New poll tests Nashvillians' views of downtown safety and cleanliness
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Tourists downtown last year during CMA Fest. Photo: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
Nashvillians give downtown high marks for cleanliness, with many of them telling a pollster recently the city's center is cleaner than their own neighborhoods.
- The poll of registered voters was commissioned by the Nashville Downtown Partnership, which oversees the Central Business Improvement District (CBID).
Why it matters: The survey comes during a broader public debate about the state of downtown, where residents and tourists collide.
- The Metro Council is also scrutinizing the CBID's budget for the first time in recent memory, especially for its investments in public safety. They are scheduled to debate the issue Tuesday.
The big picture: For years, the Downtown Partnership has been a noncontroversial entity in charge of cleaning sidewalks, hiring extra security guards and providing homeless outreach.
Yes, but: The increasingly progressive city council has cranked up its oversight of public safety investments in recent years, putting the Downtown Partnership and the CBID under the microscope.
Zoom in: The Downtown Partnership hired a polling firm to take a temperature check ahead of the Tuesday debate.
- Downtown Partnership president and CEO Tom Turner tells Axios he was especially proud that residents gave the organization's "clean and safe ambassadors" — typically seen downtown in yellow shirts or red jackets — high marks.
By the numbers: According to the poll, 33% of Nashville voters think downtown's public spaces are cleaner than their part of town, compared to 26% who think their neighborhood is cleaner.
- On the controversial issue of public safety, 53% feel safe most of the time or all of the time downtown, compared to 43% who occasionally or always feel unsafe.
What he's saying: "I think that the takeaway from the poll is that generally the work that's being done is supported by the results of a survey that's countywide, and not specifically downtown," Turner tells Axios. "Clean is important to people, and safe is important."
The latest: For the first time in at least 20 years, the Downtown Partnership has presented a detailed spending plan for the council to review as part of this year's Metro budget process.
- Previously, the nonprofit group sent the finance department its spending plan, which was approved as part of the entire Metro budget.
Between the lines: The CBID is funded by downtown businesses and residents, who pay a fee in exchange for the additional services.
Friction point: Council is focused on public safety.
- Earlier this year when a state grant came up for approval, council rejected spending on new security cameras.
- The Downtown Partnership uses CBID funds to hire a private security contractor. After criticism of the previous contractor, the organization recently picked a new firm.
- According to the poll, 48% said the law enforcement presence downtown is adequate, while 31% said we need more officers downtown and 7% said there are too many.
The bottom line: The CBID budget is scheduled for a crucial vote at Tuesday night's council meeting.
- Some on council are pushing for the CBID budget to fund a new mental health specialist to assist first responders on calls.
Methodology: The poll of 417 registered voters was conducted April 9-11 by phone calls and text messages.
- The survey has a margin of error of 4.8 percentage points.