Emotions are running high during the final stretch to Election Day. You may see ads on TV, get mailers, and receive phone calls.
On the pro-Transit side:
The city has endorsed the plan, including the mayor's office and the majority of council members.
Multiple groups like Citizens for Greater Mobility and Transit for Nashville have formed to support the plan, and the plan has been lauded by other transit-focused cities like Seattle, who sent transit officials to Nashville to give their nod of approval.
Against the Transit Plan:
Leading the charge is a group called No Tax 4 Tracks, originally formed by auto mogul Lea Beaman. It's often represented by mayoral candidate jeff carr.
Other grassroots and volunteer groups like Better Transit for Nashville and Nashville Plan B have also formed, and some on the council are notably against it - including councilmember at-large and mayoral candidate Erica Gilmore, who recently changed her position after advocating for the plan.
Councilmember Robert Swope offered his own alternative to the plan.
Local Businesses:
Many local heavy hitters have signed on in support of the plan, including names like HCA, Lifeway, Bridgestone and pretty much all of Nashville's local universities.
The Nashville Business Journal and the Tennessean have both endorsed the plan.
No Tax 4 Tracks did not have a list of organizations against the plan, but NewsChannel 5 has spoken with small businesses worried about construction disruptions and that the one percent sales tax increase could drive away customers.
Demographics:
No Tax 4 Tracks says they believe the high Republican turnout in early voting has been beneficial. Now they're targeting Democrats more likely to feel the one percent sales tax increase like those on fixed incomes.
There also seems to be a bit of an age divide. More young people in the urban core have been leaning pro-transit, citing a desire for more options to get around. Older suburbanites who live far from the major corridors say they don't think they'd use it and seem to lean anti-transit plan.
