Regularly, one will find posts on social media saying “Herenton ran the City into the ground”. But did he? Such posts don’t seem relevant to the current environment as Dr. Herenton left the Mayor’s office 15 yrs ago. Besides, there have been others at the City of Memphis helm, for years, since Herenton’s departure.

Then again, it is a fact that Herenton was picked as Municipal Leader of the year in 2002 by American City and County Magazine. The award credited Herenton with solid fiscal management, downtown and riverfront development and the recruitment of the Grizzlies to Memphis (Commercial Appeal). And a scan of the Commercial Appeal database will reveal Herenton was in the Superintendent finalist mix in New York City and Chicago, with Atlanta offering him the top school job that Herenton finally did not accept. So why was Herenton so widely recognized across the nation?

Anyway, I don’t recall Memphis being civicly off as much as it is now during Herenton’s Mayoral tenure. But I am no expert as I lived elsewhere and was in and out of Memphis during the Herenton Administration. Dr. Herenton, “Doc”, “King Willie” pops up around town from time to time. Might be a good time to check in with him. Who knows? Herenton might even make a good Taxpayer Justice Institute Board member. But back to the original question. Did Herenton run the City into the ground? Let’s find out.

A survey was taken of historic peer city economic development performance during the Herenton and post Herenton years. Using the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Quarterly Census Employment Wage survey, percentage growth, across the categories of business establishments, employment, total wages, and annual wages was measured for Memphis Shelby County. That percentage growth was compared with that of the following city counties: Birmingham, Indianapolis, Louisville, New Orleans, Kansas City, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Milwaukee.

During the Herenton years, Memphis experienced above average economic development prosperity when compared with 12 other peer cities. The table results above show above average performance, across categories, during the Herenton years and below average economic development performance post Herenton. A ranking of 7 is average.

Using the FBI Crime Data Explorer a survey of violent crime was taken at the Memphis Police Department agency level. Violent crime incidents were then divided by the City of Memphis population of that year to calculate violent crime per 100k population. The Herenton years averaged 1,707 violent crime incidents per 100k population. Post Herenton years average is 1,975.

Herenton struggled with high violent crime rates but at rates 13.6% less than the post Herenton years.

With changing standards and tests, historical comparative education data back to Herenton’s Memphis City Schools superintendency is harder to come by. At the same time, a June 11, 1990, Commercial Appeal article reveals the gap between the Memphis City Schools urban system versus the Shelby County suburban system. The gap was related to, at the time, the 9^th grade Tennessee Proficiency Test with 73% Memphis City School students passing and 87.9% in Shelby County (Commercial Appeal). That lower 1990 Memphis urban disparity is 17.9% from their suburban counterpart. Compare that disparity to the current lower Memphis urban vs Shelby suburban middle school disparity of 65% (Taxpayer Justice).

Dr. Herenton appears to have produced a more competitive student product than that of the current post Herenton era.

Herenton used tax incentives as a tool, to successfully drive above average economic growth. Every tool has its season. And based on the post Herenton outcomes, the season for excessive tax incentives has passed (Shelby County Assessor). Many Herenton era tax incentives, during the post Herenton era were renewed, breaking the public contract that promised property tax windfalls upon tax incentive expiration. Herenton’s secret sauce with higher economic outcomes may have been a result of his education and workforce development expertise and being able to influence better workforce development outcomes from his Mayoral seat.

Herenton too struggled with high violent crime rates but at a lower level. Memphis urban educational outcomes were also more competitive with their suburban counterparts during the Herenton era. So, did Herenton run the City into the ground? Not hardly…

CHECK THE FACTS

BLS. QCEW - https://www.bls.gov/cew/

Commercial Appeal. 11/14/2002. Noted Magazine Picks Herenton as Municipal Leader of the Year.

Commercial Appeal. Database Archive. https://www.proquest.com/hnpthecommercialappeal?accountid=53938

Commercial Appeal. June 11,1990. Scores https://www.proquest.com/hnpthecommercialappeal/pagelevelimagepdf/2657265198/pagelevelImagePDF/C02824FAB114EB5PQ/1?t:lb=t&accountid=53938&sourcetype=Historical%20Newspapers

FBI Crime Data Explorer. https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/query

Shelby County Assessor. 2023 Special Report on PILOT Incentives. https://1drv.ms/b/c/229429ba69455723/ESNXRWm6KZQggCIJjgAAAAABn_zawwXVYN48L60uchfn7g?e=je9uyh

Taxpayer Justice Institute. K12. https://taxpayerjustice.net/k12-data/