“This bill is not about safety; it is about perpetuating the myth that more guns in more places make us safer.”

The potential negative health consequences and disregard for community voices associated with this project demand national attention, as these unfounded “carbon management” projects are targeting Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities across the country.

“We are focused on making our vision of bringing an academic medical center to Memphis a reality and transforming Memphis and the Mid-South into a healthier, more vibrant place to live and work.”

“Transit is not the ‘poor folks people mover’ – it’s an economic engine that will help power the reemergence of our city and ultimately this region.”

“An intentional focus on our cultural economy from the top can be a gamechanger for our city. Let us finally embrace and profit from this rich natural resource the way other cities have – off of our artists, our creators, our backs – for years.”

“Memphis women earned 82% of what their male counterparts earned. ... But by working together, we can make an impact.”

“Macsovits has taken what she’s been taught in the course of a lifetime, married it with the deeper and broader perspective she has earned in motherhood, and is now passing it on to others.”

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“We all know anytime there are gifts being opened, anytime there’s ice cream and field trips and dress up and games, anytime someone is empowered to do something they could not do before, there’s a party going on.”

“Frankly, I don’t worry about the kids we serve within our schools. I worry about the kids we don’t. What happens to them? Where do they go? And most importantly, how can I help them?”

“Rental property owners can reduce crime by utilizing police calls for service information at their properties. This is no untested theory. It is a proven method that has been put into practice in other crime-ridden neighborhoods in Memphis. And it works.”

Even if you’ve determined a business opportunity is legitimate, be sure it’s right for you. Ask what you’d be selling or doing, how shoppers would find you, what your expenses would be and when you could expect to turn a profit.

“You can imagine our disappointment when there is $140 million allocated in the budget by Governor Bill Lee for private school vouchers, but none for state and federally mandated Early Childhood Special Education. How can that possibly be?”

“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.”