The 901: Is Memphis fumbling the restart of utility disconnections?

Good Monday morning from Memphis, where St. Jude just got its largest commitment in the hospital's history. More on that in a sec, but first...

Barring an act of God or (less likely) the Memphis City Council, the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division will restart utility disconnections today after taking a two-week break.

The raw numbers are staggering: As of last week, MLGW had more than 18,000 customers on the chopping block, with the largest concentrations in ZIP codes in Frayser and Raleigh as reported by our Sam Hardiman. It's hard to say how many of those customers are unable to pay or just haven't paid yet. But financial help is available: the city recently gave the Metropolitan Interfaith Association (MIFA) $2.5 million to distribute for utility assistance to start. MLGW is also offering payment plans.

After doing the right thing and suspending cut-offs during the pandemic, the city is now trying to figure out how to bring disconnections back in the most humane way possible.

It hasn't gone very smoothly.

Exhibit A: MIFA only received the $2.5 million for utility assistance a week before cut-offs began on Aug. 24. Also, out of more than 9,000 customers who were disconnected in the period between Aug. 24 and Sept. 1, all but 517 were reconnected. That could indicate that many people are only finding out about plan options and assistance after the lights go out. There are also reports of broken links to online assistance forms and some county customers are reportedly being told to pick up applications in person. [Correction: An earlier version of this column incorrectly said cut-offs resumed Aug. 28 when it was actually Aug. 24. Mea culpa.]

What's really tragic about this situation, though, as Sam's story shows, is that the utility disconnections are affecting Memphians in some of the city's poorest ZIP codes:

To that point, here's City Council District 1 member Rhonda Logan, whose district includes parts of Frayser and Raleigh:

One of the major reasons for large energy bills and the high energy burden in Memphis is old homes using a lot of electricity. 

"We have a lot of students who need this. They have to be able to log on as well as parents that are working," Logan said. Logan spent time Friday contacting neighborhood watch groups, pastors and other organizations that form a safety net in her district and handing out information for those looking for utility assistance. 

So, what's the solution to this thorny problem?

Well, the obvious answer is to stop disconnections until the city, county and MLGW have launched an aggressive and widespread marketing campaign to inform people about their options, especially in areas with higher energy burdens. That's something they should have been doing months or weeks ahead of the restart of disconnections, frankly. Logan also wants to see a streamlined process for people to get assistance and for more city money to go toward weatherizing old homes to reduce electricity bills.

But the thornier problem — which preceded COVID-19 but will be made worse by it — is that keeping the lights on is a challenge for Memphians in the best of times. That's a problem the city will be wrestling with for years after this pandemic ends.

St. Jude gets largest commitment ever

Memphis' St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this morning announced that it has received its largest commitment ever: $100 million over 10 years from Domino's.

St. Jude plans to use the funds to build The Domino’s Village, a $110 million project that will expand the free housing the hospital provides to patients and their families, our Max Garland reports. Construction on the facility, at 361 N. Third St., starts sometime this fall.

Check out Max's story for more details about the building, but here's Richard Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of St. Jude’s fundraising and awareness organization ALSAC, talking about the significance of the mammoth commitment:

"This new, generous gift is the largest commitment in the history of our organization, and every Domino's employee, franchisee and customer should be proud to be part of this selfless act of making the world a better, more compassionate place,” he said. “The Domino's Village will provide a home-away-from-home for the thousands of kids and families who come to St. Jude from around the world. They will forever be transformed by the generosity of Domino's in their greatest time of need."

Central Gardens offers virtual 'Detour'

This year, instead of its annual "Home Tour," Central Gardens will play host to a virtual, social distancing-friendly "Central Gardens Home Detour," our John Beifuss reports.

In other words, you can drive, bike or walk by the historic homes, but you can't go in.

John has more on this, but here's the map, complete with pictures and historical details:

Commission welcomes new chairman

As Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright pointed out on Twitter this morning, the commission is under new management, as of today: Eddie Jones is its new chairman.

Just to give a brief, biological sketch: Jones is a lifelong Memphian and former police officer who now works as a supervisor in the city of Memphis' code enforcement office. On the commission since 2014, his district includes Hickory Hill and Whitehaven.

The Democrat's chairman pro tempore is Republican Brandon Morrison.

What else is happening in the 901

• For subscribers: Our Ted Evanoff continues his look at how Memphis is faring in the Age of COVID with a look at the local banking industry, which is apparently bracing for a deeper downturn. (Not a subscriber? Please consider becoming one.)
• The University of Memphis plans to phase in on-campus classes starting Sept. 21, our Laura Testino reports.
• Our Max Garland previews Memphis-based FedEx's first quarter earnings report.
• From the Sports Desk: Despite a COVID-19 outbreak threatening to derail the Memphis Tigers football team's schedule, the team is ranked No. 15 in a coaches poll and No. 16 by the AP, our Evan Barnes reports. Evan also reports that the Memphis Grizzlies have a new assistant coach. Meanwhile, our Corinne Kennedy reports that Memphis 901 FC lost 3-2 to North Carolina on Sunday night. And Khari Thompson reports that a four-star basketball player (who has already committed to LSU) will transfer to Houston to play for its new coach, former NBA player Mike Miller.
• A new Zaxby's is taking the space of the Danver's on Kirby near Poplar, our Corinne Kennedy reports. Also, our Jennifer Chandler recommends the fries in her review of the restaurant Edge Alley in Downtown's Edge District.
• Will Downtown Memphis' Main Street Mall lose its Walgreens? The landlord is committing to a big renovation in a bid to keep the store, Corinne reports.

The Fadeout: Graham Burks' 'Trapped'

Fading us out this morning, here's "Trapped," a recent tune from young (11 years old, per his Soundcloud), up-and-coming Memphis musician Graham Burks...

Like The Fadeout? Check out The 901's Spotify playlist. Want to submit a recommendation of your own? Reach me by email, address below.

Columnist Ryan Poe writes The 901, a running commentary on all things Memphis. Reach him at poe@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @ryanpoe.

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