Children In Poverty

I read this and had to share it with you.  Do you know these children?  I do.  Thanks to my brother in-law for sharing the good read with me.

My best resource for the lessons in the article came from A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Here are some things that poor children know:

Here are some things that poor children know:

1.     A fingernail file can be used to file a jagged edge if a tooth breaks.

2.    We go to the doctor when we’re sick, but mom doesn’t.

3.    We have to move a lot because sometimes we can’t afford the rent.

4.   I don’t always tell my mom when I need school supplies. I can tell it makes her nervous.

5.    Having to print something for school gives me anxiety. Our printer doesn’t always have ink. It’s easier for me to just get a bad grade on the project than admit to the teacher I can’t afford to print.

6.   Ditto homework that requires the internet. Sometimes we have it, sometimes we don’t. People say “use the library” but there’s not always gas money to get there and they are only open one evening a week.

7.    God doesn’t hear my prayers.

8.   The only time I’ve ever been to a store to buy new clothes is when my aunt took me. The dressing rooms were foreign to me.

9.   I learned how to cook ramen noodles when I was six years old. I was hungry when I got home from school and mom wasn’t ever there to cook because she was working.

10.Healthy snacks are expensive. Ramen noodles are cheap.

11.  My grandmother criticizes my mom for not feeding us more healthy food. What she doesn’t understand is that healthy food usually costs a lot more.

12. We can never get the chicken nuggets at McDonald’s. We have to order from the dollar menu that mom calls garbage food.

13. Every day when I get off the bus, I’m scared until I get inside the house. Mom’s at work when I get home.

14.I know I’d be a really good football player, but we’ve never been able to afford for me to play.

15. When I go somewhere where there’s a piano, I love to try to play. I know I’d be really good but we’ll never be able to afford a piano or lessons.

16.I don’t wear different clothes every day.

17. We have to buy all white socks because if one gets lost or torn up, it may be a while before we buy more.

18.We are really good at cleaning our house with stuff that most people don’t use to clean, like bleach and vinegar.

19.I needed colored pencils for a project once. My teacher told me that if I didn’t bring them, I wouldn’t be able to do my project and I’d get a zero. I told the teacher I didn’t have any and she told me I’d better figure it out. On the way to school, my mom went into the grocery store. I was confused because she told me she didn’t have money. When she came out, she had the pencils but they were in  her purse, not in a sack. I think she stole them. She was crying.

20.         Mom keeps her toothbrush in her bedroom so that it doesn’t accidentally brush up against ours in the bathroom. Germs and she can’t afford to get sick and miss work or go to the doctor.

21. I have no idea what other kids are talking about when they’re talking about the latest TV shows. We’ve never had cable.

22.         I sometimes dread the summer and weekends because at school, I eat two meals a day.

23.         I’ve never tasted any of the cool cereals that my friends talk about.

24.         When I get money from relatives for my birthday or Christmas, I use it to buy things I don’t want to ask mom for, like hair products and underwear.

25.         My hair nearly always get too long between haircuts. I got sent home from school once because of it. Mom cut it herself.

26.         Other kids make fun of my clothes.

27.         I know what it’s like to be really cold in the wintertime.

28.         We wear our jackets and gloves in the house in the winter.

29.         When our dryer broke, we had to hang our clothes to dry. It took all weekend for my jeans to dry in the wintertime.

30.         Christmas is about things we need, not things we want.

31. We can never buy cool clothes “just cuz.” They always have to be things that have a dual purpose. We can wear them to school, church, or whatever.

32.         I’ve never been to summer camp. Even if we could afford to go, I’d be embarrassed about my old underwear.

33.         I did go to summer camp. I was the only kid who could never buy snacks from the canteen.

34.         I got my first job babysitting when I was 14. I couldn’t spend the money. We needed it for bills.

35.         Sometimes we have to put stuff back in the checkout line because we don’t have enough money. The cereal always gets put back first.

36.         Cashing a check is hard if you don’t have a checking account. You have to pay to cash it.

37.         I’m an expert on what can and can’t be bought with SNAP and WIC.

38.         One Christmas, we had no money so we went to the Dollar Tree where everything is a dollar Mom gave us each $5 and told us to go shopping for each other. It was the weirdest and funnest Christmas ever.

39.         Sometimes we have to use dish liquid in the washing machine. It works if you only use a small squirt.

40.        Sometimes we get sick and go to the doctor. He gives us an antibiotic and tell us to start it, but if he calls to say that our strep test came back negative, we can stop taking it. When this happens, Mom keeps that medicine so that she can take it if she has an emergency and gets sick.

41.Sometimes we want to pack cool lunches like some other kids do, but it’s cheaper to eat the school cafeteria food. Mom says the food’s not healthy, but we get free lunches so that’s what we eat. Mom gives us money every day so that we can buy an extra milk at school. It’s cheaper than if we bought it at the grocery store.

42.         Sometimes we don’t eat if there’s a mean kid in the line. We don’t want them to know we’re getting free lunch. They’ll make fun of us forever.

43.         Duct tape can fix almost anything. Mom makes a game out of it. If a window gets a crack in it, she fixes it with duct tape and uses the tape to make cool designs.

44.        I sit really quietly when I get an ice cream cone, enjoying every lick.

45.         I share a bedroom with my two younger siblings. It’s impossible to find a quiet place to do my homework.

46.        I didn’t do as well as I should have in math classes because I couldn’t afford the calculator that was required.

47.         I couldn’t be in Boy Scouts because we couldn’t buy the uniforms.

48.        I couldn’t be in Girl Scouts because we couldn’t afford the books and patches.

49.        You can make a whole meal out of gravy and white bread.

50.         White bread is usually cheaper than wheat bread.

51. Spending the night at a friend’s house is awesome. They always have plenty food.

52.         Butter and sugar sandwiches are the best.

53.         We don’t trust the police. We know they won’t treat us fairly.

54.         We eat a lot of: potatoes, beans, and cheap bread.

55.         My mom lies about not wanting seconds.

56.         I’ve learned that when mom says “do you want the rest of this [food]?”, what she’s saying is “if you don’t want it, then I’ll eat.” I’ve learned to say I’m full, even if I’m not, so that she will eat.

57.         Hamburger Helper feels like a gourmet meal.

58.         When I got home one day, I let it slip that the other kids went on a field trip and I stayed behind. She asked why I didn’t go and I told her it cost money and I didn’t want to ask. Later, I heard her crying.

59.         I’ve had to stay home from school when my little brother was sick because Mom couldn’t miss work.

60.        I know what day Frito Lay dumps the expired chips in a dumpster.

61.We can’t always afford to go to the laundromat and we have to wear dirty clothes.

62.         A bottle of Febreeze can be used to cover the smell of dirty clothes.

63.         When my shoes start to become too small, I get worried.

64.        My pants are always too short about two months after we buy them.

65.         I know exactly how many miles our car will go after the low fuel light comes on.

66.        We take blankets in the car because the car doesn’t have heat.

67.         I’ve never had a birthday party.

68.        We don’t always get our presents — birthday and Christmas — at the right time.

69.        When my mom complained to her sister about not having enough money to raise her kids, her sister told her “you should have closed your legs.”

70.         We’ve never been able to take all of the school supplies that we were supposed to have.

71. I’ve never bought a school yearbook or school pictures.

72.         I’ve never bought a book at a school book fair.

73.         One winter when we ran out of propane and couldn’t buy any for a week, mom made us one huge bed in the floor in the living room. She brought every blanket in the house and we stayed in there all the time staying warm.

74.         Our grass gets high sometimes. We don’t have a lawn mower and mom never has enough money to buy one. She usually does have $50 to pay someone to mow the grass but sometimes she has to wait a couple of weeks to get the money.

75.         Mom misses my open houses at school and my football games because she doesn’t always have gas. She has a neighbor friend who I can ride with to my games.

76.         I’ve never had a new coat. Mom says that we’re lucky that someone always gives us one of their old ones just when we need one.

77.         We learned that washing our clothes by hand is a lot of work. Our washer broke and it was two months before we could afford a new one.

78.         When we finally got a new washer, Mom bought it at a place where you can rent to own. It costs twice as much to buy things that way. Mom says it’s expensive to be poor.

79.         One time Mom had to write a check for the electric bill. She said she knew that she didn’t have the money in the bank, but she had to do it or they would cut off our electricity. She said the bank would pay it. They did, but she had to pay them an extra $30 because of not having enough money in the bank. The electric bill was late and we had to pay the electric company $10 for being late.

80.        We’ve never met our doctor. We go to a clinic and a nurse sees us every time.

81.If we go to the grocery store and pay with money, the clerks are nice. When we pay with our food stamp card, the clerks are rude.

82.         We know that if we go to college, it’s going to cost us a lot of money because we’ll have to get loans. Poor kids have to pay a lot more for an education.

83.         We don’t get to participate in some school activities if they cost money. Even stuff like band costs more money than we can afford.

84.        We eat a lot of unhealthy food. Carbs and fats are cheaper than protein.

85.         I have a poor friend who lives in the inner city. He’s afraid all the time. Mom says it’s because he hears a lot of gunshots when he’s trying to sleep and during the day. She says that he doesn’t know how to turn off the fear.

86.        I’ve never ordered a soda at a restaurant.

87.         We never take anything for granted. Whether it’s candy, toys, food, or cool clothes, we know it’s a blessing.

Open Letter to the Mayor: Restore Peace in Memphis!

There is no simplistic solution. I sat on a Crime Commission, and it comes down to funding. And that issue has plagued this Council and Administration since they have started. When I left the City Council in 2007, Mayor Herenton stated we needed a property tax increase but this Council disagreed and used school funds to manage the budget and other projects. The Council had $17 million more than they could spend and instead of allowing it to grow into the Reserves, they spent it.  How, they returned it to you and me.  For my house, it was about $45 dollars that year, not a month but a year.

If you are not growing and if your businesses are not paying taxes their fair share of taxes, and if you add new services and refuse to increase your property taxes, how do you continue to pay for needed services and the demands on government.

In March of this year, the according to the CA, the Memphis Mayor said that he preferred a property tax increase to cuts in public safety.  But, in his budget, he offered neither.  Instead, he recommended health care benefits increase in cost for employees and retirees to pay 100% of the cost. (Commercial Appeal: Daniel Connolly, March 11th).

We've reduced services, robbed employees and school funding, and now health care from retirees. We waived taxes for the wealthy corporations and the forced elderly homeowners to pay for ballparks, garages they will never visit. Sad....

And unfortunately, now we have a public safety threat of violence and we have no resources.  The best thing we can do to improve public safety and curve violence is to:

•  Fund education of our children and extend the school day with free after school programs to include classes for the arts, music and non-traditional athletic leagues

• Equip our community centers and after school program across the city with meaningful programming in arts, athletics and scholarship and make them safe havens with officers who keep them free from drug and gang activity.
• Support libraries with tech centers that interest kids -- Create YouTube and Music Centers; reading and book writing circles. Our libraries are hidden treasures. I would love to see their volunteers bring books and reading sessions to schools.  We should be able to support schools with great libraries by sharing services.
• Stop thinking you can change the child without addressing culture he lives in at home. Juvenile Court must be a part of that discussion. DHS Social Workers, Juvenile Court and Schools must develop a Family Network Model that work on improving parenting skills and responsibility.  Surely, there are some models out there.  The best program research minds in our city are Memphis Tomorrow, Smart City, and a retired principle who received national recognition for developing a high school for inner city students struggling to make the grade to enter a two-year college.
• Expand your group on this issue to include some of the best in Memphis working with youth, in program planning and development, and communications to engage this community.
• Develop a plan to deal with truancy.  This has to be with PTSA, Police, Schools, Juvenile Court, and our DA's representative.
• DHS Social Workers, Juvenile Court and Schools must develop a Family Network Model that work on improving parenting skills and responsibility.  Surely, there are some models out there.  The best program research minds in our city are Memphis Tomorrow, Smart City, and a retired principle who received national recognition for developing a high school for inner city students struggling to make the grade to enter a two-year college.

By the way, what really happens in our juvenile court system to change behavior when a child is caught with a gun? I am just curious. Les Smith that's a good story. What happens inside the system through apprehension, processing to court hearing and supervision? Do they come back?

Here is another problem. The programs for the gifted, well-adjusted children are nice. But, who in the city is having success with our lost or feel abandoned children? That would be Girls, Inc., YWCA, some inner city churches, and Loretta McNairy, Sherhunda Gentry, Stephanie Love, Penny Hardaway, Joe Hunter the Anti-Gang Specialist, Hazel Moore and Ona Johns.

Memphis Challenge's Cassandra Webster is doing a remarkable job in keeping talented youth committed to Memphis.  Engage her to help develop a program that identifies youth interested in future careers in public service and get children focused on being fire fighters and peace officers in the 9th and 10th grade.  When you have a dream you work toward it and step away from trouble.

And, let me go back to one name, instead of supporting Penny who has built a reputation of helping our children, our City seems to be competing with him and try to develop his program on the fairgrounds and put the City's name on it. But, hear me, it is his reputation that has built that program for children. This is not the way to build trust; it build resentment.

Who is the best professional in planning, developing, assessing, and evaluating programs for results? That would be Shante Asante from the Women's Foundation, Dr. Marie Milam (YO Memphis), and Regina Walker from United Way of Greater Memphis.

Who has the best mind in the study of policy and laws that impact children? That would be Veronica Coleman Davis, founder of Children of the Nile.

Who are entertainment promoters that could be given incentives to develop summer concert series called  “Promote the Peace” for children with with good behavior, attendance, and 3.0 average? That would be Fred Jones, Telisa Franklin and Julius Lewis.

Below are suggestions from "We, Who Love Memphis", citizens.

Les Smith, Writer, Commentator, Reporter and Memphian
" I read in Saturday's C-A the Wharton administration is calling for an emergency meeting about youth violence on Monday. I did not see one name that's an outside "voice" other than administration people.  This is bigger than a group of "yes men" surrounding the Mayor and telling him how past fruitless initiatives are working. Obviously, they are not. Because if you don't get to the root of the problem of changing the "culture" of "babies having babies" without the morals and ethics to be parents themselves everything else becomes a patchwork solution. No matter how many more cops you put on the street. No matter how much more government assistance is doled out. None of it changes until we attack the grassroots of what poisons the streams of young lives years before they become adults. Life is too precious to lose and yet we've already lost generations of black youth...how long can we afford to lose more?


Mary Maclin, Retired Teacher, Whitehaven Resident
One solution: the no pass no play rule for school needs to be revisited and changed. Why? This is the quickest way to provide a mentor to our young men. Ask those ole cool men, they always admonish how "coach" helped them. So many homes are missing the male role model. Plus by the time the young man runs 10 blocks and exercise daily/ he's too TIRED to ride around with nothing to do but get in trouble. He has to keep his body healthy to play sports. Plus the magic reward or incentive is there/ the same reward for each player is there: shoot the ball / get the point win the game. What better gang to hang out with... And then the test scores will get better and everyone can benefit from the free 2 years of college. Now the coach is gonna have to beat that###...lol-) but that's better than all these drive bys and shooting, and being killed and stealing from others. Ask your deacons at church or just check out your own families...how many played sports and were in the band.'


Dr. Ivory Taylor
Black Own Local Business can help out a lots....if we as a people were to get behind them and support in big numbers...and then asked of them to give back in helping with our problems in our community. Studies showed when we have healthily small business in a community...the community win..after school win..the elderly win...so on and so on...we all win..just my view...Taylor...I love myself some Memphis....This can work, because are a lots of children programs that needs help.......

Small businesses are key to making our economy turn. During this economic depression, you didn't get tax waivers or subsidies but kept your doors opened, trained and hired some neighborhood citizens. Love to see them working with Junior Achievement to identify programming that develop business savvy projects for teens and make it competitive to get summer internships.


Tiawo Stanback, Consultant
One addition: fund and support the Industrial Readiness Training Program (IRT) at Southwest Community College and Mid -South Community College. This program is training residents for jobs (that actually EXIST) at companies in Memphis, TN. And these are good paying logistics and warehousing jobs with the potential of upward mobility and movement at companies like Medtronic and Smith & Nephew. The IRT program currently holds a 93 % job hire rate and like 88 % of their trainees still have jobs after 3 months. They train future workers to work in a "co-hort" like team similar to a family unit or team in business school. They bring the dignity of work back to the worker and bring the owners of the company and upper management to the IRT training classes to foster relationships with the potential employees. Most of the companies have a college tuition repayment program and other progressive benefits even for the factory worker. They also, now, have a commitment to hiring "local" and Memphis residents. Lastly, IRT encourages companies to "adopt-a-school" in an effort to give back to the Greater Memphis community AND start training and exposing high school students to jobs and professions in Memphis. One of the solutions is: jobs, jobs, jobs! And jobs that pay a livable wage, offer a respectable work environment, offer the opportunity for company loyalty and upward mobility, and non-hostile and safe working environments. People in Memphis are flexible and entrepreneurial - they want to work and we can train them (including myself) for the logistics and technology type jobs of the 21st Century.


Back to my Commentary:
But, we need some courage to ask for an increase in taxes from the citizens or businesses. We need some brains to use the money on community priorities and not play pretties. We need a heart to do right by people and know when you rob them of taxes that should be paid by corporate it shifts the burden on struggling homeowners. We need a heart that understands when you take 4.5% pay from employees it impacts their families and places stress on families that could lead to unhealthy behaviors. We need funding to work on meaningful programs for youth and cultivate a more positive attitude about Memphis. Surely, the homeowners cannot do this alone, business must pitch in, too.

Want Memphis to be a city of choice to live, work, worship, learn, play and call "home"? Visit the Wizard.
I'm just saying...

Good luck with that Mayor and thanks for trying.

Why Change is Needed and Why Ricky Wilkins is my Choice

When, I saw the Bye-Bye  Steve Cohen commercial I did not know what to think. Then, I thought of all the times the media reported negative articles on many officials about trips and said nothing at all about this.

I want fairness from this media. They attempt to determine who we should like and who we should ignore with bias reporting.

And don't tell me all the trips were not with public money, because lobbyists providing this level of spending concerns me more. I don't want my Congressman owned by special interests groups. I want our votes to mean more than their money.

If I felt new jobs were created because of those trips, I would feel better. But, we don't have "one jobs bill" that has been passed by the House and Senate since the stimulus. And since the near depression, although people have returned to work, the pay scale for working class people has flat-lined and Shelby has the highest unemployment level in the state.

I am also so disappointed that Congressman Steve Cohen does not seem to respect the people he serves. I don't say that lightly. He has always shown me courtesy and respect, but I have stories from others without my resume.

Once he made a comment that he took it as a compliment that someone said he was black like his constituents because he had a paternity test and a 1986 Cadillac. I was troubled by that stereotypical description of his constituents and told him so.

I did not support him because I thought he was Black. I knew he was Jewish and though I am Christian, it did not matter. (http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/rep-steve-cohen-says-a-black-guy-told-him-hes-black-because) I urged him to use a filter on what he says and get to work.  At the time, we had State Stand Your Gun Laws that the Feds needed to address through DOJ and should have been so busy speaking to that the "junk" about being Black never would have come out of his mouth.

  I voted for him because I thought he understood the issues of this community and could represent and respect the people that elected him.

I found out otherwise when he worked to have the Old Bridge receive a federal transportation grant with more vigor than he did Elvis Presley Blvd.  The DOT made it clear they would only fund one proposal and guess which one he torn into shreds and the other he pumped up? You guessed it.

Memphis gets $14.9M grant to help build pathway across Harahan Bridge

June 19th, 2012

Memphians could be bicycling and strolling across a specially designed boardwalk over the Mississippi River within about two years, now that federal officials have approved a critical piece of funding for the project.

The city has been awarded a $14.94 million Transportation Improvement Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen announced.http://www.charlesmcvean.com/news/memphis-gets-149m-grant-to-help-build-pathway-across-harahan-bridge/

   Yes, I know some things. Charlie McVean wanted the Old Bridge do-over with Bicycle lanes, which will probably bear his name one day. He is an elite businessman with a distinguished career in commodities trading and other interests.

I am told he also has a bicycle company.  I found this verification on a website:

Pedal to the motor: Electric bike combines human, electric power for smooth ride

August 2nd, 2011

The Aerobic Cruiser, billed as the world's most sophisticated electric bicycle, blends human pedal power with motor assistance, allowing the rider to use all human power, all motor power, or any combination. It was developed by Memphis businessman Charles McVean, principal in Aerobic Cruiser Hybrid Cycle LLC, and is assembled in Memphis.   http://www.charlesmcvean.com/news/pedal-to-the-motor-electric-bike-combines-human-electric-power-for-smooth-ride/ 

I am not attacking Mr. McVean, because he is a good man. But, McVean's one vote should not out rank the District 9 voters in setting priorities. Part of that is our fault, we give these people jobs with no agenda. They never ask about our priorities; so they move on their own agenda.

Well, vote today, not on our yesterday's mistakes, but our tomorrow's promises. Because, now that I know better, I will demand better. I voted for Ricky Wilkins, and hope you will, too.  But whoever wins, you will hear my roar.

I am yours, very truly,

TaJuan Stout Mitchell

P.S.This may also be the driving factor around the new bicycle lanes all over the city.  Check disclosures.

City Health Care Issue will be an Issue in 2015

I am so tired of writing about the City's Health Care Policies for its employees and retirees. I have almost given up on looking for real leadership on this matter and resolved to make it a campaign issue for 2015. But, here goes my next try.

 There is nothing wrong with the City's Healthcare Plan.  It is a good plan. To be honest, it is one factor that many chose as a reason to make the City of Memphis a career choice. That's why I cannot support the Union's Plan.  And, although I appreciate the City's efforts, I also have many questions about the City's Support Service Program.  This was an answer to make their inhuman decisions more palatable for all to swallow.

The City's Proposal

The No-Cost Clinic is honorable but let's be honest. it is a wellness clinic.  Such a facility normally handles colds,minor injuries, basic physical, and hopefully prescriptions for high blood pressure, or other minor illnesses.  It does not address one's need for specialists or hospitalization. It will not address the needs of those with heart disease, kidney failure, or cancer illnesses.

1. Is there a contract with Methodist Health Care System that ensures its operations for a multiple years?
2. If so how many, and how will it be renewed? What is the staffing formula and the medical description of the staff?
3. How many patients can be served per day? 
4. Will all employees and retirees received Clinic Id Cards to secure services? 
5. Will this service have a volunteer advisory board to ensure quality standards? 
6. Will the liability of malpractice be on the City or Methodist? 

 Just asking...

Healthcare Assurance Plan is a benevolent venture that has no dedicated funding stream to sustain its existence.   It pushes you to use Affordable Healthcare which is still too costly for my family and others.  Most seniors have pre-existing health issues and because we have access to health insurance at 100% of the cost through the City, the National plan can be competitive.

I attempted to inquire about coverage from a private insurance source and was told by the agent that a "Release from by Employer" was needed.  It is no longer legal to shop insurance rates when you have access. That is a new policy under the 1500 page Affordable Health Care Program.  Is the City releasing the retirees that are under 65 years old?  Just asking...

The Union's Proposal

I applaud the union's efforts to save benefits for retirees. They are fighting a good fight for the most vulnerable and loyal voting citizens.  They are also fighting for the future years of current employees.  We must keep up the pressure on the city and be ready to make changes in leadership next year.  I will work tirelessly for that. Thomas Malone and Mike Williams have given us strategic and courageous leadership. They have sought facts and helped the public understand the hardship the City is placing on their public servants and their families.

However, when Council Members, the Mayor, and professional administrators ask the fire and police personnel to bring a resolution to the table, it makes me pause.  Their role is to challenge or support the polices recommended by City Leaders.  The Unions can make suggestions, and identify the problems for its working families.  But, the plan should be developed and addressed by the city's leadership. This is why administrators earn  six figures. You applied for these jobs, sought appointments or asked for our votes but we must do you work?  Pardon me while I laugh, because that's a little funny.  You should take their ideas and develop plans.

The Union's proposal does NOT include a 100% option for EMPLOYEES or retirees. I think taking the 100% option off the table is a major mistake. Employees will never get it back if taken away. One major hospital situation could send a family into bankruptcy. The Basic (90%) Plan is being repackaged as the PREMIER (100%) Plan with a $7,000 deductible.

The average income of a city employee is approximately $34,000. We hear about the six figure employees, but they are not the norm.  A deductible of $7,000 for these families is totally unreasonable.  It means before a young woman can deliver her baby the family must spend $7,000 that year on health care costs.  The working class has not enjoyed salary increases and the economy for them is still a struggle for them. Corporations are seeing gains, but not employees.

Although, the Union's plan saves health care for retirees, it is an unfair burden on working families and those of us living on limited income.  As a retiree,  I would rather have no health care at all that do this to working, struggling families.

Finally, my problem with this is in not our healthcare plan.  It is the City's attempt to gauge prices to place the burden of raising all the money for the Pension debt that they failed to fund for seven years. Now, they gauge one group--employees and retirees.  We made none of these decisions, other than to elect them, but are paying the price for over 600,000 citizens and them.  The citizens understand our message and I am grateful for that.Our citizens see us as their family members, church members, neighbors and our ability to pay bills helps us to support their businesses.

The City's principle is unfair!  The pension debt should be a shared sacrifice that does not make one group a sacrificial lamb.  Although, the Union's plan saves health care for retirees, it is an unfair burden on working families and those of us living on limited income. but, I would rather have no health care at all than strap working, struggling families with $7,000 a year out of pocket expenses before the health insurance kicks in.

Chumney - Stout Mitchell Plan

• Increase healthcare rates 24% (employee contribution to pay this debt)
• Increase property taxes 17 cents (one a home valued at $100,000 that's about $55 dollars a year- citizen's contribution to pay this debt)
• Adopt a Compliance Penalty for PILOTs that do not meet expectations (business contribution to pay this debt)
• Reduce the City budget 5%-10% (Administrators contribution)
• Ask State General Assembly for a two year extension in becoming 100% fully funded
• Honor your $65 million cap on CIP. This year, you increased that $20 million which added another $1.6 million to the budget to pay the debt service.  If we are in crisis mode to ask retirees to pay 100% of their healthcare, we can't afford to do this.
• Every new PILOT or TDZ means less revenue for the budget.  Before approving these incentives identify the loss of resources for the budget and determine how you will manage with that loss.Why? Because it could be years before you see the gains, if ever for some.

I am grateful that the professional I suggested may be giving assistance to the City to find revenue in the Operational Budget. But, I am disappointed that the City has not really entertained the other suggestions. I know this is a Big Boys' game, but don't ever underestimate the intellect of women to guide, help and give direction.   

I want to thank an unnamed friend who helped me breakdown the facts on the Union's plan.  I appreciate you and you know who you are.

There is still time to place a sales tax on the ballot for November. But do we have a Council that will vote to put in a referendum on the ballot?  I don't think so.  But, it was good to see the clergy leading the City to do what Jesus would do --care for its people and provide for healthcare for elders. Thank you, SCLC, Operation PUSH, Baptist Ministerial Association, and the Clergy that wrote statements in CA's David Water's article on this issue.

What would Jesus do?  I do my best as others to follow His Will and Purpose.  I could never say, "They are old and moved away to be near family in later years.  Or, they don't vote here." They kept their promise to the city and the City should honor their commitment.

Well,  I am suggesting that we pass the plate to all stakeholders to heal our land. Let's be ONE Memphis and solve this problem.  By the way, what ever happened to ONE Memphis?