The Crown Meets Criticism
👑 Vandy's Innovation Neighborhood faces criticism · Today is August Primary Election Day! · Two illegal aliens sue TN over being illegal · Much more!
Augustapalooza Two chances for you to schmooze next month. The special guest for our monthly event is writer Scott Greer here to talk about his new book, and separately, we're partnering with children's book publisher Chapter House for a mom's night out (with open bar) the Saturday before. (Greer Info, Mom Info)
Tomorrow's election day! Voter guide & TN U.S. Congressional District lookup Use your address to find your new congressional district here. Check out The Pamphleteer's quick voting guide.
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Vandy's Innovation Neighborhood: the other land-use and eminent domain discussion.
From Megan Podsiedlik
On Tuesday, the Metro Council advanced a bill on second reading that would allow Vanderbilt to move forward with its Innovation Neighborhood. The long-term project would transform about 40 acres of surface parking lots on the southwest edge of campus into a mixed-use hub for research, corporate R&D, offices, and related uses.
Much of that land was acquired in the 1960s and 1970s through the University Center Urban Renewal Project, which used eminent domain to clear roughly 500 residential parcels in the name of “campus growth.” Sixty years later, Vanderbilt is seeking to rezone parts of the site and bring in private partners to redevelop them—reopening old wounds over the forced acquisitions that made the land available to the private university in the first place.
Several people who opposed the bill at this week’s public hearing largely called for more time while also voicing concerns and urging further revisions.
“King Vanderbilt has an extensive kingdom with many fine buildings and expansive grounds,” quipped local architect Preston Quirk. “With his vast fortunes, he directed the royal planners to meet with honorable Nashville planners like Mr. [Bob] Leeman about building a large amount of profitable, rentable, tall real estate. While the king's requests far exceed the height standards for typical properties adjacent to the humble homes outside the castle, the king has proceeded to push for approval of expanding his empire. The peasants have met with the royal planners and requested less height be allowed for these new properties.”
Former council member and senior advisor to former Mayor John Cooper, Ginger Hausser, struck a more serious tone when outlining the same concerns.
“Most of the land in this rezoning was acquired through eminent domain during urban renewal, and promises were made to this council that it would only be used for academic and hospital uses,” said Hausser. “Before eminent domain, these were neighbors, and they were displaced to build parking lots. Today, this proposal allows this former neighborhood to be developed by private developers, not Vanderbilt, who will lease Vanderbilt's land and build up to 6.1 million square feet. That is almost six Green Hills Malls right next to neighborhoods, and a project that they've estimated will take 30 years of construction. The proposed heights are up to 475 feet, 35 stories. That's the equivalent of the Bridgestone building downtown and Amazon Towers, right next to neighborhoods. This would create a second downtown.”
Sponsor Tom Cash requested a deferral, and the third reading of the legislation will take place during the first council meeting in September.
✹ AUGUST PAMPHLETEER EVENTS
Two Opportunities to Mix and Mingle. In addition to our regular, third Thursday get-together with special guest Scott Greer who is here to talk about his new book Whitepill, we're partnering with children's book publisher Chapter House to host a Mom's Night Out in support of their new line of high-quality children's classics.
For the Whitepilled event with Scott Greer, the first 50 guests to RSVP with code PILLED will receive free admittance. RSVP here.
✹ OPINION: BUILDING TENNESSEE'S FUTURE ON A FOUNDATION OF SKILLED TRADES
From Justin Wilson
Every day at Wilson & Associates, we look at the physical blueprint of Tennessee's future. From major transportation infrastructure and manufacturing facilities to the residential communities welcoming thousands of new families, our state is experiencing historic growth. But if you talk to any surveyor, engineer, or contractor across our state right now, they will tell you that the most critical infrastructure we need to build isn't made of concrete or steel. It is our workforce pipeline.
Our employees work to survey and engineer the framework of our communities, and as the volunteer Board President for the non-profit organization Go Build Tennessee, I am acutely aware of a stark reality: Tennessee is facing a severe shortage of more than 315,000 skilled trades professionals through 2026. Nationally, for every five skilled tradespeople who retire, only two people are stepping forward to enter the trades. However, that gap used to be only one person per five retiring, so we are trending in the correct direction.
This staffing gap represents more than just delayed construction projects; it’s a direct bottleneck on our state’s roaring economic engine. To secure Tennessee's long-term economic prosperity, we must fundamentally reshape how we talk to students about their career options. For decades, the cultural narrative has dictated that a traditional four-year university degree is the sole pathway to financial security and professional respect. This is an outdated, expensive misconception. The reality of today’s economy is that seven out of ten jobs do not require a four-year degree.
HEADLINES
- 🗳 Election Day: Today is election day for Tennessee’s 2026 primaries, with polls open until 7 p.m. as voters select nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, House seats, and the state legislature. The top race is the open Republican gubernatorial primary featuring Senator Marsha Blackburn, Representative John Rose, and state Representative Monty Fritts, while Democrat Jerri Green leads her party’s field.
Polling The Republican gubernatorial primary is the only race with substantial public polling. Here are some of the most recent polls:
-OnMessage (July 23–25): Blackburn 34.5–35%, Rose 31%, Fritts 25.6–26% (closest margin, +3.5 points).
-Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (Blackburn internal, July 26–28): Blackburn 42%, Rose 25%, Fritts 22%.
-Wick (July 29–Aug 1): Blackburn 51%, Rose 32%, Fritts 17%.
Davidson Congressional Races Favored incumbent Republican Senator Bill Hagerty faces no primary opposition, though several Democrats are competing for the nomination despite limited fundraising. In U.S. House District 4, favored Republican incumbent Scott DesJarlais faces three primary challengers alongside a crowded Democratic field led by Mike Cortese. District 6’s open GOP primary to replace Representative John Rose is competitive between state Representative Johnny Garrett and former Congressman Van Hilleary. In District 7, Republican incumbent Matt Van Epps is unopposed, but the Democratic primary features a contest between Darden Copeland and state Rep. Vincent Dixie.
Nashville’s Competitive State Legislative Races The main competitive state-level primary in Davidson County is the open state House District 59 race to succeed Caleb Hemmer, where Rick Ewing, Angie Lawless, Mark Proctor, and Beth West are competing for the Democratic nomination (Republican Bill Hancock is unopposed). State Senate District 17 also has contested primaries on both sides, with incumbent Republican Mark Pody challenged by Theodore “Butch” Baker and Democrats Joni Cochran facing Lindsey Patrick-Wright.
- ⚖️ Illegal aliens sue TN over new law making it a state crime to stay here illegally. Two illegal immigrants living in Tennessee have refiled a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s new law that makes it a crime for certain noncitizens to remain in the state after a final deportation order. Both plaintiffs admit they have been violating final deportation orders for more than two decades. The lawsuit argues that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that Tennessee’s law is unconstitutional, while the state maintains it has the authority to impose criminal penalties under the new statute. (TN Star)
✹ PROPERTY TAX CALCULATOR
What Moved Your Bill? Use our handy new tool to see what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike. (Try It Out)
DEVELOPMENT
- Private jet company doubles down on Nashville with second location (NBJ)
- Work set for Japanese restaurant in Pie Town (Post)
- Ex-SmileDirectClub warehouse listed for sale (Post)
- TikTok lays off Nashville staff (Post)
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)
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
🎸 Waylon Payne @ Skinny Dennis, 7p, No Cover, Info
+ country singer-songwriter
🎸 POND @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, 8p, $34, Info
+ psych rock
🎸 King Lazy Eye @ The Basement East, 8p, $24.75, Info
+ middle TN southern punk rock
🎸 The Black Keys @ The Pinnacle, 8p, $96+, Info
🎸 Lawndry @ The East Room, 8p, $13.36, Info
+ "Like Enya meets Pink Floyd"
🪕 Vince Gill @ Ryman Auditorium, 7p, $137, Info
🎙️ Open Mic @ Fox and Locke, 6:30p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley's Heroes @ Robert's Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.