A broad community coalition is opposing the mayor's evolving downtown homelessness strategy, which has emerged from city hall budget talks.
In a letter sent on Saturday, the coalition calls on Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro Council to stop proposed funding for a private security contractor, Civicity, and $2.7 million requested by the Office of Homeless Services for downtown “rapid response” by the Metro Nashville Police Department.
"Our unhoused neighbors deserve housing, not handcuffs," the letter concludes. “Let’s work together to ensure that everyone has the ability to thrive in our city, not just downtown, but county-wide.”
The letter's signatories include The Contributor, the NAACP Nashville Branch, Open Table Nashville, Nashville People's Budget Coalition, Free Hearts and three United Methodist churches. More than 60 individuals, including several public O’Connell supporters and donors, also signed on.
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Two years ago, these same churches, pastors, advocates, nonprofit leaders and various progressive stakeholders in the city helped foment O’Connell’s upstart mayoral campaign to replace John Cooper, who ultimately did not pursue reelection. Many also consider — or considered — O’Connell a personal friend with shared values and views on a housing-first strategy to reduce homelessness. The coalition alleges that pressure from tourism and business interests have pushed O’Connell toward “optics, not outcomes” amid a housing shortage in Davidson County. Working relationships between homelessness care providers and the city's Office of Homeless Services has deteriorated significantly under the leadership of April Calvin.
The month of May opens a weeks-long process of city budget hearings that inform the mayor's proposed budget and related debate in the Metro Council. The Nashville Downtown Partnership, which would contract with Civicity for downtown policing, has also earned public mistrust for its role in last year's fire in the Nashville Public Library garage, which was contracted to the downtown business and beautification entity.
Both O’Connell’s office and an NDP spokesperson declined the Scene’s request for comment.
