I too also can remember when we elected our first black mayor of Memphis, I too was extremely proud and believed with this historical election it was our time to shine and show off our talents, you are right our city infrastructures is in pretty good shape but our citizens are morally bankrupt. I'll be one of the first to reply that I think it's time for our beloved Mayor to retire, although I know he is highly intelligent his attitude is extremely partisan and because of his extremely partisan attitude our city is racially divide, we are also divide within our own black race because you have some who want to change and most who are afraid to, Still scared to leave the plantation, I hate to air out our dirty laundry but someone has to, first our city was voted as one of the most miserable cities to live in and than the 2nd most dangerous cities, so we must think about the criminal elements that are drawn to such a statement, we have just put all and I mean all our children in harms way; instead of attracting good legitimate businesses and tourism as an ideal city to visit and live in, we are attracting criminals and they will waste no time in coming to give our children jobs, so A big yes! that the drug dealers have taken over our streets, and the MPD seems to be impotent against these thugs, Our citizens appear to be more passive both politically and socially of these dangerous violent failed moral behaviors, there is no out cried of any sort, not even from our city officials which includes the Mayor, and you are correct! It does remind one of a third world country run by arrogant officials with third world mentalities, dam! where are the progressive thinkers, I too do not mean to insult and also love our city, but our city officials get an grade F for being shiftless in there organizing efforts to generate awareness and help bring some sort of grass root out cried for change, especially in our dire situation , hell we only hear from them during election time and it is at this critical time when our vote is reflective of our true intention, once more the baffling question is, are we voting for our city best interest politically for positive change or voting because the candidate happens to be black and not the best viable candidate, I believe the black citizens of our city are afraid to step out of their comfort zone, remember our intention is a reflection of the character of our city, so if we had these same problems last year and the year before without any changes, then we have just voted and sent a message to the thug and drug dealers that we are open for business, we have just told the trash we intent on moving on the same path, so no changes this year, soon our city will paid a heavy price for their apathy, one really wonders, are blacks…. But not all! Are we predisposing to not caring about our conditions? if we care: than why is there no out cried and demands placed on our city official to change this path and also to keep them accountable, and if there is no change of these condition, then why oh why do we keep putting these ineffective shiftless politicians back in office, the most damaging phase in the language is "It always been done that way" and if some city official is reading this....of which I seriously doubt, I say this " to know what is right and not do it, is the worst cowardice.
