POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tri-State Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Inquiries may be submitted in writing or by calling (901) 5231818 or by email.
TELEPHONE: (901) 523-1818.
The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly. The Tri-State Defender 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN, 38104. Second-class postage paid in Memphis, TN.
The Tri-State Defender is a member of The National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Tennessee Press Association.
materials covered by copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. (901) 523-1818 | 1509 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
■■ NEWS
Mayor Young orders forensic audit of MATA’s $60M budget shortfall
By James Coleman Special To The Tri-State Defender
One of the big four global accounting rms has been hired to conduct a forensic audit of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young announced the decision to enlist PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to peer into the hard set transit authority’s books during a Transportation Committee meeting earlier this month.
“I will tell you this is a priority for this administration. We have had countless meetings over the past couple of weeks,” said Young. “We understand how critical this is. at’s the reason we are taking these extensive steps to ensure that we don’t end up here again.”
Baccara Mauldin is the interim CEO of MATA.
e development follows a May 21 board meeting, where interim MATA president Bacarra Mauldin told members the transit system was facing a budget de cit of $60 million. In 2022, MATA ran a $43 million de cit.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge the steps that we are taking. We put before you…a dra balanced budget of $67.8 million. We are having our nance committee meeting on August 20 to dig deeper into those numbers. To talk about some of the hard decisions the board will have to make with regards to how we execute our services,” said Mauldin.
While MATA’s problems have been mounting for years, one member blamed starry-eyed expectations for the current de cit.
“We allocated $30 million in the budget as a line item. When we had the budget discussion, I remember very speci cally talking to you about how you were going to make up the rest,” Councilwoman Jerri Green reminded Mauldin. “Because the items you had in
your plan was $10 million, for example, from the county. And I told you you weren’t going to get more than a million. I knew that’s the where the budget was going. I knew that’s where the votes were. And that’s what you got. So, that’s another $9 million in the hole.”
Green has a unique vantage point. In addition to her work on the council, her day job is as an attorney for the the administration of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
An update on the forensic analysis –along with MATA’s overall operation –is expected during the next committee meeting.
Several members of the committee addressed complaints from citizens.
Many include the experience of waiting for a bus that never comes. MATA manages an aging eet of buses. Many are purchased from other cities eets, a er they procure new vehicles. Many break down during their routes.
Furthermore, much of MATA’s riders are on the lower end of the economic spectrum. Many disabled individuals also rely on public transit to get to and fro. Without a vehicle, a scheduled bus stop can be a necessity.
“It’s a mess. I’m not saying you created it,” said Councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker. “ ey’re just out there waiting. ey don’t know what’s going on. All they know is it’s hot and the busses don’t show up.”
Tri-State Defender
President Calvin Anderson Interim Editor Lee Eric Smith
National DNC Chair: We are on ‘precipice of something truly historic’
In an Op-Ed, Democratic National Committee Chair Minyon sets the stakes for Harris’ historic candidacy ahead of convention
By Minyon Moore Democratic National Committee Chair
We’re standing on the precipice of something truly historic — electing the rst woman president of the United States and showing the world what is possible when we come together as a country.
A year ago, I answered President Joe Biden’s call to serve as the chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. And on Tuesday, just 13 days before the convention kicks o here in Chicago, I was honored to o cially recognize Vice President Kamala Harris as our next Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
It’s hard to overstate the signi cance of this moment, for the rst time ever — a Black woman has secured the presidential nomination of a major party. But history doesn’t just happen — it’s made. And it’s important for us to remember how we got here. Just a few weeks ago, President Biden made the courageous decision to put his country before himself. It was a painful and powerful moment that could have shaken us as a party, but the
President did what he does best — he led us through that uncertainty with a steady, reassuring hand. He put his faith in Vice President Harris to pick up the torch, and he asked the American people to do the same.
What’s followed has been nothing short of remarkable.
Vice President Harris has not only stepped forward to accept that endorsement, but she has also worked day and night to earn it. She’s traveling across the country with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to speak directly with the American people as they ght to build upon the Biden-Harris record of delivering for all Americans. She has brought joy to the campaign trail and reminded us that our better days are ahead, not behind. Democrats from coast to coast coalesced around her candidacy, ushering in a groundswell of grassroots energy heading into the convention.
While the enthusiasm we’re seeing around the country is powerful, we ar-
en’t taking anything for granted. Right now, Democrats are fanning out across the country to bring the Harris-Walz message to the American people, building momentum as we prepare to gather in Chicago to rally behind this historic ticket and chart a course to victory in November.
From inside the United Center, we will introduce our nominees to the country. We will hear directly from the people who know them best. We will showcase stories from Americans across the country whose freedoms hinge on this election. We will give Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz a stage to lay out their bold vision for the future. It’s a vision of hope, freedom, and possibility — and it stands in stark contrast with the vision that Donald Trump is trying to drag us back to. at is the choice we face in November: the future or the past, more freedoms or less. And if Donald Trump’s rst term in o ce taught us anything, it’s that the decision we make at the ballot box will de ne not just the next four years, but the next 50.
e stakes are enormous, and Vice President Harris is the right candidate to meet this moment. She is capable,
We will give Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz a stage to lay out their bold vision for the future. It’s a vision of hope, freedom, and possibility — and it stands in stark contrast with the vision that Donald Trump is trying to drag us back to.
intelligent, and experienced, and she is committed to ghting for people, for our freedoms, and for our future. Her bold vision for our country will strengthen our democracy, protect reproductive freedom, and ensure every person has the opportunity to not just get by but to get ahead.
We’re standing on the precipice of something truly historic — electing the rst woman president of the United States and showing the world what is possible when we come together as a country.
Every generation of Americans faces a de ning moment, moments when we must choose who we want to be and what kind of country we want to live in. is is ours. As President Biden says, history is in our hands.
At the convention in Chicago, we will unite as a party and recommit to the work ahead. We will show the world who we are and what we stand for as Democrats, and in November, we will elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States, sending her and Gov. Walz to the White House to nish the job that she and President Biden started together.
Minyon Moore
Kamala Harris
Tim Walz
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
Back in the 1960’s, for black folks, getting insurance was kind of like getting the right to vote — the system was set up to prevent it from happening, and it took some brave pioneers to change that.
Fred L. Davis was that pioneer, launching the Fred L. Davis Insurance Agency in 1967, on Airways Boulevard in Orange Mound. Less than a decade later, Eldridge “Pete” Mitchell would start his own agency in 1975. Both men would remain icons in Memphis until their deaths — Davis passed in 2019, and Mitchell died in 2021.
e recent acquisition of the Fred L. Davis Agency by Pete Mitchell and Associates signi es more than just a business deal; it represents the convergence of two legacies built on service, integrity, and a deep commitment to Memphis.
With acquisition of historic Fred L. Davis Insurance Agency, Pete Mitchell & Assicuates CEO George Hilliard looks to build on legacy
sive insurance solutions to individuals, families, and businesses across Memphis and beyond.
e acquisition of the Fred L. Davis Agency by Pete Mitchell and Associates brings together these two remarkable stories, weaving a tapestry of shared values and a commitment to serving the Memphis community. It is a testament to the enduring power of legacy and the potential for growth and collaboration.
To gain a deeper understanding of this historic moment, we sat down with George Hilliard, CEO of Pete Mitchell and Associates. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Hilliard shares his insights on the acquisition, the legacies of Fred Davis and Pete Mitchell, and the future of the combined agencies.
Lee Eric Smith: What motivated Pete Mitchell and Associates to acquire the Fred L. Davis Insurance Agency?
Fred L. Davis, a true trailblazer, founded his agency in 1967, a time of immense social change and challenge in America. He shattered barriers as the rst African American policy writing agent in six states and the rst Black member of the Independent Insurance Agents of America. Davis’ in uence extended far beyond insurance; he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the sanitation workers’ strike, embodying the spirit of activism and social justice that de ned the era.
Meanwhile, Eldridge ‘Pete’ Mitchell established his agency in 1975, rooted in the values of local service and independent representation. Over the years, Pete Mitchell and Associates grew into a trusted name, providing comprehen-
George Hilliard: e acquisition was primarily motivated by the brand and the employees. Fred L. Davis had built a well-known and respected brand over the years, with a strong presence in the community.
e other thing is the people. Mr. Davis had some really knowledgeable people at his agency, with more than 30 years of experience. You just don’t nd that anymore in the insurance eld.
e fact that we already represented many of the same companies made it a natural t.
Smith: How did Fred L. Davis and Pete Mitchell navigate the challenges of being Black entrepreneurs in the insurance industry during their early years?
Hilliard: Both of them struggled when they started these agencies. ey started these businesses when black people just couldn’t get agencies. ey had to go to white people just to be able to even get a license. And even once they got their license, (many major
insurance carriers) would not allow them to write business for them. It was a tough time.
Smith: People don’t understand the di erence between an independent agent and State Farm or Allstate agent.
Hillard: We are actually entrepreneurs. We are not company people. (Davis and Mitchell) actually started these businesses from scratch. And the product that you sell is insurance. But back then, many companies wouldn’t allow black agents to write for them. e history on that goes back into years and years of discrimination, challenges, struggles. e Hartford Insurance Company was the only one at the time would underwrite for Mr. Davis and Mr. Mitchell.
Smith: You mentioned that Fred L. Davis had a ‘brand?’ How would you
describe that brand?
Hilliard: I look at longevity. I look at relationships. Everybody knows Fred Davis because he was very community oriented. He was really out in the community, he did a lot of great things in the community and we want to carry on in that tradition. Eventually, it will all be Pete Mitchell and Associates, but we will always acknowledge Fred L. Davis and his agency. We still want his legacy to be a part of our legacy.
Smith: In your view, how does insurance t into the broader conversation about building wealth, especially within the Black community?
Hilliard: Insurance is critical for wealth building. If you own anything of value, you need to protect it. is isn’t just about physical assets—it’s also about liability protection. In our community, there’s o en a gap when it
Fred L. Davis. (Courtesy photo)
George Hilliard
comes to life insurance and passing on wealth to the next generation. Many times, we don’t insure our lives as we should, and that’s a missed opportunity to build and preserve wealth. Insurance ensures that your assets are protected, and that’s a vital part of moving from poverty to wealth.
For some small business owners, you can’t even bid on certain jobs or contracts if you don’t have liability insurance in place. is insurance doesn’t just protect your business from lawsuits; it also opens doors for more work. Without it, you’re limited in the opportunities you can pursue. It’s not just about protecting what you have; it’s about enabling you to get more.
■■ BUSINESS
Smith: And that’s where a local independent agent like Pete Mitchell and Associates comes in.
Hilliard: e primary advantage of working with us is that we’re an independent agency, meaning we have the exibility to represent multiple insurance companies. is allows us to nd the best policies for our clients, whether they have a marginal driving record or need high-end coverage. We serve everyone—from the average person in the community to executives at major corporations. Unlike captive agencies that are limited to one company’s products, we can shop around to nd the best t for each client’s needs.
Pete Mitchell & Associates (Courtesy photo)
By Gary S. Whitlow Special to The Tri-State Defender
■■ BUSINESS
Carolyn Chism Hardy Honored for Pioneering Work in the Beverage Industry
Memphis business icon Carolyn Chism Hardy was celebrated on ursday, August 8, 2024, for her remarkable contributions to the beverage industry and the local economy.
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter visited Hardy Beverages as part of his statewide tour to honor Blackowned businesses during National Black Business Month. Hardy, whose career has been marked by groundbreaking achievements and a deep commitment to her community, was praised for her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.
e event, held at Hardy Beverages, highlighted Hardy’s latest innovation—HTWO, a hydrogen-infused water that is gaining widespread recognition for its potential health bene ts.
Commissioner McWhorter lauded Hardy for her role in driving economic growth in Memphis and for her dedication to innovation in the beverage sector. e event underscored Hardy’s status as a trailblazer and a powerful force in the industry.
TSD Photojournalist Gary S. Whitlow was on hand to catch the scene — and to drink better water. Check out these images!
Beverage entrepreneur Carolyn Chism Hardy explains the science behind her new hydrogen-infused drink “HTWO” to Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. McWhorter’s stop in Memphis was the first on his Black Business Month tour.
Carolyn Hardy tours her beverage plant with Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter during his stop in Memphis to celebrate Black Business Month. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)
City, State and Local dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the work of Carolyn Chism Hardy, and her new beverage HTWO during Black Business Month.
Thirsty? Dehydrated? Memphis business icon Carolyn Chism Hardy has your “HTWO” right here.
School Board to Consider Whitehaven High STEM Building Funding
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
A bid to fund the remaining $2.3 million on a proposed $10 million STEM lab at Whitehaven High School is in the hands of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, a er county commissioners were informed of a planned resolution to resolve the gap during the Monday, August 12 meeting.
“Tomorrow, my colleagues and I…we will be submitting a board resolution to ensure that the previous administration’s commitment is funded for a total of $2.3 million,” said Althea Greene, school board chair.
Greene was joined by fellow board members Keith Williams and Stephanie Love during the announcement. Together, they comprise three of the ve votes needed for a resolution to pass.
ere are nine members on the board.
e outgoing chair also assured members that the resolution would be passed by the board by the next commission meeting. A er introducing the resolution to board members today, a special meeting will be held on Aug. 20.
e majority of the total – $1.3 million – will come from allocations of the previous superintendent, Joris Ray. e cost of a storm shelter will come from the MSCS’s reserve fund balance. e outlays were previously approved by county commissioners.
Whitehaven High School
e education fund balance is strictly used to support the maintenance of e ort. If any funds remain, they are distributed to various schools. e money can then be used for projects, like the STEM lab.
“We needed to get this right and not the Shelby County Commission,” said Greene.
Like several board members, Green
lost her bid for reelection on Aug. 6.
Despite promises from the previous administration – including a promise to fund the di erence – new Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins balked at her predecessor’s pledge.
“I was sitting on this board when that $1.3 million got passed. I voted for it for the schools,” said former Commissioner Eddie Jones, who is now County Probate Clerk. “And then, to have a superintendent come in two years later and don’t want to do it…it’s very disrespectful for this board.
“In the same way that when you’re o this board, things that you passed, not to go through…and the body approved it,” Jones continued. “How did we get here? at’s how we got here.”
Feagins took the post on April 1. Meanwhile, planning stages for the long-awaited project began in 2016.
Moreover, the proposal was sidetracked in 2018, when a new state law
required a storm shelter to be built at the proposed facility. e pandemic lengthened the pause.
e resolution was put back on the front burner during the Aug. 6 Budget & Finance Committee meeting by Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr.
Nevertheless, it was also deferred during that meeting, a er chairwoman
Miska Clay-Bibbs guaranteed the money was in the school board’s co ers.
“ ank you, Chair Bibbs, for saying…’ at money is at Hollywood. at’s where it needs to come from,” said Greene. “ anks for pushing us to do what we were elected to do.”
If the board fails in its e ort on Aug. 20, Ford, Jr. vowed to bring the item up at the Aug. 26 meeting.
However, county funding for public education must be split among its eight school districts. e metric is based on average daily attendance. If commissioners passed a funding resolution, an additional $600,000 would need to be
“I was sitting on this board when that $1.3 million got passed. I voted for it for the schools. And then, to have a superintendent come in two years later and don’t want to do it… it’s very disrespectful for this board.
— Shelby County Probate Clerk Eddie Jones
included. It would go to the Creative and Performing Arts school at Overton High, the county’s other school system.
Prior to the discussion, several Whitehaven residents – including students and teachers – spoke on behalf of the e ort, which has broad bi-partisan support from the commission.
If the resolution passes, an additional pledge of $300,000 will come from Elvis Presley Enterprises. A er a few t’s are crossed, and i’s dotted, construction can begin.
Groundbreaking began in April.
In addition to a STEMnasium, the planned facility would feature 12 classrooms for instructors to aid students in A.P. and Dual Enrollment classes in biology, chemistry, calculus and college algebra. Computer science and coding classes will also be o ered.
If approved, the project is expected to take a year to complete.
e bulk of the funding for the public-private partnership – around $7 million – has been raised through donors. e money for the partnership is planned to be administered by local nonpro t SchoolSeed. Montgomery Martin Contractors have been hired for the build-out.
An artist’s rendering of the new Whitehaven High School STEM building, showcasing the modern design that will soon house state-of-the-art facilities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
■■ COMMUNITY Housing and Hope in Orange Mound
New homes construction bring more than shelter
By Lee Eric Smith Interim Editor
Carl Strong wasn’t exactly invited to the groundbreaking ceremony for four new homes on Semmes Avenue in Orange Mound. But he had a front row seat — it was happening right across the street as he sat on the porch. And admittedly, he wasn’t really thinking about becoming a homeowner. But now?
“I got to get me one of them,” said Strong, 59. “I ain’t never owned a home. It would be a great accomplishment, y’know what I’m saying? Especially at the age I am.”
Strong’s sentiment captures the aspirations of many in Orange Mound, where the dream of homeownership has long been out of reach for too many. But now, thanks to a collaboration between United Housing, Inc., the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and local nonpro t My Cup of Tea, that dream is becoming more attainable.
Four single-story houses, designed by local architects at Self+Tucker, will o er both three-bedroom, two-bathroom and two-bedroom, one-bathroom layouts, all built to ADA standards to ensure accessibility. Priced between $85,000 and $120,000, the homes are intended for low-to-moderate income families, with income caps on who can buy them — $45,000 per year for single adults; $75,000 for a family of four. e income cap is required because the project is being subsidized by the City of Memphis, said Amy Scha lein, Executive Director of United Housing, Inc., who is spearheading the development, and says the city is in desperate need for more “in ll real estate development.”
“We’re 35,000 units short of a ordable housing,” Scha lein noted. “We can’t meet that need by building on
“I got to get me one of them.
“I ain’t never owned a home. It would be a great accomplishment, y’know what I’m saying?” — Carl Strong
farmland outside the city. We have to work within existing neighborhoods like Orange Mound, where the need is greatest.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young, who was Director of Housing and Community Development earlier in his career, is intimately familiar with Memphis Housing shortage, noting in his remarks that more than 70 percent of Memphis’ housing stock is more than 50 years old, and that the city needs new construction in its older neighborhoods.
“ ere are plenty of cheap places to live. But the question is, do we have plenty of quality a ordable housing options in our city?” Young said. “I’m really pushing our administration to
Memphis’ housing department, stressed that the city needs more celebrations like this.
“Homeownership is so key to our city. It’s very important to our division,” she said, directing people to a homeownership dashboard on the city website. “It takes nancial literacy and preparedness. But we want people to really think about strategies and places and ways to help bolster homeownership and get people ready for it.”
make sure that we’re holding landowners accountable. It’s time out for sitting on land, waiting on a return 20 years from now. People need results right now.”
Ashley Cash, who currently leads
Land for the development was donated by My Cup of Tea, a local nonpro t that employs disadvantaged women in Orange Mound. Founder Carey Moore and her husband originally bought the lot with the idea of expanding their business, which employs local women. But as the years passed, their vision evolved.
“Others can now feel the sense of pride, dignity and respect” that goes with home ownership, said longtime Orange Mound resident Cheryl Henderson, right. (Photos: Lee Eric Smith/Tri-STate Defender)
Carey Strong, founder of local nonprofit My Cup of Tea, donated the property where United Housing will build four new homes. “Orange Mound is always a little overlooked,” she said. “We wanted to be part of the solution.”
■■ COMMUNITY
“We’re 35,000 units short of affordable housing. We can’t meet that need by building on farmland outside the city. We have to work within existing neighborhoods like Orange Mound, where the need is greatest.”
— Amy Schaftlein, Executive Director of United Housing, Inc.
“We knew the conditions many of our employees lived in were deplorable,” Moore said. “I believe in loving my neighbor. And I didn’t feel like I had made enough of an impact where neighborliness was needed.
“My husband and I have been in Memphis for four generations,” Moore continued. “Orange Mound always seems to be a little overlooked. We wanted to be part of the solution for Orange Mound. United Housing came along and it all just kind of fell into place.”
is isn’t the rst time that My Cup of Tea and United Housing have made a di erence in Orange Mound, though. Just ask Cheryl Henderson.
Henderson has lived, worked, and served for much of her life. Growing up in the neighborhood, she fondly recalls her parents purchasing their rst home in 1969 not far from the Semmes site — an experience that instilled in her a sense of pride, dignity, and respect.
Decades later, in 2020, Cheryl had the opportunity to purchase her own home in the same neighborhood, a moment she describes as evoking those same powerful feelings. But remember those older homes Mayor Young was talking about?
“Mine was one of them,” Henderson told the crowd. “And I needed renovations. And so United Housing, with their renovation program and their low-interest loans, allowed me to renovate the home. So between My Cup of Tea and United Housing, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Because others in our community can feel this same sense of pride, dignity, and respect.”
A er the ceremony, when the shovels
and hard hats were put away, Carl Strong lingered on his porch, watching as the crowd began to disperse. Normally, he’s afraid for children on the street because of speeding cars.
“ is housing thing that they got going on, maybe it’ll stop all that,” he said.
“You know, I’m hoping it’ll stop most of that crime stu too.”
And he’s still trying to wrap his head around “this housing thing” happening right outside his front door — how it’s gonna work, and his place in it.
“Four houses? On this? How they gonna t?” he said. “Are they Section 8?”
I told him the houses were for purchase, not rent.
“Well, I’m disabled,” he sighed. “I’m on disability, so that’s probably out of my league, then.”
I told him the houses were being built to accommodate disabilities.
“Maybe you should give it a shot,” I said.
“Maybe I will,” Strong said.
Civic leaders including Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington, Amy Schaftlein of United Housing, Memphis Councilwoman Janika White, and other leaders are all smiles at the site of four new homes to be built in Orange Mound.
