Imagine Memphis, as it celebrates its 200th year in 2019—only 9 years away— and Shelby County Government – celebrating its 200th in 2020 – are known as the “FedEx and St. Jude City of the United States”– where our government absolutely positively delivers premium service to all citizens at a competitive price and where the characteristics of inclusiveness and caring are embraced throughout Shelby County.
“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one”
I believe the time has come when all citizens of Shelby County, whether we live in Memphis or one of our great suburban cities of Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Millington, Arlington or Lakeland, or in the unincorporated portion of the county, want government that is responsive, honest, accessible and effective for everyone! No one can argue that the form of government we have today in Memphis and Shelby County does not work transparently or efficiently, as we have two of everything!
The evidence suggests that the two different government structures permit a lack of accountability and cohesiveness that is not curable and have produced far too many failures. Every taxpayer of Shelby County is impacted. This cost of two governments is too high! The “time spent” to get an answer from the two governments with three legislative reviews each, preparation by two different staffs, two different mayor’s opinions, and each citizen’s time is waste in its worst form— waste of people’s time. We all know time wasted costs money and time is something no one can replace. When we waste our citizens’ time, we waste innovation and we encourage frustration, disillusionment, and diminished faith in government. We stop caring. We need new processes from paying traffic tickets to aligning services among the seven municipalities.
Can we develop a more innovative structure of government which saves all citizens’ time and money by ensuring systems work together? I believe we can.
We have an opportunity to change what is not working—the current overlapping structure of two governments. On August 10th, the group of 15 citizens who have been tasked to write the new constitution for Memphis and Shelby County filed the charter for a new government. The new Charter has the toughest ethics rules in the entire state, applicable to every elected and appointed official, all employees and every entity that accepts public funds. Neither the City nor the County Charters contain such a Code. The Charter Commission believes integrity has to be the cornerstone of the new governance structure. The new Charter will also include important checks and balances on government power so that the people will be guaranteed a voice and control. It will include quality initiatives, such as mandatory reviews of government services and agencies, and strategic planning and fiscal controls which protect each and every taxpayer.
So how do we accomplish putting this new government to work? We vote.
Every qualified citizen of Memphis and Shelby County has the right and duty to vote on November 2, 2010.
The Tennessee Constitution, in 1953, established that two votes were required to consolidate a major city into a county –one vote inside the City of Memphis and one outside the City of Memphis in Shelby County. This legal framework allows ALL OF US our say, and very astutely gives us the CHANCE TO ACT TOGETHER TO UNIFY this place we call home. Whether we live inside or outside the city of Memphis, we know that this “is a distinctive place that matters.” This statement comes from University of Memphis Professor and Author, Wanda Rushing, in her 2009 published book Memphis and the Paradox of Place. She reviews our history of disruptions and advances and goes on to state that “Memphis is a dynamic site of entrepreneurialism, economic productivity, cultural innovation, and social tensions where global and local products and signifiers are reworked into a particular production of locality.” This book is the view of a newcomer to Memphis, one who sees its value and its possibilities. We need to encourage this attitude and self- belief. We now have an opportunity to rework governance.
So let’s ask ourselves–do people in the six suburban towns work in Memphis? Does the Germantown Cleaners also operate from locations in Memphis? Do we see doctors inside and outside each of the seven cities in our County? Do we all fly out of Memphis International? Do we enjoy events at both the Germantown Performing Arts Center, and the Orpheum? Are we all just about 30 minutes from each other regardless where we live in Shelby County?
On November 2nd will we all join together to improve and unify our local government? I hope so. We have an incredible and historic opportunity to move this place we call home forward and like FedEx, we can have one of the strongest brands known for excellence and quality of all U.S. cities.
Julie H. Ellis, Senior Counsel, Butler Snow and Chair of the Memphis and Shelby County Metropolitan Charter Commission
I can’t wait to vote for it. For the first time in my life, I can see a glimmer of a brighter future in Memphis and hope to be a part of something that could make our city stronger and better. I hope that everyone can get beyond the rhetoric and understand what consolidation can really offer us. We have a chance now to make a bold move in hopes of making Memphis a better place to live. If we don’t act now, we may lose our chance to do something proactive to help our city.
I hope people understand what they are voting on with this issue.
‘Memphis’ conjures false imagery in many area citizens’ minds, and I fear that false perception will sneak its way into the voting booths. A consolidated government exactly what our diverse metro area needs.
People who are lucky enough to live in our region should feel a duty to make the least fortunate citizens’ lives better. To live in or near Memphis but demand that the city’s problems not effect you is cruel and inhuman.
We truly are in this together, everybody on this planet. This vote is a meaningful way to not only illustrate that point, but to make a change that embodies it.
I look forward to supporting this measure. There is a real chance to break the bonds of tradition and create a place that responds to demands of this century by drawing on our shared resources and potential.
In the past nine months, no lawyer in Memphis has worked harder than Julie Ellis. And she did it all as a volunteer doing something good for her community.
The new charter is the best one we’ve read, the most clearly written one we’ve read. Can we at least all agree that it’s worth taking a few minutes to read it and get the facts about what a new government would look like.
I’m just sad that it won’t go into effect until soon enough.
We need mayoral control over the schools, not a board of do nothings.
Rebuild Government posted this earlier:
After choosing a metro gov: Nashville reduced crime by 7% while the national average increased 5%; Louisville was able to create the Metrosafe Communication System. A $71 million single network to link police, fire, EMS throughout Metro area and replaced their outdated 911 system. Louisville also was able to place more officers on the street, offer better benefits and hire better talent under the new management structure. Schools have their own charter and can only be merged if their elected bodies decide to do so.
Dang I love them.
dogs and cats will live together in harmony and we will all gather at the renewed tom lee park to watch the sunset and sing kumbahyaoo before walking back to our third floor loft apartments to score more wondrus drugs to keep the visions going.
I cant wait for the vote results either. then we can move on to the next thinly veiled attempt to coerce the suburbs into paying their exit fines for actually following the former mayors edict to ‘leave’ if they didn’t like it/him/memphis.
Interested: You’d rather keep the dysfunction and the back-biting and the lack of competitiveness. What do you really have to lose with a new government?
This new form of government doesn’t result in the suburbs paying anything more, much less their fair share. If they went to sleep and woke up and consolidation was implemented, they’d never know the difference.
wanna bet your wallet on that?
I don’t.
I don’t see the current clownsul dressed up in consolidation t shirts running shelby, etither.
“Clownsul” haha.