“Sometimes in our race to the finish line, to complete the demands of the day, we forget to stop for a moment to appreciate the folks who spent a lifetime before us trying to make Memphis the place where we want to live.”
In the next several weeks: Ramadan is observed until April 9; Christians celebrate Easter March 31 and Jews will celebrate Passover April 22 - 30. I pray that these holy days where we each believe God loves us in a special way can open our hearts to remember that God loves us all just the same.
The president of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission says we need to change the juvenile justice system’s arbitrary 19th birthday cutoff and use public safety as the overriding factor in bail decisions.
“The inclusion of community feedback exemplifies a process that is both inclusive and reflective of our community’s values. This alignment between the Board’s actions and community expectations sets a strong foundation for the collaborative work ahead.”
Charles Ponzi gave his name to a type of investment scheme, but they were around before him and are with us still. Here are some red flags from the SEC and BBB.
“Shelby Farms is and will continue to be one of the great parks of the world. Whenever there are large publicly owned tracks of land, it has been my experience that there will always be pressure to cut off a piece here and there for some unrelated reason. It is imperative to stay vigilant.”
“Although there is a small historical marker in honor of Cole and Walker in Memphis, their names are not as well-known as many civil rights icons.”
“The climate is ripe for what new Memphis Mayor Paul Young has called a pandemic-type response to public safety. Many other cities are being cited as ‘models’ for what can be done, and all have merit.”
“Memphians should feel safe and secure in their homes, churches and businesses, and they should have confidence the public prosecutors they elect are doing their jobs. One of the ways we begin to restore confidence is through transparency.”
“The media play a vital role in keeping the public informed, but spreading misinformation — misinformation that could have been corrected if the facts had been verified — causes unnecessary hysteria and further erodes trust.”
“Is it fair to City of Memphis employees, many of whom have worked for 25 or 30 years, to not have the same benefit a part-time elected official would receive?” a former council member asks.
“It takes all of us to act with a sense of urgency to address the root causes that push our children to commit or be impacted by crime. We must come together to put them on the path of safety and success with our respective resources.”
“Elmore Nickelberry was a man who fought for dignity, respect, and so much more. And, I believe, he has so much to teach us still today.”
“As the Talmud teaches, ‘Because my parents planted trees for me, likewise I am planting trees for those who come after me.’ For the sake of our children, city and world, let’s keep planting.”
“We need to continue to focus our efforts on building and strengthening a robust system of public school choice that delivers for all types of learners and families of every background.”
“Pursuing a diverse workforce should be a commitment to prioritizing the well-being and unity of each member within our workspaces and our communities. Our journey toward forging a construction landscape that reflects these efforts goes beyond erecting buildings.”
“Our leaders should also consider what we are experiencing with increased crime rates as a deeper issue with how we recognize and support mental health and well-being.”
“Check washing” is a crime the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network says is surging despite the fact that the use of checks is declining.
“Doctors peddling phony promises should know that the FTC will use its strengthened authority from Congress to stop them from exploiting Americans struggling with addiction.”
“Heading into a new year, where much ahead lies unknown, the discipline of waiting on the light to break through in our personal lives, and in our community, is a lesson not just for the final days of December, but for each day that is to come.”
“After seeing the barrage of allegations concerning Youth Villages, I felt the need to speak the truth. The truth is that we need more organizations like Youth Villages, not fewer — committed to transforming systems and improving the lives of people that for far too long have been left behind.”
“If we have district policies that made sense in the past but now show that we are failing in the best interest of students, we will find a way to correct them.”
Addressing childhood traumatic stress is a gift that will keep on giving, a step forward that will benefit all Memphians.
“The council chairman failed to take advantage of an opportunity to positively affect the lives of thousands of Memphians. Rather than receive help, they were served up hollow words.”
“Moving from the original Hebrew, there are actually eight different ways to spell the name of this week’s Jewish holiday in English — all of them correct. No matter how you letter it, Hanukkah contains a beautiful and powerful message.”