Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death. text-align: center; I am running for Mayor to ensure that all of Nashvilles residents and neighborhoods are able to benefit from our citys growth. 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. Recruiting highly skilled talent from elsewhere is good, but we need to prioritize developing the talent already here. In exchange, the public will receive accordingly to the mayors one-page press release at least 1,000 deeply affordable unitsplus another 1,600 affordable and workforce housing units. This is a disturbingly low number of units for a $350 million investment. Approximately 18% of MNPS students missed at least 10% of school days last year. } Here are my guiding principles: Four years ago, Houston switched from a spoke-and-hub system similar to what Nashville has now to a grid model. That is twice in recent years Metro has tried to give away public land that is significant in Nashvilles African American history. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { Nashville has focused on one half of the growth equation: buildings and economic incentives. Building the stadium itself should have been enough of an incentive for a soccer team. My administration will listen to your ideas and concerns, and propose a plan to directly address those ideas and concerns. } Here are some of the changes I will pursue in my first year in office: Public trust is easy to lose. 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. .widget-row.Libertarian { Then, to the surprise of the city council, City Hall awarded 10 additional acres to the developer. .votebox-results-metadata-p { In fact, in a 2016 interview with Howard Stern, Anderson went so far as to say that he believes reporters shouldn't vote. Cutting routes and increasing fares harm those who rely on public transportation in this city. Here is what I said at the time: Once again, we are using taxpayer money to subsidize the wealthiest, and once again we dont need to. The Mayors Office has seemingly politicized the operations of the Metro Finance Department. One of the primary reasons I am running for mayor is to change that. display: block; I quickly joined a broad coalition that formed to stop this giveaway. As mayor, I am committed to finding mechanisms to not simply provide one-time raises for teachers but also finding a longer-term, sustainable vision for teacher salaries that provide the opportunity for more growth over time. @media (max-width:600px) { [13], Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. .results_row.winner { Payments on our rising debt have limited the investments that can be made in education and affordable housing. text-align: center; Tackle traffic, not just transit. It is also failing the men and women who serve us. $19,100 Total Expenditures. I was the first candidate for mayor to endorse it. As a former banker and a long-time businessman, Ill do the math to make sure developments benefit taxpayers. Cooper is an anti-Trump Twitter star, with a blue check mark next to his name and 610,000 followers, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), disgraced former #Resistance Twitter star Michael. } School districts | color: #6db24f; The city has other revenue sources than just the property tax. Support the officers who protect and serve us. $150 million in Mayor Brileys plan is an investment in the Barnes Fund, the citys affordable housing fund. Community-wide cooperation. After four years on the city council, Ive seen what Metro is doing to address the housing problem. Parks promote investment. We should celebrate that! So do our workforce and lower income residents. Economic growth and tourism has created a bustling downtown that attracts people and businesses from around the world. Consider the following examples: As Mayor, I will put taxpayers first when it comes to negotiating development deals. I also support creating an independent Metro Inspector General. The current One Roof public funds should be reallocated to support needs-based solutions. Hon. Our sewer and stormwater systems, roads, sidewalks and intersections are key components of economic and community development. I was one of two votes against the sale. This is by far the most cost-effective way to build new affordable housing. 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. Parks are public spaces where all are welcome. The pattern is clear. John Cooper - $80,358 in Political Contributions for 2004, Campaign Finance, Money, American politics, American political campaign contributions, presidential campaign contributions . .percentage_number { } .race_header.green { Covering operational shortfalls with one-time budget gimmicks is a bad idea. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} Our downtown grid is made up of narrow streets; this means we must reduce the number of cars downtown by encouraging more people to ride the bus, carpool, or bike to work. The Westin Hotel received $14 million of tax increment financing in 2014. 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. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail { } The propertys true value was many times that. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. overflow-y: auto; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { Cooper's resilience should go down as one of the most impressive political feats North Carolina has seen in the 21st century. One year ago, I led the formation of the Blue Ribbon Commission to identify targeted savings and revenue opportunities. } For instance, Tennessee is the only state where adults can attend community college or a Tennessee College of Applied Technology tuition-free. All students have the right to high quality education. padding-top: 3px; The term party has since come to be applied to all organized groups seeking political power, whether . As the saying goes, "You show me your budget, I'll show you your priorities." What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I will work with Metro Council to develop an enforceable ethics code that would apply to all Metro departments and employees. , See also:Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2019). border-bottom: 1px solid grey; All of the above thoughts and policies will require a foundation of trust. The number of murders doubled. Other cities have found new funding sources by creating citywide park improvement districts and by creating business improvement districts around parks, identifying sponsorship opportunities, and developing more robust public-private partnerships to support our parks. Creating a Metro DOT was one of the recommendations within the Nashville Community Transportation Platform. Therefore, I will invest in common sense solutions to reduce the time spent in traffic, such as fixing problem intersections, utilizing smart traffic signals to better control traffic, widening turning lanes on key routes, and limiting construction lane closures. Finally, he tried to swap Church Street Park downtown to a private developer offering a less valuable parcel. Last years vote was on a specific plan and therefore should not be interpreted as a lack of countywide interest in funding the right plan. John C. Cooper is a Circuit Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida in Leon County. The first year of my term will be focused on safety while we formulate a broader transportation plan. height: 50px; .widget-row.value-only.white { The city has had a string of valuable assets downtown jewels in our crown and each has been sold for too little. } Overview; Contributions; Expenditures; . Cooper won in the general runoff election on September 12, 2019. Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Use Economic Incentives to Increase Quality of Life. So in 2018, the General Fund saw $15.86 million in hotel tax. POLITICAL CHANGE TROUGH THE POWER OF FREEDOM Empowering the people of District 4 of Texas by . word-wrap: break-word; Also in 2017, the Metro Development and Housing Agency sold 2.76 acres south of Broadway at the Rolling Mill Hill development. Vote Smart provides free, unbiased, in-depth information about current officials, candidates, issues, legislation, and voting. I will be especially focused on reducing equity gaps in student outcomes. Here are some of my ideas on how to make Nashville a city that truly works for everyone: Economic Development through Human Capital. .election_results_text { With your help and support, we can create a city that works for everyone and that moves everyone. width: 35px !important; Ive consistently favored the good management approach over a sizable property tax increase. I will end the giveaway culture that is more focused on enriching a small elite than serving our entire city. padding-left: 0; In 2019, Cooper vetoed the legislature's two-year budget, citing the lack of Medicaid expansion and adequate raises for public school teachers, leading to a months-long political stalemate. As mayor, I will support current school leadership and help the school board recruit a great candidate for Director of Schools. padding-left: 10px; It is clear that access to affordable housing is a concern across the city, as is transportation, public safety, and education. They encourage people to get out, exercise, and know their neighborhoods. Policing is a difficult and noble profession. .results_row { Under the current system, its hard for people who need help to get it. Mayor Brileys current budget proposal amazingly does not include any new funds for the Barnes Fund, certainly not $5 million a year. City hall has sold land with its right hand and awarded it away with its left. Many people and organizations are playing a role in connecting residents to opportunities. MDHA is one of Metros least transparent agencies, and not always in alignment with our needs today. font-weight: bold; Because all students from all neighborhoods need to have access to high-quality educational experiences, I will be especially focused on reducing equity gaps in student outcomes. What would you like to see Metro do to improve your experience moving throughout the county? .votebox-results-metadata { The Mayor and administration should work with the Metro Council, not against them. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { Cooper assumed office on September 28, 2019. Middle class residents need options too. Metro agreed to give $15.2 million to the developers of Nashville Yards, the future home of Amazon. Building a safer community requires setting goals. The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Nashville on August 1, 2019. Over 375 businesses are connected to high schools through the Academies program. Metro has picked up some bad financial habits in recent years. Lobbying & Government. Economic and Community Development: Last year, we had nearly twice the number of 13-year-olds charged with violent crimes than in the year before. display: inline; font-size: 1.25em; I have always prioritized green space in my real estate development work because I know how critical it is for a citys health and the health of future generations. .inner_percentage.Green { I invite you to share what youd like to see moving forward so we can continue this discussion. John Cooper completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Keeping people safe is the first job of government. Lets stop placing bus stops in ditches and instead create covered, well-lit stops where people can wait safely and comfortably. } It is important to note that the Mayors Office had long had access to traffic stop data that revealed racial imbalances. Though Mayor Briley disagrees, Nashville is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. width: 250px; background-color: #f9f9f9; In my administration, Parks will play a central and valued role in helping Nashville continue to be and become more of the city we all want it to be. But under the Briley administration, instead of looking to turn surplus public land into green space, the mayor has attempted to sell off property to private developers to cover revenue shortfalls. As mayor, I will set clear goals for expanding park access, identify new ways to support expansion and programming, and put parks at the center of the citys health and wellness efforts. He claims. Back in 2014, Metro Public Works took the time to identify the fifty most dangerous crossings for pedestrians in our city. Ron DeSantis and state education officials exceeded their authority by imposing the . Increase Transparency. There were good elements in last years plan and we largely know what needs to be done. } Private developers, not the public, were the winners. This is a problem. Instead of listening to these criticisms and developing a new plan, Mayor Briley has announced that if he is reelected there will be no plan in the next four years. Elections in 2023 | The gist of the article is suggesting that christian music (referred to as CCM-Christian . position: relative; 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. font-size: .9em; Id like to hear your thoughts and ideas. That requires targeted investments in neighborhoods that havent seen meaningful investment in generations. $250 million, one-third of the total, comes from imaginary private-sector philanthropy. This is imaginary budgeting. I will collaborate with Metro Council to craft real solutions to our challenges. 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. Its located across from what will be the amazing new federal courthouse and what will be a glamorous part of town. These are my ideas. Thats a good thing. font-weight: bold; However, his one-page proposal is completely inadequate. That means ending the culture of secrecy, evasiveness, and insider dealing that have taken root at city hall. My transportation plan will include funding for sidewalks because we cant have an effective transportation system without them. Cars drive too fast in our neighborhoods. John R. Cooper (born 1947), is a Republican politician from Jonesboro, Arkansas. vertical-align: top; Without a course adjustment, we risk leaving our neighbors further behind. With your help and support, we can create a city that works for everyone. It will include clear rules to regulate the use and supervision of outside consultants. width: 250px; Expand parks programming and invest in our youth. font-size: 16px; 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. .results_row td { overflow-y: hidden; John L. Cooper (photo by @marynikkel insta) An article was written for CNN entitled "Why Christian Music's biggest stars refuse to change their tune for the Trump era" that I think deserves a response. It did not act on that data. One was the lack of details. .electionsectionheading { } Nashville cant wait five years for solutions to our traffic and transportation problems. Here are some of my ideas. 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. We must prioritize the recruitment of officers who reflect the diversity of the community they serve. I and many others objected to this proposal. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Better management of taxpayer money will free up resources for priorities like education and infrastructure. Setting goals begins with listening. Political parties originated in their modern form in Europe and the United States in the 19th century, along with the electoral and parliamentary systems, whose development reflects the evolution of parties. } 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. Creating more pocket parks would be one way to accomplish this goal. In the past couple of months, this administration has talked a lot about its affordable housing plan. Having access to secure housing allows families and neighborhoods to thrive. Mayor Briley has failed to provide that on issue after issue, notably on the community oversight board which he both opposed and supported. Metro has now significantly reduced traffic stops following the Policing Projects report in November 2018; however, we should have changed course much earlier at least after the Gideons Army report in 2016. } Nashville needs to remain a great place to live, not just a great city to visit. That was a mistake, but this mayor hasnt learned the right lessons from it. I began the process for recapturing some of this revenue to cover costs downtown, but more needs to be done. padding-top: 8px; position: absolute; The next iteration also had serious problems. I said at the time that Nashville had become a swan and that Metro needed to raise our expectations for developers. Ill put taxpayers first when it comes to negotiating development deals. He won a special election to fill a partial term in the Arkansas Senate in 2014, and was reelected in 2016. This is an exaggeration. My business background makes me uniquely situated to take on this challenge. Fiscal Accountability: TENNESSEE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: COOPER, JOHN F. MR. OAKLAND, CA 94611: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA/RESEARCH C: $200: 08/19/2008: P: NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL . 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. The Legislature is expected to make policy decisions. All 41 metro council seatsincluding the office of vice mayorwere up for election. John Cooper (born October 15, 1956) is an American businessman who is the mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. letter-spacing: .03em; line-height: 1.5em; width: 50%; Tourism is an important part of our citys economy and identity, but it is time for the tourist economy to stand on its own two feet. background-color: green; Develop a new transportation plan within the first year. Metro already allocates $10 million per year to the Barnes Fund. margin-bottom:0px; I will do the math and negotiate good deals for this city. Driving the news: Cooper had more than $1 million in his campaign coffers and was well-positioned to win against a primary challenge from his left in Tennessee's 5th congressional district, which represents Davidson, Dickson, and Cheatham counties.