There’s a sense among longtime Nashvillians that something authentic is being lost — or at least threatened — as the city grows. Candidates for mayor have been pushed to protect what makes Nashville special. So WPLN asked each candidate what is “authentic Nashville.”
Attorney Charles Robert Bone grew up in Nashville and still has trouble putting his finger on it.
“I’m not sure I can tell you what that authenticity is,” he says. “You know it when you see it. You know it when you feel it.”
When pressed, at-large Metro councilwoman Megan Barry names music as what binds the city.
“That music starts with gospel and blues, and country and rock, so I think if there was something authentic about Nashville, I think it would be the music,” Barry says.
“Our music industry, Music row, certain neighborhoods, a vital downtown. I think all of those are what Nashvillians
are interested in retaining,” developer Bill Freeman says.
Businesswoman Linda Rebrovick ticks through a similar list and stresses the city’s 14 distinct neighborhoods need protection.
“Everyone in the neighborhoods wants to maintain their ability to live and play and have safe environments,” she says.
The rest of the candidates say authentic Nashville is primarily about people rather than places.
“It’s a cozy town. It’s a friendly town,” says Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry. “It’s a town where people know each other, where people feel good about each other.”
As the only African American in the race, Gentry grew up in North Nashville when places like Centennial Park were still for whites only.
Now those parks are full of people from all sorts of backgrounds, and they still greet each other, says former school board chairman David Fox.
“Everybody says hello. I’m in New York a lot, I’m all over the country a lot with my business, and that’s uncommon,” Fox says. “There aren’t that many cities left where people view people you don’t even know as your neighbors.”
Charter school founder Jeremy Kane moved to Nashville from the North when he was little. But he says his family was embraced, and it became especially apparent when his dad lost his preaching job.
“Someone he had helped get a job through his after school program helped him get a job at the Green Hills YMCA. And a homeless guy he had helped through the Room in the Inn program helped him get his second job,” Kane says. “So when I think about who Nashville is and what we need to preserve and really use to grow, that’s the Nashville I think about.”
At-large councilwoman Megan Barry says that the music scene is authentic Nashville:
Attorney Charles Robert Bone says he isn’t sure what exactly is authentic Nashville, but you know it when you see it:
Former school board chairman David Fox says there’s no question that Nashville will grow, but the issue will be fighting to keep the “southern feel” of the city:
Apartment developer Bill Freeman says a combination of the music industry and a vital downtown make up authentic Nashville:
Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry says that a small city feel that makes people feel at home is authentic Nashville:
Charter school founder Jeremy Kane says that it isn’t just the places that we have, but who we are that is authentic Nashville:
Businesswoman Linda Rebrovick says that the heritage and friendliness of our city are what make Nashville special:
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM