John L. Cooper (photo by @marynikkel insta) An article was written for CNN entitled "Why Christian Music's biggest stars refuse to change their tune for the Trump era" that I think deserves a response. The Westin Hotel received $14 million of tax increment financing in 2014. I will invest in our schools and neighborhoods, come up with a real affordable housing plan, and address our transportation needs within my first term. Cooper was an at-large member of the Nashville Metro Council from 2015 to 2019. Cooper holds a bachelor's degree in history from Harvard University and an MBA from the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University. .external_links_table { width: auto !important; } background-color: #003388; width: 90%; The current One Roof public funds should be reallocated to support needs-based solutions. We need to welcome everyone who comes, and honor everyone who is already here. For me, parks are a passion. Our new development in Nashville has lead to less permeable surface area, which makes stormwater runoff a greater challenge to our neighborhoods. The PILOT ordinance could be expanded beyond Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects to include all affordable housing projects funded by the Barnes Fund, THDA grants. A neighborhood like the Nations is already well into its boom, but the stormwater and sidewalk infrastructure has lagged behind. The current course of deficit spending and selling assets for short-term operating funds is unsustainable. Around 80% of downtown employees drive to work alone. Basic needs need to be met in order for students to meet their full potential. John Cooper - $144,231 in Political Contributions for 2008, Campaign Finance, Money, American politics, American political campaign contributions, presidential campaign contributions . The subsequent cuts in bus service are yet another example of the current administration not prioritizing the essential. Thats a good thing. Mayor Brileys recent proposal of a 6 percent pay increase for new officers is unfair to the officers who are currently on the force and it doesnt solve our retention problem. CB Rank (Person) 235. font-weight: 100; We can obtain additional revenue from tourism and development. J. Tallahassee, FL 32301-1861 Update your Profile Education & Credentials University Attended: Florida State University, B.A., 1972; Florida State University, B.A., 1972 Law School Attended: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Elections 2014 Police and Public Safety: In recent years, it has financed a parking garage for a luxury condo development downtown, and given tax increment financing to hotels and other luxury developments. Covering operational shortfalls with one-time budget gimmicks is a bad idea. The mayors plan envisions increasing the citys contribution by $5 million a year. Sound fiscal management will allow us to get beyond this moment of financial stress. .election_results_text { He lost his reelection bid in the Republican Primary in March 2020. border:1px solid #FFB81F; } [2], .votebox { Neighborhood residents should have a say in determining what activities their local parks will need. padding-bottom: 5px; He was re-elected by voters in 2008, 2014, and 2020. Earlier this year, Mayor Briley proposed a parking modernization plan that would result in private management of our street parking, an increase in fees and fines, and a doubling (at the very least) of the number of parking meters. I have spent my career in finance, real estate development, and project management. Build a department that reflects the community it serves. Infrastructure: He was an actor and director, known for Timecop (1994), The Arrival (1996) and Reversal of Fortune (1990). Parks improve the quality of life of residents and provide an important foundation for strong communities. Too many people dont feel safe in their own neighborhood. As Channel 5 reported, MNPD spent more than $4 million on special events overtime through the end of April. That is twice in recent years Metro has tried to give away public land that is significant in Nashvilles African American history. Misplaced priorities and missed opportunities arent the only problems. Last year, Mayor Briley supported a transit plan that cost too much and delivered too little. There were 504 new cases identified by state officials in the past five days, he said. 2. "It was unbelievable," Cooper said of his experience at the convention. Mayor Briley has failed to provide that on issue after issue, notably on the community oversight board which he both opposed and supported. Roosevelt running for a fourth term in 1944 galvanized the actor into fervently campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Thomas Dewey. Mayoral elections in Nashville are nonpartisan. background-color: #db0000; Florida's Second Judicial Circuit. Metros TIF Study & Formulating Committee report from May 2019 stated, there is no written strategy or policy in Nashville about when or how to use TIF on affordable housing projects. As mayor, I will define a strategy. width: 100% !important; .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} text-align: center; With my deep background in development, I know that an experienced team can leverage tax credits for preservation. [13], Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. They increase the natural beauty and resiliency of our city, and define our sense of place. Focusing on green infrastructure will help us address one of the costs of our growth. If implemented well, a Metro Nashville Department of Transportation would help streamline and accelerate sidewalk construction, make safe street designs more likely to be implemented, and create a more effective home for an ambitious transportation demand management (TDM) program. Cooper said the ordinance is not vague and is necessary, especially given the increase in cases in Leon County. As Nashville grows, developers are building more apartments and more houses. Counties | Parks can play a critical role in increasing sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Made-up money. Gender Male. We should not have included a bonus of ten acres at the Fairgrounds beyond the incentive of the stadium. The rank and file should be treated fairly by their superiors, just as the citizenry at large deserve to be treated fairly. The first time the parking deal was awarded, Metro miscalculated the bids and released an intent to award to a company that bid $74 million less than another company. The propertys true value was many times that. People's interest in John's political belief started after he overruled the Florida governor's mask mandate ban in public schools on 27 August. Its time to stop selling off our parks and disposing of properties in a piecemeal fashion and time to start looking for creative ways to expand green space in this city. The budget is the document from which all decisions flow; it's how our city's priorities are determined. As for parking privatization, I will not as mayor be sending that to council. The Convention Center Authority will have an estimated unrestricted cash balance of $190 million. height: 56px; All 41 metro council seatsincluding the office of vice mayorwere up for election. As mayor, I will set clear goals for expanding access, identify new ways to support expansion and programming, and put parks at the center of the citys health and wellness efforts. I am running for mayor to provide sound financial management, recapture tourism revenues, end a culture of giveaways, and get our citys finances back on track. It is a false choice that our only option is to approve Brileys parking privatization plan or increase property taxes. color: white; I have already cosponsored legislation that would match affordable housing dollars with incentive dollars. font-size: 16px; Here are some of the approaches I will use to safeguard the public and strengthen the relationship between police officers and the communities they serve: I consider this to be a working document. } p.survey-response {margin-left:10px;} As we grow, we need to make sure that Nashville remains a livable city. Nashville is going to grow more in the next five years than in the past five years, so we have to get this next phase right. Most teachers ended up with lower take-home pay last year because of rising health insurance premiums. For too long, we have perpetuated a cycle with our state leaders where when Metro takes almost any major action, the state immediately pre-empts it and stifles the initiative. He was elected to the bench in 2002, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Nashville residents are only able to use the waterpark if they book a stay as a resort guest. As mayor, I will commit to doing the hard work of getting affordable housing right. A diverse police department is an effective police department. Incumbents are bolded and underlined. background-color: green; Building the stadium itself should have been enough of an incentive for a soccer team. And literally that is where it will be., As the Nashville Scene reported in 2016, Metro awarded a $3.5 million package aimed at sweetening LifeWays plans to move their headquarters from one part of downtown to a different part of downtown. I was the only vote in opposition. We can do better. It saw an immediate increase in bus ridership and decreases in trip times. That is all money that could have gone to affordable housing. In the process, Ive learned a lot about how this city is being run. } Their presence in a neighborhood promotes residents health and well-being by cooling urban heat islands,providing places for recreation and exercise, improving air quality, and helping to prevent flooding. I have too much optimism in Nashville to believe that we need another four or five years to come up with a comprehensive transportation plan. political party, a group of persons organized to acquire and exercise political power. In a 15-page ruling issued Monday, Circuit Judge John Cooper said the law was constitutional because a public official with a trust is not supposed to know any more than voters about what is in. The mission of the Second Judicial Circuit is to protect rights and liberties, uphold & interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the six counties of the circuit. When Metro sold the Clement Landport, it received net $15,000 per space for hundreds of parking spaces in the Gulch. .race_header { Yet Metro hasnt kept pace with the need for sidewalks. The Lets Move Nashville plan was built with too little consultation with residents and neighborhoods. Safeguard our parks and our property. background-color: #f9f9f9; Finance is the foundation of everything a city does. Bennett, Coleman, Cooper, Duvall, Gilmore, Holleman, Hurt, Matthews, Mendes and Shulman advanced to the runoff election. Diversify park funding. I was one of two votes against the sale. I encourage you to read my full policy statements for any topics that interest you so you can get a sense of my priorities and how I think. Nashville is at a crossroads. width: 100%; Calming traffic in pedestrian-heavy areas using actual physical measures such as reduced lane widths, speed tables, raised crosswalks, roundabouts, curb extensions, and better lighting are reasonable cost solutions and best practices that we must implement. In an interview on the Dear America podcast, Cooper said he thinks the church is afraid of offending people by speaking the full truth about what it means to love God and other people. Elected officials need to understand public perception of safety and policing. Nashville has focused on one half of the growth equation: buildings and economic incentives. As mayor, I will expect that our schools get great results for all kids and will celebrate the achievements of those that do. Briley wants to give the impression that he is hard at work addressing the affordable housing crisis through his Under One Roof affordable housing proposal. Source. The citizens of Nashville feel that with all of the national attention we are receiving, we have started to prioritize tourism and development to the detriment of our neighborhoods and residents. Send me your thoughts. by Florida Democratic Party 3 mins read Earlier today, Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper ruled that Governor Ron DeSantis acted beyond the boundaries of his authority when he signed an executive order blocking local school boards from enacting mask protocols. [9], On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill. My family and I love to spend time at Bells Bend and the Warner Parks, however, not all neighborhoods and families have easy access to our great parks and greenways.