A growing city is not without pains. I think everyone understand that.
What we do not understand – here in Bordeaux and around this city – is why the Metro government continues to advocate for policies that seem designed to make things worse.
On Nov. 5, voters will have an option to vote for or against an increase in sales tax to be appliedcountywide to fund a transit system that might benefit the central city one day.
That sales tax proposal is inextricably linked to something called “transit-oriented housing” andzoning reform. Please Google “zoning reform and transit” and see what you get if you don’tbelieve me.
Federal transportation grants that the mayor seeks to secure via a dedicated funding stream,favor more development in the already over developed parts of Nashville.
The development of Nashville the last decade or so has eroded our historically Blackneighborhoods and community institutions, forced up property taxes and accelerated a cultural change we will regret.
Black Nashvillians’ needs have often been sacrificed for ‘latest new things’
In the last several years, our group, Fighting for the Soul of Nashville sought to highlight this growth at any cost whether that means more traffic congestion or cultural degradation.
While a few well-connected developers many benefit from the land use pressure created byMayor Freddie O’Connell’s transit plan, places like Bordeaux fall further behind. We are top of mindwhen it comes to disposing of all the debris generated by the growth of Nashville.
At the same time, we are not likely to benefit from new sidewalks. There is little demand forimproved signalization out here. It is a long bus ride to anywhere and we prefer our cars.
Black Nashvillians have long ago become accustomed to being told the great things that will happen if we chase the latest new things like conventions centers and stadiums.
And yet here we are, lacking in investment that supports our historic community in a way that honors our past and the beauty that surrounds us.
It is important to remediate the damage done to Bordeaux
We should ignore similar promises from the mayor’s transit plan and focus on what we know wewill get; a higher cost of living in the form of more taxation and higher property assessment.
Those things will force the economic calculation of remining in a community you love versusjoining one you can afford.
If you care about the future or this city – its soul really – I hope you will vote against a higher sales tax to generate something we don’t need or want and turn your attention to the damage that has been done and seek to remediate it.
