From Surplus to Skyline
💰 Music City Center tax surplus may fund the East Bank · More power outages · Group warns about dangerous pollution in Nashville · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. TN legislature wants to invest Music City Center tax surplus in the East Bank... More power outages across Nashville... Group sues over "unhealthy" levels of dangerous pollution found in Nashville... And much more!
Early Voting Early voting for Davidson County’s May 5 Primary Elections is now until April 30. Find the early voting schedule and sample ballot here.
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Next week, the state legislature will vote on a bill that rearranges how existing tourism-related tax money collected from Nashville’s Music City Center is controlled and spent.
From Megan Podsiedlik
The designated tax capture zone was initially created to redirect money, which would usually go to the state, to Nashville’s tourist area to help with debt obligations.
“I remember when we were creating this and allowing for this [Tourism Development Zone], Mr. Chairman, there were some that were skeptical that it would be able to meet the obligations and satisfy the debt service,” explained Senate Sponsor Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). “But I'm proud to report—I think we should all be very happy—that it has been tremendously successful and not only met its obligations, but there is significant surplus there.”
The state would like to extend the lifetime of the revenue stream and use the surplus for East Bank infrastructure and other investments that help maintain Nashville’s tourist district. This includes up to $300 million for roads, bridges, utilities, land acquisition, and other public infrastructure allocated to the East Bank Authority.
While the new arrangement would still dedicate revenue to maintain and expand the Convention Center, it would also shift more oversight to the state. The legislation calls for the creation of a Joint Capital Tourism Board composed of nine members, which would be administratively attached to the Comptroller of the Treasury.
State leaders would appoint the majority of the board: The governor and two speakers in the state legislature would each make two appointments, and one of the governor’s appointments would serve as chair. Nashville’s mayor, the Metro Nashville Convention Center Authority president, and the Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Corp would each make one appointment.
According to the Lookout, the mayor’s office lobbied to reallocate revenue from the convention center to the East Bank and downtown but was not involved with the configuration of the board. Regardless, Mayor Freddie O’Connell received criticism for not securing his appointee as board chairman.
“He’s just proven himself unwilling or incapable of making decisions on anything, so he’s more than happy to be a mere participator,” Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said of O’Connell.
The legislation will be considered on its final reading in both the House and the Senate early next week.
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your councilmember, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)
HEADLINES
- 🔌 Power outages remain after unexpectedly strong storms hit Nashville. More than 6,400 people were without power the morning of April 17 after an unexpectedly intense storm swept through Nashville on April 16, taking down some trees and limbs. (Tennessean)
- ☠️ ‘Unhealthy’ levels of dangerous pollution found in Nashville, coalition says, as it sues EPA over air quality standards enforcement. The group reports that Nashville is just one of many Southern cities with unhealthy levels of a type of fine inhalable particles considered by the EPA to “pose the greatest risk” for lung and heart health. They’ve filed a motion asking the court to force the EPA to take action within 150 days, including by notifying states of any locales that are recommended “nonattainment,” or determined to be not meeting EPA air quality standards. (WSMV)
- 📉 Opinion: Federal Housing Finance Agency Director putting U.S. housing market in jeopardy. Trump-appointed FHFA head Bill Pulte has expanded a Biden-era decision that allowed the use of VantageScore. Critics say it lets lenders “score shop” and choose the higher of multiple scores, inflating borrower creditworthiness. Economists warn this could raise default rates and recreate risky lending conditions similar to the 2008 financial crisis, prompting calls for greater oversight and transparency. (TN Star)
DEVELOPMENT
- Airport poised to land $53M Southwest Airlines lounge (NBJ)
- Downtown building with Lipscomb space sells for $41.5M (Post)
- Berry Hill commercial building listed for $1.49M (Post)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🎸 Delicate Steve @ The Blue Room, 7p, $26, Info
🪄 Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets in Concert w/ Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $77+, Info
🪕 Retro 78 @ Station Inn, 9p, Info
🎙️ Sarah Kinsley @ Exit/In, 8p, $33.34, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SATURDAY
🪕 Riley Green @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $83+, Info
🪄 Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets in Concert w/ Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $77+, Info
🪕 Chris Davis Band @ Station Inn, 9p, Info
🎸 LANY @ The Pinnacle, 7p, $104+, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SUNDAY
🎸 Bags Bags Bags @ DRKMTTR, 8p, $14.23, Info
🪄 Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets in Concert w/ Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 2p, $77+, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together
🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.