Willie Herenton is now talking about the list of priorities he'll pass on to interim Mayor Myron Lowery. Fighting crime, single source funding for schools, consolidated education, tourism, better convention centers all top Herenton's list for priorities.
Also on the list? Unifying the racial divide.
"This city has never been unified," Herenton said. "Unifying people in Memphis along racial lines. We've got to always work toward that. But don't come 18 years later and say you were unified and I divided you."
The room erupted in applause.
"Don't talk about Willie Herenton being divisive," Herenton said. "When a community predicates unity on a winning basketball team. ... that's amazing to me. Now I love the University of Memphis basketball, I love it. But it is amazing to me that people consider a basketball team as a racial unifying thing for Memphis. You know what you need to be unified on? Getting our kids educated equally. ...Cleaning up the slum so people got decent places to live. You ought to be unified on making sure that there are no barriers to employment and promotions. And you need to be unified on some black folks making some money. Those are the things that unify you and make you a better community. Those are the things you need to unify on."
Herenton knocks accusations that he's stepping down because he cut a deal with somebody or because he's in trouble.
He's saying his mother, Ruby Harris, is part of the reason he's stepping down. She's had to watch him get smeared through the press.
He said he had to "keep it real" with her and let her know he had everything under control.
Herenton said his mother said "Boy I pray for you and your bodyguard every day. I said,'Mama keep praying! Keep praying!"
He said his mother is happy to watch him step down.
"Now Sidney Chism (County Commissioner and longtime ally) is not happy because he wanted me to be a politician forever," Herenton said in a nod to a faithful friend.
Herenton then said if he offended anyone "I'm man enough to say to you today, I apologize."
"We love you mayor herenton!" yelled a woman in the audience.
Herenton then gave Myron Lowery the long-awaited formal letter of retirement.
"I couldn't give you that letter when you all were kind of demanding it," Herenton said to wild applause.
He's saying to Lowery, I would be honored to have a meeting. CAO Keith McGee will also meet with Lowery
*quote: Herenton then gave Myron Lowery the long-awaited formal letter of retirement.
"I couldn't give you that letter when you all were kind of demanding it," Herenton said to wild applause.
Now if that's not the most childish, ego-centered baloney (and I'm being nice here) then I don't know what is.
willie, you can get the hell out of our office