The Big Chop
The Daily · · 7 min read
Good afternoon, everyone. Today:
- Still waiting on TN Supreme Court opinion that could cut Metro Council in half…
- Opinion: Property Tax Increases Are a Threat to Tennesseans on Fixed Incomes…
- Waymo robotaxis now available in Nashville Lyft app…
And much more!
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)
Note on Upcoming Events For the next two months, our standard event schedule will divert from the standard third Thursday pattern. We have a lot on offer for you and are excited to share more in the coming days.
If you still crave our company, we'll be doing a Happy Hour at Von Elrod's on Thursday, September 17th @ 5:30 PM. Our normal candence will resume in November.
The Tennessee Supreme Court is taking its sweet time on the case that could shrink Metro Council.
During last week’s media roundtable, Mayor Freddie O’Connell said he is a bit surprised that the Tennessee Supreme Court has yet to issue an opinion on a state law that would effectively cut the size of the Metro Council in half.
2027 is Looming
“Given the late date, it is hard for me to imagine that any Supreme Court decision at this point could have a material effect on the 2027 elections,” said O’Connell. Still, Metro is preparing for the possibility that it could be forced to redraw the county under a system with roughly half as many council members. But O’Connell said he has not given up hope that the court will uphold Metro’s position. “There could be guidance that they offer in a ruling that overturns Metro’s position, but I will say I’m still confident that we have interpreted the law correctly, and I’m hoping for a favorable Supreme Court decision,” he said.
Bigger Than Just Cutting Council
It’s been three years since the Tennessee Legislature passed the legislation, prompting Metro Legal to sue the state and argue that the change was an unconstitutional overreach. The case eventually made its way to the Tennessee Supreme Court, where it has been sitting since oral arguments were heard back in February. In a 2025 press conference, Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz called the case “the most important lawsuit in the history of the Metropolitan government.” Metro argues that the Tennessee Constitution protects Nashville’s home-rule structure and that the size and composition of its legislative body can only be changed through an amendment to the Metro Charter approved by voters.
During the 2023 General Assembly session, House Majority Leader William Lamberth defended the constitutionality of the legislation by pointing to the General Assembly’s authority under Dillon’s Rule.
“This body creates both cities and Metro governments. That is part of our responsibility,” said Lamberth. “The Tennessee Constitution provides that ‘the General Assembly shall, by general law, provide the exclusive method of which municipalities may be created, merged, consolidated, and dissolved and by which municipal boundaries may be changed’ is our responsibility.”
Whatever the court decides could have lasting implications about the fundamental relationship between state and local governments in Tennessee.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF OUR GLORY
Back to Our Roots We're sponsoring an event with the Meriwether Academy as they host Justin Shubow to speak about how beauty, civic architecture, and public design shape American culture and identity. Shubow is president of the National Civic Art Society and a former chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, best known for championing classical and traditional architecture in American public life. For gentlemen only. Buy Tickets.
Opinion: Property Tax Increases Are a Threat to Tennesseans on Fixed Incomes
Eva Romero is a mother of five, an Old Hickory Village resident, and a candidate for Tennessee House District 60.
Tennessee is a place where hard work is supposed to pay off. Families work, save, sacrifice and invest in a home with the hope that one day they will own a piece of the American Dream.
But for too many Tennesseans—especially seniors, those living on fixed incomes and renters—that dream is increasingly under threat from rising property taxes.
According to a recent report by the Beacon Center, Tennesseans have experienced some of the largest property tax increases in the country in recent years. At a time when families are already closely watching every dollar they spend, rising property taxes can create real anxiety and financial uncertainty.
For a family whose income rises along with the cost of living, a tax increase may be difficult. But for a retiree living on Social Security, a widow relying on a fixed pension, or a working family renting their home alreadystruggling to afford groceries, gasoline, childcare and medical bills, another increase can be devastating.
As a real estate agent, I have had the privilege of helping hundreds of families and individuals find a home and secure their own piece of the American Dream. It pains me to see homeownership—something that should provide stability and security—become a constant source of financial anxiety.
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HEADLINES
Waymo robotaxis now available in Nashville using the Lyft app.
Nashville is now the first market where Waymo rides are available through both the Waymo and Lyft apps, allowing Lyft users to be matched with fully autonomous vehicles at no extra cost. The service will initially cover central Nashville including Downtown/Broadway, North Nashville/Germantown, East Nashville, Midtown, and South Nashville. Riders can decline an autonomous vehicle and request a human driver instead.
LyftTN Democrats launch statewide voter protection effort.
The Tennessee Democratic Party has launched a statewide voter protection program ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, naming Nashville Metro Councilmember Clay Capp as its first statewide director of voter protection. The program will train volunteers, provide voter information and polling support, document potential problems and create a statewide process for escalating election-related concerns across all 95 counties.
Post2027 TCAP testing time to increase due to new, unscored writing test.
Tennessee students will spend significantly more time taking the 2027 TCAP because the state is adding an unscored writing field test to the English Language Arts portion of the exam. Students in grades 6 and above will get 85 additional minutes of ELA testing, while grades 4–5 will get 80 additional minutes and third graders will get 40 minutes, prompting concerns from teachers about adding more testing to an already demanding testing window.
Chalkbeat
PAMPHLETEER TOOLS
DEVELOPMENT
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 Thu, Sep 10
| Show | Venue | Time | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Star Quintet+ featuring Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Chris Stamey (The dB’s) and Pat Sansone (Wilco) | Neuhoff District's River Steps @ 7p | Free | Info for The Big Star Quintet | |
| Joe Kaplow | The Basement | 7p | $17.72 | Info for Joe Kaplow |
| Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats | Brooklyn Bowl Nashville | 8p | $40.90 | Info for Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats |
| Little Feat | Ryman Auditorium | 7p | $63 | Info for Little Feat |
| Open Mic | Fox and Locke | 6:30p | Free | Info for Open Mic |
| Kelley's Heroes | Robert's Western World | 6:30p | Free | Info for Kelley's Heroes |
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.
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