Councilwoman calling for No Confidence vote on Nashville’s finance, law directors over ‘mishandling’ of funds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Metro City Council member is filing a No Confidence resolution for the city’s finance and law directors for “their mishandling of Metro Arts grant funding due to personal grievances and personal relationships.”

Councilwoman Joy Styles has filed the resolution after accusing Metro Director of Finance Kevin Crumbo and Metro Director Wallace Dietz of allegedly mishandling the funds.

Styles claims the Metro Arts grants distribution process was stunted by the duo while they slandered the reputations of the former Metro Arts Executive Director, Executive Director of the Metro Human Relations Commission and a council member.

“The application of equitable award distribution has been at the heart of the chaos,” Styles said in a press release. Several applicants still have not been paid and are required to use their awards by the end of fiscal year 2024, June 30th. The confusion has broken the trust between the city and the arts community and needs to repaired. Accountability and correction is necessary.”

Styles, Arts Equity members, community activists and other council members are set to hold a press conference on Tuesday evening.

“A culture change is overdue within Metro Nashville government as it pertains to race, equity and anti-racism practices, and the individuals that maintain status quo problems cannot be the same individuals to provide solutions,” Styles said.

Councilwoman Styles, an artist, Elisheba Mrozik and former Metro employee Mike Lacy are set to speak at the press conference.

“Arts Equity Nashville formed in response to severe and deep and manufactured inequities in arts funding in Nashville. That is how we know we are on the right side of history, so we keep up this fight and support Council Member Joy Styles’ resolution of No Confidence in Wally Dietz and Kevin Crumbo for their disrespect towards artists and their allies, their lack of compliance with Title VI and civil rights law, and their continued overreach in dismembering democratic procedures,” Arts Equity Nashville said.

WSMV4 has reached out to both Crumbo and Dietz for comment. Dietz responded with no comment to the councilwoman’s call for a press conference.

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