Category: Letters To The Editor

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Greg Cravens

About Bianca Phillips’ post, “OUTMemphis is New Name for MGLCC” …

Please don’t change it again. These tattoo do-overs are both time consuming and painful.

Long Duck Dong

About Bryce Ashby and Michael LaRosa’s Viewpoint, “The Seismic Shift in Voting Demographics” …

To a substantial degree, individuals are products of their race/ethnicity. It is no accident that lions live and move in prides, wolves in packs, birds in flocks, and insects in swarms. Humans, of course, are more advanced and are capable of free thinking and free action independent and apart from their group — at least sometimes. However, for the most part, individuals behave in line with the rest of their respective group, their respective racial/ethnic identity. It is so much easier and more pleasant to be a conformist than an outcast or misfit.

On top of this, all humans share in common certain traits and flaws like greed, lust, jealousy, and ambition. Mix lots of individuals of various races/ethnicities together (especially in badly lop-sided numbers with disparate levels of power/influence) with universal human flaws, and you get division, oppression, persecution, subjugation, suffering, and tyranny followed by their most famous love child — violence/war/ethnic cleansing.

However, all or most of the oppressors started out as a Joe or a Juan or the son of a historically oppressed/persecuted Joe or Juan. And then one day, young and strong Joe or Juan, full of anger and resentment, decided that enough was enough and decided to do something about that old oppressor. Unfortunately, in the process, Joe or Juan usually becomes the new oppressor.

WilliamJClinton

Were SuperTrump to build a mega wall and carry the millions of illegals back to their far-flung homes on his mighty shoulders, our economy would either fail or be forced into drastic redistribution of wealth. Trump is obviously part of Putin’s fifth column. As are his many commie-trained wives and ex-wives.

CL Mullins

It’s entirely possible for folks to be in disagreement about the politics of immigration, have serious discussions about immigration policy as articulated by one political party or another, and still do all of this without injecting race into your argument at all.

You have to feel sad for people like Bill who can’t seem to grasp this simple idea.

OakTree

Billy, strutting alone around the wrestling ring, blowing kisses at the empty seats.

Jeff

Every great society needs a peasant class. And if we can’t import one, we must make one.

Ern

About Trump and Reagan …

Republicans have been comparing Donald Trump with Ronald Reagan. By no stretch of the imagination could Trump ever be considered comparable to Reagan, except maybe in their celebrity status. Reagan is considered the patron saint of all true conservatives, but the GOP has moved so far to the right since Reagan’s presidency that today he wouldn’t be allowed on the same stage as the typical GOP candidate.

The real Reagan — not the mythic one revered by Republicans today — granted amnesty to nearly three million illegal immigrants, vastly increased the size of the federal government, raised taxes four times, and nearly tripled the national debt. On abortion, Reagan “mouthed the pro-life line” as president, but as governor of California, he signed a legalization bill that enabled abortions in the state to rise from 500 a year to nearly a million. Having been shot himself, he advocated sensible firearms legislation — supporting both the Brady Bill and an assault weapons ban. By today’s Republican standards, Reagan was a heretic. 

StraightTalk

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said…

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

On the cover story, “Bad Behavior” …

“Strip clubs, porn, booze, weed, guns”

What are things found on Bruce’s monthly expense report?

Charlie Eppes

Q: “Did you expense the lap dances?”

A: “I did the job I was hired to do!”

Q: “Did you expense the lap dances?”

A: “YOU’RE GODDAMNED RIGHT I DID!!!!”

Packrat

On Toby Sells’ News Blog post, “Marijuana Law Passes First Hurdle in Council” …

Of course, Director Rallings is against decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana — petty, nonviolent, drug arrests make the city quite a fair bit of revenue. The surprising thing, to me, is that for someone who is supposedly so “in tune” with the plight of our city, he sure is okay with sending a lot of otherwise innocent young black men to jail. This not only removes their opportunity to be active members in their homes and communities but further hampers their chances for future gainful employment by putting a mark on their record. Hmmmmm. I wish the local BLM chapter (or whoever the recent protesters claim affiliation to) had been more educated on his stance before they championed him so intensely. Memphis has so many other things we need to be focusing on rather than petty, nonviolent, plant-based offenses. Maybe the officers that aren’t arresting people for marijuana could focus on the giant (not so) underground heroin epidemic instead?

R.K. Ford

From Bruce Van Wyngarden’s Letter from the Editor, “Common Sense Pot Policy” …

I recall the alcohol debates in Mississippi when preachers and bootleggers joined together to oppose legalization.

CL Mullins

Purely from an economic standpoint, it makes tons of sense. How much of our public resources are dedicated to pot “criminals”? How many people are we paying to incarcerate due to breaking marijuana laws?

If it’s legal, instead of paying all these prices, you can regulate and tax the product. You create legal industries, where the businesses, employees, and consumers all pay taxes on the transaction. Today, those transactions are all tax-free. Also, by not loading up the population with criminal records, you make people more employable, which is a good thing for the economy as a whole.

I’ll also add that the advent of synthetic marijuana and the continual chase to ban new strains of that is a spin-off of having marijuana be illegal. If marijuana is legal, people don’t need to seek a “legal” alternative substance. Those synthetic marijuanas are getting more and more dangerous the more that they keep banning the new combinations used.

CL, I like your reference to the Baptists and the bootleggers. In this case it’s the Baptists and the pharmaceutical lobbyists.

GroveReb84

On Bianca Phillips’ News Blog Post, “Coalition of Concerned Citizens Plans Legal Action After Graceland Protest” …

I’m still kinda foggy on why they were protesting Elvis fans. I guess they have some kind of logic in there, but to me, it seems like an incongruous venue to be protesting against. Was Graceland doing something wrong that they needed to protest?

If they are upset about police behavior, maybe protest at a government facility? Maybe City Hall? Or MPD headquarters? Graceland seems like an innocent victim in all this mess.

OakTree

On Toby Sells’ News Blog post, “Boyd Threatens Overton Park Conservancy Funding Over Greensward Suit” …

Sick to death of all of them, especially Allan Wade. Self-righteous blowhards! Yeah … let’s pull the upteen millions allotted to the zoo chumps! They filed the first lawsuit against the City and the City Council! AND … THEY VIOLATED THE SUNSHINE LAW, with their March 1, 2016 shenanigans! They think their seats are safe on election day … think again! The citizens won’t forget.

pdp

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Greg Cravens

About Jackson Baker’s and Chris Davis’ stories, “Tales of Two Cities” …

A wonderful and totally unusual pair of reports about this bizarre moment in American history — if there is history to be written after all this. The Ark is a perfect symbol for this time when politics are being drowned by religion.

Peter Ceren

Whoever does or has done the hiring down at the ole Memphis Flyer deserves a bonus.

CL Mullins

About the Flyer’s cover story, “You Know You’re From Memphis If …”

Kudos for the great article! Here are a few more nominees:

… you say “and hushpuppies” whenever catfish is mentioned.

… you still almost turn in at Peabody and McLean to check out a book at the library.

… you think of J.C. Levy’s ‘Dial ‘n’ Smile’ when you hear a recorded phone message.

… you are able to tell a tourist how to find an address on Monroe Avenue.

… you pass at least eight other churches on the way to your own.

… you still want to ask for ice cream at the Happy Hocker on Airways.

My wife and I do not know quite how to frame one about Burkle’s Bakery but will gladly treat anybody who does to lunch at Payne’s Barbecue!

Robert Matheny

… you have waited in the Grisham line at Burke’s Book Store at least once.

Rebecca Tickle

… you are a guitar player who’s married to a nurse.

C

… You’ve kissed Vincent Astor.

Mia S. Kite

About Richard Cohen’s Viewpoint on John McCain …

Cohen’s Viewpoint was spot on. McCain’s fall from legitimate war hero to GOP whipping boy started in 2000, when George Bush used low-blow smear campaigns against him and he later fell in line to support W. without question. The descent went on to include naming Sarah Palin his running mate and the Obama-bashing that bordered on racism.

He went from cochairing legislation with Democrats to jumping on the conspiracy crazy train, blaming Obama for the Orlando nightclub shooting, and, now, supporting Trump. The end of his political career can’t come soon enough. It won’t be a swan song, but more like a man put out of his misery.

Elizabeth L. Miller

About Toby Sells’ story “Greensward Grumbling” …

Enough! Please put an end to covering this irrelevant issue. Paraphrasing Allen Iverson: “We’re talking about parking, man!? Parking?!”

David Rainey

About the dangers of the trolley tracks …

I want to give a heads-up to Memphis drivers regarding hydroplaning on the trolley tracks. I was driving east on Madison, in the medical area last week. It had been lightly raining for about half an hour. I was in the lane with trolley tracks running inside its length. Going 40 miles an hour, I attempted to change into the right  lane. Instead, my car spun out of control into the opposing traffic’s lane. Thankfully there was no traffic.

Saj Crone

About the Flyer being taken over by liberals …

I’ve been a fan of the Flyer since the very first issue. However, it appears that over the last five years or so your paper has been hijacked by the liberals. It’s always good to have differing opinions to keep things in perspective, so please count me in as one of your “conservative readers.”

Yes, I voted for a Clinton once. Yes, I have friends who are Democrats.

Mark McKee

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said…

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

About Toby Sells’ story, “Tina Sullivan Talks Trams in the Old Forest” …

There are alternative routes to get from any one place to another on any given surface. This is basic geometry. It’s not really hard to see that the Memphis Zoo leadership is full of elephant droppings here. Again.

OakTree

The zoo continues to be adamant about using the roads through the Old Forest, a practice which is illegal, according to the state of Tennessee. That area is off limits to motorized vehicles.

Everyone is trying to compromise and work out a solution. Chuck Brady continues to be the chief impediment to any solution to this problem. It’s time to approve the mayor’s plan, end parking on the Greensward forever, and get a new CEO for the zoo.

Save Overton

About Jackson Baker’s column, “Filling the Space” …

Very sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you intend to stay on the job for another few decades.

CL Mullins

Thanks, always, for your good work.

Bill Andrews

About the Flyer’s cover story, “Woke.” …

I think you can look for police numbers to decline and policing to get more difficult and crime to go up. That does not mean that changes should not take place, but behavior still goes back to childhood, parenting, schooling, discrimination, and economics.

TruthBeTold

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

What They Said…

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

On Chris McCoy’s The Legend of Tarzan review …

This is what I thought. But, my wife wants me to look like this Tarzan fellow. So, I am sure we will see it soon enough anyway. Sausage Factory.

Dwayne Butcher

Dwayne, hang in there. My wife eventually settled for me looking like a gorilla.

Crackoamerican

On Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter from the Editor, “Bombs Over Midtown” …

Ya know … I like to think I’m as patriotic as the next person, but clearly not as patriotic as the hump that lives way too near to me. This person shot off very loud, bomb-like fireworks from before sunset until after 11 p.m. Monday night, a few after 8 Tuesday night, and another very loud one, albeit just one, around 9 p.m. last night. Pyromania, perhaps? Maybe, but definitely annoying … and made my cats very nervous.

Mejjep

On Toby Sells’ News Blog post, “Greensward Vote Delayed Two Weeks” …

I remain cautiously hopeful. Midtown Memphis can not sustain a Disneyland-like entertainment sprawl.

Susan Butcher Barnett

But it can sustain a Disneyland-like bus system to transport people to the zoo? Hmmm … Who buys the buses? Who pays for the insurance to cover transporting people in the buses? Hmmm …

Firefox

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About Jackson Baker’s Politics column, “Settle the Carson Matter!” …

Mr. Kustoff, if you can singlehandedly end Obamacare, stop illegal immigration, and destroy radical Islamists, there’s no reason to wait until Election Day. Please, sir, put on your cape, and fix all our problems immediately. Having done so, you will no doubt win by acclamation. 

Boris

Seeing the party’s inability to audit its own books, we are left to ponder a couple of possible reasons: 1. The party is incapable of performing an audit due to an utter lack of accountability for the funds, not just from the former chairman, but everyone involved (i.e., no one submitted receipts even for legitimate expenses), or 2. The party is unwilling to perform an audit due to general penny-ante corruption, not just of the former chairman, but throughout the organization.

And the actions of the state party chairman, rather than being a harsh reprimand, seem more like the actions of someone desperate to sweep the whole thing under the rug.

Jeff

It’s foxes guarding the hen house. Maybe I’m just a cynic, but I’m not optimistic that Bryan Carson will satisfy the entire $6,000 debt.

Regarding David Kustoff’s campaign ads: I’ve noticed that they don’t display any of the arrogance, condescension, and general snarkiness that he exhibits on shows like Informed Sources. Maybe he has turned over a new leaf.

Okay. That was pretty sarcastic.

Jenna

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Greg Cravens

About Toby Sells’ post, “House Dems Stage Sit-in for Gun Vote” …

A bunch of old folks with money and power decided to sit on the floor until their butts got numb, and then decided to call it off and congratulate themselves, as if they had actually accomplished something.

And they complained about Bernie Sanders being unrealistic and ineffective for the many months that he continued after they had anointed Hillary Clinton. Pathetic.

Brunetto Latini

I hate to say this, but it actually wasn’t that good of an idea. Yes, it made old hippie hearts flutter with remembrances of days of yore, when the world was full of possibilities. But times have changed, and entrenched power has learned that all they have to do is wait, and the media will get bored, a shark will attack someone somewhere, and the hippies will go home. 

The optics of it are actually good for the GOP, rather than bad, because nothing energizes their base like punching hippies. Ryan won points at home standing up to them and closing the doors. The NRA has already put checks in the mail. This was the political equivalent of a PBS fund-raising drive that gives away 18-disc CD collections of all your favorites from 1969.

Jeff

There’s no tote bag?

OakTree

About Jackson Baker’s Politics column, “Toeing the GOP Party Line” …

Kelsey’s signs are everywhere, and I’ve seen a few for Kustoff; nothing much for Luttrell. I’ve received several mailers for Kelsey, telling me to watch out for snakes in the grass and vote for the 100 percent pro-life conservative (who undoubtedly enjoys self-gratification while viewing old Reagan movies), and someone hung a Kelsey brochure on our front door, as well. Flinn’s TV ads are numerous, with some real pathos from older folks wanting to make ‘Merica great again and keep the government out of their Medicare.

I’m thinking Kelsey is in good shape to at least win the Shelby vote, if not the whole thing. That’s just a gut feeling, or maybe it’s a wave of impending nausea.

Packrat

Gerrymandering has turned our political parties into echo chambers. No wonder nothing gets done in Congress. Our representatives are more concerned with following the party orthodoxy than doing some creative thinking on their own. This is sad.

JKM

About Josh Cannon’s story, “MATA President Won’t Give Start Date for Trolley System” …

I think the key to this entire problem has been as stated “… a lack of experienced workers.” How in the hell do we have no experienced maintenance mechanics for the trolleys when they had been operating for many, many years? Were all those jobs given to politicians’ family members? I think we all know the answer. Of course, no one has been blamed for this abysmal failure.

Smitty1961

About Adam Nickas’ Viewpoint, “Fix Tennessee’s Health-care System” …

If no new taxes or expenses are to be incurred by Tennessee for the length of the program, then I am all for it. That said, we probably should consider a two-tier national health-care program for the entire country. The first tier would be for the basic program, and the second tier would be for those who are willing to pay out of pocket for some additional benefits. Of course, the insurance companies will never let a national program come to pass.

TimeOut4

Tennessee citizens pay for the Affordable Care Act right now, yet we are missing key benefits. An expansion of ACA would support our medical professionals, support our hospitals, and support the communities they live in, on top of those receiving the actual benefits. Failure to pass an expansion of ACA does nothing other than hurt some of our most vulnerable citizens. It’s a travesty.

DatGuy

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

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Greg Cravens

About Toby Sells’ cover story, “Bike Memphis!” …

I enjoyed reading Toby Sells’ “Bike Memphis!” article. It made me want to get out and ride. I didn’t see anything in it about the Hightailers, though — the biggest cycling club in Memphis. They’ve contributed to the success of cycling in Memphis, simply by the sheer volume of their membership, their advocacy, and their cycling education efforts.

If you’re not already a Memphis Hightailer, consider joining. There’s a huge wealth of knowledge and social enjoyment in being a member!

Drew

I live in Desoto County in Southaven and commute 31 miles round trip twice a week to Hernando. I ride upwards of 4,000 miles a year, some in Memphis but mostly in Desoto County, where there is zero bike infrastructure. And yet, I have almost no problems whatsoever. I control my lane at all times and communicate to motorists whether or not it’s safe to pass on two-lane roads. Almost all motorists are appreciative and courteous. The ones who throw tantrums still give me a full lane change when passing. A tantrum means I know they’ve seen me.

I will not ride in bike lanes next to parked cars or hidden behind parked cars like on Overton or Broad. Those are super dangerous. I sure hope Peabody doesn’t get bike lanes next to parked cars. Peabody is perfectly easy to ride on as it is.

Don’t ride in the gutter or on the sidewalk. Ride big. Be visible and predictable. Be aware of surroundings and communicate with other road users.

Patrick Smith

West Memphis has their Greenline into downtown completely finished now. I visited recently to check the progress and was happy to ride on paved Greenline all the way to Pancho’s.

It’s great that the Flyer is encouraging people to get out there and explore, and I hope that more people share your initiative. Also visit adanay.co and see some of the interesting rides around Memphis.

Cort Percer

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter From the Editor, “Who to Hate” …

America leads the world in mass shootings. Why? National news media attention is like a vector that reaches people who are vulnerable. These disaffected people can be infected by the attention other angry, disturbed people get by becoming mass killers.

Before he shot dead 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, Adam Lanza created a spreadsheet documenting the names, body counts, and weapons from previous mass murders.

Killing former colleagues, schoolmates, or groups of strangers in a suicidal spasm serves not only as an act of revenge but as a way of forcing the world to be aware of the killer’s inner torment. These public attacks also give the killer the fame that eluded him in his failed life.

Revenge over real and imagined slights, the desire for attention and fame, and delusions all can play a role. Almost all mass shooters are male, with about 64 percent white. The American dream may contribute to the frequency of these killings. When success fails to materialize and men find themselves in the margins of society, they feel cheated and emasculated. They’re in real pain, but they’re eager to blame that pain on those around them. 

The United States has five times the number of mass shootings as the next-highest country in the world. Why? The most obvious reason is our unique gun culture. The U.S. easily has the most guns per capita of any country in the world, with an estimated 310 million guns in circulation, and lax gun laws. In a civil society, what does anyone need with a military style weapon?

Bob Lawrence

High-tech guns in the hands of low-tech minds continue to foster mass killings. Fifty young people killed in Orlando by a lone wolf, male gunman wielding a military-style weapon. It’s the guns, stupid; semiautomatic guns allow mass murders to happen. Over and over again, alienated young males have taken out their anger and hate on innocent victims. This was a hate crime of domestic violence directed at the people in a gay and lesbian nightclub. All these young people would still be alive today if it hadn’t been for the guns and bullets used in this killing spree.

Dion

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Greg Cravens

About Jackson Baker’s Politics column, “Is Terry Roland a Bully?” …

There’s a certain mental framework that comes from growing up watching too much wrestling on television. Maybe that’s Roland’s issue here. Ritual exaggerated violence for entertainment encourages a certain bombast and swagger that substitutes for developing the subtler skills of rhetorical debate more commonly expected from politicians.

Physical violence is beyond the pale. If you are expecting mealy-mouthed political correctness from Roland or a number of our other local representatives, you will be waiting a long time. That’s what their supporters and constituents want and expect. Maybe Willie Herenton had it right: It’s all bullshit.

Thoughtful

About Eileen Townsend’s cover story, “A Night at the Ditch” …

I currently live just outside of Austin, Texas, but I grew up going to the races at Riverside Speedway. Your article was very well-written and really touched my heart. My mother tells me that the first time she ever felt me move in the womb was at Riverside. I now work as a PA announcer in Texas with a travelling sprint car series and edit racing videos for a streaming service called Race on Texas.

Thank you for a touching look through an outsider’s eyes. I hope you enjoyed your evening at the races. You should go again sometime!

Nick Robbins

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter From the Editor, “Orange is the New Black” …

“There are 300 million genies out of the bottle in America. Thanks to the NRA and their friends in our government, guns are everywhere and easy to get. No legislation can make a dent in that number in our lifetimes.”

This is a discouraging point of view and basically a summation of my own thoughts. The full picture is even more discouraging. The Second Amendment is our country’s fundamental design flaw. The NRA and gun culture as a whole are symptoms, not the disease. We can’t even pass sensible legislation on firearms in the United States or make serious efforts to reduce or eliminate the number of firearms in circulation because of that damned Second Amendment.

This is what we’re stuck with in the absence of massive systemic change — change that no one is truly pushing seriously. While I’ll never actively discourage someone from taking steps to try to reduce gun violence, I believe the fight is ultimately hopeless. I hate that it is.

Jersyko

You wear orange, and the soulless gang kids say, “Oh, gee, we gotta quit the endless cycle of violence.” Sure. Or, you wear orange and create a consciousness that we need to have some form of re-education for young men considered likely to shoot/get shot. That would be great. Am I missing a step here?

Danzo

About Mark Akin’s column, “Tackling Time” …

Muscle mass, endurance, and agility can all be addressed via an ancient exercise program known as the martial arts. I could never motivate myself enough to engage in mindless exercise like running, bicycling, or whatever for the simple goal of physical fitness. Karate has the added benefits of mental challenge and social interaction that are equally important to good health.

Some people think karate is for the young, but with a good instructor who can tailor his or her program to the physical abilities of every student, karate has tremendous benefits that you just can’t get working out in a gym. Toss in self-defense training, and you’ve got yourself a pretty well-rounded health regimen.

Jeff

About Toby Sells’ post, “West Memphis Plans for Big River Crossing” …

That land across the street from the entrance in West Memphis is vacant. Put stores, restaurants — something that will garner an interest when they get to West Memphis! Other cities have grown. It’s time West Memphis does the same.

Lucia Johnson

Re-open the Plantation Inn, have Willie Mitchell’s band play regular gigs, and consistently serve underage drinkers.

Packrat

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Greg Cravens

About Bruce VanWyngarden’s Letter From the Editor, “Playing the Long Game” …

I get all my news from an RSS feed covering a wide range of sources and then repost the stories that I think would be relevant to my particular list of friends and followers. I am guilty of reposting a lot of Flyer stories and hope that y’all can convince your advertisers that the ads that show up on your left sidebar are worthy of investment.

When it comes to local news, it is the Daily News that gets the second most, if not more, reposts due to Bill Dries’ tireless daily reporting.

I’ve noticed that a lot of online news sources now require you to “click here” to continue to read an article. I assume this is done to somehow generate more ad revenue. I do hope we can figure out some way to make it work. I’d hate to see journalism die and be replaced by paid advertisements disguised as articles.

Scott Banbury

“We’re not going to advertise. We’re just doing social media.” (Shhhh… Nobody tell them “doing social media” is advertising.)

Jen Simmons Clarke

You were a little harsh on Zuckerberg’s opinion of Memphis. Surely, he must know that he may need a liver fast someday.

CL Mullins

About Toby Sells’ story “Timing of Zoo’s Study Release Draws Controversy” …

It’s interesting that the Memphis Zoo, which is not a named defendant in the Open Meetings Act suit against the Memphis City Council, has filed a motion to intervene after the plantiffs’ request for production of documents.

Are these legal fees really the best use of Memphis taxpayers’ $4 million subsidy to the zoo? What is the zoo so afraid of coming to light? The truth, obviously. And fortunately for the citizens of Memphis (and unfortunately for certain city council members and zoo administrators), the truth always does come to light, eventually.

Mary Ost

The end is way overdue for Memphis’ unquestioning devotion to its publicly funded, yet privately managed, institutions, as well as a lot of other entities, both public and private. Good citizens ask questions. “We’ve always done it that way” is never the appropriate answer.

B

All I have to say is amen! Bring all the data to the forefront. The zoo has survived on our tax money for long enough. They gambled; they lost!

PDP

About Tim Sampson’s Last Word column, “Greensward SVU” …

I moved to Memphis for an OB/Gyn residency over 20 years ago, a biracial, West Coast-raised, East Coast-educated young doctor. I have embraced my role as a physician and neighbor in Memphis; I love this city. I am privileged in my practice to see women of all races, religions, and social situations. They all want the same things for themselves and their families: good health, the ability to provide for their children, and access to the services that a robust city offers.

Across the country, cities are focusing on the intrinsic value of parks for their citizens; this should be something that we prioritize. Many studies show the benefits of parks, both in terms of exercise and health, but also in community cohesiveness, reduction in crime, and improvement in property values.

This is not just about parking or grass. It is about the need for all of us to embrace one another and all of our glorious differences and find a way to make our city better for everyone. It is something that we can achieve. Fixing this issue will certainly not solve all of our problems, but it is a very good place to begin.

Susan Lacy MD

Co-founder: Physicians for Urban Parks