State vs. City
🏙️ Prioritizing restoring American cities · Musk tunnel in Nashville · MNPS axes DEI · The Nations upzoning · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Save the cities, save the country… The Boring Company trying to get around a dysfunctional Metro council? We consider… MNPS eliminates DEI policies… The Nations set for a big upzone.
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Reclaiming American cities, by whatever means necessary, needs to be a part of every candidate's platform at the federal and state levels.
Currently in Nashville, you have a state government actively working around a dysfunctional Metro government to implement things like license plate readers (supported by locals) and cut a deal with the Boring Company for a tunnel connecting downtown to the airport (more on that below).
But these are shallow solutions compared to the systemic issues plaguing the city, which, without international immigration, would be shrinking. The number one way to ensure that families will stay in a Metro area like Nashville is to aggressively reform the public schools and double down on funding the police department.
The state has made efforts to pursue both of these recently. First, with the creation of ESAs for all students who can use public funds to offset the cost of private schools. And second, on the public safety front, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is aiding ICE in its immigration enforcement efforts. MNPD would create a political firestorm were it to directly aid federal immigration enforcement operations.
The common narrative in red states like Tennessee is that cities like Nashville–and the Democrats that run them–are to credit for the state's growth. But as I've emphasized time and time again, the Nashville MSA is growing in spite of, not because of Metro's leadership. DAVIS HUNT
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🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.
🔮 Tunnel Deal Musking Up O’Connell’s Vision For CHYM? Today, there will be a Tennessee economic development announcement that will likely involve Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. It’s been reported that Governor Bill Lee has been in serious talks with the tech mogul about building an underground tunnel that could connect the Nashville airport to downtown.
Elected officials and industry leaders are expected to be present. The list includes state officials, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville International Airport, Nashville Music City Center, the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association, and other industry leaders.
If the announcement is linked to an underground tunnel, it will be interesting to see if early reports were correct in projecting that it would likely be constructed on state-controlled land along Murfreesboro Pike, potentially dodging the need for Metro approval. Mayor O’Connell’s Choose How You Move plan also targeted Murfreesboro Pike for proposed bus-only lanes that would link the airport to downtown.
🗺️ Blanket Upzoning In The Nations District 20 Councilmember Rollin Horton is moving forward with his proposed legislation to upzone the Nations. The bills would rezone 330 acres of land encompassing over 2,600 properties to encourage increased density in West Nashville.
During last week’s Planning Commission meeting, it was clear that Horton has done his due diligence with the movers and shakers in the area. He garnered support from the Nation’s Small Business Committee and Neighborhood Association, Walk Bike Nashville enthusiasts, residents, developers, and other stakeholders. Even State Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) made his first-ever appearance at a Planning Commission meeting to commend the initiative.
On the flip side, numerous residents felt left out of the conversation, calling the plan “reactive instead of proactive.” Many in opposition pointed out that some of the speakers in support don’t actually live in the area and stated that they were unaware of the upzoning proposal until about three weeks ago, when mailers were sent out. The issues raised during public comment included overcrowding, flooding, canopy disruption, and a lack of police, fire, and infrastructural support.
Though a few members on the commission raised concerns regarding public input, they scrapped a motion for a deferral and approved Horton’s proposals as amended by the body. The legislation is on second reading with a public hearing on August 5.
🎓 MNPS Eliminates DEI Practices In May, Tennessee’s new “Dismantling DEI Departments Act” took effect, which prohibits state government entities, including public schools, from promoting or requiring DEI policies or programs. Last week, the Metro Nashville Public Schools board eliminated its Diversity Business Enterprises initiative. On consent, the body deleted the entire section devoted to allowing the director of schools to “design and establish procedures to promote Local Diversity Business” that expand MNPS participation with certain vendors, suppliers, and contractors based on DEI standards.
The 125-page agenda also highlighted the MNPS board’s anti-discrimination policy, stating they “shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability in its instructional program or activities,” which included a lengthy definition for antisemitism. Part of the library materials section was also highlighted, which outlines that "materials shall not be removed on the sole grounds that the item is religious.”
DEVELOPMENT
- 400 more homes headed for $2.35B June Lake project in Spring Hill (NBJ)
- Woodmont Centre at corner of Woodmont and Harding listed for sale (NBJ)
- Green Hills Mall new stores: Christian Louboutin, Rothy’s, and more (WSMV)
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THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week 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
🎸 Ladybird @ Dee's Lounge, 9p, $10, Info
🎸 Accidental Friend @ DRKMTTR, 8p, $14.47, Info
🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info
🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Jerod Hollyfield (Crowd Corner), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).