A Better Economic Future for All

Shelby County has come to a fork in the road. The right fork will continue two overlapping governments (Memphis & Shelby County) both having some role in the renewal of urban Memphis and the slowing of sprawl in the suburbs. This fork will perpetuate role confusion and separate political agendas. Suburban interests will go one way and urban interests another with a lose-lose outcome.

The left fork will bring a new single government from the merger of the two competing governments. The new single government will look at the best future for all of Shelby County and both suburban and urban interests will sit at the same table to find a win-win outcome.

Who's In Charge of Planning in Shelby County

We noticed the other day that Mayor A C Wharton had reappointed Rick Copeland as Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development. This is an important joint city-county agency that houses the Office of Planning and Development (comprehensive planning and zoning); the Office of Economic and Resource Development (IDB and tax freezes); the Office of Construction Code Enforcement (building permits); and Regional Services (MPO and transportation planning).

This is curious because Wharton, as County Mayor, appointed Rick Copeland in the first place. Therefore, doesn’t Mayor Joe Ford get to decide who is in the position since Copeland is technically a Shelby County employee?

This is an example of the difficulties of having functional consolidation instead of full consolidation for Memphis and Shelby County. You don’t know who is in charge.