Your Daily Guide

🚦 Why Was This Pedestrian Safety Bill Withdrawn?

Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda spent the past several months trying to push legislation to ban right turns on red through Metro Council — only to withdraw her bill at last week’s meeting. Why? On today’s podcast, CM Sepulveda explains. Plus, she discusses how fear of the state continues to impact the way our city is governed. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🗳️ Cast Your Ballot With Stir Sticks

After multiple complaints that voting machines were changing people’s votes, Davidson County is reinstating the use of stir sticks when making selections. Voters have reported issues with the machines changing their selections at the Hermitage and Bellevue library branches. According to Davidson County Administrator of Elections John Richardson, all voting machines are tested before voting begins, but “if you don’t press the very center of the box, sometimes by accident, your fingernail or a piece of your finger may clip the other box.” [WKRN]

• This is the final week of early voting, which ends Oct. 29! Here’s our guide to the election. [📰 City Cast Nashville]

🚗 Car Missing at Opry Mills? It Might Be Repossessed.

Repossession companies at Opry Mills are using the mall’s license plate readers to track people behind on payments and repossess their vehicles while they’re inside the shopping center. According to Opry Mills director of security Richard Siegelman, this happens three or four times a week. [WKRN]

🪧 Will This Bromance Prank Lead To Lasting Friendships?

Have you seen the East Nashville billboard showing three dudes hugging, with the message, “Friendship Never Goes Out of Style”? What started as a prank war between friends turned into a real hangout for Nashville men looking for “platonic male friends” last week. According to OG prankster Jimmy Meeks, “Part of this whole process has taught me there are folks out there who don't have [a solid group of friends] in Nashville.” [🔐 The Tennessean]

• Check out the Nashville Reviews account for a peek at the billboard and the group hang that followed. [Instagram]

The Mary Parrish Center was established in 2002 to help victims of interpersonal violence in Nashville. Named after the founder’s mother, a survivor of domestic violence, the center has helped more than 17,000 people. I spoke with the nonprofit’s executive director, Mary Katherine Rand, to learn more about the center.

What kind of services does The Mary Parrish Center offer?

“The Mary Parrish Center provides safe housing and supportive services for survivors of interpersonal violence and their children. We believe that safe housing is the foundation for healing and rebuilding lives.

“We offer transitional housing, where survivors and their children can live in a safe, supportive environment while they work toward independence, and rapid rehousing, which helps families move directly into permanent housing in the community.

“We also lead Nashville's Domestic Violence Coordinated Entry system, which helps connect survivors with housing resources throughout our community.

“Beyond housing, we offer a wide range of supportive services, including intensive case management, individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, economic empowerment, financial assistance, housing advocacy, workforce development, and enrichment activities for adults and children. We also offer our Moms' Empowerment Program and Kids' Club.

“Our goal is not just to help survivors find a safe place to live, but to provide the resources and support they need to heal, rebuild their lives, and achieve long-term stability.”

How can people get involved?

“There are so many ways to support our work! Financial contributions are incredibly important because they allow us to provide housing and supportive services at no cost to the families we serve.

“We also have opportunities for individuals, businesses, and community groups to volunteer, donate needed items, sponsor events, and help spread awareness about our mission.

“One of the most meaningful things people can do is learn about The Mary Parrish Center and share our work with others. The more people who know about The MPC and the resources we provide, the more survivors we can reach and the stronger our community of support becomes.”

What advice would you give to someone experiencing interpersonal violence?

“First, I would want them to know that they aren’t alone, that they deserve to be safe, and that the abuse isn’t their fault.

“Leaving an abusive relationship can be incredibly complicated, and sometimes dangerous. It's important that we don't assume leaving is as simple as walking out the door. There may be financial barriers, children involved, concerns about housing, or very real fears about what will happen next.

“My advice would be to reach out to someone you trust or an organization that specializes in supporting survivors. You don't have to have everything figured out before asking for help, and reaching out doesn't mean you have to make any immediate decisions.

“There are people and organizations in our community who will listen, believe you, and help you explore your options without judgment. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home.”