MEMPHIS, Tenn. — West Memphis, Arkansas, is generally not known as a pace-setting community. But thanks to its Mayor Marco McClendon, this city of nearly 26,000 residents just across the bridge from Memphis – is breaking new ground – in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
McClendon this week imposed a 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew in his city to try to combat the lackluster attitude that many West Memphians have toward social distancing. The curfew means city residents must be in their homes unless they are doing essential business.
The mayor’s goal is to eliminate gatherings such as those he’s seen lately – including pickup basketball games and packed churches for funerals. McClendon told me his city is simply doing its part to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in Memphis and its suburbs.
But the mayor’s curfew is in direct opposition to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who has stubbornly resisted calls for a statewide stay at home order. Tuesday, the governor went even further in the opposite direction. He said he opposes allowing individual cities to impose their own orders.
But McClendon is sticking to his decision. And good for him. He knows that his city’s proximity to Memphis means he has to be part of the solution – not part of the problem. He is absolutely doing the right thing. He’s showing leadership. Something that is sorely missing in the governor’s office. And that’s my point of view.