There are 39 article(s) tagged Michalyn Easter-Thomas:

• June 2022

  • City Council Scorecard: MATA’s long haul, death of a car lot and the fine print of term limits

    The latest edition of the Council Scorecard features a number of unanimous votes.

    By Bill Dries June 30, 2022

  • New Frayser library to be completed by end of 2023

    Memphis Public Libraries Director Keenon McCloy did not give a figure for the price of the contract, but may cost about $12 million.

    By Daja E. Henry June 27, 2022

• March 2022

  • Fourth Street becomes Ida B. Wells Street

    Signs for the permanent street renaming were unveiled Monday for a section of Fourth Street between Union Avenue and E.H. Crump Boulevard.

    By Bill Dries March 29, 2022

• February 2022

  • Vollintine Evergreen may see new resource center, grocery store

    The announcement was made by Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas during a recent annual Vollintine Evergreen Community Association meeting Saturday, Jan. 29.

    By Julia Baker February 01, 2022

• December 2021

  • City Council delays first of three votes on police residency referendum

    The delay came after some council members opposed to the ballot question pushed for a separate vote on first reading Tuesday, Dec. 21.

    By Bill Dries December 21, 2021

  • Council session has police, fire residency on agenda

    Memphis City Council members talk about a new bid to allow police officers and firefighters to live outside Shelby County at a special committee session Monday, Dec. 6. 

    By Bill Dries December 03, 2021

• November 2021

  • City redistricting process comes back to life

    A move to form an ad hoc redistricing group for more public participation on the front end of drawing new district lines was tabled by the council in October. The sponsor brought it back briefly Tuesday, Nov. 16, in committee discussions.

    By Bill Dries November 16, 2021

• October 2021

  • City Council Scorecard: Ad hoc redistricting and higher EDGE wage

    The Council Scorecard tracks two key votes from the Oct. 19 Memphis City Council session — one on how to approach redistricting, another blocking a higher minimum wage to qualify for economic development tax breaks.

    By Bill Dries October 26, 2021

  • Redistricting hits snag as City Council debate continues

    The council tabled a move to put an ad hoc working group in place, similar to what the Shelby County Commission already has up and running. The delay came after a discussion about motives, snakes, the city’s method of redistricting and protecting incumbents.

    By Bill Dries October 19, 2021

• September 2021

  • Odyssey Avenue? Renaming committee makes recommendations

    Some of the roadways and parks that were researched include Overton Park, Lamar Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Audubon Park and Manassas Street. 

    By Julia Baker September 16, 2021

  • City Council stops short of consolidation charter commission for now

    The council votes to appoint a study committee to weigh whether the city should pursue drafting a charter that would consolidate city and county governments if approved by voters. 

    By Bill Dries September 08, 2021

• August 2021

  • Hospital emergency directors call for immediate countywide mask mandate

    The letter circulating Tuesday warns of “catastrophic” effects that could “affect health care at every level.” Meanwhile, the city council is urging Gov. Bill Lee to rescind his executive order to allow parents to opt out of school mask mandates.

    By Bill Dries August 18, 2021

• July 2021

  • The Early Word: Redbirds make history. Hardaway recycles it.

    Just for fun, enjoy a cold one at Grind City and take a selfie at Pose 901. Let history record the Redbirds streak, and the removal of Forrest’s bust. Meanwhile, Hardaway makes his own history ... and repeats it.

    By Andrew A. Smith July 23, 2021

  • Grab your phone and pose: It’s a selfie studio

    Pose 901 offers a place for visitors to snap photos in a variety of Memphis-themed settings.

    By Rob Moore July 23, 2021

  • Ida B. Wells returns to city with new statue

    The author of the definitive 2008 biography of the anti-lynching crusader and NAACP cofounder says the statue of Wells defines the city as well as honors her in a city whose leaders once talked of killing her. 

    By Bill Dries July 16, 2021

• June 2021

  • Construction begins on women’s shelter at former inspection station

    The Hospitality Hub undertaking Downtown, on land donated by the city and funded by private donors along with the city and county governments, is next to the Hub’s intake area for the homeless.

    By Bill Dries June 21, 2021

  • Despite no construction date, Frayser library still brings excitement

    The current Frayser library, located at 3712 Argonne Street, has been a community staple for more than 50 years. While it’s been important for allowing children and adults alike for book access and computer use, it’s also a vital community space for the neighborhood.

    By Omer Yusuf June 16, 2021

• January 2021

  • Kelsey bill would eliminate residency requirements statewide for police and fire

    The bill follows a City Council decision late last year to remove a referendum question that would have allowed Memphis police and firefighters to live outside Shelby County.

    By Bill Dries January 06, 2021

• December 2020

  • Street racing, muffler crackdown draws council concerns

    A set of three proposed ordinances aren’t due for a vote by the full council until the new year. But several council members are concerned about how police will carry out the ordinances if they are passed.

    By Bill Dries December 15, 2020

• September 2020

  • Revamp of Links at Davy Crockett could be Frayser ‘gamechanger’

    A proposed revamp of the Links at Davy Crockett golf course is part of a growing list of potential or underway projects in Frayser.

    By Omer Yusuf September 11, 2020

  • City Council approves changes to renaming process

    The approval of the ordinance Tuesday is part of the council's larger debate about the Black Lives Matter Movement. Several other resolutions from that larger discussion were also approved by the council.

    By Bill Dries September 01, 2020

• August 2020

  • Memphis mask fundraising campaign helps on multiple fronts

    “Mask for Memphis” raised about $25,000 during the past four months and distributed 2,600 masks at multiple mask giveaway events in Raleigh, Frayser and other North Memphis neighborhoods. Masks provided through the fundraiser are washable and reusable.

    By Omer Yusuf August 30, 2020

  • Police numbers still dominate city council’s debate over police reform

    Council members Michalyn Easter-Thomas and Chase Carlisle were on opposite sides of the council's veto override vote on police residency this week. On "Behind The Headlines" they talked about how many police are enough and how to get to the bigger issues beyond the numbers in the ranks.

    By Bill Dries August 20, 2020

  • Council residency aftermath signals shift on how to address crime

    Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings says the City Council decision to take residency off the Nov. 3 ballot leaves voters out of a critical decision. The vote is a challenge to Mayor Jim Strickland’s core philosophy on fighting crime after he dramatically upped the number of new officers he believes is necessary.

    By Bill Dries August 05, 2020

• July 2020

  • Renaming commission approved by City Council, Poplar renaming sidelined

    The Poplar Avenue name change to Black Lives Matter Avenue will be among the items the renaming commission considers. The trio of related measures met with mixed results at Tuesday's Memphis City Council session. An ordinance to give the council final approval of any names changes of streets, parks and public places may get some legal rewording before its first of three votes next months.

    By Bill Dries July 21, 2020