Another serious problem that our next Mayor will have to address is the problem of Public Health as it relates to Sexually Transmitted disease. Public health will test the mettle of our next Mayor and our community response will say a lot about us as a City.
According to a 2007 report from the Center For Disease Control, Memphis ranks number One among Metropolitan Statistical Areas in reported cases per 100,000 of Chlamydia,Gonorrhea and third in rates per 100,000 in cases of syphilis.
To matters worse, among women in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area between 2003 and 2007 there were 36,397 cases of Chlamydia,11,113 cases of Gonorrhea and 680 cases of Syphilis. This results in further risks to public health as well...
STD Surveillance report.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia can result in adverse outcomes of pregnancy, including neonatal ophthalmia and, in the case of chlamydia, neonatal pneumonia. Although topical prophylaxis of infants at delivery is effective for prevention of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, prevention of neonatal pneumonia requires prenatal detection and treatment.
Genital infections with herpes simplex virus are extremely common, may cause painful outbreaks, and may have serious consequences for pregnant women.10
When a woman has a syphilis infection during pregnancy, she may transmit the infection to the fetus in utero. This may result in fetal death or an infant born with physical and mental developmental disabilities. Most cases of congenital syphilis are easily preventable if women are screened for syphilis and treated early during prenatal care.11
One of the issues highlighted by this is the fact that Memphis ranked number three in reports of teenagers infected with Sexually transmitted disease. Nationally Young people ages 15-24 have FIVE times the reported chlamydia rate of the general population. Young people 15-24 have FOUR times the reported rate of Gonorrhea than the general population. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows at least one in four teenage girls has contracted an infection. The most common, the human papillomavirus (HPV), is linked to cervical cancer later in life.
In addition according to the CDC, "Among adolescent women entering juvenile corrections facilities, the Corrections STD Prevalence Monitoring Project identified a median facility-specific chlamydia positivity rate of 14.3% (range: 2.5% to 32.1%) (Table A) and a median gonorrhea positivity rate of 5.3% (range: 0.0% to 13.9%) (Table C). Among adolescent men entering juvenile corrections facilities, the median facility-specific chlamydia positivity rate was 5.7% (range: 0.0% to 14.2%) and the median gonorrhea positivity rate was 1.0% (range: 0.0% to 4.5%)."
Public Health and the rate of STD's in our population is a national tragedy, and one that all branches of government should collectively come together to address. Despite the hard work and sincere concern of many individuals in government,community organizations and the medical sector, the efforts to stem the tide of the rates of infection are simply overwhelmed. The true tragedy in our Public Health crisis,is that even if our STD problem could be solved with a wave of a magic ward, that there would still remain the huge health related problems of nutritional poverty,obesity,infant mortality, and the previously mentioned problem of Lead poisoning within our communities. There is so much work to be done.
There are sadly no easy answers, but there are things the next Mayor can do either directly, or by virtue of the bully pulpit of the office, encourage and raise public awareness on this issue and lobby County and State government.
*Work in better concert with the Memphis and Shelby County Health department and Juvenile Court to assure that the State mandated STD screenings of incarcerated inmates within our criminal justice system is actually being done on intake and release. Reports from several community and criminal justice sources inform me that this is not being done as vigilantly as it should be.
As Juvenile Court is not a long term holding facility such testing is not state mandated, but care is available for infected youths if staff is aware.
*Provide better access to condoms to the general public, especially in high risk populations. Condoms should be available in prison, where a high rate of infection takes place. Prison populations have higher risks of infection,are transitory and many leave prison with an infection who are either unaware or too ashamed to admit the reasons or causes for infection and may pass STD's on to unaware sexual partners on the outside.
Bleach kits should also be made available to prison populations as well as homeless populations with substance abuse issues, at the point of entry into Homeless services as well
*Coordinate and assist the Health Department to add an optional screening as part of the application process to all City Housing and Employment services. The testing would be completely optional, but greater screening can have a dramatic effect on decreasing the rate of infection,
*Assist the Health Department in their outreach efforts to provide prenatal care to many lower income individuals within the city. The Mayor of Memphis can garner alot more public attention to this issue than just about any once else.The Mayor can also take a leadership role in encouraging safe sex and urging the public to get themselves tested and raising awareness about existing services.
Like I said before there are no magic wands, but so much more needs to be done.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
ISSUES FIRST, If you want to be Mayor, Fix the Roads.
Now this may not be the sexiest issue around but it is one that impacts just about everyone in Memphis. The conditions of our roads, in some parts of the city is not just bad, in some areas it's downright horrible. If you do not believe me, take a little jaunt down Park ave, between Airways and Getwell or Appling between Stage and I-40 sometime. The conditions of our roads causes damage to motorist's vehicles, "damage to tires and vehicle suspensions", accidents and results in the public basically paying twice for the same things, as their taxes pay for the maintenance of these roads then they have to turn around and pay for repairs and wear and tear on their vehicles at a rate higher than they would if driving on better paved roads..It also bears mentioning that Memphis's status as a trucking and shipping hub places higher levels of Road wear on our streets than under normal circumstances.
".[41] According to a series of experiments carried out in the late 1950s, called the AASHO Road Test, it was empirically determined that the effective damage done to the road is roughly proportional to the 4th power of axle weight .[42] A typical tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds (36.287 t) with 8,000 pounds (3.6287 t) on the steer axle and 36,000 pounds (16.329 t) on both of the tandem axle groups is expected to do 7,800 times more damage than a passenger vehicle with 2,000 pounds (0.907 t) on each axle."-Wikipedia.
"Failure to maintain roads properly can create significant costs to society, in a 2009 report released by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (USA) about 50% of the roads in the USA are in bad condition with urban areas worse. The report estimates that urban drivers pay an average of $746/year on vehicle repairs while the average US motorist pays about $335/year. In contrast, the average motorist pays about $171/year in road maintenance taxes (based on 600 gallons/year and $0.285/gallon tax)."Wikidepia
One of the main problems stems from the fact that road repaving is done on a time based interval instead of a need based model. Thus our current system fails to adequately address road condition in the areas that need it the most. Why should anyone care?...well despite Rep Cohen bringing home some much needed bacon ,Cities are largely being screwed in stimulus dollars for road construction by the states. Screwed
Now a simple suggestion...
In Pennsylvania, the State Department of Transportation has launched a pretty innovative plan to make street paving services more efficient. It's called videolog
Videologging involves a truck equipped with a series of cameras that take a series of pictures of the roads that the truck drives over. These photos and the software that accompanies them will allow Public Works to better know the exact level of deterioration of all the roads within the City of Memphis. More to the point by using GIS software and computers that the city already has Public Works can pinpoint Streets in need of repaving and set up a system to repave roads based on need and will be able to do this more efficiently, cheaply, and easily.
From the PDOT website.
There are two key benefits gained by doing VideoLogging; first there is a reduction in time for some personnel to have to drive to the field for accessing field data and conditions, this can now be accomplished from a computer anywhere there is Internet access and second hiring of field crews to do manual distress ratings of the mainline surface conditions is no longer needed.
This proposal may not lower your taxes, but it will save Memphis motorists and professional drivers alot of money in repairs make our government more efficient and save money, and in time make Memphis road conditions the envy of the region. And you know what they say about a penny saved...
In fact, it might be interesting if someone went out to the voters of the Park and Getwell area and urged them to not vote for any candidate that would not commit to improving road conditions in their area. Now, if only someone would go out and organize people to do that...
".[41] According to a series of experiments carried out in the late 1950s, called the AASHO Road Test, it was empirically determined that the effective damage done to the road is roughly proportional to the 4th power of axle weight .[42] A typical tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds (36.287 t) with 8,000 pounds (3.6287 t) on the steer axle and 36,000 pounds (16.329 t) on both of the tandem axle groups is expected to do 7,800 times more damage than a passenger vehicle with 2,000 pounds (0.907 t) on each axle."-Wikipedia.
"Failure to maintain roads properly can create significant costs to society, in a 2009 report released by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (USA) about 50% of the roads in the USA are in bad condition with urban areas worse. The report estimates that urban drivers pay an average of $746/year on vehicle repairs while the average US motorist pays about $335/year. In contrast, the average motorist pays about $171/year in road maintenance taxes (based on 600 gallons/year and $0.285/gallon tax)."Wikidepia
One of the main problems stems from the fact that road repaving is done on a time based interval instead of a need based model. Thus our current system fails to adequately address road condition in the areas that need it the most. Why should anyone care?...well despite Rep Cohen bringing home some much needed bacon ,Cities are largely being screwed in stimulus dollars for road construction by the states. Screwed
Now a simple suggestion...
In Pennsylvania, the State Department of Transportation has launched a pretty innovative plan to make street paving services more efficient. It's called videolog
Videologging involves a truck equipped with a series of cameras that take a series of pictures of the roads that the truck drives over. These photos and the software that accompanies them will allow Public Works to better know the exact level of deterioration of all the roads within the City of Memphis. More to the point by using GIS software and computers that the city already has Public Works can pinpoint Streets in need of repaving and set up a system to repave roads based on need and will be able to do this more efficiently, cheaply, and easily.
From the PDOT website.
There are two key benefits gained by doing VideoLogging; first there is a reduction in time for some personnel to have to drive to the field for accessing field data and conditions, this can now be accomplished from a computer anywhere there is Internet access and second hiring of field crews to do manual distress ratings of the mainline surface conditions is no longer needed.
This proposal may not lower your taxes, but it will save Memphis motorists and professional drivers alot of money in repairs make our government more efficient and save money, and in time make Memphis road conditions the envy of the region. And you know what they say about a penny saved...
In fact, it might be interesting if someone went out to the voters of the Park and Getwell area and urged them to not vote for any candidate that would not commit to improving road conditions in their area. Now, if only someone would go out and organize people to do that...
Too Good To Talk to Voters...
I have no idea who I'll be voting for for mayor, and it may well end up being Wharton (assuming Herenton actually does resign,) but skipping a candidate forum because a candidate forum did not fit with his campaign strategy as the Commercial Appeal reports sure won't seal the deal.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Whatever happened to that David Holt guy?
This did:
My little Karina Belle is now 3 months old, 15 pounds, and 25.somethingorotherinches.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Call your members of Congress today in support of Healthcare reform
Today, Wednesday July 8, is a national day of action for Quality, Affordable Healthcare for All. We need you to take a few minutes of your time and call your representatives to demand that they support the HELP bill that is now moving through the House of Representatives. Click to Call your Representative now below.
Click to call your member of Congress and demand quality, affordable health care!
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working with Healthcare for America Now to push comprehensive healthcare reform in Washington. There is a bill moving through Congress this week that is a critical first step to achieving this. Please click on the graphic below and use our new "Click to Call" system to automatically call each of your representatives (you have three, one representative and two senators). Call today!! Or you can call toll free at 1-888-436-8427.
Who are we calling? We are going to call all Democratic House Members to ask for their support of the House bill that the three committees jointly developed and issued last week. We are going to ask Senators to support the HELP bill that now (as of today) includes a provision about the public health insurance plan.
What's our message? Two points:
1. What do we want? Health Care that looks like the House and Senate HELP bills that includes all the provisions the majority of us care about, including choice of a public health insurance plan and real affordability.
2. When do we want it? Now. We can't wait! The public urgently wants reform and expects Congress to fix the health care problem by the end of the year!
Background:
President Obama and leaders in Congress have laid out a very ambitious timeline for passing bills off the floor of the House and Senate. According to this timetable, the House and Senate would pass bills by the end of July that would then go to conference immediately following the August recess. That means that there is less than one month for the bills to go through the amendment and debate process and a vote of each chamber-there are many steps to pack into one month, especially since there's no bill out of the Senate Finance Committee yet. We are going to have to build extreme urgency to help drive this timetable from the field.
Click to call your member of Congress and demand quality, affordable health care!
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working with Healthcare for America Now to push comprehensive healthcare reform in Washington. There is a bill moving through Congress this week that is a critical first step to achieving this. Please click on the graphic below and use our new "Click to Call" system to automatically call each of your representatives (you have three, one representative and two senators). Call today!! Or you can call toll free at 1-888-436-8427.
Who are we calling? We are going to call all Democratic House Members to ask for their support of the House bill that the three committees jointly developed and issued last week. We are going to ask Senators to support the HELP bill that now (as of today) includes a provision about the public health insurance plan.
What's our message? Two points:
1. What do we want? Health Care that looks like the House and Senate HELP bills that includes all the provisions the majority of us care about, including choice of a public health insurance plan and real affordability.
2. When do we want it? Now. We can't wait! The public urgently wants reform and expects Congress to fix the health care problem by the end of the year!
Background:
President Obama and leaders in Congress have laid out a very ambitious timeline for passing bills off the floor of the House and Senate. According to this timetable, the House and Senate would pass bills by the end of July that would then go to conference immediately following the August recess. That means that there is less than one month for the bills to go through the amendment and debate process and a vote of each chamber-there are many steps to pack into one month, especially since there's no bill out of the Senate Finance Committee yet. We are going to have to build extreme urgency to help drive this timetable from the field.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
ISSUES FIRST, If you want to be Mayor, Support Code Enforcement
The key to understanding where Memphis needs to go, is to understand that our problems and challenges as a community are not separate issues but are all connected and a deficit in one area has a related negative impact on other areas. For example, if a city has an overwhelmed and or inadequate system for Mental health or drug rehabilitation, then it's only a matter of time before homeless services and law enforcement services are impacted by this, which in turn has an impact on Jail population and overcrowding, as well as law enforcement manpower issues which in turn effects other areas as well."A topic I will cover later."
Thus a common flaw in how some candidates relate to the public is that candidates will make promises to address certain issues without context of what the root causes of the problems are. Thus even sincere efforts to address problems are often doomed to failure before they begin. That's why I wanted to take the time today to write about one of the root factors "like MATA reform" in several of the challenges that the next Mayor will face and hope will address. That being the clear need for the City of Memphis to rededicate and support efforts of Code Enforcement and Community Enhancement services.
Currently one of the major challengers facing our neighborhoods is the problem of blight, as it plays a role in declining home values,crime and related public health issues. As more and more properties are allowed to be abandoned these vacants become open sores in these areas and magnets for criminal activity as well as sites of illegal dumping of trash. This in turn leads to new breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats and disease, which in turn causes higher medical issues for area residents. Combined these factors promotes a downward spiral effect in our communities as a result more people either move away, taking community capitol out of the neighborhood and/or encouraging more trash dumping,a greater influx of criminal activity and a greater decline in property value and stunting community redevelopment.
Currently the division of Community Enhancement and Code Enforcement are tasked with tearing down condemned vacants at a rate of 1500 properties a year, however the city currently only tears down vacants at a rate closer to 700-800 a year.More to the point, these properties are spread out across the city in such a manner that no on notices any real change to their communities.
This is due to several factors, chief among them is that while there are many hardworking government employees in these departments, there are several bottlenecks in the processing of demolitions as well as an overly long and time consuming contracting process, that prevents speedy action. There also needs to be a more aggressive effort in the quick and speeding elimination of illegal dumping ground around our city this is especially true in the North Memphis and in the Beclair/Highland Heights area. Case in point Creepy Hollow There are also many unethical landlords who's lack of proper action in upkeep their properties puts the well being of their tenants at risk.
Also more needs to be done to address the serious and shameful problem of lead soil contamination, which is remarkably high in many lower income areas of the city. Lead paint from older housing stock as well as old lead pipes and in many cases industrial contamination has produced a serious health issue. Lead poisoning according to Wikipedia, may cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity. In addition "symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include neurological problems, such as permanent and temporary reduced cognitive abilities, or nausea, abdominal pain,[11] irritability, impotence, insomnia, metal taste in the mouth, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, chest pain, headache and, in extreme cases, seizures, comas, and death. There are also associated gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, which are common in acute poisoning. Other associated effects are anemia, kidney problems, and reproductive problems." This is especially a problem for children in these areas who may become contaminated by playing outside on lots which contaminated soil or by ingesting paint chips.Lead poisoning has a direct link to learning disabilities reduced mental development, and in a growing number of studies has a causal link to higher aggression and lack of impulse control and crime linked behavior. Get the lead out
The Grow Memphis program at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is currently working to build more community gardens in neighborhoods across the city. The EPA list a lead soil level of 300-400 ppm as the high threshold of lead soil contamination in areas where children play. Last week a potential garden site near the Foote homes area was rejected as the lead soil contamination level was at 1760ppm. The sad fact is that we have know about the dangers of lead poisoning since the 1970's, and while the city and county have active lead abatement programs for housing that's doing alot of work in this area,not much is currently being done about these vacant lots which are a source of lead that enters the home via wind and via shoes. These departments need to be a higher priority and fully supported by the next Mayor.
a few simple ideas..
*Increasing the level of paralegal staff to expand capacity to process demolition orders and increase the volume of cases in Environmental court.
*Pull together all of the shareholders in Code,Community enhancement, OPD and others to find other "bottlenecks" in the system, while eliminating redundant or noneffective elements to ensure a more speedy process.
*Remove bureaucratic red tape that slows down the contracting process and provide greater oversight of contractors to ensure that all permits are being pulled.
*Become more aggressive in the leveling of fines for code violators, and work in better concert with the District Attorney's office and the Health department to ensure the swift reporting and prosecution of irresponsible landlords, illegal trash and tire dumpers.
*Focus Demolition efforts in areas with the highest levels of blight. 800-1500 demolitions per year may not seem like much spread out across the city, but it would make a big difference in some of our high priority areas, in the short term, and pave the way for redevelopment of these areas in the long term.
*Plant Sunflowers,Goldenrod/Start Community Gardens on the thousands of vacant lots owned by the city. "Let me finish.." One of the many problems in lower income areas is the lack of grocery stores and access to healthy foods. Community garden programs like GrowMemphis offer neighborhoods reduced blight, healthy produce and opportunities for economic development and self sufficiency.
Now as for Sunflowers and goldenrod... the planting of Sunflowers/goldenrod in vacant lots owned by the city would play a major role in restoring formerly blighted communities, and more importantly could prevent these areas from becoming sites of illegal dumping, and save the city some of the long term costs of having to constantly cut the grass and clean up on over 5000 sites. Sunflowers also have been shown to be excellent tools for removing toxic substances like uranium, cesium-137,strontium-90, arsenic, and cadmium from the soil. There are reports about a limited ability of both plants to remove lead from contaminated soil as well. Sunflower seeds are safe to eat,even from lead contaminated soil and are also a leading source of birdseed that could open some minor economic opportunities in these areas.
Imagine the next time you drive threw a neighborhood with a lot of abandoned properties that you replaced all of those lots with fields of sunflowers.
*The next Mayor can also use the bully pulpit of his or her office to better communicate to the public the dangers of Lead poisoning and increase the public awareness city and county services that offer testing, treatment and home abatement. Also the efforts of HCD's Lead abatement programs need to be better supported in future budget cycles.
So when you receive a call from a campaign worker on behalf of a particular candidate, or meet one of the candidates in public. Ask them what their plans are on these issues like MATA and Code Enforcement, and hold them accountable.
Thus a common flaw in how some candidates relate to the public is that candidates will make promises to address certain issues without context of what the root causes of the problems are. Thus even sincere efforts to address problems are often doomed to failure before they begin. That's why I wanted to take the time today to write about one of the root factors "like MATA reform" in several of the challenges that the next Mayor will face and hope will address. That being the clear need for the City of Memphis to rededicate and support efforts of Code Enforcement and Community Enhancement services.
Currently one of the major challengers facing our neighborhoods is the problem of blight, as it plays a role in declining home values,crime and related public health issues. As more and more properties are allowed to be abandoned these vacants become open sores in these areas and magnets for criminal activity as well as sites of illegal dumping of trash. This in turn leads to new breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats and disease, which in turn causes higher medical issues for area residents. Combined these factors promotes a downward spiral effect in our communities as a result more people either move away, taking community capitol out of the neighborhood and/or encouraging more trash dumping,a greater influx of criminal activity and a greater decline in property value and stunting community redevelopment.
Currently the division of Community Enhancement and Code Enforcement are tasked with tearing down condemned vacants at a rate of 1500 properties a year, however the city currently only tears down vacants at a rate closer to 700-800 a year.More to the point, these properties are spread out across the city in such a manner that no on notices any real change to their communities.
This is due to several factors, chief among them is that while there are many hardworking government employees in these departments, there are several bottlenecks in the processing of demolitions as well as an overly long and time consuming contracting process, that prevents speedy action. There also needs to be a more aggressive effort in the quick and speeding elimination of illegal dumping ground around our city this is especially true in the North Memphis and in the Beclair/Highland Heights area. Case in point Creepy Hollow There are also many unethical landlords who's lack of proper action in upkeep their properties puts the well being of their tenants at risk.
Also more needs to be done to address the serious and shameful problem of lead soil contamination, which is remarkably high in many lower income areas of the city. Lead paint from older housing stock as well as old lead pipes and in many cases industrial contamination has produced a serious health issue. Lead poisoning according to Wikipedia, may cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity. In addition "symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include neurological problems, such as permanent and temporary reduced cognitive abilities, or nausea, abdominal pain,[11] irritability, impotence, insomnia, metal taste in the mouth, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, chest pain, headache and, in extreme cases, seizures, comas, and death. There are also associated gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, which are common in acute poisoning. Other associated effects are anemia, kidney problems, and reproductive problems." This is especially a problem for children in these areas who may become contaminated by playing outside on lots which contaminated soil or by ingesting paint chips.Lead poisoning has a direct link to learning disabilities reduced mental development, and in a growing number of studies has a causal link to higher aggression and lack of impulse control and crime linked behavior. Get the lead out
The Grow Memphis program at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is currently working to build more community gardens in neighborhoods across the city. The EPA list a lead soil level of 300-400 ppm as the high threshold of lead soil contamination in areas where children play. Last week a potential garden site near the Foote homes area was rejected as the lead soil contamination level was at 1760ppm. The sad fact is that we have know about the dangers of lead poisoning since the 1970's, and while the city and county have active lead abatement programs for housing that's doing alot of work in this area,not much is currently being done about these vacant lots which are a source of lead that enters the home via wind and via shoes. These departments need to be a higher priority and fully supported by the next Mayor.
a few simple ideas..
*Increasing the level of paralegal staff to expand capacity to process demolition orders and increase the volume of cases in Environmental court.
*Pull together all of the shareholders in Code,Community enhancement, OPD and others to find other "bottlenecks" in the system, while eliminating redundant or noneffective elements to ensure a more speedy process.
*Remove bureaucratic red tape that slows down the contracting process and provide greater oversight of contractors to ensure that all permits are being pulled.
*Become more aggressive in the leveling of fines for code violators, and work in better concert with the District Attorney's office and the Health department to ensure the swift reporting and prosecution of irresponsible landlords, illegal trash and tire dumpers.
*Focus Demolition efforts in areas with the highest levels of blight. 800-1500 demolitions per year may not seem like much spread out across the city, but it would make a big difference in some of our high priority areas, in the short term, and pave the way for redevelopment of these areas in the long term.
*Plant Sunflowers,Goldenrod/Start Community Gardens on the thousands of vacant lots owned by the city. "Let me finish.." One of the many problems in lower income areas is the lack of grocery stores and access to healthy foods. Community garden programs like GrowMemphis offer neighborhoods reduced blight, healthy produce and opportunities for economic development and self sufficiency.
Now as for Sunflowers and goldenrod... the planting of Sunflowers/goldenrod in vacant lots owned by the city would play a major role in restoring formerly blighted communities, and more importantly could prevent these areas from becoming sites of illegal dumping, and save the city some of the long term costs of having to constantly cut the grass and clean up on over 5000 sites. Sunflowers also have been shown to be excellent tools for removing toxic substances like uranium, cesium-137,strontium-90, arsenic, and cadmium from the soil. There are reports about a limited ability of both plants to remove lead from contaminated soil as well. Sunflower seeds are safe to eat,even from lead contaminated soil and are also a leading source of birdseed that could open some minor economic opportunities in these areas.
Imagine the next time you drive threw a neighborhood with a lot of abandoned properties that you replaced all of those lots with fields of sunflowers.
*The next Mayor can also use the bully pulpit of his or her office to better communicate to the public the dangers of Lead poisoning and increase the public awareness city and county services that offer testing, treatment and home abatement. Also the efforts of HCD's Lead abatement programs need to be better supported in future budget cycles.
So when you receive a call from a campaign worker on behalf of a particular candidate, or meet one of the candidates in public. Ask them what their plans are on these issues like MATA and Code Enforcement, and hold them accountable.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
ISSUES FIRST-If you want to be Mayor, REFORM MATA
Our next Mayor, whoever that may be,will face a number of challenges as he or she works to move our city forward. One of these is our inadequate public transportation system. MATA. "MEMPHIS AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY" is one of the departments within city government in serious need of reorganization as well as an upgrade in service and efficiency. Currently a great number of Mata's riders are low income residents and Memphians with disabilities who depend on the MATA bus system in order to get to and from work and school everyday and conduct the business of their daily lives. Improving MATA will not only better serve this population, but also increase ridership among Memphians as a whole.
The sad fact is that current customers face long waits for fares,a lack of sufficient rain shelters in lower income areas,a rising fare cost,confusing maps of the route system,a lack of sufficient direct routes and now cuts to already diminished services.
MataPlus will no longer go beyond 3/4 a mile outside of a MATA mainline route for disabled customers.
Furthermore,some MATAplus buses are broken down and are without functional air conditioning with poor maintenance on many MATA vehicles.Wheelchair lifts are constantly broken at trolley stops downtown and inaccessible bus stops makes travel for those with disabilities very difficult. In addition services are very limited during nights and weekends
Public complaints filed to MATA often receive little if any response.
It is fundamentally not designed to be a viable public transportation system and that has to change.
MATA reforms should be a priority issue for the next Mayor of Memphis. Here are some simple ideas.
*The creation of mini-hubs throughout the metro areas that MATA serves. These mini hubs would allow several buses to run in a loop route system around these hubs and the downtown terminal. While the remaining buses would run shorter more direct routes into the areas around the mini hubs. This would greatly reduce wait times for riders, and allow those moving crosstown to easily reach destinations far away without wasting time riding out of their way as far as downtown in some cases to transfer. This can also have the benefit of eliminating redundant routes,increasing the number of MATA customers and better serving those who need the buses most.In addition, there exists the potential of reducing fuel and administrative costs in the short and long term.
*Better maintenance of MATA vehicles, to ensure a cleaner and more comfortable riding experience for MATA's customers.
*Establishment of more Rain Shelters across the city, especially in lower income areas. "Frayser has a total of three, while Downtown has tons" These shelters would be well lit at night, have easy to read maps of routes served posted within and limited payphone service.
Old Umbrellas and rainsuits gathered from "lost and founds" from city Libraries, community centers, and other Government departments would be left within for customer use.
*Ensuring the proper operation and functioning of Wheelchair lifts at Trolley stops and on MATA Buses.
*MATA needs to reconnect with the community and promptly and aggressively improve it's customer service as well as deal with customer complaints in a more timely manner.Require all MATA Board and higher level executives members to periodically ride the Buses for quality assurance.
*Improve and augment service during nights and weekends, via a reduced loop route system.
*Revamp the online Trip planner to be more user friendly.
A few months ago I wrote a post about how there seems to be a constant call from some that Memphis needs to build a (insert developer gimmick here) to become a world class city. The fact is what we really need to do is get back down to providing quality and effective fundamental services for our residents. Gimmicks and shiny trinkets aren't going to cut it anymore.
The sad fact is that current customers face long waits for fares,a lack of sufficient rain shelters in lower income areas,a rising fare cost,confusing maps of the route system,a lack of sufficient direct routes and now cuts to already diminished services.
MataPlus will no longer go beyond 3/4 a mile outside of a MATA mainline route for disabled customers.
Furthermore,some MATAplus buses are broken down and are without functional air conditioning with poor maintenance on many MATA vehicles.Wheelchair lifts are constantly broken at trolley stops downtown and inaccessible bus stops makes travel for those with disabilities very difficult. In addition services are very limited during nights and weekends
Public complaints filed to MATA often receive little if any response.
It is fundamentally not designed to be a viable public transportation system and that has to change.
MATA reforms should be a priority issue for the next Mayor of Memphis. Here are some simple ideas.
*The creation of mini-hubs throughout the metro areas that MATA serves. These mini hubs would allow several buses to run in a loop route system around these hubs and the downtown terminal. While the remaining buses would run shorter more direct routes into the areas around the mini hubs. This would greatly reduce wait times for riders, and allow those moving crosstown to easily reach destinations far away without wasting time riding out of their way as far as downtown in some cases to transfer. This can also have the benefit of eliminating redundant routes,increasing the number of MATA customers and better serving those who need the buses most.In addition, there exists the potential of reducing fuel and administrative costs in the short and long term.
*Better maintenance of MATA vehicles, to ensure a cleaner and more comfortable riding experience for MATA's customers.
*Establishment of more Rain Shelters across the city, especially in lower income areas. "Frayser has a total of three, while Downtown has tons" These shelters would be well lit at night, have easy to read maps of routes served posted within and limited payphone service.
Old Umbrellas and rainsuits gathered from "lost and founds" from city Libraries, community centers, and other Government departments would be left within for customer use.
*Ensuring the proper operation and functioning of Wheelchair lifts at Trolley stops and on MATA Buses.
*MATA needs to reconnect with the community and promptly and aggressively improve it's customer service as well as deal with customer complaints in a more timely manner.Require all MATA Board and higher level executives members to periodically ride the Buses for quality assurance.
*Improve and augment service during nights and weekends, via a reduced loop route system.
*Revamp the online Trip planner to be more user friendly.
A few months ago I wrote a post about how there seems to be a constant call from some that Memphis needs to build a (insert developer gimmick here) to become a world class city. The fact is what we really need to do is get back down to providing quality and effective fundamental services for our residents. Gimmicks and shiny trinkets aren't going to cut it anymore.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
Been away for a while and have been reading with great interest news stories about the flood of candidates seeking to serve as the next Mayor of Memphis. I have also watched a great deal of enthusiastic activity from folks all over the political spectrum preparing to gear up for the upcoming special mayoral election this October in support for already declared candidates and in efforts to enlist others to join into the race.There is nothing wrong with any of that.
I would however like to caution everyone to take a moment and consider an alternative viewpoint. There is an old saying about Democrats and Republicans that loosely applies here, and that saying goes something like, "Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love." The gist of the statement is that the flaw of the Republicans is that they they are so strident in their beliefs that candidate diversity and individuality is repressed, and that the flaw of Democrats is that they end up so personally invested in their candidates that they do not allow anyone to question them, even when they are wrong. Let me be frank, Candidates are NOT your friends. They are not your family,your saviors or your messiahs, they are not perfect beings nor are the perfect extensions of your political beliefs. They are however, people of ambition, talent and skill who are all applying for job.
Why do people support candidates?, well clearly because they have been convinced by either the candidates actions or campaigns that there exists a connection of values and ideals between the candidate and themselves. Sometimes this is factual, but more often it is not. This perceived connection without context will consistently trump other voter concerns like competence, and even platform.
My point is not to demean or question the integrity of those who seek to run for office nor insult those who work on campaigns, far from it, it takes alot of guts to put yourself out there and risk rejection, financial loss, humiliation and the toll a campaign and public life has on the candidate's loved ones.To volunteer on a campaign takes long hours of grueling work, which is normally neither glamorous nor fun. My point is that a campaign's job is to elect a candidate nothing more, nothing less. A candidate's job is to win an election. That is the long and the short of it.
However, I want everyone to consider the rare and golden opportunity that lies before us. So my friendly advice is, do not sell your support on the cheep. This race seems to have a large number of candidates in the running, those candidates and campaigns will need good people,money and will have to move quickly in order to be ready for October. This is going to be a very brief but intense process, and in the flurry I believe that a real conversation on issues will be the first casualty of the oncoming Battle Royale. You have the power to change that.
You can change that if instead of organizing around candidates we instead organize around the ISSUES that will help make Memphis into a better city for all of us. We need to reform our public transportation system so that MATA can better serve this community and get people to work on time. We need reform in Code Enforcement to help eliminate the lead poisoning of our young, deal effectively with blight,curb illegal dumping and tearing down condemned properties that become magnets for crime. We need to augment our workforce development programs and increase job skill training, and we need to make mental health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation a priority in law enforcement. These are but a few of the issues we could shine a light on.
If we can effectively organize around issues then the candidates will come to you. That will tell you who to support and vote for. If all the candidates agree to those specific asks then you can hold them all accountable if they do not follow through on those pledges. Best of all, as the winner of this special election will have to run again in 2011, it would be in his or her best interest to make good on that promise as early as possible.
The time has come for the dog to wag the tail in Memphis politics as opposed to the other way around.
Or don't...it's all up to you.
I would however like to caution everyone to take a moment and consider an alternative viewpoint. There is an old saying about Democrats and Republicans that loosely applies here, and that saying goes something like, "Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love." The gist of the statement is that the flaw of the Republicans is that they they are so strident in their beliefs that candidate diversity and individuality is repressed, and that the flaw of Democrats is that they end up so personally invested in their candidates that they do not allow anyone to question them, even when they are wrong. Let me be frank, Candidates are NOT your friends. They are not your family,your saviors or your messiahs, they are not perfect beings nor are the perfect extensions of your political beliefs. They are however, people of ambition, talent and skill who are all applying for job.
Why do people support candidates?, well clearly because they have been convinced by either the candidates actions or campaigns that there exists a connection of values and ideals between the candidate and themselves. Sometimes this is factual, but more often it is not. This perceived connection without context will consistently trump other voter concerns like competence, and even platform.
My point is not to demean or question the integrity of those who seek to run for office nor insult those who work on campaigns, far from it, it takes alot of guts to put yourself out there and risk rejection, financial loss, humiliation and the toll a campaign and public life has on the candidate's loved ones.To volunteer on a campaign takes long hours of grueling work, which is normally neither glamorous nor fun. My point is that a campaign's job is to elect a candidate nothing more, nothing less. A candidate's job is to win an election. That is the long and the short of it.
However, I want everyone to consider the rare and golden opportunity that lies before us. So my friendly advice is, do not sell your support on the cheep. This race seems to have a large number of candidates in the running, those candidates and campaigns will need good people,money and will have to move quickly in order to be ready for October. This is going to be a very brief but intense process, and in the flurry I believe that a real conversation on issues will be the first casualty of the oncoming Battle Royale. You have the power to change that.
You can change that if instead of organizing around candidates we instead organize around the ISSUES that will help make Memphis into a better city for all of us. We need to reform our public transportation system so that MATA can better serve this community and get people to work on time. We need reform in Code Enforcement to help eliminate the lead poisoning of our young, deal effectively with blight,curb illegal dumping and tearing down condemned properties that become magnets for crime. We need to augment our workforce development programs and increase job skill training, and we need to make mental health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation a priority in law enforcement. These are but a few of the issues we could shine a light on.
If we can effectively organize around issues then the candidates will come to you. That will tell you who to support and vote for. If all the candidates agree to those specific asks then you can hold them all accountable if they do not follow through on those pledges. Best of all, as the winner of this special election will have to run again in 2011, it would be in his or her best interest to make good on that promise as early as possible.
The time has come for the dog to wag the tail in Memphis politics as opposed to the other way around.
Or don't...it's all up to you.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
County Commission Fails to pull trigger on Rape Crisis Center plan
Today the Shelby County Commission failed to approve a measure supporting the proposed plan to move the Rape Crisis Center under the jurisdiction of County Government. This is a sad turn of events for the victims of this horrible crime. The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center remains firmly committed to adding the voices of the Community to the discussion of this issue.Jackson Baker's article
As you read this we are reactivating our phone banking operation tonight as well as Thursday night from 6-9 pm and Friday night from 6-8pm. We are calling those registered voters in County Commission districts 1,2 and 3. We are calling areas with the highest concentrations of sexual assaults and urging them to support MSARC becoming a function of County Government. We are in the process of planning a new Canvass set for this Saturday June 13th from 10-1pm to hand out new materials about the Rape Crisis Center situation and how those neighbors can contact their County Commissioners to make their voices heard. We also invite all concerned parties to attend the full meeting of the Shelby County Commission this Monday June 15th at 1:30pm to make your voice heard on the issue of the Rape Crisis Center.
If there are any questions or if you'd like to volunteer to phone bank or canvass this weekend please contact Brad Watkins at Brad@midsouthpeace.org
Call your County Commissioners and ask them to support the Rape Crisis Center becoming a function of County Government.
If you do not know your district please click Here
Remember that you are a constituent of all the Commissioners that serve your district.Please call each of them.
County Commission District ONE
Commissioner George Flinn
901-545-3158
Commissioner Mike Ritz
901-545-4308
County Commission District TWO
Commissioner Henri Brooks
901-545-3158
Commissioner J.W. Gibson
901-545-4312
Commissioner Deidre Malone
901-545-4307
County Commission District Three
Commissioner James Harvey
901-545-4310
Commissioner Sidney Chism
901-545-4310
Commissioner Joe Ford
901-545-4312
Call them and leave a message right now.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
As you read this we are reactivating our phone banking operation tonight as well as Thursday night from 6-9 pm and Friday night from 6-8pm. We are calling those registered voters in County Commission districts 1,2 and 3. We are calling areas with the highest concentrations of sexual assaults and urging them to support MSARC becoming a function of County Government. We are in the process of planning a new Canvass set for this Saturday June 13th from 10-1pm to hand out new materials about the Rape Crisis Center situation and how those neighbors can contact their County Commissioners to make their voices heard. We also invite all concerned parties to attend the full meeting of the Shelby County Commission this Monday June 15th at 1:30pm to make your voice heard on the issue of the Rape Crisis Center.
If there are any questions or if you'd like to volunteer to phone bank or canvass this weekend please contact Brad Watkins at Brad@midsouthpeace.org
Call your County Commissioners and ask them to support the Rape Crisis Center becoming a function of County Government.
If you do not know your district please click Here
Remember that you are a constituent of all the Commissioners that serve your district.Please call each of them.
County Commission District ONE
Commissioner George Flinn
901-545-3158
Commissioner Mike Ritz
901-545-4308
County Commission District TWO
Commissioner Henri Brooks
901-545-3158
Commissioner J.W. Gibson
901-545-4312
Commissioner Deidre Malone
901-545-4307
County Commission District Three
Commissioner James Harvey
901-545-4310
Commissioner Sidney Chism
901-545-4310
Commissioner Joe Ford
901-545-4312
Call them and leave a message right now.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Monday, June 08, 2009
Our Thanks to Mayors Herenton and Wharton.
Today, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton made a stunning announcement concerning the future of the Memphis Rape Crisis Center. It seems that both Mayors have agreed to a plan that would move the Rape Crisis Center away from the the City run Public Services and Neighborhoods, and into the Shelby County Health Department. You can read all about it HERE
On behalf of all the members of the Friends of MSARC campaign I would like to thank both Mayor Herenton and Wharton for seeking reasonable solutions to this crisis. I also want to thank both leaders for focusing the discussion today on the needs of the victims of this horrible crime and their support for the creation of a Victims Services Board.
We will be continuing to observe events as this process unfolds, but today's events are a major step in a positive direction.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
On behalf of all the members of the Friends of MSARC campaign I would like to thank both Mayor Herenton and Wharton for seeking reasonable solutions to this crisis. I also want to thank both leaders for focusing the discussion today on the needs of the victims of this horrible crime and their support for the creation of a Victims Services Board.
We will be continuing to observe events as this process unfolds, but today's events are a major step in a positive direction.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Friends of MSARC Canvass THIS WEEKEND!
Friends
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is saddened and deeply concerned about the current situation at the Memphis Rape Crisis Center, and we are asking for your help to do something about it. This week volunteers from the Peace and Justice Center have made well over 300 calls into some of the areas within our community with the highest concentrations of rape and sexual assault. These calls were made in support of the Rape Crisis Center joining the Health Department and the Crime Victims Center as a function of County government. The sad fact is that between April 17 and May 28th there were 33 reported cases of rape within our city, 9 of those rapes were committed in City Council District 7. This is a crime that impacts everyone in Shelby County and we want to make sure that the voices of those communities grappling with the problems of crime and sexual assault are heard by their elected officials. This Saturday at 10am till 1pm the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center will be taking our message of support for the Rape Crisis Center to the streets by going door to door in the area around Klondike School at 1225 Vollintine. We will be distributing literature on how area residents can contact their elected officials,registering new voters and inviting members of the community to a PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM titled "Violence Against Women and Girls – Our Community’s Response". This forum will be held on Sunday, June 21st, 3pm at the Benjamin Hooks Library.
We need your help as we will continue to lobby our elected officials to ensure that the needs of the victims of this horrible crime receive the medical, legal and counseling support the need and deserve. Until this situation is resolved we are all responsible.
Canvass and Voter registration drives
Klondike Neighborhood Canvass
Saturday, June 6th
!0am-1pm
Meetup location-Klondike School-1225 Vollintine ave.
Humes High Area Canvass
Saturday, June 13th
10am-1pm
Meetup location-Humes High School -659 N Manassas St
Friends of MSARC- Phonebank
Tuesday june 9th 6-9pm
Weds- june 10th 6-9pm
Thurs- june 11th 6-9pm
Tuesday June 16th 6pm-9pm
Weds-June 17th 6pm-9pm
Thursday-June 18th 6pm-9pm
PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM
"Violence Against Women and Girls – Our Community’s Response"
Sunday-June 21st, 3pm
Location-Ben Hooks Library-3030 Poplar
For any questions or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Brad Watkins our Organizing Coordinator at Brad@midsouthpeace.org
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is saddened and deeply concerned about the current situation at the Memphis Rape Crisis Center, and we are asking for your help to do something about it. This week volunteers from the Peace and Justice Center have made well over 300 calls into some of the areas within our community with the highest concentrations of rape and sexual assault. These calls were made in support of the Rape Crisis Center joining the Health Department and the Crime Victims Center as a function of County government. The sad fact is that between April 17 and May 28th there were 33 reported cases of rape within our city, 9 of those rapes were committed in City Council District 7. This is a crime that impacts everyone in Shelby County and we want to make sure that the voices of those communities grappling with the problems of crime and sexual assault are heard by their elected officials. This Saturday at 10am till 1pm the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center will be taking our message of support for the Rape Crisis Center to the streets by going door to door in the area around Klondike School at 1225 Vollintine. We will be distributing literature on how area residents can contact their elected officials,registering new voters and inviting members of the community to a PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM titled "Violence Against Women and Girls – Our Community’s Response". This forum will be held on Sunday, June 21st, 3pm at the Benjamin Hooks Library.
We need your help as we will continue to lobby our elected officials to ensure that the needs of the victims of this horrible crime receive the medical, legal and counseling support the need and deserve. Until this situation is resolved we are all responsible.
Canvass and Voter registration drives
Klondike Neighborhood Canvass
Saturday, June 6th
!0am-1pm
Meetup location-Klondike School-1225 Vollintine ave.
Humes High Area Canvass
Saturday, June 13th
10am-1pm
Meetup location-Humes High School -659 N Manassas St
Friends of MSARC- Phonebank
Tuesday june 9th 6-9pm
Weds- june 10th 6-9pm
Thurs- june 11th 6-9pm
Tuesday June 16th 6pm-9pm
Weds-June 17th 6pm-9pm
Thursday-June 18th 6pm-9pm
PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM
"Violence Against Women and Girls – Our Community’s Response"
Sunday-June 21st, 3pm
Location-Ben Hooks Library-3030 Poplar
For any questions or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Brad Watkins our Organizing Coordinator at Brad@midsouthpeace.org
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friends of MSARC Campaign
Friends,
We are writing you today about the current staffing and accounting issues at the Memphis Rape Crisis Center "MSARC" and the lack of information made available to the public on this issue. Staffing and management issues are at the heart of this situation and have resulted in a 14 year sexual assault victim being turned away in her time of greatest need. The currently there is a risk of exacerbating the capacity problems with the Rape Crisis Center by the proposed shift of sexual assault examinations for minors to LeBonher. This is not a solution, in fact it may only make the current situation worse by dismantling a once nationally respected center into a confusing and complicating web of overlapping services.There is also the issue of clear accounting and financial impropriety resulting in close to $500,000 in missing state funds.
The time has come to take action to ensure accountability and public safety for women and children within our communities.
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working to build a coalition grassroots effort to inform and activate registered voters within those communities with the highest concentrations of sexual assaults. We will do this via an aggressive phonebanking,canvassing and voter registration campaign. the goal of this effort is to ensure the continued operation of a fully intact rape crisis center, with proper funding, staffing,community oversight and transparency.
We are asking that
1. All funds generated by sexual assault victim exams be allocated to the operation of Rape Crisis Center services.
2. Rape Crisis Center services should remain fully intact and be fully staffed with all shifts covered and that all victim needs are met for examination, collection of evidence, counseling, advocacy and community outreach, by June 30 and that staffing not drop below 90 percent thereafter.
3. A Victim Services Board be established and appointed to advise and support operation of The Rape Crisis Center, its membership to include survivors and its recommendations to go directly to elected officials who appoint it.
4. Sexual assault victim services be transitioned out of City of Memphis jurisdiction to Shelby County government where all other local victim services, criminal justice, health care and most regional service collaborations reside.
HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN!
We will be hosting weekly canvasses in District 7, EVERY Saturday from 10am-1pm. At these events we will go door to door, giving the people of District 7/Super District 8 information about the current MSARC situation and letting them know how they can make their voices heard.We will also work to register NEW VOTERS in these communitites.
Our First Canvass is Saturday, JUNE 6th, at 10am.
We will begin our phonebanking of Super District 8 REGISTERED VOTERS next Tuesday June 2nd, and continue every Tuesday-Weds-Thurs from 6pm-9pm every week until these concerns are addressed.
To sign up to volunteer as a phonebank or canvass volunteer! Contact Brad@midsouthpeace.org
WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
We are writing you today about the current staffing and accounting issues at the Memphis Rape Crisis Center "MSARC" and the lack of information made available to the public on this issue. Staffing and management issues are at the heart of this situation and have resulted in a 14 year sexual assault victim being turned away in her time of greatest need. The currently there is a risk of exacerbating the capacity problems with the Rape Crisis Center by the proposed shift of sexual assault examinations for minors to LeBonher. This is not a solution, in fact it may only make the current situation worse by dismantling a once nationally respected center into a confusing and complicating web of overlapping services.There is also the issue of clear accounting and financial impropriety resulting in close to $500,000 in missing state funds.
The time has come to take action to ensure accountability and public safety for women and children within our communities.
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working to build a coalition grassroots effort to inform and activate registered voters within those communities with the highest concentrations of sexual assaults. We will do this via an aggressive phonebanking,canvassing and voter registration campaign. the goal of this effort is to ensure the continued operation of a fully intact rape crisis center, with proper funding, staffing,community oversight and transparency.
We are asking that
1. All funds generated by sexual assault victim exams be allocated to the operation of Rape Crisis Center services.
2. Rape Crisis Center services should remain fully intact and be fully staffed with all shifts covered and that all victim needs are met for examination, collection of evidence, counseling, advocacy and community outreach, by June 30 and that staffing not drop below 90 percent thereafter.
3. A Victim Services Board be established and appointed to advise and support operation of The Rape Crisis Center, its membership to include survivors and its recommendations to go directly to elected officials who appoint it.
4. Sexual assault victim services be transitioned out of City of Memphis jurisdiction to Shelby County government where all other local victim services, criminal justice, health care and most regional service collaborations reside.
HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN!
We will be hosting weekly canvasses in District 7, EVERY Saturday from 10am-1pm. At these events we will go door to door, giving the people of District 7/Super District 8 information about the current MSARC situation and letting them know how they can make their voices heard.We will also work to register NEW VOTERS in these communitites.
Our First Canvass is Saturday, JUNE 6th, at 10am.
We will begin our phonebanking of Super District 8 REGISTERED VOTERS next Tuesday June 2nd, and continue every Tuesday-Weds-Thurs from 6pm-9pm every week until these concerns are addressed.
To sign up to volunteer as a phonebank or canvass volunteer! Contact Brad@midsouthpeace.org
WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS COMMUNITY FORUM-TONIGHT!!!!
WHAT-JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS COMMUNITY FORUM
WHEN-WEDS, MAY 20th
TIME-6:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE- First Congo Church, 1000 South Cooper
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS-Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell,
County Commissioner James Harvey
County Commissioner Mike Carpenter
Stephen Bush-Public Defender's office-Jericho Project.
***Other members of the County Commission are expected to confirm attendance soon.
UPDATE JUDGE TIM DWYER-GENERAL SESSIONS DRUG COURT, will also be in attendance.
You are invited to attend a community forum hosted by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center's JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign for local Criminal Justice reform. For the past three months the JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign has been working to lobby members of our local County Commission to support and provide adequate funding for four programs of vital need within our community. The passage of these four initiatives will improve funding for treatment alternatives for those in the criminal justice system who posses untreated mental illness, as well as provide greater access to drug rehabilitation and educational opportunities for Nonviolent drug offenders. These reforms also seek to promote greater efficiency within our criminal justice system, by expanding the overworked and overwhelmed pre-trial diversion services, and by allowing the same Assistant District Attorney's to follow the same case from start to finish. these reforms seek to shorten the time from arrest to disposition down to six months, where as now, this process can take as long as nine to eleven months.
We will also host a brief viewing of two short documentaries each dealing with one of the programs supported by our campaign. One focuses in on the work of the men and women of the General Sessions Drug Court
We will also host a screening of the mini documentary Voices of Jericho , winner of the BEST DOCUMENTARY award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. This short film focuses on the work of the Jericho Project a ground breaking local program that works with the courts to provide an individualized treatment program for those with Mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues.
Please direct any questions to Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. 901-725-4990-office, 901-495-0818-cell
We hope to see you there!
WHEN-WEDS, MAY 20th
TIME-6:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE- First Congo Church, 1000 South Cooper
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS-Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell,
County Commissioner James Harvey
County Commissioner Mike Carpenter
Stephen Bush-Public Defender's office-Jericho Project.
***Other members of the County Commission are expected to confirm attendance soon.
UPDATE JUDGE TIM DWYER-GENERAL SESSIONS DRUG COURT, will also be in attendance.
You are invited to attend a community forum hosted by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center's JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign for local Criminal Justice reform. For the past three months the JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign has been working to lobby members of our local County Commission to support and provide adequate funding for four programs of vital need within our community. The passage of these four initiatives will improve funding for treatment alternatives for those in the criminal justice system who posses untreated mental illness, as well as provide greater access to drug rehabilitation and educational opportunities for Nonviolent drug offenders. These reforms also seek to promote greater efficiency within our criminal justice system, by expanding the overworked and overwhelmed pre-trial diversion services, and by allowing the same Assistant District Attorney's to follow the same case from start to finish. these reforms seek to shorten the time from arrest to disposition down to six months, where as now, this process can take as long as nine to eleven months.
We will also host a brief viewing of two short documentaries each dealing with one of the programs supported by our campaign. One focuses in on the work of the men and women of the General Sessions Drug Court
We will also host a screening of the mini documentary Voices of Jericho , winner of the BEST DOCUMENTARY award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. This short film focuses on the work of the Jericho Project a ground breaking local program that works with the courts to provide an individualized treatment program for those with Mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues.
Please direct any questions to Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. 901-725-4990-office, 901-495-0818-cell
We hope to see you there!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thank You Rep. Steve Cohen
Dear Friends,
Good news. Representative Cohen was one of the few brave democrats
that voted against the latest round of war funding. We must thank him
and let him know he has our support.
Below is the e-mail I sent to him. Craft one of your own or use mine.
But please let him hear from you.
In Peace,
Sandy Furrh
Steve Cohen:
email: http://cohen.house.gov/ go here and click "email me"
phone 901.544.4131 (memphis) or 202.225.3265 (dc)
Dear Representative Cohen,
Thank you for your vote against more funding for the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq. That was a brave vote and we applaud you. You
have consistently taken a stand for peace in Iraq and are now doing
the same with Afghanistan.
It is becoming increasingly clear that we must not follow the same
path in Afghanistan that we have taken in Iraq. Bullets and bombs only
feed the monster of extremism, our greatest enemy in the Middle East.
Peace and stability get farther and farther from reach as we create
more enemies rather than working to build alliances rebuild the
countries we have helped to destroy.
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Good news. Representative Cohen was one of the few brave democrats
that voted against the latest round of war funding. We must thank him
and let him know he has our support.
Below is the e-mail I sent to him. Craft one of your own or use mine.
But please let him hear from you.
In Peace,
Sandy Furrh
Steve Cohen:
email: http://cohen.house.gov/ go here and click "email me"
phone 901.544.4131 (memphis) or 202.225.3265 (dc)
Dear Representative Cohen,
Thank you for your vote against more funding for the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq. That was a brave vote and we applaud you. You
have consistently taken a stand for peace in Iraq and are now doing
the same with Afghanistan.
It is becoming increasingly clear that we must not follow the same
path in Afghanistan that we have taken in Iraq. Bullets and bombs only
feed the monster of extremism, our greatest enemy in the Middle East.
Peace and stability get farther and farther from reach as we create
more enemies rather than working to build alliances rebuild the
countries we have helped to destroy.
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Rape Crisis Center call to action, this TUESDAY!
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD
RAPE CRISIS CRISIS
You can help repair the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Contact your city council member between now and Tuesday.
And on Tuesday COME TO CITY HALL to the meeting of the
Public Services and Neighborhoods Committee, 11 a.m. Council Conf Room 501
WE ARE ASKING THAT:
1. All funds generated by sexual assault victim exams be allocated to the operation of sexual assault victim services.
UPDATE LINK
2. Sexual assault victim services should be fully staffed with all shifts covered and that all victim needs are met for examination, collection of evidence, counseling, advocacy and community outreach, by June 30 and that staffing not drop below 90 percent thereafter.
3. A Victim Services Board be established and appointed to advise and support operation of sexual assault victim services, its membership to include survivors and its recommendations to go directly to elected officials who appoint it.
4. Sexual assault victim services be transitioned out of City of Memphis jurisdiction to Shelby County government where all other local victim services, criminal justice, health care and most regional service collaborations reside.
Go here to see the district map if you need to check on who your council members are:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=692
Go here to click on their faces and find their contact info:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=690
COME TO CITY HALL TUESDAY AT 11 A.M.
NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!
Deborah M. Clubb
Executive Director
Memphis Area Women's Council
Project Coordinator
Memphis Women's Economic Security Collaborative
901-378-3866
dclubb@memphiswomen.org
www.memphiswomen.org
www.erasedomesticcrime.org
Convene Collaborate Communicate = Change
RAPE CRISIS CRISIS
You can help repair the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Contact your city council member between now and Tuesday.
And on Tuesday COME TO CITY HALL to the meeting of the
Public Services and Neighborhoods Committee, 11 a.m. Council Conf Room 501
WE ARE ASKING THAT:
1. All funds generated by sexual assault victim exams be allocated to the operation of sexual assault victim services.
UPDATE LINK
2. Sexual assault victim services should be fully staffed with all shifts covered and that all victim needs are met for examination, collection of evidence, counseling, advocacy and community outreach, by June 30 and that staffing not drop below 90 percent thereafter.
3. A Victim Services Board be established and appointed to advise and support operation of sexual assault victim services, its membership to include survivors and its recommendations to go directly to elected officials who appoint it.
4. Sexual assault victim services be transitioned out of City of Memphis jurisdiction to Shelby County government where all other local victim services, criminal justice, health care and most regional service collaborations reside.
Go here to see the district map if you need to check on who your council members are:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=692
Go here to click on their faces and find their contact info:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=690
COME TO CITY HALL TUESDAY AT 11 A.M.
NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!
Deborah M. Clubb
Executive Director
Memphis Area Women's Council
Project Coordinator
Memphis Women's Economic Security Collaborative
901-378-3866
dclubb@memphiswomen.org
www.memphiswomen.org
www.erasedomesticcrime.org
Convene Collaborate Communicate = Change
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS COMMUNITY FORUM-Weds, May 20th
WHAT-JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS COMMUNITY FORUM
WHEN-WEDS, MAY 20th
TIME-6:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE- First Congo Church, 1000 South Cooper
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS-Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell,
County Commissioner James Harvey
County Commissioner Mike Carpenter
Stephen Bush-Public Defender's office-Jericho Project.
***Other members of the County Commission are expected to confirm attendance soon.
UPDATE JUDGE TIM DWYER-GENERAL SESSIONS DRUG COURT, will also be in attendance.
You are invited to attend a community forum hosted by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center's JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign for local Criminal Justice reform. For the past three months the JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign has been working to lobby members of our local County Commission to support and provide adequate funding for four programs of vital need within our community. The passage of these four initiatives will improve funding for treatment alternatives for those in the criminal justice system who posses untreated mental illness, as well as provide greater access to drug rehabilitation and educational opportunities for Nonviolent drug offenders. These reforms also seek to promote greater efficiency within our criminal justice system, by expanding the overworked and overwhelmed pre-trial diversion services, and by allowing the same Assistant District Attorney's to follow the same case from start to finish. these reforms seek to shorten the time from arrest to disposition down to six months, where as now, this process can take as long as nine to eleven months.
We will also host a brief viewing of two short documentaries each dealing with one of the programs supported by our campaign. One focuses in on the work of the men and women of the General Sessions Drug Court
We will also host a screening of the mini documentary Voices of Jericho , winner of the BEST DOCUMENTARY award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. This short film focuses on the work of the Jericho Project a ground breaking local program that works with the courts to provide an individualized treatment program for those with Mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues.
Please direct any questions to Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. 901-725-4990-office, 901-495-0818-cell
We hope to see you there!
WHEN-WEDS, MAY 20th
TIME-6:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE- First Congo Church, 1000 South Cooper
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS-Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell,
County Commissioner James Harvey
County Commissioner Mike Carpenter
Stephen Bush-Public Defender's office-Jericho Project.
***Other members of the County Commission are expected to confirm attendance soon.
UPDATE JUDGE TIM DWYER-GENERAL SESSIONS DRUG COURT, will also be in attendance.
You are invited to attend a community forum hosted by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center's JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign for local Criminal Justice reform. For the past three months the JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS campaign has been working to lobby members of our local County Commission to support and provide adequate funding for four programs of vital need within our community. The passage of these four initiatives will improve funding for treatment alternatives for those in the criminal justice system who posses untreated mental illness, as well as provide greater access to drug rehabilitation and educational opportunities for Nonviolent drug offenders. These reforms also seek to promote greater efficiency within our criminal justice system, by expanding the overworked and overwhelmed pre-trial diversion services, and by allowing the same Assistant District Attorney's to follow the same case from start to finish. these reforms seek to shorten the time from arrest to disposition down to six months, where as now, this process can take as long as nine to eleven months.
We will also host a brief viewing of two short documentaries each dealing with one of the programs supported by our campaign. One focuses in on the work of the men and women of the General Sessions Drug Court
We will also host a screening of the mini documentary Voices of Jericho , winner of the BEST DOCUMENTARY award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. This short film focuses on the work of the Jericho Project a ground breaking local program that works with the courts to provide an individualized treatment program for those with Mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues.
Please direct any questions to Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator for the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. 901-725-4990-office, 901-495-0818-cell
We hope to see you there!
Monday, May 11, 2009
JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS Campaign.Update Thank You Commissioner Joyce Avery
Today I had the opportunity to speak with County Commissioner Joyce Avery, who has now pledged to support the four funding initiatives sponsored by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and supported by this campaign.With Commissioner Joyce Avery's support we now stand at SEVEN pledged votes of support on the Shelby County Commission.
So far this adds Commissioner Avery to a list of supporters that includes fellow Republican Mike Carpenter and Democrats Deidre Malone, Steve Mulroy, James Harvey, Sidney Chism and Matt Kuhn.
Republican Wyatt Bunker also has indicated strong support for these programs, sharing our belief that these are community priorities, but could not as of yet commit to voting in favor of their funding. He is however is interested and very willing to continue this conversation as this campaign rolls on.
I urge all of you out there to write Commissioner Bunker at wyatt.bunker@shelbycountytn.gov or call him at the County Commission offices at (901) 545-4301 and urge him to support the work of the JUSTPEACE Memphis campaign and to support funding for The Jericho initiative, The General Sessions Drug Court, expansion of Pre-Trial diversion services, and Vertical prosecution.
I also wanted to take the time to express our thanks to the the members of the Shelby County Democratic Party's Executive committee for their UNANIMOUS vote to endorse these reforms and this campaign. This week the SCDP EXECOM will also be sending a letter of support to that effect to the Democratic members of the Shelby County Commission.
I also plan on continuing my conversations with Shelby County Republican Party Chairman Lang Wiseman, to see if the Shelby County GOP will also endorse these reforms. It has always been our goal to make this a bi-partisan effort, and to not simply be content with the seven votes needed to pass these reforms, but to work for nothing short of a unanimous 13 yea vote victory for these worthy reforms and programs which combat drug abuse, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, and curb criminal recidivism in our community.
DEMAND CHANGE
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
So far this adds Commissioner Avery to a list of supporters that includes fellow Republican Mike Carpenter and Democrats Deidre Malone, Steve Mulroy, James Harvey, Sidney Chism and Matt Kuhn.
Republican Wyatt Bunker also has indicated strong support for these programs, sharing our belief that these are community priorities, but could not as of yet commit to voting in favor of their funding. He is however is interested and very willing to continue this conversation as this campaign rolls on.
I urge all of you out there to write Commissioner Bunker at wyatt.bunker@shelbycountytn.gov or call him at the County Commission offices at (901) 545-4301 and urge him to support the work of the JUSTPEACE Memphis campaign and to support funding for The Jericho initiative, The General Sessions Drug Court, expansion of Pre-Trial diversion services, and Vertical prosecution.
I also wanted to take the time to express our thanks to the the members of the Shelby County Democratic Party's Executive committee for their UNANIMOUS vote to endorse these reforms and this campaign. This week the SCDP EXECOM will also be sending a letter of support to that effect to the Democratic members of the Shelby County Commission.
I also plan on continuing my conversations with Shelby County Republican Party Chairman Lang Wiseman, to see if the Shelby County GOP will also endorse these reforms. It has always been our goal to make this a bi-partisan effort, and to not simply be content with the seven votes needed to pass these reforms, but to work for nothing short of a unanimous 13 yea vote victory for these worthy reforms and programs which combat drug abuse, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, and curb criminal recidivism in our community.
DEMAND CHANGE
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Friday, May 08, 2009
Memphis Rape Crisis Center-TAKE ACTION NOW!!!
Please Take a few moments to take action on this issue. This is an inexcusable situation and there needs to be a FULL inquiry into not only how this problem can be remedied, but also how this situation was ALLOWED TO OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE! There needs to be full oversight, and the City Council needs to demonstrate some leadership on this crucial issue, and violation of the public safety and security.
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Friends and colleagues --
Channel 13's report from last night:
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/050709_Rape_Crisis_Center_Announces_New_Hire
We continue to monitor and work strategically as the City of Memphis deals with restaffing and righting the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center. See the coverage above.
Phone or email your council member and members of the committee over MSARC to voice your concern that:
1. The new manager is given support and leeway to do what needs to be done to serve victims
2. Nurses qualified and certified to deal with sexual assault evidence are hired
3. All shifts are covered, 24/7, with certified Sexual Assault Nurses
Your voice matters -- make it heard!
The agency is under the Public Services and Neighborhoods Committee -- Joe Brown, chair; Barbara Swearengen Ware, vice chair. Members Boyd, Conrad, Fullilove and Morrison.
Contact them now and often!
Go here to see the district map if you need to check on who your council members are:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=692
Go here to click on their faces and find their contact info:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=690
DO IT TODAY!
Deborah M. Clubb
Executive Director
Memphis Area Women's Council
Project Coordinator
Memphis Women's Economic Security Collaborative
901-378-3866
dclubb@memphis.edu
www.memphiswomen.org
www.erasedomesticcrime.org
Convene Collaborate Communicate = Change
Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell
Friends and colleagues --
Channel 13's report from last night:
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/050709_Rape_Crisis_Center_Announces_New_Hire
We continue to monitor and work strategically as the City of Memphis deals with restaffing and righting the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center. See the coverage above.
Phone or email your council member and members of the committee over MSARC to voice your concern that:
1. The new manager is given support and leeway to do what needs to be done to serve victims
2. Nurses qualified and certified to deal with sexual assault evidence are hired
3. All shifts are covered, 24/7, with certified Sexual Assault Nurses
Your voice matters -- make it heard!
The agency is under the Public Services and Neighborhoods Committee -- Joe Brown, chair; Barbara Swearengen Ware, vice chair. Members Boyd, Conrad, Fullilove and Morrison.
Contact them now and often!
Go here to see the district map if you need to check on who your council members are:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=692
Go here to click on their faces and find their contact info:
http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=690
DO IT TODAY!
Deborah M. Clubb
Executive Director
Memphis Area Women's Council
Project Coordinator
Memphis Women's Economic Security Collaborative
901-378-3866
dclubb@memphis.edu
www.memphiswomen.org
www.erasedomesticcrime.org
Convene Collaborate Communicate = Change
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Richard Mullens Update
A few months ago I was contacted by Richard Mullens a school teacher at Brookeland High school in Brookeland Tx. Mr Mullens was unjustly suspended from his position for being an "Atheist" and a "Liberal". Of course being in Memphis, Brookeland Tx, was a bit out of my normal area of work, so I emailed and called literally hundreds of organizations, media outlets, and elected officials in order to ensure that Mr. Mullens rights were being protected. What surprised me was the outpouring of support from his students, fellow teachers, and from the community of Brookeland. In addition many of his former students also responded and worked very hard to spread the word about this issue, and the Freethought community rallied to his cause. As a result Mr Mullens was able to find legal counsel to help him in this case, as well as get some media attention. Here is some Background information
The following is a letter of support sent to Mr. Mullens's lawyer from Lana Comeaux, former superintendant of the Brookeland Independant School District.
April 8, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with great privilege to write to you on behalf of Richard Mullens. I have had the pleasure of
knowing and working with Richard for over six years at Brookeland ISO, originally as a co-
worker, next as his principal, and most recently as his superintendent. Undoubtedly, Richard
Mullens possesses more genuine pedagogical talent than any other person I have ever worked
with and/or supervised in my years in education.
Over the six years that I have known Richard, I have seen him teach a myriad of subjects as well
as a wide range of age groups, from fourth grade English/Language Arts to senior government.
Without fail, Richard's TAKS scores each year, regardless of the subject or grade level, were
nothing short of exemplary. He is remarkably intelligent and has the uncanny ability to teach
while conversing with his students in a manner that creates thought-provoking and life-
sustaining learning experiences. Furthermore, Richard has the ability to incorporate the
realities of life while teaching and can make authentic connections with kids of all ages and
backgrounds. He does all of this while making them feel valued and understood.
From an administrator's standpoint, Richard is the ideal educator. He is a leader among his
peers; needs little, if any direction; has an impeccable attendance record; seeks to further his
own knowledge and horizons; and is the epitome of a team player. To elaborate further, he
served as the social studies curriculum leader for two years; had perfect, or near perfect,
attendance several years; he once independently applied for and received a scholarship for a
two-week professional development course in which he used his personal time during the
summer to attend; and, to my knowledge, every single time Richard was asked to take on an
extra duty such as coaching basketball, driving a bus, or asked to take on responsibilities
outside of regular teaching tasks, he never hesitated to help.
Any school district would be better to have Richard Mullens work with them. He is passionate
and is dedicated to teaching students how to think independently and being open-minded to
the views of others, thus creating learning experiences, that without him, they otherwise may
not have had. It truly is an honor to recommend Richard for a position in your district, for he is
a true educator and will serve as an asset to your district as well as your community. He is the
teacher I wish I had had as a student, and the teacher I aspired to be in the classroom.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to call
me at ***-***-****.
Sincerely,
Lana L Comeaux
The following is a letter of support sent to Mr. Mullens's lawyer from Lana Comeaux, former superintendant of the Brookeland Independant School District.
April 8, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with great privilege to write to you on behalf of Richard Mullens. I have had the pleasure of
knowing and working with Richard for over six years at Brookeland ISO, originally as a co-
worker, next as his principal, and most recently as his superintendent. Undoubtedly, Richard
Mullens possesses more genuine pedagogical talent than any other person I have ever worked
with and/or supervised in my years in education.
Over the six years that I have known Richard, I have seen him teach a myriad of subjects as well
as a wide range of age groups, from fourth grade English/Language Arts to senior government.
Without fail, Richard's TAKS scores each year, regardless of the subject or grade level, were
nothing short of exemplary. He is remarkably intelligent and has the uncanny ability to teach
while conversing with his students in a manner that creates thought-provoking and life-
sustaining learning experiences. Furthermore, Richard has the ability to incorporate the
realities of life while teaching and can make authentic connections with kids of all ages and
backgrounds. He does all of this while making them feel valued and understood.
From an administrator's standpoint, Richard is the ideal educator. He is a leader among his
peers; needs little, if any direction; has an impeccable attendance record; seeks to further his
own knowledge and horizons; and is the epitome of a team player. To elaborate further, he
served as the social studies curriculum leader for two years; had perfect, or near perfect,
attendance several years; he once independently applied for and received a scholarship for a
two-week professional development course in which he used his personal time during the
summer to attend; and, to my knowledge, every single time Richard was asked to take on an
extra duty such as coaching basketball, driving a bus, or asked to take on responsibilities
outside of regular teaching tasks, he never hesitated to help.
Any school district would be better to have Richard Mullens work with them. He is passionate
and is dedicated to teaching students how to think independently and being open-minded to
the views of others, thus creating learning experiences, that without him, they otherwise may
not have had. It truly is an honor to recommend Richard for a position in your district, for he is
a true educator and will serve as an asset to your district as well as your community. He is the
teacher I wish I had had as a student, and the teacher I aspired to be in the classroom.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to call
me at ***-***-****.
Sincerely,
Lana L Comeaux
Thank You Maine... And Commissioner Mulroy.
It's great to hear Maine is joining the list of states that believe in marriage equality. It's also great to see something progressive in regards to equal rights coming from Tennessee for a change.
Give your commissioner a call to encourage them to oppose discrimination.
Give your commissioner a call to encourage them to oppose discrimination.
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