The Nehemiah Facts
To the Editor:
Regarding "Marshall Lets It Rip," in the May 8th issue, the reporter makes three glaring errors in the first paragraph. 1) Not three, but 18 houses have been completed or are being built. Nine are now occupied by owners. 2) All homes are pre-sold, with loans approved before construction began. Nehemiah does not begin construction until a home loan is approved. 3) The property was not provided by the city council. The property was provided by the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church and the Catholic Diocese. The city council approved funds for the infrastructure.
In the second paragraph, either the reporter misquoted Councilman Marshall or adds further errors by stating the bedrooms are not "big enough to fit a bed into ." The minimum sized bedroom in one house is 10'6"x10'.
Shelby County Interfaith's Nehemiah homes are the best things going in Memphis for affordable resident-owned housing for moderate-income families. Why can't the Flyer objectively evaluate Nehemiah homes? A correction on this article is warranted! Your reporter and Councilman Marshall are invited to inspect these homes during our open house every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Richard A. Randall,
Lay Member of SCI,
via the Internet
(Editor's Note: City councilman Tom Marshall has confirmed the accuracy of the Flyer's quotes in its report on a conversation with him that covered several subjects, including that of the city-assisted Nehemiah housing project. In the article, Marshall said: "Building a revolution is one thing, but building a house with a bedroom you can actually fit a bed into is another." More an aesthetic observation than a measurement.
It would appear to be true, however, that the phrase "three houses built so far -- but unsold -- on property provided to SCI for the purpose by the council" amounts to a misstatement. At least four of Nehemiah's houses have been both completed and sold, and others are in various stages of completion. The city's role has been to prepare the land for home construction by providing nearly $1 million worth of infrastructure.
For an update on this story, see "Politics," beginning on page 10.)
To the Editor:
I read your May 15th cover story, "The Voices from Humes." I thought it was really, really good. It put tears in my eyes. It is so sad with these kids nowadays. And I would like to see more reporting like this.
Florida Bynum
Memphis
To the Editor:
I am disturbed by the fact that "This Modern World," the cartoon that's featured at the front of the paper, has focused on volunteerism the past two weeks, making it the government's fault that we're having to volunteer in order to support our own people. The problem with this is that the government was not instituted in this country to be a national bank or anything else. It was there to govern. People have always had to help people. That's the nature of the world. People helping people is what the world, and America especially, is all about.
David Butler
Memphis
To the Editor:
Susan Greer's letter ("Negative Note On Beale Street Festival," May 15th issue) shows that if you look hard enough you can find negativity in almost anything.
Of course there were a record number of people at this year's festival, because the talent lineup was probably the best ever presented here. With huge crowds come long lines, but that is part of the festival experience also. As festival organizer Bob Kelley stated, there were plenty of porta-johns scattered throughout the park; instead of standing in line at the first one available, people could walk around and find shorter lines. (This was true for coupon, beer, and food sales also.)
Ms. Greer seems more concerned with the cleanliness of the toilets, the amount of trash in the park, and the behavior of a few over-indulgent festival-goers than with the outstanding music that brought music lovers from all over the country to Memphis. She also overlooked how polite and nice most people at the festival were. I attended all three days of this year's music festival and no minor inconveniences prevented me from thoroughly enjoying the best music festival ever presented in Memphis.
Randy Norwood
Memphis
To the Editor:
I feel obligated to write this letter in response to your editorial about James Brady (April 24th issue). I agree that the maiming of Brady by Hinkley was tragic, but I hardly feel that the call should go out for more gun control.
The subsequent bill carrying Brady's name would not have prevented the shooting had it been in effect prior to the incident. Namely because Hinkley had no previous felony convictions and no previous history of institutionalization for mental illness. Additionally, he was in possession of the pistol for nearly six months prior to the shooting. He made a legal purchase from a federally licensed dealer and filed all appropriate paperwork.
What the Brady bill did affect was the ability of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves in time of need. I have no argument against an instant background check, but waiting periods are unreasonable and do nothing to deter crime. When you need a gun to defend your family, self, or property from mobs of looters or even an abusive ex-spouse, even a one-day waiting period is too long.
Bryan L. Brah
Memphis
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