It's Time To Put The Last Nail In John Elkington's Coffin

The so called mainstream media for over the last week has played every angle on the screw up at the Nutrition Center of memphis City Schools, This week the big news is the probe by the FBI of the school system, but there has been no mention of the missing millions due this city by John Elkington and his company Performa Real Estate and Entertainment.

Elkington who has a contract with Beale Street Development Corporation to manage the Historic District,but has refused to pay any money to BSDC or the city since 1983.While the mayor is presently investigating the wrong doings of Elkington, why hasn't the city went after the many millions owed by Elkington?

Members of this community have been up in arms over policemen and firemen receiving raises, there has been an outcry from citizens for the funding of many, "of interest" projects. It is no doubt that police and fire persons could receive raises if Elkington is force to produced the nearly $15,000,000 that he not paid to the city.

The $300,000 that the Beale Street Merchant pay for security could go to off duty police officers who are allowed to wear their uniforms when working security. The common area fees paid for cleaning the street could go to the Sanitation department and then they could be allowed to keep the street clean There is no telling how much Pepsi paid Elkington for the naming rights to the Handy Park pavilion,plus the money he's receiving from the billboards and advertisement on the sides of buildings.

When will the local media become interested in the fact that Elkington collects nearly $200,000 a month in rent payments and keeps it all as though the money collected is his. Has memphis media decided that since Elkington is married to Valerie Calhoun of FOX13 that the story about the stealing of funds for 25 years and the city allowing it to happen is of no interest.

I have been able to get my hands on many documents concerning this issue like the Profit and Loss statement that gives a report from January 1998- December 2004. This report which you can click to enl;arge shows an income of $9,762,988.19 after expenses the P&l shows a profit of $7,933,467.62. John Where's our money?

It's time to quit playing around with John Elkinton and call for full disclosure of all sets of books that he has pertaining to beale Street, This community needs to know how much of memphis money is being used around the country.

I have met with merchants from beale who feel that Elkington is holding back the progress of the street and that he's overstated his welcome. The city upon looking at Elkingtons history will feel that it's time to get paid. Also after the city council relizes that J.Richard Rossi, Elkington's attorney and business partner in many projects Is the same Rossi who's being sued for taking $1,533,000 from a client,and the attorney who placed Elkington's name in the will of Earnest Withers, they will demand that he gives up his tenure on Beale.

The city should place liens on all his properties both in Memphis and other cities forcing him to come up with all past due monies,and any in the future until he's driven from the street. Elkington is in violation of a Chancery Court order which will be dealt with next week. And since he has no respect for the law,maybe criminal charges could be filed.

There are merchants on Beale that have already bought the lumber and is building his coffin I've got plenty of nails, And the mayor has the hammer, John where do you want to be buried? Resign now, pay the money, and get off Beale Street and let the street progress.

IS John Elkington Using Your Money To Finance projects In Other States?

John Elkington CEO of Performa Real Estate and Entertainment Who has not paid the City Of Memphis millions that are due since 1983,and was given a office to manage the Beale Street Historic District for just $1.00 per year has added injury to insult. Elkington has been operating businesses in other states using his Beale Street office as the corporate offices for these out of state corporations.

Elkington has corporations both in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana using the office address of 203 Beale. It is widely believed by myself and merchants on Beale that Elkington has been using the money that belongs to the City of Memphis to finance projects in these states. It's bad enough that he want pay the city but to use Memphis money to finance projects in other states is criminal.

What Elkington does not know is that Mayor Willie Herenton is putting together an investigated team that's rumored to feature former city Attorney Sara Hall on loan from the airport to put a case together against him. The mayor is very concerned after learning that Elkington perhaps owes this city nearly $20 million dollars or more.

On Tuesday at the Audit Committee meeting of the City Council I will present proof that the city is owed millions. Also present will be Randell Catron Executive of Beale Street Development Corp. who has the contract with Elkington to manage the street. Also present will be knowledgeable CPA's who are aware of what should have been paid to the city by Elkington,plus merchants from Beale Street who feel that if the street is to progress Elkington and Performa must leave the street.

The group will ask the council to use their subpoena power to force Elkington to come before the council to present all the sets of books that he has concerning Beale Street. He will be asked to produce profit and loss statements and proof of any debt that he feels in owed to him by the city. He will also be asked if Beale Street has been used as collateral for any loans or projects around the country.

Elkington will be asked to produce all monies due the city since 1983 in one lump sum, not in increment payments,because he should have the money since he has been collecting rent from the businesses on Beale.

Also prepared for him is a lawyer ready to file a "Writ of Mandamus" which would be filed against the City Of Memphis forcing the city to go to Chancery Court and filed a "Contempt Of Court" charge againt performa for not following the order of Chancery Court when he was 'ORDERED" to place all monies into an escrow account, which he has never done.

The Mayor wants him gone, The merchants want him gone, The city wants it's money. And I want stop until he's gone, So John what is it going to take for you to understand that your services are no longer needed.

John someone else is looking at you, Here's an email I received tonight from Trenton N.J.:

Hello sir,

My name is Greg Forester and I am Trenton NJ resident. Someone recently showed me your blog, on which there are numerous damning articles about Performa LLC. They have been slated to do a project here in Trenton. I have read your blog and I am willing to bet those moneys that this Mr. Elkington never gave to Memphis are probably being spent in Trenton.

I want to write something about this in my blog http://ruinsoftrenton.blogspot.com, but I still don't quite understand the whole problem. I was wondering if you could e-mail me with a simple explanation of Mr. Elkington's bad business practices, which would fit right in with the leadership in Trenton.

Thanks!
Greg Forester

Carol May Have To Return To Memphis

The FBI's probe into wrong doing within Memphis City Schools, and the poor management at the Nutrition Center both fall into the lap of former School Superintendent Carol Johnson. While many in this community thought that Johnson was going a great job, was she cutting deals to either enrich herself or others, or cut deals with poli-trick-ans to get her budget approved?

Many in this community who are unaware of the procedures of the school system are lead to believe that the school board is the reason things have went so bad within the school system. But whatever has gone wrong in Memphis City Schools is the fault of Carol Johnson

School board members only vote on the recommendations of the Supt. and her staff. The bids are placed in the newspaper and then received by Carol Johnson's staff. Then there is a screening process to see which company has the highest score, For example there are requirements that the school system looks for as far as a construction company is concerned, and the company that's able to come closet to the requirements is generally chosen by the Supt and her staff. The entire board may never know what other companies submit a bid,because the staff has chosen who THEY think is best for the job.

Than the Supt. and her staff presents their findings to the School Board for approval. So the question must be asked was there a deal cut at Carol Johnson's level? Is it possible that Johnson who needed the votes of both Tom Marshall and BruceThompson gave them what they wanted to get her budget approved? The buck stopped with the $210,000.00 lady that was in charge

Here's some info that you may find important. This was written in January of this year:

I noticed that the CA followed the story I reported first several days ago concerning the fact that H&M construction Company did not receive the highest scores that the Memphis City School's staff uses to award contracts. In fact the Selection Committee of Lavon Alston, James Bacchus, Ken Ruby, Ann Terrell,And Clair Jones,All gave the highest scores to Turner Universal of Nashville the highest score. In fact one member wrote "BEST QUALIFIED" beside Turner's name on their "Construction Management Comparative Analysis" sheet'So why was H&M Construction awarded the contract? Was it because they had the lowest bid of $ 46,618.911 compared to Turner's bid of $52,656,894?

The system states that while the cost factor is very important, knowing that the you have the builder is just as important. When I look at the bids of the other top contenders I notice that their bids are all comparative. Heery International of Nashville $51,937,508, Flintco-Bricks of Memphis $50,384,923, Montgomery Martin of Memphis $51,610,094, W.G.Yates of Philidephia Ms $64,206,927, Zellner/Caroma/SMS of Memphis $49,989,840.One thing that the CA forgot to tell you was that H&M went over budget by $3,000,000.


It seems that after the contract was award there were new specifications added to the building of Manassas High School. Why wasn't these specs included in the original proposal And who thought that these changes were needed? When I asked School board member Wanda Halbert to check into it she was told by a staff member that they thought that Tom Marshall had requested the changes.


Halbert has asked the staff to full the minutes of the meeting where the request was made.Was the bid of H&M bidded low because they knew that they had a friend who served as an advisor to the Selection Committee. The same friend that was also a friend to their consultant Former County Commissioner Bruce Thompson. The CA reported last Sunday that Marshall stated that Thompson called him and told him that he had put a winning team in place. Why did Thompson make this call to Marshall? Did Marshall get a cut of the deal? Did he as an advisor recommend H&M to the Selection Committee because he and Thompson were working together?The biggest question is if Marshall recommended the change to Manassas who gave him the authority to make those changes after the board had already awarded the contract.


Before the school board votes on any project the staff who along with their professional staff that deals with construction makes the recommendation to the board. It's a normal process by which if Carol Johnson's staff recommends something the board goes along with it. It's my thought that the board who is elected by the people should not always follow Johnson's lead but look into matters themselves when it comes to spending taxpayers money. But if you know nothing about construction I guess you follow the suggestions of those who know.So If Marshall and Thompson were working together on this deal I wonder how much they really made?

Friend Of School Board Commissioner Admits To Receiving $2,000 Without Her Friend's Knowledge

Toni Blankenship and School Board member Wanda Halbert have been personal friends for many years,and as friends they are often seen together. Toni has also been a confidant that travels to various meeting with Halbert so the single commissioner does not have to travel alone. So it was not unusual for Blankenship to be with Halbert when she attended a meeting called by then County Commissioner Bruce Thompson.

Halbert didn't find it strange in 2004 when she received a call from Thompson wanting to meet her,she thought that since she was running for re-election that he either wanted to talk to her about her campaign,or Memphis City Schools. Upon arriving at the meeting Halbert states that she was totally surprised that Thompson was not alone. Thompson had brought to the meeting without disclosing to Halbert Kirby Salton, a black contractor working with H&M Construction the company that was paying Thompson to be their consultant to help them receive the contract to build Manassas High School.

Halbert felt very uncomfortable with the presence of Salton,and states that she stayed long enough to be polite and told Salton that it was time for black contractors to get their own contract and stop being the front for white contractors. Halbert states that at that time Salton asked her,"What Can we do to help your campaign" Halbert answers "Just pray for me". At this time She gets up from the table to leave, her and Thompson walk up front leaving Salton and Blankenship walking behind.

Halbert states that at this time Thompson asked her to step to the side for conversation away from Salton who hands Blankenship who he knows two envelopes containing $1,000 each. Halbert states that she did not see the transaction between Salton and Toni,and did not find out about it until October 18 of this year when she was questioned by the FBI.

Halbert states that Blankenship has told her that she did in fact take the money and meant to turn it in to the treasurer, but placed the money in a box at the campaign office where Toni states that the money came up missing. Halbert can not understand why her friend would take the money and why she wouldn't tell her that she had. It's also hard for Halbert to believe that the money came up missing but she can only go by what Blankenship says.

Upon finding out about the $2,000 Halbert quickly amended her campaign disclosure to show the money as a financial contribution from both Thompson and Salton. It was not on her disclosure because she didn't know about the money. The reason for the amendment is because Toni admitted to receiving the money from Salton who had asked "What can we go for your campaign"which is the reason that she added Thompson name as one of the contributors, feeling that Thompson had to be one of the 'WE".

Blankenship has admitted to the FBI and testified today before the Grand Jury that she did in fact receive the $2,000 without the knowledge of Halbert and that she placed the money in a box at the campaign office, and that the money came up missing. Halbert states that she has done nothing wrong and has told the FBI everything that they wanted to know. her attorney Harold Archibald stated after today's hearing that Halbert was only a witness and not a target.

John Elkington's Attorney Accused Of Stealing A Million Dollars From A Client.Would He help John Steal Millions From Beale Street?

According to a lawsuit that has been filed in Chancery Court J.Richard Rossi the attorney for John Elkington who has refused to pay the City of Memphis millions of dollars due that have been collected since 1983, and also the attorney who wrote Elkington into the will of Earnest Withers as executor of the estate has been accused of stealing $1 million dollars from a client.

Rossi took more than $1 million from a client who had given him power of attorney to handle her banking, legal matters and bill payments, according to the recent Chancery Court suit filed on behalf of Darrelle B. Miller. Miller said Rossie began writing unauthorized checks and making wire transfers on her accounts payable to the law firm Rossie, Luckett & Ridder or to himself for services never performed or for inflated amounts to which she did not agree.

The lawsuit, filed by attorneys R. Mark Glover and John Branson, said that between Aug. 10, 2004, and Aug. 9, 2007, Rossie wrote 29 unauthorized checks and made four wire transfers on Miller’s account totaling nearly $1.2 million.

Rossi has represented John Elkington in his quest to find ways not to fulfill his contract with Beale Street Development, and to not pay the City of Memphis millions of dollars in rents that have not been collected since 1983 even though Elkington collects in access of $125,000 monthly.

Is it fair to think that an attorney that would steal a million dollars from a client,add the name of John Elkington to a will without the family's knowledge,would help Elkington steal millions from Beale Street?

According To The City Charter Mayor Herenton Has The Right To Veto And Sue The City Council

Even though the CA posted a cartoon in Sunday's newspaper making a joke of Mayor Willie Herenton's veto of the City Council's resolution to hire their own staff,and his statement that he will sue the council,if they did their homework they would know that according to the City Charter, the mayor is correct when he states that the council does not have the power to appoint their staff.

The mayor has never gotten involved in the hiring and firing of council staff, but the power to appoint, hire and fire city employees is within the power of the mayor. The charter states that the mayor is CEO of the City of Memphis and is vested with and shall exercise the administrative power of the city.

The charter goes on to state that the mayor shall be authorized to administer, supervise and control all divisions,boards,agencies, offices,and employees of the city. seeing that the council's staff are city employees he if he chooses has power and control over them.

The charter also states that "Subject to provisions of the charter including civil service regulations thereof,and ordinances, the mayor shall appoint and when necessary for the good of the people.may suspend or remove any employees of the City of Memphis,including any appointive officers.

There is no provision in the City Charter for the council to hire or fire anyone . The power of the council is to have the legislative power of the city and to have the right to fix the tax rate and to approve and adopt all budgets. in fact the Charter states that the council shall not exercise executive or administrative powers nor interfere in the operation of the administrative divisions. For the council to be able to hire and fire staff would give them administrative power that the Charter does not allow.

But if the Council wants to use power, the Charter does state that they shall have full power to adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of the council. In other words the council only has power over it's self. Sorry CA but according to the City Charter the mayor is right on his decision to veto and sue, So who now has pie on their faces?

Click on the pages to enlarge and read the City Charter Pertaining To The Office Of Mayor of Memphis.

Ulysses Jones To Appear Tonight On "Express Yourself"

State Representative Ulysses Jones will appear on my radio talk show,"Express Yourself" tonight at 6pm on AM 990 KWAM. We will discuss his push to change some of the provisions of the state's Sunshine Law.

Jones wants to allow several members of a public body to meet privately provided a majority of the body's members are not present. In a conversation with him he stated to me that presently two members of a public body can not be seen talking to each other without the threat of violating the Sunshine Law. He also stated that sitting next to a member of a public body by another member of a public body is considered a chance meeting.

Jones stated that he doesn't want to infringe on the public's right to know, but feels that provisions go overboard. Tune in tonight to hear the views of Jones on this matter, or call in with your questions at 260-5926. You can also hear the show on the world wide web at KWAM990.com

Have You Seen Him

Since Herman Morris was defeated so badly on October 4, he has not been seen,so this is an all points bulletin WHERE IS HERMAN MORRIS? Has he gone back into law practice,or has he left town? After finding out he has no support in the black community will he try to get his old job back with the NAACP?

Special Prosecutor Needs To Ask FBI About Form 302

Even with the press and Richard Fields doing there best to discredit Gwen Smith for being used by power brokers like Nick Clark to bring down Willie Herenton and to attempt to keep him from seeking a fifth term as mayor,there are several points that can't be denied because the parties involved have confessed to them.

First of all Nick Clark has confessed to providing the money given to Smith by Richard Fields, clark has also admitted that a meeting took place at his home between the FBI and Smith, Russell Gwatney has admitted that he was asked to provide Smith with a Yukon, so why is Gwen's story of political corruption by powerful white men hard to believe?

It is believed in circles that Nick Clark wants to be called "St. Nick" and that he and all his millions are on a mission the right the evils of the world. Clark who held his own investigation into the now closed "Martini Room" was able to get District Attorney Bill Gibbons to raid the club. Normal citizens can't even get him to fight crime on the street but Clark was able to get Gibbons to do his bidding. It's rumored by sources that Clark used Guardsmark investigative division to go into the club to find "Evil" going on and to report back to him, which if true brings in another local rich power broker in the person of Ira Lipman.

Because Nick believes that "God" has him on some great mission is he behind the Guardsmark white vans that was seen taking pictures on Beale Street at Club 152, another spot that Clark thinks stinks with sin? How do I know that the vans belong to Guardsmark? because the tag numbers were taken down and traced back. Like the "Martini Room" Club 152 on week ends catered musically to a hip hop crowd, which Clark thinks is "Damnation to the soul"

But lets look at Clark and the FBI, Gwen Smith stated on my radio show that she was taken to Clark's home by Richard Fields, FBI agent Bob Reicht opened the door and offered her coffee that he was in the kitchen making. Smith states that even though she never saw Clark she felt he was home. Smith was given a plan by the FBI agent who had promised to get her inside a prison to visit a boyfriend that was to be used also in the plot against Herenton.

Special Agent in Charge denies the presence of a FBI agent present at Nick Clark's home, but why would Smith lie, and why would Clark lie about the meeting at his home? But the bigger question is why would the FBI deny that an investigation was going on, unless it was not a sanction meeting,but a meeting put together by Clark using a agent he knew to make Smith think that she was part of a legit "Sting" on the mayor.

Special Prosecutor Joe Baugh who states that he plans to get to the bottom of this sordid tale needs to ask the FBI for FBI agent Bob Reicht's "FORM 302" which must be filled out if he interviewed and met with Gwen Smith.

FORM 302 is a FBI form that sums up an interview with a particular witness or suspect. Its a form that must be filled. There would be no tape recording of this meeting if reicht was working for the FBI and not Clark because a little known policy at the FBI keeps investigators from using one of the simplest and most effective tools in law enforcement, the tape recorder. That policy appears in Section 7 of the FBI's "Maunuel of Investigative Operations and Guidelines,which states: Use of tape recorders for the purpose of recording the statements of witnesses or suspects is permissible on a limited highly selective basis,and only when authorized by the SAC (Special Agent in Charge.

If Bob Reicht who gave Smith his card was working for the FBI, FBI policy was violated because according to the FBI manuel Standard FBI procedure calls for at least 2 agents to conduct interrogations, one asking questions and the other taking notes. The notes are used later to produce a typed summary known as FORM 302.

If a Federal agent was working solo at the request of Nick Clark then we have a agent involved in a criminal offense, if he was in fact working for the FBI there has to be a FORM 302 unless, The agent was on loan by the person in this area that controls the actions of the FBI, U.S. Attorney David Kustoff. Mr Baugh has his work cut out for him and there is no doubt that a crime has been committed, but is Joe Baugh willing to go after the power brokers involved in this matter? Is he willing to ask for the FORM 302? Is he willing to take on Multi millionaire Nick Clark? is he willing to take on Bob Reicht who was also the agent involved in going after strip club owner Ralph Lunati, who owned the club where the girls who were supposed to be going to Herenton's home worked.


Mr Baugh, let's see if Justice is really blind, some may suggest that FORM 302 is the wrong form because some will say that she was to be an informant instead of a operative,in that case ask for FORM 209. Tell you what, just let me give you all the forms that you may need:

Today, the bureau has hundreds of standard forms. To record contact with an informant, fill out Form FD-209. When getting married or divorced, complete Form FD-292. To report information gleaned from an interview that may later become testimony, use Form FD-302. To conduct a wiretap, file Form FD-472. To wire an informant with a body recorder and transmitter, submit Form FD-473. After traveling overseas for business or pleasure, report the experience on Form FD-772. Plan an arrest with Form FD-888. Open a drug investigation with Form FD-920.

FORM 302.......http://www.fpdnj.org/PDF/forms/IV-13%20FBI%20302.pdf

Sources State That John Elkington Has Misappropriated Beale Street Funds To Use On Other projects Around The Country

I'm hearing from sources close to Beale street That John Elkington is scrambling to place money in an escrow account that he should have placed funds in 5 years ago. A court order demanded that Elkington place all the monies due the City of Memphis at that time and in the future in an escrow account set up by the city.

In violation of the court order Elkington has never placed any money at all in the account but now that he knows that this issue is going before the City Council on November 6,2007 and that mayor Willie Herenton has vowed to find out where all the streams of money on Beale happens to be, he's trying to cover his tracks. This will not work because Many of the merchants on Beale Street want him gone,along with the mayor. Along with the fact that I have stacks of info on the street and his projects.

Sources close to both Elkington and Beale Street state that he will not be able to come up with all the money that belongs to the city because he has spent it on himself and his various projects around the country. If this is so John Elkington has willfully misappropriated city, state, and federal funds.

The city of Memphis has not received a dime of money due since Elkington received a contract from Beale Street Development to manage the Historic District. But during that time has created streams of money for his company Performa Real Estate and entertainment Company. Elkington is paid for all the advertising seen on buildings on Beale along with receiving the funds from the naming rights of Handy Park from Pepsi. Elkington receives 15% of the nearly $300,000 that merchants pay for security. And even though the businesses pay for security by the square footage of their buildings, Elkington provides to inside security.

Sources state that the reason that Elkington will not be able to come up with the money due the city of Memphis is because Memphis money is invested in Performa projects in other cities. The presentation that I will be making before the Audit Committe of the City Council will point out the streams plus the fact that Performa is in violation of both a court order and the contract between BSDC and its self. According to the contract between BSDC and Performa, Performa is to collect the rent payments and manage the street turn over the rent payments to BSDC and receive there 15% management fee,and BSDC would then turn in the balance after receiving their monthly budget.

In the council meeting I will ask that the council use their subpoena power to force Elkington to come before the council and answer why he violated the order of Chancery Court, and to give a full accounting of the monies due. I will also ask the council to force Elkington to reveal the amount of money that Pepsi paid for the naming rights of Handy Park and where that money was directed,and if he has any other contract with the beverage company.

I will further ask the council to force Elkington to explain why he receives a commission from the funds that merchants pay for security. Elkington needs to produce all records concerning where the leases on Beale have been used as collateral for loans for Performa. In a time in this city where police officers and firemen along with other city projects need funding John Elkington can no longer be allowed to use Beale Street as his on personal funding source.

If you read the posted Audit of Beale Street Mangement by the City of Memphis in 1989 you will see even when the Historic District had limited leasing,Elkington was using Beale Street funds to fund other projects that he owned,so now that Beale Street has mostly all its building leased what do you expect?

Performa Projects in other cities, Is it funded by the Citizens of Memphis?
Click to read: http://www.performaentertainment.com/newdevelopments.htm

COMING TOMORROW DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT JOHN ELKINGTON WAS NOT THE DEVELOPER OF BEALE STREET AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUNDING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

Political Trickery Going On In District 6

Several weeks prior to the October 4, city elections I revealed a plot by David Upton and Karl Schledwitz to take control of the Memphis City Council by selecting candidates that wanted to be elected so badly that they would sell their souls to political power brokers.

Upton and Schledwitz had the blessings of "Memphis Tomorrow" a group of wealthy power brokers who want to shape as they state on their website "the future of Memphis". This group was willing to invest according to the plan that I was able to get my hands on thousands of dollars in the campaigns of Bill Morrison,Henry Hooper,Reginald Milton, Veronica Castillo, Davida Cruthird,and Ian Randolph.

After the revelation was made on this site and my campaign on "Express Yourself" to inform the community of this attempt to take control, of the council because the group knew that Willie Herenton would win re-election and they sought to control him through the council, they all lost,and lost badly. Bill Morrison being the only white in the race for district 1 has made it to the run off against Stephanie Gatewood which I expect him to lose.

After this great defeat of the plans of Upton and Schledwitz they sought to get involved in the District 6 race. David Upton made a call to Edmund Ford Jr. wanting to involved himself in the young Ford's campaign, Edmund Jr. told him that he didn't need or want his support. At this point Upton made a call to Edmund Ford Sr who he was not able to reach at first. Edmund Ford Sr. did return his call with me being present. Upton wanted to know how much money that Ford Jr. had, Ford Sr. told him that he didn't think that was his business and like his son told him "thanks but no thanks".

Enters James Obbie Catchings who had been stating that he had no money to campaign in the runoffs, in fact on October 5, the same day that Upton was making his calls to the Fords I contacted Catchings to see if he was going to continue his advertisement on this site and my radio program, he told me he had no more money and was going to have to raise some.

Edmund Ford Jr.'s radio spots continued because on the 5th I received a check from them. On Monday the 8th Ford's spots were aired and Catchings was not because he had not paid. In fact someone called in on the air that night wanting to know why Catchings commercial was not running,I stated because he hadn't paid for the spots to continue. On the morning of the 9th Catchings called stating that he had some money and to come by his home to pick up a check,which I did.

I noticed several days later that District 6 was beginning to be covered with "Catchings" signs, even the large expensive 4X4's,suddenly there was an influx of cash in the Catchings campaign. I started to check around and the report came back that Edmund Ford was the favorite to win the election sine he received 8,600 votes compared to Catchings 4,400 votes,but since the Ford's had turn Upton down Upton now had entered the campaign of Catchings.

During the campaigns of Henry Hooper and Veronica Castillo, Upton designed negative mailouts to send out attacking Janis Fullilove and Barbara Swearingan Ware. The mailouts were very colorful and deceitful, full of misinformation and illusions.

Now James Catchings has one of the same mailouts, very expensive for a man who just several weeks stated he had no money and also deceiving with and illusion that Catchings is being endorsed by Mayor Willie Herenton.

The posted picture is the back of the mailout that was sent out on last week, as you can see various pictures were cut from other pictures to create the mailout. There is a picture of Willie Herenton made to appear to be standing in a picture with Catchings. Upton must think that the citizens of District 6 are very stupid to believe that this picture is true. First of all for Herenton to be taking a picture with Catchings there is to much distants between the two. Secondly Catchings is dressed as though he's at a formal event, so why is Herenton dressed in a Polo shirt?

But must importantly, Willie Herenton Has not endorsed in this race,and his image was used without his permission. I personally asked the mayor about this matter and the mayor stated that he's known Catchings for many years but that he was not endoring anyone in the District 6 race. He also stated that he had known Edmund Ford Jr. most of his life and felt it would be improper for him to involve himself in this race.

David Upton's plan was to give the appearance that the mayor is endorsing Catchings so as to pick up the votes of Herenton supporters in the district. Catchings has allowed himself to become a part of political trickery,and is deceiving the citizens of the district even before he could get elected. While James Catchings may be a nice guy who just wants to get elected, the very act of getting involved with political tricksters like David Upton shows that his price for deceit is cheap.

While having many signs on the street corners is good, signs don't vote people do. While Catchings signs are many on the streets Edmund Ford Jr's signs are many in the yards of the citizens of the the district, I wonder if Catchings knows what that means?

New Feature: Open Mike Fridays

This is a new feature I'm adding to the blog. On Fridays I will have open conversation where the subject is open for discussion. There are subjects that I don't get a chance to write about so here's your chance to not get deleted for being out subject, But I will delete all reprints any other printed material. The purpose of this feature is to have open conversation about issues without the personal bullshit, if this feature is abused the whole post will be deleted

Whats your feeling on crime and violence in Memphis City Schools?

with the grand jury meeting next Tuesday we can expect indictments, but who do you think will be indicted and why?

Well I've given you something to start off with, what can you add?

Merchants On Beale Getting Ripped Off By John Elkington For Security Services

Merchants on Beale Street are paying nearly $300,000 a year for security for the historic district, of which John Elkington receives 15%. Many merchants on the street can not understand why Elkington is receiving a fee when according to the contract that he has with Beale Street Development he receives 15% of the rent paid by the merchants. But in Elkington's case he's keeping all the money,so why is he receiving a fee for providing a private security firm?

This is just another example of the business practices of John Elkington who has turned Beale Street into his own personal piggy bank. Visitors to the street would feel more secure in the area if Memphis Police had a greater presence on the street. Surely many off duty police officers who are allowed to wear their uniforms when doing private security could use the $300,000 instead of young under trained unarmed guards.

If the many millions of dollars that John Elkington has not turned over to BSDC and the city of Memphis were paid the $300,000 the merchants are paying could be eliminated because there would be more money to fund Police services,which would allow Trained officers to work instead of $9.00 per hr guards who could not handle a real security threat.

Elkington has created a plan to rip the Beale Street Merchants off, when it comes to their payments for the unarmed guards. Even though the security guards are not protecting the inside of clubs on the street, the businesses are charged for the square footage of their businesses.

The posted pictures show the square footage of Businesses on Beale,and the amount they pay for security based on that square footage. Also shown is what is paid for different type of security positions. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Mayor Herenton Vows To Take Control Of Beale Street Missing Funds

Mayor Willie Herenton has vowed to take control of the problem of missing funds on Beale street. At lunch today I showed the mayor a draft of a lease agreement that John Elkington has had his attorney draw up where his company Performa takes charge of Beale Street. The Mayor after reading the agreement stated that there is no way that that document would ever get his signature.

The mayor told me that when he came into office 16 years ago John Elkington presented a bill for $2.5 million dollars but could not show what the money was owed for. The Mayor went on to state that every City Attorney under his tenure has tried to deal with the financial shambles of the money due the city from Beale Street. The mayor promised that he will get to the bottom of why the city has not been paid.

The mayor admits that he has not given Beale Street the attention that was needed and was not aware of all the details of the agreement between the city and Beale Street Development that goes back to an arrangement made between former mayor Wyeth Chandler and BSDC. Over lunch the mayor read much of the material on the agreement that I had with me and stated that he was ready to do what it takes to get the funds due the City of Memphis. The mayor also stated that he wanted John Elkington gone from the street.

The mayor is aware of my presentation that will take place on November 6, before the Audit Committee of the City Council,and agrees that this issue has gone on to long. In his promise to do some things differently in the next 4 years Beale Street and the missing funds has just been brought to the front burner.

The pictures posted are the pages of the lease agreement that John Elkington had drawn up by his attorney Richard Rossi. In this agreement Elkington wants BSDC to turn over it's rights to the master leases to him and give his company Performa control of The Historic District along with Handy Park for 50 years. When you read this contract By Elkington who has not paid BSDC or the city since 1983,who is in contempt of a court order, who has created streams of income from the street without authorization from anyone, You will understand why the mayor wants Elkingon gone.

John Elkingon Has Willfully Violated A Order Of The Court Concerning Beale Street Funds

I have asked and been granted a presentation before the Audit Committee of the Memphis city Council on November 6,2007 to finally bring the issue of the millions of dollars that belong to the city of Memphis that John Elkington has refused to pay since 1983 in his role as owner of Performa Real Estate and Entertainment the management company under contract through Beale Street Development Corporation.

According to his contract with BSDC Elkington is to collect the rent from tenants who have businesses in the Historic District,receive 15% as his payment after turning over the funds to BSDC who has the sole responsibility of turning over funds to the city. Elkington has no contract with the city,and any dealings that the city has had with him is a violation of the partnership agreement that the city has with BSDC. But the city does have the power to question where the funds that belong to the city are.

The meeting on November 6th will allow BSDC to explain to the city for the very first time that the reason that they have not turned over funds is because Elkington has refused to turn over funds to them. BSDC will ask the city council to use their subpoena power to force Elkington to appear before the council to explain where the missing millions are, how much Pepsi paid for the naming rights to Handy Park, how much money he's making off the signage on the street,and who authorized him to make these side deals.

Elkington will also be asked why he's making 15% of the money paid by merchants for security. But the biggest question that will be asked and should be of great interest to the council and every citizen of this community, Is why has he violated a court order to place all funds from Beale Street in an Escrow account.

The city has tried to put pressure on BSDC which is the community group that was able to secure the funding to redevelope Beale Street to pay the money in the past, but has never put pressure on Elkington to pay BSDC. In 2001 the city told John Elkington that since he had a disagreement with BSDC about his role according to his contract,and that since he was trying to give the appearance that BSDC was not his employer to place all net revenues in an escrow account established by the City Of Memphis.

Elkington was given these instruction by then Deputy Director, Darrell Eldred, who gave Elkington the name of the bank along with the banck accounting number(Click on the letter to enlarge and read). Even though Elkington was told what to do with money that belonged to the city he did not follow the given instructions.

After John Elkington never turned over the money due the city,The city filed a complaint in Chancery Court in 2002 to force Elkington to place the funds in Escrow. The complaint made it known that the city of Memphis and BSDC are parties to a lease agreement concerning the properties on Beale Street. the complaint goes on to mention that BSDC and Performa are parties of a sublease dated November 29,1982.

The complaint points out that section 4 of the sublease agreement requires Performa to pay certain funds to BSDC and section4 of the lease agreemnt requires BSDC to pay certain funds to the city Of Memphis. It goes on to say that a dispute currently exists as to the disbursement of such funds under the sublease agreement.

The order signed by Chancellor Wil V. Doran states that "Pending further orders of this court any funds that Performa would disburse to BSDC and/or the city pursuant to Section 4 of the sublease and/or Section 4 of the lease should be maintained in escrow".

The Chancellor states: IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED,AND DECREED that Performa shall pay to the receiver any current or future funds that would be paid to BSDC and/or the city pursuant to Section 4 of the subleaseAgreement and/or Section 4 of the lease Agreement and that the receiver shall hold such funds in escrow in a separate interest bearing account pending further orders of the court.

John Elkington is in contempt of court because he has never placed any funds in the account. Elkington has willfully violated the orders of a court which makes him a criminal,with criminal intent.

But why has Elkington violated the court order, is it because the money no longer exist? Or has he used funds ordered into escrow by the court to finance other Performa projects around the country? The city has allowed him to willfully violate this order for 5 years without returning to court to let the Chancellor know that his order has been violated?

Has Elkington paid someone in city government off to keep this issue in the dark, why wouldn't the city pursue the matter of taking charge of millions of dollars due tyhis city. How now can any council member turn their back to this issue when this city needs funds to give raises to police and fireman, and to maintain services thats needed in this city.

Since I am aware that city leaders read this site daily I urge them to do the right thing for this city amd force John Elkington to turnover the millions that's due this city or turn him over to the District Attorney for willful intent to defraud the city of Memphis. This matter should be turned over also to the Chancery Court for a Contempt of Court hearing.

John this issue will not go away, resign and turn over the money, By the way I have a copy of your draft contract to the city where you want to do away with BSDC and have total control of Beale Street,I will post it tonight. Also I will be making the Chancery Court aware that you have violated a direct order of the court

Click on the documents to enlarge

It's Time For Tamara To Do Some Real Time To Save Her Life

Tamara Mitchell Ford today tricked an old man who had borrowed a car to go to the V.A. hospital. The elderly gentleman left his keys with Ford so that she could keep warm and listen to the radio, But keys in the hand of Ford was a signal to take a drive and a drink and ended up in East Memphis tail ending a truck that hit another car.

Ford who should not have been driving at all was arrested for an outstanding contempt of court warrant and who also had the smell of alcohol will most likely go to jail after leaving the MED. It is my opinion that it's time for Ford to do some real time to save her life and the life of others driving the streets of Memphis.

It seems that Tamara has no desire to stop drinking or driving, a judge that would release her back on the streets is endangering this community. Ford doesn't seem to want anything in life but ex-husband John Ford, and with all that is on his plate I'm sure she's the last thing on his mind.

Steve Cohen Does Not Have To Worry About L.Lie-Silly Gray

L.Lie-Silly Gray has asked the Congressional Black Caucus not to get involved in next year's re-election of Steve Cohen to Congress. This pastor who operated an illegal daycare that was raided by DHS in 2000 with nearly 100 children present pretends as though he cares for the black community but only cares about whose going to give him the next dime.

It's a known fact That Gray supports Nikki Tinker who may or may not be a democrat, who has only been in Memphis for several years and is receiving money from all over the country including contributions from republicans. It is also believed that Tinker who works for Pinnacle Airlines, the same airline that gave several black preachers a free airplane ride around Memphis is the "Airline candidate.

It's believed that Gray has aligned himself with Tinker looking for a pay day and has promised contributors close to the Tinker campaign that he can deliver votes. But if his benefactors look at how he screwed up getting A.C. Wharton to run for Mayor,and how he screwed up getting Herman Morris elected after Wharton decided not to run, they know they have nothing in Lie-Silly Gray.

In an attempt to cast a negative shadow on Congressman Cohen, Gray masterminded a plot to lie about the "Hate Crime" bill using black preachers in Memphis who have never read the bill for themselves to make "uninformed Christians" think that the bill could get preachers arrested if they preach against homosexuality. Gray knows that this is not the case but knew that the preachers would take his lieing word for it.

Gray attempt to tell the Congressional Black Caucus what to do will fall on death ears and you can expect endorsements from many of the black congressman for Cohen. Tinker should distant herself from Lie-Silly because I can assure her that he will be stripped naked and get his political ass whupped doing next years campaign.

Steve Cohen has done more in 10 months in congress than Harold Ford Jr. did in 10 years. Cohen's record of service doing his tenure in congress will be placed against the non service of Tinker's, plus the source of many of her contributions will come under question.

Tinker's being black will not be enough to get her elected, plus she will not be the only black in the race. L.Latroy Williams who recently lost the race to become City Court Clerk,already has signs up. State Representative Joe Towns also plans to run, plus I'm sure you will see the return of Jake Ford running as a democrat instead of an independent. So the results of the congressional race for the 9th district may mirror last years election with Cohen being the only white candidate.

Lie-Silly get ready, your silly ass is about to get the political beating of your life, because there are many factions, of which I won't speak of now that will have your candidate flying the friendly skies, and not walking the halls of congress

The Fed's Can't Get One Without The Other

There has been a rumor for months that there would be more political corruption indictments before the end of the year. In this mornings CA the newspaper is reporting that the grand jury will convene on next week,and that School board member and city council elect Wanda Halbert will be a witness.

Halbert will testify as to the business practices of Memphis City School which she admits many times are suspect but wanted me to make sure I made it known that anything that comes to the board has been worked and approved by the administration of the school system. In other words if anything shady went down concerning Bruce Thompson and his consulting deal with Memphis City Schools,Carol Johnson was aware of it,maybe this explains her quick departure from Memphis.

It is also a know fact that city councilman Tom Marshall played a role in Thompson's consulting deal by placing a call to him concerning the building of Manassas High School. It was reported that Marshall had received at least $20 million dollars as a consultant also for Memphis City Schools. It would seem that Marshall as a city councilman who votes for the approval of a budget that includes him getting paid would have a conflict. So is the reason that he did not run for re-election due to his being probed also by the Fed's.

Wanda Halbert who is only a witness and not a target of investigation by the FBI states that she will tell all she knows concerning the "going on's" at the system. Halbert has been called a trouble maker in the past for trying to bring up issues that other board members and Carol Johnson didn't want to discuss,but now everything is about to come out in the open

Many of you may not remember all the facts concerning Bruce Thompson's role in making sure that the construction company that he was consulting for got the contract to build Manassas High School,so Here's a reprint of a story I wrote January 28th of this year:


I noticed that the CA followed the story I reported first several days ago concerning the fact that H&M construction Company did not receive the highest scores that the Memphis City School's staff uses to award contracts. In fact the Selection Committee of Lavon Alston, James Bacchus, Ken Ruby, Ann Terrell,And Clair Jones,All gave the highest scores to Turner Universal of Nashville the highest score. In fact one member wrote "BEST QUALIFIED" beside Turner's name on their "Construction Management Comparative Analysis" sheet'


So why was H&M Construction awarded the contract? Was it because they had the lowest bid of $ 46,618.911 compared to Turner's bid of $52,656,894? The system states that while the cost factor is very important, knowing that the you have the builder is just as important. When I look at the bids of the other top contenders I notice that their bids are all comparative. Heery International of Nashville $51,937,508, Flintco-Bricks of Memphis $50,384,923, Montgomery Martin of Memphis $51,610,094, W.G.Yates of Philidephia Ms $64,206,927, Zellner/Caroma/SMS of Memphis $49,989,840.

One thing that the CA forgot to tell you was that H&M went over budget by $3,000,000. It seems that after the contract was award there were new specifications added to the building of Manassas High School. Why wasn't these specs included in the original proposal And who thought that these changes were needed? When I asked School board member Wanda Halbert to check into it she was told by a staff member that they thought that Tom Marshall had requested the changes. Halbert has asked the staff to full the minutes of the meeting where the request was made.

Was the bid of H&M bidded low because they knew that they had a friend who served as an advisor to the Selection Committee. The same friend that was also a friend to their consultant Former County Commissioner Bruce Thompson. The CA reported last Sunday that Marshall stated that Thompson called him and told him that he had put a winning team in place. Why did Thompson make this call to Marshall? Did Marshall get a cut of the deal? Did he as an advisor recommend H&M to the Selection Committee because he and Thompson were working together?

The biggest question is if Marshall recommended the change to Manassas who gave him the authority to make those changes after the board had already awarded the contract. Before the school board votes on any project the staff who along with their professional staff that deals with construction makes the recommendation to the board. It's a normal process by which if Carol Johnson's staff recommends something the board goes along with it. It's my thought that the board who is elected by the people should not always follow Johnson's lead but look into matters themselves when it comes to spending taxpayers money. But if you know nothing about construction I guess you follow the suggestions of those who know.

So If Marshall and Thompson were working together on this deal I wonder how much they really made? Hey Tom if you really want to prove how much you care about ethics, And really want to cleanse your soul give back the %5 million.

Where's The Beale Street Money To Go Before The City Council

The city of Memphis has not received one cent from Beale Street since 1983. John Elkington who owns Performa Real Estate and Management has a contract with Beale Street Development to collect rent and manage the Beale Street Historic District for 15% of the rent collected. Elkington has collected the rent for nearly 25 years but has never turned over any money.

If you have read all the posted stories concerning Elkington you will see that the city has allowed him to act as though the Street belongs to him without accountability. There is no doubt that he has millions of dollars in his possession that belongs to the City of Memphis, if that money has not been used for other Performa projects around the country.

Since it seemed as though no poli-trick-an has the balls to ask for the city's money, and ask that Elkington give up the millions that he has taken that could be used to hire more police officers,or pay the ones that the city already have. I have decided to push the issue through the city council, to force them to look at this issue and to demand payment.

Today I contacted City Councilman Deadrick Brittenum who chairs the Audit Committee for the council. I asked him to place me on his committee;s agenda on November 6,2007 to make a presentation of how much money the city should have received from Beale Street. With me will be Randel Catron Executive Director for Beale Street Development Corp.who is the city's only partner concerning beale Street. Catron has already contacted his CPA which will present the projected monies that should have been paid to the city.

I doubt if Elkington will appear, but hopefully he will so that he can answer where the money is that should be in the coffers of the city. If Elkington does not appear I will ask the council to use it's subpoena power to force Elkington to come before the council for full disclosure.

The Merchants on Beale pay at least $125,000 a month in just rent and percentages, which would total $1,500,00.00 per year and you multiply that by 25 years you have $37,000,000. Surely there have been expenses that could lower that number, but there has been no accountability to answer what those expenses were.

I will ask the Audit committee to reveal the contents of a audit done by the city in 1989,which has never been made public even to BSDC. I will also ask the council to force Elkington to come before the council and reveal where the money that he has never paid is, plus a full disclosure on all spending of those funds, I will ask the council to seek to find out from Performa if any proceeds that's due this city has been intermingled with projects in other cities,and if so seek to place liens on all his assets and freeze his accounts until payment is made.

It is also my intent to ask the council that if Elkington refuses to come forth, to submit this issue to the District Attorney's office for the filing of criminal charges. I will also ask Congressman Steve Cohen for an Congressional inquiry into this matter since the city received federal funds for the redevelopment of the Historic District. Councilman Brittenum has assured me that this matter will be on his committee's agenda on November 6th.Carol Chumney is the co chair and from listening to what she had to say when she was running for mayor she certainly wants to make sure that the city gets what it's due.

Sidebar: Why should the merchants be paying nearly $300,000 a year to a private security firm when that money could go to Memphis police Officers, especially when Elkington get 15% of the $300,000?

Is MLGW Vice President Giving Preferential Treatment To Her Alleged Lover, While Passing Over Female Employee's?

Some employees of MLGW are accusing Linda Peppers,Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the utility company of using her position to persuade a supervisor on October 11,2007 to hire her alleged lover Windsel McCray into a job that he did not apply for nor is qualified for according to employees.

I received a call from employees who didn't want me to see there faces, telling me about what was going on with peppers. The caller did not want me to see him/her but placed the letter on my car after I told the caller where my car would be parked downtown. I verified that McCray was an employee of MLGW,and I was already aware that Peppers was a Vice President.

The letter which can be read by scrolling down to the story posted yesterday on the subject,states that Peppers promised to increase McCray's salary to $89,000 and promised him a bonus at the first of the year,plus promoting him to a Level 4 position in 2009.

The employees state that they have complained to Richard Bowker and Peppers that McCray lacks the technical knowledge to supervise a team of technical developers. the employees go on to state that even though the team has contractors making between $100 and $150 per hour, McCray often leaves them idle without work assignments. They also state that he does not have a "game plan" on what direction to take to assist MLGW with stabilizing the HR/payroll system.

It's also stated that Peppers has a pattern of preferential treatment towards black men,which the letter points out several examples. She is also accused of gender discrimination where female employee's are payed less than there male counterparts. The letter states that female employee's who are named in the letter are working out of class but are not being compensated at the rate that is called for for the job. The employees state that they have spoken with Peppers concerning her mistreatment of female employee's where she repeatedly states that she will look into it or take care of it, but nothing happens.

The letter states that McCray was in the process of leaving the company and in the course of one day Peppers "took care of him" it goes on to say that McCray and Peppers are both single and have a non professional relationship outside the office. The employee's have promised to file a class action lawsuit against MLGW if something is not done to correct the VIP treatment of her boyfriend and the gender discrimination that they are accusing Linda Peppers of.

A spokesperson for MLGW stated to me today that the utility company is not taking this matter for granted and will launch an investigation to see if the charges of the employee's are founded.

Good Night Servant

To the Christian death is but an awaited transition that allows the soul to leave a earthly dwelling place and travel to the realm of peace where God resides. Death to the Christian is not a time for a funeral,but a time to celebrate the home going of a saint.

So we mourn not for Rev. Kenneth Twigg Whalum Sr., but rejoice in knowing that he is at peace with his God after giving up a body that was racked in sickness and pain. We can honestly say that he is with his God because scripture teaches us "That to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

May the angels who came to take him home on last evening safely place him in the bosom of him that K.T Whalum Sr preached and teached about,and lived to die for. Rest now servant of God you fought a good fight, you finished your course,so enjoy the reward that God has laid up for you. Walk Golden streets, enjoy the mansion prepared for you,Fly around and see the splendors of heaven. And all those who loved and admired you will see you in the morning. Good night servant.

MLGW Employee's State That Manager Is Giving Her Lover Special Treatment

If you click on the posted letter you will read what I received from employee's at MLGW. According to the letter that was left on my car parked downtown,Linda Peppers is showing preferential treatment to a man by the name of Windsel McCray who the letter states that Peppers has a non-professional relationship outside the office place.

It's alleged that on Thursday October 11,2007 Peppers attempted to persuade a supervisor to hire McCray for a job that he is not qualified for. The letter states that Peppers promised to increase McCray's salary to $89,000 annually and promised him a bonus after the first year.

The letter also points out that peppers has a history of doing hiring favors for black men within MLGW,while woman with more experience and seniority. The letter also points out that others are being bypassed by Peppers so that McCray can receive a high salary

The letter further shows that female employees are working out of class without being compensated,and that as news of McCray's increase spreads morale is being impacted. Employees are preparing to file a lawsuit seeking class action status if the matter is not solved expeditiously.

I don't mind McCray getting all the loving he can if this letter is true. He can screw her till her eyes roll in her head,from the front or back, but the rate payers shouldn't have to pay for it.

Surely the same people that went after Joseph lee will now go after Peppers and investigate this matter of "Preferential treatment". This action by Peppers if true is an abuse of authority and if the board allows this to happen they can prepare for a lawsuit from employees who feel that they are being treated unfairly. Maybe the Tap,Tap, Tap, that Peppers will hear will not be McCray "Tapping That Ass" but the FBI a Knocking at her door.

Click on the letter to read what MLGW employee's are saying

Woman Missing Since March Can't Get help From Memphis Police

Latoya Lusk AKA "Bree" has been missing since March 25, of this year. Today I sat down with her family whose very concerned that even though The city of Memphis police knows who she was last seen with, they want go after him because he left Memphis for California and the family states that the police has told them that travel to California has not been approved by Director Larry Goodwin.

Latoya who was a dancer at Christy's Cabaret on Mendenhall was last seen the evening of march 24 when she dropped off her child to spend the night with her mother Lynette Wilson. Wilson states that she would normally keep the 2 year old while Latoya worked, but begin to feel that something was wrong when she could not contact Latoya on Sunday.

Lynette Wilson states that she called her daughter numerous times on the 25th which was a Sunday and never got a response. On Monday the 26th she got a call from a friend of Latoya's by the name of "Nuk" who stated that Latoya's boyfriend DeAndre Tubbs had come by stating that Latoya had not come home, but that he got the impression something was wrong from a quick conversation he had with her.

Nuk stated that "D" as he's called stated that he called Latoya on her cell phone and she stated "You did say 30 didn't you?" "D" didn't know what she was talking about and stated that he heard a white man with an accent in the background.

Lynette Wilson filed a missing person's report with the police who found the rented car she was driving several days later at the Kroger's on Kirby Parkway, where Wilson states that Latoya's pocket book and a suitcase carrying her dance outfits were found.

The family states that a former boyfriend by the name of Travis contacted them stating that he overheard a black guy talking about this black dancer that had been with him and a white guy at Christy's. Travis according to the family inquired about the girl and found out that he was talking about Latoya. Travis finds out where Latoya was taken and tells Lynette who calls the police and they all go to 6545 Lost Oak #30. It's believed by Wilson that Latoya was trying to tell her boyfriend "D" where she was when she stated "You did say 30 didn't you?"

Lynette and family members state that they were told by the management of Christy's that she left work about 4Am on the 25th of March,and that she was walked to her car by security. Lynette further states that when she asked to see the surveillance tapes she was told that they had been erased.

The strange twist to this story is that a resident Jeremy Young of the apartment complex that is just blocks away from where Latoya's car was found states that he had seen seen Latoya and the guy who he only knew as "Jack"cooking and eating. Which would lead one to believe that "Jack" was someone that Latoya knew.

I'm told that police got a search warrant and search the apartment, Lynette Wilson states that she was told that there was blood found in the apartment but not enough for the 23 year old dancer to be dead. Police have not revealed whether her prints were found in the apartment. It's also known that "Jack" who is described as a white male maybe Hispanic moved quickly from the apartment and returned to California.

The family is very upset because the police has not told them as to whether or not "Jack's" prints were found in the rental car. In fact the family has been in contact with Joe Starks weekly of the homicide division of the Memphis police department trying to get information, but feel as though they are being brushed off.

The family states that they know that "Jack" is in California,and knows where he is, but can't go get him because travel expenses have not been approved by Larry Goodin. I know that this case has a lot of twists and turns but the fact remains that Latoya Lusk is missing. I just met this family this evening but in just checking her SS# I found that her SS# was used as late as July 6,of this year using the address of her grandmother on Neely Road. This means that either she is alive or someone is using her ID.

The question must be asked why won't the police director release funds to send officers to California? why also won't the police file charges against "jack" and have him picked up in California, since they have stated to the family that they know where he is? Why is it that Joe Starks,and Larry Goodwin seem not to care about this missing woman, is it because she was a dancer, or is it something else?

Click on the letter to enlarge, to read the letter sent to Memphis police

Now I Can Be Heard All Over The World

After a firewall problem has been resolved KWAM is now on the world wide web. You can tune into my show daily by clicking on to KWAM990.com . just go to the page and look for the listen live icon on the right of the page. I will be adding a link to KWAM's web page on this site within a few days.

The acddition of the internet will help in those areas around the city where the station is not reaching. It also allows the many readers of this site around the country and overseas to be able to listen in on what's happening in Memphis.

It has been suggested to me that I carry what I do to another level, and that's a Internet news station that can be broadcasted both on this site and on pod. It is known that by 2009 you will be able to view the Internet by way of your TV so I have plans to get in on the ground floor of that concept. But as for now make sure you stay tuned Mon-Fri from 6-7 CST for the most controversial radio talk show in Memphis, "The Thaddeus Matthews Show" where you are allowed to "Express Yourself".

John Where's The Money?

Here's a news script from News Channel 3 from may of 2006, that backs up the statements that I have been making concerning Beale Street and John Elkington

Memphis's Total Revenue On Beale Street Lease: May 24, 2006 06:37 PM PDT




MEMPHIS -- It's a 52-year lease spanning three city administrations, virtually unheard of in the private sector.

And for its first 22 years, the lease hasn't raised a single cent for the City of Memphis.

It's the City's lease with the Beale Street Development Corporation, created to spur the development and restoration of "The Home of the Blues." But 3 On Your Side has obtained the city attorney's response to a citizen's open records request, and it reveals arguments over Beale Street expenditures, a sub-lease and endless litigation has cost the City nearly $4 million in lost revenue from the lease.

"...the City has not received rent from the BSDC since 1982 to the present date," said Memphis City Attorney Sara Hall in her written response to the open records request.

Records show shortly after the lease was drawn up in 1982, the BSDC sub-leased it to Beale Street Management, also known as Performa, a Memphis entertainment real estate development company run by John Elkington.

According to Elkington, the city sued BSDC over the lease in 2002, alleging a breach of contract. But in a counter-suit by the BSDC, it alleges between 1982 and 2001, Elkington didn't pay any of the $15,000 a month his company agreed to pay BSDC under the sublease. Elkington told 3 On Your Side he failed to pay because the City owed him money in unreimbursed costs for the operation and initial restoration of Beale Street.

BSDC's counter-suit also says in both 1989 and 1995, City audits recommended the City terminate the lease and seek another development company to run Beale Street's restoration. The counter-suit alleges no action was ever taken.

It also says in 2001, Elkington was finally reimbursed close to $2 million in unpaid expenditures and was ready to honor the sub-lease, but the city refused to allow Elkington to pay BSDC. Randle Catron, Executive Director of the BSDC, said the city has also refused to budget the money for future Beale Street development.

"They have told (Elkington) to forward the money to a Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City, " said Catron. "They've given him extra duties that don't fall under the lease to do. That has caused him to not be able to pay us."

"There have been various city officials assigned the responsibility of overseeing activities on Beale Street over the years, many of whom are no longer employed with the city," explained Hall in her open records response letter.

Elkington denied any money has been deposited in a New York City bank account. He added Catron and the BSDC still owe the development project some $200,000 in unpaid expenses. He said until the BSDC and the city can settle their lawsuits, he's not paying anybody.

"Because if I pay the wrong person, than I have certain liabilities, too," said Elkington. "I can't write a check."

John Candy, attorney for the BSDC, said the Tennessee Supreme Court has named an independent chancellor to settle the arguments over the lease. A court date has not been set. Elkington said despite the nearly $4 million in lost revenue from the lease, the city has more than made up for that with $27.5 million in Beale Street sales tax revenues since 1985.

What Elkington fails to understand is that even though the city had received $27.5 million is sales tax revenue it does not give him the authority to steal the rent money due to the city. Plus it does not give him the authority to enter into contracts that he solely profits from. If the money was never placed in Chase Manhattan, where is the money?

Catron Says John Elkington Wants Off Beale

On Saturday John Elkington owner of Performa Real Estate and Entertainment, the company that has a contract solely with Beale Street Development Corporation and not the City of Memphis to manage the historic district,that has not turned in one cent of the millions collected in rent since 1983, told Randell Catron Executive Director of BSDC that he wants out of Beale Street.

According to Catron , Elkington states that after 20 plus years he's ready to give it up,he's tired,and enough is enough. But why suddenly is Elkington ready to give up Beale Street? Is it because for the first time eyes are now looking to find where millions of dollars that should be in the city coffers are? Is this the reason that after all these years Elkington has moved his office off of Beale Street?

On Thursday after nearly 25 years of not giving BSDC any money to operate off of, Elkington called Catron and told him to email over his budget and he would make sure that he gets paid. Speaking with Catron he feels that this is a setup by Elkington to make it appear that the two are in cahoots, or that Elkington can make it appear that he has been paying BSDC,and that Catron has done away with the money. Catron states that he has no intentions of taking any money from Elkington and that there needs to be an audit of Elkington's books.

Catron states that a audit done in 1989 that has not been made public showed that Elkington at that time owed the city over $800,000 according to sources that saw the audit. Is the reason that Elkington is ready to quit do to the fact that he knows that city councilmen aling with a state representative is preparing to demand that the council call for an accounting of the funds due the city from the rents collected by Elkington since 1983.

Is the reason he's ready to give up Beale Street, due to the fact that he knows that Pepsi is going to ask how much he was paid to give the beverage company the naming rights to Handy Park, and by what authority did he enter into an agreement with Pepsi. maybe another reason that he's ready to give up the street is because he now knows that questions are about to be asked as to how he's being paid for advertising on buildings that he does not own. Another reason could also be is the fact as to why he's receiving 15% of the money paid by the merchants for security.

Elkington has built his company off of Beale Street,and I wonder how much of monies due the city of Memphis that Elkington has used on other projects around the country? Elkington mis represents himself on his website as the developer of Beale Street which he was not. He never mentions that he does not work for the city of memphis but BSDC. In fact John Elkington lies about minority ownership on the street to other cities that he has projects in.so as to gain support in heavily populated black cities that he wants to do business in.

Here's a paragraph from a Birmingham newspaper:

One of the early points Elkington made in his talk was that Performa favors “diversity in ownership.” He stressed that they will try to hire people who live near the district’s proposed site. He mentioned that Beale Street, obviously the jewel in his company’s slightly off-center crown (see our previous article on the company and this project, “Downtown Doubt,” April 19, 2007) has 73 percent minority ownership. This begs the question: doesn’t that make the minority the majority? Is that the type of ratio that Elkington and the BJCC board will be aiming for with this entertainment district? Either way, it certainly appeared that Elkington was well versed in the type of criteria the Birmingham City Council implements in contracts with businesses—minority ownership, or at least high minority participation. Performa, however, is not a minority-owned company, according to Walker.

How can Beale Street have 73% minority ownership when there are less than 5 black owners of businesses on the entire street? read the entire story..http://bwcitypaper.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2007-06-28&-token.story=196677.112112&-token.subpub=

So now we know that not only will John Elkington steal, but he lies. Elkington is more than welcome to leave the street but not with the millions that that he has collected since 1983. The Pepsi Corporation also needs to come clean with how much money was paid to Elkington from their company to have there name placed on Handy Park and on the side of buildings on the street. Don't leave yet John the fun is just about to begin.

Elkington Crony Says Withers Family Does Not Have Their Facts Correct

Darren Fant a John Elkington crony who is the event coordinator for Performa Real estate, the company who has a contract with Beale Street Development Corporation to manage Beale Street, says that the Withers family does not have their facts together when they state that that were locked out of the building that bears the name of the Earnest C. Withers building.

Jerome Withers son of Earnest Withers states that the locks on the building were changed without the family's knowledge,and that for over a week they tried to acquire keys and were told by Al James, The new President of Performa that John Elkington had not given him permission to give the family keys to the building.

I asked Fant what the facts were, But he wouldn't tell me. Why prior to the death of Earnest Withers would the locks be changed, and why would the family not received keys? The facts are that Fant is just a crony whose job it is, is to lie and protect John Elkington who has not turned in one red cent of the millions of dollars collected on Beale since 1983. The fact is that John Elkington and his attorney Richard Rossi conspired to take over the Withers estate by including Elkington's name in the will as the executor of the estate without the family's approval.

The fact is that State Representative Joe Towns will be sending a letter to the city council demanding that they inquire an accounting of funds that belong to the city of Memphis. the fact is that councilmen Edmund Ford Sr. and Joe Brown have already agreed to lead the march to ask John Elkington why he has violated his contract with Beale Street Development Corporation, that demands that he collect the rents and turn the funds into the group that developed the street, receive his 15% and turn the rest over to the city.

The fact is, that to long the city of Memphis has allowed John Elkington to steal money from taxpayers while police officers and firemen go under paid. The fact is, that Mayor Willie Herenton has a obligation to make sure that if Elkington has violated his contract with BSDC, that he joins in with the company (BSDC) that the city has a partnership with to terminate the management of Performa on Beale Street and file criminal charges for Elkington's willful intent to defraud the city, and place liens on Performa's properties and accounts around the county. Darren how is that for facts?

Farewell Earnest

Hundreds from not only Memphis but from all parts of the country came on Saturday to say farewell to one of the biggest giants of the Civil Rights movement. No he didn't hold any rallies, or lead any marches, but what he did do with be documented until the end of time. Dr. Earnest Columbus Withers Sr. placed his life in danger many times to document the struggle of the black people during a period of open hate.

Earnest Withers will not just be remembered as a photo journalist, but as a historian and a man who would tell you exactly what was on his mind. As I stood on Beale Street waiting for the procession many wondered how a funeral could last several hours, but those were the ones who didn't know the legacy of the man that many called "Pops".

Rest In Peace Old Gentle Giant

Many people from around the country and also in the city of Memphis would have loved to attend the "Celebration Of Life" that was held for Dr. Earnest Columbus Withers Sr. So I am posting the program so that you can have a copy. You can click on the pages to enlarge and copy if you would like. You may also post any tributes or remarks for the viewing of the Withers family.

The Escalade, Is Very Old News

The city elections have been over for two weeks,and news has been a little slow, so local news companies are fishing in a shallow pond to create new. Stations would rather spend time spinning angles on the mayor's raise that the city council approved, than to check into why John Elkington has been allowed to steal millions of dollars from Beale Street which can be documented if they do the work.

Now the big story is about an Escalade that the mayor is driven around the city in sometimes. I say sometimes because there are days that he rides around in a plain gray van that you would never suspect that the mayor of a big city like Memphis would be driving around in. There was even mention of the mayor's executive security team like most mayors of large cities have, which consist of two city of memphis police officers.

The media wants to make you think that Willie Herenton riding around in a city owned Escalade is something new. The mayor has been driven around in a Escalade for the last pass two terms, but since there is an agenda to continue to type cast him as the greatest negative force in Memphis the media creates a story to give the appearance that this is a new story.

Why hasn't the media did a story about the fact that the mayor had a drug test earlier this year prior to the challenge given by Herman Morris. I'm sure that by now they know it, in fact Jackson Baker of The Memphis Flyer wrote about it after he was shown the paper work several weeks ago. I was made aware of it by the mayor during the campaign who did not want to play into Morris's agenda. The mayor had to take a battery of test for the city's insurance purposes before his bout with Joe Frazier. but to report this would mean that a positive story would have to be shown.

Is John Elkington And Valerie Calhoun Living In A $500,000 Home With Money Belonging To Beale Street?

State Representative Joe Towns called me tonight angry at how John Elkington tried to take advantage of Earnest C, Withers and his family. Elkington locked the Withers family out of the building that houses hie photo studio and bears his name. Rep. Towns was appalled that a family such as the Withers family could be treated in such a manner,and has vowed to look into where the money has gone that belongs to the citizens of Memphis by way of the millions that have been collected in rent over the years that has never been turned over to the city.

Towns was further upset over the fact that John Elkington by way of his own personal attorney Richard Rossi attempted to defraud the Withers estate by having Rossi place him in the Last Will and Trust Of Earnest Withers without Withers or his family's knowledge. Dorothy Withers the wife of Earnest in reading the will saw this act of fraud by Elkington and had it removed. it is believed by members of the family that Elkington wants his hands on the priceless photos of Withers to control the future and wealth that those many photos and negatives could provide.

Rep. Towns will be speaking with city council members and will prepare a letter to be presented to the full council inquiring as to why the city has not went after the money that is due the city that Elkington has possession of. Like myself Towns is wondering how the city has allowed Elkington and his company to steal from the city without retribution. Towns will be looking from the state level as to how much state money, if any goes to Beale Street to ask for an accounting.

With the city in need of money to finance raises for police and fireman, its time for Elkington to be held accountable,and now that he has abused the Withers family there are many in the community that ready to go after him and ask the city for an accounting of the monies due this city.

John Elkington since 1983 has been employed by Beale Street Development Corporation to collect rent,and to maintain the upkeep of the Historic district. BSDC and the City of Memphis according to contracts from the Federal government which gave $22 million to redevelop the street are equal partners. BSDC which holds the master leases on all the buildings with the exception of one for 52 years is to receive all the rent from the street, pay Elkington 15% management fee and turn in what is due to the city. Only problem John Elkington since 1983 has never turned in any money.

Many merchants on Beale street are concerned about how the city has allowed Elkington to pocket the millions that have been collected,and how he has been allowed to create other streams of revenues without a contract by the city or BSDC. It is believed that Elkington has stolen tens of millions of dollars from the street to use for his private use and for other venues around the country.

According to his contract with BSDC Elkington has no authority except that given by the organization, but has been able to tie BSDC in litigation who has attempted to fire him and his company Performa Entertainment and Real estate,while pocketing all the rent money and other monies that come from the street.

According to documents that I have in my possession from sources on Beale, there is $123,534.00 paid monthly in rent from the merchants on the street,which Elkington is keeping all of. Not only that but the merchants pay a "Common Area" fee which is paid for the upkeep of the street,which Elkington takes 15% of. The Beale Street merchants also pay $290,920.00 for security of which Elkington takes 15% of,which is $34,488.00 that he puts in his pocket.

John Elkington also is pocketing all the advertising fees from signs being placed on buildings that he does not own or have the leases on. Casino's and Pepsi is paying hefty advertising fees to Elkington to paint there logo's on buildings or place their banners,even Clear Channel has billboards on buildings.

Elkington was able to convince someone in the Park division to give him Handy Park for his own personal use for just "ONE DOLLAR" per year. Elkington has turned the park into his own personal entertainment venue where he keeps all the proceeds rents out space and has sold Pepsi the naming rights. I wonder how much Pepsi is paying Elkington for all they're receiving off the street. In fact according to sources in all the new leases that Elkington is providing only Pepsi products can be sold in the new businesses that purchase space on the street.

BSDC whose budget has never been approved by the either Willie Herenton or Dick Hackett has left this Black organization fighting to maintain on the street. But it's time for Willie Herenton to step up to the bat and not only support the budget of BSDC but also protect the interest of the city by supporting a federal investigation into what has John elkington done with the money from Beale street and why has he been allowed to violate a federal contract, by not passing on all monies to BSDC as mandated in the contract between the Federal government, BSDC, and the city of Memphis. The government should also investigate as to if Elkington has used funds from Beale Street to finance his ventures in other cities around the country.

Several months ago Elkington moved his office where he had free rent from Beale Street to a location in east Memphis. It is believed that Ricky Peete who headed the Beale Street Merchants Association for many years and who is now facing a prison sentence has rolled over on Elkington giving the FBI information that could lead to an indictment. It is no doubt that Peete was aware of the shady dealings of Elkington and more than likely has given the Fed's this fish to reduce his sentence.

John Elkington and his wife Valerie Calhoun of FOX 13 live very, very, well,but is this lavish lifestyle due to the fact that they're living off stolen money?

Did money from Beale Street pay for this $500,000 home?

Property Location and Owner Information
Parcel ID:
G0232D B00097
Property Address:
3084 DEVONSHIRE WAY
Municipal Jurisdiction:
GERMANTOWN
Neighborhood Number:
00903F30
Land Square Footage:
20473
Acres:
0.4700
Lot Dimensions:
20346 SF 107.02 X 188.61 (IRR)
Subdivision Name:
DEVONSHIRE GARDENS PD PH 2
Subdivision Lot Number:
97
Plat Book and Page:
230-037
Number of Improvements:
1
Owner Name:
ELKINGTON JOHN A & VALERIE C
In Care Of:
Owner Address:
3084 DEVONSHIRE WAY
Owner City/State/Zip:
GERMANTOWN, TN 38139 8053
2007 Appraisal and Assessment Information
Class:
RESIDENTIAL
Land Appraisal:
$ 208,600
Building Appraisal:
$ 562,400
Total Appraisal:
$ 771,000

Total Assessment:
$ 192,750

Greenbelt Land:
$ 0
Homesite Land:
$ 0
Homesite Building:
$ 0
Greenbelt Appraisal:
$ 0
Greenbelt Assessment:
$ 0

Click Here for 2006 Values
View: GIS PARCEL MAP click to see aerial view of the house
Dwelling Construction Information
Stories:
1.7
Exterior Walls:
BRICK VENEER
Land Use:
- PUD-DETACHED
Year Built:
2003
Total Rooms:
10
Bedrooms:
5
Bathrooms:
4
Half Baths:
1
Basement Type:
NONE
Heat:
CENTRAL A/C AND HEAT
Fuel:
Heating System:

Fireplace Masonry:
Fireplace Pre-Fab:
2

Ground Floor Area:
3282
Total Living Area:
5222

Car Parking:
BRICK GARAGE

Are Whites Mad At Marshall For Calling For Healing?

City Councilman Tom Marshall voted on Tuesday to support a raise for the office of mayor of the city of Memphis,which means that mayor Willie Herenton's salary has been increased by $11,500 per year. After his vote Marshall called for racial healing, but the question is does the white community want racial healing?

I have read the comments on my site and on the CA's site and many in the white community seem to be angry with Marshall for supporting the raise and for calling for a healing. Is the thought of bringing the races together only a thought and has reached a stage in Memphis where it cannot happen? Why is the white community so upset? Can the white community that made up the Anti-Herenton vote get over the fact that Herenton is mayor for the next four years whether they like it or not, They may as well work on healing because the doc is in the house.

Robbin Campbell Wants To Make a Change In The Memphis Police Association

Robbin Campbell is a 14 year veteran of the City Of Memphis Police Department and he is asking fellow officers for their support in electing him as Vice president of the Memphis Police Association

Click to enlarge flier...............

Mayor Gets Pay Increase, While Councilman Says "It's Time To Heal"

Today the Memphis city council voted in a 8 to 5 vote to increase the salary of the mayor by 7%. Mayor Willie Herenton did not seek out the raise, but the council was duty bound in accordance with the city charter to either increase the salary of the mayor or hold the salary at it's current status. According to the charter the council must every four years make the decision to either increase, or deny a increase for the office of city mayor.

Councilman Tom Marshall was the only white councilman to vote in favor of the raise which will go from $160,000 per year to $171,500 starting January 1,2008. Marshall stated that it was time for the healing to begin, in reference to the racial divide in the city. Marshall also stated that whites voted for the re-election of Willie Herenton as mayor as well as blacks.

Even though I was surprised by Marshall's statement I think that he's right it is time for the healing to begin, but the bigger question is, Do Memphians really want to heal the racial divide,or are there still those so balked down in their hatred for Willie Herenton for whatever reason that a healing can never take place?

John Elkington Tried To Steal From The Grave Of Earnest Withers, Even Before He Died

Today prior to the passing of Earnest C. Withers I received a call from Rome Withers concerned about how his mother and family were being treated by Beale Street Management owner John Elkington. It seems according to the family Elkington was trying to take control of Withers Beale street photo studio on Beale by changing the locks on the doors and refusing entry by the family.

The family believes that Elkington wants possession of the photos and negatives that would be worth maybe millions upon the death of Mr. Withers. The family has good rights for those thoughts, the building that is named after Withers that is leased for one dollar a year houses pictures that are historical and have been seen around the world. Many of the pictures are collector items where the value is unknown.

After the locks were changed Dorothy Withers and family wanted a key to the building because they were fearful that items from the studio would come up missing. The family could not understand why the locks were changed since no rent was due and Earnest Withers was still alive. Al James the new President of Beale Street Management kept putting the family off,stating that Elkington had not given him permission to give the family a key. Only this evening after James knew that the lock out of the Withers family was going public did the family receive the keys to the building.

Earlier this year Earnest Withers decided to get his business in order by asking Elkington to suggest a lawyer that could write his Last Will and Testament. Rome Withers states that not only did Elkington find a lawyer, but the lawyer whose last name is Rossi prepared the will. In a meeting where Earnest Withers was to sign the fill in the information and sign the will Elkington was present. This bothered members of the family especially when Elkington didn't want members of the family to have a copy.

Dorothy Withers begin to read the will and found something written in the prepared document that was nerve shattering, John Elkington had had himself written into the will as the executor of Withers estate. That's right without the permission of Earnest Withers or any family member Elkington had planned to take control of the estate which would mean he would have control of all the photos and negatives. Dorothy Withers had the attorney remove that provision from the will and had Earnest Withers initial the removal.

Rome Withers also states that Elkington had tried to get his mother to sign away her rights to the photos by making him the management agent, who would handle the selling and rights to the Withers photos. Mrs. Withers refused.

This deplorable act goes to further prove how much of a snake John Elkington is,Elkington has refused to pay Beale Street Development millions in dollars that should go both to this company that holds the master leases to the street and the City of Memphis. Elkington in violation to his contract with BSDC also has created sole revenues for himself,by contracting with Pepsi to have the naming rights to Handy Park,and by creating a clause in all new leases that provide that only Pepsi products can be sold in the businesses.

Elkington also receives all the funds from advertising placed on buildings,and advertising stands on Beale street. he also receives a percentage from the revenue of many of the businesses on the street,and a percentage of the fees paid by the merchant for security which this year comes to over $30,000.

It was the intent, in my opinion of Elkington to try to steal the estate of Earnest C. Withers away from his wife and family. The very act of Elkington trying to bypass the family and slip his name into the will lets you know just how shady most of his business dealings must be. It's now time for the city and the FBI to investigate what he has done with millions of dollars that belong to this city. Along with the fact that he has breached the contract with BSDC and is not accountable for funds that were given by government grants.

The family of Earnest Withers is very concerned that a moving truck may pull up and carry away the property this world renowned photo journalist. thus they are looking for a secure place to house the thousands of photos and negatives, because they just don't trust John Elkington.

How far Will John Elkington Be Allowed To Go Before He Hears The Sound Of DOT,DOT,DOT, TAP, TAP, TAP,

Rest In Peace Earnest

85 year old Earnest C. Withers tonight closed his eyes in death,and was swept away by a waiting angel to take him home to the bosom of God. Withers was a world renowned photo journalist who has taken thousands of pictures that covered the civil rights movement and many historical events.

Withers and his wife Dorothy raised seven children,several of which became public servants. Earnest Withers holds two honorary degrees and was inducted into the Black Press Hall Of Fame in 1998. Withers was also a community activist and one of the first black police officers in the history of Memphis.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but in lieu of flowers the family is asking that contributions to his memory be sent to the Earnest C. Withers Foundation, P.O.Box 152,38101

R.S.Lewis and Sons Funeral Home has charge of Services and arrangements

The Lies About Shannon Street Soon To Be Revealed

The picture you see is just a sample of what happened to 7 men that were brutally killed by Memphis police officers on January 11,1983 on Shannon Street In North Memphis.

The body pictured is that of Errol Thomas, laying on the floor at the city morgue. Notice the picture on the bottom left, you will notice a bullet hole under his right arm, this shot could have only been taken if Thomas had his arms up, so if his hands were up in the air why was he shot?

The police report states that Thomas arms were "Blown out" as you can see from the wounds to his arms that not only was he shot in the head and under the arm,he was also brutally shot with an M-16 rifle in the arm.

Attorney Javier Bailey who has the complete file and reports, including phone and video tapes from this massarce will soon be a guest columnist on this site where he will write a two part documented story on what really happened on January 11, 1983.

If you think the picture of Errol Thomas is graphic, wait until you see the pics of the 7 men lined up head to foot with gunshot wounds to the head. also you will soon see the morgue pics of Patrolman Robert Hester who police said was mutilated by the men in the house on Shannon Street,those pics will prove that police lied. The only wound that Hester has is a gash to the top of his head.

the police stated that they entered the house at the direction of then mayor Dick Hackett because they wanted to save Hester's life. The morgue picture will show that at the time that police entered the house Hester had been dead at least 12-16 hours because rigor had set up. At one point police lost all control and started to break windows shooting into the house, its very likely that a shot from a police officer could have killed Hester.

Its also stated that the police began shooting once they entered the house because they were being fired on by the men in the house. This will be proven to be a lie since the police report states that there was only one gun found in the house which was Hester's 6 shot revolver,which was found under the body of one of the men in the house.

On January 11,2008 the family of the slain men will ask that the case be reopened and investigated and that criminal charges be bought against those who abused their authority including former mayor Richard 'Dick" Hackett.

Click on Picture to enlarge.............

From Shannon Street To Rembert Street

Yes the posted pictures of Denvey Buckley laying on an embalming table at N.J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home are graphic, but so are the incidents of what happened to him in April of 2003,when he was beaten to death by at least 5 police officers. As we approach the 25th year anniversary of the Shannon Street Massarce where 7 black men where all lined up and shot in the head, many in this community cannot believe that we have police officers that will abuse their power.

While the larger percentage of policemen put on a badge and gun to "protect and Serve" there are those who will abuse the power given them to uphold the law. In the coming months you will see where the massacre on Shannon Street was abuse and a act of revenge. You will also find out that much of what was reported was a blatant lie to cover up the brutal killing of 7 black men. You will find out by looking at the morgue pictures of Robert Hester that his body was not mutilated as reported by the police department in January of 1983.

As you can see from the pictures of Denvey Buckley he was beaten, but not was he beaten his throat was crushed by police officers using a baton to hold back his head. Buckley was a mental patient living at 1115 South Rembert. Police were called when he started to cut his wrist with a knife. Police officers trained in dealing with mental patients(C.I.T.'s) arrived on the scene. According to witnesses whose police statements I have copies of, the officers saw Buckley on his porch bleeding but without a knife.

As the officers approached, Buckley ran into the house, witnesses state that the officers went in and pulled Buckley out of the duplex and took their batons and started to beat him. Whats interesting here is the fact that a witness Bertha Miller states that a neighbor named Eugene had taken the knife from Buckley and was trying to stop his bleeding until the police arrived.

After pulling Denvey Buckley from the house he tried to get away from the officers who were hitting him with their batons, but he was caught in the middle of the street where witnesses state that the officers started to hit and beat the mental patient who had committed no crime other than to himself.

The witnesses state that Buckley was hit on his head as you can see from the bruises in the pics,and also on the legs which I also have pictures of. Its also reported by the witnesses that a police officer put the baton on Buckley's neck and sat on it which would explain how his throat was crushed. I must ad here that as one who has worked at funeral homes for many years I examined Buckley throat and found that his larynx had been removed by the medical examiner a sign that his throat had in fact been damaged.

Witnesses state that there were 7 officers on the scene,but only 5 were involved in the beating. All the officers involved were white. This case of the brutal killing of Denvey Buckley was one where the intent was to sweep it under the rug, but I posted the very same pictures plus others on my then website and talked about it for nearly a year daily on my radio talk show. Finally in 2004 then Police Director James Bolden fired all the officers involved in the killing of Denvey Buckley.

If you think this incident was brutal wait until the documented facts of the Shannon Street massacre are revealed

Why Is James O. Catchings Scared To Debate Edmund Ford?

While it was my intention to stay out of the city council district 6 race, some of James Catchings supporters who have made comments on various stories on this site that have nothing to do with him have insisted that I write about him,so here it is.


James O. Catchings has been an educator for over 40 years but yet the Memphis Education Association did not endorse him for his bid for the city council. Could this be because there are rumors circulating in the community that his retirement from Memphis City Schools was due to the fact that he was involved with young girls in the system? Or just the fact that even though he has a long tenure in education he is not the best qualified candidate?

I received a call from Catchings on Tuesday of this week seeking to purchase advertisement on both this site and on my radio program. As I arrived at his home to pick up his check,Clifford Lewis who barely received a 1,000 votes in the district 6 race on last week was also pulling up to the door.

It was my intent to pick up the check and leave, but both Catchings and Lewis wanted to engage me in conversation on the race. Lewis wanted to know what needed to be done to get a Ford out of the seat. I replied that I had no dog in this fight and that I have known Edmund Ford Jr. most of his life and that I was not getting in the fight between the two. I also stated to Catchings that Ford was spending money for advertisement as well as he was, and I would just like to see the best man win.

I told Catchings that I would like to air a debate between him and Edmund Ford Jr. on the issues of the campaign so that the residents of the district could hear their views on this issues pertaining to the district. Lewis wanted to know what was in the debate for me, which I stated that there is really nothing in it for for but a good program that should bring a lot of listeners. Catchings agreed to do the debate, Mine you this was the second time that he had agreed to debate Ford in which the first time he backed out. I also advised Catchings on having an advisor like Lewis who has never won a race that he has been in, an barely got a thousand votes in the race against both Catchings and Ford. If a person can't win his own race, how is he suppose to win a race for some one else?

I spoke with Edmund Ford Jr. about the debate he was more than happy to agree so the debate was set to air this Tuesday night on my radio program. I received a call Thursday evening from Catchings stating that he had no reason to debate Ford or appear on my show. He also stated that I had endorsed Ford on this site which is not true, He stated that he was my first client to buy airtime an thous I should endorse him. I told this whining educator that the only thing that he had purchase was radio spots,not an endorsement,and that Ford who had no fear of debating him had also purchase advertisement as well.

I must question why James Catchings refuses to debate Edmund Ford, even though he's a personal friend of the mayor doesn't give him the same reasons not to debate. Is Catchings who has been in education for 40 years but has no tutoring program like Ford has, fearful of debating who he calls a kid with no experience? Or is he fearful of the Ford name? Is Catchings doubtful of his chances and does not want the public to know how unprepared he is? I remember asking him in the presence of Willie Herenton what the P.I.L.O.T. program was, He replied that he must be some flying program. Herenton dropped his head as he told him that is was the " Payment In Lieu Of Taxes" program.

It seems that his motive for representing district 6 is based on grasping the district away from a Ford. It also appears that if he's using Clifford Lewis for advice on how to win a race, he picked the wrong source of advice.

There is a very strong rumor of which I will be checking out this week that Catchings retirement as a principal was due to his misbehavior with young girls. I have even heard this rumor from person within the education system. If this is true than he he surely a person that should not be elected to public office. Catchings states that in all his years as a educator that he has never received not one reprimand. I will asking to review the employment file of Catchings this week for review.

In the Oct 4 race Catching received about 4400 votes compared to 8600 by Edmund Ford, so yes Catchings does have his work cut out for him seeing that only about 3,000 persons will cast a vote again for either candidate. the winner will be the one that can get voters of the district to the polls a second time,and the Fords have more experience in this area then Catchings.

Coming Soon: The Truth About The Shannon Street Massacre

January 11, 2008 will take this city back 25 years to the mass murder of 7 black men who were brutally murdered at the hands of City Of Memphis TACT Squad members, who were ordered into the small home in North Memphis on Shannon Street, by former mayor Dick Hackett The real truth about what happen that winter day has never been told, but shortly it will. The proof of what happen will rock this city.

Attorney Javier Bailey

has received the complete files, transcripts, tapes, pictures, and all the reports from the case and plans to do a detail report on what really happened. Bailey has even received information from that day that even the police have no knowledge of, but will prove that the police lied when they said that they were unable to make contact in the host where policeman Robert Hester was being held hostage.

The proof which I have seen will prove that Hester had not been beaten as the police reported, because very soon on this site you will see the very graphic morgue pictures of Hester which shows no bruises to his body.

You will also hear the sound of M-16's going off killing the seven men inside the house, you will see proof for the first time that all 7 men were shot in the head,several even in the back of the head. and a gunshot wound to the very top of the head of Lindberg Sanders who owned the house on Shannon, the pic of Sanders wound will prove that TACT squad members shot him while he was on his knees.

You will also see the graphic pictures of the bodies of the men laying in a position from head to foot where they were all shot in the head. You will see the body of one man hiding on the side of the bed from the police who also was shot in the back of the head.

I must warn you that the pictures that will be shown on this site concerning this mass murder is not for the faint of heart. The transcripts will be posted along with all evidence. There will be no doubt in your mind when you read and see the evidence that there was a massacre on Shannon Street on January 7,1983.

This story will rock the very foundation of the police department seeing that many of the officers that were present that day are still alive and serving on the force including Police Director Larry Godwin. Stay tune for this one, I just may post a picture this weekend to give you an idea of what you will see as part of the complete story.

Here's what the New York Times Had to say in 1983:

At first the outcome seemed but the tragic last act in a weird drama pitting police against crazed cultists. But as fresh details began to emerge about the bloody siege that left one policeman and seven blacks dead in Memphis two weeks ago, the judgment and conduct of police officials in handling the 30-hr. ordeal triggered a citywide debate and at least one federal probe. Said Maxine Smith, executive secretary of the Memphis chapter of the N.A.A.C.P.: "The police did not go into the house to apprehend, but to kill." Ray Maples, president of the Memphis Police Association, countered angrily: "I think [these critics] are all mental cases."

The battle began when a phone call about a purse-snatching brought the police to a black, working-class neighborhood in north Memphis. No suspects were found, so they left. A second call complaining about the handling of the case prompted two patrolmen to visit 2239 Shannon, where they were set upon by the occupants. Two other officers then arrived on the scene. Shots were fired, and three patrolmen fled the house. But one, Robert Hester, 34, was captured and held hostage.

The abductors were members of a freaky religious cult, and included its leader, Lindberg Sanders, 49, an unemployed construction worker. Besides refusing to eat pork or drink water, they believed police to be agents of the devil. After 30 hours of futile negotiations, the authorities surrounding the house became convinced that Officer Hester had been murdered. Six members of TACT (for Tactical Apprehension Containment Team), stormed the dwelling, and in the ensuing struggle all seven cultists were killed. Hester was found inside, badly battered and dead for several hours.

In a 2½-hr. press conference last week, Memphis police officials tried to bury any doubts about whether the raid had been handled properly, but the effect of their performance was quite the opposite. The most unnerving fact: five of the seven men died from gunshot wounds in the head. Six of the seven had been shot and killed in a single 9-ft. by 11-ft. bedroom. Afterward, only one gun was found. When asked how the aim of the TACT officers could be so accurate in a darkened house full of tear gas and smoke, Police Director John Holt explained that the TACT team had guns with lights mounted on them and had been trained to shoot for the head.

By the Memphis police department's own admission, the cultists all together had only two .38-cal. pistols, wrested from the policemen at the outset of the struggle. The rest of their weapons cache consisted of little more than two hunting knives. A total of twelve rounds were squeezed off by Sanders' followers throughout the siege, compared with 80 rounds fired by the TACT team during the assault. But Holt contended that the decision to attack had come only after police decided that no alternatives remained.

The information given to the New York Times was given by the Memphis police, much of which is incorrect.

Damn Bill, Get Over It If You Want Herenton Ousted You Have To Wait Until 2011

Mayor Willie W. Herenton has two City Of Memphis police officers who provide executive security for him. This is not unusual for a mayor of a large city. According to the City Charter the mayor is the commander and chief of the police department,selecting a police Director to handle the day to day operations and to create plans and policies for the department. the Director serves at the pleasure of the mayor and can only be dismissed by him.

Bill Mitchell a local Memphian has come up with a unsound idea to oust the Mayor based on his concept that the mayor does not have the power to use police officers as personal security. The District attorney's office has already ruled that the mayor is within his rights to use policemen for security purposes.

Mitchell needs to know that there is only one provision in the charter that allows for the removal of the mayor prior to the end of his elected tenure, and that's a recall which he can not even think of starting until Herenton has entered the third year of his next term which starts in January.Which means that until 2011 he may as well get over whatever is bugging him.

Edmund Ford Jr.Offers Free Service To Parents And Children

Edmund Ford Jr. knows that to make Memphis a better place someone has to be concern about our youth. Ford believes that if Memphis is to solve some of its crime problem we must catch reach our children at a young age.

While he knows that if elected to the City Council he has no control at all over Memphis city Schools, he wants to be involved in district 6 with youth programs,which is the reason that he has started a FREE Algebra Gateway Tutoring Program.

This program has nothing at all to do with Memphis City Schools, but as a teacher at Central High School he feels that he must give something back to the community. Ford who is in the November 8,runoff to become councilman from district 6 beat his nearest opposition nearly two to one in the election last week receiving 8,624 votes or 37% of the total number of votes rendered.

Ford invites all parents in the city Of Memphis whose children are having a problem passing the gateway in the area of math to have their children present next Thursday Oct 18 at Mitchell Community Center from 4:30 pm -6:30 pm.

What's Going On With The Pastor And His Ho's?

I have been asked what's going on with the Memphis pastor who along with his mistress and another woman who happens to be a City of memphis city attorney conspired to have his wife committed to a mental facility in Atlanta Ga. So I thought I would repost the primary story that I wrote concerning the Pastor and his Hoe's, Maybe some of his members can tell us if he confessed his sins and has asked for forgiveness or is he still the head pimp in charge.

Pastor Sidney P. Malone has produced what could become a "Life Time' movie in having his wife committed in an ATL facility so that he could enjoy his church mistress without having his wife around.
The following comes from divorce papers filed in the Chancery Court of Shelby County as Sidney Poitier Malone vs. Rochelle case number CH-070959-2

Rochelle Malone who married Sidney on June 6,1990 is seeking a divorce for inappropriate marital conduct. She states in her filing that Sidney has been verbally,mentally and emotionally abusive to her and their children. She also states that Sidney has been physically abusive to her and the children to the point that he choked her,and that one one the children sustained swelling and bruising to the body.

Rochelle states that Sidney told his daughters to strip down to their underwear,bend over, and touch their toes or the bed and whipped them with a paddle and would tell them to "get out of my face".

In June of 2006 Rochelle states that Sidney told her that the Lord told him that if she failed to flow with him and listen to him by June 2007, the Lord had gave him permission to divorce her. She goes on to state that Sidney engaged in a diabolical scheme to admit her to a mental institution on an inpatient status without her knowledge.

On March 6,2007 Sidney and Rochelle celebrated their birthdays at the Madison Hotel in Downtown Memphis. Seven days later on March 13,2007 Sidney contacted by phone the Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Georgia,and talked with Dana Mosely,Assessment Counselor for the facility. During his conversation with Mosley Sidney asked her what he needed to do to have his wife admitted to the inpatient unit of Peachford,and what was the earliest that he could bring Rochelle to the hospital.

Later Dana Mosley called Sidney back to apprise him of medical insurance information for Rochelle's appointment at Peachford. During the said conversation Mosley observed that Sidney had the conversation on speaker phone in the presence of an individual falsely identified to the Counselor as Rochelle's sister, CeCe whose real name is Carmalita Drayton.

Rochelle was in informed that a facility was located in ATL where she could participate in a three day out-patient program in a lodge setting to assist her with her martial discord. Sidney told Rochelle that she had to go to the three day program "To get whole". Rochelle was told by Sidney that her going to the program was a pre-requisite to saving her marriage.

As a part of his scheme several days later Sidney purchased 3 round trip airplane tickets to Atlanta,and a one way ticket for Rochelle. On March 20,2007 Sidney,Rochelle and 2 female companions traveled via airplane to Atlanta. The group arrived at Peachford and Rochelle was presented to Counselor Dana Mosley for assessment. Sidney had full knowledge that the information he provided in the level of care assessment would be used by the attending Psychiatrist to determined whether Rochelle would be admitted to Peachford behavorial Health System. The 2 women companions were indentified by Sidney as Denice (Deniece Andrews) and CeCe. who Sidney lied and stated that the two women were Rochelle's sisters.

The divorce documents state that engaged in a diabolical scheme that resulted in Rochelle being institutionalized in the mental hospital for 24 days. Sidney sort to remove Rochelle from Memphis and from her children Also to make his lie sound better out of the presence of Rochelle,Sidney made false and misleading statements to Mosley regarding the mother and father,and sisters of Rochelle regarding their mental and emotional health to ensure her being committed.

I must note here that Dana Mosley has filed a Affidavit that states that Sidney told her that the reason that he he wanted his wife admitted to Peachford is because Rochelle had had personality changes for the pass 4-5 years.he also stated that Rochelle suffered from severe violent rapid mood changes,impulsiveness,extreme emotional agitation,anger out bursts, and was physically abusive towards him.

The affidavit also states that outside of Rochelle's presence Sidney stated that his wife gets disoriented,delusional. and that she blacks out frequently,and acted out at church. Sidney told Mosley that Rochelle was delusional and paranoid about his cheating,and that she lashes out at him verbally and physically. Denise and CeCe mirrored the statements of Sidney about Rochelle,

The affidavit states that one sister had shorter hair,and the other was of a lighter complexion who were tearful in their agreement with Sidney. Sidney told Mosley that he was scared of his wife and that he was afraid to make statements in front of his wife because it would trigger an outburst. By the way the woman Denise who lied and stated that she was a sister of Rochelle is Denise Andrews the mistress of Sidney. That's right he took his mistress with him to have his wife committed.

Dr. Valrie Hornablue a Board certified psychiatrist out of Georgia also has filed an affidavit that is a part of the divorce documentations verifies the statements of Dana Mosley and goes on to state that Rochelle was admitted to the adult female unit of Peachford based on Sidney's report that she was a threat to herself and others. Dr Hornablue states that Rochelle was started on a mood stabilizer and a major tranquilizer. The medication was given as a result of Sidney and the "Two sisters" reports that indicated that Rochelle was in the midst of a agitated manic episode and may be a danger to herself and others

over the next few days of being in Peachford Rochelle was observed to be cal,she attended all groups.took all her medications without problem and showed no evidence of violence The Doctor states that Rochelle's pleasant,calm ,and cooperative demeanor appeared to be her normal behavior and upon observation there was no evidence that her behavior was due to medication.

Rochelle Malone did express concern about her marriage. She attributed her depression to feeling left out by her husband. She expressed that they had started a church together but over the years she was increasingly left out of the decision making process. She stated that she wanted to please Sidney and was willing to do whatever she had to do to save her marriage. She also expressed concern that Sidney did seem to be spending more time and was seemingly more comfortable with Denise.

Within a week of her admission a family session was conducted with both Sidney and Rochelle. Sidney expressed concern about Rochelle and how her behavior had traumatized him. he stated that he was angry and didn't know how he felt about her. Dr Hornablue told Sidney that she would find a psychiatrist and a therapist that would do follow up when they return to Memphis. Sidney told the doctor that it was not in the best interest of Rochelle to return to Memphis at the time. He stated that she had caused trouble and made outbursts at the church and that it would be better for her to stay in Atlanta to receive treatment. Sidney even wanted to get Rochelle a car and condo to keep her out of Memphis.

The doctor noticed that Sidney seem to be domineering and overbearing in regard to his marriage. the doctor states that she had begun to have doubt that Sidney had Rochelle's best interest in mind. the doctor suggested to Rochelle that she contact her parents and siblings for additional support.

While in Peachford Sidney told Rochelle that on the advice of one of his colleagues he'd decided to ask her for a divorce. At this point Rochelle became distraught.she felt betrayed. she stated that she came to Peachford because because Sidney had told her that this was what she needed to do for her depression and to save her marriage. Rochelle decided that she could no longer stay in Atlanta with the new turn of events,that she needed to return to Memphis to be close to her children and to Sidney. Rochelle continued to hope that he would see things differently since their church frowned on divorce and it would have a negative impact on the church. the doctor agreed with her decision to return to Memphis to be with her children. Rochelle did return to Memphis where Sidney cut off contact from their children and had cut off all funds from her,and Rochelle found herself having to live with friends.
The doctor's summary of Rochelle reads:

Based upon my interactions with and treatment of Mrs. Malone,it is my professional opinion that she is not suffering from either a mood disorder or personality disorder that would render her a threat to herself or to her children. In my observation of her,i did not witness any symptoms or behaviors that were consistent with her husband's reports. What i did observe was her unwavering desire to please her husband and to return home to be with her children to the point that she was following his directions unquestioningly. As was revealed in her psychological testing,her tendency towards relinquishing control over to others and her desire to please others even at her own expense made her particularly vulnerable to her husband's control over her. It is also likely that years of living with such a domineering,overbearing,and powerful man fostered her self-defeating dependency on him.


In many ways it was obvious that Mrs. Malone has surrendered control over her life to her husband. He has assumed responsibility for all of the major decisions that were made during the course of my intersections with her to the point where it seemed that he felt entitled to make such decisions unilaterally (hospitalization,remaining in Georgia,purchasing her a car and condo,etc.) It is highly unlikely,that a passive and dependent individual such as Mrs. Malone could "traumatize" a man like Mr. Malone who seems quite facile at taking advantage of and manipulating others to achieve his own ends. It is with great professional certainty that I state that Mrs. Malone is not a threat to her children and I remain firm in my resolution to support Mrs. Malone in her legal battle for access to and custody of her children.
Valrie Honablue M.D.

Since March 2007, Sidney has failed to inform Rochelle and excluded her from the major events and activities of their children, after taking her to Atlanta he changed the locks on the home that they shared together without giving her keys. Prior to her admission to Peachford her only income was $500.00 per week from New Growth In Christ, which Sidney cut off on April 16, 2007.

To have money to maintain herself, to take care of clothing,gasoline,food and etc., on April 20,2007 Rochelle contacted American Express to obtain a $10,000 advance on the joint credit card that she and Sidney shared,the funds were received on April 20,2007. Subsequently Sidney closed all wife's bank accounts and credit accounts.

I know that Sidney Malone has been lieing to the members of his congregation about what really happened as for as his relationship with Denise Andrews is concerned,and what has happened as far as his wife is concerned,. All the information that has been posted is from legal documents pertaining to this case. So what do you think of this man of god,should he remain pastor? Should Rochelle seek to file criminal charges against Sidney? Should Sidney remain as pastor, and if he owns the property should Rochelle seek half? is this the way the man of God should conduct himself?........... This is a Life Time movie in the making

Take A Bride,Lose a Career

Callers on my radio show tonight voiced their disappointment that Harold Ford Jr. has decided to marry a white woman.Callers believe that HFJR has just lost any chance of ever being elected to a statewide office in Tennessee. Black women are stating that he is just like many other successful blacks who choose a white woman after they reach success,and for that reason can no longer support him.

It's hard to imagine that Ford after losing a state wide senate race last year would ever decide to run for Governor of this state. It's believed that this Democrat who can't decide whether he's a democrat or republican,and was given the grade of F by fellow members of the Congressional Black Causes,may be taking a bride, but he's giving up his career in politics.

Would you ever give HFJR your vote? can Ford run state wide an win? Should he drop the white girlfriend if he wants to run a race again and win? does it matter to whites that Ford wants to marry a black women?

David Upton, Up To His Old Tricks

David Upton who along with Karl Schledwitz put a plot together to take control of the city council by buying local wanna be poli-trick-ans, who all lost in the election last week,is still up to his political tricks. It seems that Upton wants to save face with his benefactors by trying to buy off another candidate for the city council.

Upton and Schledwitz is alleged to have went to Memphis tomorrow, a group of rich power brokers who want to take control of local politics, want to get at least one win out of their plot,so they're now calling around to seek out another victim to make political slaves.

This evening Upton gave Edmund Ford Jr. a call telling the young candidate who wants to replace his father in the district 6 council seat, that he would like to help him in his campaign. Ford states that he became leery of Upton call and told him that he didn't need or want his help. Ford immediately got off the phone and gave me a call so that the citizens of District 6 could know what Upton is up to and to also inform them that he is not for sell.

Upton who is a lobbyist for several firms including Buhlear Homes, is just the bag man for the power brokers who have the money and want the control.But candidates in the runoff are saying that they plan to stay away from him and his schemes,and promise to let me know if they get a call from him

Changes Citizens Of Memphis Want

Charter Commission member Myron Lowery sent me this review of what the commission has beeen given by the citizens of memphis as the changes they want change in the City Charter. I have printed the info in the form that it was sent to me in. Please read and post your thoughts on the changes you think need to be made in the charter

LIST OF CITIZEN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHARTER CHANGES – MOST SUGGESTED FIRST, LEAST SUGGESTED LAST

ETHICS

Code of ethics

Anyone convicted of a felony should not be allowed to run for any elected office
Anyone convicted of a felony should not be allowed to be considered for appointed positions
Public officials convicted of a felony while in office should be removed from office

Public officials convicted of a felony while in office should forfeit their retirement benefits

Public officials convicted of a felony while in office should receive no benefits for legal fees, insurance
Public officials convicted of a felony while in office should be barred from serving in any relationship with city government
(as a vendor, a contractor, etc.)
Retired public officials convicted of a felony should have their pension benefits terminated

Random drug testing should be applicable to all appointed and elected official
No conflict of interest should be allowed for any elected or appointed official.

(cannot do business with the city or with any entity that receives city funding)
Need rules to make sure that polls are clean and honest

Establishment of an Ethics commission independent of the Mayor and City Council
possibly elected, with the power to censure, fine, and recommend dismissal
Hold all city employees, appointees, and elected officials accountable for any and all violations of the Charter

Should any elected or appointed officials indicted (not convicted) of a felony continue to serve? (most say, at the least, leave of absence)
Require persons indicted for crimes to remove themselves from city business until issue is resolved
All public business should be conducted in open meetings

Set minimum qualifications for elected and major appointed positions
Mandate that any personal complaint by an employee that might result in litigation be submitted in
writing promptly by the employee to the District Attorney as well as to the employee's supervisor
Campaign fundraising for any elected City of Memphis position should not commence until six months prior
To filing deadline, and should cease prior to the swearing in.
Potential candidates should pass a credit check before filing for an elected position

Municipal declaration of party affiliation for all elected positions

Any public official that owes any overdue payment to the city also may not hold city office, City job, or city contract.

This should apply to overdue utility bills and tax bills, but not to speeding tickets as long as they are paid promptly.
(From Allen Wade: Section about political activity in our charter was struck down by the state
(e.g., can be in state elected office and local elected office))
Term Limits
Mayor only
Mayor and City Council
All elected officials
City Council terms in office should be staggered

(didn't tally, but most said 2 terms, a few said 3 terms)
No Term Limits

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Memphis Light Gas and Water
Address the price of utilities for senior citizens

Require a voter referendum for approval of sale of MLG&W

The President of MLG&W should be selected by the City Council (not by the Mayor)

The board members should be elected by the ratepayers
Increase the number of the board of directors of MLG&W from 5 to 9
4 of the MLG&W board members should be elected at-large by the citizens.
Appointed board members should be --
a past MLG&W president, an IBEW business agent,
chairman of the the MLG&W retirement board, and someone from the academic community
Give the City Council authority over MLG&W
the citizens need more authority over MLG&W
Make MLG&W a separate entity, like the Airport Authority
The board of MLGW should be comprised of 5 members from Memphis appointed by the Memphis Mayor,

One appointed by the Germantown Mayor and one by the County Mayor for a total of seven. (also add Collierville and Bartlett)
Sell MLG&W
Employees of Memphis Light Gas and Water shall be considered city employees and all provisions for Memphis city employees

Shall apply to them, except there shall be no transfer of retirement credits or time between the two separate entities.
It will be considered a termination and new hire between unrelated entities.
The Memphis Light Gas & Water Division should become a regional utility authority. (Frierson Graves)

MLG&W Board of Directors will be to choose the companies president.

City Pension Fund and Program issues

The city pension needs to be reviewed

1) who sets it up? 2) who is qualified to set it up?
1
3) how are service and payments determined (Mayor? City Council?)?
Require at least 20 years of service before a city employee is eligible for retirement
No retirement benefits for anyone who retires or leaves office after less than 10 years of service
The ability to collect 2 pensions at the same time (retire from one job and collect pension, then get
another city job which also qualifies for a pension) should be REMOVED from the charter.
The current pension policy of qualifying to collect a pension after only 12 years of service
needs to be stopped/changed.
City pensions should be more 'in line' with pensions of private business with regard to time of service and 401K plans
Remove future elected and appointed officials from existing city pension plan
Prohibit city council from setting its own pension rules
The standard retirement age will be 65 except for police and firemen who will be allowed to But are not required to do so. All federal rules with respect other early retirement wiJJbe used.
(From Tom Marshall: the City Council is the Custodian of trust that information received is accurate - no mechanism to verify information received (no staff)
-
need strong liaison between Council and Administration -- Pension plan is a valid example: wasn’t written by council, was written by the administration)

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City Budget Issues
Line-time budgeting is needed. There should be no funds moved from one line-item

to another without council approval
regarding budget appropriations, the Mayor should not be allowed to change or override those decisions

If the mayor/council gets a raise, EVERYBODY on the city payroll gets the same percentage raise

Prohibit switching money from one item that has been OK'd to another item

Without joint approval of mayor and council
City money should not be given to a private organization unless approved by the voters (referendum)
Budget shows one staff attorney, but does not show the budget details of proposed expenditures for this service

What is the future possible monthly liability over and above the money being paid

If all the people who are qualified under the January 2001 pension
change retire after 12 years and start receiving city pensions?
Set the salaries of the mayor and city council members, and require a referendum to

make any increases, or to change the current pension system for city employee, including elected or appointed.
All salary increase requests must be approved by the City Council

All City Council and City School Board retreats shall-be held within Shelby County

and all out of town travel for any member of either entity shall be
approved prior to travel with a specific amount allowed for expenses
All retainer fees for professional services including legal service must be approved by the council.

No real property sold or purchased or leased without submission of the contract for or lease for approval

of the price, terms and conditions by the City Council (Frierson Graves)
Mandate set asides for minority business (specifically which involve federal funding directly and indirectly) to be

established in contracts for companies conducting business with the City.
Increase the salary of elected officials, particularly City Council member

The City Council shall be prohibited from approving grant spending except for limited, specified exceptions that the Council shall designate

in a binding resolution, with a maximum of $25,000 per grant, the total of all grants not to exceed $100,000.
A two-thirds vote of the full Council shall be required for approval of the grants.
(From Allen Wade: Budget -- broad authority vs. line-item restrictions -- council has authority to budget but mayor has authority
to hire and set salaries - > does it require council approval for salary requested by mayor? --
council can add divisions in addition to what is in the charter.Specific amounts in charter that are based on ‘cost of living’ --
may need add’l language to allow for increases in the cost of living)
Mayoral Appointments issues
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1) what are the qualifications? 2) what are the salaries? 3) Who determines qualifications and salaries?

Salaries of appointees are never tapped when the city is short of funds
The directors of Police, Fire, and the city treasurer should be elected by the citizens

Mayoral appointments should only be for existing positions defined in the charter
All Mayoral appointees should be approved by the City Council
The timing / timeframe for replacement of vacant positions (resignations, etc.) needs to be specified in the Charter.

The City Council will have the power to remove any appointed official with cause at anytime by a majority vote.

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Only appointed officials that have received city council approval and consent shall be eligible for city retirement.

These must be full time employment positions. All other temporarily appointed officials will be considered
independent contractors and not eligible for any retirement plans
Except for the Chief Administrative Officer and Division Director, the City Council, by ordinance, may eliminate

any appointed position presently contained in the City Charter.
Open Records laws / issues

All salaries, benefits, overtime and pensions for ALL city employee and officials should be
public information and available on the internet
All public records including ordinances, contracts, etc., should be posted online and in timely fashion
All requests for proposals (bids), all responses to those RFP's (request for proposals), all purchase orders resulting from the bids,

The selection process for awards and the reasons for the selection, and all purchases orders
should be available in real time on the internet.
All professional contracts should be advertised and bid and the results put on the internet
All contributions to candidates for elected office and their expenditures should be published on the internet
All electronic communications made on public property shall be subject to the FOI Act, except where

protected by Federal or State laws.
Publish All building projects, related contracts, purchase orders, change orders and

correspondence e.g. the FedEx Arena and the Cannon Center and school projects
All budgets, financial statements and audits should be posted on the internet

Riverfront Development Corporations
and other “quasi” government organizations -

Need a standard of 'stewardship/oversight' for finances and city funding
More transparency needed for these organizations (Employees hired, salaries, office and travel expenses, rents and furnishings)

All information and business of these entities should be available on the internet

All non-profit entities that receive any funding from the city should be subject to the open records laws and waiver of fees

Land Use Control Board is full of real estate agents and developers with no representation of the general public

Land Use Control Board – the City Council members and the County Commission members

Of the board should be in contact with each other
Restrict elected officials from voting membership on any city or county board or commission
Executive authority needs to be limited

limited contractual authority – any contracts over $50,000 should require the approval of the City Council

limited contractual authority – any contracts over $75,000 should require the approval of the City Council

All bond issues should be publicly offered and bids should be opened publicly

instead of being offered, selected, and granted by the Mayor
The city attorney should be legally liable for all contracts
Prohibit mayor from signing any contract unless it has been approved, and funded, by city council

Main Feedback
(Per Allen Wade: Power of contract - charter says it ‘remains’ with the mayor but never said it was 'with' the mayor --
Issue raised in 1988 to include City Council in that contract power, but was not changed.
Interim appointments - mayor can appoint on interim basis but never brings appointment to council for approval; person stays in the position)
(From Tom Marshall: Where authority lies - word “solely” (regarding contractual authority) is NOT in the charter. Powers of mayor vs. powers of council is issue,
needs to be more clearly defined. Otherwise, believes part-time council works. Council SHOULD have contractual authority, not just mayor.
Example: pension fund - council was told had no power of contract so no council member could be on the pension board. Need, at the least,
to see the final ‘contract’ before it is sealed. Details of power of contracts for council members should be clearly defined to mitigate conflict of interest.
Roles and Responsibilities are vague in current charter - problem with nomenclature more than intent.)
Do not limit the contractual authority of the Mayor

Recommendations for Charter changes that are put on the election ballot should be at line-item level

Reinstate the Parks Commission
Maintenance of parks and green space needs to be covered in the Charter

Who decides to sell, & where does the money go when public parks are sold?

have a citizen board which would be supported by the city

Take CARE of the public golf courses, like Davey Crockett, which is being managed into failure with intent

Run-off elections --

All elected positions

Mayor and City Council

Instant run-offs

No Run-off elections

(From Allan Wade: Municipal elections- not adequately addressed in the charter -- city had to go to state court of appeals to get a ruli
Prohibit city council from making any change in the city charter by ordinance or otherwise without voter approval.

Address problems regarding funding and budget for Education
skills need to be taught in all schools
1
The city schools system should be totally separate from city government

School funding for city schools comes from the city, county, and state. There should be a separate taxing authority for the schools.

Operate the school system all year long with the year divided into four quarters with appropriate breaks and holidays.
1
Provide taxing authority for Memphis City Schools, property tax rate to be set by the MCS Board of Commissioners.

This will require commensurate reductions in city and county sales taxes, etc, etc.
The City Council needs to be restructured with no “super” districts.
Page 6
Main Feedback
Recommend that a regular review of the Charter be specified in the Charter itself.

This is possible, but the interval period between reviews must be at least 10 years, per the state charter.
(From Allen Wade: No mechanism in current charter for ‘clean up’ as another avenue outside of the only current way,
which is charter commission per state charter (our elected group).)
vicious dogs problem needs to be addressed

No area should be annexed unless the city can prove that it is ready to provide all city services
Any annexed area with more than 200 voters will be given a special voting alderman that resides in that area

Until the next general election after the realignment of the city wards.
Simplify/clarify the language of the charter, in whole and in its parts.

Attorneys that work for the city, are employed by the city, should be full-time and have no other clients,

to avoid any conflict of interest.
The City Council positions should be full-time – council members should have no other job.

Any referendum voted by the citizens of Memphis can only be revoked or overturned by another referendum

Need a charter section like the Shelby County charter sections which allow citizen generated

referendums like the voters used in 1994to set term limits on County Commissioners
Conformance with ecology is needed for all city services, so that Memphis can be a “cool city”

Require a college degree in business for anyone that is hired in any management capacity
Full disclosure of qualifications for all such employees should be provided to the citizens

All city government positions should be posted for not less than 15 days to allow

qualified candidates to apply for such positions.
no changes to any tax rates (sales, property) without a voter referendum
Increase the number of councilpersons to 15 to keep in line with city growth

City construction codes to be same as the county

Page 7
Main Feedback
Per the city charter, enforce the inspection of all vehicles in the city, including city-owned vehicles

This would allow for the residents of the city to have free inspection
Require all county cars to be inspected if the owners work in Memphis but live in the county
The city Charter should be easily accessible by all citizens.

Law enforcement needs to be strengthened. Strengthen ordinances to create proactive rather than

reactive responses by law enforcement – noise, code violations, loitering, illegal parking, littering
Issues with Zoning – all residents impacted by a potential zoning change should be notified

of when the proposed changes are being reviewed by the City Council.
If the Council “tables” a zoning ordinance (instead of implementing it), all impacted parties
Should be notified of when the issue will be back on the Council meeting agenda.
Also, require a public meeting to be conducted by the City Council -
the meeting must be held within the city at a minimum of 4 designated/impacted locations to ensure public input.
Binding arbitration should be required for city employees

Charter should include requirements for all elected officials to have regular communication
with their constituents (town hall meetings, forums, etc.)
Government should be Council-driven with a City Administrator instead of a Mayor

City Council positions should not be full-time

Regarding age and residency requirements for City Council positions – the minimum age requirement should be 21,

which is voting age. If a person is old enough to vote, they should be old enough to run for office.
Focus on policy issues concerning the authority of elected an/or appointed officials --

Any 'specifics' should be clearly and simply identified to where there can NOT be ANY
misunderstanding as to what it means.
The restriction of city employees having to live in the city should be eliminated

ALL employees of the city need to live in the city.

ALL employees of the city need to live in the city or in Shelby County

Page 8
Main Feedback
City 'consultants' – the city should make use of local volunteers before considering the hiring of

out-of-town consultants. A chairperson or facilitator for the volunteers would be needed for coordination / organizations.
The city needs to LISTEN to Memphians regarding input for projects and studies.
The city is full of people willing to help out and volunteer.
Mass Transit needs to be addressed/fixed

Need a casino on Mud Island

Need fire hydrant inspectors

City organization agencies, commissions, department heads, executive or council -
Names should be submitted for those positions and they should be elected by the citizens
Changes needed for alcohol licenses and 'public nuisances

no sale of any public land without voter approval (referendum)

NO privatization of any city service

No rehire of retired officials

Charter should have provisions for privatization of public entities

recommend a charter change to allow a citizen to bring a suit and if he wins at the fIrst
level he will receive double his attorney's fees and if it is carried to the next level and he
wins he will receive three times the fees and if it is carried by the city to the highest level
and the citizen wins he will receive four time the fees.
All citizens within the city and Shelby County are impacted by the

decisions of the city mayor and the Commissioners-the tax assessor, the judge of
the juvenile court and the judges of the city court of the Cityof Memphis and
other elected officials. Therefore, each citizen within those boundaries should
have the right to voice their opinions on individuals running for the particular
City office by casting votes of their choice.
Suggest a modification to charter Sec. 15-12-4 Preliminary plan review --

OPO current notices do not provide ample time or notifications to
respected owners to address issues impacting their properties and review
standing regulations governing these changes.
the issue of any bonds [both general obligation and revenue] must pass a referendum vote at a general election.

Page 9
Main Feedback
Authorize citizens' initiatives that can be presented every general election and put on a

referendum ballot, and reduce the required number of citizens' signatures to a more
reasonable number than is now required [say 5% of the last voting numbers instead of the
current percentage.
Require a "CARMEN MIRANDA" type statement that all city employees must read and sign,

Including elected and appointed persons, so that they are fully aware of the consequences
of any of their actions that are contrary to city policy, and are thus soley
responsible for any costs of any suits, and not the city.
Vacancy in office -- all future vacancies on the
City
Council and The Memphis City School Board will be filled through
a random drawing (lottery) of registered voters until the next scheduled election.
City districts 1 and 7 are poorly drawn. District 1 is clearly the most gerrymandered district in the City.

It reaches into the middle of district 7. As an advocate of Frayser, I feel that the current districts are a
detriment to the community. Frayser is currently represented by 8 council members- districts 1 and 7, as
well as super-districts 8 and 9. It makes communication with our representatives more difficult; there is
essentially no main person to go to.
A parliamentarian is needed for the City Council – should be following Roberts Rules of Order

All city/public meetings should be on local access cable TV

Page 9

Bradford's Murder Was Not Just Due To A Robbery

You've heard the TV and read the newspaper reports concerning the killing of U of M football player Taylor Bradford, but let me give you the information that other local media's didn't know.The killing of Bradford was not just the result of a robbery,but the retaliation of a love triangle.

Sources close to the investigation have informed me that Bradford had formerly been involved with a young lady by the name of Erica Bell. The present boyfriend was Devin Jefferson one of the men charged with the murder of Bradford. The sources state that Bradford and Jefferson had had several fights over the last year over Bell. It's reported that a fight last year between the two was video taped by a cell phone and placed on "You Tube" and "My Space".

Jefferson became the butt of jokes on campus because of the taping of him being beat down by the 300 lb, 6"2 football player. It's reported that Jefferson never got over being embarrassed. Sources state that even though Bradford had filed an restraining order against Erica Bell, and supposedly on the outs with her, he was still intimately involved with her,and Jefferson knew it. It's reported by sources that Bell had made it known that she was involved with both men.

On September 28, Bradford won $10,000 at a casino in Tunica, he spent the next day shopping,going to shake joints, and having a good time. Jefferson who still was angry about Bradford giving him a beat down and still seeing Bell heard about Bradford's winnings and decided to rob him.

Jefferson sought out Courtney Washington, Daeshawn Tate, and Victor Trezevant, to do the dirty work.he knew that he could not be a part of the robbery because Bradford knew him. The robbery was to take place at Bradford's dorm but the three stooges got lost and laid in wait for Bradford after seeing his car parked.

When Bradford exited the dorm and got in his car, he heard his name called as the three flagged him down on the pretense of wanting to talk about football. When the three got close to Bradford who was behind the wheel of his cranked car, one of the three fulled a gun. Bradford seeing the gun took off with one of the three firing into the car hitting him in the right side.

The killing was not suppose to happen but the shooter became nervous when Bradford tried to get away and save his own life. The question that my sources are asking is "what role did Erica bell play,if any" Did she tell Jefferson about the money that Bradford had won? Did Bell no longer want to see Jefferson now that Bradford had come into $10,000?

I know that many in local media say that I'm not a journalist, But I bet that they will be all over this story, because my leads for them have not failed yet. But they won't be able to say " First On_____"

How Can Fleming And Clarksenior Attack Memphis Politics When They Don't Live Here?

On Saturday radio talk show host Andrew Clarksenior was asked who he voted for mayor in last Thursday's election. He stated that he voted but would not state whether he voted for Morris or Chumney. With his vicious attacks against Willie Herenton it was known that his vote would go to anybody but Herenton. In fact during his program a caller asked who he should vote for, and Clarksenior reply to the caller was "A.B.H." when the caller asked what the alphabets meant Clarksenior stated "Anybody But Herenton".

I think that Clarksenior is lieing when he says that he voted for anyone in Memphis, since he's not a registered voter in Shelby County. The rolls of registered voters in the county does not contain his name, in fact the only Clarksenior shown through any Shelby county records is Dorothy Clarksenior a resident of North Memphis.

Well, someone will say that Clarksenior is just his stage name and he's registered in his real name. Not true Andrew uses his real name, in fact when you check his records on his job in West Memphis you find the use of his name,Which brings me to another point,If Clarksenior is a resident of Tennessee how is he employed as a police officer in West Memphis? It is my belief that Andrew Clarksenior is a resident of the State of Arkansas which gives him no right to demean or get involved in Memphis politics. Clarksenior is just a scripted performer for WREC.
It is well known that Mike Fleming is a resident of Covington Tennessee,and not a resident of Memphis or Shelby County, so what gives him the ability to be able to state what is best for this city? He and Clarksenior are like the many people that come into this city to make their living and take that living out of the county.

Why has WREC chosen two non residents to attack the needs and concerns of Memphis? Is this radio station on a mission to destroy black politics by using Fleming who uses every occasion to attack black leadership and Andrew Clarksenior who goes alone with anything he thinks the white community wants to hear?

Murders Of Taylor Bradford Should All Die

City of Memphis police have made three arrest in the cold blooded murder of U of M football player Taylor Bradford. Those arrested are Daeshawn Tate, Victor Trezevant, and Courtney Washington.

These three murders who took the life of Bradford over money that he had won at the casino should never be released into society again, in fact each of them should receive the death penalty. There lives should be taken the way that they took the life of Taylor. It's time that criminals learn that if you rob and kill you will die.

It is now time for black leaders to step forth and denounce the actions of these animals and state that young black men that commit these crimes should die when there is a clear case that the right criminal is in custody. No longer can we set back and not address this issue of young black men killing and having no fear of retribution.

It's time that this community demand that District Attorney Bill Gibbons does his job and live up to the slogan he created........NO DEALS

Is Tennessee Ready For A Governor Name Harold Ford Jr.?

Reports have it that former congressman Harold Ford Jr. wants to become Governor of the state of Tennessee. Can Ford who couldn't win a state wide race to become the first black senator from the state hope to become the first black governor?

Do you think Tennessee is really for a black Governor? One thing is for sure with his father's recent snub of Mayor Willie Herenton, he can rest assured that he will have some political problems from some black democrats in Memphis,if in fact he does decide to run.

Reports also state that maybe congrats are in order for Harold Jr. who may be taking on a bride

Does Andrew Clarksenior Think He's White?

Some of my white readers of this site plus those who listen to my radio show state that I am a racist because of my views on politics and racism. I don't think that my views are racist but just facts that some whites are uncomfortable with.

But I'm willing to bet that those who called me racist and wrong for my political views of Herman Morris and Carol Chumney will find no fault in the comments of Andrew Clarksenior from the WREC website:

King Willie Wins/We Lose.....
Friday 10-05-2007 10:57am CT
Yesterday,October the 4th, 2007, was election day. This process is wonderfullyAmerican, it was and is, America at its finest. The electorate spoke loudlyand aggressively. This I, truly respect and admire. I accept the electorate's decision. I do not, however agree, with that decision. King Willie showed in hisvictory speech, that he is a racist. He pointed out, the disdain and dislike for him by some white youths, who wanted to see Justin Timberlake. King Willierepeatedly played the race card, in this troubled campain.

Yes he clearly won But we clearly lost, for he showed that, he just does not get it. He stated that we (some of the public:white people) left him. We did not say, that this race was about race and power. We did not state, that evil white powerbrokers, were attempting to dethrone him. He is going to be the mayor, for the next four yearsand we will have to live with it. Which we will, But whose Mayor is he? Only the Mayor for Blacks??

Was Clarksenior calling himself White?

Why Are The Big Boys "J'

I guess I must ask the question,why are the big corporate media companies worried about this blog. Andrew Clarksenior has attacked my position in supporting Mayor Willie Herenton as being a person of low moral character,which he stated on air is the reason that WREC a station that is owned by Clear Channel, has banned me from being able to call in. This is the same station that as long as I attacked Herenton allowed me to jump to the head of the line on their call-in line.

Otis Sanford in his editorial on yesterday eluded to me in his column,stating as he spoke of the dismal side of Memphis that is "thrust on us regularly,thanks to a large criminal element and some in the media who believe discord should lead the news. It also comes to us courtesy of a few self serving politicians,their enablers and charlatans posing as Internet bloggers" I take this statement to reference me since I was the only blogger supporting Herenton,and the most read blog site in the entire area.

Why is the Commercial Appeal worried about a blogsite,is it because out of all their polls I was the only person that was correct. I stated that Herenton would win,and that all the Anti-Herenton votes had to come from the same place and would be split between Carol Chumney and Herman Morris.

I stated on this site that the CA's poll meant nothing alone with the other various polls that were being promoted as fact. Thursday proved that I was correct. Is the CA concern because all their endorsee's lost,while every candidate I pushed and asked voters to vote for, both here and on my radio show won,and every one that I asked voters not to support lost. The editorial staff of the CA has no influence at all,and has never picked a winning candidate for mayor.

Is Otis and his staff also concerned about the fact that I knew that they had told Veronica Castillo days before it became public that they were giving here the endorsement, The CA knew about her filing for bankrupcty prior to the endorsement. I know its so because she told me that she explained to them in her interview that she had had some problems when she lost her job at the MED. The paper found themselves in a position where they had to take back there endorsement after I made that fact known alone with the fact that she herself owed property taxes while she attacked Barbara Swearingan Ware.

Never doing the election did the CA ever hit Herman Morris, their pick with the hard questions, such as his position on Memphis NetWorx and the lost of $32 million dollars of rate payers money,even after he stated in a debate the the only thing wrong with the company was that"Ii was sold to soon and to cheap". They never mention the fact that many of the staff persons at the CA were on Morris's VIP list, and that a former editor was given 10 years to pay a water bill, but they dare to attack Joseph Lee.

Now I hear that that clown from Covington Tn wants in on the fray, I received an email from a reader stating how Mike Fleming now wants the internet regulated by the federal government because of my blog. Damn, I thought you were the big boys, You have the mega bucks to promote yourselves, but you worry about the effect this site and myself have on the political scene. It bother these boys to see that in the last past two weeks that over 60,000 hits were made on the Herenton ad. It bothers them to know that this site is the most visited site in the state. It bothers them that every politican across the state reads this site along with thousands of average everyday people who vote.

Because they think that this site has influence, they know want to fight against my Freedom of Speech, what are the big boys worried about, did I interfere with someone's plan? whatever the reason happens to be I don't give a damn and will not stop presenting my views on any issue that I choose to comment on. I have no fear of the big boys at all,and even though I don't agree with much that they say, I believe that they have the right to say it.

Here's the email I received:

Can you believe this? Fascist Fleming, Ben Ferguson and Andrew Clark have a combined time of 37 hours a week on the air to voice their opinions about politics or whatever else they want to talk about. During the last election all 3 of their voices were negative of the same candidates and supportive of almost the same candidates. All 3 of them have blogs that are hardly read because neither of them know too much about what they are talking about.

Thaddeus Matthews has 5 hours on the air and a blog that all 3 of them read and most other people including the TV stations, the CA and all of the other news services. Most of the people Thaddeus supported won. Most of the people the 3 misfits above supported lost.So now Fleming is doing a show today where he is calling for some checks and balances to be put on Thaddeus's right to blog freely. According to Fleming Thaddeus has no credibility, no journalist background, he is as low a snails belly in character and he maligns people's character without any proof.

The same thing he (Fleming) just did.At the same time he is saying these things, he can't tell you what lie Thaddeus has printed and he can't give you a case of slander against Thaddeus. What a loser. Half the things you say on the radio are lies Mike Fleming. You have maligned the mayor's character, John Ford and the Ford family, many other people in the city and many outside of the city, like Bill Clinton. You have no more credibility than Thaddeus. Ann Colter called John Roberts a homosexual and Rush Limbaugh has called Hillary Clinton a lesbian. How do they respond to that?Shame on you for trying to take someone's freedom of speech away when you work with the likes of a Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity. Two of the biggest liars in radio history. You need to get a life, stop your crying and get over being the loser.

Mayor Willie Herenton Says It's Time To Heal

Mayor Willie Herenton says its time for a healing in the city and as mayor he wants to move the city in the right direction.

"I care about its healing. I'm just not going to accept the soul responsibility for dealing with the problems of other people. I will be a participant in any healing process. I will work with any groups for the betterment of Memphis and for the betterment of Memphis Willie Herenton is on the team," adds Herenton.

Are you as a citizen of the city of Memphis ready to embrace this healing process or do you want to hang on to negatives that will never bring forth a healing to the wounds of racism?

Edmund Ford Jr. Is Having A Community Meet And Greet

YOU KNOW WHO IT IS............
EDMUND FORD JR.!

DISTRICT 6
WHEN: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2007
WHERE: MITCHELL ROAD PARKING LOT
(BY NITE & DAY STORE)
TIME: 2:15-UNTIL
FREE FOOD!

Baked Beans, Hot Dogs, Homemade Slaw (by Gloria Murphy), Drinks
Sponsored by: God’s Advocate For Justice, Inc.
Mary Murphy, Founder & CEO
Edmund Ford Jr. For District 6
Satellite Headquarters
678 King Road
Memphis, TN 38109
901-395-0052
teamford@edmundfordjr.com
901-396-1555

Otis Why Are You So Concerned About Me?

Otis Sanford, the black face for the Commercial Appeal decided to ad me to his editorial concerning the re-election of Willie Herenton, in today's paper. I find it flattering that this mega media source feels that I played a role in Herenton being reelected.

Otis portrays me as a charlatan posing as a Internet blogger,and as one who regularly spews rumors disguised as fact, He also states that I accuse the mainstream media of conspiring with business leaders to hoodwink the masses.

Well Otis let's like at your views, I don't have to pose as a blogger because I am the leading blogger in this area according to hits. In fact Otis the Herenton ad at the top of my page had over 31,000 hits this week,and over 29,000 hits last week. You must think know that this site is the most read in this area because you mention it in this article. Am I being called a charlatan by you because I didn't serve your agenda or the agenda of those who control you?

Otis why didn't you attack the likes of Bill Adkins and Lie-Silly Gray for changing their position on the mayor? Why didn't you think that their actions were wrong? because you had been told that Willie Herenton was not to be reelected and that your paper was to play a role in that agenda.

Otis since your paper has followed stories that I have broke before you, why didn't you do a story at all on the plan by Karl Schledwitz and David Upton to take control of the city council. Why didn't you discuss their plan to have Memphis Tomorrow finance this plan, was it because your boss Joseph Pepe is a member of this elite group of white Power brokers?

Otis why didn't you mention your relationship with Herman Morris who is reported a golfing buddy of yours? Why didn't you ever mention that your former editor Angus, was on Herman's VIP list and that Angus was given 10 years to pay a water bill? By the way wasn't you as a editor at the paper on that same list?

Otis why are you so upset,why are you taking this race so personally? but who gives a damn about what you think? certainly not the citizens of Memphis who voted against basically everyone your paper endorsed. Your paper has never endorsed a candidate for mayor that won. And none of your polling predictions were correct.

But Otis all those I pushed on this site and on my radio program won,and all those I asked my viewers and listener not to support,lost. Which is more than I can say about your newspaper. So Otis who has the greatest influence? or is that the problem that a little old blog site has more influence than your paper?

Otis you call the voices that supported Willie Herenton ugly, But it seems that you have no voice that belongs to you, You're just a dummy with someone's hand up your back making your mouth move.


By the way Otis,this is how this site is rated in Tennessee:

Tennessee's Most Influential Political blogs
Rank
Blog
1
Newscoma
2
Music City Bloggers
3
No Silence Here
4
Nashville for the 21st Century
5
Enclave
6
Thaddeus Matthews Dot Com
7
The World According to Oatney
8
Tiny Cat Pants
9
KnoxViews - News and views of the community by the community
10
TennesseeTicket.com
11
The Crone Speaks
12
Volunteer Voters
13
This Is Smyrna, TN
14
Truman's Take
15
terryfrank.net
16
Tennessee Politics Blog
17
Legislative Report
18
Bill Hobbs
19
Kay Brooks
20
Bear Creek Ledger

BNN's Tennessee Blogosphere Influence Rating combines a variety of data sets to determine which blogs are most powerfully influencing the direction of the Tennessee political blogosphere. The exact method BNN uses to calculate influence scores must remain proprietary in order to prevent attempts to game the system. BNN's methodology takes into account the fact that all Internet data is profoundly limited in its reliability by using multiple data sets that, when combined, reveal a fair picture of activity in the blogosphere.

And Otis since you're concern about my effect on the herenton campaign here's the stats from last week for the number of hits the herenton ad on my site received:

Banner [id7] Re-Elect Mayor Herenton Ad ------------------------------------------------------ Impressions (Total): 135,544 06-10-2007: 1,029 05-10-2007: 5,824 04-10-2007: 1,563 03-10-2007: 7,215 02-10-2007: 1,355 01-10-2007: 10,420 30-09-2007: 4,542 Total this period: 31,948 total for week

Lest We Forget The Racial History Of Memphis Politics

There has been an uproar over the statement by Mayor Willie Herenton that he didn't create the racial divide in Memphis. There are those who seek to find fault in any comment that the mayor makes just to be in opposition to him. When a black man speaks about the racism in this city whites want to call him a racist,is it because many whites in this city can't stand the reality that blacks had nothing to do with creating the racial climate in Memphis?

Whites find nothing wrong with Herenton being booed on two occasions by a white crowd, those who speak against Herenton never once addressed the racist actions of these crowds but sought to find excuses for their actions. Whites don't want to look in the mirror and see the image that's before them, they don't want to see that racism in Memphis Politics started with racist whites, they seek to want to tell blacks to forget about the history of racism that they created.

The racism that is present now in Memphis didn't start with Herenton,neither did any black man have anything to do with it's birth. Whites in this city choose not to revisit Memphis history and do the research that shows the racial nature of pass white mayors and white power brokers in this city that creates mistrust by blacks who have done the research and know that the mean racist climate of whites toward Herenton and his supporters is nothing new.

History tells us that for years whites controlled the city's primary and economic institutions,keeping blacks subservient through a variety of devices, even though blacks by 1865 had increased in population in Memphis by 500%. Memphis at that time had more blacks as residents with the exception of maybe new Orleans than any other city in the nation, with Beale Street becoming as George Lee put it " the main street of Negro America",the center of black Memphis business,religion,entertainment,and vice.

In the latter 1800's an elaborate "Jim Crow" system of legally mandated racial segregation developed. Public facilities-from streetcars to parks,from libraries to theaters, from shops tp restaurants, were all formally segregated. Until 1923,Lemoyne High School was the only accredited four year high school where blacks were allowed to attend,and there were no college opportunities until Lemoyne added a college level in 1932. Not until legal pressure began to build in the late 1950's and 60's were Memphis facilities finally desegregated.

Twentieth-century laws and public policies, regardless of intent reinforced white dominance. For example, repeated annexations of predominantly white suburban areas helped maintain a white majority,while at large city elections and a runoff provision helped insure that the white majority would be able to have its way electorally.

Southern whites believed that they had an obligation to protect,uplift,and care for what they perceived to be the less fortunate race,which is one of the reason whites in Memphis didn't respect blacks in no other role than servant. In 1889 the Daily Appeal stated that Blacks "Must be educated and Christianized,and so fitted for the duties of life" As late as 1918 a prominent white businessman called for the repeal of the 15th Amendment "In order that normal political life might be restored in the South". More than a decade later the Commercial Appeal declared that "The Anglo-Saxon will not be ruled no matter what the odds are against him,He possesses the imperious and unyielding despotism of conscious superiority"

Local newspapers also regularly used terms like "darkey" and "nigger" called Booker T. Washington an "Alabama coon" and the Commercial Appeal ran a degrading "Hambone" cartoon strip from October 1915 until a week after Martin Luther King Jr. was slain in 1968. So maybe now some of you will understand why many veteran blacks have no trust in the daily paper.

Many whites want to portray Willie Herenton as a racist,and the founder of political racism in this city, but let me take you further back down memory lane. E.H. "Boss Crump"served as mayor from 1909 t0 1915 when the state legislature removed him from office for failing to enforce the Tennessee prohibition law.

By the late 1920's he had consolidated his political power,without holding office himself,he proceeded to dominate Memphis politics from then until his death in 1954. In terms of race Crump was an avowed segregationist. For example despite his fervent patriotism, in 1948 he made Memphis the first United States city to cancel a visit by the red,white,and blue Freedom Train which carried the original United States Constitution,Declaration of Independence and other historical documents. He simply refused to comply with the American Heritage Foundation's requirement of desegregated viewing of these documents. He never allowed a Black to hold any position of power within his political machine,he also worked hard to purge the city of black leaders perceived to be militant in any way.

Then there was Henry Loeb who was a conservative and a segregationist who was mayor at the time King was killed at the Lorraine Motel. those times were difficult as Memphis had become a racial power keg with reports that many whites had began purchasing guns and ammunition in anticipation of a race war. Not only was Loeb an avowed segregationist,but a number of white Memphians understood his motto "Be Proud Again" as a "White power" protest against civil rights. And as late as 1980 the Loeb Dutch Treat Luncheons were punctuated by racial epithets from the audience.

In fact he actively worked to keep blacks out of public life. In 1959 for instance, a black candidate Russell Sugarmon ran for Loeb's former position as public works commissioner against a number of white opponents. There was no runoff provision at the time and mayoral candidate Loeb was convinced that a black might succeed him in office,Since he wanted the white popular majority to prevail he asked the government to call a special session of the state legislature to pass a runoff requirement. he also called a meeting of the white candidates seeking his former post,and in the face of considerable pressure,one of the two leading white candidates dropped out of the race.

In 1960 Sugarmon and other blacks met with Loeb and his fellow city commissioners to propose gradual desegregation,starting with parks and museums. Loeb listened to the presentation and emphatically said "NO" and then proceeded to turn his chair so his back was facing the black leaders.

This is enough history for one day, I'll give you more on tomorrow night, but to those of you that want to blame Willie Herenton for a racial divide, you now know better.

Get Over It Or Leave

Some narrow minded whites who accuse Mayor Willie Herenton of being a racist,stated that they would leave the city if he was re-elected. This group who refuse to understand that racism in Memphis politics started years ago must do what they think is good for them,so if they want to show us that they were not just talking to be talking and trying to create rhetoric just to increase the hype against the newly re-elected mayor, we say FAREWELL, Memphis will not cease to be because you left,in fact it may become a greater city with you gone.

Andrew Clarksenior Says He's No Punk, But He Can't Prove It By Me

Andrew Clarksenior in his attempt to please the white community went on a rant today about Willie Herenton and myself. This man who has black skin but no blackness in his heart ranted about the speech that the newly re-elected mayor made on Thursday night,calling the mayor a racist because Willie Herenton didn't make the comments that he thought should have been made. It seems that Clarksenior to appease his white audience thought that Herenton should have extended a olive branch to the white community.

Andrew has a problem with the statement that Herenton made when he stated that he did not divide the city. This city has long been divided not because of herenton but because of racist who now want blacks to forget about their acts of hatred. What did Herenton have to do with the recent KKK robe that was sent to councilman Edmund Ford?

In recent years Herenton has increased the wealth of many white power brokers,is that the act of a racist? Many whites serve as appointees in his administration, is that the act of an racist? But whites booing the mayor at a football game is an act of racism, booing the mayor on national TV is an act of racism, the media making every statement that Herenton makes concerning the white media, is a promotion of racism, because the media is controlled by whites in Memphis. Their is only one radio station that is owned by blacks in Memphis.

Andrew Clarksenior is a controlled coward behind a mike, he doesn't have the balls to confront me either on his show or mine's but he can attack me on his show.This coward today went on a rant about the discussions of my show, he stated that WREC had banned me from the station because of my low morals and character. When did WREC and Clear Channel install a morals register on the phone lines? I don't know but I will have my attorney on Monday make a call to Texas to find out.

Clarksenior without any proof stated that Herenton paid me to change my position about him, He stated that the $2500 that's reported on the mayor's financial disclosure was paid to me to support him. He also stated that Herenton purchased my air time. Clarksenior, since he states he knows FCC rules should have known not to make statements that he can't back up, And as a employee of Clearchannel he should have known not to make the statement concerning why I have been banned from calling in on the air. I love when a idiot such as Clarksenior makes statements like that when he represents a multi billion dollar company such as Clear channel. And yes Andrew I taped your show.

Clarksenior also made the point of me having to pay for my air time while he has been an employee of WREC for eight years. This shows that he is stupid, he works as an employee, while I own the company that produces my talk show. He works for a salary while playing commercials that profit Clear Channel, while my advertising dollars go to my company that purchases the airtime from KWAM. The advertising revenue from my show last month will pay his salary for several months if not longer. He eluded to the fact that I have been sued and lost, maybe he needs to check the record and he'll find that upon appeal I won the case.

I challenge this coward behind a mike who stated today that he's not a punk to address me like a man concerning my position on the mayor's race. I can either face him in his studio or he can face me in the studio's of KWAM. It appears that WREC was a partner in the plan to promote any candidate but Willie herenton, in fact he stated today that he was able to tell a caller last week to "Vote For Anyone But Herenton", He's just a bald face lie, who tried to play off the caller named "Common" today. The licensee of a radio station(WREC) can not by FCC guidelines promote one candidate over another on public airwaves.

An employee of a radio station, or TV station can not tell anyone who to vote for or against. In covering his ass Clarksenior tried to paint a picture that he was allowed to tell the caller last week not to vote for Herenton. His act was a violation of FCC guidelines.

My radio talk show is time that is purchased by me and does not fall under the same rule. That is why a disclaimer is given before the show stating that "the views and opinions heard on this show are not the views of KWAM, its owners, or management" Not being an employee of the licensee and having a paid program allows me to promote a candidate or not promote.

Clarksenior is not only pissed at me because of the mayors race but as the head of the West Memphis Police Internal Affairs department he became upset when I released the names of the police officers that shot 13 year old DeAuntae Farrow earlier this summer.

Clarksenior has been scripted in his role as a talk show host on WREC to promote George Bush and to be anti-black. If this is not the case, then we have a black man who is allowing himself to be used as the slave with the whip to beat up on blacks that will not serve his master's agenda, But I'm glad that his master has deep pockets

Don't Miss This Meeting

Urgent Community Meeting This Monday Concerning The Lorraine Motel.

Click on the picture to enlarge

Congrats Janis

Radio Personality and Charter Commission member Janis Fullilove demolished Henry Hooper's plan of maintaining his appointed seat on the city Council by defeating him by over 28,000 votes.

Fullilove also punched holes in the plot to control the council as proposed by Karl Schledwitz and David Upton.

The Fight Is Over, Herenton Lands Knock Out Punch, To Hold On To His Title As Mayor Of Memphis

Tonight October 4,2007 Willie Herenton knocked out Carol Chumney, and slaughtered Herman Morris to hold on to his title as mayor of Memphis.

Even though many of us knew that he would win, it was joyful to see the mayor win by such a large margin. prior to going downtown to the Cannon Center, I went to the campaign headquarters after leaving the radio station. Several of us set in the "War Room" throwing out numbers and margins of a win, but none of us projected that the margin of the win would be as large as it was. This proves that the polls by TV stations and the CA was all hype because the citizens of Memphis spoke and spoke in volumes.

Tonight is a proud night for many of us who understand that this race was not about politics, but race and power. The divide and conquer plots and schemes didn't work,Willie Herenton has been re-elected for a fifth term. So to the haters get on board,or get left. to you radio talk show host who worked to defeat Herenton,I'll be listening to see what you have to say now.

Congrats Mr. Mayor

Dr.Willie Wilbert Herenton first made history on October 3,1991 when he became the first black elected mayor of Memphis after 165 years that this city had been charted. Tonight 16 years and one day later Willie Herenton again has made history by entering a fifth term as mayor.

Many in this city do not find the joy that the many Herenton supporters find, neither do they understand the pride that so many of us who understand the struggle of the black community have tonight in knowing that the power of black politics in Memphis shall continue.

No matter what you may think of Willie Herenton he is the mayor, hopefully the 98% of whites that wanted him gone by any means can "Shake Off" their bitterness and work with this mayor to make this a better city for all citizens. Those who even stooped to hate the mayor should tonight "Shake off the Hate" because whether you hate him, dislike him, or didn't vote for him, Willie Herenton is the mayor whether you like it or not,and there's nothing you can do about it but "Shake It Off"

Herenton Supporters," Shake Dem Haters Off"

Well over a thousand Herenton supporters crowed into the ballroom of the Cannon Center to shake off the haters of Herenton who now has been elected for a fifth term as mayor of Memphis. The crowd danced to "The Cupid Shuffle" and enjoyed themselves as some across this city dropped their heads in defeat.

So to all those who stated that if Herenton won they would leave, SEE YA!!!!!!

Herman Who?

Willie Herenton whupped Herman Morris tonight like he stole something. Mayor Herenton beat Morris 2 to 1 and defeated him by 35,019 votes. Morris who had signs printed saying "Only Herman Can Win" is now a political joke,Morris a black man(?) couldn't even muster up as many blacks to vote for him as Carol Chumney.

The black community proved tonight that it has no love for the former president of the NAACP who has never fought for a black issue. As I have been stating there was no way that Morris could win and tonight I am proven to be right.

So hopefully this is farewell and goodbye to a man that even his race cares nothing about. This also proves that an endorsement by the CA means nothing. By the way did anyone that they endorsed win?

I Took On The Power Brokers And Won

In a plan that I first exposed that Karl Schledwitz and David Upton put together to take control of the city Council failed. The plan that they laid out in black and white showed candidates that they had bought off by investing money into their campaigns so that they would have control over the council.

That complete plan was first shown here, and then other media outlets reported this conspiracy to take control, even though they dared not call it for what it was. I immediately went on the attack both here and on my radio show,denouncing these two political pimps. I urged my viewers and listeners not to allow power brokers to take control of our politics,no other media outlet had the nerve to deal with this issue,so I had to take on this battle alone.

I am proud to announce that every one of their candidates lost and lost big. Only one of their candidates even made it to the runoffs and he will be taken out at that point. Reginald Milton, Veronica Castillo, Davida Cruthird, Henry Hooper, Ian Randolph you have just learned the power of this site and my radio program.

It's Election Day

It's election day in memphis and for the next 12 hours citizens of this city by the thousands will practice their right to choose the leaders of their choice.

Polls. commentaries,news stories,political spins, will either by this time tomorrow prove to have been right or wrong,and will really mean nothing because the choice for leadership would have been made by the people.

So what are your thoughts on today's elections,what's your predictions not just on the mayor's race but the races for city council?

I will spend the day observing and visiting precincts,do my radio show this evening,Go by the Shelby County Election Commission on tonight,and then attend the re-election party of the mayor downtown.

But whoever is your choice for mayor or for city council make sure your vote is counted on tonight.

Get A Chevy,Cause You Can't Trust A Ford Named Harold

Several weeks ago Harold Ford Sr. contacted Willie Herenton after a new housing area was named after him. Ford told Herenton that he wanted to assist him in his campaign. Herenton told him that it was not needed, but if he wanted to be a part of unification in the Black community he could come and be a part of the rally that was held on Tuesday night at Mt. Vernon that has been planned over a month ago.

Ford agreed to be present and came to town last week. He confirmed with Charles Carpenter and Sidney Chism that he would be present at the rally. According to sources at N. J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home,Minerva Johnican went to the funeral home to solicited his support for herman Morris.

It became suspect on Sunday that Ford was not going to stick to his word when he didn't attend churches with the mayor as planned, but then after rumors started to run about power brokers giving him a call it was known by the Herenton camp that Ford would be a no show.

It has been reported that Harold Ford Jr. has plans to run for Governor in 2010 and will need the support and money of white power brokers in Memphis. Word is that Harold Sr. was told that if he showed for the rally or got involved in getting the vote out for Herenton that Junior would not get the support and finances needed to run a state wide campaign.

Even though there were those who wanted to see Ford and Herenton on the same stage again, it was clear that the crowd of over 1,000 came to support Herenton. A "Get out the vote" plan has been in place for election day for months, transportation is also in place and a staff of persons who know how to handle a successful campaign is ready to get the vote for Herenton and to make sure no games are played at the Shelby County Election Commission.

It would have been nice for Ford to have made an appearance at the rally but all the plans were already ready to be administered, and the crowd left ready to do battle and win on October 4th.

With Or Without A Ford, Herenton Will Drive Him Self to Work For 4 More Years.

Tonight before a crowd of over 1,000 persons even though some TV stations tried to make it appear as though the room was empty,Pastor K.T. Whalum came to the pulpit to introduce mayor W.W. Herenton to the crowd of supporters. Whalum took off his school board hat and fire the crowd up with his style of pulpit presence. He reminded the crowd that 16 years ago there was no black leadership,and that "You don't have to be scared to be black".

Whalum told the crowd that Herman Morris's claim to fame is be fired by Willie Herenton, and that Carol Chumney can't even get pot holes filled as a council member, so what is she going to do being mayor. Whalum went on to remind the crowd that the mayor had to power to fire Morris and that the first thing Herenton did was to fire him from the housing authority board.

Willie Herenton took to the stage as "I don't feel no ways tired" a gospel selection played in the background. Herenton spoke of how power brokers came to him three times trying to get him not to run for office,and even offering him money not to run. He spoke of the greatest insult to the power brokers was the fact that he wouldn't take their money.

One TV reporter stated that the rally was a mix between a musical and a church service, well he's right it was prayers and praise that gave the black community it's first black mayor and those of faith believe that the prayers of those who remember being freed from exile will return Willie Herenton to the mayor's office for a fifth term.

The mayor spoke of the plan of those who tried to get A.C. Wharton to run for mayor and how the plan was to destroy the black leadership that controls both the seats of the city and county mayors. He spoke of how the idea was dangled in front of A.C and how he made the statement that he would have to think about it. Herenton says that there should have never had to be any thought by Wharton.

Herenton controlled the room as he reminded the crowd that some say that he has been in office to long, yet the city received its charter in 1826 and didn't elect its first Black mayor for 165 years. Herenton went on to state that this race is about "Race and Power".

It was no doubt that the crowd in the room feel certain that Herenton will win on Thursday,and is preparing themselves to go to the polls and energize others to vote for him.. The absence of Harold Ford did not dampen the spirit of the crowd, rather it gave a charge to a crowd that came to support Willie Herenton, for 4 MORE YEARS

Is Throwing Soap Carol's Plan To Clean Up Memphis?

Several weeks ago the Orange mound community held it's annual parade. many poli-trick-ans running for office attended riding on floats and parade cars. Alone the parade route many of the poli-trick-ans threw candy to the crowd. I did not attend the parade but an email sent to me states that Carol Chumney threw soap to the crowd instead of candy. Is this the way she plans to clean up Memphis?

Here's the email:

Carol Clean
show details Oct 1 (23 hours ago)

Memphis mayoral hopeful Carol Chumney participated in the 2007 Orange Mound Southern Heritage Classic parade. Carol rode in a shiny red Jeep with supporters walking ahead carrying a large banner celebrating her campaign. Carol Chumney was abundantly clear with the primary message of her campaign when waving at the thousands of African-Americans looking on from the sidewalks of Park Ave. Though most floats and vehicles had tasty sweet candy treats for the thousands of black Memphians cheering on the parade, Carol Chumney chose to give the crowd of thousands an powerful symbol of her feelings about them:

CAROL CHUMNEY THREW THEM SOAP.

Maybe Carol Chumney had concerns about tooth decay from the candy little African-American children would eat during this festive day, but what in the world could she be saying to little black children hoping to receive some Now-and-Laters or Kit-Kats by throwing soap at them?

Carol Chumney, cleaning up Memphis, one black child at a time.

Willie And Harold Back Together Again

Harold Ford Sr. will be the featured speaker tonight at Mount Vernon Westwood as he endores the re-election of Willie Herenton to a fifth term as mayor of Memphis. The event will start at 7pm with doors opening at 6pm.

The former Congressman from the 9th congressional district will also be joining herenton in a massive "Get Out The Vote" campaign for Thurday. the theme of the rally is " Together We Stand And Divided We Fall"

The Power Of The Blog

Candidates and businesses it pays to advertise on this site. Listed is the number of hits on each of the advertisements posted. The Herenton ad has had a total of 103,406 hits during the time that the banner has been up and 29,831 hits just last week.

This service is provided by a local company that monitors and designs the advertising for this site. I have had posters comment on what they want viewers to believe is my numbers, but they are totally incorrect, but than I understand that their mission is to attempt to diminish the influence of this site.

I decided to post these numbers that I receive weekly so that you can see the advantage of placing your ad here to receive maximum results.


Below you will find the banner statistics for ThaddeusMatthews.com:
This report includes statistics from 23-09-2007 up to 29-09-2007.


Campaign [id2] ThaddeusMatthews.com - Political Campaigns
=======================================================

Banner [id7] Re-Elect Mayor Herenton Ad
------------------------------------------------------
Impressions (Total): 103,406
29-09-2007: 1,060
28-09-2007: 8,618
27-09-2007: 3,157
26-09-2007: 9,239
25-09-2007: 1,381
24-09-2007: 4,858
23-09-2007: 1,518
Total this period: 29,831


Banner [id6] Vote Veronica Castillo
------------------------------------------------------
Impressions (Total): 80,745
25-09-2007: 3
24-09-2007: 7
23-09-2007: 5
Total this period: 15


Banner [id8] James Catchings
------------------------------------------------------
Impressions (Total): 93,115
29-09-2007: 1,023
28-09-2007: 8,399
27-09-2007: 3,039
26-09-2007: 8,981
25-09-2007: 1,335
24-09-2007: 4,752
23-09-2007: 1,481
Total this period: 29,010

Banner [id9] Shea Flinn
------------------------------------------------------
Impressions (Total): 94,050
29-09-2007: 1,038
28-09-2007: 8,464
27-09-2007: 3,074
26-09-2007: 9,057
25-09-2007: 1,351
24-09-2007: 4,774
23-09-2007: 1,495
Total this period: 29,253


Campaign [id3] ThaddeusMatthews.com - General Ad Campaign
=======================================================

Banner [id5] Tri-State Blues Festival
------------------------------------------------------
Impressions (Total): 28,279
No Impressions were logged during the span of this report

Blacks Out Vote Whites In Early Voting

The numbers are in for early voting and blacks out voted whites by over 8,000 votes. so what does these numbers mean to the results of Thursday election? It could very easily mean that the plans of power brokers will fail and Willie Herenton will be re-elected to a fifth term and the plot by Karl Schledwitz and David Upton shall also fail.

Here's the results:

Total Votes 74,288
Black 33,864
White 25,461
Other 14,963

Using the CA's Numbers from Sunday's paper, Herenton received 24% of the total which is 17,830 which leaves 56,459 votes for Chumney and Morris to split at 19% each. That would give both Chumney and Morris a total of 10,728 each. But you can't count John Willingham out, so since we know that anyone that voted for either Morris or Chumney wouldn't have voted for Herenton, lets give him the 2% from their totals that polls say that he will get, which now would make a total number of votes for Morris and Chumney 10,513.

The only way for Herenton to be defeated is for a large number of whites to vote on Thursday,and even with that whites start off with a 8,304 disadvantage. No matter how spinsters try to spin the projections, Herenton has a solid base of support while the anti Herenton vote all has to be split between Willingham,Morris ,and Chumney.

Thanks Commercial Appeal for your poll and for showing how Willie Herenton will be re-elected.