Blog
I am pleased to present my fourth and final Budget Conversation for my first term in office. When I campaigned for this office four years ago, I promised to enhance communication and transparency regarding the city’s activities. These Facebook conversations, which were subsequently turned into blog posts and newsletters, have allowed me to fulfill that promise. Another benefit of this series is that it has enabled me to gather input from constituents, resulting in numerous…
Read MoreFor the past couple of months, I have participated in and listened to the conversations around the new Titans’ stadium deal. Thanks to CM Mendes’s leadership, there were ample opportunities for community and expert input. I attended 4 public hearings around the county. I want to thank everyone that took the time to share their opinions with us, via email or in person. Your perspective and your questions are instrumental in my decision. Reaching a…
Read MoreOn June 21, 2022, the Metro Council voted on the FY23 Metro budget, a process that started in April. The process began with introducing the mayor’s budget followed by meetings with department heads, community members, and council deliberations and workshops. Though the council has already passed the budget, I feel it is still important to highlight the differences between the mayor’s budget, the chair’s substitute budget, and the amended substitute budget, which eventually became the…
Read MoreToday, I received an email from a constituent. She shared her frustration about not knowing much about the charter amendments on the ballot. Since several of my colleagues have written about these amendments, my initial thought was not to inundate you all with the same information. However, following her email, I think it’s better to have information multiple times and not need it, than not have it at all. Below is a detailed explanation of the…
Read MoreHistorically, communities across the country use police and punitive approaches as the primary tools to address health and social issues. This results in the funneling of millions of people, especially black and brown communities, into jails and prisons. Nationwide protests over police accountability and racial justice have reenergized longstanding efforts to fundamentally change how police departments respond to social issues that include mental illness, substance use, homelessness, community violence, and poverty. There have been increased calls and efforts…
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