Posted on 11/21/2006 4:53:02 AM PST by Sybeck1
Issues promise hubbub with protesters, proponents, prayer vigil
Memphis City Hall could logjam this afternoon when dozens of annexation protesters are expected to converge with dozens of living wage supporters.
Council members are scheduled to take a final vote today on whether to annex a 6.3-square-mile section of Southeast Shelby County as well as a 2.7-square-mile area between Interstate 40 and Shelby Farms known as Bridgewater.
Roughly 36,000 people live in the combined area.
"Our objective is to fill the (council) chambers," said Rufus Washington, president of the Southeast Shelby County Coalition that is leading protest efforts for the southeast annexation. "I'm hoping for 100 people at least."
Washington said he wants a big turnout without a big commotion.
"I've told them, no signs, no cowbells, no buckets. We want some sense of decorum, as much as humanly possible."
They've hired an attorney in case the annexation passes.
Meanwhile, the council also is expected to take a third and final vote this afternoon on an ordinance that would require businesses that have contracts with the city for janitorial services to pay workers a living wage.
More than 150 members from the faith and labor-backed Memphis Living Wage Coalition will hold a prayer vigil at the start of the meeting.
"It will be brief because we don't want to miss anything," said Rev. Rebekah Jordan, the group's leader.
A living wage in Memphis is considered to be $10 an hour with benefits or $12 an hour without.
Two weeks ago, council members agreed to a request by the restaurant and hotel industry exempting some food service contracts that may just simply cater one meal, for instance.
The City Council also has agreed to pay living wages to all its full-time employees.
Additionally, the council's personnel committee will consider today another resolution that could extend a living wage to part-time and temporary city employees. That provision still would have to considered by the full council.
As for the annexations, financial projections by city planners show bringing the two areas into the city could add $100 million in new revenue over the next five years.
But council members disagree on how the annexation could affect the city's crime-fighting efforts. An informal poll last week shows that the measure doesn't have unanimous support.
Councilman Rickey Peete told The Commercial Appeal on Friday that he believes the extra revenue from the annexations can be used to hire more police and beef up patrols. "It's a win-win situation."
However, Councilman Jack Sammons, chairman of the council's budget committee, said that while he's always supported annexations in the past, he is wary of adding to the city when police already are stretched and crime is rampant.
He's also not convinced about the rosy revenue projections.
"We're losing more officers than we're training," Sammons said, adding that the city's requirement that cops live in Memphis is further hindering recruiting efforts.
"Right now, we're not capable of buying more cops if George Bush gave a grant to hire all the cops we want."
-- Jacinthia Jones: 529-2780
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Memphis City Council will hold a public hearing and take a third and final vote on whether to annex Bridgewater and an area in Southeast Shelby County.
Council members also will take a third and final reading on whether to require businesses that contract with the city to pay workers a living wage.
The City Council meeting starts at 3:30 p.m. on the first floor of City Hall, 125 N. Main.
Copyright 2006, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.
I have a friend on the police force there, it must be interesting, to say the least.
As "they have hired an attorney in case annexation passes" I would say they don't like the idea of becoming city owned.
It seems a bit like being conquered by an invading army.
Comes down to the city needing more money and enlarging their area from which they can steal and extort.
We live in a rural area - our property taxes here are about $700.00 a year. But the sales tax inside Tuscaloosa is 9% on everything, including groceries. Out in the county it's 8%.
How about part-time or volunteer workers? Do they not also deserve to "live"?
If your wallets are empty, it gives you easier access to other people's wallets...
Alabama has it's problems, but all in all, it's a great place to live.
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