico-6125efc1-947a-481e-9292-20e5360e3cc5.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/thumbnail/pressues-76f7d516-808e-428b-983b-0f57e57bd4e1.png)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/the-ventilation-chamber/) [Return of the Red Light🚦Metro Council preview · Judge tosses Nashville reporter’s challenge to ICE detention · Mayor O’Connell joins the Starbucks union “brew”-haha · Much more!![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/icon/square-ico-cb4e2adf-321f-454e-afd6-ac13d522940b.png)The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer![](https://pamphleteer.co/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1515444029923-60569d238ec5-0ff54b4c-1532-4c41-99a1-4de69b177caa)](https://pamphleteer.co/newsletter/return-of-the-red-light/) *Today's newsletter is brought to you by* [*Davis Hunt*](https://pamphleteer.co/author/davis/)*,* [*Megan Podsiedlik*](https://pamphleteer.co/author/megan/)*, and* [*Camelia Brennan*](https://pamphleteer.co/author/camelia/)*.*