Lower Broad Denizens Protest Continued Closures

Bar owners and musicians gathered outside the Metro Courthouse on Wednesday to protest the continued closure of some of the city’s most prominent businesses.

Steve Smith, who owns multiple Lower Broad bars and initially resisted Mayor John Cooper’s calls to close, was among the organizers. Speaking at the gathering was Metro Councilmember At-Large Steve Glover, who took the chance to blast Cooper’s recent budget proposal, which includes a proposed property tax increase to offset revenue losses related to COVID-19 business closures. Glover proposed a property-tax increase of his own in 2019.

“I welcome the engagement with the bar owners,” Cooper said before the protest. “We have to get back to work and get back to work as quickly as possible.”

Cooper has put off the start of his reopening plan at least through this week, though he could push it off further if case growth and other trends call for it, he said. Bars would still be remain closed during the first phase, which is supposed to last 14 days.

See Eric England's photos from today's rally below.