Metro Council members revive Black Caucus
Why it matters: The Black Caucus "recognizes that there are issues unique to Black Nashvillians that require a more targeted focus," according to the group's press release.
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Axios
25-07-2025
- Axios
Metro faces major shakeup as city waits for Supreme Court ruling in council size lawsuit
Metro leaders are one loss at the Tennessee Supreme Court away from having to completely remake Nashville's city government. The big picture: The size of the Metro Council would be reduced from its current 40 members to no more than 20 under a state law that has been the subject of a contentious two-year legal battle. Metro wants the Supreme Court to overturn a lower appeal's court's ruling upholding the law. The intrigue: The political reality around the court — all five members were appointed by Republican governors — makes the city's chances of a legal victory seem unlikely. It's possible the Supreme Court doesn't even take up the case. Between the lines: Since its formation in 1963, the Metro system of government favored the executive branch. With an unwieldy 40 members, legislative powers were watered down, and the mayor enjoyed significantly more control. Slashing the council in half could serve as a rebalancing. Flashback: In 2023, Republicans in the legislature passed a law capping the size of Metro Councils across the state at 20 members. Nashville's is the only such government in Tennessee with a council larger than 20, and some critics viewed the measure as retribution for its Metro Council refusing to bid on hosting the Republican National Convention in 2024. After a lower court panel ruled the law unconstitutional, the state won at the appeals court level and the law was upheld. State of play: City leaders insist they are not actively working on the details of reducing the council, but the uncertainty of the Supreme Court even taking up the case means behind-the-scenes conversations must begin. "For a matter of this complexity and potential magnitude, without presuming any particular outcome (in the legal challenge), as president of the Metro Council, it would be irresponsible of me not to be thinking through various scenarios and contingencies," Vice Mayor Angie Henderson tells Axios. "This moment requires thoughtfulness and prudence as we await the response of the Tennessee Supreme Court." What he's saying:"If we have to face the reality of a smaller council, there will be multiple voices in the room, including the Planning Department, the mayor, the vice mayor and the council itself," Metro legal director Wally Dietz tells Axios. "It's a very complicated legal process inside Metro. But, we're not there yet." What we're watching: Here are the monumental logistical questions facing Metro leaders should the appeal to the Supreme Court fail. How many at-large members The current council consists of five at-large seats representing the entire county and 35 district seats representing smaller sections of town. If the council is reduced to 20, city leaders will have to determine how many at-large seats should remain. Some council members want to keep five at-large seats, while others have mentioned three or two. There figures to be some members who push for eliminating the at-large roles altogether and forming a council with 20 district seats. Staffing and funding The most time-consuming part of a district council member's job is dealing with zoning applications and constituent services. If the council shrinks, meetings, texts and emails double. That could lead to needing more staff and paying the council members higher salaries. Increasing the pay creates the possibility of the council being effectively a full-time job, compared to the part-time job it is for most members now. How to draw the district lines Metro already goes through redistricting every decade, and typically the lines are drawn so that incumbent members don't have to run against each other in the next election. It will be impossible to maintain that approach with just 20 seats. It could lead to intriguing match-ups on the ballot in 2027. A guiding principle in drawing the lines will be maintaining the percentage of minority representatives on the council. Flashback: In 2023, the Planning Department released proposed maps for a 20-person counci l. The maps were moot because Metro won the initial court challenge and the law was struck down. Revisiting the old maps is a guide to what the new council districts could look like. All eyes on 2027 If the council is cut in half, as many anticipate, it will create a political battle royale for the city in 2027. In the last election two years ago, business groups faced off against progressive activist organizations in backing different candidates in Metro Council races. Overall, the progressive groups won that battle, flexing their grassroots organizing strength to overcome the fundraising advantage of the pro-business organizations. The result has been a council skeptical of increasing policing funding for initiatives like license plate readers, as well as increased scrutiny on economic development measures.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Louisiana Bond Commission OKs 3 East Baton Rouge tax plan ballot measures
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Baton Rouge mayor's office announced that the Louisiana State Bond Commission approved three ballot measures that are part of his tax plan. In May, the Metro Council approved a majority of Mayor-President Sid Edwards' Thrive EBR plan to rededicate taxes. Edwards' office said the plan proposes the renewal and rededication of portions of existing millages from the library system, Council on Aging and Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control. The plan aims to address the budget while maintaining critical services and reducing debt without increasing taxes. 'I'm pleased the State Bond Commission approved our request,' Edwards said. 'Now it's up to the voters to decide. Thrive EBR is a smart way to help fund our infrastructure and pay down debt at no additional cost to taxpayers.' Voters will see three ballot measures in the election set for Nov. 15. East Baton Rouge mayor announces EMS, fire department merger Latest News Puerto Rico bans gender-affirming care for trans people under 21 Airfare by algorithm: Delta leans into AI pricing — but is it a good thing? Road closures, high water reported in Baton Rouge, surrounding areas Republicans to tee up House vote on Epstein resolution White House faces bipartisan pressure to release Epstein documents Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Politico
03-07-2025
- Politico
California Republicans help clinch megabill
DRIVING THE DAY: If your inbox exploded this afternoon, it was the sound of the House passing Donald Trump's megabill. Vulnerable California Republicans who helped push the legislation across the finish line were facing enormous pressure from the president and his allies. But it was a perilous vote. Central Valley Rep. David Valadao and Orange County Rep. Young Kim ultimately supported the domestic spending package in spite of deeper Senate Medicaid reductions they criticized in a letter to Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson just last week. Now, they will confront a barrage of attacks from Democrats. More than 60 percent of Valadao's constituents are recipients of Medi-Cal, the state's version of the federal health care program for the poorest Americans. Valadao said in a statement that the vote was 'not an easy decision for me.' While he still has concerns about some of the Medicaid changes, he was heartened to see money for rural hospitals included in the bill. 'Ultimately, I voted for this bill because it does preserve the Medicaid program for its intended recipients — children, pregnant women, the disabled, and elderly,' he said. FUNDS LACKING: Five years after Gov. Gavin Newsom created a task force to study reparations, California Democrats still can't get an agency to administer programs off the ground. The latest setback came this week, with lawmakers and Newsom unwilling to put money behind a state office needed to power programs for descendants of slaves — a project that's become mired in deficit woes and shifting politics. The state budget Newsom signed did not contain funding to stand up the agency. Caucus Chair Akilah Weber Pierson's bill establishing the office continues to move through the Capitol, although without funding it will be vulnerable to a veto even if it clears the Legislature. Caucus members and their allies insist they've made progress enacting hundreds of recommendations to address discrimination and create a more equitable state. But Black lawmakers have struggled to advance foundational legislation that requires ongoing state dollars, especially as leaders just spent most of the year closing a $12 billion spending gap. They're also up against a backlash to the racial justice movement that took hold five years ago, as well as a presidential administration trying to rid the country of DEI initiatives. Last year, a proposal to stand up a reparations agency stalled on the final day of session amid infighting in the Black Caucus and last-minute amendments from Newsom. This year's attempt is now on shaky ground, hinging on a longshot effort to fund it. Los Angeles Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, caucus vice chair, acknowledged these difficulties during an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing this week. 'If anything is to get established, it's probably going to take some incredible lifting from the Black Caucus,' he said. 'We're not talking about one-time money. We're talking about ongoing money during a deficit.' The budget did include the $12 million state leaders had set aside for reparations last year. Half of that will go to a California State University study determining how people will prove they're descendants of slaves, and the rest will fund an educational campaign about reparations administered by the Tides Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that supports progressive social causes. Riverside Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a caucus member, said the group 'always knew this was going to be a long process.' 'We know we're going to get it done,' Jackson said of the agency. 'The question is when? And so every year we'll reintroduce it, because you never know what the budget situation is going to be.' Despite the setbacks, Jackson and task force member Lisa Holder framed lawmakers' progress as significant, given the state of the reparations movement nationally. 'Since emancipation, African Americans have been calling on these governments to put money toward harm repair, reparations,' Holder told Playbook in an interview before the budget was finalized. 'This is the first time that a state has put $12 million just to create a pathway for legislation.' Jackson called California's movement 'the only game in town in the nation,' a situation underlined in May, when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vetoed a bill that would've created a similar reparations task force in his state. Illinois and New York previously passed bills to study reparations. But some reparations supporters are tired of studies. One faction has gone as far as opposing Black Caucus bills, arguing they are too incremental and don't advance their cause. Bryan said he fears the agency money won't come through because of such 'distractions,' which offer an 'easy out to not do anything budgetarily because folks are confused by spectacles like this.' 'It's important for the governor to put dollars into this effort,' he said. 'And it's important for the state to put efforts [into] this. And I'm hoping there's future budget trailer bills coming down the line that include priorities for Black Californians.' IT'S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY DEPORTATION DEBATE: State senators today debated for hours over a resolution condemning ICE raids and the president's troop deployment in response to Los Angeles deportation protests. Democrats spoke about how they had been personally affected by ICE arrests, while Republicans said federal action was the result of California policies making it harder for immigration officials to target criminals. But with Democrats in charge in Sacramento, the resolution passed. Baldwin Park state Sen. Susan Rubio said she carries her passport with her because she's afraid of being deported. San Fernando Valley state Sen. Caroline Menjivar said immigration officials detained the father of one of her staffers, even though he's a citizen. 'What is it?' she asked. 'It's that I'm too brown. You're too brown. Your skin is not pale enough. That's what it is. That's what it comes down to.' As we reported last week, the Latino and AAPI caucuses are pushing to fast-track a slate of immigration bills responding to the raids. Latino Caucus Chair Lena Gonzalez told Playbook today she hopes to get them through the Legislature before lawmakers go on a month-long summer recess starting July 18. She said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and the governor are supportive of the effort. 'We're just trying to figure out what timing, but the sooner the better,' Gonzalez said. 'We're in negotiations right now about that, but we want to get these done.' IN OTHER NEWS NEWSOM HITS THE TRAIL: The governor is headed to South Carolina next week to meet with natural disaster victims, touching down in an early primary state ahead of a likely run for president in 2028, our Jacob Wendler reports. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced the trip today, saying Newsom will 'speak to the urgent need for federal support and investment' in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires. Newsom traveled to the state in January 2024 to stump for then-President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to the presidential election. He received some early interest, but also doubts about his liberal reputation, POLITICO reported at the time. The state has held a key role in recent nominating contests as the first state in the South to vote. The Democratic National Committee — under Biden — elevated it to be the first sanctioned primary contest in 2024. CALLING STRIKES: State Attorney General Rob Bonta released his long-awaited opinion on fantasy sports betting today, declaring that online platforms operating in California are in violation of a state law that bans betting on the outcome of sporting events. Bonta wrote that daily sports fantasy sites, which allow gambling based on the real-world performance of individual athletes, are merely a 'modern variation' of sports betting. 'California law prohibits the operation of daily fantasy sports games with players physically located within California, regardless of where the operators and associated technology are located,' Bonta concluded. It's unclear what enforcement action Bonta's office might take as a result. In a statement, the state Department of Justice said it 'expects companies to come into compliance with the law.' But Newsom's office was quick to say he disagrees with Bonta's conclusion — a rare split between the state's Democratic governor and its top prosecutor. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, noted that the attorney general issued the opinion 'in his independent capacity.' 'While the Governor does not agree with the outcome, he welcomes a constructive path forward in collaboration with all stakeholders,' Crofts-Pelayo said in a statement. Bonta's opinion is a response to a request from Republican state lawmakers, who asked him to evaluate the legality of online fantasy sports. Tribal communities — which spent tens of millions of dollars to defeat a 2022 measure to legalize sports gambling — also pushed for the opinion. Tribal casinos want to block the fantasy industry's growth, and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association on Friday urged Bonta to enforce his opinion by cracking down on sports betting platforms. 'Untold millions if not billions have been illegally wagered over the past decade,' CNIGA Chairman James Siva said in a statement. 'Where is the enforcement? Where is the accountability?' Fantasy sports platform operators argue that their sites shouldn't be considered traditional sports wagering because selecting players to create a fictional roster of athletes is a game of skill, not chance. JT Foley, executive director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, said the industry agrees with Newsom that 'AG Bonta got it wrong.' 'We are hopeful the attorney general heeds the governor's call to find a constructive solution that preserves the games that California sports fans love,' Foley said in a statement. — Dustin Gardiner WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — Some communities in the Los Angeles region have been canceling Fourth of July plans amid heightened fears and anger following recent immigration raids at farms and businesses in the city. (New York Times) — Two of the largest school districts in and around the Fresno region expect to lose a combined $9.3 million following the Trump administration's decision to withhold billions of dollars that Congress allocated to K-12 schools in the country. (Fresno Bee) — The El Rancho Unified School District released a video allegedly showing ICE and Border Patrol agents urinating at a school campus in Pico Rivera. (ABC 7) AROUND THE STATE — Federal cleanup crews from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires improperly sent truckloads of waste tainted with asbestos to nonhazardous landfills, state and local records show. (Los Angeles Times) — A federal judge in San Diego struck down two state laws that effectively banned most non-California residents from carrying guns in the state. (San Diego Union-Tribune) — Palmdale Mayor Richard J. Loa was stripped of his title and responsibilities pending an investigation into 'confidential allegations.' (KTLA 5) — compiled by Juliann Ventura
