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.

I'm Standing With You!

The month of March was a "Humdinger," that's how my mother put it! A one-of-a-kind, extraordinary, eventful month. As we continue to rebuild in North Nashville and across this County, we are also fighting a pandemic. With Nashville battling two wars, many residents are taking it all in stride. But not all, some residents are struggling to make ends meet. During the "Safer at Home" Executive Order, I am shopping with local Nashville business owners. I spoke with Chef Kamal Kalokoh at Riddim 'n' Spice, a local restaurant in North Nashville. His business was not affected by the tornado, but many of his customers/regulars were; leaving Chef Kamal with slower days and a new normal. 

However, Nashville is a place of resiliency and resolve. It's also refreshing to know that 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, NAACP Nashville, Northwest Family YMCA, Catholic Charities of Tennessee - McGruder Family Resource Center, 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 keep 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.

Did someone say Tax Increase?

On, Tuesday, March 31, during the 57th Annual State of Metro Address, Mayor John Cooper made the statement "Let me be direct. The budget ordinance that will be filed with the council in April will sharply increase the property tax rate from its current, historically, low level. The final amount will be determined with the best information available, but it will be substantial. And this is something we have to do."

Within our District, we have been hit extremely hard, with both the tornados and Coronavirus. I sympathize with the families that are most affected at this time. I have had an opportunity to speak with many constituents and on the local and state levels, we are working hard to make sure Nashvillians are taken care of. I understand discussing taxes at this time is hard and many are unprepared to think of anything more than what's in front of us at this time.

Earlier in the term, I wrote about the city's budget woes, and how we were steps away from being in receivership from state officials. Simply meaning that the state would pay Nashville's bills for us and direct revenue in the manner they see fit. The threat of receivership is one of the most serious any company or organization can face. Also, my first newsletter highlighted the tax conversation and how it will be an ongoing discussion throughout 2019 and 2020.

As we continue to fight two wars, our spending will increase to ensure the safety and health of residents. It has been calculated that Metro will lose $200-$300M in sales taxes for the fiscal year due to the tornados and the COVID-19 pandemic. I mentioned prior, that taxes will be at the forefront and will be discussed. Some say that "Timing means everything" and in this case, that is true. The timing with the taxes and capital spending plan actually came much earlier to the public. In the Council's effort to be transparent to the city, we began this conversation in February, for most, it was discussed in October 2019 when we began our discussions on the Capital Improvements Budget. We added items that we wanted to see in the Mayor's proposed Capital Spending Plan (which has been revised three times due to the tornados and coronavirus). Unfortunately, during those times, we were not aware that we will be facing such uncertain times as we are today.

While taxes are never an easy conversation, we must have this discussion. The city has a historically low cash balance and no rainy day funds. The federal government will help with relief, but it is a long process. It took nearly ten years for us to receive the final relief payment for the 2010 flood. 

The Metro Council will have to prioritize families. We must make sure that we are doing all that we can to ensure financial safety and well being of residents in Nashville. We are thinking of creative ways to provide relief for families in need as well as families that will be affected if a tax increase is in our near future. Conversations with the Trustees office, Financial Director are happening now to find a way to add tax freeze and tax relief to more families. We've currently extended the application period to close on May 6 for households to apply. We are taking deeper dives into areas that are vulnerable and find opportunities to create contingency plans for our neighbors in need.

Coronavirus/COVID-19

We are preparing to reach the apex of the Coronavirus between now and the next few weeks. I highly advise you to listen to health officials and stay home, only leave for any essential work or shopping. Dr. Hildreth has explained numerous times how important it is for us not to be vectors. We have found several cases of individuals that are asymptomatic, not having any symptoms of the virus but still having the virus. This is how we have seen the spread of this pandemic. I echo the sentiments of Dr. Hildreth, please be careful and don't be a vector.

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 differently, similar to our last meeting. 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...

BL2019-184 will require contractor bids awarded by the city to become effective no later than 30 days following approval.

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.

BL2019-78 - I will abstain from this vote, but if passed this bill will limit Non-Owner Occupied short-term rentals from being 100 feet from a church, school, daycare, or park. There is a proposed amendment that will remove churches from this list, it will have to be introduced tonight to be added as this is the final reading unless the bill is deferred. 

BL2020-117 - This bill will add the following subsection G to the current charter which will state; no parking shall be required for uses located on multimodal corridors, as designated in the major and collector street plan.

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.

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