background-color: #003388; Creating a Metro DOT was one of the recommendations within the Nashville Community Transportation Platform. .race_footer { Private developers, not the public, were the winners. For the Florida Legislature to function fairly, efficiently, and transparently, there are rules and procedures in place for lawmakers to follow when conducting the people's business. text-align: center; by Florida Democratic Party 3 mins read Earlier today, Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper ruled that Governor Ron DeSantis acted beyond the boundaries of his authority when he signed an executive order blocking local school boards from enacting mask protocols. background-color: green; I want to hear your feedback and your ideas. .votebox-scroll-container { background-color: #f9f9f9; Education is key to sustainable growth that benefits the whole community. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { overflow-y: hidden; Safeguard our parks and our property. Here are some of my ideas on how to make Nashville a city that truly works for everyone: Economic Development through Human Capital. The State of Tennessee only has $1.9 billion in total general obligation bonds outstanding. When Metro sold the Clement Landport, it received net $15,000 per space for hundreds of parking spaces in the Gulch. Our greatest challenge is going to be how we make that growth work to the benefit of all of our citizens and all of our neighborhoods. Events in Nashville, Tennessee, began on Saturday, May 30, 2020, downtown and at Capitol Hill. font-weight: bold; Economic and Community Development: I will commit to a goal of raising the percentage of Nashvillians who live within a 10-minute walk of a park from 37 to 50 percent. } border: 1px solid #999; At the June 4, 2018, Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Metro Finance stated that the fund balance was well below the 5% threshold and that the pay plan had to be vacated due to this fiscal emergency.

, See also:Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2019). This is clearly an extremely valuable piece of property, and we need to get the fair value of it for taxpayers. Yet our police department is understaffed by more than 130 positions. margin-top: 0px; Our biggest challenge as a city is making schools our top priority. J. Tallahassee, FL 32301-1861 Update your Profile Education & Credentials University Attended: Florida State University, B.A., 1972; Florida State University, B.A., 1972 Law School Attended: Middle class residents need options too. Creating more pocket parks would be one way to accomplish this goal. My business background makes me uniquely situated to take on this challenge. The "PACs" category has been renamed to "Committees," because the term "Political Action Committee" is not used in every state. The Convention Center Authority will have an estimated unrestricted cash balance of $190 million. As mayor, I will put taxpayers first in negotiations. Yet in 2015, Metro sold the property to a developer for a mere $5 million due at closing plus $6.25 million over 25 years. I began the process for recapturing some of this revenue to cover costs downtown, but more needs to be done. The mission of the Second Judicial Circuit is to protect rights and liberties, uphold & interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the six counties of the circuit. These are my ideas. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { font-size: 1.25em; Nashville residents are only able to use the waterpark if they book a stay as a resort guest. The city of Nashville, Tennessee, held nonpartisan elections for mayor and metro council on August 6, 2015. I will focus on expanding Nashvilles greenway system and the sidewalks and bikeways that connect our neighborhoods to the greenways in order to provide better and broader access to recreation and to encourage alternative transportation. } The Mayor of Nashville needs to be a financial manager with experience in long-term capital planning, and that why I am the right Mayor for Nashville right now. I commit to creating and publishing a public engagement plan for transportation planning, something the current Mayor has not done. Metros revenue grew by over 19% between 2013 and 2018, yet education, transportation and affordable housing are still underfunded. Judge John Cooper appears to be a democrat and a supporter of the Democratic Party. Our neighborhoods need infrastructure investment. What Ive learned concerns me. Around 80% of downtown employees drive to work alone. Mayor Briley opposed the Community Oversight Board. display: inline-block; Cooper's current term ends in 2023. Cooper ran for election for Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. Our issued and obligated debt per capita has almost doubled since 2015, even accounting for our population growth. This work could go further and be more impactful with sustained leadership from the Mayors Office and further investment where necessary. padding-top: 3px; Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. The Lets Move Nashville plan was built with too little consultation with residents and neighborhoods. Nashville does not have a great track record of treating those on the lowest end of the economic spectrum well. . Everytime that we need in the future something for our districts: a reading instructor for our children, a policeman, a body camera, or a stormwater drain, we will know where to find it and youll find it in the Opryland swimming pool. Moving forward, this program should have sustained support and all corporations that receive any sort of incentive funding from the city should be required to have strong TDM plans in place. text-align: center; The Lumina Foundation has designated Nashville as a Talent Hub, investing money in our citys workforce development efforts. Today, it is a UNESCO Site of Memory. Yet instead of protecting other parks and public spaces, Mayor Briley has continued to attempt to sell them off. max-height: 580px; WeGo needs more funding, not less, to ensure that it is accessible, fast, frequent, and reliable. .votebox { That was a mistake, but this mayor hasnt learned the right lessons from it. Over half of teachers are leaving the district within their first three years of teaching. Improve safety. [15],

Ive consistently favored the good management approach over a sizable property tax increase. The PILOT ordinance could be expanded beyond Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects to include all affordable housing projects funded by the Barnes Fund, THDA grants. Nashville taxes then paid to build a $34 million parking garage on the site for the developer. } Fifth & Broadway, the site of our old convention center, was probably the most valuable piece of undeveloped property in the Southeastern United States. .votebox_bp_logo { Covering shortfalls by irreversibly selling public land is a terrible idea. City leaders have been exceptionally creative with financing deals to help private developers, but that creativity and dedication is missing in action when it comes time to fund our schools, take care of our employees and create affordable housing. Briley awarded ten additional acres to the developer for mixed-use private development. Metro needs to make affordable housing central to every incentive that it gives. vertical-align: top; } As Mayor, I will ask Metros Planning Commission to work with each Metro Council member to create a description of what affordable housing would best fit within their community and how affordable housing can support and enhance the quality of life for residents. Lets expand our sidewalk network so more people can walk to those bus stops. At the same time Mayor Briley was patching a budget hole with ill-advised one-time property sales, his administration steered ten acres at the Fairgrounds into private hands. Policing is a difficult and noble profession. Our total issued and obligated general obligation debt is now about $4.5 billion. We can do better. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? How to vote | Cooper has a wife, Laura Fitzgerald, and three sons. Gender Male. Changing to a grid system and increasing the frequency of buses on key routes enabled Brampton, Ontarios bus system to double ridership within 12 years. } Under my leadership, I will ensure that we are maximizing the affordable housing subsidies we grant and that federal, state, and local sources work together. I will provide robust support for the Blue Ribbon Commission to identify savings and revenue opportunities. } Democratic Coalition Against Trump. Legal 500. Unfortunately, the current administration is failing the residents who need us most. Basic needs need to be met in order for students to meet their full potential. I will prioritize having a strong working relationship with the council in order to bring the focus back to students. overflow-y: auto; top: 0px; That requires targeted investments in neighborhoods that havent seen meaningful investment in generations. I support the recommendation of a 25 mph maximum speed limit for neighborhood streets to ensure that residents are kept safe. Public policy. Neighborhood residents should have a say in determining what activities their local parks will need. Our residents and our officers deserve better. vertical-align: top; That said, it remains critical that we reduce our reliance on single-occupancy vehicle trips in order to both reduce street congestion and carbon emissions. [6], Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; }, See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. We should not have included a bonus of ten acres at the Fairgrounds beyond the incentive of the stadium. Local foundations and the private sector have made no such commitments. Between 2011 and 2017, rents in Nashville rose by 64 percent. However, his one-page proposal is completely inadequate. Mayoral elections in Nashville are nonpartisan. .widget-row.value-only.black { The 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report showed that the fund balance was, in fact, at 5.5% at the end of June 2018, well above the 5 percent threshold. float: right; The next iteration also had serious problems. As your mayor, my door will be open. 2. Parks improve the quality of life of residents and provide an important foundation for strong communities. This is money that can be used to invest in schools. Since it was after the. Nashville needs to remain a great place to live, not just a great city to visit. Our young people face an epidemic of gun violence. The number of murders doubled. margin-bottom: 0px; While many residents are within only a few miles of our bustling downtown, they have not been able to benefit from the citys growth. Nashville needs all of the approximately 1,500 police positions funded. top: -5px; .votebox_legend { The last chapter of Nashvilles economic development story was focused on downtown development and tourism. A culture of secrecy and entitlement has grown up where there should be transparency and accountability. I quickly joined a broad coalition that formed to stop this giveaway. Which political party does Anderson Cooper affiliate himself with? The Academies of Nashville have long been seen as a national model for career and technical education in high schools, and are often credited for improving high school graduation rates. The current mayors budget proposal would result in fares increasing by ten percent, the elimination of seven bus routes, and a reduction in service on another seven routes. .votebox-results-metadata-p { This is by far the most cost-effective way to build new affordable housing. He lost his reelection bid in the Republican Primary in March 2020. Better management of taxpayer money will free up resources for priorities like education and infrastructure. Transportation: We have to expect a payback from it because we are depriving schools and children of the same money that could have gone to these other groups.. } It would be easy to raise property taxes, but there are other revenue sources that need to be utilized. In 2017, Metro Council passed a three-year pay plan that included modest cost of living adjustments for Metro employees. The first time the parking deal was awarded, Metro miscalculated the bids and released an intent to award to a company that bid $74 million less than another company. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { background-color: #f9d334; One hurdle is our expensive outsourced process including project management and right-of-way acquisition. Its time for a different approach. It should not have taken sustained community activism to get leadership to pay attention. Here are some highlights on each topic relating to focusing on neighborhoods. } NEIGHBORHOODS float: left; margin: 0px 10px; Dated November 29, 1952, the document is a simple tally of who in Hollywood gave money to a group called the Entertainment Industry Joint Committee For Eisenhower-Nixon. } We need implicit bias and de-escalation training that goes above-and-beyond the standards required by the State of Tennessee. margin: auto; But, the judge hasn't expressed his political opinion in public. font-weight: bold; Nashville has gotten away from these primary responsibilities, and it is my intention to get our priorities back in line. Address our recruitment and retention problems. What would you like to see Metro do to improve your experience moving throughout the county? } I invite you to share what youd like to see moving forward so we can continue this discussion. His first job came on Wall. } It was later revealed that Mayor Briley had given merit pay raises to his personal staff. The Barnes Fund needs a dependable source of funding and I will work with the community to create one. Upgrade our bus system. An area like Bordeaux is going to keep growing, but the quality and community impact of that growth will depend on the quality of the underlying infrastructure. The Westin Hotel received $14 million of tax increment financing in 2014. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city? Judge John Cooper appears to be a democrat and a supporter of the Democratic Party. The MDHA has long insisted that it has sufficient funding to carry out its Envision projects, without additional funding from the city. Measuring by the number of cranes youll spot downtown on any given day, we are doing well by that measure. background-color: #db0000; Private developers, not the public, were the winners. height: 56px; clear: both; We dont need to cut down cherry trees to stage eventscities across North America have demonstrated that parks and cultural events can coexist. } Parks positively inform the character of our neighborhoods, and provide the opportunity for all to gather in shared public space. Last year, Mayor Briley supported a transit plan that cost too much and delivered too little. Bring real expertise to housing policy. color: white; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { That is twice in recent years Metro has tried to give away public land that is significant in Nashvilles African American history. Following the declaration by the Biden administration that everyone who has been vaccinated would no longer be required to wear a mask inside, . font-weight: bold; [5], .survey-result {padding:10px;} max-width: 600px;

} The Promise Zone is made up of areas where poverty is concentrated; unemployment is high, educational attainment is lower than other areas of the city, residents are geographically isolated from healthy food options and employment opportunities, and violent crimes are more likely to occur. Police and Public Safety: As Channel 5 reported, MNPD spent more than $4 million on special events overtime through the end of April. Violent crime last year was at a level not seen in a decade. The gist of the article is suggesting that christian music (referred to as CCM-Christian . Elections in 2023 | It is a historic 55,000 square foot building with parking. Simply put, the Mayors office has lost track of the publics priorities. Trust between police and the people they protect and serve is key to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our justice system, and the effectiveness of our police department. Without a course adjustment, we risk leaving our neighbors further behind. And we need to keep taking steps to address chronic absenteeism. Not surprisingly, half of all renters and a quarter of all homeowners now spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. font-size: 20px; Here are some examples that illustrate our citys misplaced priorities when it comes to managing Nashvilles money: When the convention center was built, Metro handed out massive incentives to bring in a luxury hotel. Cooper assumed office on September 28, 2019. I am committed to increasing transparency on how funding is used to address the affordable housing crisis in our city. You deserve a safe city where citizens and officers are treated fairly. Ill work to amplify and increase the impact of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Support Fund to support the department and its leadership and to help it achieve deeper community engagement. 1. Support the officers who protect and serve us. I want to lessen the time you spend in traffic through smart solutions, connect neighborhoods through bus system improvements, and invest in infrastructure like sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety. The lack of prioritization of schools has led to troubling outcomes for many students. This will be an independent office to work with the independent Office of Internal Audit. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Metro needs a reset of priorities and leadership. } Ron Silver was born on July 2, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. How to run for office | John Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Subsequently, on August 30, 2018, Metro Finance formally declared that in seeking to reach and maintain a 5% fund balance, Metro could not afford a mere $50,000 for a referendum on the soccer stadium deal. Departing from standard theories, which place election-minded politicians at the center, we theorize parties as vehicles by which intense policy demanders get what they want out of government. .results_table { Here are some of the approaches I will use to safeguard the public and strengthen the relationship between police officers and the communities they serve: I consider this to be a working document. The men and women who are already serving us deserve a pay raise too. Send me your thoughts. Here are some of the changes I will pursue in my first year in office: Public trust is easy to lose. width: 90%; We need to bring real expertise to housing policy and get it out from under the political purview of the Mayors Office. } As a council member, I am proud to stand by my record of supporting access to green space and preserving Nashvilles unique assets. Here is what I said at the time: My concern is that Nashville gets the fair value of the assets that it owns. This is short-term thinking at its worst. Children do better in school; mental and physical well-being improves; seniors remain more socially connected and live longer; residents mental and physical wellness improves, particularly when people live close to where they work. That didnt happen when major league soccer came to Nashville. At the same time, Mayor Briley was patching a budget hole with ill-advised one-time property sales, his administration steered ten acres at the Fairgrounds into private hands. The movie stars Steve Carrell. A former Long Island legislator, he also once served as the chairman of the Democratic Coalition, a political group that advocates against Trump. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. overflow-y: hidden; His current six-year term expires in January 2027. } .inner_percentage.Green { Bailing out MDHA. I have already cosponsored legislation that would match affordable housing dollars with incentive dollars. Educators deserve to be treated as the professionals they are; these are the individuals who are preparing our kids for the future. } .results_row { As mayor, I will work with our police chief to more seriously implement the proposals presented in the Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing. These best practices include engaging the community in positive, non-enforcement actions and measuring satisfaction through surveys.