Coalition Opposing Metro Charter Amendment Referendum Unveiled

By Nate Rau, Tennessee Lookout

May 18, 2021

A coalition of business groups, labor groups, faith-based groups and grassroots activist groups announced on Tuesday the formation of a new coalition to oppose the July 27 charter referendum to consider major changes to Metro charter.

In total, 19 groups representing dozens of businesses and organizations expressed their opposition to the charter amendment proposal. The group is called Save Nashville Now.

Nashville attorney and businessman Charles Robert Bone will serve as treasurer for Save Nashville Now, and fundraising activity began in earnest late last week.

The charter amendment proposal, advanced by the group 4 Good Government, would unwind the 2020 property tax increase, make it easier to recall elected officials and make a number of other sweeping changes to how Metro government functions.

In a press release, Save Nashville Now blasted the referendum and said the proposal would result in drastic cuts to city services if it passed.

“This is a very dangerous referendum,” Amanda Kail, president of the Metro Nashville Education Association. “If this passes, our students will see drastic cuts to their schools, including fewer teachers, bigger class sizes, and major cuts to social and emotional supports, educational materials, athletics, school libraries, art and music programs, and career and technical education courses. We must vote no on July 27th.”

Influential left-leaning grassroots groups, including the Equity Alliance and Stand Up Nashville, oppose the referendum, as do faith-based groups including the Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship and Nashville Organizing for Action and Hope.

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce were among the prominent business groups forming Save Nashville Now. The coalition took aim at the funding for the 4 Good Government cause. 4 Good Government is led by Nashville attorney Jim Roberts, who did not respond to Tennessee Lookout questions about how the effort has been funded to this point.

Roberts tried to force a referendum in 2020, and said at the time he received funding from Americans for Prosperity, the advocacy group funded with money from the conservative Koch family. The Tennessee chapter of the AFP has publicly stated its support for the referendum. 4 Good Government has not been required by law to file financial disclosures, but will be if the ballot measure advances.

That’s a major question since two lawsuits, one filed by Metro and another by the Nashville Business Coalition, are seeking to block the referendum from taking place. In a partisan vote, the three Republican-nominated members of the Davidson County Election Commission voted to put the charter amendment proposal on the ballot over the objections of two Democrat-nominated commissioners.

“This group funded by dark money threatens the quality of life in Nashville,” said Central Labor Council President Vonda McDaniel. “Rather than making needed investments in our city and neighborhoods, this referendum would make deep cuts to public safety and local government. It will be devastating to our quality of life if it passes.”

Members of the Save Nashville Now coalition
− The Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
− International Firefighters International Association IFFA local 140
− Service Employees International Union Local 205
− Laborers International Union of North America Local 386
− Metro Nashville Education Association, NEA affiliate
− IMF — Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship
− AMAC — American Muslim Advisory Council
− NOAH — Nashville Organizing for Action and Hope
− Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable
− The Equity Alliance Fund TIRRC Votes!
− A VOICE for the Reduction of Poverty
− Nashville for All of Us
− Stand Up Nashville
− Nashville Chamber of Commerce — President/CEO Ralph Schulz
− LGBT Chamber of Commerce — President/CEO Joe Wooley
− Nashville Business Coalition — President Joseph Woodson
− Nashville Visitor Convention Bureau — President Butch Spyridon
− Greater Nashville Realtors Association — President Jarron Springer
− Nashville Business Alliance – President Michael Carter

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