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Mayor Wharton Attacks "School Yard Bullying"

Written by Tom Jones.

MAYOR, COUNCIL CHAIR RESPOND TO SB 3703 AND HB 3473

After learning of two proposed bills to limit Memphis’ ability to grow and authority to annex its reserve areas, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. and Memphis City Council Chair Bill Morrison issued a joint statement:

“On the evening when Governor Bill Haslam prepares to give his State of the State, we find ourselves deeply troubled by several state proposals that would stifle Memphis’ ability to grow.

Based on the 1998 growth plan agreement, which cemented the growth areas of all the municipalities in Shelby County and was approved by the state legislature, the City of Memphis has already begun investing resources in this east Shelby County area, including an $80 million sewer project and other basic services such as fire protection.

These proposals, put forth without even a courtesy call to local government, single out the City of Memphis at a time when other municipalities have recently used the same 1998 agreement – without argument or interference – to annex their reserve areas. It’s a move that smacks of racism, classism, and schoolyard bullying.

Last year, we saw these same legislators try to leapfrog over the will of our citizens to surrender the charter of Memphis City Schools and to establish a unified Shelby County school system.

This is a continued all-out assault on Memphis and its right to govern itself. We are calling upon all of our local leaders – whether they be leaders in politics, business, or the philanthropic arena – and the residents of Memphis to let their state representatives know that this will not stand.

If need be, we will meet this challenge in court.”

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Mayor Wharton Condemns Legislators' Interference in Memphis Affairs

Written by Tom Jones.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. gave representatives of the city’s business community a glimpse into his mind Tuesday, Jan. 31, as well as some background on his priorities within the context of his 100-day plan for the city.

In the format of a relaxed question-and-answer session moderated by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Vice President Name SearchWatch Service">Calvin Anderson, the mayor expounded on annexation, the economy, jobs training, business recruitment and more.

The event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center was the latest in the Greater Memphis Chamber’s “Conversation With …” series.

The first question dealt with annexation – ordinarily a dry topic, but one that came only days after the filing of bills in Nashville by state legislators that would limit Memphis’ future annexation possibilities.

More specifically, those bills reverse the growth plan agreed to by all the municipalities within the county. And Wharton explained why that doesn’t sit well with him.

“It’s as old as the Constitution,” Wharton said of the city’s power to expand its territorial lines. “Cities have to remain viable, and in order to do that they have to expand. It’s a tool in Tennessee law that adds some predictability to how cities can expand.

“We haven’t been in a rush to expand. We didn’t have to.”

Until now, apparently. Monday afternoon, Wharton released a joint statement with Memphis City Council chairman Name SearchWatch Service">Bill Morrison blasting multiple proposals pending in Nashville that would “stifle Memphis’ ability to grow.”

In that statement, and in his remarks to the Chamber audience, Wharton explained that the city already has begun investing resources in some of the areas targeted by the state proposals. Those resources include an $80 million sewer project and other basic services like fire protection.

“This is a continued all-out assault on Memphis and its right to govern itself,” the joint statement read. “We are calling upon all of our local leaders – whether they be leaders in politics, business or the philanthropic area – and the residents of Memphis to let their state representatives know that this will not stand.”

Only a few hours after his remarks Tuesday, a special-called City Council committee meeting was set to discuss an ordinance that would apparently fast-track an annexation of the Gray’s Creek area of Cordova.

Meanwhile, Wharton went on to say he plans to introduce in the next 100 days a “tightly organized” effort to get people back on company payrolls and into the mainstream of society. It’s a broad effort to bring more wealth and self-sustaining workers into the bloodstream of the city.

And the mayor said it involves giving people the tools they need to “get out there and make it on their own.”

Other topics discussed Tuesday: the city’s revamped economic development toolkit as well as the importance of local and minority contractors participating in projects.

As a testament to the need of the city and county to create the new Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) board, Wharton recounted a meeting he had not long ago with a site location agent over breakfast.

He had a client out of California looking at this area, and Wharton said the site selector had sent the client a proposal that included $25,000 in attorneys’ fees.

When the client asked that proposal to be whittled down, the site selector sent back another proposal. But that one centered on Mississippi and included no attorney fees.

“You don’t even need a lawyer to get in there!” Wharton said, referring to Mississippi. “The point is it was too cumbersome to get into Memphis and Shelby County, and we’ve done something about that.”

By way of addressing the local- and minority-contracting issue, Wharton said dealing with international companies involves different standards for players who are operating on a world stage.

His larger point was that there are few places that can dictate “in ironclad terms” the things that have to be done to land economic development projects.

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For Wharton, this moment is his time

Written by Tom Jones.

by Tarrin McGhee
Special to Tri-State Defender

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. presented ambitious plans and recounted recent accomplishments in his State of the City address Monday (Jan. 23).

Mayor A C Wharton Jr. found his stride at Southwest Tennessee Community College’s main campus, where he delivered his State of the City address. (Photo courtesy of Southwest)

“This is our moment. This is our time,” Wharton reiterated during his speech.

In front of a standing-room only audience gathered at the downtown campus of Southwest Tennessee Community College, Wharton also outlined key initiatives that he will work to implement over the next four years to move Memphis ahead.

Economic development, neighborhood revitalization, talent development and retention, and creating a culture of excellence in government were the top priorities, said Wharton of his 100 days plan to achieve future progress.

Wharton opened with an expression of gratitude and appreciation for members of business, civic and grassroots organizations with a shared sense of purpose to address the challenges that Memphis face. He also welcomed the members of the Memphis City Council, saying that while they may often disagree, there is one sentiment they can share.

“This is a defining moment in the history of this great city,” said Wharton. “We will prove that government can work and we will prove that the confidence of our people is well-placed.”

Wharton showed optimism while reflecting on key gains made during his previous partial term as city mayor. He cited impressive jobs growth and business investments in the face of global recession, as well as new programs for community revitalization and a continued reduction in crime as some of the accomplishments the city can take pride in. Wharton said that because of a renewed sense of confidence, no-excuses government, involved citizenship, and a can-do attitude, the state of the city is strong and resilient.

“We are proving every day that we have the power in our own hands to make Memphis a city of choice,” he said. “This is no mere slogan or bumper sticker.”

Wharton conceded that as mayor he is sometimes frustrated and angered by persistent issues that present challenges to him doing his job with long-term impact. Over the next 100 days, Wharton said, his administration would announce an aggressive plan to reinvest in neighborhoods and address issues of crime, poverty and education with a sense of urgency.

“Our city’s long-time income disparity is ice on our economic wings,” Wharton said. “The number of Memphians living in poverty has essentially been the same for 30 years, and it is simply unacceptable.”

Wharton said the fight against juvenile delinquency, gun violence and gang activity would continue, acknowledging that crime reduction plays a major role in neighborhood revitalization. He mentioned the expected continuance of programs aimed at community policing programs, second chances for felons, and alternatives for troubled youth.

“In addition,” added Wharton, “the Police Executive Research Forum will begin to examine the Memphis Police Department’s systems, priorities, plans of attack and manpower deployment.”

The Mayor also vowed to invest in youth, saying that with the merger of Memphis and Shelby County schools set to take place in 2013, city government’s role in education will change, but the commitment to youth will not wane. He shared that he is working to convene a special task force that will focus on identifying ways to expand Head Start and invest in early childhood development.

“Our progress as a city can be no faster than our progress in education,” said Wharton, noting how the improved performance, accountability and efficiency of government leaders, and economic development would help to get results in other areas.

“In the coming 100 days, we will unveil our Blueprint for Prosperity plan – our strategic program to reduce the number of Memphians living in poverty and give them the training, human services, encouragement and help that they need to move from dependency to self-sufficiency,” Wharton revealed.

The blueprint, he said, will build on the success of economic development initiatives such as Memphis Fast Forward while continuing to develop the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) – an umbrella organization formed last year to streamline efforts to advance the local economy through job creation, business recruitment and retention.

A new initiative to assist small, minority and women-owned business called MORE – Mayors Office of Resources and Enterprise – is also being established to expand opportunities for entrepreneurship and business development.

The mayor emphasized the need to support minority businesses to level the playing field for economic growth and to capitalize on opportunities for job creation and workforce development. Wharton cited trained workers, better connections to jobs, and more entrepreneurs as the key to the city’s success in today’s complex global economy.

“We have much more to unite us than to divide us,” he said, referencing a need for regional leaders, specifically mayors across the Mid-South,  to make collective decisions on issues such as transportation, higher education, medicine and health, entertainment and arts, workforce development, emergency preparedness and law enforcement.  

Wharton indicated that the city’s fiscal strength and government accountability are two major factors that will prepare Memphis to compete in a regional and global economy. He revealed developmental plans for a five-year strategic management and fiscal program to guide the decision-making process on operations, expenditures and staffing, among other areas.

“We made some difficult financial decisions last year, but in the coming years, the degree of difficulty will only increase,” said Wharton.  “(With this plan), we can make the hard decisions about long-ignored infrastructure, investments and incentives that spur our economy and vault Memphis over peer cities.”

Wharton said the initiatives he presented were only starting points to propel Memphis ahead and while many of the strategies outlined in his speech would be implemented in the next 100 days, the ideal outcomes will not be realized until much later.

“. . . As people of this great city, we will meet every challenge with a soaring optimism and we will celebrate our destinations as well as the journey to get there,” he said.

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