Discussion: Confederate Statues In Memphis Removed After City Sells Public Parks

[bdtex]

I respectfully disagree.

[thunderclapnewman]

@bdtex

And for $1000? Real estate is that cheap in Memphis?

This was a very clever work-around to solve the problem created by the state historical commission.

It saves the city money—not paying for the police presence at the monuments—and keeps the city’s hands clean.
It was a smart move, all in all.

[origamitrain]

I’m okay with controversial public lands being sold to a private nonprofit whose stated goal is to maintain the public lands in their current state, and the city got a signed contract ensuring that the parks will remain parks. I don’t think the Mayor could’ve done much better except maybe get a better sale price. But even then, parks aren’t revenue-generators.

My only questions would be whether there’s an expiration on the contract, or what sale options GreenSpace would have to a third party later.

[jacksonhts]

It is a deliberate attempt to avoid the state law and the city is breaking the law,” Lee Millar with Sons of Confederate Veterans told WREG-TV on Wednesday.

A rare instance of anti-privatization fervor by the Modern GOP’s main demographic.

[paulw]

Contempt for the rule of law by the right makes similar maneuvers by sane people inevitable.

[rutrow]

“It is a deliberate attempt to avoid the state law and the city is breaking the law,” Lee Millar with Sons of Confederate Veterans told WREG-TV on Wednesday.”

Said someone I’ll bet had no problem with the Mount Soledad land sale.

Mount Soledad Cross

[hallam]

@bdtex

Gov. Bredesen’s Senate race just got more difficult. You can bet Marsha Blackburn will make an issue of this.

Almost certainly not. Sympathy for the Klansmen is essential for anyone trying to win a GOP primary down there but the vast majority of the population care a lot more about other things. The bigot-base tactic of whistling Dixie has really run its course, they have as much bigot turnout as they can expect.

This only makes it harder for the GOP to run away from the issue they like least: Trump.

[hallam]

@easiergoer

I can add a slice of humor to this story being a native Memphian, and in currently in town for the holiday. This whole event was covered by the local news in real time last night and it bumped Survivor off local CBS TV, which I find particularly gratifying.

Survivor? That is still a thing?

[hallam]

Only thing that I regret about this event is that they didn’t demolish the statue properly: C4.

[tiowally]

They’re going to need more than one.

[tiowally]

San Diego County solved the issue of a cross on Mt. Helix, in La Mesa (a suburb of San Diego), by turning over the property to a Foundation. Of course, this was only after fighting it for nearly a decade and reviews by more than 30 federal judges.

[source: https://www.aclu.org/news/san-diego-ends-nine-year-effort-keep-christian-cross-public-park]

[jakebarnes]

Well played Memphis. Well played.

[canyoncountry]

The article doesn’t get into any strategies for the City to re-acquire the parks. That’s a big red flag for me. While the statues are being removed, will the park’s previous users have access? Will the parks remain in ‘private’ hands? Will the City pay “Greenspace Inc.” for access for citizens?
While it’s good to see the monuments go, there are “moves afoot” nationally to privatize things that are currently publicly owned. This news article requires a follow-up.

[thunderclapnewman]

The deal requires that the parks remain parks and open to the public.