8 minute read
POLITICS
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A miscellany of information and advice. Apropos the Crisis
Among the consequences of the current pandemic is that various public events, some of them long-scheduled, are now o the calendar until some unde ned future point — or canceled outright. ere is, of course, a third option, involving reliance upon the various forms of virtual presence the cybernetic age has made possible.
An example of the latter is the Democrats’ selection of delegates to the party’s upcoming summer convention.
Local Democrats met at Kirby High School for two major-party presidential nominating conventions the weekend before last to choose “selectors” for the o cial party caucuses, which, for Democrats in the 9th Congressional District, were set for the same location this coming weekend. ose for the adjoining 8th District, which includes part of Memphis and Shelby County, were designated for the Carroll County Fairgrounds.
In either case, not anymore. Instead, the party will be conducting its delegate selection online at various times across the state on Saturday. Each candidate’s selectors will caucus on conference calls via separate phone lines. Procedures have not yet been decided on for at-large delegates and those in a P.L.E.O. category (for “party leaders and elected o cials”).
• When he made his successful race for the City Council Super District 9 last year, Je Warren, a physician, used medical metaphors for the improvements he proposed to bring to city government. “For a Healthier Memphis” was his catch-all slogan. As a member of Mayor Jim Strickland’s newly convened COVID Task Force, the councilman is now involved in such a clinical role in earnest. is week, he dispatched a prescription of sorts to constituents via email. Included in his recommendations:
Practice social distancing and avoid crowds of any kind. The city is now limiting any gathering to fewer than 50 people.
1. Please do not panic and stockpile food and supplies. Our supply chain can provide what we need. Reach out to a neighbor and o er to sell or donate supplies if you did and this will
e last for a while? State House District 97 candidate Allan Creasy (le ), a Democrat, last ursday night held what may have been the last public political event for some time to come — a fundraiser at Celtic Crossing, where Creasy works as a bartender. Among those attending were (l to r) County Commissioner Van Turner, political consultant Michael Life, City Councilman Dr. Je Warren, and state Representative Dwayne ompson.
allow our stores to restock and address everyone’s needs.
2. Practice social distancing and avoid crowds of any kind. Many restaurants and businesses are leading the way in removing tables and chairs, and the city is now limiting any gathering to fewer than 50 people.
3. Wash your hands, practice good hygiene, and avoid touching your face. 4. Stay home and avoid contact with as few people as possible until we have actual local data to see where we are on the epidemic curve.
Apropos the latter point, Warren was among the attendees at what may have been the last organized public political event to be held in these parts for a while, a fundraiser last week for Democratic state House District 97 candidate Allan Creasy, held in a backtent area at Celtic Crossing, where Creasy serves as a bartender.
• Another legislative candidate, Jerri Green, a Democrat seeking the state House seat in District 83, suspended campaigning and also issued some similar online advice, part of which read as follows:
All of the following are looking for donations of goods, monetary gifts, and some even need volunteers to help: Mid-South Food Bank, Hope House Memphis, Dorothy Day House, Trinity United Methodist Church.
Then, look for other simple things you can do: Support your favorite small business or restaurant if you can now, or buy gift cards for later use. Tip folks extra if you can. Uber Eats drivers, bartenders, baristas, you name it, they need it!
Find your local favorite musician’s latest album and BUY it. They will be booking fewer gigs.
Check on friends, neighbors, coworkers (text them!). This is intense, and we need to vent a little.
Say a prayer for RBG. Seriously. What I won’t be doing during this time: campaigning. I won’t be fundraising or door-knocking or generally being a politician.
• Interesting message received from MoneyGeek, a start-up company proffering financial information and advice: In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the White House recently released a statement announcing that it would once again seek to repeal Obamacare after the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments challenging the ACA. MoneyGeek recently completed a study analyzing the risk to patients with pre-existing conditions and found that over 12 million Americans could lose coverage, and that would include losing coverage for vaccines and treatment related to coronavirus. Tennessee would be one of the most impacted states if these laws change: * Over 325,000 people (8.2 percent of the population of Tennessee), are either uninsured or on the ACA today, and have a declinable condition. This population would suffer the most, either losing coverage or having difficulty securing new coverage.
* 11 percent of the population is on ACA programs/direct-to-consumer insurance plans.
* Over 500,000 people (14.7 percent of the population) are currently uninsured.
COMM E NTARY by Greg Cravens
AREA 51 ICE CREAM is still open and will keep regular hours
ART BAR is closed until further notice. Check back for updates at crosstownarts.org.
AT&T is still open and will keep regular hours. Online order and curbside pickup are available. Check out their self-install TV promotion at att.com!
CHERYL PESCE: LIFESTYLE STORE is still open with abbreviated hours. Check their social media pages for updates or gift card purchases!
CHURCH HEALTH YMCA will be operating with limited service. Check for updates at ymcamemphis.org
CROSSTOWN BREWERY is evaluating the safest way to serve their community. Check back in for updates at crosstownbeer.com
CURB MARKET is still open and will keep regular hours.
FARM BURGER is still open and will keep regular hours. To support the children in our local communities, they will be offering a discount on kids meals. Check for delivery and gift card promotions at farmburger.com.
FedEx is still open and will keep regular hours.
FOCAL POINT at Crosstown Concourse is closed until further notice.
FRENCH TRUCK COFFEE is still open, but closing at 2pm each day and offering to-go options only. Place your order now at frenchtruckcoffee.com!
GLOBAL CAFÉ is still open with abbreviated hours: noon to 6pm this week. Support them by purchasing gif t cards online globalcafememphis.com/giftcards or calling ahead for curbside pickup! As a social enterprise, Global Cafe is also raising funds to provide meals to medical professionals working on the front lines and people economically impacted by the corona virus. To donate, please visit their website.
Like any neighborhood where people live, work, shop, or go to school, the Crosstown Concourse vertical village supports a diverse range of people and activities. As a result, Concourse currently remains open. Here is what our retailers are up to this week...
GLOSS NAIL BAR is still open and will keep regular hours. They will continue to use their stateof-the-art three-step sterilization process, single use tools, and air purifi cation system for everyone’s health and comfort.
HERO & SAGE hair salon is still open and will keep regular hours.
HOPE CREDIT UNION is still open and will keep regular hours.
I LOVE JUICE BAR is still open and will keep regular hours.
LUCY J’S is still open and will keep regular hours. Support them by purchasing gift cards online at lucyjbakery.com or ordering delivery with Uber Eats!
MADISON PHARMACY is still open and will keep regular hours.
MEMpopS is still open and will keep regular hours. Curbside delivery is available, just call ahead at (901) 425-2724!
NEXT DOOR AMERICAN EATERY is closed until further notice. Please check back often for updates at nextdooreatery.com!
POPAROOS is still open with abbreviated hours: 10:30am to 2:30pm. Curbside delivery is available, just order online at poparoos.com!
SAUCY CHICKEN is still open and will keep regular hours. Place an order online at saucychickenmemphis.com, and swing by for a quick pickup!
CROSSTOWN ARTS Crosstown Arts is working to help slow the potential transmission of coronavirus and is postponing all music performances, public events, gallery open hours, Shared Art Making open hours, and food/beverage service at the cafe and Art Bar through April 1. In the meantime, here’s something to look forward to: Art of Science at Crosstown Arts from May 15 to August 16, presented by Crosstown Arts, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).
