@startleseasily is a fervent observer of the Metro government's comings and goings. In this column, "On First Reading," she'll recap the bimonthly Metro Council meetings and provide her opinions and analysis. You can find her in the pew in the corner by the mic, ready to give public comment on whichever items stir her passions. Follow her on Bluesky here.
On Tuesday night, I opted to skip my usual viewing and live posting of the Metro Council meeting in favor of a Dance Moms marathon. Apparently I made the right decision, avoiding real-time involvement in what Councilmember Sean Parker dubbed the “worst meeting of the term.”
This was a deeply cursed affair. Councilmembers and the public slogged through more than 40 public hearings on rezoning proposals. Robert’s Rules of Order made multiple cameos as Vice Mayor Angie Henderson attempted to wade through procedural quicksand on bills that would typically pass with little, if any, debate.
The council was in the mood to hear itself talk. I was not.
Mission Creep
Councilmanic courtesy — an unspoken rule whereby councilmembers defer to the district councilmember on rezoning proposals in their district — is hanging on by a thread at the courthouse these days.
Neighborhood residents express environmental, safety concerns
First, councilmembers tried to delay or kill a rezoning proposal in Councilmember David Benton’s district. The proposal would allow for certain industrial uses on a site adjacent to a rock quarry. You may remember Benton from his recent anti-immigrant antics. Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda, the first Latina immigrant to serve on the council, represents a district that borders Benton’s. Sepulveda led the charge against the bill, citing concerns from residents during the public hearing.
Councilmember Tasha Ellis, whose district also borders Benton’s, insinuated that her colleagues’ opposition was borne of disdain for Benton’s appearance at a “Stop the Invasion” rally. “This is a good bill,” Ellis said, “and I would hate for things that have transpired outside of the body to impact this.”
Lengthy debate led to a motion to defer the bill and hold a second public hearing. That motion failed on a tie vote, and the bill was approved on its second of three readings on a vote of 19-11, with three members abstaining. The council’s most progressive members joined with the entire immigrant caucus to vote in opposition. Like most bills the council considers, this rezoning proposal will require 21 votes to prevail on third and final reading. Benton has some work to do if he wants it to pass.
Nashville Downtown Police State
Also on the council’s agenda Tuesday night was second reading of a bill to expand the Central Business Improvement District (CBID). The current CBID, which covers most of downtown Nashville, was established by the council in 1999. The bill the council is considering would expand the CBID to include the Gulch, an area adjacent to downtown Nashville that has experienced explosive growth in recent years.
The CBID functions as a sort of mini city of its own, with additional services funded by an additional tax from property owners and a surcharge on purchases inside the CBID. Those additional services include things like waste management, economic development incentives and tourism promotion.
Also included in the menu of services? Payment for Solaren Risk Management, a seemingly seedy private security company that employs off-duty Tennessee Highway Patrol officers to harass and arrest people experiencing homelessness, because God forbid a blackout drunk tourist stumbles upon a person simply trying to exist in a city that has become increasingly hostile to anyone who doesn’t have a roof over their head.
Services in the CBID are administered by the Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP), a decades-old organization that purports to represent the best interest and wishes of all who live, work, play and invest downtown. For instance, NDP routinely sends a representative to meetings of Metro’s Transportation Licensing Commission to advocate against transpotainment vehicles like party buses and pedal taverns. I personally don’t know how you can claim to represent everyone downtown when you’re explicitly trying to shut down businesses that operate downtown, but maybe I’m missing something.
Mea Culpa
NDP’s employment of Solaren, in particular, has raised serious concerns among community advocates and councilmembers. The increased scrutiny on NDP led to a discovery that they have been delinquent on reporting requirements. Metro Code requires NDP to submit an annual financial report and a written report of activities for the prior year to the council, along with a proposed budget. In no uncertain terms, the law requires that the report and budget “shall be reviewed and approved by the metropolitan council.” Shall means must. Must is mandatory. This is not an optional requirement. Apparently, NDP has never submitted such a report for the council’s approval.
According to NDP CEO Tom Turner, this was just a big “oopsie.” Turner appeared before the Budget and Finance Committee to answer for the oversight. “Those of us not in government ... when we send it to Metro, we think it’s going to Metro, so we send it to Metro Finance, but that’s obviously not the Metro Council," he said. "Hopefully we won’t make that mistake again.”
NDP employs five lobbyists, including Turner himself. He’s been involved in Metro government for decades, serving on the Transportation Licensing Commission and the Homelessness Planning Council and working with various agencies throughout the government to coordinate administration of the CBID. Tom Turner doesn’t know the difference between Metro Finance and the Metro Council? Get outta here.
In any case, the council approved the bill on its second of three readings, with an amendment that requires NDP to do some additional monthly reporting to the Tourism and Convention Commission. As required by state law, there will be a public hearing at the next council meeting on July 15 before the council considers the CBID expansion on third and final reading.
