Bright & Early: Smaller World Edition

Good morning, Nashville. We were pretty intrigued when Mayor Dean mentioned a 28th Avenue connector road in his State of Metro address a few weeks back. Details are finally coming out about the new construction project which will connect 28th and 31st avenues over some railroad tracks just north of Centennial Park. The hope is that the north Nashville area containing Fisk, TSU, and Meharry will be more accessible (and can more easily access) the Broadway-West End corridor that houses much of Nashville’s economic development. City officials also hope that the connector will begin to desegregate the two parts of town since north Nashville is predominantly African American and, up until now, hasn’t had an easy way to get around to the rest of town.

• The city is currently trying to figure out how to navigate a $27 million shortfall, starting with probably laying off 100 employees. Though pretty much every department is getting a 10% cut, social services agencies like the Metro Action Commission and the Metro Homelessness Commission are particularly upset because they say they’re smaller than other departments and feel the cuts the worst.
• Looking for a cheap getaway? Do you enjoy fake inland man-made beaches that are completely underwater due to some flooding? Then Nashville Shores may be for you! The attraction opens up this weekend and is letting folks in for $15 instead of $25 because they’re all washed out.
• Bits & pieces. Kids like to skateboard in a park in Donelson and we’re not sure how this is newsworthy, but they do look like they have some pretty sweet pools … It’s almost as newsworthy as this expose on deciphering your kids’ secret texting codes … Legal same-sex marriage in Tennessee? Old news, apparently.