- William Weeden, the executive director of the city’s Community Oversight Board, has abruptly resigned his position saying that he was under too much stress to continue in the role. The board asked Mayor John Cooper to intervene recently, who said he would give the board and the police department until the end of the year to work through their issues.
- The mayor’s office has also put a hold on the implementation of police body cameras, the latest in setbacks for the technology that supporters of the Community Oversight Board have said is essential to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The camera program has repeatedly missed deadlines and had its costs revised upward.
- Following up on the story from Monday, it turns out the State Comptroller can legally do quite a bit when it comes to Nashville’s finances, such as holding all incoming payments in a “lock box.” The city is projected to run out of cash very close to the end of the fiscal year. ?
- Activists and some council members are calling on the city to end its use of private prison operator Core Civic for the city’s jail, a move that would cost the city millions of dollars in up-front costs but that supporters say is a moral imperative. The budget issues mentioned above make it unlikely to happen in the near term.
- Mayor John Cooper spent $2 million of his own money on his election and is now holding events hoping to recoup some of that money, as it was framed as a loan to the campaign. The money will come in several thousands of dollar donations from various individuals and groups. ?
- A study by an apartment listing service has found that more millennials are resigning themselves to a lifetime of renting, and those that do buy a home are more likely to have roommates to help cover costs. The lack of sufficient saved money for a down-payment is cited.
- You might know that we here at Nashvillest love a good weird story, and it doesn’t get much better than this segment on Nashville’s very own “Shadow Patriot.“
- The Nashville Post has an interview with Justin Jones, an activist that has said he will be a Democratic primary opponent next year to Rep. Jim Cooper.
- Nashville’s speed limit on most surface streets will be lowered from 30 to 25 over the next year after the measure cleared its final hurdle with the city’s Traffic and Parking Commission. Proponents of the move say it will increase pedestrian and motorist safety.
- There was a nearly naked person from PETA on the sidewalk Tuesday telling us all to skip the turkey this Thanksgiving. ?
- We are all scratching our heads at the “concepts” put out by the management of a new West End hotel, with an animatronic karaoke bar called Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole. Betsy Phillips shared her thoughts on it.
- The Nashville Predators (9-8-3) lost 2-1 to the Winnipeg Jets (13-8-1) Tuesday, extending a five game slide that has them on the outside of the playoff picture. They’ll try to right the ship tomorrow night against the Vancouver Canucks (10-8-4) at home before traveling to St. Louis to face the division-leading Blues (13-4-5) Saturday night.
- Despite a
typicaldisappointing year for Derek Mason’s program, the school announced Tuesday that he will be back as the head coach of Vanderbilt Football in 2020. Jeff Fisher will have to wait. - The MLS held its expansion draft Tuesday night, with new clubs Nashville SC and Inter Miami SC selecting five players each to begin play in 2020. There were also several trades on the day. ⚽️
- Speaking of the MLS, the stadium construction at the fairgrounds is delayed for at least the next seven weeks after the mayor’s office did not sign the demolition contract necessary to begin construction.
- PSC Metals, the East Nashville scrap yard that has vexed numerous mayoral administrations, is still going to be where it is for the foreseeable future. Former Mayor David Briley was working on a land swap deal that would have moved the eyesore, but that is not being pursued by the new administration.
- The Frist Art Museum will open an exhibit early next year featuring photography and oral history of the May 2010 flood as the city prepares to mark a decade since the devastation.
- Both WSMV and News Channel 5 ran stories this week about fights at dog parks and what to do when they happen. The gist is to focus on your dog, not your phone or friends.
Photo by Stacey Kizer. Want to see your photo featured here?