Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Overview
Metro Council Watch is a project of The Pamphleteer. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect and how we use it.
The short version: We use analytics to understand site usage. If you verify an email, we keep a Council Watch account so you can see donor tables and (if you join) follow Metro officials. We do not sell your information.
Information We Collect
Server Logs: Like most websites, our hosting provider may collect standard server logs including IP addresses, browser type, and pages visited. These logs are used for security and performance purposes and are not used to identify individual users.
Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site, including page views, time on site, and general geographic location (country/city level). Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this information. We also use Cloudflare Web Analytics for additional privacy-focused metrics that do not use cookies.
Account: When you verify an email (on a gated tab or at join), we store that email, a session, and the time you verified. That is enough to see donor tables and votes. If you choose to, we also store an optional name, your Metro district (1-35), the address used to find that district, ZIP, which council officials you follow, and whether you want a weekly email. Follows and the weekly email are optional. Join asks you to agree to these terms. The Pamphleteer daily newsletter is a separate opt-in.
Cookies
We use the following types of cookies:
- Account session: After you verify an email, we set a cookie so you stay signed in. It lasts about 90 days. You can sign out on your account page.
- Analytics cookies: Google Analytics sets cookies (such as _ga and _gid) to distinguish users and track site usage. These cookies expire after 2 years and 24 hours respectively.
- Security cookies: Cloudflare, our CDN provider, may set essential security cookies to protect against malicious traffic.
You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services:
- Google Analytics: Web analytics service that tracks site usage. Subject to Google's privacy policy.
- Cloudflare: Provides CDN and security services. Subject to Cloudflare's privacy policy.
- Cloudflare Web Analytics: Privacy-focused analytics that tracks page views without cookies or personal data. Subject to Cloudflare's privacy policy.
- Mailgun: Sends the 6-digit verification code to your email.
- Ghost: The Pamphleteer daily newsletter. We add your address only if you opt in on join.
- Mapbox: Address suggestions on join and settings, and the district map. Subject to Mapbox's privacy policy.
Campaign Finance Data
The campaign finance data displayed on this site is public information obtained from the Davidson County Election Commission. Donor names (individuals and organizations) are shown as filed. Tennessee campaign finance is public record.
Data Retention
Account email, address, district, ZIP, and follows stay on file until you email us to delete the account. Unsubscribe on /account or from the weekly email footer only stops that email. Server logs maintained by our hosting providers are subject to their respective retention policies.
Your Rights
If you have a Council Watch account, you can change district and follows, sign out, or unsubscribe at /account. To delete the account row, email us. If you have questions about your data, contact us at the address below.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
Contact
For privacy-related questions, contact us at: [email protected]