MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – FormerMemphis Mayor Willie Herenton fired the first shot heard around the bluff,calling the entire Tom Lee Park renovation a plan drawn up by“elitists” that would keep average folks out.
“Iemphatically oppose this plan with every fiber of my being,” Herentonsaid. “We must not be silent. I was telling Mike Matthews, people ask me,what is my position? Well today, they know my position.”
A few days afterthe former mayor spoke, incumbent Mayor Jim Strickland had a few things to say.Specifically, he thought you could have a great revamped park, and still haveMemphis in May there.
Strickland wasthe one who started negotiations with all sides on Tom Lee Park and says mostof the big stuff has been done.
“The Corp ofEngineers has to sign off on it,” he says, “… and that could takeat least three or four months, and maybe longer. So the big issues though, Ithink are out of the way.”
Jim Stricklandnever mentioned Willie Herenton’s name.
Willie Herentonnever mentioned Jim Strickland’s name.
These guys wereonce friends. Breaking up is NOT hard to do in politics.
None of themmentioned Tami Sawyer of the Shelby County Commission, who also wants to becity mayor.
“Where Ithink the mayor went wrong,” Sawyer said, “… was he didn’t askpeople what their opinion was in enough numbers and there were multiple sides.He should have stopped, and we could have figured it out together. It’s not myissue. My issue is reducing crime by investing in our community and investingin our kids.”