Whitehaven used to be a nice, middle-class suburb. But as folks from Orange Mound and similar neighborhoods migrated south, anyone who could afford to leave did just that. There’s been a real estate boom just across the border in northern Mississippi (Southaven and DeSoto County) for more than 20 years. Ditto for Germantown and anything to the east of Memphis.
Forty years ago, in my younger days, Memphis was the place we went to see a concert or shop at an actual mall. Much of the city was safe, and parents didn’t worry about thier high school-age kids going to Memphis.
I was back in the city four years ago, for a military education conference. For some reason, they decided to hold it at the Marriott downtown, not far from Mud Island. On the first morning, we got a safety brief. Do not, we were told, venture from the hotel property at night unless you are in your car. Do not take the trolley (which ran by the hotel) to Beale Street—drive a car and go in a group. If you go to Beale, don’t venture more than three blocks past the center of that street. Beyond that, they said it was the “Wild, Wild West,” and you’d be taking your life in your own hands.
Sad, but utterly predictable. Memphis has been run by one party for more than 50 years, and you can see the results in all directions. Without Fred Smith and FedEx, the city would be in even worse shape.
At that point, I'd be asking "What idiot picked this place for a conference?" :-)
Mrs WBill went to Memphis ... probably 16-18 years ago. Did all of the touristy things, ate well, had a good time.
Glad she did, sounds like it's off the list now. :-)