Metro Nashville Council published the agenda for its May 5 meeting and it includes over $1.7 million in grants to nonprofits.
The agenda additionally primarily contains issues dealing with contracts, grants, and zoning, as well as a resolution recognizing the Ryman Auditorium.
RS2022-1514 is a “resolution recognizing the Ryman Auditorium – “The Mother Church of Country Music” – and its 130 years as Music City’s most famous and respected concert venue.
It is sponsored by Councilmembers Freddie O’Connell and Emily Benedict.
The resolution says in part:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVISON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing the Ryman Auditorium, “The Mother Church of Country Music,” and its 130 years in Nashville as Music City’s most famous and respected music venue, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Nashville each year.
Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Gary Levy, General Manager of Ryman Auditorium.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson Country requiring it.
RS2022-1506, sponsored by Councilmembers Sean Parker, Ginny Welsch, and Benedict is a “resolution authorizing grants not exceeding $1,775,080.27 from the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing to certain nonprofit organizations selected for the express purpose of constructing and rehabilitating affordable or workforce housing.”
Organizations that are proposed to receive grants under this resolution are:
| Nonprofit | Amount | Exhibit |
| Crossroads Campus | $33,492.08 | A |
| Westminster Home Connection | $50,238.12 | B |
| Urban Housing Solutions | $316,652.40 | C |
| Rebuilding Together Nashville | $9,134.20 | D |
| Crossbridge, Inc. | $76,118.36 | E |
| Renewal House | $51,760.49 | F |
| Woodbine | $593,723.25 | G |
| Be a Helping Hand Foundation | $6,089.47 | H |
| Living Development Concepts, Inc. | $1,522.37 | I |
| Our Place Nashville | $200,952.48 | J |
| New Level Community Development Corporation | $77,640.73 | K |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville | $48,715.75 | L |
| Mending Hearts, Inc. | $12,178.94 | M |
| Samaritan Recovery Community | $296,861.62 | N |
BL2022-1234, an ordinance on first reading, is proposed “to provide for the designation of public property within specified areas of downtown Nashville as a temporary “Special Event Zone” during the time period beginning at nine o’clock (9:00) p.m. on July 2, 2022, and ending at eleven fifty-nine (11:59) p.m. on July 5, 2022, relative to the use of these areas in conjunction with the 2022 July 4th Celebration and related activities and events.”
The ordinance is sponsored by O’Connell.
BL2021-971, sponsored by Councilmembers O’Connell, Erin Evans, Zulfat Suara, Sandra Sepulveda, Colby Sledge, Welsch, Mary Carolyn Roberts, Burkley Allen, Delishia Porterfield, Dave Rosenberg, Courtney Johnston, Sean Parker, Thom Druffel, Russ Bradford, Benedict, Brandon Taylor, Joy Styles, and Gloria Hausser, is an ordinance on second reading and proposes “to amend Title 2 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to create an Office of Housing and Homelessness.”
BL2022-1171, an ordinance on third reading, proposes “to provide for the designation of public property within specified areas of downtown Nashville as a temporary “Special Event Zone” during the time period beginning at six o’clock (6:00) a.m. on June 8, 2022, and ending at midnight (12:00) on June 13, 2022, relative to the use of these areas in conjunction with the 2022 CMA Fest and related activities and events.”
It is sponsored by Councilmember Connell.
There may be additional late-filed resolutions and ordinances prior to the May 5 Metro Council meeting.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “Ryman Auditorium” by Daniel Schwen. CC BY-SA 4.0.
How about getting the homeless and beggars off the streets with “tiny homes?”
How about getting them off the street by putting them on a bus to Los Angeles?
Progressive Burkley Allen, a Metro Council Member At-Large is a Director of Rebuilding Together Nashville. RT-Nashville received a $9K Metro grant. Gee, what a coincidence.
“Affordable housing” is no longer affordable for the taxpayers footing the bill.
Does grant money grow on trees? Got to come from someplace because the local government cannot print money like the feds.
And??? What is the point of this article? To complain about a whopping 1.7 million dollars possibly frittered away? They are going to have to work hard to get to the level of our precious General Assembly when it comes to giving money away.