Happy Taco Tuesday! If you don’t have taco plans for tonight, you might check out the new La Palapa Mexican Restaurant, where you can also get your brinner fix.

It’s Sept. 12, and the Memphis City Council will vote today on accepting federal funds for an $8 million floating dock at the foot of the riverfront’s cobblestones. Downtown’s Center City Revenue Finance Corporation will consider a 10-year payment-in-lieu of taxes deal for a plan to turn the Dermon Building into a Holiday Inn Express. And tonight, the Memphis Redbirds, coming off a 5-1 series loss in Nashville, will open a new, six-game series against Norfolk.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Mayoral candidates at the ABC-TV Channel 24 debate on Sept. 11 included Floyd Bonner Jr., Karen Camper, J.W. Gibson, Michelle McKissack, Van Turner and Paul Young. (The Daily Memphian files)

‘You can’t just hide at Houston’s’: On Monday night, six of the top Memphis mayoral candidates had a chance to question one another during ABC-TV Channel 24’s debate. J.W. Gibson went after Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young over failed Downtown hotel deals. Young called out Gibson for letting one of his former properties, The New Daisy, become blighted. Van Turner questioned Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner over Gershun Freeman’s death at the Shelby County Jail. But Michelle McKissack may have won the award for throwing the most shade when she called out former Mayor Willie Herenton, who didn’t show up at the debate, saying, “You can’t just hide at Houston’s.” In other campaign news, our own Bill Dries offers a look at the crowded race for Memphis City Council District 7.

The Racquet Club of Memphis was built in 1957 and was once home to an Association of Tennis Professionals tour stop. Developer Chance Carlisle has a new plan for the property. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Carlisle serves up Racquet Club plan: Developer Chance Carlisle is planning a 1.5 million-square-foot, mixed-use development at the former Racquet Club of Memphis site in East Memphis. The $500 million to $700 million plan would transform the site with a hotel, multi-family housing, 16 townhomes, office space, retail and a parking garage and would include two high-rise buildings and five mid-rise buildings. 

A former Memphis City Council staffer says, prior to a staff restructuring, council member JB Smiley Jr. (left) threatened his job. Council Chair Martavius Jones (right) said the staffer was let go due to job performance. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Council staff shakeup raises questions: A former Memphis City Council staffer, who recently lost his position after a council staff restructuring effort, believes the council failed to retain him due to issues between himself and City Council member J.B. Smiley Jr. In a recorded phone call obtained by The Daily Memphian, Smiley seemed to threaten the job of the staffer, whom we’re only identifying by the initials J.V. due to his concerns about retaliation. “If you speak on me again, you’re going to see two different versions of me,” Smiley said in the call. City Council chair Martavius Jones said J.V. was let go over job performance.

In December 2022, three men attempted to kidnap a woman at the Saddle Creek shopping center in Germantown, but they were stopped by an armed bystander. (Abigail Warren/The Daily Memphian file)

Alleged kidnappers plead guilty: Three men accused of attempting to kidnap a woman at Germantown’s Saddle Creek shopping center last December pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple charges related to that incident and other carjackings and kidnappings they allegedly committed in 2022. On Dec. 20, 2022, Adrian Pegues, Malik Malone and Alan Key allegedly kidnapped and carjacked two people at gunpoint and forced them to withdraw money from ATMs. Ten days later, the three allegedly attempted the kidnapping at Saddle Creek, but they were stopped by an armed bystander.

Collierville homicide suspect arrested: Eric Otten, 52, was taken into custody in Jarrell, Texas, in connection with a Collierville shooting on Saturday that left Otten’s wife, Jenni Otten, dead and a 51-year-old man, Mark Cross, in critical condition at Regional One Health. Otten is facing first-degree murder and attempted murder charges, and he’ll be extradited back to Collierville. In other Collierville news, the suburb’s mayor and most of its aldermen seemed to support allowing alcohol sales at The Harrell Performing Arts Theatre during a meeting on Monday. 

QUOTED

Shelby County’s Lead Judicial Commissioner John Marshall heads the group of 14 commissioners who set initial bail for recently arrested people. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

“We’re just people from various backgrounds. We’re all experienced attorneys ... No one’s under 40. Everybody’s been at this a little bit.”

— John Marshall, Shelby County’s lead judicial commissioner
Marshall sat down with The Daily Memphian for a wide-ranging conversation about the group of 14 commissioners whose primary function is to review every arrest that comes into the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. In part one, Marshall discusses the commissioners’ role in setting initial bail, and he explains how the new bail hearing courtroom works. In a sidebar, we’ve got bios on all 14 commissioners.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Outgoing Memphis City Council member Patrice Robinson will serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Patrice Robinson tapped for TVA board: President Joe Biden nominated outgoing Memphis City Council member Patrice Robinson for the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Monday. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Robinson, a former Memphis Light, Gas and Water employee, will be the first Memphian on the board since former board member John Ryder died last year.

“Crime is affecting everyone in Shelby County,” Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills said. “I’m tired of the police being vilified over and over and over.” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

County police reform advances: On Monday, the Shelby County Commission advanced three, non-binding police reform ordinances for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. But only one of the three, which requests that the sheriff collect data on traffic stops and use of force, received a majority of votes. Republican commissioners voted against the other two, which would ask the sheriff to ban pretextual traffic stops and report data on specialized units. “We need to stand behind law enforcement,” said Commissioner Amber Mills. Commissioner Britney Thornton, the sponsor of the ordinances, told Mills to “minimize your voice in this debate to hold space for persons who are affected.” In other news, commissioners heard complaints from Millington residents over two new solar farm arrays planned for the area.

Tigers’ first freshman: The Memphis Tigers basketball team gained its first Class of 2024 commitment on Monday when Jared Harris, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard out of Silsbee, Texas, announced his commitment. Harris ranks No. 76 nationally and No. 3 in the state of Texas. In Tigers football news, our own Frank Bonner II looks at how the team’s nationally ranked (second best in the country!) defense faces a new challenge from Navy this Thursday.

The flatbread carbonara, left, and crab benedict are two dishes available during The Majestic Grille’s brunch service. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Sunday fun day: Downtown’s Majestic Grille is reopening on Sundays, and owners Patrick and Deni Reilly are bringing back brunch and adding a new Sunday Roast service. The brunch will feature some of the restaurant’s old brunch faves, like eggs Benedict, as well new dishes (think harissa chicken hash) and pastries from Downtown’s new Hive Bagel & Deli. For the Sunday Roast, Patrick Reilly is drawing inspiration from his Irish roots for a “more refined and elegant” dinner with seasonal offerings, like pork rack served with Yorkshire pudding. The servers are also getting spiffy new uniforms inspired by the late Bert Jordan of the Majestic No. 1 Theatre.

DeSoto teacher off the job after book questions: A Lake Cormorant Middle School teacher is no longer working for DeSoto County Schools after a parent raised concerns over a book assigned to an eighth-grade student. It’s not clear, however, if the teacher resigned or was fired. The book in question was Sherman Alexie’s 2007 novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” which contained descriptions of masturbation. The parent, Tambre Wells, read the passage at a school board meeting and requested a curriculum and library book audit.

LOOK WHO’S TALKING ABOUT US

The newly redesigned Tom Lee Park got a big write-up in Fast Company, which called the park “a natural wonderland” that could “set a new standard for what waterfront parks can do.” Give it a read.

If you haven’t been down there yet, go check it out while the weather is perfect this week. See you tomorrow!

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