An Open Letter to T.J. Simers of the LA Times

I understand that you support your Clippers, just as I understand that we support our Grizzlies. But in your attempt to be humorous or cynical, you heaped insults upon our city of Memphis that are undeserved. Our great city has given the world soul, blues, rockabilly and rock and roll. We have given the world the best barbecue they’ve ever known. When you check into a Holiday Inn, ship something by FedEx, buy something for your car at AutoZone or purchase food at a supermarket, you are able to do these things because of the innovations of Memphians. As a Memphian, I know that our city is not perfect. We have a serious problem with poverty, which leads to a problem with crime. Solving those problems is made more difficult by negative articles such as yours. The billboards you saw are the result of a labor dispute involving a police union that wants the city to pay them more money. Banned from striking by ordinance, they have resorted to slandering their employers and the city. You have inadvertently contributed to their effort against the city. By all means support your Clippers. But you owe our city an apology.