02/04/2026
While trees were snapping, power out for days, and families freezing in single-digit temps, our Mayor O’Connell wasn’t leading from the top — no command center, no coordinated updates, no financial assistance to get people into warm hotel rooms. Now, regardless of how you feel about NES’s handling of the aftermath, the mayor is trying to shift the blame — because his priorities were elsewhere before the storm.
Leadership is preparation. It's about protecting Nashvillians. Where was his focus you ask? A closed-door meeting with Metro Council and lawyers, scheduled for last Tuesday — in the middle of a projected once-in-a-generation ice storm — intended to pressure Council members about a backroom deal for a NASCAR racetrack. Even though this meeting was ultimately canceled, his and his team's attention was clearly elsewhere — that decision wasn't made until 48 hours before it was set to happen. In case you’re wondering – an expanded racetrack in the middle of a neighborhood, and 500 feet from an elementary school won’t protect Nashvillians either.
The storm was really bad. People suffered. But as bad as it was? Forcing an expanded racetrack would hurt our city for generations – not days. Why was he focused on that?!
He ran on neighbors & families first. Nashvillians first. Transparency.
Instead, he's talking about more toys for tourists, benefiting out-of-state billionaires. If all this tourism money doesn't benefit people in our time of need, then who’s it for? We all know the answer. Nashvillians are being left in the cold, and I’m sick of it.
Nashville deserved better leadership because Freddie wasn't ready.
