❗Why are councilmembers receiving death threats?

🎼 The Nashville Symphony’s Financial Emergency

Earlier this week, the Nashville Symphony’s board voted unanimously to suspend the 80-year-old nonprofit's 2026-2027 season amid financial woes. All 77 members of the orchestra and almost half its staff have been furloughed. Yesterday, the board hired Mark Tillinger as president and CEO to replace its current CEO, Mark Cantrell, who was hired less than two months ago. [Nashville Scene;🔐 The Tennessean;🔐 Nashville Business Journal]

• The symphony’s current fiscal year operating budget has a $10 million deficit. In the past, longtime major benefactor Martha Ingram often helped the symphony bridge financial gaps, but the Nashville philanthropist passed away in August. [Nashville Scene]
• Officials say the symphony’s senior leadership, board of directors, and musicians will work together to develop a financially sound restructuring plan in the coming months. [WKRN]
• The symphony typically performs almost 200 concerts every year. Mayor Freddie O’Connell has expressed his sympathy to the nonprofit and says its restructuring plan will better position it for the long term. [WKRN]
• The symphony’s new music director, internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin, said that “Although my final concerts this season will take place on October 16-17, I intend to remain the Nashville Symphony’s music director, and I am committed to walking alongside our musicians, staff, board, and community as we work toward our return.” We spoke with Slatkin earlier this month about what to expect from the season. [WSMV;🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• Select performances that don’t require the orchestra will continue as scheduled, and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center is still available to rent. The symphony encourages folks to donate here. [Nashville Symphony]
• If you’ve already purchased tickets, you’ll receive an email from the symphony allowing you to request a refund, donate the ticket amount to the nonprofit, or have the amount credited to your account. [Nashville Symphony]
• Meanwhile, fans have taken to social media tagging Nashville celebrities, like Taylor Swift, with the hope that someone will become the symphony’s next major benefactor. [Instagram]

👻 Scare Season Is Here!

Making plans for scare season? From the Nashville Horror Film Festival to Cheekwood Harvest, today’s podcast has your ultimate guide to October in Nashville. Plus, we chat about snagging ticket deals in a month with so many concerts. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• Keep an eye on your inbox this afternoon for an October newsletter guide with even more tips!

🧑‍⚖️ Local Lawmaker Sues Lieutenant Governor

State Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) is suing Lt. Gov. Randy McNally over his retaliation to her Senate Floor demonstration during May’s special session. In protest of the Republican supermajority redrawing Tennessee’s congressional districts to net a potential additional seat in the upcoming midterm elections, Oliver stood on her desk and held a banner that said, “No Jim Crow 2.0. Stop the Tennessee steal.” McNally reassigned her committee placement and restricted her travel reimbursements. The lawsuit claims McNally violated Oliver’s constitutional right to free speech. [Tennessee Lookout]

• Here’s a guide to Tennessee’s midterm election. Find what congressional district you’re in here. [Tennessee Lookout; Tennessee Comptroller]

🏛️ The Dangers of Being a Councilmember

Metro councilmembers say public backlash has been much more intense this year. In the course of their work, Nashville’s councilmembers have been on the receiving end of death threats and heated public confrontations. District 14 Councilmember Jordan Huffman has received four death threats directed at him and his family, and his and another councilmember’s floor plans were posted on social media. “At the end of the day, we’re all human — I think that’s easy to forget for some people,” said District 30 Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda. [Nashville Scene]

🚗 No Safety Changes to Broadway … Yet

Two months after the deadly crash on Lower Broadway injured three pedestrians and killed a fourth, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has yet to set up retractable bollards that would make the area safer for foot traffic. Locals also continue to urge TDOT to close Broadway on the weekends. [Fox 17]

• Should Broadway be closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends? Take this poll to let me know what you think.
• Here are more ideas for fixing our dangerous infrastructure. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]