TODAY’S TALMUD VERSE
I agree with the Nov. 30 guest column by Kevin Mireles urging Shelby Farms to be more inviting with its restaurant space. As the original chairman of the group that prevented the sale of Shelby Farms in 1974, I think this argument needs to go one step further.
There is a huge apartment/commercial project with a “boutique hotel” proposed on Mullins Station to the north. It will generate an enormous amount of traffic, thus requiring the huge road expansion and a cloverleaf interchange on Walnut Grove just west of Farm Road.
The scenic vistas one sees driving through Shelby Farms will be destroyed by this unnecessary road...This project and this road are way out of scale and size for what the park and area deserve. The surroundings of the great parks of this world require much care and thoughtful design that this project shows none.
The project is being given all kinds of TIFs and other tax incentives. If I were an apartment owner, I would be up in arms having government subsidize a competitor like that.
Shelby Farms can be one of the great parks of this world; however, by adding roads and projects like this to its surroundings, might we wish to change the name to “Shelby Fairgrounds”? The public needs to rise up and protect our jewel and stop this government-subsidized fiasco.
John C. Vergos, Memphis
Are they athletes or students?
The University of Memphis administration, and the athletic department in particular, rarely miss the opportunity to use the rather awkward term “student athletes” when describing players. However, at this year’s Seniors Day, as usual, they introduced the athletes by noting only their height, weight and hometowns.
Interestingly, the support staff seniors who were introduced all had academic majors, unlike, apparently, the football players. Using only such statistics does little to dispel the impression that the university cares little about academics when it comes to football players. Do those guys even go to class?
Harry Freeman, Memphis
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1
LETTERS