Mayor Dean Not Surprised By Pushback To Jail Relocation Proposal, But Stands Firm

With a vote over relocating Nashville’s jail and police headquarters just days away, Mayor Karl Dean is making a final push for the plans. He acknowledges, though, that next Tuesday’s vote may come down to the wire.

“You don’t stop working on it or counting votes until the very last minute, so we’ll see,” Dean says. “But the city of Nashville definitely needs a new jail. There’s no question in my mind about that.”

At a public hearing earlier this week, dozens of residents protested the plan, which would move the jail to Antioch and the police headquarters to Jefferson Street.

Mayor Dean says he wasn’t surprised by the turnout, suggesting opponents are generally more motivated to show up at hearings than supporters.

The relocation proposals are part of the mayor’s capital improvements budget. Some Council members have suggested removing them before next week’s vote on the budget.