Grim Day In Memphis

It’s a sad day in Memphis in light of last night’s grisly discovery of six people dead in a Binghampton home. While relatively little is known about the victims, apparently two of the dead are children under the age of five. Three more children were critically injured and are now fighting for their lives at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center.

Unfortunately, rumors are already starting to circulate about the victims and the nature of the crime. Speculation is somewhat natural in such a tragic situation, but the internet allows innuendo to gain a life of its own.

Let’s wait for the police and legitimate media to give us more information instead of making assumptions. The families of the victims have enough grief to deal with and shouldn’t be subjected to rumors about loved ones they just lost. And regardless of what the investigation turns up, please keep in mind that five innocent children have been killed or seriously injured in this case.

Nothing is more heartbreaking or senseless than the murder of a child.

Panhandling and Memphis

The issue of panhandling in Memphis is receiving much media attention lately. The Center City Commission recently began a campaign to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers, warning that “handouts do not help the needy.”

Many downtown residents have come out strongly in favor of the campaign, saying that many of those panhandling are not homeless but have found a lucrative way to make easy money. They also say that the panhandlers are often aggressive, potentially violent and downright scary. Both Smart City Memphis and downtown resident Paul Ryburn have taken up the issue, and Street-people.com offers a humorous look at panhandling.

Others understandably worry that we could be criminalizing the homeless and instead urge compassion toward the panhandlers, advocating that money be spent toward mental health and housing programs to help those in need.

Commercial Appeal fashion editor Barbara Bradley recently wrote an opinion column on the issue, saying beggars are a blight for downtown.

The CA’s Hot Button focused on the issue yesterday, asking readers to weigh in on the subject.

I don’t live in downtown Memphis and I’m not a tourist, so my firsthand knowledge of panhandling in Memphis is scarce. I avoid driving during rush hour and am rarely downtown during normal working hours. When I do visit downtown—usually for sporting events, theater or dining on weekends--I rarely if ever see people panhandling for money. My personal experience might lead me to believe that the problem is overblown.

However, after reading firsthand accounts from many downtown residents and workers and realizing how strongly they feel about the issue, I’m inclined to believe that this is a serious problem. I also believe that a team approach with many local agencies working together to identify and solve the root causes of homelessness, all of Memphis will benefit.

In like a lamb...

Today is a gorgeous day in Memphis—62 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Spring is still three weeks away, but one step outdoors will make you believe it’s already here.

Our little family took advantage of the nice weather to spend a little time outside, riding bikes, taking a walk and looking over the yard and garden. Though I'm still very much a novice gardener and our lawn is more weeds than grass, the thought of spring brings fresh hope that we'll finally get it right this year.

I finally convinced my husband to prune our crepe myrtles, and I’m going to start weeding and prepping some beds, but I'll resist the temptation to put in any bedding plants or sow any seeds.

Remember last year’s Easter frost? I put a few begonias in our window boxes mid-March, then I spent Easter weekend covering them up. I was lucky and saved them, but I’m not going to take the chance again this year.

But Tax Day--April 15, the traditional “safe date” to plant after threat of frost--just can’t get here soon enough.