Category: Editorial

“Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick.

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson.

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles.

It is said that elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance. And they say that elections also reinforce the stability and legitimacy of the political community.

Elections are said to play a crucial role in democratic societies by promoting citizen participation, ensuring accountability, and facilitating the peaceful transfer of power. It is said that elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.

The term “election” is said to refer to a formal process in which individuals or groups choose or select someone for a specific position, such as a political office or a leadership role. By electing officials, it is said that citizens can have a say in selecting leaders who will make decisions on their behalf and work towards fulfilling their interests and needs.

The Britannica encyclopedia mentions this below about the meaning and the importance of elections. “Because direct democracy—a form of government in which political decisions are made directly by the entire body of qualified citizens—is impractical in most modern societies, democratic government must be conducted through representatives.”

The Wikipedia encyclopedia explains these below in terms of such election campaigns. “When elections are called, politicians and their supporters attempt to influence policy by competing directly for the votes of constituents in what are called campaigns. Supporters for a campaign can be either formally organized or loosely affiliated, and frequently utilize campaign advertising. “

The encyclopedia mentions more like these. “It is common for political scientists to attempt to predict elections via political forecasting methods. The most expensive election campaign included US$7 billion spent on the 2012 United States presidential election and is followed by the US$5 billion spent on the 2014 Indian general election.”

The 2023 Memphis mayoral election will take place on October 5, 2023(Thursday). The filing deadline for this election is July 20, 2023. The current mayor Jim Strickland (D) is term-limited. Early voting starts in September.

They say that about twelve candidates have declared their candidacy as of June, 2023, including six Democrats, three Republicans, and two independents. While the election is officially nonpartisan, many candidates (and officeholders) are said to be affiliated with a political party. It is said that Memphis, the 27th-largest city in the U.S., has had a Democratic mayor since 1992, and Memphis is also holding elections for county clerk and all 13 seats on the city council in 2023.

The declared candidates for the next mayoral seat are Joe Brown, Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy), J.W. Gibson, Van Turner, Paul Young, Floyd Bonner, Karen Camper, Frank Colvett, Michelle McKissack, Willie Herenton, and so on.

According to University of Memphis professor Otis Sanford, the issues of crime and police conduct will have an outsized effect in the October election. “[…] The race for mayor will come down [to] who has the clearer and most convincing message — not just about fighting crime, but changing the culture in the police department in light of the police killing of Tyre Nichols,” Sanford said.(Source: Ballotpedia)

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” – John F. Kennedy.

Both the ferocious dogs and the tottering ones already began to run in the next mayoral race in the City of Memphis. Which dog are the Memphians going to choose for their next mayor?

“The future of the City of Memphis is in the hands of the Memphian voter.” – The Memphis Times.

Published: June 29, 2023, (Thursday.)

[Link] The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

[Editorial] The Importance of the Next Mayoral Election in the City of Memphis (June 29, 2023)
www.memphistimes.org/20230629_election

[Reference]

The declared candidates (Source: Wikipedia except Brandon Price)

Joe Brown, former Shelby County Criminal Court judge and former host of the reality court show ‘’Judge Joe Brown’’ (Party affiliation: Independent),

Brandon Price(her social name is Salamander Brandy), Executive Director of the church Path of the Holy Hands, a member of Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New Black Panther party,

J.W. Gibson, former Shelby County commissioner,

Van Turner, former Shelby County commissioner and president of the NAACP Memphis branch (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Paul Young, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and former director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Floyd Bonner, Shelby County Sheriff (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Karen Camper, Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (Tennessee House Minority Leader) (Party affiliation: Democratic),

Frank Colvett, city councilor (Party affiliation: Republican),

Michelle McKissack, member of the Shelby County Board of Education and a former broadcast journalist,
(Party affiliation: Democratic),

Willie Herenton, former Memphis mayor (1992-2009) (Party affiliation: Democratic),


[Reference]

The Official campaign websites:

Joe Brown (I) for Mayor (link)

J.W. Gibson for Mayor (link)

Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy) (no link)
(Her campaign website is being made right now.)

Van Turner (D) for Mayor (link)

Paul Young (D) for Mayor (link)

Floyd Bonner (D) for Mayor (link)

Karen Camper (D) for Mayor (link)

Frank Colvett (R) for Mayor (link)

Michelle McKissack (D) for Mayor (link)


[Reference]

The Memphis Municipal Election is this fall. Here’s who has pulled a petition for office. (link)

Memphis mayoral frontrunners Turner, Bonner share stage for first time in 2023 (link)

Memphis mayoral candidates meet to discuss crime, transportation and more at Mosaic Church (link)

The Death Of Tyre Nichols Is Looming Over Memphis’ Mayoral Election (link)


[Reference]

Voting Quotes:

“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.” – Barack Obama.

“Voting is a civic sacrament.” – Theodore Hesburgh.

“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” – Sharon Salzberg.

“Voting is as much an emotional act as it is an intellectual one.” – Monica Crowley.

“A man without a vote is a man without protection.” – Lyndon B. Johnson.

“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” – George Jean Nathan.

“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.” – Peggy Noonan.

“Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls.” – Nanette L. Avery.

“This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” – Alexander Hamilton.

“Democracy is about voting and it’s about a majority vote. And it’s time that we started exercising the Democratic process.” – Debbie Stabenow.

“The first duty of a man is to think for himself.” – Jose Marti.

“Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.” – Keith Ellison.

“By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.” – Jens Stoltenberg.

“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” – Alan Moore.

“I love voting day. I love the sight of my fellow citizens lining up to make their voices heard.” – Beth Broderick.

“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” – Roald Dahl.

“If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain.” – George Carlin.

“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony.

“Voting is not only our right—it is our power.” – Loung Ung.

“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” – Larry J. Sabato, “Pendulum Swing”.

“Elections belong to the people.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” – Plato.

The City of Memphis and Shelby County have the fundamental problems in the criminal justice system in multi-layers factors.

The local communities should recognize or realize that there exist such allegedly fundamental and serious malfunctions, corruptions, misconducts, manipulations, and even crimes within the justice system in order to move forward or proceed toward the just, fair, better, and brighter future.

The justice system is said to refer to the legal framework and institutions that are responsible for upholding law and order, administering justice, and resolving disputes within a society. Its primary purpose is said to ensure fairness, protect individual rights, maintain social order, and promote the common good.

The key components of the justice system are legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, legal profession, corrections, legal aid, due process, and so on.

The justice system around Shelby County and the City of Memphis face various challenges and criticisms including, but not limited to inequality and bias, large caseloads, access to justice, rehabilitation and recidivism, evolving legal landscape, and so forth.

However, there are “unparalleled” elements, cultures, and realities in the local justice system in Shelby County than those of any other local governments in the United States. There are too many, and too much problems and allegations in the justice system here in the local communities. They include, but are not limited to legal coersion, manipulation of records, false charge or accusation, cover-up, schemes, framing up, fabrication, building up, making up, figment, etc.

We cannot stress too much the urgent necessities to address these challenges and improve the justice system in Shelby County and the City of Memphis to ensure that it remains fair, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the local communities and the American society.

The justice system here in the City of Memphis and Shelby County are not just malfunctioning, but it is, allegedly, not only corrupt but also criminal itself. Those who are within the system should be held accountable.

The good and responsible citizens around the local communities should recognize or realize this. And at the same time, the Tennessee State government and the Federal government should be involved in trying to fix such fundamental problems.

The preamble of the U.S. Constitution is like this. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The U.S. Constitution was established in order to establish Justice. However, the justice is not found in Shelby County and the City of Memphis. Justice here in the communities is manipulated, corrupted, crooked, and even “criminal.”

Such justice should be found by the cooperations between the good citizens and the higher levels of governments which are more powerful than the municipal governments which are alleged to be corrupt, malfunctioning, manipulating, and even criminal.

The City of Memphis and Shelby County can be called or should be treated as so-called such “Banana Republics” about, with regard to, or in terms of justice. Justice should and must be found and established in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Justice should be just. Period.

[Link] [Report] About the Legal Coersion toward Mr. Hwang
www.hwangstory.com/2023-06-22-legal_coersion

[Link] [Report] Mr. Hwang filed the criminal complaints on June 19, 2023.
www.hwangstory.com/2023-06-22-legal_coersion

Published: June 22, 2023, (Thursday.)

[Link] The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

<Footnotes>


. The name of Memphis Police Chief is Ms. Cerelyn “CJ” Davis(link).

. The name of Mayor of the City of Memphis is Mr. Jim Strickland(link).

. The name of Mayor of Shelby County is Mr. Lee Harris(link).

. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation(TBI) Memphis Field Office (link)

. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) (link)

. Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) – Memphis (link)

. Electronic Tip Form | FBI (link)

. FBI Investigation (link)

. FBI (link)

. The next court day for Mr. Hwang’s case is July 21, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at General Sessions Criminal Court Divison 7(Shelby County General Sessions Court(link)).

. The name of the investigator in the case was Mr. Sgt. D. Campbell at the Memphis Police Department – Mt. Moriah Station.

.Memphis Police Department – Mt. Moriah Station(link)
Address: 2602 Mt Moriah Rd, Memphis, TN 38115
Telephone: (901) 636-4199

. The name of the judge at Division VII is Bill Anderson, Jr (link).

Scorpion vs. White Christmas. What does this mean?

Memphis police chief, Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis created the Scorpion unit which is so-called specialized street forces, whose members were charged in Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating. And she was said to oversee a hyper-aggressive street crime unit in Atlanta, named Red Dog, that was ultimately disbanded following a public backlash and a series of lawsuits. The Memphis police chief was chosen and appointed by Jim Strickland who was the mayor of City of Memphis.

What is needed in Memphis instead of “Scorpion” or “Red Dog” is “White Christmas.” What does this mean?

“White Christmas” can be a unit name for a specialized white-collar crime unit in Memphis and Shelby County. It can be a hyper-aggressive unit against those alleged white-collar criminal in local communities because those criminals destroy innocent people’s lives and continue to commit felonies including, but not limited to heinous crimes or very cunning ones.

The specialized team can detect, investigate, punish, and deter those crimes which are allegedly committed by judges, politicians, government officials, police officers, professionals, attorneys, accountants, business leaders & their managers, especially big corporations, and so on.

Those white-collar crimes around Memphis are originated, conceived, or nurtured from American greed, the lack of moral integrity, the paralysis of conscience, the insensibility against crimes, the senselessness toward sense of guilt, and so forth.

Those criminals know what they’re doing. But they don’t know the horrible consequences of their criminal behaviors toward the lives of the innocent indivisuals over the entire courses of their lives.

As you already know, the lyrics of the song, White Christmas, starts like this.

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…”

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: March 4, 2023

Governor Lee delivered his fifth State of the State address on February 6, 2023. The theme of the address was called “Tennessee: Leading the Nation.” Lee is said to present budget and legislative priorities for the upcoming year to a joint session of the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans.

Mr. Lee’s proposed $55.6 billion budget is said to include so-called “strategic funding” to modernize transportation, ensure economic and educational opportunity, preserve our natural resources, protect children, strengthen families and more.

According to the website of the Office of the governor, “Tennessee is leading the nation as a guiding light for opportunity, security and freedom,” said governor Lee. “I’m proud to propose a budget and strategic policies that ensure our state continues to be a shining example for educational opportunity, strong families, innovation and economic prosperity.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has been serving as the 50th governor of Tennessee since 2019. He was reelected in the 2022 gubernatorial election. There are 18 sections in the Tennessee Constitution Article III which defines the legal status, election, powers, functions, roles, or duties of the Executive Department whose head is the Tennessee governor who holds the supreme executive power.

The supreme executive power is vested in a governor in the State of Tennessee. Tennessee Constitution Article III – Executive Department. Section 10 says, “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

The legal definition of using “shall” and “may” is that, generally speaking, “shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. Therefore, it is mandatory that the governor should take care that the laws be faithfully executed in the State of Tennessee.

We have to, however, point out this. Before it is said from the Office of the governor that Tennessee is leading the nation, he should make sure that the laws be faithfully executed in Tennessee.” We’re not in the position to evaluate all of the law enforcement situations and environments in all of the counties, cities, or towns in Tennessee, but we know several things about Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

The case of the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols is just one kind of the tip of the iceberg. Below the tip on the surface, there exists unseen rest of the iceberg. They say that “What you can see of a problem or difficult situation is only one small part of a much larger hidden problem.” That is true. Mr. Nichols’ case is just only the tip of the iceberg. Both the local news articles and the national news media reported only the tip of the iceberg.

Mr. Hwang is the publisher and editor of the Times. He knew and knows that the realities of the law enforcement is unrealistically distorted in the jurisdictions of Shelby County and the City of Memphis. Not only the law enforcement, but also the legal interpretation and judicial function seem to be contaminated, unfair, and disfuntional. And even shockingly(or unshockingly) criminal.

Those cases of the death of Mr. Nichols and the destruction of Mr. Hwang’s life are, literally, just the tips of the entire icebergs, whose names are Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Governor Lee, do you want to lead the nation? That’s fine. But, please, try to do that only after you take care that the laws be faithfully executed here in Shelby County and the City of Memphis because things are not working properly here.

Let’s say there is a baby who crawls on the floor and gets down on his hands and knees. At one point, he declares that he is going to enter the 100 meter race in the next Olympic games. Is he going to be a sprinter in the competitive race?

Governor Lee declared more than several policy goals, priorities, and their related budget plans. That doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. That’s fine. But, from our point of view, he has to have, manage, strengthen, or improve the BASICS. What are the basics of such governors’ job? The first task of their job is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. But the fundamental problem is that the laws are not faithfully executed in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Mr. Jim Strickland messed Memphis up. He is the Mayor of the City of Memphis. Governor Bill Lee should spend more time on monitoring the law enforcement situations in Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Tennessee Constitution Article III – Executive Department. Section 10 says, “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” And “shall” is MANDATORY.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: February 8, 2023

One of the beauties of the Tennessee Constitution is that it guarantees the people’s right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1 is as follows. “That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.”

Article I – Section 2 is as follows. “That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.”

The government of the City of Memphis should be REFORMED. That is our argument or a legal one on the basis of the Tennessee Constitution Article I – Section 1 and 2.

Memphis is not peaceful right now. There are streets and areas which are not safe. Those who don’t feel happy appear to want to leave for another places, cities, or States regardless of their ability to do or fulfill that. That means that the local government can’t or doesn’t function for being instituted for the local people’s PEACE, SAFETY, and HAPPINESS. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1(one).

A lot of local or district government officials are suspected to exercise or perform ARBITRARY power from their political, judicial, or administrative discretion. There have been social signs, symptoms, or phenomena around Memphis and Shelby County in terms of political, social, or legal OPPRESSION. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 2(two).

It is, therefore, very natural to confirm or conclude that the Memphians ascertain their own constitutional right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. It is really both logical and legitimate.

We don’t, however, demand or expect the reform of the human character of Mr. Jim Strickland who has been the Mayor of the City of Memphis. We’re afraid it is too late for him to change his own political character let alone to his indivisual one. And human beings and politicians don’t or can’t change their personalities that easily or that often. That is the human nature of indivisuals and politicians.

That’s why we demand the reform of the City of Memphis and the Police Department of Memphis. Such demand is based not only on the public opinion from the local community, but also on the Tennessee Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Tennessee land except the U.S. Constitution.

Our political and legal demand for the reform of the local government is the constitutional demand of Tennessee. It is not just local, but CONSTITUTIONAL.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: February 5, 2023

Where doest it come from? Where does the culture of the police brutality in Memphis Police Department(MPD) come from? What are the origins of that culture of the police brutality? Who lead that culture, and who are responsible for that culture?

Britannica defines “culture” as follow. Culture is behaviour peculiar to Homo sapiens, together with material objects used as an integral part of this behaviour. Thus, culture includes language, ideas, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, rituals, and ceremonies, among other elements. The existence and use of culture depends upon an ability possessed by humans alone.

According to Wikipedia, “police brutality” is the excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against an individual or a group. It is an extreme form of police misconduct and is a civil rights violation. Police brutality includes, but is not limited to, asphyxiation, beatings, shootings, racism, improper takedowns, and unwarranted use of tasers.

Those five former Memphis Police officers are not the ones who invented or created the culture of Memphis Police Department. Mr. Tadarrius Bean, Mr. Demetrius Haley, Mr. Emmitt Martin III, Mr. Desmond Mills Jr., and Mr. Justin Smith are the ones who were influenced by the culture which was already existed within MPD.

By the microscopic observation, the five former officers were the direct perpetrator for the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols. But in terms of the macroscopic analysis, they were the task performers of the culture of the police brutality within MPD.

The incident is one of the phenomena. The essence is about the culture of “mentality”. Where does such mentality come from? It can come from history, reality, and leadership from the Memphis community. We try to focus on the leadership in this editorial because we can’t change the history of Memphis nor can we change the socioeconomic realities of the Memphis community within a short period of time.

Mr. Jim Strickland is the Mayor of the City of Memphis. Ms. Cerelyn “CJ” Davis is Chief of Police for the Memphis Police Department. Those policies and culture of MPD seem to be originated, directly and indirectly, from the leadership.

The leadership qualities and skills permeated, percolated, or pervaded into the culture of the City of Memphis and MPD. Especially the mentality of the leadership must/may have been handed down from the leadership to followship.

Those former officers were just the officers on the street. They were not the leaders of MPD or the City of Memphis. The officers didn’t make such culture of the police brutality. They were just the performers.

The culture was handed down. More accurately, the MENTALITY of such culture was passed down.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: January 29, 2023

Its the time to clarify who are responsible for the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols. The Memphinans need to find out with whom the responsibility lies. We wish to apportion blame. We must address or deal with the issue of where the responsibility for the incident lies and who are to blame for the incident in order not to repeat such a tragedy.

There are two kinds of accountabilities in the case of the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols. One is the legal accountability for his death. And the other is the political accountability which was connected with, or which became inextricably bound up with his death.

First, the legal responsibility should be pursued and established. The five former Memphis Police officers are Mr. Tadarrius Bean, Mr. Demetrius Haley, Mr. Emmitt Martin III, Mr. Desmond Mills Jr., and Mr. Justin Smith. Those officers all were fired Jan. 20, 2023 following the death of Mr. Nichols.

And they were charged Thursday with second-degree murder. The legal team of Mr. Nichols’ case can deal with the legal process. Those five officers are such directly claimed responsibility in terms of the legal case of Mr. Nichols.

Second, the political responsibility should be pursued and found out. Who has the political accountability for the death of Mr. Nichols? Is President of the United States, Joe Biden, accountable for the death? Or should Governor of the State of Tennessee, Bill Lee, be accountable for the death?

The political accountability for the death should lie with the Mayor of the City of Memphis. He should be responsible for the political accountability because the City of Memphis has the administrative jurisdiction over the Memphis Police Department.

The Mayor, Mr. Jim Strickland is notorious for his crafty or sneaky talent of escaping or eluding the long arm of the political responsibility whenever these kinds of incidents happened around Memphis, Tennessee.

This case is not unclear who’s responsible for the incident. We can locate the responsibility. Justice should be found and established in terms of the case of Mr. Nichols. There are two kinds of justice in this case. One is the legal justice, and the other is the political one.

Both the judicial justice and the political one should be pursued. Mr. Strickland is the one who has the political accountability for the case. Someone may want to get a way out of here in this situation. He is a man of taking advantage of loopholes in the political accountability.

But the Memphians, and the local constituents and taxpayers, need to watch or monitor such desperate writher. Mr. Strickland is a man of performing POLITICAL CIRCUS.

His performance is, however, quite BORING.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: January 27, 2023

The death of Mr. Tyre Nichols is arousing an echo not only over the local community, but also over nationwide scope. His sudden and unexpected death reverberates around the country. The questions were about ‘What happened about the incident?’ And the Memphis Times is trying to point out the next questions, “What should happen from the incident?”

First, the legal process. The legal team of Mr. Tyre Nichols’ case can deal with the legal process for the required and pursued justice for Mr. Nichols, his family, and his loved ones. The justice should be made, pursued, and accomplished at the end of the legal process.

Second, the perceptions about MPD. The local community should/can/may realize that there are a lot of problems within/around/from the Memphis Police Department(MPD). The arrogant, impudent, or/and impertinent attitudes of some types of the local police officers are notorious. We don’t deny the necessities of social recognition for the police authority, but the context is different.

Not only the issues of police brutalities and police misconducts, but also such allegations/possibilities of police dishonesty, police manipulations, police corruptions, and even police crimes damage MPD’s honor and bring disgrace on MPD’s name and reputation.

Third, the local government of the City of Memphis. It really seems to have a lot of problems. As we said before, the City of Memphis doesn’t have its own ability to rule and/or run its jurisdiction of the legal territory nor does it have its moral integrity. The City of Memphis cannot solve the social problems over the local community. And it is the problem itself.

Fourth, the mayor, Mr. Jim Strickland. The local constituents can begin to think of the political recall for the mayor. Whatever happens to/from MPD, the government of the City of Memphis, or/and the city of Memphis, the bucks eventually stop there in front of the feet of Mr. Strickland. Whatever happens around Memphis, the political responsibility belongs to Mr. Strickland.

Besides, Mr. Strickland should/can answer to these kinds of questions. “Mayor Strickland, what do you think of Kenyatta Johnson?”, “Mayor Strickland, what do you think of Kwame Kilpatrick?”, “Mayor Strickland, what do you think of Mike Madigan?”, and so on.

Bribery is defined by Black’s Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public or legal duty. They say that with regard to governmental operations, essentially, bribery is “Corrupt solicitation, acceptance, or transfer of value in exchange for official action.”

This is our inquiry. “Dear Mr. Strickland, have you ever received any kind of BRIBERY before or/and during your incumbency as mayor?” Your answer can/should be very simple. Yes or No. It is not rocket science.

(The inquiry is not based on the existence of facts, but is based on the question about the existence of facts. And everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on the basis of the legal principle, the Presumption of Innocence.)

Fifth, the change of the legal status of the City of Memphis. The General Assembly of Tennessee should begin to try to change the legal status of the City of Memphis. The charter of the City of Memphis should be retracted, revoked, withdrawn, recanted, or nullified. Or at least it should be changed on the fundamental level and/or by the innovative ways.

Sixth, the opinion leaders, the social leaders, the community organizers. Their roles for the local community are very important. Every societies and every communities have their own leaders. So does Memphis.

Seventh, the media community. The social role of the local media industry is very important, too. The lack of ‘checks and balances’ and ‘political & social monitoring’ seemed/seems to contribute the malfunction of the local government, and bring the political corruptions of the local politicians and government officials.

Eighth, Steve Mulroy’s office, TBI, and FBI. MPD doesn’t function well and can’t accomplish its mission. So the roles of Shelby County DA Office, TBI, and FBI are important. MPD is, like, a failed dog which doesn’t bark when its owner’s house is stealed or robbed. Furthermore, the dog is a dog which messes up the house when the owner goes out for something.

Ninth, the good and responsible citizens of our local community. At the end of day, the citizens have to pay their political or/and social bills whatever happens to the local community, and whomever should be blamed. The bills stop there in front of the feet of the local constituents politically, and the taxpayers monetarily. The local citizens, constituents, and taxpayers should/can exercise their social ownership for/about the local community whose names are the city of Memphis and Shelby County. They are the owners. Mr. Strickland is not.

Tenth, the Times will try to perform its social missions and its roles in order to make the local community as better place. And it will exercise its OWNERSHIP, too, as so do the good citizens.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: January 23, 2023

Memphis Police was said to announce the five MPD officers involved in the arrest of Mr. Tyre Nichols have been fired. Mr. Steve Mulroy is the Shelby County District Attorney. The former district attorney was Ms. Amy Weirich. Mr. Jim Strickland is the current mayor of the City of Memphis, TN.

We are waiting for an outstanding prosecutor in/for Memphis and Shelby County in the State of Tennessee. Will Mr. Mulroy be such a superb one? We don’t know yet, but it can depend on his performance as a district attorney. Time will show.

As we said before, the local police didn’t/doesn’t show the good quailities of the law enforcement around Memphis/Shelby County in Tennessee. There must/may have been/be multilayered reasons why such phenomena exist around Memphis/Shelby County.

Ms. Amy Weirich was a failed prosecutor. If she had been successful for the policies and performances of prosecuting, Memphis and Shelby County must not have had these kinds of social problems. Especially the white-collar crimes spread rampantly around Memphis.

Mr. Jim Strickland should take one of the biggest political responsibilities for the Memphians’ ending up seeing these kinds of social landscape over Memphis. If he had been a successful mayor, things must have been very different than the current situations.

Memphis and Shelby County have a lot of street crimes. We already know that. There should be more social experimental efforts to reduce such crimes let alone to detecting and punishing such crimes.

One of the fundamental problems around Memphis and Shelby County is that Memphis is the city of the white-collar crimes. One of the fundamental differences between a competent and talented prosecutor, and incompetent, incapable, and inefficient prosecutor is how they approach, analyze, and deal with such cunning criminals because such crimes are unseen, hidden, and consealed. That’s why Ms. Amy Weirich failed.

There are different types of the white-collar crimes, but corrupt business people, corrupt police officers, corrupt local politicians and government officials, and corrupt judges are the issues and problems which requires urgent attentions both from the local communities and from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office.

Only outstanding, capable, talented, superb, and excellent prosecutors can do that. We have been waiting for such district attorneys for a long time. Not for such prosecutors, but for Memphis and Shelby County. The local communities deserve that. The local communities should be better communites.

We hope that Mr. Steve Mulroy doesn’t lose such an opportunity to be an outstanding prosecutor. Not only for him, but also for Memphis and Shelby County.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: January 21, 2023

It’s the time to think about the change of the legal status of the City of Memphis.

The City of Memphis doesn’t have its own ability to rule and/or run its jurisdiction of the legal territory nor does it have its moral integrity.

It is suspected that there are too many and too much corruptions around Memphis in Tennessee. Those allegations about such corruptions are political corruptions, judicial corruptions, administrative corruptions, police corruptions, media corruptions, business corruptions, and so on.

It is suspected that there are too many corrupt local politicians, corrupt judges, corrupt police officers, corrupt business people of corporations, corrupt local government officials, and so forth.

And, in parallel, it can be seen that there are too many criminals, too many low quality of people, too many thieves, too many car thefts, too many robberies, too many shootings, and fundamentally too many briberies, and too many white-collar criminals around Memphis in Tennessee.

The General Assembly of Tennessee should begin to try to change the legal status of the City of Memphis. The charter of the City of Memphis should be surrendered, terminated, retracted, revoked, withdrawn, recanted, or nullified. Or at least it should be changed on the fundamental level and/or by the innovative ways.

The bottom line is that Memphis is so corrupt and/or so contaminated in terms of its political, judicial, social, or/and cultural landscape around the city.

Memphis is so corrupt. The status quo is not acceptable.

The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org

Published: January 15, 2023