Nashville Mayor Appoints New Director of Nightlife

Image Credit: Jim Nix / CC

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Nashville Mayor John Cooper has created the new position of Director of Nightlife to help deal with the city’s vast array of activities that take place after dark.

Cooper appointed Benton McDonough to the position. McDonough is currently serving as the executive director of the Metro Nashville Beer Board.

According to Safe Fun Nashville, a group of individuals who live and work in the Downtown Nashville area, there is a need for additional measures to make the city safer and quieter. One primary complaint is the noise of party buses that run through the streets.

“Those who live, play, work, and worship downtown have felt a rapid decline in quality of life as Nashville’s nightlife spirals out of control,” said Jim Schmitz.

Schmitz serves as one of the co-organizers of Safe Fun Nashville.

“Entertainment transportation vehicles litter our streets, bringing with them excessive noise, traffic issues, safety hazards, and behavior that’s just not acceptable for any reputable city,” Schmitz continued in the group’s press release.

Cooper believes the new position will help to solve those problems. 

“The new role in my office will serve as a key liaison to neighborhood residents and the nightlife industry to address quality of life issues like cleanliness, noise, (and) safety,” Cooper tweeted.

McDonough’s job will involve working with several different government agencies to find acceptable solutions for the issues that are plaguing downtown Nashville while also working to bring new resources to the area.

“For years, we have been waiting and calling for change,” Schmitz said. “Entertainment transportation vehicle operators directly contribute to the erosion of safety and destruction of Nashville’s reputation.”