Increased Surveillance and Policing Does Not Make Nashville Safer

Nashville is eligible to receive approximately $15 million in funds from a Downtown Public Safety Grant (DPSG) that requires coordination between local governments and business improvement districts to “increase public safety, reduce blight, enhance economic development infrastructure, and reduce crime in downtown business and commercial areas”.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office has filed a resolution with the Metro Nashville Council that outlines a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP) acknowledging that NDP has submitted a grant application for 100% of these funds and that Metro Government will submit a letter stating they will not apply for the grant.

The NPD already receives millions of tax dollars every year with no regulation or oversight. They use these funds to target our most vulnerable neighbors through their shadow police force. The MOU from the Mayor’s Office would require that the $15 million be given entirely to the NPD and outlines that the funds would most likely be used for increased surveillance and policing technology and equipment such as cameras, intelligence software, SWAT cars, and more.

We know that surveillance technology actively harms communities, including our unhoused and immigrant neighbors.

The NPD have also used their power to try to keep our unhoused neighbors out of downtown by pushing for the removal of benches along KVB. At a time of ICE raids and mass homelessness, increased surveillance and policing is not the answer.

By signing this MOU, Mayor O’Connell is welcoming the militarization of our city by a private entity.

UPDATE: Discussion of this MOU was deferred on December 3rd and will be going before Metro Council on Tuesday, December 16th. Metro Council will vote to accept $15 million for surveillance and militarization efforts OR to decline the grant monies.

Now is the time to take action...

• Contact your Councilmember. Call them. Email them. Tag them. Visit bit.ly/no-on-mou-nashville for contact information and talking points.

• Meet us in Council on Tuesday, December 16th at 6:30 pm. Dress in black and bring your flyers/signs.

• Organize your circles against surveillance.

Surveillance doesn’t create safety in our community - trust and abundance do!