Sanford: Talk of rejecting federal education dollars is an exercise in lunacy
“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.”
Otis Sanford
Columnist
Otis Sanford is professor emeritus of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis and political commentator for WATN-TV ABC24 News. Contact him at o.sanford@memphis.edu.
There are 248 articles by Otis Sanford :
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October 2023
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Young’s mayoral victory signals clear generational change
“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.”
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September 2023
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Otis Sanford Sanford: It’s crunch time in mayor’s race. But interest is far outpacing turnout.
“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.”
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fifth anniversary
MetroThe Daily Memphian writers share their favorite stories
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.
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Otis SanfordSanford: It’s up to city voters, including younger ones, to boost election turnout
“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.”
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August 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: As campaign reaches end run, mayoral candidates owe voters answers
Each of the seven serious contenders for Memphis’ next mayor owe voters answers to important, and different, questions about their pasts.
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Otis SanfordSanford: With Herenton on the mayoral ballot, voters must ask, ‘Would we? Should we?’
“I consider the former mayor, who was elected five times, the most pivotal player in this year’s election for a couple of reasons.”
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July 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: Revising the brutal history of slavery is not a winning campaign message
“Young people must be told the truth about our history — not shielded from it because it makes adults uncomfortable.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Despite personal opposition, Mulroy makes right call on death penalty cases
“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.”
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June 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: Looks aside, good food and great people made CK’s Coffee Shop special
“My love of CK’s was about the people, the regulars, who showed up like clockwork every morning and became an informal coffee klatch to talk sports — mainly pro football — and politics, or to share the latest gossip.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: In Motor City vs. Bluff City, the real challenge is to make both places better
“If we want to really make a difference for everyone in our city, we will keep working to reduce crime, improve education and strengthen families.”
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May 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: The court battle is over, but more pressing residency issues in mayor’s race remain
“Whether the residency issue continues to dog Van Turner and Floyd Bonner Jr. in the court of public opinion remains to be seen. But both have legitimate responses about their time living outside the city.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: If only Clarence Thomas had the integrity of Memphis’ Abe Fortas
“Republicans, through dirty dealing and hypocrisy, have managed to pack the Supreme Court with a 6-3 ultraconservative majority that is having a profound and negative impact on the lives of Americans.”
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April 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: We still don’t know who can run for Memphis mayor, and city hall is not helping
“With incumbent Jim Strickland forced to leave office at the end of the year because of term limits, the field is wide open for anyone who can make the best case for why she or he is the most qualified and most electable candidate.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Memo to state House Republicans: Political dynasties don’t last forever
Given the activism that is being whipped up among younger voters and others who believe there should be some limits to gun rights, the Tennessee 3 incident could be the turning point away from GOP super-dominance in Tennessee.
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March 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: Chapman’s retirement a reminder of his enormous impact on public safety
Buddy Chapman, 83, is calling it all quits. He will step down as the leader and face of CrimeStoppers effective April 1.
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Sanford: Chicago police leader’s outrage is righteous
Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, who is African American, seemed to channel the sentiments of millions of Americans who know that hate crimes are real. They are disgusted by the idea that someone would lie about being a victim.
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Otis SanfordSanford: This heartbroken Ja Morant fan is hopeful for an all-star comeback
Memphis needs a feel-good story, a redemption story, of overcoming stumbles, our pain and our negative national image. We need Ja Morant to bring his moves back to the Grindhouse soon and break ankles — not hearts.
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February 2023
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Otis SanfordSanford: Deadly violence by an out-of-towner only adds to our city’s woes
“Let’s pay tribute to one of the good ones who, by losing his life, reminded us again how dangerous policing can be.”
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Otis SanfordSanford: Service for Tyre Nichols drives home need for meaningful police reform
During the Tyre Nichols funeral, the forceful messages from the pulpit and soul-stirring music from the choir celebrated Nichols’ life, but the service also became a spark for a renewed call for police reform — locally and nationally.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Family of Tyre Nichols deserves justice for a fun-loving son
Memphians, who already feel beleaguered by violent crime that at times seems out of control, must now come to grips with the fact that elements within the police department — however small — are partakers of criminal violence themselves.
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January 2023
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Otis Sanford District 86 election marked by generational divide: The TikTok era vs. the Walkman age
Voters who show up for the District 86 race could serve as a bellwether for whether Memphians are ready to elect a new generation of political leaders or if they are content to stick with familiar names who have been around local politics and government for decades.
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December 2022
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Otis SanfordSanford: Litterbugs are hurting our legacy as a beautiful city
For the sake of all of us who believe cleanliness is indeed next to godliness, let’s make a commitment in the new year to support the cleanup efforts in Memphis.
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Otis SanfordSanford: Legal argument aside, the link between an unsolved rape and Eliza Fletcher’s murder is clear
Barring some technicality in the law, there is nothing complicated about whether there is a link between Alicia Franklin’s rape and Eliza Fletcher’s murder.
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Otis SanfordSanford: My journalism class studied the Supreme Court. The findings are not pretty
“Far too many college students — and older adults, for that matter — know little, if anything, about the Court, its history, its unfettered power, who’s on it and how they got there.”
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