December 18, 2016

Jim Strickland
Mayor, City of Memphis
267 Ridgefield Rd.
Memphis,TN 38111
Jack Soden
Elvis Presley Enterprises
9884 Houston Oak Dr.
Germantown, TN 38139
It has been our focus to assist in the resolution of the many difficulties that
plague our city. Our meeting with the mayor was met with a lack of enthusiasm
for the participation of citizens, a rejection of ideas, and condescension. The
mayors use of the same people, to solve the problems that plagued our city 50
years ago, is a sure recipe for failure.
Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) and the City of Memphis colluded in the violation
of the First Amendment rights of many citizens by not allowing them passage on
a public, Federally funded street. On August 15 of this year, the Memphis Police
Department (MPD), being directed by EPE, acted as private security for EPE by
ensuring that citizens were not allowed access to Elvis Presley Boulevard. When
confronted with their decision to violate the law of the land, each entity,
shamelessly, participated in the buffoonery of a comedy routine by each, quickly,
pointing the finger of blame at the other.
We were incredulous at the military equipment deployed by the MPD in a show of
force against citizens, old men and old women, and even children. This act rivals
our outrage that the mayor and his MPD even discussed the use of water
cannons and dogs on mere citizens on the I-40 bridge, a tactic that we thought
we would NEVER see employed again in the South!
EPE has made hundreds of millions of dollars in the community of Whitehaven,
which, not coincidently, happens to be nearly all black. However, the investments
of EPE in that community are zilch! What relationships do you have with black
businesses in Whitehaven? How many contracts for your many needs are
awarded to black businesses?
EPE does not pay its employees a livable wage, which fuels the cycle of poverty.
Is it your desire to ensure that the crime rate escalates with your level of low
wages? Does it concern you that the Federal government must step in to
supplement your employees income with food stamp and subsidized housing?

Would you rather that we just DIE, and decrease the surplus population?
The Coalition of Concerned Citizens