From: jkent@pathtrek.net <jkent@pathtrek.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 2:44 PM
To: ‘Heidi Shafer’ <heidi.shafer@shelbycountytn.gov>; ‘berlin.boyd@memphistn.gov’ <berlin.boyd@memphistn.gov>
Cc: ‘Richard Smith’ <richard_smith@ftn.fedex.com>
Subject: Open Letter Request
Dear Shelby County Commission Madam Chair Shafer & Memphis City Council Chair Boyd,
I am writing to you to ask that you please come together and seize this legislative leadership opportunity and immediately schedule the Joint EDGE committee meeting while leveraging the expertise of a soon to be departing experienced County Commission.
Both of you are on the public record waiting for the other to call this Joint Council / Commission Meeting. This is an open letter respectfully asking you to come together and schedule the Joint Committee meeting.
I am certain there are healthy offline meetings occurring related to local economic development. At the same time, given recent concerns expressed by local leaders, there is a significant leadership opportunity window that requires your unique legislative hand that leverages the soon to be departing and experienced County Commission and the public in curating and crafting local economic development policy. Public meetings and oversight provide a healthy vitality to the needed public conversation of economic development in addition to local establishment driven plans by outside consultants.
Since economic development impacts everything, here are specific suggested examples of some of the type of on the public record work the Joint Committee should immediately begin with to lead, curate and craft local economic development policy:
- Define Economic Development
- Encourage grassroots public and written comment
- University of Memphis Dr. John Gnuschke of the The Memphis Economy on The Amazon Road Map
- University of Memphis Mr. Ted Townsend Chief Economic Development and Government Relations Officer testimony
- Commissioner Steve Basar’s expansion on site readiness to support economic development
- David Waddell’s visionary ideas as featured in the Commercial Appeal
- Tom Jones public commentary on local economic development after years of writings in his Smart City Memphis Blog
- Mayor Strickland’s and Mayor Luttrell’s ideas for needed course correction
- Joe B. Kent on the need to restructure EDGE and local career pathways implementation in support of Memphis Opportunity promotion
- Brian Stephens explaining how the Greater Memphis Chamber Business Council fits into local economic development efforts
- Phillip Spinosa on the Chairman’s Circle role in economic development efforts and an update on the Moon Missions and Accountability Committee
- Harold Byrd and Cary Vaughn on County Municipal Chamber roles in economic policy development
- Outside plans from Community Lift, Greater Memphis Chamber and etc….
While public in meeting testimony is preferable, given time and scheduling restraints, I believe some of the above suggested testimony can be gathered by email and put on the public record. I hope both of you will come together to take up this needed work by scheduling the Joint Committee meeting to chart a vital public process of needed legislative oversight and economic policy development for years to come.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Joe B. Kent – 5111 Flamingo, Memphis, TN. 38117