Johnny Cash's granddaughter looks to shut down Nashville's iconic Broadway due to COVID-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A petition is underway to shut down Nashville's iconic lower Broadway amid the COVID-19 health crises.

Chelsea Crowell, granddaughter of Johnny Cash, started the petition on Change.org over what she says is a "very alarming" way of conducting businesses amid coronavirus.

Mayor Cooper and officials are working on a new order to require businesses that serve alcohol to close at 10 p.m. The new restriction is expected to be in place by Friday, July 24.

The videoshowed gatherings of people, many without masks despite a mask mandate, congregating on the sidewalks of Lower Broadway this past weekend. Nashville leaders said the lack of masks and social distancing "makes us look bad" and "clearly more needs to be done."

The petition to close Lower Broadway was created a couple of days ago but already has more than 2,500 signatures as of Wednesday morning.

"I am a native Nashvillian and have seen our city sold to the tourism industry over and over, but now this industry and the very alarming way they are conducting business and ignoring mandates is endangering the health of Nashville residents.

So many of the citizens and small businesses of Nashville have made huge sacrifices while these tourist traps on lower Broadway cannot be bothered to make an effort or care about the rest of the city. Meanwhile, our leaders are looking the other way.

We need our health and lives prioritized over money and the tourism industry. Shut down lower Broadway. None of us can return to work, school or our lives if this problem is left unchecked." - Chelsea Crowell petition

The petition is seeking to get enough signatures to present to Mayor Cooper that will help "urge him in the right direction."

Mayor Cooper said, "everything is on the table" when it comes to protecting Nashville and it's people from COVID-19, including a possible curfew.