Opinion: Partisan city primaries would further divide us
Partisan primaries would make Memphis city government more like the divisive dumpster fire that is today’s Washington, D.C.
There are 996 article(s) tagged Memphis City Council:
Partisan primaries would make Memphis city government more like the divisive dumpster fire that is today’s Washington, D.C.
The City Council Scorecard examines a vote on a resolution to deny former President Donald Trump a police escort to his Saturday appearance in Southaven, Mississippi.
For years, advocates have said MLGW could save hundreds of millions of dollars annually by leaving TVA and buying electricity from someone else. But savings of “huge dollars” didn’t materialize in the latest proposals from other providers.
Let’s not kid ourselves: Council’s effort to extend term limits is not about ensuring a better and more equitable government.
A city council resolution calling for Memphis Police to not get involved in any escort of the former President if he comes through the city later this month didn’t make it to Tuesday’s council agenda.
“The Secret Service coordinates protection detail procedures with law enforcement agencies. A few of our city council members were excited to intervene and put themselves in the middle of federal and local law enforcement’s customary procedures.” Letter to the Editor: Denying security to former President Trump is an effort ‘filled with hatred’Related story:
“America is at a crossroad. We either come together as one or watch this great nation disappear.”
The council also narrowed a plan to increase the pay of city employees to one that adds 1% to the pay of about 2,000 unrepresented employees.
The Thursday meeting will be the first look at some of the price quotes and other proposals to replace TVA as MLGW’s supplier of electric power. But there will probably still be some secrecy about who made what bid.
The Memphis City Council members could close out its 2022 budget season Tuesday, June 7, with a set of votes on a new property tax rate and operating and capital budgets.
The City Council Scorecard follows the maneuvering as the council puts a ballot question on the August ballot that might look familiar to Memphis voters.
Voting yes on this ballot question will afford elected officials the opportunity to make their case to voters on why they deserve a third term.
A city charter change that would allow the mayor and members of the city council to serve three consecutive terms goes on the ballot in August.
In other City Council actions Tuesday, Juneteenth was added as a paid holiday for city employees and the Soulsville TIF District was up for a vote.
Police chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis is just two weeks shy of her anniversary with the Memphis Police Department. Yesterday, she updated the Memphis City Council on what she’s done in the past year as well as changes she’s still planning.
The council’s passage of first reading of the ordinance to create the special fund for an overhaul of the city bus system was approved the day after the Shelby County Commission took the same action.
The Tuesday, May 24, council agenda also includes the second of three votes on a companion ballot question that would allow partisan primaries in city elections.Related story:
Tennessee Valley Authority officials got a hostile reception when they took an economic development study to the Memphis City Council Tuesday.
The two issues could be up for a citywide referendum in August. Memphis City Council moves closer to hiring energy consultantRelated story:
MLGW is currently requesting proposals from various providers for a possible move to a new electric power provider.
The council will mix a first vote on the city property tax rate Tuesday with more discussion and votes on two ballot questions for the August ballot — one on expanding term limits and the other allowing for partisan city primaries.
The former County Commissioner died in January, his family disclosed this month. He is buried in a county cemetery, 50 years after his only win in a storied political career that saw him go to prison twice.
This City Council Scorecard tracks first votes on a three-term limit for the council and partisan city elections, along with a Southwind apartment complex that stirred some de-annexation resentment.
Here are the basics of how term limits work in Memphis and Shelby County, and a tumultuous history of the issue across both governments.
Here is the backstory of how county primaries came to be in the early 1990s, called for by Republicans several years after Democrats splintered over a move in their ranks to take local elections partisan.