Columnist
Otis Sanford is a political columnist, author and professor emeritus in Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis.
There are 264 articles by Otis Sanford :
Everywhere Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor has served — with the possible exception of the Shelby County Election Commission — public disputes and rancor have followed.
Whether Wanda Halbert is removed from office or not, this community has grown tired of her. Except for a handful of apologists, everyone is weary of the incompetence, excuses and double talk.
Kevin Ritz’s confirmation before the full Senate is far from a slam dunk. His April 17 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was, to put it mildly, brutal, and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a Ritz supporter, said his chances are 50-50.
We’ve had plenty of rallies, vigils and marches. We’ve created one anti-violence group after another. We’ve floated balloons as well as ideas. And still, the deaths keep coming.
I’m no fan of our legislature. But in the case of former Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd, lawmakers acted with prudence and in the best interest of all Memphis and Shelby County voters.
Otis Sanford says that Kyle Rittenhouse’s only major accomplishment is that he escaped criminal accountability for taking an unarmed person’s life through needless gun violence after an unnecessary encounter.
Welcome to arguably the most uninteresting Super Tuesday presidential primary since Tennessee first joined the big day of voting in the late 1980s.
Today, the battle is over whether diversity, equity and inclusion should even be mentioned in schools and the workplace. Beyond that, some people locally also want to turn back the clock by suggesting separate judicial systems for Shelby County — the current one for predominantly Black Memphis and a new one for the mostly white suburbs.
What retired Criminal Court Judge Robert “Bobby” Carter discovered — by observation and through data that he could compile — was an eye opener, particularly regarding the dearth of criminal cases that go to trial.
“I believe being relegated to interim chief undermines her authority inside the police department and raises doubts in the community about her leadership at a time when both are sorely needed to help us fight this city’s rampant crime problem.”
A $7 increase for enhanced trash collection stalled in a City Council vote. If the increase isn’t approved, 199 full-time Solid Waste employees will lose their jobs.
“We have met the persistent. And they are Tennessee voters.”
“I’m willing to say that, overall, (Jim Strickland’s) tenure as mayor was good. Not great, but nowhere near a disaster either. He does have some positive things to show. But we cannot just brush aside the negatives.”
“Our society, particularly our political system, has noticeably degenerated to the point where lying, cheating and exploiting others are often excused, if not overlooked and rewarded.”
A city that was already beleaguered by crime is wondering if there is any solution to the violence.
In 1991, U.S. District Judge Jerome Turner said runoffs in Memphis elections were designed to keep Black candidates from becoming mayor. And he was correct at the time.
“No other state has been successful in turning down federal education money, so Tennessee is plowing new ground with this wrong-headed, purely political sideshow.”
“There is no indication that younger voters went to the polls in any significant numbers. But many of those who did show up clearly favored Young.”
“This is a crucial election. And it’s important that voters get it right. It’s also important that turnout starts to match the interest. So undecided voters, make up your mind.”
The Daily Memphian celebrates its fifth anniversary by asking long-term writers to share a few of their favorite stories. Here are those stories and why the authors chose them, in their own words.
“Memphis is at a critical juncture. We cannot afford to continue the stagnation. We cannot continue allowing crime, poverty and low educational achievement to define this city.”
Each of the seven serious contenders for Memphis’ next mayor owe voters answers to important, and different, questions about their pasts.
“I consider the former mayor, who was elected five times, the most pivotal player in this year’s election for a couple of reasons.”
“Young people must be told the truth about our history — not shielded from it because it makes adults uncomfortable.”
“There is a legitimate public policy debate to be had over the appropriateness of the death penalty. It seems clear that since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in the U.S. in 1976, it has not been a deterrent to murder. And opposition to it transcends political party lines.”