Month: March 2022

Categories
Opinion Viewpoint

For Evora and Ever

I loved my time with the Elise R, but my week with the Evora GT was exceptional. This car has two more cylinders, one more supercharger, much more space, tons more power, better storage, modern radio, amazing suspension tuning, and a far superior shifter. 

The second I sat down in the Evora after getting out of the Elise, I was shocked at how high up and comfy the seats were. It’s low compared to a normal car, but everything is high compared to an Elise. I turned on my heated seats, plugged my phone into Apple Carplay, and drove away in comfort. Daily driving an Elise is possible, but not practical or logical. Daily driving the Evora GT is awesome. Supercar looks, killer exhaust note, cruise control, a back seat area and decent size trunk to keep junk — it’s great. I have a few gripes for a $100K car, though. There is nowhere to put stuff between the driver and passenger, which means you have to put your phone in the passenger seat or behind you in a weird cup holder. The Evora also uses an Alpine head unit. Apple car play works well, but the backup camera quality is comparable to a GameBoy Color. Still, much better than having no backup camera at all. This is to be expected as this Evora has been on the same platform since 2009. Very small complaints over all. 

The best way to describe the Evora is as a small McLaren. Like McLarens, it is mid-engined, comfortable, analog (thanks to its hydraulic steering), and capable of demolishing a twisty road. Unlike a McLaren, it is (somewhat) attainable. At $100K, the Evora GT is a bargain. Nothing else at that price point offers an experience quite like it. You can’t even get a base model Porsche 911 for the price of a loaded Evora GT. 

Now, the numbers: the Evora GT is powered by a 3.5L supercharged Toyota V6 that makes 416 hp and 332lb/ft of torque. 0-60 takes 4 seconds and it weighs just 3100 lbs. Base MSRP is $96,500. But, like the Lightweight Lotus Elise, this car isn’t about the numbers, it’s about driver involvement and a proper British sports car experience — which it absolutely delivers. Don’t dismiss the engine for being a Toyota V6. This 60-degree V6 is an amazing engine. The power is great, but the real magic is the way it sounds. This car absolutely wails. Automotive journalist Jason Camissa named this as the best-sounding car he drove in 2021, and he drives literally everything. Another benefit of being a Toyota engine is the peace of mind. Toyota is known for making bulletproof, long-lasting engines, which is a relief when driving a car made in England. If I was looking for a sports car around $100K, this is definitely what I would choose. What a great car. 

But, the Evora is dead! Lotus has been purchased by Geely Automotive, and with the influx of money comes a whole new line of Loti including the range topping $2M all-electric Evija. This change in ownership also means all Loti we know now will go away. This 2011 Elise was the final year that the Elise was offered in the USA, and 2021 is the last year for the Evora ever. They are being replaced by the Type 131 and Emira respectively. All signs point toward the Emira being improved in every way compared to the Evora, and I imagine the Type 131 will be excellent as well. Lotus is a unique manufacturer making hyper-focused sports cars in a world of egg-shaped crossovers. As their lineup expands, they’ll lose some of that focus, but they will always offer their bread and butter: lightweight drivers’ cars. 

Massive thanks to Scott Grady for allowing me to spend time with his awesome cars. It was a joy and a privilege. Be sure to follow @jlc.on.cars for more automotive content.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Fred Smith to Step Down as FedEx CEO

Fred Smith (Credit: FedEx Corp.)

One of Memphis’ most famous companies is about to have a new leader at the helm. In a press release Monday, FedEx announced that, effective June 1, 2022, founder, CEO, and chairman Frederick W. Smith will step down from his position as CEO. He will be succeeded by FedEx president and COO Raj Subramaniam.

“FedEx has changed the world by connecting people and possibilities for the last 50 years,” Smith said. “As we look toward what’s next, I have a great sense of satisfaction that a leader of the caliber of Raj Subramaniam will take FedEx into a very successful future. In my role as Executive Chairman, I look forward to focusing on Board governance as well as issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy.”

Prior to his role as president and COO, Subramaniam was the president and CEO of FedEx Express, and has held plenty of other positions within the organization since joining in 1991.

“Fred is a visionary leader and a legend of the business world,” Subramaniam said. “He founded one of the world’s greatest and most admired companies, and it is my honor and privilege to step into this role and build upon what he has created. As we continue to transform as a company and reimagine what’s next, we will keep our people-service-profit philosophy at our core. I am immensely proud of our 600,000 team members around the world. Together we’ve set into motion ideas that have changed the world for the better, and together we will unlock new value for our people, customers, and shareholders.”

Raj Subramaniam (Credit: FedEx Corp.)

Since helping incorporate the business in 1971, Smith has spent the majority of his career as chairman and CEO of FedEx, turning it into a titan of the transportation and delivery industry. He will remain with the company as executive chairman.

Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO Beverly Robertson also paid tribute to the longtime business leader.

“From a college class to a global brand, Fred Smith took the kernel of an idea and made it resonate around the world,” Robertson said in a statement Monday. “I feel a deep sense of civic pride every time I fly into Memphis and see row upon row of FedEx airplanes. Because of his profound vision, he’s leaving a powerful legacy that has forever changed the trajectory of this company and this city. We will continue to owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his contributions to Memphis.

“Fred Smith couldn’t leave his legacy in better hands than those of his successor. We look forward to seeing Raj Subramaniam continue to build on the solid foundation laid by Fred Smith, whose impact will be felt in Memphis for generations to come.”

Categories
Music Music Blog

In Troubled Times, MSO Brings an Ode to Joy

Conductor Robert Moody with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (Photo courtesy MSO).

Sunday’s performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125, the “Ode to Joy,” by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the Memphis Symphony Chorus, and the University of Mississippi Concert Singers, was a deeply emotional experience, in part because it held a mirror up to this moment in history.

For many, it began on the heels of “The Star Spangled Banner,” when the orchestra and chorus launched into another national anthem, “Державний Гімн України,” aka “The Glory and Freedom of Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished,” echoing orchestras and performers around the world who have done the same in recent weeks. The translated lyrics, projected on a screen above the players, gave a clue as to why the fledgling democracy has been giving the Russian Army a run for its money:

Still upon us, young brethren,
Fate shall smile!
Our enemies shall vanish
Like dew in the sun.

But the feelings evoked in the audience were clearly those of sympathy and solidarity more than the ire of the warrior. Breaking the spell somewhat, the orchestra then presented a short bon-bon of a piece, Michael Markowski’s Joyride, full of whimsical quotations of the Beethoven masterpiece that was to follow. To these ears, hearing a somewhat coy preview of some of the grandest motifs in the Western classical canon was a distraction, but perhaps for musicians who have played Beethoven’s Ninth all their lives, it was a welcome palate cleanser.

And then, speaking for a moment, conductor Robert Moody brought our thoughts back to the philosophical, reflective, and historical dimensions, especially when he noted that MSO member Andre Dyachenko was born in Ukraine. (The principal clarinetist simply held his instrument aloft in a nod to the acknowledgement).

Andre Dyachenko, principal clarinetist for the MSO (Photo courtesy MSO)

And then Moody leaned into this historical moment. “Of course, music cannot stop a tank,” he said, “any more than it can stop a virus.” But, noting that Beethoven began composing his Ninth Symphony in 1822, Moody said that such music persists by appealing to the better side of humanity — a force to be reckoned with. The piece has been performed for 200 years, and will be performed for another 200, he said, precisely because it brings out our best.

With that, the game was afoot, as the MSO collectively braced themselves and leapt into the percussive themes of the first movement under Moody’s emphatic gestures. And the performance that followed was supremely sensitive to the work’s dynamics, from the timpani’s bombast to every sudden shift to waves of flowing strings. The blending of the tones of the horns, strings and woodwinds was especially adept.

All of it served to remind us of the world class institution Memphis has on its doorstep. And that was amplified further when the vocal soloists, Laquita Mitchell (soprano), Taylor Raven (alto), Limmie Pulliam (tenor), and Joshua Conyers (baritone) came to the front and galvanized the house with the flowing German poetry of lyrics based on Friedrich Schiller‘s writings.

The epiphany of Beethoven’s pioneering work was felt anew, as if the Memphis audience was witnessing its premiere, especially when the combined power of two choral groups stood to deliver their passages with overwhelming passion and precision. The message of hope and transcendence embodied by “Ode to Joy” was made all the more powerful by the translations that appeared once again on the screen.

Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Within thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that modernity has ruptured,
All men become brothers,
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.

The somewhat unconventional translation (i.e., replacing the usual “custom” with the term “modernity”) served as an invitation to take the words to heart in these terror-filled times. The fact that “Ode to Joy” has been adopted as the European Union’s anthem linked it with the contrasting lyrics and gravitas of Ukraine’s national anthem, and brought home the current era’s struggles, which hold all who oppose authoritarianism and terrorism captivated. Somehow, as Dr. Donald Trott and Dr. Elizabeth Hearn (directors of the University of Mississippi Concert Singers) and Dr. Lawrence Edwards (director of the Memphis Symphony Chorus) joined Moody and the MSO players in a bow, all of that historical passion was expressed in the long, well-deserved standing ovation.

Categories
Film Features Film/TV

Music Video Monday: “Diabetes” by PreauXX & C Major

C Major (left) and Preauxx (from the video).

Today’s Music Video Monday catches up with Memphis’s most luxxurious rapper, PreauXX. “Diabetes” is a low-riding groove produced by C Major, one of the Unapologetic brain trust’s resident sonic geniuses. The song sees PreauXX wrestling with his blunt-born love of Little Debbie products. The video, directed by MVM frequent flyer 35 Miles, united us all in love for hot women with swords. Let’s cut to the chase.

If you’d like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Desmond Bane Leads Grizzlies Over Pacers … Again

Desmond Bane (Photo credit: Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)

Another day, another Grizzlies win by 30 points against the Pacers, as Memphis’ team beat Indiana, 133-103. If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have.  

Let’s get into it.  

After meeting the Pacers on their home turf on March 15th, this time, the Grizzlies hosted the Pacers in the Grindhouse. Different arena, same outcome.  

Once again, the Grizzlies were without their star point guard Ja Morant. Once again, everyone on the squad stepped up, once again led by the offensive prowess of Desmond Bane.  

Memphis is two games into a four-game homestand and quickly approaching the end of the regular season. Thursday night’s victory clinched a playoff berth for the Grizzlies, who as of this moment are sitting comfortably in the second seed in the Western Conference.  

This victory is slightly overshadowed by the announcement that Morant will be sidelined for at least another two weeks. With just eight regular-season games remaining over the next two weeks, it seems unlikely Morant will return before the postseason.  

The Grizzlies have shown that this team is more than capable of holding their own without Morant during the regular season, and it is a testament to just how well constructed this roster is. But the playoffs are another thing entirely. 

By the Numbers:  

Desmond Bane led all scorers with 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 12 of 15 overall and 5 of 7 from three-point range. Bane has also set a new franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season, passing Mike Miller’s 2006-2007 record of 203 three-pointers made.  

Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 20 points on the night, including shooting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.  

De’Anthony Melton led the bench with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 5 of 9 from distance. Mr. Do Something did a little of everything.  

John Konchar put together a solid game, finishing the night with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.  

Xavier Tillman also contributed double figures from the bench, finishing with 16 points and 5 rebounds.  

Who Got Next?  

The Grizzlies continue their homestand Saturday night when they face off against the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. Tip-off is 7 p.m. CDT.  

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News News Blog News Feature

Project Launched to Clean Up Polluted Tennessee River

Source: State of Tennessee

For cleaning up the polluted Tennessee River watershed, the future is now — with a new network of cutting-edge devices to remove litter, debris, oils, and more. 

Last week, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTRB), and others launched a network of electric Seabin skimmer devices to clean the water. The project will launch 18 of the skimmers, making it the largest network of such devices in the world. The project was funded with grants from TDOT and Keep America Beautiful. 

“Until now, all of our work has only been able to prevent microplastics in our waterways, so we are thrilled to be making an effort to actually mitigate microplastics out of the water,” said Kathleen Gibi, KTRB executive director. “We’re grateful to TDOT and Keep America Beautiful for these — as I see it — revolutionary grants and to our partners who will be maintaining the Seabins to make this trailblazing project possible.”

The Tennessee River starts in Knoxville, flows south through Chattanooga, dips into Alabama, back up through West Tennessee, and into Kentucky. The clean-up network stretches across the watershed with devices located in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. 

Source: Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful

Here’s how KTRB described the skimmers: “The Seabin device, a product out of Australia, works 24/7 to collect marine debris from the surface of the water, much like a pool skimmer that’s electrically operated. 

“Each device can remove up to 3,000 [pounds] of marine debris a year, meaning that the 18 devices installed along the Tennessee River watershed will have the potential of removing up to 54,000 [pounds] a year. Even more than that, the devices will also filter out gasoline, oils, and microplastics from the water.”

In 2017, researchers called the Tennessee River “one of the most plastic-polluted rivers ever recorded in the world.” That year, scientist and endurance swimmer Dr. Andreas Fath swam the nearly 652-mile length of the river with sampling devices connected to his body. His results showed the Tennessee contained 16,000 cubic feet of micro plastics per cubic meter of water, nearly twice as much as China’s polluted Yangtze River, and 8,000 percent higher than levels found in the Rhine River.      

Microplastics include plastic bottles, shopping bags, styrofoam, straws, and more. Some of these items remain intact. Others disintegrate into smaller particles that remain in the water, threatening fish and drinking water. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said nearly 70 percent of the trash found in rivers comes from inland sources, like litter left on streets that flows into storm drains, which flow into rivers. This is why TDOT said it got involved in the new Seabin clean-up system. 

“TDOT’s partnership with Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful demonstrates the link between roadside litter and debris that ends up in our waterways,” said TDOT Commissioner Joseph Galbato. “Investing in this substantial network of litter removal devices is another example of how TDOT promotes innovative solutions to making our state cleaner and keeping our waterways clear.”

Categories
Music Music Blog

Big Ears, Junior: Echoes of Knoxville Festival at Crosstown

The Bang On a Can All-Stars (Credit: Peter Serling)

Since its founding in 2009, Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival has become one of the premier events in alternative music. The city’s downtown springs to life with genre-bending, exploratory music events in historic theaters, clubs, churches, parks, galleries, and repurposed industrial spaces, leading The New York Times to call it “one of the world’s greatest music bashes,” and the Oxford American to pronounce it “one of the most quietly earth-shattering, subtly luminous festivals the world over.” This year’s lineup alone features such artists as Patti Smith, John Zorn, Sparks, and Marc Ribot.

It’s a breath of fresh air in a state too often associated with banned books and other radical right flash points, but the drive to Knoxville can prove daunting to many Memphians. Luckily for those of us in such far western lands, Crosstown Arts has curated a taste of Big Ears right here at home, as artists performing at this year’s festival, from March 24th-27th, make pit stops on their way to or from Knoxville.

Those in the know have already seen some of these artists. Pianist Craig Taborn, who’s worked with the likes of Lester Bowie, John Zorn, Evan Parker, William Parker, and Vijay Iyer, appeared at the Green Room on Wednesday. And last night, trumpeter jaimie branch performed with cellist Lester St. Louis, double bassist Jason Ajemian, and percussionist/mbira player Chad Taylor. But there’s still more to see.

Maeve Gilchrist (Photo courtesy Crosstown Arts)

Saturday, March 26 brings Maeve Gilchrist to the Green Room, playing the relatively rare Celtic lever harp. As with so many Big Ears artists, she’s re-imagined this ancient instrument in decidedly postmodern ways. She’ll be playing selections from her recent album, The Harpweaver, for harp, voice, samples, and electronics. As she told NPR recently, “I really enjoy exploring some of the grittier sounds of the harp. We all know it can make this ethereal, kind of luminous sound. But actually, it’s such a versatile instrument.” Her hybrid approach should appeal to fans of ambient, classical, Scottish folk, and experimental music.

Arooj Aftab (Credit: Blythe Thomas)

As it happens, Gilchrist also plays with the following evening’s ensemble, backing Arooj Aftab at Crosstown Theater on Sunday, March 27. The Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist, composer, and producer blends jazz, minimalism, neo-Sufi music, and other genres, and has been nominated for the 2022 Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance at the at the 2022 GRAMMY Awards. Aftab’s latest album, Vulture Prince, has been widely praised, as has the haunting single, “Mohabbat.” The track was named one of the best songs of 2021 by Time and The New York Times, and Brenna Ehrlich ranked the album sixth on Rolling Stone‘s “Best Music of 2021” staff list.

Finally, Tuesday, March 29 brings not just a musical group, but an entire experience to Crosstown Theater. The six-member Bang On a Can All-Stars are recognized for their dynamic live performances, freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world, and experimental music. The New York Times called the All-Stars “a fiercely aggressive group, combining the power and punch of a rock band with the precision and clarity of a chamber ensemble,” and one can imagine no better venue than Crosstown Theater to match both the nuance and the energy of such a show.

Being a notable music city, it seems only a matter of time before Memphis can play host to its own major alternative music festival. Of course, with the Continuum and Memphis Concrète festivals, we are inching toward that. And thanks to the curation of world class, edgy music that continues apace at Crosstown Arts, we already have a taste of the Big Ears Festival here at home.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Dems Thank Governor for Grocery Tax Cut They Pushed for ‘Years’

Credit: State of Tennessee

As Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced his temporary sales tax suspension on groceries Thursday, state Democrats thanked him for following their lead on the idea they say the state GOP has blocked for a decade. 

Lee’s proposal would cut the state and local collection of taxes on food for 30 days. The move is  to battle what he called “historic inflation” with the “most effective way to provide direct relief to every Tennessean.” The proposal will be delivered in a budget amendment to the Tennessee General Assembly on Tuesday. 

Tennessee’s grocery tax was cut in 2017 from 5 percent to 4 percent in 2017 thanks to the IMPROVE Act from then-Governor Bill Haslam. This rate does not apply to some prepared grocery items like fruit trays, bakery goods, hot soups, and more. Those are taxed at 7 percent. Shelby County and Memphis city sales taxes combined are 2.75 percent. So, Lee’s proposal would reduce a $100 grocery bill here by $6.75 for 30 days.

“Our state has the ability to put dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Tennesseans, and I thank members of the General Assembly for their continued partnership in maintaining our fiscally conservative approach,” Lee said in a statement Tuesday. 

Lee announced the proposal as he met with leaders in Covington Thursday. There, among other things, he toured Naifeh’s Cash Saver grocery store to tout his proposal. 

Credit: State of Tennessee

As the news spread across the state, Democrats were busy on social media thanking Lee for moving on a proposal they claimed they’ve tried to pass in the past. 

“Had a press conference today thanking [Lee] for following our lead on our long-standing idea of temporarily removing sales taxes on groceries,” Tennessee House Democrats said in a tweet Thursday. “We’ve pushed 29 bills over the last 10 years (!!) on this, all rejected until now. We welcome relief for #tnworkingfamilies.” 

Other notable Tennessee Democrats also took to Twitter about the issue:

Other non-politicos tweet-challenged the gravity of Lee’s proposal. 

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Signature Season Nears for Memphis Tigers

Penny Hardaway (photo by Larry Kuzniewski)

If you track the last half-century of University of Memphis basketball, you’ll find a lot of success on the hardwood. You’ll also find what amounts to a signature season in virtually every decade. In 1973, Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson, and Larry Kenon took an unforgettable Tiger team all the way to the championship game before falling to mighty UCLA. The 1985 Tigers returned to the Final Four in Keith Lee’s final season. In 1992, a sophomore sensation by the name of Penny Hardaway led an overlooked Tiger squad to the Elite Eight. Then in 2008, freshman Derrick Rose and a group of veteran stars went 38-2, losing an overtime heartbreaker to Kansas for the national championship. Four decades . . . four signature seasons.

Then, we had the 2010s. Nary a losing season, but also nary a signature season. The Tigers reached the NCAA tournament four straight years (2011-14), but never advanced to the second weekend (Sweet 16). Tubby Smith’s two years as coach (2016-18) were as awkward as Josh Pastner’s final two. Penny Hardaway — the greatest living Tiger legend — took over the program in 2018, but needed four seasons to lead a team to the Big Dance.

And what a dance it appeared to be for the 2021-22 Tigers. After beating Boise State in the opening round, Memphis led Gonzaga — the top-ranked team in the country — by 10 points at halftime before falling, 82-78, last Saturday in Portland. A lengthy tournament drought is over, but it’s now been 13 years without a Sweet 16 appearance for Memphis. And 14 years, really, since something we could call a signature season in these parts.

That special season is coming. If the Tigers’ battle with the Zags isn’t enough to convince you, consider their two beatings of the Houston Cougars, one by 10 points at Houston in February, the other by 14 points at FedExForum in March. The Cougars, you might be aware, play Villanova Saturday for a chance at a second-straight Final Four appearance. The Memphis Tigers are “there” without quite being there. Back, but not entirely.

After the Tigers handled Houston in their regular-season finale on March 6th, Hardaway noted the culture change that took place around his team as they reeled off 10 wins in their final 11 games. “We understood what the mission was. The way we could lock in, we weren’t looking ahead. Every game: 1 and 0. Staying in the moment, putting ourselves in a position to compete. We locked down, and relied on one another.”

We relied on one another. Are there any five words that more honestly capture the meaning of a team? The meaning of a team’s mission? The Tigers came up short of the program’s goal — certainly Penny Hardaway’s goal — this winter, but there seems to be a template now in place, one the coach and his returning players can utilize in seasons to come.

Not every player will return, of course. Jalen Duren — the American Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Year — will be playing in the NBA a year from now, a sure lottery pick in June’s draft. Another freshman, Josh Minott, is departing for the professional ranks. The NCAA transfer portal is open for any and all other Tigers to move on should they feel greener pastures lie elsewhere. That portal is just as open for Hardaway to add an impact player or two for the 2022-23 campaign.

As for adjustments, Hardaway would be wise to emphasize the value of November and December to a college basketball team. A four-game losing streak after the Tigers opened last season with five victories made the rest of the schedule a climb to respectability and seriously compromised chances Memphis might land a seed higher than ninth for the NCAA tournament. Secure those non-conference games, then flex muscle in AAC play and you have the makings of, yes, a signature season.

We now know what a decade without a signature season in Memphis feels like. When will we enjoy the next one? You can be sure of this: We’ll recognize it when it happens.

Categories
Politics Politics Beat Blog

On That Controversial Strickland Endorsement

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland may have generated more buzz than he intended this week by announcing his endorsement of Republican Brent Taylor in the race for state Senate District 31.

Taylor, a former City Councilman and County Commissioner who recently resigned as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission in order to make the state Senate race, is a Republican and drew a petition to run in the May 3 GOP primary, as did four other Republicans.

A single Democrat, Ruby Powell-Dennis, has drawn a petition to run as well.

The outcry regarding Strickland’s act, such as it was, came from rank-and-file Democrats, including Powell-Dennis herself, and focused on the fact that Strickland, a nominal Democrat who once chaired the Shelby County party, had apparently ignored Powell-Dennis’ bid to cross party lines and endorse Republican Taylor.

Powell-Dennis has subsequently called for the local and state Democratic Party to decertify the bona fides of Strickland as a Democrat — an action that would have significance only if Strickland, who has twice been elected mayor in non-partisan elections, should run for office in a partisan election as a Democrat. The mayor has indicated he has no such plans.

Strickland’s venture across party lines is not a novel thing for nominally Democratic mayors of Memphis. Former Mayor Willie Herenton was an avowed supporter of Republicans Don Sundquist and Lamar Alexander for statewide offices.

Steven Reid, a political consultant who has numbered Strickland among his clients in the past, said he thought Strickland’s endorsement was probably based on his judgments that the district was overwhelmingly Republican in its demographics, and that Taylor was the Republican who would do the best job for Memphis among the several GOP candidates. Reid stressed that he had not discussed the matter with Strickland and was not speaking on the mayor’s behalf.

Reid said he had seen a statistical breakdown of the newly reconfigured District 31 which indicated that Republican Donald Trump had won 58 percent of its precincts in the 2020 presidential race, whereas Trump had run virtually even with Hillary Clinton in the precincts that comprised the district in 2016. “It’s much more Republican now than it was then,” Reid said.

While Strickland insists on his continuing Democratic allegiance when pressed on the matter, he has not played an active role in party affairs in recent decades, and, even when he was party chair briefly in the ’90s, he identified himself as a moderate and took positions — being pro-life on abortion, for example — that ran counter to the public platforms of the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Strickland’s endorsement has measurably increased state Senate candidate Taylor’s backing from prominent public figures. Taylor had previously won the endorsements of GOP U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.