Mayor O'Connell has a plan for Nashville. Why isn't feeding everyone included?
Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree, or click on this link to fill out the form. We welcome diverse viewpoints.
Re: Mayor outlines 'challenging' budget recommendations in State of Metro, May 1.
There is one thing noticeably absent in the Mayor's agenda for Nashville.
This city has struggled with food apartheid, measured and mapped by Dr. Padgett decades ago. It still has not been resolved in 2025, and so the 'It City' continues to strive for access to healthful, culturally-appropriate foods.
More: Two decades after a landmark study, food insecurity in North Nashville persists
Food insecurity rates will continue to increase as the federal government cuts SNAP and USDA grants. Food insecurity will further increase as the state government cuts school meals and summer meals and fails to pass grocery tax relief.
And so, it is left to this metropolitan government to address the systemic inequities of our food system to feed Nashvillians.
Metro funded FeedBack Nashville, a year-long study of Nashville's food system, from agriculture, to access, to disposal. But the city has not shared the study's results. Nor has Metro taken any action to address the problems or implement the solutions found in the study.
Opinion: As a nurse in rural Tennessee, I know how food deserts harm residents
I urge the Mayor and the Council to consider and address the many implications of Nashville's broken food system each time they talk about the state of our city. I urge them to follow up on the investment made in FeedBack Nashville. And I urge them to set aside funding for further food systems work in the new budget.
People cannot work without food.
Children cannot learn without food.
Nashville cannot thrive without a just food system.
Jeannie Hunter, Madison 37115
Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mayor O'Connell should fix Nashville's broken food system | Letters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Which states are looking to ban soda, snack purchases for SNAP recipients?
(NEXSTAR) – On May 19, Nebraska became the first state in the country to obtain a waiver from the USDA to ban residents from purchasing sugary drinks with benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). By the end of the week, the USDA had granted similar exemptions for Iowa and Indiana. Not all waivers were seeking the same restrictions, however. Nebraska's waiver will effectively prohibit the purchases of soda and energy drinks with SNAP benefits. Iowa's will ban nearly all 'taxable' food items, as defined by Iowa law. And in Illinois, SNAP recipients won't be able to buy soda or candy under the new restrictions. The benefits or consequences of such restrictions have yet to be seen, as they won't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2026. But governors in a handful of other states have already submitted requests for their own SNAP waivers, with the intention of restricting certain foods or drinks — or, in a few cases, easing restrictions — within their own food-assistance programs. In April, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) submitted a waiver seeking permission to exclude 'soft drinks and candy' from permitted SNAP purchases. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also filed for waivers in May, requesting exemptions to ban 'soft drinks and candy' and 'sweetened drinks and candy,' respectively. And making its way through the Utah state legislature is a bill seeking to restrict soft drink purchases under SNAP. West Virginia Gov. Patrick West Morrisey, meanwhile, has submitted a waiver to request that soda is 'no longer an entitlement' to those receiving assistance. But he also indicated that he was asking to expand access to hot foods — which are generally not permitted to be purchased with SNAP benefits. Joining him in these efforts is Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), whose waiver seeks to make sweetened beverages unavailable for purchase with food stamps, but 'permit SNAP participants to buy a full range of hot prepared foods from grocery stores, including rotisserie chickens,' a representative for the Colorado Department of Human Services confirmed to Nexstar. It's likely that many of these requests will ultimately be approved (in their current form or otherwise) by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who approved Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana's requests. Rollins, like many of the Republican governors who supported the idea of these waivers, credited President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (and his 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative) with her decisions. 'President Trump has given our nation a once in a generation opportunity to change the health trajectory for our entire country,' Rollins, who was sworn in this past February, was quoted as saying in a press release last Friday. 'I look forward to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of America,' she said. In her statement, Rollins had also included Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) among a list of governors who 'stepped up' to request a waiver. But Kelly, who was initially supportive of a waiver, has since retracted her support for any state-mandated restrictions to SNAP purchases. Kelly ultimately vetoed a bill approving a waiver request, claiming the SNAP restrictions would hurt businesses. She also said the definition of allowable foods was 'nonsensical,' as it allegedly allowed the purchases of candy bars but not protein bars or trail mix. 'I support the idea that Kansans should eat healthier. However, changes to the SNAP food assistance program should be made at the federal level, not on a patchwork, state-by-state basis,' Kelly said. Anti-hunger advocates have criticized the waivers, too, saying they add costs, boost administrative burdens, and increase stigma for people already facing food insecurity. Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the nonprofit advocacy group Food Research & Action Center, had argued that Nebraska's waiver 'ignores decades of evidence showing that incentive-based approaches — not punitive restrictions — are the most effective, dignified path to improving nutrition and reducing hunger.' Until this month, the USDA had also rejected the waivers, saying there were no clear standards to define certain foods as good or bad. In addition, the agency had said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly, and would not necessarily change recipients' food purchases or reduce health problems such as obesity. Under Rollins, though, the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) now appears much more willing to approve — and even refine — the waivers. 'FNS continues to collaborate extensively with each state on their proposals, which includes holding near daily technical assistance calls with each submitting state,' a spokesperson for the USDA told Nexstar. 'There is no perfect timeline as each State is approaching this differently.' The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Letters: Preserve America's rule of law; Thompson's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' vote not surprising
Yesterday, my grandson asked me if we lived in a corrupt country. I replied that national corruption is tracked independently by Every year, top 'honest' nations and regions are Scandinavia, the UK, Singapore and most European countries. The U.S. is up there, too. So far. At the bottom, in Russia, you get 'telephone justice.' If you go to court, judges are assigned. They negotiate the outcome in advance based on your wealth, connections and who's paid what to whom. Calls are made. Then, a quick trial and your sentence. Here in the U.S., what I consider 'the body' remains pretty firm. I respect cops, zoning officials and the law — more importantly, I trust them. But 'the head' is rotten. The corruption of a president defying everyone that stands between him and what he wants (a big parade, a big jet) is taking a toll. As they say, 'the fish rots from the head.' Federal and state judges, so far, have defended our Constitution, but find it harder every week as corruption is ignored or winked at. What can you, as one person, do? Consider for a moment that we're a basically good and honest country. Call or email Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, or your Congressperson, today. Tell them that we're still respected as a country of laws, and we want to stay that way. Help preserve America's rule of law, Mr. or Ms. Representative. Follow the Constitution. Don't let the rot proceed. Randolph Hudson, State College No one in PA-15 should be surprised to learn that GT voted for Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' No one who has followed GT's voting record should be surprised to learn that, once again, he voted against the best interests of his constituents. No one should be surprised to learn that, once again, he voted in his own self-interests (remaining in the good graces of the GOP) instead of for what's best for PA-15. I wonder if Republican voters will be surprised when they, their family members and/or neighbors lose SNAP and health care benefits — or when their small rural health care centers close and they must travel hours for competent care. Certainly, some of the 8.6 million losing health care and 3 million losing SNAP benefits are in PA-15. How many of them voted for GT, I wonder. Will they be surprised, or care, when the national debt increases again, this time by $3.8 trillion over 10 years — and their children and grandchildren are burdened with the debt? Will they be surprised to learn that the rich are getting richer on the backs of the poor? If the bill were so beautiful, why was it passed under the cover of darkness? GT will tout the few benefits in the bill; no tax on tips or overtime among them, but the overwhelming burden will fall on his constituents while the rich continue to laugh all the way to the bank — or to their yachts and vacation homes. Wake up, PA-15! Norita Chyle, State College Despite what Donald Trump thinks, this is a great country. And we've accomplished great things while being positive and uplifting about it. We built an education system that is the envy of the world. Public K-12 education and our colleges and world-class research universities provide a better life for all. We joined the freedom-loving international community to create alliances to check the spread of totalitarianism and its Soviet sponsor. We launched a space program that reaches for the stars while providing benefits for all on Earth. We funded science and the arts. We created a social safety net to provide health care and basic services for millions of our people. We supported freedom of the press and freedom to criticize our leaders without fear. We followed our Constitution, accepted rule of law, and viewed an independent judiciary as fundamental. And we weren't vindictive bullies when doing any of this. Donald Trump and his flag-waving Republican toadies are determined to take this country down rather than build us up. They want to destroy the very things that pushed us toward greatness. It's difficult to name any actions Trump and today's Republicans have taken to bring us together, build us up, support all our people, stand with our allies, or promote democracy. Government by slogan doesn't make us great. We'll be great again when Trump and the MAGA Republicans are gone, and we have a chance to recover from the damage they have done. Bob Potter, Boalsburg
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Mount Rushmore of things people want to name after Trump
A version of this story appeared in CNN's What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Sadly for President Donald Trump's most ardent fans, there's probably no room left on Mount Rushmore. There's also a law on the books since 1866 that forbids placing the likeness of a living person on US currency. But those obstacles have not stopped members of Congress from introducing legislation to honor their leader larger-than-life in stone and on legal tender. There are proposals to place Trump on the $100 bill, perhaps replacing Benjamin Franklin, or on an as-yet unprinted $250 bill. None of these ideas seem likely to become law, but they are emblematic of a trend of similar efforts to flatter the president. Another idea formalized in an official legislative proposal would withhold funds from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, WMATA, until it is renamed 'WMAGA.' DC's Metrorail commuter train, better known as the Metro, would be renamed the 'Trump Train.' Sometimes, just saying MAGA doesn't go far enough. While nobody should expect to get on the Trump Train near the White House any time soon, there's a real possibility every new baby could get a Trump Account. An early draft of the megabill on Capitol Hill riffed on Democratic proposals to give each American baby some seed money at birth. At first, the plan was to call this money 'MAGA Accounts.' The name was changed to 'Trump Accounts' in the version that passed the House. We'll see if the idea makes it through the Senate. The president will also receive a big birthday bash at taxpayer expense. There will be a spectacular display of US military might to honor the US Army's 250th birthday and Flag Day, which happen to coincide with Trump's birthday on June 14. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday,' Trump told NBC News in a recent interview. 'Somebody put it together.' Another proposal in Congress would make Trump's birthday (and Flag Day) a national holiday. There may also be a fighter jet whose name nods at Trump's presidency. 'It'll be known as the F-47. The generals picked a title. And it's a beautiful number. F-47,' Trump said during an appearance in the Oval Office announcing the new contract for Boeing to build a sixth-generation fighter. Trump, in his second term, is the 47th president. And before you ask, no, the F-14 Tomcat did not memorialize 14th US President Franklin Pierce any more than the F-16 Fighting Falcon memorialized Abraham Lincoln. There is at least a conversation in conservative media outlets about placing Trump on Mount Rushmore, the South Dakota rock face that honors George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln. 'A lot of people wonder: Will we ever see President Trump's face on Mount Rushmore? What do you think?' Trump's daughter-in-law, the Fox News host and former RNC official Lara Trump, asked Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. 'Well, they certainly have room for it there,' Burgum said, despite evidence to the contrary. The National Park Service has worked with an engineering firm in past decades to explore the structural integrity of the rock face, and there is no more carvable space, a spokesperson told the Argus Leader in 2020. And the monument is a completed work of art by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum. During Trump's first term, then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem gave him a $1,100 bust of Mount Rushmore featuring his face, knowing he'd appreciate the gesture. She's now his homeland security secretary. Trump's eponymous company is pursuing golf, hotel and residential projects in far-flung locations – the Middle East, Indonesia and India. And the company that runs his social media platform bears his initials as its stock ticker. One place that features the faces of living people on its currency is the United Kingdom, which honors its king in that way. But Trump already does have a currency of sorts – a memecoin, which has made a few people a lot of money, including Trump. He celebrated its top investors in a controversial 'personal time' event at his Trump-branded golf course earlier this month. Another proposal on Capitol Hill would rename Dulles Airport for Trump, which would give the DC region its second airport named for a Republican. It was President Bill Clinton who signed the bipartisan legislation giving Ronald Reagan's name to Washington National Airport in 1998. The move was controversial, but ultimately bipartisan. From CNN's report at the time: The Reagan Legacy Project of the Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative group, launched the airport campaign last year as part of a wider effort to put his name on buildings and his face on Mount Rushmore… Some Democrats offered to name practically anything else for Reagan except that airport, suggesting the Pentagon or Dulles International Airport. Others suggested Reagan had been honored enough with a new office building and a new Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, both of which carry his name. It can take a long, coordinated campaign to get something like an airport named for someone. Reagan was still alive at the time, but suffering from Alzheimer's, and a full 10 years out of office. Will there still be energy to name things for Trump 10 years from now?
