Latest news with #MetroCouncil
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Mayor O'Connell celebrates approval of Metro's $3.8B
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell took a victory lap Wednesday following the Metro Council's vote to approve, with small changes, his $3.8 billion spending plan. The budget comes with an average 26% property tax increase for homeowners. Why it matters: Garnering approval for a property tax increase is not easy, and O'Connell scored a needed political victory as his administration fends off federal scrutiny from Republican members of Congress. Driving the news: O'Connell was joined by top Metro officials, including council budget and finance committee chair Delishia Porterfield, at the courthouse for a ceremonial signing of the budget ordinance. He touted the plan for its investments in education, affordable housing, employee pay raises and public safety, especially youth safety initiatives. The budget includes funding for after school programs, more school resource officers and school safety technology. What he's saying: "This budget is a community improvement program that focuses on quality schools, reliable services and safety we all deserve," O'Connell said at a press conference. Yes, but: O'Connell also addressed criticisms that come with the property tax increase. At its meeting on Tuesday, council approved Porterfield's substitute budget instead of a competing proposal that would have reduced the combined property tax increase to 19%. "Last year, we asked across the board for reduced spending from our Metro departments. You could tell they were starting to feel pinches," O'Connell said. "This rate reflects effectively the five-year impact of inflationary pressure on the cost of governing."
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Oracle's River North project advances as tech giant files rezoning request
The tech giant Oracle requested to change the zoning for land on the East Bank of the Cumberland River last week, giving a clear indication its multibillion-dollar project is advancing. Why it matters: Oracle unveiled its original plan five years ago, but the project hasn't broken ground yet. The scope of the mixed-use development and the corporate investment from the firm has expanded since then. State of play: Oracle filed a document seeking to rezone nine acres in the River North development. The request is consistent with the River North's community plan, according to the document. "The property owner is working closely with Metro Planning and Metro Water Services to meet development requirements within the FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain," according to the planning document. The latest: The Oracle project figures to be a top priority for Mayor Freddie O'Connell after Tuesday's Metro Council vote on his operating budget. Coordination between Oracle and Metro officials has cranked up in recent weeks, sources close to the project say. Metro has created a central team to deal with Oracle as the project advances. Oracle has been expanding its East Bank footprint with additional land acquisitions. According to the Nashville Business Journal, Oracle owns 70 acres and has spent a collective $379 million on real estate. Metro's chief development officer Bob Mendes is coordinating with the East Bank Development Authority on the project. Flashback: Metro Council approved a $175 million economic development deal for Oracle in 2021. At the time, the project was estimated to bring $1.2 billion in capital investment and create 8,500 tech jobs.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Will Greenberg budget to help thousands homeless in Louisville? Call and ask.
Guitarist, singer, songwriter and advocate for veterans Joe Walsh once remarked, 'A homeless veteran should not have to stand at a freeway exit with a cardboard sign. That's not okay.' He's right. In fact, no one should have to live this way. As a Catholic priest, I am guided by my faith and its teaching that housing is a human right. In the following statement, the U.S. Catholic bishops refer to Pope St. John Paul II, who wrote, "A house is much more than a roof over one's head." It is "a place where a person creates and lives out his or her life." And then they add, 'The right to housing is a consistent theme in our teaching. … We believe society has the responsibility to protect these rights, and the denial of housing to so many constitutes a terrible injustice.' The Louisville Coalition for the Homeless (LCH) works daily to correct this injustice and provide housing and support services for veterans and other men, women and children who have nowhere to call home. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, more than 12,000 persons experienced homelessness in our Metro Louisville community in 2024. Housing providers offer shelter for some, but there is simply not enough space for everyone needing somewhere to call home. But there is an opportunity in the drafting of the next Metro Louisville budget. The mayor and Metro Council members could include funding at a level that makes a difference in the lives of many homeless persons. Opinion: Owning a home in Kentucky changed my life. I want that for you, too. We all know that budgets are moral documents in that they reflect the priorities and values of a community and that these priorities have consequences. It is important to ask what priorities will surface as policymakers prepare the 2025-2026 Metro Louisville budget. Will they take into account the needs of homeless persons? I agree with St. John Paul II who wrote that the church 'has a serious obligation to join with those who are working … to find concrete and urgent solutions to the housing problem and to see that the homeless receive the necessary attention and concern on the part of public authorities.' Don't we all, churchgoing or not, really have an obligation to 'see that the homeless receive the necessary attention?' After all, housing is a human right. LCH has launched the Safe and Stable: Housing for All campaign which, along with educational activities, includes a specific funding request of the mayor and Metro Council. The Coalition is requesting an additional $5 million be included in the budget to offer the homeless permanent supportive housing. Opinion | Trump's budget cuts will make housing more expensive in Kentucky The solution to housing all the homeless may appear overwhelming until we look beyond our own individual efforts to help others and know that as a community, we can have a significant impact on the decisions of those elected to represent us. Please consider making one short phone call to your Metro Council member at (502) 574-1100. Emphasize the importance of permanent supportive housing in addressing the lack of affordable housing in our community. Urge that, in addition to what is currently proposed, another $5 million be included to provide permanent supportive housing. Mother Teresa once said, 'We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.' Making just one phone call addresses 'the greatest poverty' by showing our love and care for homeless brothers and sisters in need. Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor. Rev. Patrick Delahanty is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville and the former executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville homelessness is injustice Metro Council can right | Opinion
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
A Germantown pedestrian was killed in a crosswalk. Her neighbors are taking action.
Germantown residents are calling for more action to ensure pedestrian safety after their neighbor was killed while crossing the street on June 8. Dorothy "Dot" Dobbins, 77, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and later died after being taken to the hospital. Metro Nashville Police say that country music singer Conner Smith, 24, was the driver. Dobbins was hit in a marked crosswalk while she was crossing a busy stretch of Third Avenue that passes through the neighborhood. A few days later, Dobbins' neighbors spent six hours at the same crosswalk — located between a dog park and Morgan Park — escorting every passing pedestrian and cyclist as they crossed the street, carrying signs that urged motorists to yield. At times, the growing lines of cars waiting to pass in either direction demonstrated just how busy the street can get. Illustrating that was part of the impetus for the event in the first place. Joe Nuzzo, the president of the Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association, told The Tennessean that the neighbors who organized the crosswalk event wanted to do something to make the neighborhood safer — and to not "let Dot's death go in vain." "The whole thing is with everything, until the next news cycle, when the police are gone, will people still yield?" Nuzzo said. "Will people still pay attention?" In the wake of Dobbins' death, there have been at least a few immediate actions taken to make crossing Third Avenue a bit safer. There's new signage in the road to identify the crosswalk, for example. Foliage from the roadside that blocked a driver's view of incoming pedestrians has also been removed. But other strategies may take more time and effort. While Germantown neighbors have shared positive reviews of the speed cushions installed elsewhere in the neighborhood along a half-mile stretch of Fifth Avenue, the push for similar measures along Third Avenue is a bit trickier. That's because it's a collector street, a type of roadway that connects local roads with high-traffic arterial streets. Nashville's community traffic calming program generally targets residential streets with lower traffic volume, rather than collectors that, according to the city, 'may not be applicable' for certain measures. Add that to a steady influx of new residents and businesses, and it's a recipe for more car traffic by the day. 'Unfortunately, we are a victim of our own success,' Nuzzo said. 'Germantown, when I moved here, it was not as busy as it is now. But now, all the construction is done. We have a few more apartment complexes being built, but now the businesses are coming in. We have restaurants opening up all over Germantown, so that's bringing more people into the neighborhood — more Ubers, more cars, more e-bikes. As more people come in, the more we need traffic safety in the neighborhood.' The issue's top of mind for Metro Council Member Jacob Kupin, who represents Germantown in District 19. Kupin came to the crosswalk event on June 11, and he addressed Dobbins' death during a special council meeting the day before. 'This is an area where we've been advocating for additional support,' Kupin told council members on June 10. 'I know (the Nashville Department of Transportation is) working on that, and I know I don't have to tell the folks in this room that we have so many areas in our district and our city that are working well and so many more that need work.' The neighborhood association is aiming to address the challenge at an upcoming community meeting. Nuzzo said it'll be an opportunity for Germantown neighbors to voice their concerns directly to NDOT and Kupin, both of whom will be in attendance. Nuzzo, for his part, already has an idea of what he'll be advocating for. 'Crosswalks could all use a new paint job,' Nuzzo said. 'A traffic light would be wonderful on that corner. These are all things that NDOT needs to take into consideration.' Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Germantown neighbors call for action after pedestrian death
Axios
12-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. campaign preaches tourism "respect"
The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. launched an ad campaign in recent days promoting "respect and responsibility" among tourists and locals. Why it matters: Tourism is big business for Nashville. But pretty much everyone who lives here knows it can have a downside, from noisy partiers at the short-term rental next door to packed pedal taverns causing traffic jams during the evening commute. Problems have been especially pervasive in the honky-tonk district, which has seen high-profile incidents of tourists being harmed. By the numbers: According to preliminary numbers, 16.9 million visitors generated $11.1 billion in spending last year. Friction point: City leaders have wrestled with ways to balance the obvious economic benefits of tourism with residents' quality-of-life concerns. The Metro Council introduced regulations on short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. They've also worked to reign in party buses, driving hot tubs and other forms of transportainment. Driving the news: The CVC's campaign is called "destination stewardship." It encourages visitors, but also locals, to "respect yourself, others and our city." The campaign also includes an ad to "keep Nashville beautiful." Pole banners featuring the messaging have been installed along Lower Broadway and on some digital billboards downtown. What she's saying:"This campaign is a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting the city we love," CVC president and CEO Deana Ivey said in a statement. "By being mindful of our actions and showing care for our surroundings, we help ensure Nashville remains a beautiful, welcoming, and safe place for everyone to enjoy." Flashback: The CVC launched a similar campaign last year called "Push Pause," which reminded people to take proactive measures to protect their safety. That was one of multiple safety efforts that emerged following the death of college student Riley Strain in early 2024, Strain went missing after a night of partying. His body was later found in the Cumberland River.
