NASHVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Nashville Mayor John Cooper has called an emergency meeting Sunday in response to the city’s growing number of citizens testing positive for coronavirus.
Prior to the meeting with the Metro Nashville Board of Health, which began at 5pm, the mayor was requesting the following:
- Bars on Lower Broadway and throughout Davidson County to close their businesses until further notice;
- Restaurants (public facilities where the sale of food comprises more than 50 percent of revenue) to limit their regular maximum seating to under 50 percent of capacity, capped at no more than 100 individuals allowed.
- Bar service at restaurants should be limited to 50 percent of capacity with no standing allowed.
The Metro Board of Health has scheduled an emergency meeting for today at 5:00 PM. In advance of that meeting, I am asking for specific, short-term action to be taken effective immediately regarding our bars and restaurants. pic.twitter.com/xxbuwYypbC
— John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) March 15, 2020
City leadership insists these measures will aid in the ‘social distancing’ recommended by CDC and health officials.
“We understand these changes create a hardship, especially for businesses and their employees, and we hope it will be short lived,” Mayor Cooper said in a statement. “As a priority, Metro Government will be focused on how to provide relief for local workers and address the inevitable hardship that these social distancing measures will have on local businesses. We are gathering information from state and federal officials on aid for businesses and workers. We will continue to communicate regularly and follow the recommendations of the Board of Health as this emergency evolves.”
But some businesses are not happy about the request. In response, Steve Smith, the owner of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Steakhouse, and The Diner fired back a response.
#UPDATE: Steve Smith, the owner of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Steakhouse & The Diner, responds to @JohnCooper4Nash’s call for Broadway bars to close amid #COVID19 concerns. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/wpYpy6d19N
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) March 15, 2020
“We appreciate the efforts of Mayor Cooper to combat the COVID-19 virus,” said Smith. “But unless there’s a statewide mandate that directs all bars and restaurants to be closed, the request made by Mayor Cooper is unconstitutional as he is targeting a select group of businesses.”
People took to Twitter, arguing both sides.
Many were outraged by Smith’s insistence to remain open.
Steve Smith is representative of all that is wrong with a certain element in our county. (1)Selfish and self serving. (2) Arrogant (3) Detached from basic day to day reality. (4) Non empathetic. If he continues to choose profit over people during a global pandemic, close his biz.
— Ashford Hughes Sr. (@ashfordhughes) March 15, 2020
While others applauded the business owner for standing up for his rights.
https://twitter.com/CMart0830/status/1239322808724983808
An announcement from the Metro Nashville Board of Health emergency meeting has not yet been announced.
This is a developing story.