The Early Word: FedEx’s Smith has Downtown worries; MATA stops cuts
Get ready to grit and grind, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, Oct. 23, and Memphis Grizzlies basketball officially tips off today with an away game against the Utah Jazz. Could this be the restart of something grand? Our own Chris Herrington says this season has potential to be a redemption song for both star Ja Morant, fresh off a very dry spell, and his teammates.
“If we can’t use this moment ... to get Downtown going again, then Downtown is just, I’m not going to say ... wither and die, but ...” said Richard Smith, CEO of FedEx Airline and International.
Smith sat down with The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins to discuss the need for state funding to create a safer Beale Street and Downtown area, just as the Memphis Grizzlies are starting up their new regular season. Smith also talked about crime, conference realignment and the funny story behind his family’s stadium renovation gift.
The all-new Memphis Area Transit Authority board, appointed by Memphis Mayor Paul Young just a couple weeks ago, met for the first time on Tuesday and immediately paused the bus-service cuts that were approved by the old MATA board in September. Those cuts were originally made because MATA was in a budget deficit, but Young is pledging to work with the Memphis City Council to find money so MATA can avoid cuts.
Plus, Downtown is recovering economically (even though Richard Smith still worries about crime). Plus, there’s a new Indian eatery that has everything from dal to dosa, and we’ve got hot tips on Halloween horror films.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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