Progressive Politics from Memphis

  • What Now? – SCDP Edition part ∞

    As you’ve probably read by now, the Shelby County Democratic Party has been decertified by the State Democratic Party. The County party organization, which has been a hot mess for nearly al of the 12 years that I’ve lived in Memphis, never truly distinguished itself as a force for anything but highlighting how not to…

  • #Baylor

    I’m a sports fan. But I don’t talk about it much. I may have an opinion on what a coach does, but quite frankly, I usually don’t have enough of a foundation in sports to feel confident talking about it. I understand this doesn’t stop most people. So yesterday on the Gary Parrish show I…

  • On #RecallKemp

    Last week the Commercial Appeal reported on an effort to recall City Council Chairman, Kemp Conrad. The announcement of the petition, which can be found here, lists some of the dismissive things Chairman Conrad has said about activists seeking to protect the Greensward in Overton Park. As a general statement, I’m supportive o citizen led…

  • Gibbons Returns Triumphant

    Bill Gibbons, the former Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and a former Shelby County District Attorney General has returned to Memphis to take on crime once again. Gibbons will join the Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis to lend his experience as a DA to the study of…

  • The Scattershot Effect

    Last night’s passage of HB779 by the Tennessee House brought to light some features of the bill that I was previously unaware of, and some problems that will most certainly result if the bill is passed. Here’s Rep. Carter speaking on two features of the bill that haven’t gotten a lot of play in the…

  • The Egregious Overreach

    The Tennessee House passed HB779 in a nearly party line vote tonight 68-25. The bill if approved, would allow as many as 10 previously and lawfully annexed areas of Memphis to petition for a referendum, which if approved by a majority of the voters in the area, would remove them from the City. I watched…