First this.
Then this.
I wonder sometimes if there's a secret network of demolition companies waiting for Councilman Jameson to leave town, so the minute he's on a plane or out of cell coverage demo teams can rush in to historic buildings and knock them down.
Of course, I kid. There's no reason to suggest that this demolition was anything more than an accident. But it creates an opportunity to discuss what good council members do. Jameson is certainly one of those. Good council members understand that zoning matters. They pay attention to infrastructure issues. They are cautious to change policy because they understand that poorly-written ordinances have unintended consequences. They know what the Council does and what it doesn't and they don't blur those boundaries. Good council members know what developments are rising and falling in their district (pun intended). They know what Metro services work well and which ones need attention. They are present in their communities, responsive to their constituents and tempered in their reactions.
So, did the building get knocked down because Jameson went on vacation? Nope. But the immediate response of the builder, who proactively contacted the neighborhood by posting an apology and explanation within hours to the neighborhood listserv, reflects the climate of a community, unique in this era, which has come to trust its representatives and to expect timely and reliable information. Although things may not always go as planned, even the unplanned demolitions developments will be reasonable and transparent. That is very much Jameson's doing. East Nashvillians have benefited from a Councilman with a better response time than Dominos Pizza. Should he be tapped to offer that same judicious leadership to another role, he will leave behind big shoes (and, yeah, a few unexpectedly empty lots) to fill.
Comments