Who Will Replace Green?

Good afternoon, everyone. A big thanks to all who joined us for the screening of Call Sign Courage last night! Midtown wants a Business Improvement District... SNAP snaps back with distribution of partial benefits... Nashville state rep. seat up for grabs... And much more!

Early Voting Starts Today! The special election to replace Mark Green in U.S. Congressional District 7 falls on December 2 (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), so you might want to consider getting to the polls early. Find the early voting schedule here. Find your election day voting location here.

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The Council is Two Votes Away From Establishing the Midtown Business Improvement District

From Megan Podsiedlik

Stakeholders in Midtown are one step closer to establishing their own Business Improvement District (BID). The hotspot has continued to grow, and so has the appeal of creating a local BID to help fund the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of the area.

“After a year of work from a neighborhood-led steering committee, I'm honored to carry legislation forming the Midtown Business Improvement District (MBID),” Councilmember Jacob Kupin told us. “This entity will provide community-directed self-assessed funds to enhance beautification, safety, and so much more in this growing neighborhood.”

Much like the legislation that merged the Gulch’s Business Improvement District with downtown’s district earlier this year, Kupin ran into some questions regarding Metro oversight and concerns over the treatment of homeless people by BID-funded security enforcement officials during last Tuesday’s council meeting.

During discussion, Councilmember Sean Parker said he would have “a difficult time supporting” what he called “a carbon copy of the downtown Central Business Improvement District (CBID) legislation, sort of minus some of the oversight and accountability.”

Parker also revived a previously touted accusation that a “shadow police force”—funded by the CBID—forcefully displaced homeless people in Nashville. “At the same time, we've got a private police force aggressively policing unhoused neighbors,” said Parker when opposing both Kupin’s resolution and bill to establish the MBID.

In reply, Kupin explained that much of the BID origination is driven by state law, “so there are things that are going to be exactly the same because that's how we are prescribed to do it.”

Kupin’s legislation also requires accountability measures when security enforcement officers employed by the MBID interact with the unhoused. “There is a long section about an interaction report that would have to be submitted detailing trespassing, use of force, and any sort of interactions that are happening,” said Kupin.

Despite some pushback, the council approved the resolution to initiate the creation of the MBID and passed the bill to establish it on first reading. Kupin told us that he will defer the legislation’s second reading until December 4 to properly set up its public hearing in accordance with state law.

“I look forward to further engagement through the council process and encourage community members to reach out to me with questions and thoughts,” said Kupin. For a more details about what's included in the bill, check out Metro’s last Budget & Finance Committee meeting.

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✹ THE SOUTHERN REVIVAL SALON

Join us for a classed-up, cowboy-formal type thing with an open bar, music, and the opportunity to meet some of the most talented and influential people in Nashville. Use the discount code PAMPHLETEER to get 25% off your ticket. (Buy Tickets)

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SPECIAL ELECTION SHOWDOWN IN DISTRICT 7: VAN EPPS V. BEHN

Early voting (six locations): November 12-26
Election Day: Tuesday, December 2

REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MATT VAN EPPS

DEMOCRAT NOMINEE AFTYN BEHN

HEADLINES

🍎 Tennessee families will begin receiving partial SNAP benefits today. The state says families originally scheduled to receive benefits between November 1st–12th will be issued 65 percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and the remaining backpayments will be processed once the federal government reopens. (Fox 17)
✌🏻State Representative Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) will not seek reelection in 2026. Hemmer made the announcement on Monday, stating that he wants to spend more time with his family and pursue his career. (Banner)
☑️ School Board approves $300,000 settlement with Antioch shooting victim’s family. On Monday, the Board approved the settlement with 16-year-old Josselin Dayana Corea Escalante’s family, who was shot and killed by 17-year-old Solomon Henderson after he opened fire inside Antioch High School in January. (WTVF)
💸 TN Mayor indicted after investigation uncovers misuse of more than $450,000. An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed widespread misuse of public funds in the City of Martin in Weakley County, including nearly $11,000 spent on unauthorized travel and meals by Mayor Randal “Randy” Brundige and over $174,000 in unearned salary, leave, and benefits issued to his daughter, Natalie Brundige, when she served as a city employee. (TN Comptroller)
✍🏻 Trump pardons Tennessee Republican U.S. Representaive Diana Harshbarger’s husband. Robert Harshbarger was convicted of healthcare fraud in 2013 and fulfilled a four-year prison sentence along with an order to pay restitution. (Lookout)