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Why ‘New Chicago’ says ‘No’ to Memphis 3.O

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Memphis 3.0. is a proposed land use and development plan envisioned as a 20-year road map. With several dozen North Memphis residents on hand for “a show of force,” the Memphis City Council on Tuesday put off its initial vote on the plan for two weeks, pending a community meeting.

Published

8 years ago

March 24, 2019

Oakland Post

By Karanja A. Ajanaku, The New Tri-State Defender
kajanaku@tsmemphis.com

Dr. Carnita Atwater, representing the New Chicago Community Development Corporation, was about 50 minutes into her Monday press conference in North Memphis when a television reporter interrupted. He asked if the bottom line was that she was just upset for having been left out of the Memphis 3.0. plan.

Atwater took the question in stride, having heard the essence of it before and fully expecting to hear again.

It’s not about me. We are upset, she said, pressing that the people standing with her represented multiple groups with deep-rooted interests in the area. A plan had evolved from those interests and they are not reflected in Memphis 3.0, she said.

Memphis 3.0. is a proposed land use and development plan envisioned as a 20-year road map. With several dozen North Memphis residents on hand for “a show of force,” the Memphis City Council on Tuesday put off its initial vote on the plan for two weeks, pending a community meeting.

Thus far, City administrators don’t see things the way Atwater and her associates do. They point out that Atwater and her group attended hearings where the Memphis 3.0 plan was discussed.

Atwater does not dispute that she has attended meetings. She recalled introducing Mayor Jim Strickland – by invitation – at one of the sessions. Having attended and taken time to read the 495-page document is why she so vehemently protests going forward with it.

Standing outside the City Council Chambers after Tuesday’s vote to delay, Atwater said the group is open to the upcoming meeting.

“I think we need a community comprehensive plan, but let the plan include all of the citizens, not just a few…When we looked at the plan, we did not have the funding [for the North Memphis area]. You can’t revitalize the community without funding New Chicago, Walker Homes and other African-American communities. We have our own revitalization plan that they did not put into Memphis 3.0.”

Putting an emphasis on green space, bicycle and walking trails and more environmental assessments won’t cut it for those areas, Atwater said.

“We want TIFF, we want TDZ, we want incentives, we want capital funding, we want home development and we also want community builders grants…We have not received those in 30 to 40 years…

“All we talk about is new development. Development for who? Building up and not out, that’s new apartments for the creative class. Who are the creative class? Mostly young, white millennials. What about the community that’s suffering?”

Radio personality Michael Adrian Davis was among those aligned with Atwater and the North Memphis residents at Monday’s press conference and again at Tuesday’s council meeting. He told council members that he read Memphis 3.0.

“This is a major deal,” he said. “I think it is too important for us to rush this. Two years invested is cool, but there needs to be more time invested…

“Many people are living day-to-day and just make ends meet. Many people in the African-American community aren’t really thinking 5, 10, 15 years ahead and that’s where you guys come in,” Davis said. “I would suggest that we table this and allow us to saturate the community with this plan.”

Having looked at the plan, Davis said he noticed the absence of specific funding and investment for the North Memphis area.

“We don’t need Starbucks over there, we just need Joe’s coffee shop… We need the ability to provide for ourselves and allow whites to come into our neighborhood and buy from us as we have done through this entire city for all of our history.”

Before the council was a request to approve the plan on the first of three required readings. Following a motion by City Councilman Berlin Boyd, the council voted to delay action at least until a community meeting can be held for the North Memphis area.

Doug McGowen, the city’s chief operating officer, briefly noted that there had been hearings on the plan in North Memphis.

“We’ve been waiting 38 years for a comprehensive plan,” he said, adding that a two-week delay was “not too much to ask.”

City officials say 15,000 people had input into the plan. Atwater and her group want to see the evidence of that. They assert having 10,000 returned questionnaires of their own regarding the Memphis 3.0. plan.

The first question asks whether the person filling it out knows anything about the Memphis 3.0 plan. “No,” is the predominant response, Atwater said, pointing out that the Internet was used heavily to take in comments about Memphis 3.0 and that New Chicago and other such areas have limited access to the Internet.

If the City Council ultimately embraces Memphis 3.0, Atwater said the “fight will be on.” She envisions a multi-million dollar lawsuit, maybe even a billion dollars.

That figure caused a gruff from a member of the press corps on Monday.

“Why Not? Don’t you think we are worth it?” she asked.

Atwater said opposition to Memphis 3.0 is not an anti-Strickland move. She asserted that New Chicago has been getting shortchanged for years that predate Strickland and that other elected officials that represent the area have not stepped up aggressively or consistently.

Research and documentation is a big part of the lexicon for Atwater. There were pages and pages of documents spread out on tables at the Monday press conference. The documents note efforts to secure grants from local funding bodies and, she said, back up her claim that one such application (from her) was reported not received when it indeed had been submitted.

At its core, Memphis 3.0 is structured to foster gentrification, she said. Others have raised concerns about gentrification, she said, producing two college-level studies probing that in Memphis.

Do your homework, she said. “We’ve done ours.”

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.