 Alleyways - Get on the elevator, ride down to the first floor, walk to the microphone and say something.by David Wayne Brown
MemphisMojo.com
Here’s a question for the city: what is the most important virtue a mayor should have?
More than a few of you would say, “Compassion.”
The kind of compassion that led Mayor Bloomberg of New York City
to hold a press conference soon after the ill-begotten jet chase through the Manhattan skies for a White House air photo op and declare himself furious at the hollow-headed stunt.
Or the kind that got San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to launch the world’s first Ecomap and send a “tweet” out about it to his constituents. (Yes, there was politics there, too, and he’s now running for governor, but still!)
Or the kind of compassion that made the mayor of Lawrence, Kansas bring the homeless to the attention of his community in his remarks as he was preparing to leave office this month.
“We must put aside our differences and allow the community to create a system where we can be assured that those in need can find clean, safe and consistent shelter from the elements,” Mike Dever said.
What those mayors had in common is they spoke to their cities, and from the heart.
In Memphis, the mayor of the city has offered nothing but stone, cold silence
this past week as the community learned the terrible news that rape victims were turned
away from the rape crisis center for lack of personnel to conduct forensic tests. Two victims were children, for heaven’s sake.
We’ve heard from lots of people.
But not a word from hizzoner Herenton.
Oh, he had a word or two about his trial balloon about running for Congress.
And he called for an end to the federal investigation into his parties and the monetary
gifts he pocketed.
But did he take a few moments, go to the microphones, and speak to the community about this real crisis at the crisis center?
Several days later, no. Seems compassion is not a virtue in his office.
One might say he’s probably said plenty behind the scenes, to his directors and staff. Oh, great.
One might also say he’s no doubt feeling frustrated like the rest of us.
Hey! Guess what? That’s not enough. |
