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An ordinance to rename the Kelly Miller Smith Memorial Bridge on Jefferson Street as the “Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. Memorial Bridge”.
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WHEREAS, the Reverend Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. arrived in Nashville in 1951 and served for decades as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith and twelve other African-Americans challenged segregation in Nashville’s public schools through a federal lawsuit filed in 1955; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith served as the president of the Nashville chapter of the NAACP, helped establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and founded the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, which worked to non-violently desegregate lunch counters, hotels, and theaters; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith opened the doors of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill for workshops led by Rev. James M. Lawson that trained Nashville students such as John Lewis, Diane Nash, C.T. Vivian, and Bernard Lafayette about non-violent protest; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith served as an assistant dean of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School from 1969 until his death in 1984; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council previously named the reconstructed Jefferson Street Bridge as the “Kelly Miller Smith Memorial Bridge” in 1994 through Ordinance No. O94-920; and,
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council separately renamed a portion of 10th Circle North near First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill as “Rev Kelly M Smith Way” in 2020 through Ordinance No. BL2020-464; and,
WHEREAS, Section 13.26.010 of the Metropolitan Code provides that no building or structure of the Metropolitan Government may be named except pursuant to an ordinance duly adopted by the Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, the community deems it appropriate that the name of the bridge be updated to more distinctly honor Rev. Smith and recognize his decades of service to Nashville and Davidson County. match the recently renamed street and continued to be named in Reverend Smith’s honor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Kelly Miller Smith Memorial Bridge on Jefferson Street shall be renamed as “Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. Memorial Bridge”.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect immediately after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance updates the name of the Kelly Miller Smith Memorial Bridge on Jefferson Street. The bridge was first named in memory of Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. by ordinance in 1994. Separately, a portion of 10th Circle North was renamed for Rev. Smith in 2020 pursuant to Ordinance No. BL2020-464. This substitute ordinance would rename the structure as “Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. Memorial Bridge”.
Section 13.26.010 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws requires that any change to the name of a Metro-owned building or structure occur by an ordinance approved by the Metropolitan Council.