Latest news with #Mayor'sOffice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Metro Nashville intends to award up to 25 pallet shelters to community partners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Nashville plans to distribute pallet shelters for use as temporary housing to community partners. On Wednesday, the Mayor's Office published a request for proposals from community partners and intends to distribute up to 25 pallet shelter units to community-based organizations. Those pallet shelters can then be used as temporary housing and are meant to offer safe, private spaces for people who cannot easily access group shelters. MARCH | VIDEO: Federal funding cuts put housing pods plan in jeopardy According to the request for proposals, the pallet shelters are equipped with beds, LED lighting and locking doors as well as key safety features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These pallet shelters have a history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nashville purchased housing pods for those who needed homes. In 2023, Metro Councilmember Erin Evans passed a resolution calling for the pods to be used as transitional housing. The state ultimately granted Nashville permission last October. 'Eliminating the barriers to use our pallet shelters as a temporary housing option has been a collaborative effort across many Metro stakeholders including Metro Department of Public Health, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Emergency Management and Metro Codes,' Evans said. 'I appreciate Mayor O'Connell's support in offering these shelters to community organizations with this [request for proposals].' In February, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced that two people who had been working on the plan were laid off due to federal funding cuts. Despite that announcement, the Mayor's Office officially opened the call for proposals this week. 'These shelters are temporary housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors who need to be housed and connected with supportive services,' O'Connell said. 'I'm grateful for the work of the working group that has facilitated the repurposing of these shelters from infectious disease aids to temporary emergency housing options.' OCTOBER 2024 | State approves for COVID-19 response pods to be used as transitional housing in Nashville Metro is seeking proposals from nonprofits and other community partners that can make sure the pallet shelters are properly installed and maintained as well as partners who can help provide residents with services like toilet and shower facilities. Also included in the scope of work is the coordination of on-site support services and reporting shelter use information. 'We are eager to deploy the pallet shelters,' April Calvin, Director of the Office of Homeless Services, said. 'It's going to take all creative solutions to address the need.' According to the request for proposals, a concept paper is due by June 4 and the full proposal is due by noon on June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested after police say he threatened Salt Lake City mayor after city's flag change
A Farmington man was arrested Tuesday after police say he made online threats against Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and then showed up at Salt Lake City Hall after being questioned about it. Jason Guy Rogers, 44, was arrested for investigation of electronic communication harassment and stalking, per a jail report. He was booked into the Davis County Jail but has since been released, according to jail records. 'The mayor's office is monitoring the situation and appreciates the swift and professional investigation by the Salt Lake City and Farmington police departments,' Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesman for the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, said in a statement to The investigation began shortly after May 6, when Mendenhall proposed three new city flag designs to bypass a new state law that directs which types of flags government entities can fly. The new flags use the sego lily from the primary city flag on new flags representing the LGBTQ communities and Juneteenth celebrations. Members of the Salt Lake City Council quickly adopted the measure, codifying the change on the eve of HB77 going into law, which would have otherwise barred the city from flying all three flags. Salt Lake City police began a 'coordinated investigation' with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, Farmington Police Department, Davis County District Attorney's Office and Statewide Information and Analysis Center after coming across 'alleged threats' made against Mendenhall, said Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for the Salt Lake City Police Department. The posts, which were first made on the social media platform X on May 9, were sent by an account traced back to Rogers, Farmington police wrote in an affidavit. 'When you see her and her family, end them immediately. Utah will rise up,' one of the posts read, along with a blood drop and a face with crossed-out eyes emojis. Other posts also referenced threats, police wrote in the report. While the mayor last posted on X in December, police said she still has 'direct access to see' messages on the account. The police report says a Farmington officer contacted Rogers on Tuesday, and Rogers said he 'did make comments about being upset over the changing of the flag proposal.' 'However, he denied making any comments that would indicate he threatened anybody. He told me he believed his account must have been 'hacked' when those specific comments were made,' the report states. An hour later, the account linked to Rogers responded 'time for action' to another post from the mayor's account, the report states. Farmington police said that they were informed a truck identified as Rogers' vehicle through a license plate-reader system had pulled up to the mayor's 'place of work.' The driver attempted to enter the building through its locked side doors before trying to enter through the main entrance. 'Security personnel made eye contact with (the man) from inside; (he) turned around and walked to his truck. He then drove from the area,' the report stated. The Salt Lake City Mayor's Office confirmed to that the man was spotted by Salt Lake City police and by city security staff, both of whom are stationed at the Salt Lake City-County Building. Officials said the incident occurred before the Salt Lake City Council convened Tuesday afternoon for meetings often attended by the mayor. Salt Lake City's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team located Rogers and arrested him shortly after, Weisberg said. He was transferred to Farmington police, who booked him into Davis County Jail. 'We're grateful to our officers, detectives, victim advocates and law enforcement partners for their support and collaboration as this case developed,' he said in a statement, adding that the incident remains under investigation. Wittenberg said the mayor's office will not release 'any additional information' about the case 'out of respect for the investigative and judicial processes.' It wasn't immediately clear if Rogers had obtained legal representation.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago mayor faces DOJ probe over allegations of racial hiring practices
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — The City of Chicago is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for potentially racially based hiring practices. On Sunday, Mayor Brandon Johnson made remarks at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, saying, 'It goes back to what Reverend Jackson would always share with me. Our people hire our people. And so one of the ways in which we're ensuring – let me back up for a second. Because there are some detractors that will push back on me and say 'the only thing the Mayor talks about is the hiring of black people.' No. What I'm saying is when you hire our people, we always look our for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet.' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter to the Mayor's Office, highlighting Johnson's remarks about the number of 'Black officials' in city government, in which he said, The deputy mayor is a Black woman… Department of Planning and Development is a Black woman… Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a Black woman… Chief operations officer is a Black man… Budget director is a Black woman… Senior advisor is a Black man.' Dhillon stated in the letter, 'If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.' The Mayor's Office released demographic information showing the breakdown of its office, showing Black 34.3%, White 30.5%, Hispanic 23.8%, and Asian 6.7%. According to , 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez reacted, saying, 'Hearing what he said and seeing this investigation, taking part, unfolding today, I think validates the concerns that many people have that this isn't a mayor for everyone.' He added, 'The mayor has made it possible for Donald Trump to zero in on us, once again, to kick us, once again, and to use that as an excuse to take away money from us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Mirage reschedules shows through Memorial Day weekend
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) – The Brooklyn Mirage, originally set to reopen at the beginning of May, has rescheduled its shows through Memorial Day weekend. The Brooklyn Mirage was scheduled to reopen on May 1 after a massive remodel, according to the venue's website. But the venue has canceled, rescheduled, or relocated all of its shows since May 1. More Local News The venue did not meet city standards for a permanent or temporary structure by its opening day, a spokesperson for the Mayor's Office told PIX11 News. Even still, the venue maintained it was 'show-ready.' 'We want to be clear: the venue is show ready and the New Mirage has been built to exacting safety, structural, mechanical and technical specifications,' organizers said in a post to Instagram on May 1. Now, the Mirage has canceled its Memorial Day weekend events, including a show with The Chainsmokers. As recently as May 8, passersby have posted videos to social media that seemingly show work still being done on the venue. In early May, a spokesperson for the Mayor's Office said the venue will not open until the site is properly permitted and safe. 'We take responsibility for the delay and are working diligently with the City of New York to make sure that we meet all regulations and requirements, so that we can deliver a safe and unforgettable experience for everyone,' the owners said in a post to Instagram. The venue's owners, Avant Gardner, have faced lawsuits alleging the venue was unsafe for various reasons, including multiple claims that concert-goers were assaulted by security at a 2023 event at the venue. Safety at the Brooklyn Mirage also became a focal point in 2023, when two young men went missing near the venue and turned up dead in Newtown Creek. This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani's free SummerStage concert canceled amid pro-Palestine backlash
Another high-profile concert headlined by Kehlani has been canceled amid ongoing backlash over her pro-Palestine views. The five-time Grammy-nominated singer's Central Park show on June 26 was called off by SummerStage organizers, who cited safety and security issues raised by city officials. The event was one of many LGBTQ+ Pride events scheduled around New York City. 'We have been notified by the Mayor's Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues regarding the June 26 Kehlani concert … as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the city for other Pride events during that same time period,' SummerStage announced on social media Monday. Organizers at the nonprofit City Parks Foundation cited concerns 'due to the controversy surrounding Cornell University's decision to cancel Kehlani's concert' late last month. The upstate New York school pulled the plug on the R&B singer performing at its annual spring celebration after complaints that she'd expressed antisemitic sentiments. 'SummerStage is proud to be a platform for artists from around the world to perform and make arts accessible for all New Yorkers in their neighborhood parks,' the statement continued. 'While artists may choose to express their own opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival. SummerStage events are intended to bring together all sectors of the New York City community and we look forward to welcoming more guests throughout the summer.' According to Rolling Stone, NYC First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro wrote a letter to the organization threatening to revoke its license and refer the matter to the police to determine if there was a 'risk to public safety' posed by the event. 'If the foundation does not promptly take steps to ensure public safety, the city reserves all rights and remedies to the foundation's license,' Mastro reportedly wrote. Kehlani previously pushed back at Cornell University branding her views as 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' On April 26, the 30-year-old took to social media and stressed 'for the millionth time' that she's not 'anti-Jew' but is 'anti-genocide.' 'I am anti the actions of the Israeli government,' she said in a video. 'I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I am anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women — that's what I'm anti.' Known as a fearless pro-Palestinian supporter, the singer wore a jacket adorned with kaffiyehs as dancers waved Palestinian flags in her 2024 music video for 'Next 2 U.' The video also included the phrase 'Long Live the Intifada' in its introduction. While the word 'intifada' translates into rebellion or uprising, the Anti-Defamation League has called it a slogan for 'indiscriminate violence against Israel.' Others consider it a cry for liberation and freedom.
