The Activist Community Speaks
🏛️ Last night at the Metro Council · Council shrinkage · Will Schwinn Get Confirmed? · O’Connell Burning Bridges · Egyptomania in Old Nashville · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we review last night’s council meeting, take a look at the ongoing effort to shrink the size of Nashville’s Metro Council, wonder whether or not Penny Schwinn will finally get confirmed for a federal position, and tour the Downtown Presbyterian Church. First time reading? Sign up here.
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Protesters were scattered in front of the courthouse, the gallery was packed like sardines, and a line of those wishing to speak during the public hearing on Nashville’s budget stretched the length of the building at last night’s council meeting. For nearly four hours, members heard from over one hundred constituents who made their pitch for more funding or fewer taxes.
Union members, Metro workers, homeowners, nonprofit representatives, and activists stepped up for their two minutes at the mic. From requests for cost-of-living salary increases, more affordable housing funds, and hospital budget expansion to pleas for spending audits, budget cuts, and property tax decreases, a paraprofessional who works at Tulip Grove Elementary School encapsulated the process best.
“I’ve worked for Metro for over 25 years and counting, and I come down here every year and practice. I practice begging,” said Honey Harris. “So… I'm gonna put that practice into effect because I'm a person of action. I'm gonna get off work, I'm gonna find me a corner, I'm gonna have my Tulip Grove shirt on and I'm gonna get me a piece of cardboard, and I'm gonna get me a cup, and I'm gonna go on the corner, and I gonna beg, because if the council won't give it to me… I'm gonna beg the public.”
A group of protesters standing on the courthouse steps with “No New Taxes” shirts on told The Pamphleteer that they feel Nashvillians have been left behind. “They think we're human ATMs for their little pet projects, and that's all they care about,” said Greg Halvorson. “It harms renters, landlords, and homeowners.”
“I think the mayor, and the city council in general, are abusing their power to drive the homeowners of Nashville out of the city by increasing the tax in this ridiculous way,” said Michael Hun. “And those people are the core of Nashville!”
Hun went on to share his disappointment in Freddie O’Connell, who he sees fighting everyone—the state, the federal government—instead of fighting for Nashvillians. “We need to recall the Mayor,” he said.
Speaking of recalls, Vice Mayor Angie Henderson allowed speakers to use the public comment period to directly disparage and call for the ouster of Councilmember David Benton. You may recall that Benton joined Congressman Andy Ogles during his “Stop The Invasion” press conference on Memorial Day and called for an audit of Nashville’s Belonging Fund. Some of Benton's colleagues, those who make up the Metro Council's Immigrant Caucus, issued a press release last Wednesday calling for his resignation. The smear campaign continued last night.
Antioch Regional Chair of the Davidson County Democratic Party, Trent Benge, used the public comment platform to make a political stump speech. At one point, he was gaveled down after turning to the gallery and asking if they were “ready to organize.”
“As our neighbors, friends, and loved ones were disappeared from all of our streets, from our neighborhoods, and from our churches, Councilmember David Benton chose to cozy up to a congressman under federal investigation,” he said. “Councilmember Benton must resign, and if he won't, we've got our work cut out for us.”
Government Relations Manager for the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, Luis Mata, also used the public comment period to throw some shade at Senator Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Ogles, and Councilmember Benton. “Whether it's from a senator who hasn't held a town hall in years, a congressman who faked his resume in order to get elected, or a city council member who thinks vacationing in Mexico 30 times gives him the authority to speak on our communities, when we allow powerful legislators and commentators to pick on vulnerable people, like low wage workers, asylum seekers, women, and children, it makes our entire communities unsafe,” he said.
Councilmembers have until Thursday to submit any changes they hope to make to the budget. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK
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🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.
📆 Council Shrinkage Barring a successful appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court, come the 2027 Metro elections, we may be looking at a Metro Council that’s half the size of the current one. A 2-1 decision released Tuesday by the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state’s bill that requires cities and metropolitan governments in the state to cap their councils at 20 members.
When the general assembly passed the bill back in 2023, the Metro Planning Commission went ahead and drafted two maps, one outlining a 17-district city map with three at-large members (above) and another 15-district city map with five at-large members.
In response to the ruling, Vice Mayor Angie Henderson cast doubt on the bill’s claim to address the “efficiency & effectiveness” of local governments, saying in a statement, “For the last 60 years, this 40-member Council has capably and effectively served the interests of our constituents, who today number some 715,000.”
On the other side, House Majority Leader William Lamberth wrote in favor of the ruling, saying, “This action reins in excessive government growth while ensuring local municipalities across the Volunteer State remain accountable and responsive to their constituents.” And state AG Jonathan Skrmetti also endorsed the ruling, writing on X, “Today’s opinion is a solid win to limit the size of government.”
Nashville’s council is the third-largest in the country behind New York City and Chicago. Currently, there are about 18-thousand citizens per representative. Councilmembers currently receive $23,100 per year for their part-time duties.
🏛️ Will Schwinn Get Confirmed? Tomorrow, Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn will appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a confirmation hearing. Though Schwinn was tapped as President Trump’s pick for Deputy Secretary of Education back in January, the Senate has noticeably dragged its feet to confirm the appointment.
Despite some pushback from both sides of the aisle regarding her appointment, Johns Hopkins University Education Professor Jonathan Plucker told Education Week he believes she’ll be confirmed. That said, JC Bowman, Executive Director and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, thinks there should be more scrutiny regarding reports of Schwinn’s conflicts of interest.
In a press release, Bowman highlighted a Tennessee Lookout report that revealed Schwinn's plans to cut ties with a Tennessee lobbying firm and step down from a number of board positions to “avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest.” That said, he thinks Schwinn's record shows an alarming pattern of ethical issues.
“Those who benefit from her conflicts of interest will continue to profit,” he said. “The cheerleaders will continue to push out one failed education program after another, chasing dollars, and the swamp will migrate from Washington, DC, to state capitals.”
🔥 O’Connell Burning Bridges The tensions continue to rise in the aftermath of Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s response to immigration enforcement in Nashville. Not only has the controversy strained relationships between Tennessee state leaders and city officials, it has churned up bad blood among federal officials who feel Nashville’s mayor is stifling their ability to carry out their lawful duties. According to Politico, “U.S. border czar Tom Homan has warned that Nashville could see larger immigration crackdowns as a result of O’Connell’s opposition.”
DEVELOPMENT
- Post Malone to open Broadway entertainment venue (Post)
- Development company pays $5.6M for Hermitage property (Post)
✹ STRICKLAND'S CHURCH
Were you and I to stumble around Nashville on a Friday night as we made our way to Church Street, we would sooner or later come across a sight that might convince us the booze had gotten the best of us and that we were in some strange Egyptian afterlife. This vision towers over the corner of 5th Avenue and Church Street, and there is nothing in the entire nation that rivals its exotic allure.
Massive papyrus Corinthian columns stand like sentinels at the gates, dizzyingly tall towers frame the facade, and the blazing, winged sun ornaments this distinctive Nashville landmark. What I am describing is the Downtown Presbyterian Church, a lasting reminder of the cultural frenzies of the 19th century, and here is a little about this architectural treasure.
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
🌸 Under the Stars: An Evening with Rodney Crowell @ Cheekwood Botanical Gardens & Estate, 7p, $65, Info
🎸 Dennis Parker and Friends: James Taylor Tribute Show @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
🎸 Dance Gavin Dance @ Marathon Music Works, 6p, $58.64, Info
💀 Tennessee Dead @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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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).