The Courtesy Call
🏛 Metro Council recap · Another O’Connell aide hits the road · Nashville sues over withheld funds after refusing election policies · Much more!
Whitepilled with Scott Greer Join us this Thursday, August 20 for a conversation with writer Scott Greer on how the online Right broke the old conservative order and built Trump's America. (Buy Ticket)
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Last night at Metro Council: drone wars, cracks at the state, and a win for "NIMBYs?"
From Megan Podsiedlik
Protecting the Neighborhood The council ultimately ponied up, approving Councilmember Jennifer Frensley Webb’s legislation granting contextual overlays to two Madison neighborhoods with the required two-thirds majority vote during last night’s meeting. The overlays, which have ample local support and are intended to preserve neighborhood character, became an awkward point of controversy after the Planning Commission opposed them—a decision the council’s appointed representative on the commission, Councilmember Rollin Horton, did not challenge at the time.
“This shouldn't be controversial,” said Webb. “I'm asking my colleagues to help me do what is supported by my community as the best option for us to protect a wonderful, charmed, and affordable housing area in my district.
The Councilmanic Courtesy Thing Not only did the commission’s rejection raise the final-reading voting threshold from a simple majority to two-thirds, it also exposed how selective councilmanic courtesy can be weaponized within Metro Council.
Councilmanic courtesy is an informal Metro Council tradition where members generally defer to the council member who represents the district affected by a bill, particularly on zoning and development issues. Though it gives the district council member significant influence, it's not a hard and fast rule.
At times, it can become a default mechanism for advancing legislation, even when contention arises among constituents affected by a bill brought forward by their district council member. That dynamic was on display in the Nations earlier this year, where anxious neighbors felt they had little recourse as Councilmember Horton pushed to upzone the neighborhood.
In the case of Webb’s overlays, the lack of initial support from Horton as the council’s commission representative created an additional hurdle for the district council member to clear despite strong support from her constituents. During last night’s meeting, Webb appeared to take the setback in stride, and her colleagues helped push the bills across the finish line.
Drones The council passed a substitute of Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda’s bill related to surveillance technology on second reading. Sepulveda’s rewrite narrows the proposal to Metro’s first-responder drone pilot program while allowing departments like Metro Water and Communications to continue their existing drone uses. It also reinforces an existing Metro policy requiring a public hearing before any new drone pilot program is implemented.
If passed on final reading, the drones would be limited to four uses: active shooter incidents, hostage situations, searches for missing people, and mayor-declared states of emergency lasting up to 10 days. The substitute also prohibits autonomous/AI-operated Metro drones and bans facial recognition technology across Metro departments.
Music City Center Refinancing The council passed a resolution that authorizes Metro to refinance the Music City Center’s existing bonds without using Metro’s general revenues as backing (which could free up Metro’s borrowing capacity for an affordable housing bond program or other capital projects), issues new bonds for the center’s expansion, and transfers up to $300 million to the East Bank Development Authority for infrastructure.
The body also passed its companion bill on second reading, which updates Nashville’s tourism-tax rules to comply with new state law, changes how tourism revenues can be allocated for the Music City Center and related obligations, and extends the additional hotel occupancy tax through 2032.
Though Metro would likely end up in court if Metro did not pass the legislation and comply with state law, members made sure to voice their reluctance to the proposal.
“I guess it's both a benefit and the opposite of benefit—whatever that word would be—the idea of like $300 million going to East Bank,” said Councilmember Delishia Porterfield. “In essence, that frees up more money to do things, like, across the city. And we're saying that we want to be able to use those bonds to be able to get affordable housing—which is something that many of us want across the board; it's something that we've been advocating for. But it does feel like trickle-down economics.”
🚦 Stay Tuned Though some may have anticipated a discussion on the Council's no-right-on-red legislation during last night’s meeting, its second reading won’t be heard until September 15.
✹ WHITEPILLED
Whitepilled with Scott Greer In his new book Whitepill, Scott Greer traces how the online Right broke the old conservative order and made Trump possible, a history he watched from inside both DC and the subcultures that displaced it. Join us Thursday, August 20 for a conversation on how the Right got here and what it takes to move from rebellion to governing.
Books will be available for purchase. This event benefits The Pamphleteer, Nashville and is priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free, privileged admittance.
ANOTHER TOP O’CONNELL AIDE STEPS DOWN
🚪 Kristin Wilson, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s chief of operations and performance, has resigned after seven years with Metro. Wilson is the third key aide to step down from the mayor’s office within the last year, following Chief of Staff Marjorie Pomeroy-Wallace’s departure in July 2025 and Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes’ in September 2025.
Wally Dietz also retired from his position as legal director in July, but has since been appointed by the mayor to the Metro Nashville Airport Authority board as governance of the body remains deeply in flux due to an active legal battle between local city officials and the state government.
HEADLINES
- ⚖️ Metro Nashville joins lawsuit claiming feds withheld millions. Metro Nashville joined Harris County, El Paso County and Columbus, Ohio, in suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over new requirements tied to federal anti-terrorism funding. The local governments argue DHS is unlawfully withholding 20 percent of its funding unless they adopt election policies using the federal SAVE citizenship-verification system. Metro Law Director Tyler Yarbro said the lawsuit seeks to protect federal funding used for Nashville first-responder equipment and training, arguing the administration is improperly tying public-safety dollars to election policies. (Lookout)
- 🏛️ Metro moves to dismiss lawsuit targeting Cheekwood operations, parking garage. Metro Nashville is asking a court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by nearby residents who allege Cheekwood is violating zoning rules and challenge Metro’s approval of an on-site parking garage. The 55-acre Cheekwood attracted about 360,000 paid visitors in 2025, and the neighbors’ lawsuit centers on concerns about traffic and parking in the surrounding Belle Meade Highlands area. (NBJ)
- 🚕 Rideshare union says 2 NDOT officers racially target drivers. The Tennessee Drivers Union is accusing two Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) traffic enforcement officers of disproportionately targeting black and latino rideshare and taxi drivers, particularly around downtown and Lower Broadway. The union is calling for the officers to be removed from the area, citing what it says are repeated instances of racial profiling, harassment and ticketing of drivers. (Tennessean)
✹ PROPERTY TAX CALCULATOR
What Moved Your Bill? Use our handy new tool to see what contributed to your property tax bill increase: the reappraisal or the rate hike. (Try It Out)
DEVELOPMENT
- Brothers behind Nicoletto's Pasta Co. open largest location yet in Mt. Juliet (NBJ)
- Building houisng Jelly Roll's bar now listed for $87 million after late-2025 offering of $100 million (Post)
✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH
New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your council member, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)
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
🎸 Buddy Guy 90 @ Ryman Auditorium, 7p, $73+, Info
🎸 We Are The Merle: Celebrating the Music of Merle Haggard with Shawn Camp with Erin Viancourt @ 3rd and Lindsley, 7p, $18.44, Info
🎸 Legend Zeppelin w/ Obscured By Meddle (Pink Floyd Tribute, Curated by Greasy Chicken Review) @ The Basement East, 8p, $24.75, Info
✨ Electrosteel Showcase with Owen Lake (Release Show) and Luke Schneider @ Vinyl Tap, 6p, No Cover, Info
🪕 Songs & Stories with Larry Cordle and Friends @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info
💀 Tennessee Dead @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Info
🎸 Kelley's Heroes @ Robert's Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
🎸 The Cowpokes @ Robert's Western World, 10:30p, Free, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info
📰 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.