Freddie O'Connell
Nearly two months into his mayoral term, Mayor Freddie O'Connell on Tuesday released recommendations from his three transition committees. The groups presented their policy briefs at a public meeting at the downtown library.
How Nashville Grows
This committee, focused on development, the East Bank and neighborhoods, was made up of David Esquivel, Adolpho Birch, Jacky Gomez, Robert Higgins, Mike Hodge, Clay Richards, Wesley Smith and Kinika Young.
Their policy recommendations:
- The mayor's office and its partners should clearly communicate the costs Metro will need to front for East Bank infrastructure investments and how, if at all, these costs can be recouped.
- The O'Connell administration should maintain its focus on the Imagine East Bank Vision Plan, ensuring that the East Bank becomes a vibrant neighborhood that reflects Nashville's rich diversity and prioritizes affordable housing.
- The mayor's office and its partners should empower Nashville's neighborhoods to articulate and advocate for their priorities.
- The O'Connell administration should identify or create a team or entity that can bring Metro's plans to reality.
- The O'Connell administration should maximize the utility of underused Metro-owned land and buildings.
- The O'Connell administration should prioritize investments across Nashville that are equivalent in impact to those made in the East Bank.
"Today, too many Nashvillians feel like they have experienced that growth more as challenges than opportunities," Esquivel said.
How Nashville Works
Made up of Christy Pruitt-Haynes, Jim Gingrich, Edward Henley, Leshuan Oliver, Gini Pupo-Walker, Sydney Rogers and Marcus Whitney, this group was tasked with examining how Metro can best serve residents.
Their policy recommendations:
- The O'Connell administration should ensure that every Metro department delivers excellent customer service, and that every Nashvillian can interact with Metro government in the way that works best for them.
- Mayor O'Connell should adequately resource hubNashville, and he should empower its team to clearly communicate with Nashvillians and proactively address their requests.
- The O'Connell administration should prioritize openness and accountability in all of Metro's policy decisions.
- Mayor O'Connell should lead efforts to increase collaboration and problem-solving among Metro leaders.
"Metro government should be accessible to all Nashvillians," Pruitt-Haynes told O'Connell at the event.
How Nashville Moves
This committee discussed the city's transportation network. Members included Alex Jahangir, Glenn Farner, Erin Hafkenschiel, Shanna Singh Hughey, Ashley Northington, Stephanie Teatro, Gail Carr Williams and Jeff Yarbro.
Their policy recommendations:
- Mayor O'Connell should use his platform to help rebuild Nashvillians' trust in our transportation system.
- Mayor O'Connell should make an early determination about a transit referendum and then work with key stakeholders — including transit-dependent riders — to shape a plan that works for Nashville.
- Mayor O'Connell and his team should regularly convene leaders at relevant Metro departments to prioritize and tackle current challenges and accelerate solutions related to transportation infrastructure and transit.
- Mayor O'Connell should partner with other Middle Tennessee elected officials to deepen the regional commitment to transit.
"You've been an advocate for modern multimodal transportation for the past two decades," Jahangir told O'Connell at the event. "Now that you're mayor, it's time for bold solutions — bold solutions based on data, bold solutions with community needs in mind and bold solutions that come up through your conversations in the community."
The chair of the Move committee admitted to rarely or never riding the city bus. He also told O'Connell that the group recommended holding a transit referendum in November 2024 in order to take advantage of presidential turnout.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
