While Nashville’s economy and GDP are thriving, it's becoming increasingly difficult for people who have lived here for generations, people who helped grow the city, to now afford to live in the city they call home. First, we need to prioritize this issue and work to find an efficient pipeline to success. We need to continue investing in the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing. From long-term private and public partnerships, to both incoming and established businesses, our city’s business community, like Amazon currently, can both benefit from and contribute to our city’s resources. We need to work to prioritize resources and permitting for affordable housing developers. Our city needs developers who want to be partners in the growth of our city, not just benefactors. From the Metro Planning Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Codes and Building Safety, Metro Water Services, and the Nashville FIre Department, we need to continue to expand and update our processes so they are equipped to work in symphony together. And we need to continue our efforts to maximize the Property Tax Freeze and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to benefit as many as possible. Our hardest working Nashvillians should all have a safe, comfortable and affordable place to call home.

Throughout my entire adult life I have been a small business owner and a fighter for hardworking small businesses and organized labor. In my professional career, whether for Action for Hospitality, Giving Kitchen or for small businesses, the creative economy, and hospitality workers communities here in Nashville, I have done the work and understand the struggle that hard working individuals face fighting just for business resources, workers rights, a living wage, and simple benefits. The ability to stand together and bargain as a group is a powerful tool that is necessary and should be protected.

In my conversations, the voters have been pretty clear. They believe that effective and efficient leadership is a priority, and it starts with genuine bridge-building. We all lose when we don’t work together, period. I am grateful that the court upheld the rights of Davidson County voters to make decisions for themselves. Our city stands up when it matters, especially when it comes to human rights and democracy. However, we must prioritize rebuilding this damaged relationship. The more time and resources that we spend at profound odds, the less time and resources we have to serve our constituents. The role of government should be to function effectively through practical compromise. Davidson County and the surrounding areas serve as home for more than 2 million of Tennessee’s 7 million residents. We account for more than 52,000 businesses and a record-breaking $9 billion in visitor spending last year. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tennessee is the second fastest economic growth US state. That growth is largely based on Nashville’s contributions to the state of Tennessee. Nashville’s success is a key component of our state’s overall success, and our state legislature should be working to support our city. We need to find a working relationship with the state legislature that benefits Nashville and all Tennesseans.

If we're going to tackle our mobility issues we need more pilots, more innovation, and more smart thinking. All of that starts with long overdue dedicated funding. We are the only city of our size that does not currently have dedicated funding toward mass transit. Our inability to solve our transit issues will continue to, both metaphorically and literally, halt our ability to move forward as a city. We must proactively invest in a transit system that allows connectivity and encourages the mobility of our city's people. From sidewalks, greenways, and bike lanes to more frequent WeGo service, dedicated lanes, more hours of operation and continued investment in neighborhood transit centers like Hillsboro, and upcoming areas like North Nashville, East Bank, and SoBro. The more routes that don't have to go into WeGo Central downtown, the better we're connecting our neighborhoods and making our transit system work for its riders. The time is NOW to get movin'.

Not all neighborhoods are funded and supported equally and that's a problem. When strategic growth is paired with sustainable infrastructure, all Nashvillians can thrive. From oversight of basic city services like recycling and trash pickup to thoughtful zoning/permitting, investing in beautiful parks, libraries, sidewalks and safe streets for your family to enjoy, I am here to work for us. We need to be both civically and fiscally responsible for safe and flourishing neighborhoods with affordable housing, high-quality schools, supporting our unhoused and underserved populations, and putting a viable transit plan into motion that connects us all.

I have so many friends and neighbors that struggle each and every day with securing affordable and reliable childcare and who also lack confidence in sending their children to safe and inspiring public schools. It doesn't need to be this hard. ALL Nashvillians need to have access to a high-quality early childhood education and affordable childcare. We also must continue to find ways to inject more funding to MNPS public schools, dedicated teachers and staff while securing more options for after school programs, internships, and other pathways for our youth to have the best opportunities for a bright future. We are building this city for them so let's make sure that our kids are empowered.