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I will work with journalists, free press experts, and government agencies to review Metros current open records practices, to make sure that the publics work is being done in a lawful, transparent, and public way. Setting goals begins with listening. Metro Parks can work with Metro Water Services to expand green infrastructure such as retention ponds and bioswales to help Nashville manage our flooding challenges. }. Only 12.9% of Davidson County households live within a mile of high-frequency bus service at rush hour. The last chapter of Nashvilles economic development story was focused on downtown development and tourism. complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. We should explore using TIF to bring grocery stores to food deserts. display: inline; He was an actor and director, known for Timecop (1994), The Arrival (1996) and Reversal of Fortune (1990). Cooper won in the general runoff election on September 12, 2019. Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Voting Record Missed Votes The developer paid MDHA $9.4 million, but the land was actually worth many millions more, perhaps double. Parks and Green Spaces: John Cooper talks pain of losing friendships over biblical views, defending faith in public sphere. Nashville is at a crossroads. If, in the future, we move to use a regressive funding mechanism for a transportation plan, we need to be hyper-vigilant that improvements are distributed equitably across the county. It was driven by a desire to go as big as possible, not a realistic assessment of our needs. 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. MDHA is one of Metros least transparent agencies, and not always in alignment with our needs today. As a council member, I am proud of my record of supporting access to green space and preserving Nashvilles unique assets when City Hall tried to sell or give them away. text-align: center; Metro already allocates $10 million per year to the Barnes Fund. As everyone in Nashville knows, the private market has responded to the demand for housing. color: black; My administration will listen to your ideas and concerns, and propose a plan to directly address those ideas and concerns. The answer is not much. We need to reign in deficit spending because it hampers our ability to pay for essential services. .widget-row { Connect our city. display: block; .widget-row.value-only.white { The proposed purchase was kept quiet from council members, and Mayor Briley has not yet said what the intended use of the building would be. Before we can talk about neighborhoods, we must deal with housing. Bailing out MDHA. As mayor, I will lead the way in establishing a $25 million revolving loan fund for affordable housing that can be seeded with a $10 million investment from Metro. Metro has overused tax increment financing (TIF) to incentivize luxury condos and hotels downtown. Yet his campaign is touting those three areas as accomplishments. It will include clear rules to regulate the use and supervision of outside consultants. Why won't Christian Musicians get political? overflow-x: scroll; text-align: left !important; I was one of two votes against the sale. Safeguard our parks and our property. Expand parks programming and invest in our youth. We need to find new ways to finance programs so residents can have greater access to these resources. We were fortunate enough to honor two dedicated organizations from our AAPI community - Greater Nashville Chinese Association and Chinese Art Alliance of Nashville. Nashville Mayor John Cooper sent letters to both the Republican and Democratic parties expressing interest in the city playing host to the 2028 national political conventions. .widget-row.Libertarian { } We should prioritize bringing additional green space to North Nashville, the banks of the Cumberland, and places like District 30 in Southeast Nashville, which currently doesnt have a single park. He died on March 15, 2009 in New York City, New York, USA. I will start by listening to the residents of this city. Nashville is going to grow more in the next five years than in the past five years, so we have to get this next phase right. clear: both; However, his budget continues to include the parking meter proposal and is expected to bring it up again after the election. margin-right: 10px; Metro Government has invested heavily in downtown development in recent years, yet has lost its focus on the citys essential responsibilities. Vice-Mayor David Briley stayed silent. Not surprisingly, half of all renters and a quarter of all homeowners now spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. 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. As mayor, I will put taxpayers first in negotiations. Nashville is a dangerous city to walk in. top: -1px; The Metro Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) is the city agency responsible for public housing. text-align: left; Christian Cooper (no relation), a Black man and a bird-watcher, asked Amy to leash her dog. The men and women who are already serving us deserve a pay raise too. color: white; He was previously married to Lynne Miller. .race_header.democratic { That means ensuring that new developments do not merely add to the costs of growth. } The city needs private and nonprofit sector resources and expertise. Private events need to begin paying for their own costs. padding-left: 16px; John Cooper is the Mayor of Nashville in Tennessee. All of the above thoughts and policies will require a foundation of trust. .infobox p { Our public safety agencies must work better together and with nonprofit and faith-based groups. The Lumina Foundation has designated Nashville as a Talent Hub, investing money in our citys workforce development efforts. .indicate_scroll { Parks are public spaces where all are welcome. } Officers need technological support in the form of information systems that can talk to each other, and appropriate and necessary data and technology to respond quickly and safely. background-color: #003388; It is critical that Nashville remains a place where small businesses open, grow, and flourish. I will work with Metro Council to develop an enforceable ethics code that would apply to all Metro departments and employees. I want our parks to play central and valued roles in helping Nashville continue to be and become more of the city we want it to be. Skillet frontman John Cooper has said that he will likely be speaking out a lot more about topics pertaining to Christianity and the church. I will demand that district leadership and school board are aligned and focused on improving student outcomes, will set measurable and achievable goals for improvement, and will hold accountable to the goals that we set. In recent years, it has financed a parking garage for a luxury condo development downtown, and given tax increment financing to hotels and other luxury developments. Due to generations of underinvestment in certain neighborhoods, low-income students and students of color are frequently left behind in our current system; in some neighborhoods, students move from a low-performing elementary school to a low-performing middle-school and into a low-performing high school. } He lost his reelection bid in the Republican Primary in March 2020. } Many people and organizations are playing a role in connecting residents to opportunities. display: inline-block; Cooper has a wife, Laura Fitzgerald, and three sons. } The number of murders doubled. } I was against the attempted sale of Trinity Ridge, 11 acres of hilltop, creeks, springs and historic stone walls adjacent to existing banked land for Metro Parks that the administration tried to sell this year. Financial management and finding other revenues from tourism and development is the mechanism through which we will find additional funding for education. letter-spacing: .03em; width: 57%; font-weight: 300; Because North Carolina leans slightly conservative, Cooper's popularity . Per state law, TIF loan proceeds may not pay for unit construction but can fund land acquisition and site preparation. Support the officers who protect and serve us. 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. This work could go further and be more impactful with sustained leadership from the Mayors Office and further investment where necessary. In 2018, budget issues were kept quiet until the last minute, presumably to boost the chances of the transit referendum passing. I want the Metro Development and Housing Agency to focus on the housing part of its mission, rather than just the development aspect. background-color: #f4f4f4; The Music City Center does not pay property taxes; perhaps it should before we raise residents property taxes. I want Nashvillians to feel safe as they move about the city. p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} Most wont. Send me your thoughts. Improve the functioning of the MDHA. The Year of the Rabbit represents new beginnings and the renewal of good health, happiness, and fortune. My transportation plan will include funding for sidewalks because we cant have an effective transportation system without them. Better management of taxpayer money will free up resources for priorities like education and infrastructure. As mayor, I will expect that our schools get great results for all kids and will celebrate the achievements of those that do. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Educators deserve to be treated as the professionals they are; these are the individuals who are preparing our kids for the future. I believe the core responsibilities of the mayor are to provide high-quality universal services and care for our most vulnerable citizens. 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. padding-bottom: 3px; 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. Parks can play a critical role in increasing sustainable and resilient infrastructure. But the benefits of being the host to those events for Nashville and Tennessee residents wouldn't be as advertised. Nashville is going to grow more in the next five years than in the last five years. A neighborhood like the Nations is already well into its boom, but lagging stormwater and sidewalk infrastructure are limiting the area. Restoring Trust: position: relative; Nashville deserves better deals. top: -5px; As Channel 5 reported, MNPD spent more than $4 million on special events overtime through the end of April. Cooper has indeed worked in politics. It may not be the most exciting part of governing, but that the decisions that leaders make about how the government spends money determine the level of services they are able to provide for their constituents. margin-bottom:0px; 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. margin-bottom:16px; 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. John Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. font-weight: bold; Creating more pocket parks would be one way to accomplish this goal. Sidewalks make walking safer. I will end the giveaway culture that is more focused on enriching a small elite than serving our entire city. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. The State of Tennessee only has $1.9 billion in total general obligation bonds outstanding. We need implicit bias and de-escalation training that goes above-and-beyond the standards required by the State of Tennessee. Cars drive too fast in our neighborhoods. 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. Additionally, only 13.8% of economically disadvantaged students met literacy benchmarks in 2018. } As I said in the article, some of the celebs I mentioned could have changed their political leanings. I want to hear from you. Events in Nashville, Tennessee, began on Saturday, May 30, 2020, downtown and at Capitol Hill. font-weight: bold; He won a special election to fill a partial term in the Arkansas Senate in 2014, and was reelected in 2016. Private developers, not the public, were the winners. } Diversify park funding. There are so many ways parks can be assets for needed solutions to many of the challenges facing Nashville. Simply put, the Mayors office has lost track of the publics priorities. As mayor, I am committed to developing a people-first transportation plan that is focused on helping you get to where you work and where you live in a timely, safe, and cost-effective manner. Regions Greater New York Area, East Coast, Northeastern US. Fiscal Accountability: We must set goals, provide resources, and bring agencies together with residents, businesses, and donors to keep Nashville green. The Nashville Metro Council is full of talented, dedicated individuals with vast institutional knowledge who should be consulted on major initiatives for the city. A neighborhood like the Nations is already well into its boom, but the stormwater and sidewalk infrastructure has lagged behind. } } Use Mayors Office to Set Tone and Expectations. As a parent of three boys, Ive seen how important after-school programming is in helping kids develop character and maintain good health. background-color: #6db24f; font-weight: bold; For the past four years, I have served as an at-large Metro Council member. [8] The same day, Mayor John Cooper (D) declared a state of emergency, issued a curfew, and requested that Gov. According to the CNN anchor, he doesn't express his political views and goes out of his way in doing so. As mayor, I will commit to further developing the human capital of Nashvilles residents and will prioritize education and workforce training as mayor. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } width: 100%; Governing a red state, Cooper has maintained public support despite radical swings in the political climate, often disadvantageous to his party. Parks promote investment. Develop a new transportation plan within the first year. Arrowood finished second in a 2014 Court of Appeals race that featured 19 candidates. Only a mayor can turn the page and usher in an era of good management. State and local courts | font-size: 12px; [14] An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. background-color: grey; As a former banker and a long-time businessman, Ill do the math to make sure developments benefit taxpayers. That is all money that could have gone to affordable housing. Steve Riley on February 14, 2013: Just right off the bat. Its time for a different approach. Nashville is going to grow more over the next five years than it has in the previous five years. That means ending the culture of secrecy, evasiveness, and insider dealing that have taken root at city hall. Let me give you an example of why leadership from the Mayors Office matters on these important safety issues. background-color: green; } Tackle traffic, not just transit. Earlier this year, Mayor Briley proposed a parking modernization plan that would result in private management of our street parking, an increase in fees and fines, and a doubling (at the very least) of the number of parking meters.

float:right;  I voted against a property tax hike last year and this year. As your mayor, I will make sure that the Mayors Office of Economic & Community Development emphasizes that community development mission, and not just growth at any cost. Lobbying & Government. 		display: inline-block; 	font-weight: bold; 		line-height: 1.5em; 		vertical-align: top; In consultation with our police department, I will also direct our department to identify proven, evidence-based programs to target our most serious challenges, such as gun violence. Pedestrian deaths are on the rise; 62 pedestrians have been killed in the last 3 years. As mayor, I will prioritize investments in human capital through education and I plan to direct over half of new revenue into our school system. Our total issued and obligated general obligation debt is now about $4.5 billion. 	} 	.votebox_legend { 	.non_result_row div { My family and I love to spend time at Bells Bend and the Warner Parks, however, not all neighborhoods and families have easy access to our great parks and greenways. Thats not all our taxpayers paid for. The district and non-profit partners such as STARS, the Oasis Center and the Martha OBryan Center have been working hard to support successful student outcomes. 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. Parking meters arent the only issue over which his administration has thrown a veil of secrecy. 		font-size: 12px; In 2017, Metro sold the historic Ben West Library building and only got $2 million. This agreement was in addition to the Amazon incentives. 	padding-left: 10px; .widget-row.Democratic { We need to conduct performance audits of Metro departments and agencies to increase the transparency of how tax dollars are spent and identify areas for improvement. For me, parks are a passion. 	} 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. 	} Expand green space. The term party has since come to be applied to all organized groups seeking political power, whether . 	.votebox-scroll-container { Other cities have had success making incremental improvements to their existing systems. div.survey-scrollbox {  height:400px;  overflow:scroll;  margin:20px;  padding:10px;  border:1px solid gray; }, See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. 		color:white; Economic growth and tourism has created a bustling downtown that attracts people and businesses from around the world. [13], Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. "I have a real love of Puritans and that . F. E. Steinmeyer, III. Lets stop placing bus stops in ditches and instead create covered, well-lit stops where people can wait safely and comfortably.