Two hot topics in Nashville will be discussed Saturday at the Southeast Nashville Conservatives’ Breakfast.
Sanctuary cities and the proposed redevelopment plan for Ft. Negley will be addressed by guest speakers.
Metro Councilman Robert Swope will speak on the council’s recent push to make Nashville more welcoming to illegal immigrants.
Proposed sanctuary city ordinances received strong support from council members but faced opposition from citizens. In addition, Metro’s law director raised concerns about the legality of a provision that would have required the sheriff to get a criminal judicial warrant to detain inmates believed to be in the U.S. illegally, instead of simply following procedures established by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Other measures would have further restricted Metro employees from cooperating with immigration authorities.
At the end of June, the councils’ lead sponsors of the ordinances withdrew their two bills but vowed to accomplish their goals in other ways.
On Saturday, Swope, who represents District 4 and who opposed the legislation, promises to give a behind-the-scenes look at what took place and what to expect as sanctuary city proponents continue their fight.
Chris Cotton, a board member of the Friends of Ft. Negley, will speak about Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s controversial plan to open Fort Negley Park to private development. The park includes a Civil War-era fort and in recent decades was also home to Greer Stadium, where the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team played until moving to a new stadium in 2015.
Barry has accepted a development proposal from Cloud Hill Partnership, but Metro has not yet entered into an agreement. Plans for the Metro-owned property call for building affordable housing, including Section 8 apartments. The development would also include shops, restaurants, offices, green space and creative spaces for artists. Under the proposed deal, Metro would retain ownership, with the development team investing private funds and sharing revenue.
Saturday’s meeting will be held at the Shoney’s restaurant at 407 Thompson Lane near Nolensville Road. A time to eat and socialize will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., with the program starting at 9 a.m.
The breakfast group is supported by the Davidson County Republican Party.
