FACT CHECK from Mayor’s Media Availability, 2/13/2026

A recent media report selectively edited and misrepresented statements made by Mayor O'Connell in response to questions about a local business. Under state law, there is no mechanism for local officials to offer property tax relief to individual businesses. The mayor has consistently supported local businesses through policy and as a patron and will continue to do so.

Here is a full transcript of what was asked and answered.

Reporter: Tom Morales, owner of ACME Feed and Seed, one of the most iconic buildings in downtown, is prepared to close his doors. His property tax went from like $129,000 to $600,000. And are you willing to let a treasure like that close based on what he says is a punitive tax?

Mayor: Well, I mean, I think the hard part for all of us in moments like this, I'm happy to invite the assessor up because, you know, this is a combination of how these things work, but we've had the Comptroller review these valuations, and the Comptroller has determined that downtown's valuations are reflecting market value at this point. It's an incredibly valuable piece of property. My understanding is Tom has already entertained some significant offers recognizing that value. So, it's not up to me whether he is going to keep that business open. It's up to him as a property owner to determine how to capture the value that's inherent in the property.

Reporter: Well, there are pass through costs, right? He's renting that building. He spent 6 and a half million with investors. But it's different than some of these. I mean, this is the man who saved the Loveless Cafe. This is the man who did Dancing in the District.

Mayor: I've known Tom for years. It's been a challenge. I know he opened Fifth and Woolworth several years ago, and not all of these businesses, based on the model, based on timing of the market, are possible for survival. I know every landlord has a different approach to this as commercial property owners. Some of them have, you know, triple net leases. They're a bunch of different ways for this to work out. I think this is a tough one because you look at businesses all along Broadway, all along 2nd Avenue. You look at the volume of transactions that are there and the prices people are willing to pay for property, and it's tough. It's competitive. It's a place where a lot of people want to be, and the market evolves. And, you know, we see new businesses starting even as old businesses -- in some cases, beloved old businesses -- are closing. We want to keep as many people enjoying parts of Nashville. We've seen other nearby businesses, Arnolds, go through it where they at first thought they were going to sell, and they reopened. Tom's been a creative entrepreneur for a long time. One single business owner and a bunch of different businesses are going to find a way to thrive in Nashville.