MLGW,Memphis ,Morris And The Mayor

Several things have been painfully reminded to me, in my search for proof of a statement I made last week. I said the citizens of Memphis were screaming for the head of Herman Morris at the time he was fired by the Mayor.Now all of a sudden there are those who think he can be elected Mayor. How soon the voters forget. I think seasoned politicians are aware of this, thus using it to their advantage. Give the Memphis public three days, nothing is headline news anymore. Give it three weeks it's nearly forgotten. Give it three months you can get the charges reduced. In three years the people will have totally forgotten.

MLGW is both an asset and a Albatross to those running Memphis politics. When they're distributing the annual CSA grants or making a donations to the various local causes. No one is complaining about that. When the winter bills become due, it's altogether different. It is a publicly owned company. Supposedly removing the need to earn a profit. The expectations of a publicly owned company is to break even. Yet this publicly owned utility company turns a handsome profit every year. The citizens think this should be funneled back to the customer in the form of lower rates. Other private companies have promised they can provide lower rates. Not so fast though. What they don't tell you is all of the perks will disappear. Over the years MLGW has served as a well of plenty for both the politicians as well as the citizens. MLGW President Joseph Lee said it best when he said "If you have a balance over 90 days past due, and your power hasn't been cut-off. You are also on the VIP list".

There will always be a split among the citizens of Memphis, in regards to the handling of MLGW. I have broken them down into four different categories. Those who pay their bills in full. They generally don't have a lot of complaints. They might complain but not to the point of protesting. Then there are those who are truly overwhelmed with the higher utility bills. Oftentimes these are senior citizens on fixed incomes. They have to decide between two things that may be equally important. In my opinion these are the true victims. Then we have those with their priorities in the wrong place. They buy what they want, and beg for what they need. For some of these programs you have to be $600 behind to even enroll. These people don't even attempt to pay their bills. They depend on the 11th hour rescue. In Memphis they have that option. Finally we have those who take advantage of a bad situation. They can and will pay their bills if they have no choice. If they don't they won't though. I had someone tell me they will never pay their bill in full. After explaining the obvious error in that. I thought to myself silently. Only in the city of Memphis.

One would only have to look as far as his bio to see where Herman Morris gets his base. He is a lawyer that seems to work well with organized groups I.E. unions. He has his hands in so many special interest groups pockets. A rally in support of his candidacy is like being at a lobbyist convention. The large majority of the voting community are not party to the benefits of his actions. Like some MLGW retirees and supporters of other philanthropic efforts of various persuasions are. Which brings me to my point about him being the target at one time. I wondered why his public persona was like night and day. Then it hit me.
(8-12-04) Herenton unhappy at MLGW severance
An overly generous severance plan might be fine in the private sector, but it's out of line when taxpayers are picking up the tab, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton says.
That's why some MLGW employees like him. They retired on those plans just like Herman Morris himself.

Then we have the Mayor "Willie W. Herenton". He has been accused of trying to sell the public utility company for years. I don't think that was ever his intent at all. The song made famous by Bobby Womack "If you think you're lonely now" always comes to mind. I think it's nothing more than the shock treatment. What would the people of Memphis do if they didn't have MLGW? You can't turn a bull loose in a china shop. I think the Mayor has done an adequate job of corralling whoever has been at the head of MLGW. I don't agree with the comments made recently by the Mayor regarding Mr. Morris. I do know where they came from though. The Mayor is privy to inside workings probably unmatched by anyone. Considering the fact that the utility company has and is still a thriving company. For a city of equal size and amenities. We still enjoy some of the lowest rates in the country. The leadership can't be all bad.

When the Mayor made this statement. Some people thought he was being arrogant. I can see how one might think that, but I tend to agree with him .(1-2-04) - 'Steadfast' mayor sworn in for 4th consecutive term
Mayor Willie Herenton started his historic fourth consecutive term Thursday saying he might have to keep running for mayor because there isn't another "elected official in the City of Memphis I would have confidence in doing this job."