Candidate: Lisa Williams
Metro Council District 23
Website: electlisawilliams.com
Occupation: “I am a SAHM and community volunteer.”
Previous candidacy/offices held: “none so far”
Community experience: “currently a board member for Friends of Fort Nashborough, Board Member of HostelOn, member of JLN, DAR, and NSCDA”
What will be your top three priorities on the Council?
“Transportation issues, Housing/zoning concerns, addressing issues quickly for my neighbors”
What is the biggest issue facing your district? How would you approach it?
“Traffic calming, zoning considerations for closed high school campus, ongoing storm water issues. I want my neighbors to know I am available to hear their concerns and needs, and to help them find solutions”
Much of the city’s developmental focus, like plans for a new East Bank, have focused on downtown. What’s your vision for downtown?
“Downtown Nashville has grown and flourished over the past decade or so in a monumental way. One of my first opportunities in Nashville was as a volunteer at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. I often was sent to Lower Broadway to deliver posters for events or to pick up items from the old Hatch Prints location for the school tours group. Mid week then compared to now is like comparing Main St Mayberry to the Las Vegas strip. It has changed a lot. I think shifting the continued growth and development to the East bank is a logical direction for the future of Nashville. We also should look to the North of downtown continuing the growth and revitalization that the new Tennessee State Museum, Library and Archive buildings can anchor. With ARP funding Fisk University has to invest in their immediate neighborhood this offers a wonderful partnership opportunity for the communities and the businesses that are established as well as new ones.”
Did you or would you have voted to approve the new Titans stadium financing legislation?
“Financially the new plan looks to be better than the current agreement.”
Does Metro need more police officers beyond the unfilled positions?
“Yes, we are growing rapidly and need our First Responder staffing to pace appropriately with that growth.”
What do you think of the current framework passed by the council around LPR (license plate readers) usage? Do you think Metro should allow facial recognition technology to be used downtown?
“Test programs are showing good results with traffic concerns, missing person alerts, and crime issues. Privacy issues are a genuine concern with the technology. It should be used carefully.”
Do you think a property tax rate adjustment will be needed in the next 4 years? Why or why not?
“The property owners of Nashville are asking for a tax rate adjustment.”
Do you view your role in the Council as leading your district on issues or simply reflecting the views of the district’s residents?
“Our district residents have voiced a need to be heard, recent district representatives have not been reflective of our area of the city. Instead focusing on projects that benefit personal interest. My goal is to work to with my neighbors to continue to make Nashville an amazing city to live in.”
How do you view the relationship of the city and Council to the General Assembly in the face of adverse legislation from the state?
“This is a question that is simple and yet recently fraught with difficulty. On issues where the state clearly has overarching power the city needs to work as best it can to accomplish the joint goals. This would be something like an intercity commuter rail system. A project that would be mutually beneficial to the state and city or multiple communities. But if the state sets forth changes that over step established boundaries, such as the city charters, this needs to be challenged by the city, town, or metro area of concern. Lately, it has felt as if a few of the General Assembly members would benefit from studying middle school civics again.”
The city is experiencing an affordability crisis. What is the council’s role in creating more housing for buyers and renters in Nashville?
“Affordable housing is inextricably linked with accessible transportation. Nashville and the surrounding area need to consider partnering to improve our transportation options. As we do this it will allow for individuals and families to attain housing that is more affordable, while being able to eventually grow into home ownership. With the current nationwide home shortage Nashville can also consider many other options including expanding The Barnes Housing Trust Fund which would open opportunities for more homes to be built.”
What improvements do you think WeGo should make during the next four years? Would you back creation of a dedicated funding source?
“Dedicated funding is always going to help keep projects running. WeGo has some challenges, I personally have only used their service a handful of times but am planning to utilize their services during next school year for one of my children. What I am hearing from frequent riders is issues with consistency in scheduling. Some of the solutions that would be most effective would require designation of dedicated bus lanes on our busiest roadways. It would be wonderful if WeGo would expand special event services to alleviate parking issues when downtown hosts large numbers of events. I have visited other cities that offered off site parking with shuttle service for concerts and sporting events via their bus lines. These made attending and exiting the event locations much easier for all of the ticket holders.”
Second-quarter campaign finance disclosure
Raised: $1,100
Spent: $1,077
Cash on hand: $23
Link to full disclosure here
Pre-General campaign finance disclosure
Did not file