An open thoughtful debate regarding economic development policy has been needed for sometime in Memphis where the University of Memphis could be a pivotal voice. But the University of Memphis, under Robot Rudd, has been a no show on the economic development policy front, seemingly with Rudd programmed by the hacks of the FedEx/Memphis Tomorrow complex.
Take for example The Memphis Economy of the University of Memphis partnership with the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE). What’s that all about? If anything, such an incestuous partnership compromises the University’s ability to be an independent voice on economic development matters with respect to excessive tax incentives for corporate/real estate interests. The former excessive incentives have been a long term local mainstay all while a measurable definition or plan for economic development remain outstanding.
As of late, the only time that one sees University of Memphis representation advocate or present in local legislative chambers is when they are looking for a legislative appropriation or for TIF approval. But, the U of M does have all of the politically correct designates in Ted Townsend on economic development, John Gnuschke at The Memphis Economy, Elena Delevaga and her annual poverty report and both Marc Perrusquia in an investigative reporting / public services unit and Otis L Sanford on staff while working with the establishment funded Daily Memphian.
All sounds great right? But, they all seemed tamped down, under Robot Rudd, by the hacks of the FedEx/Memphis Tomorrow complex. None of them regularly advocate on the record for transformational economic development policy change while questioning local power centers. And real power is not gonna be questioned in the Daily Memphian. Just looks to be more pageantry than anything else.
Gnuschke, wrote a brilliant economic policy pronouncement almost two years ago in The Amazon Road Map but no one from the U of M has advocated for it on the record as a way to jump start economic development with specific reforms. The local “outcasts” in MCCL Measured and MRYE got behind the Amazon Road Map, conducted surveys and advocated for the Road Map on the record, all while Robot Rudd and the U of M sat back with the hacks and watched from a safe distance. And so, no one talks about The Amazon Road Map.
If the U of M were going to advocate for economic development transformation, they just missed a stellar opportunity as the Shelby County Commission struggled through a challenging budget season. Its clear that property tax rates were excessively decreased in previous years, while botched workforce development efforts and excessive corporate/real estate incentives justified with bogus projection accounting have taken a toll on the County budget. And, its also true that real economic development needs such as adequate public transit are going unmet. But effectively silent on such matters was, you guessed it, the U of M.
Conclusion
The hacks seemed to have stifled subject matter expertise and yet another needed policy voice in community and economic development matters. Such action, only robs the Memphis community of needed vitality to grow, all while rigging the system for stagnation and perhaps further decline. Its just more of the same……