There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight… An agenda has been provided, and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices.

The Metro Council held a Historic meeting on April 7, 2020, our most recent meeting. This meeting was conducted via WebEx. This was a highly unprecedented moment, but we have to continue working for you. During these times of uncertainty, we are striving to remain healthy and safe to allow us to provide the much-needed service to our neighbors and communities. I want to personally let you know that my colleagues and I are working together to ensure our city comes out of this pandemic and tornado disaster just as strong or even better than we were before. Please let me know how we can be of any assistance to those truly impacted by such unfortunate events in our community! Thank you for allowing me to serve District 21! We are #NashvilleSTRONG!

Tornado Relief still underway

Tornado recovery is still moving forward. Metro Public Works suspended bulk item pick up to regroup to protect their employees from COVID-19. They are now back on the ground working to remove large debris from streets and alleys. If you have any debris on your property, please try to get it to the alleys or the curbs. Make sure that there are not any vehicles or anything else blocking the path for Public Works from removing the debris. If you have bulk items that need to be removed please call HUB at 3-1-1 or visit hub.nashville.gov to request a pick-up.

FEMA is still on the ground locally here in Nashville. There are two weeks left for you to for FEMA assistance. You have until Monday, May 4 to register. You can register by visiting the FEMA website at DisasterAssistance.gov or call directly at 800-621-3362 between 6 A.M. - 9 P.M. daily.

As I mentioned two weeks ago, we are not in this fight alone! Millions of dollars were collected for Tornado Relief by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and several organizations rooted in North Nashville have received funds and are providing disaster relief to families in need. Here are a few that are working now... Gideon's Army, Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship (IMF), Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, Inc. (J.U.M.P.), Lee Chapel AME Church, New Covenant Christian Church, Greater Heights Missionary Baptist Church, NAACP Nashville, Northwest Family YMCA, Catholic Charities of Tennessee - McGruder Family Resource Center, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University Foundation, The Equity Alliance, and Urban Leauge of Middle Tennessee. These organizations jumped in on the ground floor and have committed to working until individuals in our communities are back to whole and better. If you or someone you know are in need of relief, of any kind, from the tornado, please reach out to one or several of these organizations to find the help you are looking for.

2020 Census... It's Important!

I know we've seen so much thrown at us over the past month or so... The 2020 Census is one more item to follow. I could simply just tell you to FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS, but I want to give you a little more information about why it is so important for us to do so. Responding to the Census is our civic duty, and it also affects the amount of funding our community, city, and state will receive from the federal government. The Census dictates how we can plan for the future. If we are not close to having an accurate depiction of the number of individuals living in our communities, specifically District 21, it will be hard for us to create a plan for the needs we have. This article from the New York Times is one of the more detailed articles I've seen that explains why it's important to participate in the 2020 US Census. If you haven't already, please find some time to complete your 2020 US Census, it won't happen again until 2030. 

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Update

As of yesterday, 4.20.20, Davidson County has 1,903 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 152 over a 24 hour period, along with a total of 20 deaths. As we continue to be Safer at Home, please remember that we are still working through uncertain times. There were several reports throughout the city and the country of people congregating. While our scientists continue to find an answer to the spread of this virus, we must continue to adhere to the Safer at Home order. 

The state of Tennessee has seen over 7,000 cases with Davidson County having the highest amount of cases reported. Meharry Medical College has opened a testing center, right here, in District 21. It is exciting to see Meharry working to provide access to our communities to provide testing for this pandemic. By having testing centers in the heart of our communities, we are giving our neighbors the opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones. Historically, black neighborhoods have higher rates of health disparities and are more densely populated. Dr. Rashawn Ray, (a native Tennessean) at the University of Maryland, a David M. Rubenstein Fellow at the Brookings Institute, describes, in more detail, why it's important for black communities to have access to health care and coronavirus testing Meharry is providing.

Continue to wash your hands, clean any surfaces, and refrain from touching your face. If you must go out, wear gloves and a face mask. There are many tutorials on how to make your own face mask if you do not have one.

What to expect tonight:

Tonight's meeting will be managed virtually, via WebEx. Public Hearing items will be deferred and we will vote on essential agenda items. The state passed a law that allows the Metro Council and other municipalities to meet electronically, therefore, our meeting will be via the internet and phone. 

Below, I've added a quick synopsis of tonight's agenda...

RS2020-273 - Metro has properties available for sale. The properties were acquired due to delinquent taxes. This resolution will give Metro the authority to sell the properties.

RS2020-276 - This resolution will approve Meharry Medical College located in, District 21, to provide clinical experience opportunities for residents. 

RS2020-286 - This resolution is requesting flexibility in rent and mortgage collection. COVID-19 has created an unprecedented amount of challenges. This resolution is thanking the companies, institutions, and organizations that have and will continue to work with families financially impacted by COVID-19.

RS2020-287 - A resolution requesting the Mayor’s Office and the Metropolitan Department of Public Health partner with Meharry Medical College to seek grant funding to track, study, and report on the impact of COVID-19 on minority and rural communities.

BL2020-276 -This ordinance would establish that Metro creates an impact fee for new developments in Davidson County. The fee would be $1,500 for any new residential units and $5,000 fee for any commercial units developed; collected at the time of the building permit application submittal. 60% of the fees will be allocated to MNPS schools for capital improvements and 40% of the fees will be allocated to fund public infrastructure projects.

BL2020-277 - If passed, would amend the Metro Code to allow nonconforming structures damaged in the March 3rd, 2020 tornado may be reconstructed in accordance with the district bulk regulations in effect at the time of original construction regardless of the percentage of floor area damaged or destroyed.

BL2020-224 - I'm sponsoring this ordinance. If passed, This bill will require landlords to notify tenants of a pending sale of the property 90 days prior to closing. This bill is intended to increase the rights held by tenants/renters and allow for transparency regarding a tenant's future in their current home. 

BL2020-234 - An ordinance providing for the waiver of certain building permit fees for the repair or rebuilding of property damaged as a result of the March 3, 2020 tornado.

BL2020-149 (As Amended) - I'm in favor and a sponsor of this bill. This bill would require landlords to notify tenants of a rate increase 90 days prior to the increased rate begins.

BL2019-196 - I'm in favor of this bill. It will add more parameters and detail in regard to noise from construction in residential communities.

Dates to remember:

• All in-person meetings (large/small groups or one-on-one) that I have scheduled are postponed in light of the increasing COVID-19 concerns and will not be rescheduled until further notice. 

Lets Connect:

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700