Tactical, Practical, or Intractable?
Good afternoon, everyone. Tonight at Metro Council: surveillance tech, zoning, and more unfinished business on the docket... Tennessee is experiencing widespread drought... Nashville has some of the deadliest roads in the state... and much more!
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Buckle up for a jam-packed council meeting tonight, including discussions on surveillance tech downtown, new zoning proposals, & proposed charter amendments.
From Megan Podsiedlik
It’s the Metro Council’s first meeting of the year, and the public hearing portion of the night is sure to draw a diverse crowd. Before the council weighs in on a contentious memorandum of understanding between Metro and the Nashville Downtown Partnership related to a $15 million Downtown Public Safety Grant, there’s likely to be a lively discussion on surveillance technology.
Since the body pushed off the vote on the MOU until the new year, a number of resolutions connected to the allocation of the funds are also on tonight’s agenda. This includes a donation of $150,000 from the NDP to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to assist with the purchase of fifteen video cameras.
Two proposed bills that would introduce new zoning restrictions along Buchanan Street are up for public hearing. Sponsor Brandon Taylor (District 21) has taken some heat from North Nashville business owners who feel threatened by the legislation, which places restrictions on commercial development in the area. Taylor says he introduced the legislation to address complaints from residents regarding nightclub activity and other disruptions in the area.
Before things wrap up, the body will also mull over a few proposed Charter Amendments bundled into one resolution. Back in May, Metro’s Charter Revision Committee didn’t hesitate to approve the language for one of the amendments designating Metro’s treasurer as the replacement in the absence or vacancy of Metro’s finance director but was less enthusiastic about another that would lower the age to run for Metro Council from 25 to 18.
In August, the council pushed off the vote until tonight's meeting. If passed, you will see the Charter Amendments that make the cut on this year’s ballot.
HEADLINES
- 💧 Tennessee is experiencing widespread drought for the fifth consecutive year, with 98 percent of the state affected and 80 percent classified as at least moderate drought. Forecasting remains challenging due to limited data from the lack of a statewide mesonet, which has been approved for funding but has not yet been implemented. (WPLN)
- 🚧 Areas of I-24, I-40, and I-65 in Nashville among the most deadliest stretches of road in Tennessee: I-24 near Nashville International Airport toward central Nashville, I-65 near Tristar Skyline Medical Center to Vanderbilt University, and I-40 in Nashville. A new analysis ranked the Volunteer State as one of the most dangerous states to drive in. The most dangerous roads, in general, are Interstate 40, Interstate 24, and Interstate 65. (WSMV)
- ✏️ Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program has received over 50,304 applications for the 2026–2027 school year, surpassing last year’s total by more than 7,500. Governor Bill Lee said the interest shows parents want more education choices and expressed support for expanding the number of scholarships beyond the current 20,000–25,000 cap. (TN Star)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"You've got, like, a God complex whenever you're younger. You're not necessarily always fully able to grasp the long-term implications of certain decisions. For most men, your cerebral cortex isn't fully formed until you're 25.”
Councilmember Jeff Preptit (District 25) airing out his concerns regarding the proposed Charter Amendment that would lower the age to run for Metro Council to 18.
DEVELOPMENT
- Progress At The 393-Unit Camen Nations Development In West Nashville (Now Next)
- Gulch apartment tower opens years after construction caused street collapse (NBJ)
- Governor’s Mansion to undergo $5.5M renovation (Post)
- Brothers Bar & Grill eyes Midtown location (Post)
- Commercial building set for 12South (Post)
OFF THE CUFF
In a recent Facebook post, Scott Hinds—a local musician who regularly played at the venue—argued that the reboot of Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop on Broadway failed due to poor planning and inexperienced investors who made misguided decisions. He believes the historic Nashville institution’s 80-year legacy was destroyed in just two months by half-hearted execution and a failure serve the locals and fans who saved it. More generally, his account makes for an interesting read on what goes into running a bar down on Broadway.
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
🪕 Analog Bluegrass featuring Jason Carter Band @ Analog at Hutton Hotel, 8p, $15, Info
🎸 Schnauzer @ The Underdog, 9p, Free, Info
🪕 The Borrowed Mules @ Station Inn, 8p, 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 Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.