@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 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 Twitter here.
The hot seat turns scorching for one mayoral appointee; a caucus makes a statement; and the kids might just be all right, if we stopped policing them.
Hot Seat, Chilly Reception
Metro legal director Wally Dietz was facing a tough confirmation process.
From concerns over the Community Oversight Board transition to accusations of widespread malfeasance, a vocal constituency of justice-minded Nashvillians has been beating the drum for wholesale changes in the department of law. Some folks believe those changes can come only if Dietz is replaced.
Daniel Horwitz is one of those folks. Horwitz is a local attorney who’s assumed a semi-permanent antagonistic position toward the city’s lawyers, both online and in courtrooms. His latest volley was a late-night email to the council, urging them to vote down Dietz’s appointment and force newly elected Mayor Freddie O’Connell to put forth a different candidate.
In the email, Horwitz described the department as a “fundamentally failed” organization that has “badly lost its way.” He implied the lawyers there are incompetent to effectively represent Metro’s interests and claimed that “disgusting misbehavior ... is commonplace at Metro Legal.”
Horwitz’s most incendiary claim is that Metro Legal has been holding hostage potentially life-saving policy changes at the Metro Nashville Police Department in a strategic attempt to get his client — the mother of Michaela Carter, a 25-year-old killed by her significant other — to lower her monetary ask in settlement negotiations.
In committee, Councilmember Erin Evans peppered Dietz with a series of questions based on Horwitz’s email. Dietz, who described Horwitz as “full of rage and anger,” spoke in generalities about the pending litigation, saying that Horwitz “cherry-picked bits and pieces” to paint a picture that was “misleading, at least, if not more.” He said the policy changes requested by Horwitz’s client would not have changed the outcome of the case.
“I can guarantee you Metro Legal would never advise any client ... not to make policy changes that would make the world safer for people who live here as a bargaining chip in litigation,” said Dietz. “Mr. Horwitz’s accusation is fundamentally flawed. It did not happen.”
I thought about asking Horwitz to comment for this column, but frankly, I didn’t need to; he’s waging war in the court of public opinion, and he’s not shy about publicly sharing his thoughts in real time.
The council confirmed Dietz’s appointment in a nearly unanimous vote. CM Evans was one of four abstentions. She says that while her previous experiences with Dietz have been “positive and factual,” his responses in committee led to more questions for her.
As Goes the Minority Caucus, so Goes the Council
The council held elections for a host of leadership positions on Tuesday night, with none so coveted as chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee, who will also serve as the council’s representative on the Planning Commission for two years.
I, for one, do not understand why any CM would want to be on the Planning Commission. It’s basically 50 percent more work for 0 percent more pay. To each her own, I suppose.
Running for the position were CMs Emily Benedict (a progressive LGBTQ+ Caucus member) and Jennifer Gamble (a right-of-center Minority Caucus member).
Earlier this term, the Minority Caucus voted to throw their support behind Gamble. This meant that more progressive Minority Caucus members would end up awkwardly aligned with the hard-right wing of the council.
According to CM Kyonztè Toombs, Minority Caucus chair, the decision to vote as a bloc was less about Gamble and more about making a statement, though Toombs is quick to note that Gamble will make an “outstanding” planning chair.
“As the Minority Caucus,” says Toombs, “we understand that we are stronger when we vote together as a bloc. By doing so, we amplify our voices and make sure that our priorities are heard.”
Progressive CM At-Large Delishia Porterfield, who until recently was the caucus chair, decided to break ranks in the final days before the vote. She stood alone, the sole Minority Caucus member to vote for Benedict.
Gamble won overwhelmingly, with a vote of 24-14.
Are the Kids All Right?
After a deferral at the last meeting, the council voted to accept a $3.3 million state grant for school resource officer salaries. The progressives put up quite a fight, though, and a resolution that last term would’ve garnered around 30 votes secured only 23.
Conservatives framed this as a purely fiscal decision. Accepting the money, they argued, would not increase the number of SROs in schools; it would simply reimburse the police department, freeing up the money for other priorities.
The progressives’ arguments took a dual track: First, they didn’t want to provide implicit approval of the SRO program by accepting the funds; second, they were concerned about what the department would do with that freed-up money.
High school student Seamus Purdy, who spoke against the resolution, says the vote was “disappointing, but very bittersweet.” He’s heartened by the momentum he’s seen on an issue that hasn’t gained much traction in past budget cycles.
Several councilmembers praised Purdy for showing up and getting involved ... then promptly voted in favor of the resolution.
I’ve known Seamus for a minute, and this kid is incredible. You know what he doesn’t care about? Praise. Just vote the way he asks you to! It’s not that hard! And if you’re not going to do that, probably best to keep your “thank yous” to yourself.
The first two meetings of this term have ended at a reasonable hour. How much longer can the council keep up this trend of honoring my bedtime? Only time will tell.
