Stan's Special People Spotlight on WDIA
Guest(s) were Mr. Johnny Mosely, Founding Chairman of Citizens for Better Service, and Tennessee State Representative, Justin J. Pearson.
Both discussed all things MATA.
Guest(s) were Mr. Johnny Mosely, Founding Chairman of Citizens for Better Service, and Tennessee State Representative, Justin J. Pearson.
Both discussed all things MATA.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Memphis born and bread, walking the walk and talking and talk.
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show, weekday mornings from sixty
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis, ten
seventy wd IA.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Yeah, it still is a good will and good times
all right, Thank you so much for being everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
What a beautiful daighty is man, Friday, September five, Whoo,
look good out there, Memphis weather. Let me get to
it before I get to my special guests. Man, look
at it afternoon thunderstorms. You couldn't tell it about looking
at it now, but it's untapped. Maybe late late, maybe
into the early evening. But I don't even think that
(00:37):
we only have a thirty percent chance.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
To get wet.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I tip to today stops at eighty, make it ninety five.
Loose that I will about about around sixty five somewhere
like that right out of Memphis. Let me look at
it right? Kind of haze and sunshine? Was it like
when you came in? It was it kind of hazy sunshine?
It was sunshine and its abundance. Okay, let's just call
it a parly cloudy octagenarian. Ms Mola, You ain't no Occageniano.
(01:08):
All right, eighty degrees in the city. It's beautiful. Shout
out to everybody. Hit it out to gonna be at
the Zoo Rendezvous this evening and Memphis Zoo should be
really nice. I'm looking forward to it all right. In
the studio this morning, my very special guest. You've heard
him on the show. I've had him all before, mister
Johnny Moseley, the founding chairman Citizens for Better Service.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
How am I doing so far? Yes? Yes, Citizens for
Better Service?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
And man, I you know, and I had to think
about what's going on with Memphis Area Transit Authority, the organization,
and man, I'm I'm quite frankly, I'm gonna tell you myself.
I'm just a little appalled of what I'm hearing and
what I'm seeing and what's transpiring.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So we got to talk.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Six out of nine last I checked, not what number
were down to now or four left?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Four left?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Nieve out nine? So a five out of five out
of nine have stepped down, So we have four left. Yes,
I know you, mister Moseley. Have you know you You
go to these meetings, you get the emails, you on
the list, you on the three and you you. You
are somewhat intertwined, if you will, about the ongoings that matter.
(02:33):
You go to the board meetings from time to time,
and and and I bet at the last meeting, I
don't know if you were there or not, but I
assume you were. There was no indication, nothing to indicate
that the board members were stepping down.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Am I right?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
You're right? All right, you're right.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And and so if you would, please, mister Moseley, tell
us the board members who are remaining, if you could.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
The four remaining board memoirs are sent to your Bailey
dander upon A Maya Sittler Cigars and branded Brandon Ardendale.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
All right, we'll get back to those names a little bit.
I only asked for you to do the the ones
who are still on, you know, because I can think
that's what's important. The ones who was sticking it out
when things go wrong, is they sometimes will.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
This is true.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Sounds like the anonymous poet there. So they didn't quit.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
For lack of a better word, I guess they said almost,
we're gonna stick this thing out. So I didn't mean
to y'all all the way right in it. Let me say,
first of all, let me thank you for being here.
Let me let me rewind this thing. It's my pastor
say rewinding past press play. Thank you for being in
(04:01):
miss most thank you. You know I'm just so yeah, yeah,
just so you get to get into it.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I don't like you know, I don't like to wait
too long.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Uh, And I appreciate you covering out some time to
be with us on a beautiful Friday morning. You could
be in a where in the universe, but you chose
w D I A. That's right, And I know you could.
You know, you could talk on and on and on.
But I got to ask you. How's a family. Everybody's
doing well by doing good? Yes, I got a question
for you. All your parents still living?
Speaker 4 (04:27):
No, my parents passed away in a few years to bank,
soorry to hear that.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
But we know where they are, right, you know what
it is.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
They're still discipline me sort of speaking heaven.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
That's right. They're looking at it.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
They're looking down. I think they proud of me, but
I know, uh. They they're saying, boy, be quiet, don't
say everything.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You know what I'm saying. Just give a little some something,
make them come back next time. The reason why I
asked them man. I just I probably generally asked all
my guests that man, guess man, because if without them,
it's on you.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
That's in Manhattan. Wrote a song There's no meat without you.
Without Mom and Pop, dadd and Mama. You know, it
ain't your ain't you?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Right? Mother was a Church of got In Christ missionary.
Dad was a sanitation worker for fifty years. Home Marge
for dignity in nineteen sixty eight. So I have a
great history and a great foundation. Man.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
That's a great segue, man. So in other words, you
gave me the intro, and you gave me a little
background about yourself. It's in your man, you know, Church
of got In Christ, right right? And Mama you know,
and dad was there and they saw you and they
raised you. And now what made you so connected? How
(05:42):
did you get so connected or involved if you will,
with the Millisaria transit Authority and find out what's going on,
and just it seems like you're entrenched in this work.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah, basically it was. It was a peer accident. Over
thirty uh two years ago. I was asked to attend
a meeting with some bus riders, and at that particular time,
(06:12):
there were some things going on. It was not as
major as what's going on today, but there were some
things going on, and someone mentioned that perhaps the bus
riders needed a group to speak on their behalf. And
I got drafted into this, and I thought it was
just going to be just short term, but it ended
(06:32):
up in the long term. And I guess because I
go back to my parents. They were the one who
taught me that if to merchants given, merchants required, and
that you had to give back to the community and
you have to look out those who were less fortunate
than you are, because we were the less fortunate growing up.
(06:53):
And and I mentioned my dad was a sanitation worker
and even though he was a full time sanitation worker,
we still they go on food STEMP. So we understand
the pain and the suffering that people are going through.
And so it's just a natural progressive.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Okay, what in your opinion, mister Moseley, would get Transit
back on track, you know, particularly after these board members,
of some of them you said five, I guess, have resigned.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And what what what will it take?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Do you get state representatives or you get elected officials
involved or are they involved or do they need to
step in? How does this work man, how do they
get back on.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Track well with the resignation of the board. And let
me say about this board. I thought that this board
was doing a fantastic job. They was asking questions, they
were getting deep into what was going on matter, and
I thought that they were heading towards the right direction
and tried to get this public transportation system in order.
(07:58):
The fact that the rest of nation occurred was definitely
shocked to me. There was no indication. And I had
just had a meeting with the former cheerleader of the
board and a few days before the matter board met.
Give me some name, Emily, Yeah, yeah, it was this job.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Is his wife? Okay, how are you doing? Good morning?
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Right?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And so we met. When I said meet, we I'm
talking about the Citizen for Better Service and the Memphis
Bus Rider Union met with her prior to the Memphis
Area Transit thor of the board and meeting in the
regular meeting, and there was no indication that there was
going to be in the resonation. And then a few
days later we were at the regular meeting and there's
(08:46):
still was no indication that this board was going to
members of this board was going to resign and for
us to receive were on August twenty eight that that
you had five about a nine members resigned.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So the city, So the city has accepted the resignation.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Right a city except.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
That's important, you know, you have to accept your resignation.
You just say I'm out of here. But okay, So
that means a mayor young and his staff against administration.
They've gone through you know the process, right, right, they
are out right, you know.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And it was I run there. It happened on August
and twenty eight days. You know, that was an anniversary
of doctor Martin Luther King speech I have a dream speech.
And for that particular day, it was not about a dream.
It was about a nightmare because we were starting and
it sort of put us in a in a state
(09:40):
of confusion as where as bus riders who were calling
us and asking us what was going on with the
leadership with the board, and we were just in a
dog just like everybody else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
So let me ask you this, who are some of
the other folks you're working with? So I guess it's
safe to say for me to say you are an advocate, right,
you know.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
You you are.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You're genuinely concerned, right, but you something you're kind of
like a spokesperson, if you will, or a concern advocate.
I guess some names some other folks who are helping
you or you I don't know if you call it
a team or who's on your staff or who else
is involved with Citizens for Better Services.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well, but you know this better service is actually made
up of concern people, uh, in the in the community.
But we've also have had the long term support of
of of of state Representative uh Pearson uh uh history
uh eighty six and of course in the passage of
state Representative Bible Coople. But we've also had the support
(10:39):
of Counselment ed Ford, who has who has been a
soldier with us through throughout the time that we have
been together.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
All the stuff right there, so uh, doctor Edmund Ford.
I put respect on his name, doctor actually dad.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
But also we have also had the support of Commissioner
that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So, and as you said, miss State represent Justin Pearson,
I want let me throw this out of the raid
right now. They listen to I show a lot. Uh
So if if if state represented of Justin J. Pierce,
if you listen right now, cause you turn that car
around and come up to the radio station. I want
to get a little bit more clarity on this. Uh
your if your people are listening, Uh, stay repped Justin J.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Pearson.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I wouldn't I wouldn't have I don't have a problem
with you coming up to the station. If you will.
It's not election season, psycle for him, I don't think so.
He's good. So Justin Pierce, if you listening, I'm trying
to get up here before, you know, as soon as
you can, because I want I want to tag team
on this thing or any elected official that has something
to do with this.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
All right, Okay, A enough of that, all.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Right, hold what you got A matter of fact, I'm
gonna call stay repped Justin J.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Pearson ask him if you can come up here for
a moment. Double I listen.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
We're speaking with our special guest and stand special people spotlight,
mister Johnny Moseley, the founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Is that right? Yes?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Okay, we'll be right back. We'll talk a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
All right, welcome back, everybody, Thank you so much for
being here.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Friday, September five, twenty twenty five. I'm gonna go.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Ahead and five the phone lines nine on one five three, five, nine,
three four two eight hundred and five zero three nine
three four two eight three three five three five nine
three four two. If you want to talk, as we
used to say back to they conversate with mister Johnny Mosey,
founding chairman. UH, Citizens for Better Service and we all
want better service, don't we? So better service? So if
(12:38):
you want to talk with mister Moseley, get on the
radio with me. You could do so. Phone lines are
wide open. By the way, I did hear from Stay
Representative Justin J. Pearson. UH gave me a bullet says, dang,
you're right, I am listen. I'm on my way now.
Now that isn't a that's a true blue leged official,
Miss Moses.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
He's on his way.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I'm not surprised, no, man, it's my guy right there.
So thank you Stay Represented Justin JA Pearson said he
was indeed listening. And you say he's gonna turn that
car around, come on up this wady. So hopefully we'll
hit from him at least maybe in the next He
did say he was in the Hickory Hill area at
that time, so I guess he can get on up here,
(13:20):
not not too long in the time that matter, before
we wrap things up, all right, So here's my question,
where do we go from here, mister Moseley in terms
of the Memphis Area Transfer Authority.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
That's a good question. That is of a better service
and the Memphis Bus Rider Union. We are having a
meeting today, community to meet at the African Vintage right
right there, twelve twenty five Valentine, Okay, we appreciate him
(14:00):
for allowing us to have a community meeting at this
place at three point thirty. This is an emergency meeting
because this is an opportunity for the communities to voice
their frustration, their opinion about matter and where matter need
to go. We want to hear from the general republic
(14:24):
because we know they are frustgraded about this particular issue.
They're frust graded about the fact that public transportation is
in our city is not first class public transportation, and
they want it to go to a place where they
no longer have to worry about whether or not a
bus would show up if they're standing at the bus stop,
(14:46):
where they no longer are late for jobs that they
need and they don't have to worry about their bosses
saying where we can no longer have you hear because
you're always late or you're not own up at all. Uh.
And we think that there needs to be a great
deal of public engagement uh from our elected officials, the
(15:10):
mayor and the Memphis City councilor. We need for them
to begin to talk with with the citizen of this
city and and let them know what the next step.
And I know they're saying that that they're going to
appoint a trustee to run matter until there is a
new CEO as you know. The Uh the mayor and
(15:34):
and the city councilor requested that the matter boor halket
the search for see oh because they said we came
down to the last two. They said that the search
the list was too narrow and they needed to broaden
the list. The need be refocused on key routse Uh
(15:55):
that that we get people back and forward uh to
the designation. Uh that that's just been a problem where
people are waiting for buses and the buses are on
a no show and and there need to be more
frequencies uh for the buses.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
People don't need to be waiting for a bus area out. Yeah,
it shouldn't take two hours to get downtown. Uh, you
should be able to catch a bus as I as
I say, every fifteen minutes. You go to some cities
and you see busses all over the place. I was
just in Nashville just a couple of weeks ago, and
(16:37):
I just saw too many busses that they sort of
got on my nerves because I'm from Memphis, and I
don't see these many buses out on the road, and
so you don't see that those busses and people are
frustrated and and and we need for the leaders in
the city to understand that that they are not John
(16:59):
to They are the sposed person for the least of
these And I said.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It, that's off, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Let me take calls here, w I com on the
you in the radio of Johnny Moseley and the Bell Ring.
Of course you got a question comment you're on air,
you sir, go right?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Ahare you?
Speaker 8 (17:16):
I want to know I want to know two questions,
really three. I want to know the sentiments seem more
concerned about matter than whoever own matter? And I want
to know the people that missed off all of this money,
why are they're not being forced to pay it back,
(17:36):
and uh, why don't you show them how to run
matter like you ran it?
Speaker 7 (17:40):
Because I didn't hear no problem when you ran matter?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Think you there?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Okay, So here's what it is, you know. So I'm
speaking with mister Johnny mose Thank you five. By the way,
speaking with Johnny Moseley was the founding chairman of Citizens
for Better Service, who pretty much he does each live
matter and all that. They didn't want you to run it.
Now I did ring on the show the campaign. I'm
not in that like, but look, I guess it might
(18:06):
be wishful thinking, Uh, well you got did you do?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
You have words?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Well, let me thank the caller and and he brings
up a significant point when mister where Hudson, the late
mister ware Hudson, the legendary mister where Hudson, Uh, the
president of the Memphis of your Transitthority at that particular
time for about twenty years. I believe he ran matter
(18:33):
in a way where it was very respectful and and
people were treated with a sense of human dignity. And
the fact mister Huston worked hit his way from being
a bus driver on up to being the general manager.
So he he lived the Memphis of your transitory. And yes,
(18:53):
he he has has the problems in terms of dollar
bills and the funders and I can't thing. But he
made it work because he knew that he had to
think about those people who are who who needed their
jobs and they were not making very much money. So
he said, okay, well we need to find a way
to get them back and forth to work.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yeah, let me take another phone call. If you don't mind,
let's let's go here, don't let you. Good morning, Thanks
for waiting on the radio. Your turn, Yeah, your thoughts comments.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Yeah, good good morning, brother Stan, and good morning mister Moseley.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
Yeah, I'm a I'm a fan of sand Man because
Stan believes and delivered exceptional and excellent radio the radio land.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
There you go. I added another, so you, I thank you.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
Let me let me tell you spurt and foremo, I'm
a borrow a statement from my girl, Lady p. I'm
not gonna sugarcoat this thing. Let's be clear. When a
corporate board or administrative board like that leads, it's a
(20:09):
it's a protest and the no confident vote of both
the mayor and city council. That's what it is when
a corporate board or corporate administration leads like that, it
is a no confidence vote of both the.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Mayor and city council.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
And what they were asked to do, and that was
to manage or to oversee or to be the people
who would make sure that the management was managing matter.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
The way that it should be managed.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
So Sam Harniman of David Minifaiter stated, I believe it
was last week on this week that the only power
local this week on on twenty four, the only time
the city council has over matter is the Perth dring.
The question that we should have journalists ask is how
(21:10):
do we get to that point and under whose administration
in which this happened? Because when I believe Staying you
had the interim, No, no, it was Bill had the
interim on her show. I asked that question and she
stated that the city did on matter.
Speaker 9 (21:30):
Well, if all you got is the Perth string and
you can't tell them.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What to do, what is that?
Speaker 6 (21:36):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
What is that something right that David words, mister Mosley
is your answer?
Speaker 4 (21:42):
There was a time when the City of Memphis, Ashley
ran matter. When Matter started in nineteen seventy five Prior
to that, Matter was private own, but eventually because the
private company couldn't handle it, it was passed over to
(22:06):
the city of Memphis. Somewhere down the line that became
a confusion, and then Matter ran into being managed by
a company called miss Out Transortation Management Empty, which actually
(22:26):
really managed Matter, but it is paid through tax payer money.
And it is true that they hold the screen. The
thirty million dollar for example, which was given to Matter
this year, it's true that they hold it per screen
to Matter. One of the things that Citizen for Better
(22:50):
Service and the bus Rider Union have been saying over
the years that we felt that they needed to use
use that power to put Matter in order, because even
though we did not have the confirmation until the reports
came out, we thought that there was something funny going
(23:11):
on that Matter with the money. And when the reports
that was put out by the news station and transpro
was saying that people were going to the spa and
having parties and he got the Grizzly Sweet and having
a wonderful time drinking things like Johnny Walker Black, I
didn't even know what that was. I had to call somebody,
(23:34):
well he was John to Walker Black, I said, what
the word is Johnny Walker black and so so, and
then they was using the credit card which had no
limitation on it. They were spending it and going to
unnecessary trips that even one of the former CEO, Jerry Rosefelt,
talked about. He was going to Italy and greet and
all those places, you know, just having a wonderful time.
(23:56):
And he said it was business. It sounded like it
was pleasure to me. So but but but the fact
of the matter is that is ritally the tight hold
that the city of Memphis has own matter, and and
and and till that is great, You've got to get
the fund together with Matter starts spending the money like
Matter need to use the best.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
All right, David, let me let me interrupt you here,
brother Mostley, having a mount of management contract is not
the same as ownership unless it's in the contract you
state that that is the case. So again, the question
is when did we allow that much power to that
management company or whomever it is from the power that
(24:40):
we have the city Council as mayor and the citizens
of the city. We need to have an investigation who actually,
from a legal standpoint, written owns the controls matter other
than just the city council writing them a check. And
let me tell you, I rode the bus two days ago.
And I and the reason why I even know that
(25:00):
you're on the average because I called a brother and
complained about the foolishness. Because I'm I'm asking, it's something
wrong with me. So I look at the app on
my phone, brother Mosley, to see where the eight was
in order to catch it, because I can't ride this
check the chasing system without my phone. In fact, I
got a smartphone for matter. That's where I got one.
(25:23):
I love my tip phone. But I digressed.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 6 (25:26):
So I called them up, and I say, brother, I
called m at A and they said, what's confirmed on
my app?
Speaker 7 (25:34):
They got both buses.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
They only had two buses on the eighth route and
they're both on the same end.
Speaker 10 (25:41):
Of the route.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
And so I gotta wait until that bus makes it
all the way downtown and then come.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Back and pick me out.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Who runs a bus system like that?
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah, I gotta run, David.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
But look, okay, listen, we hear you definitely, and you'll
have words after we take this break. I thank you, David,
and the other calls. I'm gonna get you in a
little bit. I'm getting a word from my front office
that State represent of Justin J. Pearson is here and
he's in the green room. So I'm gonna take a
break and we'll get him in here before we do that.
This WDI listener writes subject space m at a stan.
(26:21):
I want to know why Matter doesn't operate like I
did back in the late sixties and seventies. I used
to ride. I used to love the thirty one Crosstown.
That bus stop was right down the street from my
home and I could ride that bus all the way
past Big Sears and transfer to any line. Bring back
the thirty one Crosstown and make Matter work for Memphians.
(26:42):
Take a page from Chicago Transit Authority. They have great
bus service for Chicago ones. Signed La Harry, I want
you to think about that. Meditate on that little bit
of mister Moses. I'll be right back and get State
Representative Justin J. Pearson in the green room and we'll
have more conversation. Oh if my lines are lighting up
like a Christmas tree, like one of them big ones
in the Rockefeller Applies in New York, Man, these lines
(27:02):
are lighting up. Look he just walked in the studio
finally got him out to green room. But you state representative, Yes,
sir Justin Pearson. Man, you incredible man. I'm gonna say
that before we get into this day. You a man of
your word. What you say, man, it's all we got left.
As somebody who say back in there, I'm not in
(27:24):
our word, you got them both.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
I guess.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
That's all we got in our word.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Man, you came through. I appreciate that. Literally figured.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
You're here, absolutely heard, you heard the disparaging crime, absolutely
sounded the clarion call and look here, look what God
can do. Man, you turn that thing around. Thank you
for being here. Yes for you and mister Moseley. Man,
let me say two more important words again, thank you
for being here. Most important word we and least important I.
So it appears that's the Johnny Moseley and Justin J.
(27:58):
Pearson Show feature ring Stan Bill. I'll doubling up only
this money. Welcome to Wed. I you know, stranger representative.
Happy to be held man. I don't know how you
do it, but you do it amazing. Can I take
a phone call first of all and let you continue
sipping on your die coke and and then I take
(28:19):
a call of you.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Okay, that's coffee over there. That's the coffee. Good good?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Is that sank of it's folders or Maxwell Hall or whatever.
It's a real simple it's black and yeah, sick, don't green.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
That's been to go.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Let me go delicately the phone line and uh and
let's get another calling here w D I come on.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
You're on the left radio. Thanks for waiting. You're on
the air.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Yeah, hello, oh hello, yeah, okay, good you're alls sound
like Meredith.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
Okay, hey, thank you so much staying for letting the end.
Hello to both your guests. And it's and my favorite
just here for representative. So listen now miss the movid
you mentioned before you met with the board a couple
of times before this resignation took place. Now, I looked
up the board members and I.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
See the pictures here.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
If the elephant in the room to me, I just
have to say, because I don't know if the remaining
four board members knew about the resignation as well and
just decided not to go, or did the five white
board members get together on them on their own and
decide they're going to pull this this. I don't want
to stay cool, but you know, do this resignation because
it is ironic that the five white members are the
(29:31):
ones that left and the four black members are the
ones that standing there hanging in that there coincidence and
something to this And what were the responsibility of the
board member or were they directly in control of the
bus routes because when I looked it up, it said
that they're resigned because they have a problem with the
city interfering with the hiring of the new seat up.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
So that was the excuse that they gave for resigning.
So but that they just mind my question.
Speaker 11 (29:58):
It is a coincident that the five white members are
the ones that I think the public need to know
that are the ones that resigned. But that's not comment.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Thank you, good question, co comment words.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Well, let's let let's let's make a correction. You had
four whites resigned in one black and that black was
the cheer leader. Kay, And I still don't know what happened.
I'm I'm I'm shocked. I don't know if they got together,
(30:30):
they had conversation, private conversation about their resignation. As I
said earlier, there was no indication of what was going on,
whether or not they felt disrespected by the City of Memphis.
All I know that the former chure lady and with
the grill, gave a presentation at the at the board
(30:51):
and she talked about the frustration of picking a CEO,
and she went into detail of out how they had
one hundred candidates and it went down to eleven and
they went down to six. Three dropped out and uh.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And she.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
Confirmed or reiterate the fact that the that she was
told and the boy was told to just halt the
search because the search was too narrow.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So Representative Pearson, you at were you at that meet?
Were you at that meeting as well?
Speaker 10 (31:27):
I was at the meeting with Chairwoman Greer, Commissioner Bailey
that actually, mister Mosley, the Memphis Bus Riders Union put
on an African village and it was right ahead of
the interviews. Yes, it was the week before the interviews,
and I was going to be one of the folks
that was going to meet with the candidates the following
week as they were doing their interview in front of
the entire community. And this is a brand new matter
(31:50):
board that was instituted by Mayor Young vacated the entire
previous board, put in this new leadership under the idea
that they would be helping mat to get on the
right track. I think Emily Greer was one of the
most articulate.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
And I agree, and just.
Speaker 10 (32:07):
The extraordinary leader of the board. And so to have
her resignation, and then all these other folks as well,
who just got there, who would turn in the ship,
who were really doing the best that they could to
make matter into what we needed it to be, this
is just this is a devastating blow I think to
the progress, a lot of the progress that's been made
over the years by the community. And I give a
(32:28):
lot of credit to mister Mosley, Commissioner Bailey, Sammy Hunter
for the work that they've been doing to improve our
transportation system.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
If we don't have a.
Speaker 10 (32:36):
Good public transit system, there's no way we're going to
have a growing city. And so just to see the city,
the mayor, and the city Council operate in this way,
even though they knew this process was going on for months,
and to at the very end say you know what
stopped this? I think it's it's it's stifling to a
(32:56):
lot of the progress that's been made a.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Right, gotch I gotta take a break up A becains
the break right now you're hearing State Representative Justin J.
Pearson and of course, uh the founding chairman of Citizens
for Better Service, mister Johnny mose will be right back.
We're back, everybody. Thank you so much for being here
near the top of the hour. And it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
It was the weather pretty good, Representative Piercer, where you.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Roll up in here, absolutely beautiful, Its spectacular one looking
at you getting a little bit through this fourth floor
advantage point for the weather.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You see the.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Shadow of the you know, the top of the on
the roof, top of the shadow, and then you know
it's gotta be Yeah, man, look at the lobby. All
right there you go. All right, here we go. Let's
go straight to the phone lines. You're not past goal
to not collectwo hundred dollars. Go directly to a caller
doublet to come on you in the radio. Yeah, your turn,
you lie, Hello, you're on, Yeah, you're on.
Speaker 5 (33:48):
Yeah, okay, good.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Morning morning yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
Yes, and good morning, mister Moseley. Good morning, and thank
you for your fight for people depend on transportation from Adam.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
Thank you for your fight and.
Speaker 9 (34:06):
Uh, just keep on hanging in there.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
And good morning to mister Justin Pearson. And I have
a new name for you, mister Pearson, h Justin Johnny
on the spot. I mean you got so quick did
you take a flight?
Speaker 7 (34:28):
Did you take a flight?
Speaker 5 (34:31):
I'm centering you staying stay put that uh that that
call out for you, and I mean you were right there.
Speaker 12 (34:43):
Thank you, I tell you.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
Yeah, my question from mister Moseley. You said something that
really stood out in my mind that when mister Hudson
was in charge.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
One thing you said, what's that he was?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I lose you.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Oh you might have to call back if you can
get through, sorry about them. Let them take another call
up while that happens, right, don't need good morning you
in the radio?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Your turn? Are you there? Sam?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Male? Certainly?
Speaker 3 (35:15):
All right Jackson and he asks for your satisfaction. No,
pretty good Friday.
Speaker 7 (35:19):
So I COVID missed the mostly and then then what's up?
Speaker 9 (35:23):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (35:23):
Represented sir Pearson?
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (35:26):
Represented Pearson reminds me of the guys who on good
times and ran against Altimon Davis. You remember that guy?
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Oh yeah, maybe four represented the periods of.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Time they've both been suited and booted. They're looking like
an election official altimate or whatever. I had to take
the episode out he suited and booted of the Jackson.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Yeah, a good job. He missed mostly this meeting that
you're talking about. Uh, is it today?
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Yes, sir, it is today at three thirty at the
African Village five Valentine.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
Now, now, I'm a I'm a bus rider by choice,
not by force, and I'm always advocating for I'm going
to try to make the meeting. But are we Are
we meeting just to plan the next meeting or is
it a real meeting?
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Seriously, Well, every meeting I have is a real meeting
because I want to definitely hear from the general public.
And we have invited our elected officials to come to
this meeting. Whether or not they're going to show up,
that's that's on them. But I wanted to stand an
invitation to them out. But also I want to hear
(36:42):
directly from the public because we have been a great
little court. It's We've got to service. And the Memphis
bus riding unions have been getting calls from people all
across the city and they want to know where do
we go from here? And and definitely, I personal would
like to hear from the citizen like yourself and to
(37:04):
get an understanding.
Speaker 7 (37:05):
Yes, if I can't make the meeting, I'm for someone
outside coming in because I've been to Phoenix, I've been
to Tampa. I've been to New Orleans where the rail
goes all around the city, and I think the Phoenix
is free. Tampa is probably fifty cents or something like that.
(37:28):
But they have a modern system and those people can
really come in because we need a campaign where the
stigma about bus riding and Memphis has to go. But
you know the stigma right now, even to the people
that work there. When I go down to the bus terminal,
(37:48):
they look at me as if I'm nobody. Yes, they
look at it as if I'm poor. And that's the
way they look at me. And then when they see
me jumping a car, they you know, they changed their attitude.
Speaker 9 (38:03):
Yes, but it shouldn't be that way, yes, yes.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
And and the last point, this is a destination city
and when people.
Speaker 9 (38:14):
Come here, they shouldn't have to rent a car.
Speaker 7 (38:16):
Or or wait on the bus for three hours to
get to Graceliving.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (38:22):
And so if I can't make that meeting, can you
get those points out?
Speaker 4 (38:25):
Yes, yes, yes, And you're exactly right, and we have
focused on that too. We want the people who ride
the buses, whether you have a card, not to be
treated with a sense of human dignity and respect.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
And I wouldn't stand.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
And good you've got Josh, thank you man.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
And that is one of the issue one or many
issue at the Ministeria Transit thorder. And and the fact
of the matter is, and there was a time when
when when of course you went through the segregated period.
Uh but but there was a time afterwards where where
you had people of all races and of all uh
(39:00):
walks of life who rode the buses.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
But but now that's seemed to be gone. And and
and I think that's the problem too, because you have
some people, unfortunately who work for matter who's just there
just to pick up the paycheck and not gonna make
a different in people lives And and that has been
a big probity. In fact, I just received word that
there was a matter of board member who actually was
(39:24):
trying to ride the bus on yesterday and then she
was treated with with uh very harshly by a bus driver.
And that's not to say that all bus drivers are
that way, because you have at least more than ninety
five percent of the bus drivers who are actually caught
on their jobs. They were and they were trying to
(39:44):
get people back and forth because they're they're going they
feel in the frustration too, and and and and what
happened on yesterday. And for being to get that call,
it's like, Wow, if you treat a matter of board
member that way, just and and and she is a
board member, but you treat heard their way. Just think
about how other passengers who have no way of fighting back,
(40:04):
who do not have divorce. Because we've heard from people
who just got put off the buses for for various reasons,
of people who are standing at the bus term and
get put out even though their busses have not been
have not showed up. And we have talked about that
to the Madable and we're going to continue to speak
(40:26):
to make sure that people are treated with respect.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Represident of Piercing Words, Okay, yeah, I think thank you
for that.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
More one.
Speaker 10 (40:35):
I think the participation is really important by the public,
and I've gone to a lot of the meetings of
the past couple of years of the Memphis bus writers,
union and citizens for better service, and so we have
to engage. Nothing is going to change, nothing is going
to improve if we do not participate. And democracy isn't
just us voting right, it is our engagement in between
the process and holding elected officials accountable for the work
(40:56):
and the responsibilities that they are supposed to have and
do in order to make sure the services are adequate
and also beneficial for the broader community. I lived in
Boston for a few years and you had folks from
CEOs to city council folks all riding the bus. Right like,
public transportation isn't something that should just be for people
(41:17):
who are dependent upon it to get to their jobs
or things like that. But we have to look at
the system holistically. It's the bus routes that are going
through Box Sound Westwood all the way to the fact
that you can be out in one hundred degree weather
or thunderstorms and there's no shelters, right. That's not giving
dignity to people who are riding the bus. And we
have to start realizing this is an interrelated issue. It's
(41:40):
not just a poor people issue, it's not just this
group's issue.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
It's all of our issue.
Speaker 10 (41:46):
To address and to solve and piecemealing it and giving
this a few million here, this few million there is
not how you actually do something that is going to
positively impact and change this community.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Let me take a break before we go to break
this still the out listening rights uh in the subject
space obviously matter standing out here correctly that the CEO
or director of Matter is paid three hundred dollars plus
per hour.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
If so, how is this justified?
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Before I take a break, miss Mosley, did we was
that mentioned? Or I don't think or if we can,
you know, I'm all about transparency.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
What does the CEO make if you well, we previated.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
That that was a special contract that was given to
a TRANSPROBEU and to for mister John Lewis. And it
was in that contract including four hundred I don't know,
four hundred and fifty dollars or maybe four hundred and
eighty dollars an hour, okay, okay, And this contract was
(42:46):
about eight months. The contract actually inspired only twenty eight
of August, and so he made a great deal out
the bill. I think the whole contract itself, because that
also include other people who work with him. So I
think it's like one point three million dollars.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
So the interim he's out now right.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
He's gone. He's gone, so he's no longer that. But
I think they advertised the job here one hundred and
ninety thousand, maybe two hundred thousand dollars for the upcoming CEO.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Okay, So with that being said, I know who has
to be my next guest next week. I need to
call the mayor here, man, real talk man, because this
is a lot of money man going out the window. Really,
I'm just calling it what it is, man, from this conversation,
what I've researched in, what I'm getting, I need the
mayor on here. We gentlemen agree, yes, I need to
(43:41):
get him in here soon, real quick. Let me take
this break up right back. So what I'm talking about
when the waning moments of the stand Bill Morning Show,
Thank you so much for being here. Let me go
delicately back to the phone lines. Our special guest this morning,
the founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service, mister Johnny Moseley,
and Tennessee state representatives the Honorable Justin Pearson. John on
the spot, Pierson say speaking nurse bevery my producer said
(44:05):
that she got back through. Let me open up the
phone line for her. W diga money you in the radio,
is it.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Nurse Beverly?
Speaker 5 (44:10):
Yes, thank you stay for getting me back in. I
don't know what happened, but anyway, I was saying that, uh,
you know how well the bus service was when mister
Hudson was in charge, and I think part of that
was about because of his experience being a former bus driver.
Speaker 11 (44:28):
And I was just wondering.
Speaker 5 (44:29):
Out of the candidates, I know some of them dropped
out and there were two remaining, do you know if
any of them had any bus driver experience? And also
my other question is my concern is that money that
was paid out I mean large amount of money that
was paid out.
Speaker 7 (44:48):
To what was what was his position?
Speaker 5 (44:50):
He was making them four hundred dollars an hour.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
That was the money that mister lewis I'm.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
Sorry the interim, Yes, he was the room. Yes, it
was money just given away. They could have just set
that money on fire, because what results did we get?
We worse matters and worse predicament. Now that it was
before that, and all that money that has been wasted,
(45:21):
taxpayer money wasted, going back to when the other interiom
was in office.
Speaker 7 (45:27):
That's a shame.
Speaker 11 (45:28):
Something needs to be somebody needs to be held accountable
for that because it's not right and fair to the taxpayers.
All right, thank you Staying for letting me.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Back more than welcome back to the phone lines, we
go w d I. Hey you in the radio, your
turn go ahead?
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Hey hey, good morning? How you doing something doing? Good man?
All right? How about you get right get right to it?
Good morning to you.
Speaker 9 (45:50):
Gets And I want to say to represent the represent
the peers.
Speaker 12 (45:53):
Is you about as old as my youngest child. But
I have so much respect for you because you keep
your feet on the ground when you work. I respect
you to the upmost.
Speaker 9 (46:03):
Uh to the other again was the name staying?
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Mister Yeah, mister Moses, how you doing?
Speaker 9 (46:10):
Okay, I'm going to find.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
My problem about Matter.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Is this right here.
Speaker 12 (46:15):
And I don't know exactly where you stand with them
or how do you community communicate with them.
Speaker 3 (46:20):
But my problem with them is this.
Speaker 12 (46:22):
You have money allocated to Matter. You have money that
comes from taxpayers to help support Matter, to run Matter.
But you have a person or people who has the
liberty to spend the money at their own discretion. That
is a major problem matter.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
End up with.
Speaker 12 (46:39):
I think over like a thirty million dollars and a
thirty million dollar deficit. We cannot have anybody having the
liberty to spend money at their discretion that is supposed
to be meant to run a company, to to to carry.
Speaker 9 (46:54):
On business for the citizens of Mythics.
Speaker 12 (46:56):
The reason I have problem this, I don't I.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
Don't write the bus.
Speaker 12 (46:59):
I han'tritten ABO in over forty years, but I have
a problem with it because the.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
Service is supposed to be there.
Speaker 9 (47:03):
For the sentenzens.
Speaker 12 (47:04):
And number two, after going into this deficit, the mayor
came in acts seventeen percent of Charby County residents to
foot a ten million dollar bill, or not not bill,
but bring up ten million dollars through the registration of
your vehicles.
Speaker 9 (47:24):
I was part of that seventeen percent.
Speaker 12 (47:26):
If you got money going to support matter, the money
should be supporting matter in the proper way, not in
someone's liberty or discretion to go in and have fun
and help of the time with it. So if you
could address those things with matter, with the CEO or whoever,
that would be great.
Speaker 9 (47:40):
I understand they're going to get a trustee.
Speaker 12 (47:42):
That would be great, But that's the problem. Help them
that where that's one of the problems.
Speaker 4 (47:46):
I think coming man appreciate that words, yeah real quick,
and I think that's seventeen percent. That was directly I
think it was Chevy County mayor and not the city mayor.
But but but if we're reading turns of giving money
to Matter and not watching the money, I mean, this
is one of the things that we had been hammered
(48:08):
on for at least ten years. We have been saying
that the Memphis City Council should somewhere somehow controlled the
dollar bills because we saw the dollar bills going to
thirteen seventy eleven Rod and that was it, and we
didn't see what was going on in terms of that's
(48:29):
the headquarters of the Memphis Area Transit door. That's thirteen
seventy eleven Road out of Watkins So and I know
old where because there's a sanitation bar not too far
from it and my dad worked down there, so and
that's before Matter was built. But the fact of about
it is is that we had all ways hammered on
(48:51):
it because we really saw the City of Memphis given
matter of money over and over and over the years
and we was like, but the ners, it's getting work,
what's going on out here? And then we would actually
uh see that matter would hire people paying them one
hundred thousand dollars for jobs that that that you could
(49:13):
actually pay them twenty thousand dollars for it. But it
was just people all over the place that was just
just having our jobs like they were Senta Claus. And
then you got you had one hundred people. Uh and
you just look, that's millions of dollars. It's just like wow.
And so so so we we saw the unnecessary administrators
spending that that should not have been happening. That money
(49:34):
should have been used to improve the bus service and
it wasn't being used. But but I think the city
councilor right now, to their credit, uh, it's just trying
to control the dollar bills in terms of how this
money is going to be spent.
Speaker 3 (49:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:48):
Uh and let me take another call and then just
represent the prison to get you in and uh oh okay,
they just dropped all right, So before we get out
of here, thank you, miss mos about by the way,
uh as you can see, and let me put this disclaimer.
Speaker 3 (50:00):
This caveat on no means we're here to bash the
board or Memphis Area trans Authority and its whole complete.
Speaker 2 (50:11):
Process. But we just a concern man, That's basically what
it is. It's about concern and hearing from the people
and find out. As we mentioned earlier, where do we
go from here? Speaking of which I know you got
to get out here, mister Pearson. What else is on
the plate for you before you go? But what else
you're working? I know you have recent town halls and
about you know Xai Guess in the pollution and this
(50:32):
kind of talk to us about what's happening in your
in your what you're doing.
Speaker 10 (50:36):
Absolutely, let me say last thing about Matter. Sure, we
have to take ownership of the system. If the city
council and the mayor want to get involved as relates
to the hiring process, they have to get involved and
be serious about making sure that MATTER is well funded.
It actually takes seventy million dollars to run Matter at
least it requires taking away the deficit that we do
(50:57):
have of sixty million dollars. But the only way we
get and improve transit system as if people get involved
and get engaged. And you can't say you care about
who's CEO, but you're not caring about the people who
are dependent on riding the bus. So if you want
to take ownership of it, do that. Just like MLGNW
reports into the mayor's office and on the cabinet, the
CEO of Mattis should be in the mayor's cabinet and
(51:18):
working directly with him to make sure that the citizens
of this city actually do have good public transit. And
the city council has to put the money where their
ideas are. That's what you have to do. It requires
money and resources and holding people accountable. But we're not
going to do that just you know, on goodwill hoping
things improve for me. I want to thank everybody who
came out to our town halls. We had five town
(51:39):
halls in ten days, all across the city and the
county about XAI and pollution. We have a toxic air problem.
It is not reserved to Boxtown in Westwood. We all
have anf and air quality in Shelby County as well
as DeSoto County, and so we're learning and we're teaching
people about that. And you can go to my website
to learn more about justinja dot com. Next Tuesday, I'll
be a City Council with about twenty other folks from
(52:00):
three one oh nine. The mayor pasted quote unquote community
Benefits Ordinance, but there's no community Advisory Board to help
determine that the money gets out, where the money gets allocated.
And so we don't want this to become a slush
fund for city councilors. We don't want to become a
slush fund for their administration. We wanted to be directed
by the community. So next Tuesday, September ninth, will be
at City Council for public comment, and we invite everyone
(52:22):
to come out and say we deserve essay. In Mississippi,
we're having a meeting on September eighteenth at Pastor Billingsley's Church.
More information on that at memphiscap dot org. That's Memphis
gap dot org. Memphis Community Gets Pollution where the privilege
of serving is our board chair. But we're going to
have a meeting in Mississippi because sixty six gas turbines
are coming to South Haven. We knew when there were
(52:45):
thirty five in Shelby County that it was more pollution
than the airport. They're going to be double that right
across the border, and so and it's coming and we
do not believe that they're going to have any pollution
controls on that, and so our air quality is going
to suffer again from XAI and what Elon Musk is doing.
And you can learn more information at memphiscap dot org
(53:06):
or you can just I'll send out information to my
list serve as well. And the last thing that we're
working on is to do some public the people's hearings
in Nashville, and one of the focuses is going to
be on public transportation. So we'll have mister Moseley, Commissioner
Bailey Memphis Bus Rises Union to come up to Nashville
and to present in a forum and a public hearing
(53:27):
there about our transportation problems and challenges here. But the
best thing people can do in your amazing listeners is
to continue to listen, obviously to the bell ringer, and
to show up when it counts to these meetings, because
an informed people is a powerful people.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
Representative Tennessee state representative of course, Justin J. Pearson, as
you know, he's not only a politician, but he's an activist.
If I can say that, mister Pearson, remember that Tennessee
House of representatives representing the eighty six district in covering
parts of the city of Memphis.
Speaker 3 (53:58):
Am I right about it? That's one hundred percent jenter
of my life. Peers, thank you, thank you for being here.
Speaker 2 (54:03):
Closing words of mister Moseley uh Man, thank you so
much for being here.
Speaker 4 (54:07):
Man words well, I just want to thank you for
an opportunity to be here. And I am here with
my not only friend, but my state representative for District
aged six and definitely distrib ated six is proud of
Representative Peerson and we're looking forward to do some great
things from him and in their future. But I want
(54:28):
to also think the people who have called this radio
station and who have voiced your concern about public transportation
here in Memphis. Uh And I want you all to
know I am listening and and and I and I
am doing my best to articulate your concern to the
matter board and the City Council, both mayors, the County Commission.
(54:53):
I'm breaking my niked and burning at midnight. Or I
think it was doctor King that said, you have to
do your job so well that no one one can
do it better. And that is what I'm all about.
And that's the challenge that that I try to live
by every day. And and that's the challenge that I
believe my state representatives lived by every day. And I
know that's the challenge that staying Ball live by every
(55:15):
day because we listened to this radio station and he's
continuing the tradition of w d I a UH and
and I go back way back to some of the
some of the great UH radio personality of w d I.
I get upset with somebody changed my radio station. All right,
let me.
Speaker 3 (55:36):
Thank you behind that man.
Speaker 2 (55:37):
Look, I want to thank these two fine gentlemen for
coming in to w d I this morning, especially you
justin Pearson, Man, you know represented man, you turn that
car around, got over here.
Speaker 3 (55:45):
Many John on the.
Speaker 2 (55:46):
Spot, aptly good name. Absolutely, that's good. We have to
put that with on them. Man, that's a great moniker.
But no, you you turned around, you came here, you
manage you jump right on the end, man, And I
think it was not just by happenstance, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (56:01):
All Right, thank you WDI listens. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (56:03):
Man. He's on and popping.
Speaker 1 (56:05):
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show weekdates from six to
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis ten
to seventy wd IA
Memphis born and bread, walking the walk and talking and talk.
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show, weekday mornings from sixty
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis, ten
seventy wd IA.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Yeah, it still is a good will and good times
all right, Thank you so much for being everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
What a beautiful daighty is man, Friday, September five, Whoo,
look good out there, Memphis weather. Let me get to
it before I get to my special guests. Man, look
at it afternoon thunderstorms. You couldn't tell it about looking
at it now, but it's untapped. Maybe late late, maybe
into the early evening. But I don't even think that
(00:37):
we only have a thirty percent chance.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
To get wet.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I tip to today stops at eighty, make it ninety five.
Loose that I will about about around sixty five somewhere
like that right out of Memphis. Let me look at
it right? Kind of haze and sunshine? Was it like
when you came in? It was it kind of hazy sunshine?
It was sunshine and its abundance. Okay, let's just call
it a parly cloudy octagenarian. Ms Mola, You ain't no Occageniano.
(01:08):
All right, eighty degrees in the city. It's beautiful. Shout
out to everybody. Hit it out to gonna be at
the Zoo Rendezvous this evening and Memphis Zoo should be
really nice. I'm looking forward to it all right. In
the studio this morning, my very special guest. You've heard
him on the show. I've had him all before, mister
Johnny Moseley, the founding chairman Citizens for Better Service.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
How am I doing so far? Yes? Yes, Citizens for
Better Service?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
And man, I you know, and I had to think
about what's going on with Memphis Area Transit Authority, the organization,
and man, I'm I'm quite frankly, I'm gonna tell you myself.
I'm just a little appalled of what I'm hearing and
what I'm seeing and what's transpiring.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So we got to talk.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Six out of nine last I checked, not what number
were down to now or four left?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Four left?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Nieve out nine? So a five out of five out
of nine have stepped down, So we have four left. Yes,
I know you, mister Moseley. Have you know you You
go to these meetings, you get the emails, you on
the list, you on the three and you you. You
are somewhat intertwined, if you will, about the ongoings that matter.
(02:33):
You go to the board meetings from time to time,
and and and I bet at the last meeting, I
don't know if you were there or not, but I
assume you were. There was no indication, nothing to indicate
that the board members were stepping down.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Am I right?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
You're right? All right, you're right.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And and so if you would, please, mister Moseley, tell
us the board members who are remaining, if you could.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
The four remaining board memoirs are sent to your Bailey
dander upon A Maya Sittler Cigars and branded Brandon Ardendale.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
All right, we'll get back to those names a little bit.
I only asked for you to do the the ones
who are still on, you know, because I can think
that's what's important. The ones who was sticking it out
when things go wrong, is they sometimes will.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
This is true.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Sounds like the anonymous poet there. So they didn't quit.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
For lack of a better word, I guess they said almost,
we're gonna stick this thing out. So I didn't mean
to y'all all the way right in it. Let me say,
first of all, let me thank you for being here.
Let me let me rewind this thing. It's my pastor
say rewinding past press play. Thank you for being in
(04:01):
miss most thank you. You know I'm just so yeah, yeah,
just so you get to get into it.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I don't like you know, I don't like to wait
too long.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Uh, And I appreciate you covering out some time to
be with us on a beautiful Friday morning. You could
be in a where in the universe, but you chose
w D I A. That's right, And I know you could.
You know, you could talk on and on and on.
But I got to ask you. How's a family. Everybody's
doing well by doing good? Yes, I got a question
for you. All your parents still living?
Speaker 4 (04:27):
No, my parents passed away in a few years to bank,
soorry to hear that.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
But we know where they are, right, you know what
it is.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
They're still discipline me sort of speaking heaven.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
That's right. They're looking at it.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
They're looking down. I think they proud of me, but
I know, uh. They they're saying, boy, be quiet, don't
say everything.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You know what I'm saying. Just give a little some something,
make them come back next time. The reason why I
asked them man. I just I probably generally asked all
my guests that man, guess man, because if without them,
it's on you.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
That's in Manhattan. Wrote a song There's no meat without you.
Without Mom and Pop, dadd and Mama. You know, it
ain't your ain't you?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Right? Mother was a Church of got In Christ missionary.
Dad was a sanitation worker for fifty years. Home Marge
for dignity in nineteen sixty eight. So I have a
great history and a great foundation. Man.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
That's a great segue, man. So in other words, you
gave me the intro, and you gave me a little
background about yourself. It's in your man, you know, Church
of got In Christ, right right? And Mama you know,
and dad was there and they saw you and they
raised you. And now what made you so connected? How
(05:42):
did you get so connected or involved if you will,
with the Millisaria transit Authority and find out what's going on,
and just it seems like you're entrenched in this work.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah, basically it was. It was a peer accident. Over
thirty uh two years ago. I was asked to attend
a meeting with some bus riders, and at that particular time,
(06:12):
there were some things going on. It was not as
major as what's going on today, but there were some
things going on, and someone mentioned that perhaps the bus
riders needed a group to speak on their behalf. And
I got drafted into this, and I thought it was
just going to be just short term, but it ended
(06:32):
up in the long term. And I guess because I
go back to my parents. They were the one who
taught me that if to merchants given, merchants required, and
that you had to give back to the community and
you have to look out those who were less fortunate
than you are, because we were the less fortunate growing up.
(06:53):
And and I mentioned my dad was a sanitation worker
and even though he was a full time sanitation worker,
we still they go on food STEMP. So we understand
the pain and the suffering that people are going through.
And so it's just a natural progressive.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Okay, what in your opinion, mister Moseley, would get Transit
back on track, you know, particularly after these board members,
of some of them you said five, I guess, have resigned.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
And what what what will it take?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Do you get state representatives or you get elected officials
involved or are they involved or do they need to
step in? How does this work man, how do they
get back on.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Track well with the resignation of the board. And let
me say about this board. I thought that this board
was doing a fantastic job. They was asking questions, they
were getting deep into what was going on matter, and
I thought that they were heading towards the right direction
and tried to get this public transportation system in order.
(07:58):
The fact that the rest of nation occurred was definitely
shocked to me. There was no indication. And I had
just had a meeting with the former cheerleader of the
board and a few days before the matter board met.
Give me some name, Emily, Yeah, yeah, it was this job.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Is his wife? Okay, how are you doing? Good morning?
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Right?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And so we met. When I said meet, we I'm
talking about the Citizen for Better Service and the Memphis
Bus Rider Union met with her prior to the Memphis
Area Transit thor of the board and meeting in the
regular meeting, and there was no indication that there was
going to be in the resonation. And then a few
days later we were at the regular meeting and there's
(08:46):
still was no indication that this board was going to
members of this board was going to resign and for
us to receive were on August twenty eight that that
you had five about a nine members resigned.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
So the city, So the city has accepted the resignation.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Right a city except.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
That's important, you know, you have to accept your resignation.
You just say I'm out of here. But okay, So
that means a mayor young and his staff against administration.
They've gone through you know the process, right, right, they
are out right, you know.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And it was I run there. It happened on August
and twenty eight days. You know, that was an anniversary
of doctor Martin Luther King speech I have a dream speech.
And for that particular day, it was not about a dream.
It was about a nightmare because we were starting and
it sort of put us in a in a state
(09:40):
of confusion as where as bus riders who were calling
us and asking us what was going on with the
leadership with the board, and we were just in a
dog just like everybody else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
So let me ask you this, who are some of
the other folks you're working with? So I guess it's
safe to say for me to say you are an advocate, right,
you know.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
You you are.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You're genuinely concerned, right, but you something you're kind of
like a spokesperson, if you will, or a concern advocate.
I guess some names some other folks who are helping
you or you I don't know if you call it
a team or who's on your staff or who else
is involved with Citizens for Better Services.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well, but you know this better service is actually made
up of concern people, uh, in the in the community.
But we've also have had the long term support of
of of of state Representative uh Pearson uh uh history
uh eighty six and of course in the passage of
state Representative Bible Coople. But we've also had the support
(10:39):
of Counselment ed Ford, who has who has been a
soldier with us through throughout the time that we have
been together.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
All the stuff right there, so uh, doctor Edmund Ford.
I put respect on his name, doctor actually dad.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
But also we have also had the support of Commissioner
that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So, and as you said, miss State represent Justin Pearson,
I want let me throw this out of the raid
right now. They listen to I show a lot. Uh
So if if if state represented of Justin J. Pierce,
if you listen right now, cause you turn that car
around and come up to the radio station. I want
to get a little bit more clarity on this. Uh
your if your people are listening, Uh, stay repped Justin J.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Pearson.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I wouldn't I wouldn't have I don't have a problem
with you coming up to the station. If you will.
It's not election season, psycle for him, I don't think so.
He's good. So Justin Pierce, if you listening, I'm trying
to get up here before, you know, as soon as
you can, because I want I want to tag team
on this thing or any elected official that has something
to do with this.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
All right, Okay, A enough of that, all.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Right, hold what you got A matter of fact, I'm
gonna call stay repped Justin J.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Pearson ask him if you can come up here for
a moment. Double I listen.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
We're speaking with our special guest and stand special people spotlight,
mister Johnny Moseley, the founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Is that right? Yes?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Okay, we'll be right back. We'll talk a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
All right, welcome back, everybody, Thank you so much for
being here.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Friday, September five, twenty twenty five. I'm gonna go.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Ahead and five the phone lines nine on one five three, five, nine,
three four two eight hundred and five zero three nine
three four two eight three three five three five nine
three four two. If you want to talk, as we
used to say back to they conversate with mister Johnny Mosey,
founding chairman. UH, Citizens for Better Service and we all
want better service, don't we? So better service? So if
(12:38):
you want to talk with mister Moseley, get on the
radio with me. You could do so. Phone lines are
wide open. By the way, I did hear from Stay
Representative Justin J. Pearson. UH gave me a bullet says, dang,
you're right, I am listen. I'm on my way now.
Now that isn't a that's a true blue leged official,
Miss Moses.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
He's on his way.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I'm not surprised, no, man, it's my guy right there.
So thank you Stay Represented Justin JA Pearson said he
was indeed listening. And you say he's gonna turn that
car around, come on up this wady. So hopefully we'll
hit from him at least maybe in the next He
did say he was in the Hickory Hill area at
that time, so I guess he can get on up here,
(13:20):
not not too long in the time that matter, before
we wrap things up, all right, So here's my question,
where do we go from here, mister Moseley in terms
of the Memphis Area Transfer Authority.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
That's a good question. That is of a better service
and the Memphis Bus Rider Union. We are having a
meeting today, community to meet at the African Vintage right
right there, twelve twenty five Valentine, Okay, we appreciate him
(14:00):
for allowing us to have a community meeting at this
place at three point thirty. This is an emergency meeting
because this is an opportunity for the communities to voice
their frustration, their opinion about matter and where matter need
to go. We want to hear from the general republic
(14:24):
because we know they are frustgraded about this particular issue.
They're frust graded about the fact that public transportation is
in our city is not first class public transportation, and
they want it to go to a place where they
no longer have to worry about whether or not a
bus would show up if they're standing at the bus stop,
(14:46):
where they no longer are late for jobs that they
need and they don't have to worry about their bosses
saying where we can no longer have you hear because
you're always late or you're not own up at all. Uh.
And we think that there needs to be a great
deal of public engagement uh from our elected officials, the
(15:10):
mayor and the Memphis City councilor. We need for them
to begin to talk with with the citizen of this
city and and let them know what the next step.
And I know they're saying that that they're going to
appoint a trustee to run matter until there is a
new CEO as you know. The Uh the mayor and
(15:34):
and the city councilor requested that the matter boor halket
the search for see oh because they said we came
down to the last two. They said that the search
the list was too narrow and they needed to broaden
the list. The need be refocused on key routse Uh
(15:55):
that that we get people back and forward uh to
the designation. Uh that that's just been a problem where
people are waiting for buses and the buses are on
a no show and and there need to be more
frequencies uh for the buses.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
People don't need to be waiting for a bus area out. Yeah,
it shouldn't take two hours to get downtown. Uh, you
should be able to catch a bus as I as
I say, every fifteen minutes. You go to some cities
and you see busses all over the place. I was
just in Nashville just a couple of weeks ago, and
(16:37):
I just saw too many busses that they sort of
got on my nerves because I'm from Memphis, and I
don't see these many buses out on the road, and
so you don't see that those busses and people are
frustrated and and and we need for the leaders in
the city to understand that that they are not John
(16:59):
to They are the sposed person for the least of
these And I said.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It, that's off, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Let me take calls here, w I com on the
you in the radio of Johnny Moseley and the Bell Ring.
Of course you got a question comment you're on air,
you sir, go right?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Ahare you?
Speaker 8 (17:16):
I want to know I want to know two questions,
really three. I want to know the sentiments seem more
concerned about matter than whoever own matter? And I want
to know the people that missed off all of this money,
why are they're not being forced to pay it back,
(17:36):
and uh, why don't you show them how to run
matter like you ran it?
Speaker 7 (17:40):
Because I didn't hear no problem when you ran matter?
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Think you there?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Okay, So here's what it is, you know. So I'm
speaking with mister Johnny mose Thank you five. By the way,
speaking with Johnny Moseley was the founding chairman of Citizens
for Better Service, who pretty much he does each live
matter and all that. They didn't want you to run it.
Now I did ring on the show the campaign. I'm
not in that like, but look, I guess it might
(18:06):
be wishful thinking, Uh, well you got did you do?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
You have words?
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Well, let me thank the caller and and he brings
up a significant point when mister where Hudson, the late
mister ware Hudson, the legendary mister where Hudson, Uh, the
president of the Memphis of your Transitthority at that particular
time for about twenty years. I believe he ran matter
(18:33):
in a way where it was very respectful and and
people were treated with a sense of human dignity. And
the fact mister Huston worked hit his way from being
a bus driver on up to being the general manager.
So he he lived the Memphis of your transitory. And yes,
(18:53):
he he has has the problems in terms of dollar
bills and the funders and I can't thing. But he
made it work because he knew that he had to
think about those people who are who who needed their
jobs and they were not making very much money. So
he said, okay, well we need to find a way
to get them back and forth to work.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yeah, let me take another phone call. If you don't mind,
let's let's go here, don't let you. Good morning, Thanks
for waiting on the radio. Your turn, Yeah, your thoughts comments.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Yeah, good good morning, brother Stan, and good morning mister Moseley.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
Yeah, I'm a I'm a fan of sand Man because
Stan believes and delivered exceptional and excellent radio the radio land.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
There you go. I added another, so you, I thank you.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
Let me let me tell you spurt and foremo, I'm
a borrow a statement from my girl, Lady p. I'm
not gonna sugarcoat this thing. Let's be clear. When a
corporate board or administrative board like that leads, it's a
(20:09):
it's a protest and the no confident vote of both
the mayor and city council. That's what it is when
a corporate board or corporate administration leads like that, it
is a no confidence vote of both the.
Speaker 9 (20:25):
Mayor and city council.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
And what they were asked to do, and that was
to manage or to oversee or to be the people
who would make sure that the management was managing matter.
Speaker 9 (20:44):
The way that it should be managed.
Speaker 6 (20:47):
So Sam Harniman of David Minifaiter stated, I believe it
was last week on this week that the only power
local this week on on twenty four, the only time
the city council has over matter is the Perth dring.
The question that we should have journalists ask is how
(21:10):
do we get to that point and under whose administration
in which this happened? Because when I believe Staying you
had the interim, No, no, it was Bill had the
interim on her show. I asked that question and she
stated that the city did on matter.
Speaker 9 (21:30):
Well, if all you got is the Perth string and
you can't tell them.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What to do, what is that?
Speaker 6 (21:36):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
What is that something right that David words, mister Mosley
is your answer?
Speaker 4 (21:42):
There was a time when the City of Memphis, Ashley
ran matter. When Matter started in nineteen seventy five Prior
to that, Matter was private own, but eventually because the
private company couldn't handle it, it was passed over to
(22:06):
the city of Memphis. Somewhere down the line that became
a confusion, and then Matter ran into being managed by
a company called miss Out Transortation Management Empty, which actually
(22:26):
really managed Matter, but it is paid through tax payer money.
And it is true that they hold the screen. The
thirty million dollar for example, which was given to Matter
this year, it's true that they hold it per screen
to Matter. One of the things that Citizen for Better
(22:50):
Service and the bus Rider Union have been saying over
the years that we felt that they needed to use
use that power to put Matter in order, because even
though we did not have the confirmation until the reports
came out, we thought that there was something funny going
(23:11):
on that Matter with the money. And when the reports
that was put out by the news station and transpro
was saying that people were going to the spa and
having parties and he got the Grizzly Sweet and having
a wonderful time drinking things like Johnny Walker Black, I
didn't even know what that was. I had to call somebody,
(23:34):
well he was John to Walker Black, I said, what
the word is Johnny Walker black and so so, and
then they was using the credit card which had no
limitation on it. They were spending it and going to
unnecessary trips that even one of the former CEO, Jerry Rosefelt,
talked about. He was going to Italy and greet and
all those places, you know, just having a wonderful time.
(23:56):
And he said it was business. It sounded like it
was pleasure to me. So but but but the fact
of the matter is that is ritally the tight hold
that the city of Memphis has own matter, and and
and and till that is great, You've got to get
the fund together with Matter starts spending the money like
Matter need to use the best.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
All right, David, let me let me interrupt you here,
brother Mostley, having a mount of management contract is not
the same as ownership unless it's in the contract you
state that that is the case. So again, the question
is when did we allow that much power to that
management company or whomever it is from the power that
(24:40):
we have the city Council as mayor and the citizens
of the city. We need to have an investigation who actually,
from a legal standpoint, written owns the controls matter other
than just the city council writing them a check. And
let me tell you, I rode the bus two days ago.
And I and the reason why I even know that
(25:00):
you're on the average because I called a brother and
complained about the foolishness. Because I'm I'm asking, it's something
wrong with me. So I look at the app on
my phone, brother Mosley, to see where the eight was
in order to catch it, because I can't ride this
check the chasing system without my phone. In fact, I
got a smartphone for matter. That's where I got one.
(25:23):
I love my tip phone. But I digressed.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 6 (25:26):
So I called them up, and I say, brother, I
called m at A and they said, what's confirmed on
my app?
Speaker 7 (25:34):
They got both buses.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
They only had two buses on the eighth route and
they're both on the same end.
Speaker 10 (25:41):
Of the route.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
And so I gotta wait until that bus makes it
all the way downtown and then come.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Back and pick me out.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Who runs a bus system like that?
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Yeah, I gotta run, David.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
But look, okay, listen, we hear you definitely, and you'll
have words after we take this break. I thank you, David,
and the other calls. I'm gonna get you in a
little bit. I'm getting a word from my front office
that State represent of Justin J. Pearson is here and
he's in the green room. So I'm gonna take a
break and we'll get him in here before we do that.
This WDI listener writes subject space m at a stan.
(26:21):
I want to know why Matter doesn't operate like I
did back in the late sixties and seventies. I used
to ride. I used to love the thirty one Crosstown.
That bus stop was right down the street from my
home and I could ride that bus all the way
past Big Sears and transfer to any line. Bring back
the thirty one Crosstown and make Matter work for Memphians.
(26:42):
Take a page from Chicago Transit Authority. They have great
bus service for Chicago ones. Signed La Harry, I want
you to think about that. Meditate on that little bit
of mister Moses. I'll be right back and get State
Representative Justin J. Pearson in the green room and we'll
have more conversation. Oh if my lines are lighting up
like a Christmas tree, like one of them big ones
in the Rockefeller Applies in New York, Man, these lines
(27:02):
are lighting up. Look he just walked in the studio
finally got him out to green room. But you state representative, Yes,
sir Justin Pearson. Man, you incredible man. I'm gonna say
that before we get into this day. You a man of
your word. What you say, man, it's all we got left.
As somebody who say back in there, I'm not in
(27:24):
our word, you got them both.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
I guess.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
That's all we got in our word.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Man, you came through. I appreciate that. Literally figured.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
You're here, absolutely heard, you heard the disparaging crime, absolutely
sounded the clarion call and look here, look what God
can do. Man, you turn that thing around. Thank you
for being here. Yes for you and mister Moseley. Man,
let me say two more important words again, thank you
for being here. Most important word we and least important I.
So it appears that's the Johnny Moseley and Justin J.
(27:58):
Pearson Show feature ring Stan Bill. I'll doubling up only
this money. Welcome to Wed. I you know, stranger representative.
Happy to be held man. I don't know how you
do it, but you do it amazing. Can I take
a phone call first of all and let you continue
sipping on your die coke and and then I take
(28:19):
a call of you.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Okay, that's coffee over there. That's the coffee. Good good?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Is that sank of it's folders or Maxwell Hall or whatever.
It's a real simple it's black and yeah, sick, don't green.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
That's been to go.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Let me go delicately the phone line and uh and
let's get another calling here w D I come on.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
You're on the left radio. Thanks for waiting. You're on
the air.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Yeah, hello, oh hello, yeah, okay, good you're alls sound
like Meredith.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
Okay, hey, thank you so much staying for letting the end.
Hello to both your guests. And it's and my favorite
just here for representative. So listen now miss the movid
you mentioned before you met with the board a couple
of times before this resignation took place. Now, I looked
up the board members and I.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
See the pictures here.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
If the elephant in the room to me, I just
have to say, because I don't know if the remaining
four board members knew about the resignation as well and
just decided not to go, or did the five white
board members get together on them on their own and
decide they're going to pull this this. I don't want
to stay cool, but you know, do this resignation because
it is ironic that the five white members are the
(29:31):
ones that left and the four black members are the
ones that standing there hanging in that there coincidence and
something to this And what were the responsibility of the
board member or were they directly in control of the
bus routes because when I looked it up, it said
that they're resigned because they have a problem with the
city interfering with the hiring of the new seat up.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
So that was the excuse that they gave for resigning.
So but that they just mind my question.
Speaker 11 (29:58):
It is a coincident that the five white members are
the ones that I think the public need to know
that are the ones that resigned. But that's not comment.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Thank you, good question, co comment words.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Well, let's let let's let's make a correction. You had
four whites resigned in one black and that black was
the cheer leader. Kay, And I still don't know what happened.
I'm I'm I'm shocked. I don't know if they got together,
(30:30):
they had conversation, private conversation about their resignation. As I
said earlier, there was no indication of what was going on,
whether or not they felt disrespected by the City of Memphis.
All I know that the former chure lady and with
the grill, gave a presentation at the at the board
(30:51):
and she talked about the frustration of picking a CEO,
and she went into detail of out how they had
one hundred candidates and it went down to eleven and
they went down to six. Three dropped out and uh.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And she.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
Confirmed or reiterate the fact that the that she was
told and the boy was told to just halt the
search because the search was too narrow.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So Representative Pearson, you at were you at that meet?
Were you at that meeting as well?
Speaker 10 (31:27):
I was at the meeting with Chairwoman Greer, Commissioner Bailey
that actually, mister Mosley, the Memphis Bus Riders Union put
on an African village and it was right ahead of
the interviews. Yes, it was the week before the interviews,
and I was going to be one of the folks
that was going to meet with the candidates the following
week as they were doing their interview in front of
the entire community. And this is a brand new matter
(31:50):
board that was instituted by Mayor Young vacated the entire
previous board, put in this new leadership under the idea
that they would be helping mat to get on the
right track. I think Emily Greer was one of the
most articulate.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
And I agree, and just.
Speaker 10 (32:07):
The extraordinary leader of the board. And so to have
her resignation, and then all these other folks as well,
who just got there, who would turn in the ship,
who were really doing the best that they could to
make matter into what we needed it to be, this
is just this is a devastating blow I think to
the progress, a lot of the progress that's been made
over the years by the community. And I give a
(32:28):
lot of credit to mister Mosley, Commissioner Bailey, Sammy Hunter
for the work that they've been doing to improve our
transportation system.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
If we don't have a.
Speaker 10 (32:36):
Good public transit system, there's no way we're going to
have a growing city. And so just to see the city,
the mayor, and the city Council operate in this way,
even though they knew this process was going on for months,
and to at the very end say you know what
stopped this? I think it's it's it's stifling to a
(32:56):
lot of the progress that's been made a.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Right, gotch I gotta take a break up A becains
the break right now you're hearing State Representative Justin J.
Pearson and of course, uh the founding chairman of Citizens
for Better Service, mister Johnny mose will be right back.
We're back, everybody. Thank you so much for being here
near the top of the hour. And it's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
It was the weather pretty good, Representative Piercer, where you.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Roll up in here, absolutely beautiful, Its spectacular one looking
at you getting a little bit through this fourth floor
advantage point for the weather.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You see the.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Shadow of the you know, the top of the on
the roof, top of the shadow, and then you know
it's gotta be Yeah, man, look at the lobby. All
right there you go. All right, here we go. Let's
go straight to the phone lines. You're not past goal
to not collectwo hundred dollars. Go directly to a caller
doublet to come on you in the radio. Yeah, your turn,
you lie, Hello, you're on, Yeah, you're on.
Speaker 5 (33:48):
Yeah, okay, good.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Morning morning yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
Yes, and good morning, mister Moseley. Good morning, and thank
you for your fight for people depend on transportation from Adam.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
Thank you for your fight and.
Speaker 9 (34:06):
Uh, just keep on hanging in there.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
And good morning to mister Justin Pearson. And I have
a new name for you, mister Pearson, h Justin Johnny
on the spot. I mean you got so quick did
you take a flight?
Speaker 7 (34:28):
Did you take a flight?
Speaker 5 (34:31):
I'm centering you staying stay put that uh that that
call out for you, and I mean you were right there.
Speaker 12 (34:43):
Thank you, I tell you.
Speaker 5 (34:46):
Yeah, my question from mister Moseley. You said something that
really stood out in my mind that when mister Hudson
was in charge.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
One thing you said, what's that he was?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I lose you.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Oh you might have to call back if you can
get through, sorry about them. Let them take another call
up while that happens, right, don't need good morning you
in the radio?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Your turn? Are you there? Sam?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Male? Certainly?
Speaker 3 (35:15):
All right Jackson and he asks for your satisfaction. No,
pretty good Friday.
Speaker 7 (35:19):
So I COVID missed the mostly and then then what's up?
Speaker 9 (35:23):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (35:23):
Represented sir Pearson?
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (35:26):
Represented Pearson reminds me of the guys who on good
times and ran against Altimon Davis. You remember that guy?
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Oh yeah, maybe four represented the periods of.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Time they've both been suited and booted. They're looking like
an election official altimate or whatever. I had to take
the episode out he suited and booted of the Jackson.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Yeah, a good job. He missed mostly this meeting that
you're talking about. Uh, is it today?
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Yes, sir, it is today at three thirty at the
African Village five Valentine.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
Now, now, I'm a I'm a bus rider by choice,
not by force, and I'm always advocating for I'm going
to try to make the meeting. But are we Are
we meeting just to plan the next meeting or is
it a real meeting?
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Seriously, Well, every meeting I have is a real meeting
because I want to definitely hear from the general public.
And we have invited our elected officials to come to
this meeting. Whether or not they're going to show up,
that's that's on them. But I wanted to stand an
invitation to them out. But also I want to hear
(36:42):
directly from the public because we have been a great
little court. It's We've got to service. And the Memphis
bus riding unions have been getting calls from people all
across the city and they want to know where do
we go from here? And and definitely, I personal would
like to hear from the citizen like yourself and to
(37:04):
get an understanding.
Speaker 7 (37:05):
Yes, if I can't make the meeting, I'm for someone
outside coming in because I've been to Phoenix, I've been
to Tampa. I've been to New Orleans where the rail
goes all around the city, and I think the Phoenix
is free. Tampa is probably fifty cents or something like that.
(37:28):
But they have a modern system and those people can
really come in because we need a campaign where the
stigma about bus riding and Memphis has to go. But
you know the stigma right now, even to the people
that work there. When I go down to the bus terminal,
(37:48):
they look at me as if I'm nobody. Yes, they
look at it as if I'm poor. And that's the
way they look at me. And then when they see
me jumping a car, they you know, they changed their attitude.
Speaker 9 (38:03):
Yes, but it shouldn't be that way, yes, yes.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
And and the last point, this is a destination city
and when people.
Speaker 9 (38:14):
Come here, they shouldn't have to rent a car.
Speaker 7 (38:16):
Or or wait on the bus for three hours to
get to Graceliving.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (38:22):
And so if I can't make that meeting, can you
get those points out?
Speaker 4 (38:25):
Yes, yes, yes, And you're exactly right, and we have
focused on that too. We want the people who ride
the buses, whether you have a card, not to be
treated with a sense of human dignity and respect.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
And I wouldn't stand.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
And good you've got Josh, thank you man.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
And that is one of the issue one or many
issue at the Ministeria Transit thorder. And and the fact
of the matter is, and there was a time when
when when of course you went through the segregated period.
Uh but but there was a time afterwards where where
you had people of all races and of all uh
(39:00):
walks of life who rode the buses.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
But but now that's seemed to be gone. And and
and I think that's the problem too, because you have
some people, unfortunately who work for matter who's just there
just to pick up the paycheck and not gonna make
a different in people lives And and that has been
a big probity. In fact, I just received word that
there was a matter of board member who actually was
(39:24):
trying to ride the bus on yesterday and then she
was treated with with uh very harshly by a bus driver.
And that's not to say that all bus drivers are
that way, because you have at least more than ninety
five percent of the bus drivers who are actually caught
on their jobs. They were and they were trying to
(39:44):
get people back and forth because they're they're going they
feel in the frustration too, and and and and what
happened on yesterday. And for being to get that call,
it's like, Wow, if you treat a matter of board
member that way, just and and and she is a
board member, but you treat heard their way. Just think
about how other passengers who have no way of fighting back,
(40:04):
who do not have divorce. Because we've heard from people
who just got put off the buses for for various reasons,
of people who are standing at the bus term and
get put out even though their busses have not been
have not showed up. And we have talked about that
to the Madable and we're going to continue to speak
(40:26):
to make sure that people are treated with respect.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Represident of Piercing Words, Okay, yeah, I think thank you
for that.
Speaker 4 (40:33):
More one.
Speaker 10 (40:35):
I think the participation is really important by the public,
and I've gone to a lot of the meetings of
the past couple of years of the Memphis bus writers,
union and citizens for better service, and so we have
to engage. Nothing is going to change, nothing is going
to improve if we do not participate. And democracy isn't
just us voting right, it is our engagement in between
the process and holding elected officials accountable for the work
(40:56):
and the responsibilities that they are supposed to have and
do in order to make sure the services are adequate
and also beneficial for the broader community. I lived in
Boston for a few years and you had folks from
CEOs to city council folks all riding the bus. Right like,
public transportation isn't something that should just be for people
(41:17):
who are dependent upon it to get to their jobs
or things like that. But we have to look at
the system holistically. It's the bus routes that are going
through Box Sound Westwood all the way to the fact
that you can be out in one hundred degree weather
or thunderstorms and there's no shelters, right. That's not giving
dignity to people who are riding the bus. And we
have to start realizing this is an interrelated issue. It's
(41:40):
not just a poor people issue, it's not just this
group's issue.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
It's all of our issue.
Speaker 10 (41:46):
To address and to solve and piecemealing it and giving
this a few million here, this few million there is
not how you actually do something that is going to
positively impact and change this community.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Let me take a break before we go to break
this still the out listening rights uh in the subject
space obviously matter standing out here correctly that the CEO
or director of Matter is paid three hundred dollars plus
per hour.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
If so, how is this justified?
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Before I take a break, miss Mosley, did we was
that mentioned? Or I don't think or if we can,
you know, I'm all about transparency.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
What does the CEO make if you well, we previated.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
That that was a special contract that was given to
a TRANSPROBEU and to for mister John Lewis. And it
was in that contract including four hundred I don't know,
four hundred and fifty dollars or maybe four hundred and
eighty dollars an hour, okay, okay, And this contract was
(42:46):
about eight months. The contract actually inspired only twenty eight
of August, and so he made a great deal out
the bill. I think the whole contract itself, because that
also include other people who work with him. So I
think it's like one point three million dollars.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
So the interim he's out now right.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
He's gone. He's gone, so he's no longer that. But
I think they advertised the job here one hundred and
ninety thousand, maybe two hundred thousand dollars for the upcoming CEO.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Okay, So with that being said, I know who has
to be my next guest next week. I need to
call the mayor here, man, real talk man, because this
is a lot of money man going out the window. Really,
I'm just calling it what it is, man, from this conversation,
what I've researched in, what I'm getting, I need the
mayor on here. We gentlemen agree, yes, I need to
(43:41):
get him in here soon, real quick. Let me take
this break up right back. So what I'm talking about
when the waning moments of the stand Bill Morning Show,
Thank you so much for being here. Let me go
delicately back to the phone lines. Our special guest this morning,
the founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service, mister Johnny Moseley,
and Tennessee state representatives the Honorable Justin Pearson. John on
the spot, Pierson say speaking nurse bevery my producer said
(44:05):
that she got back through. Let me open up the
phone line for her. W diga money you in the radio,
is it.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Nurse Beverly?
Speaker 5 (44:10):
Yes, thank you stay for getting me back in. I
don't know what happened, but anyway, I was saying that, uh,
you know how well the bus service was when mister
Hudson was in charge, and I think part of that
was about because of his experience being a former bus driver.
Speaker 11 (44:28):
And I was just wondering.
Speaker 5 (44:29):
Out of the candidates, I know some of them dropped
out and there were two remaining, do you know if
any of them had any bus driver experience? And also
my other question is my concern is that money that
was paid out I mean large amount of money that
was paid out.
Speaker 7 (44:48):
To what was what was his position?
Speaker 5 (44:50):
He was making them four hundred dollars an hour.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
That was the money that mister lewis I'm.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
Sorry the interim, Yes, he was the room. Yes, it
was money just given away. They could have just set
that money on fire, because what results did we get?
We worse matters and worse predicament. Now that it was
before that, and all that money that has been wasted,
(45:21):
taxpayer money wasted, going back to when the other interiom
was in office.
Speaker 7 (45:27):
That's a shame.
Speaker 11 (45:28):
Something needs to be somebody needs to be held accountable
for that because it's not right and fair to the taxpayers.
All right, thank you Staying for letting me.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Back more than welcome back to the phone lines, we
go w d I. Hey you in the radio, your
turn go ahead?
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Hey hey, good morning? How you doing something doing? Good man?
All right? How about you get right get right to it?
Good morning to you.
Speaker 9 (45:50):
Gets And I want to say to represent the represent
the peers.
Speaker 12 (45:53):
Is you about as old as my youngest child. But
I have so much respect for you because you keep
your feet on the ground when you work. I respect
you to the upmost.
Speaker 9 (46:03):
Uh to the other again was the name staying?
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Mister Yeah, mister Moses, how you doing?
Speaker 9 (46:10):
Okay, I'm going to find.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
My problem about Matter.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Is this right here.
Speaker 12 (46:15):
And I don't know exactly where you stand with them
or how do you community communicate with them.
Speaker 3 (46:20):
But my problem with them is this.
Speaker 12 (46:22):
You have money allocated to Matter. You have money that
comes from taxpayers to help support Matter, to run Matter.
But you have a person or people who has the
liberty to spend the money at their own discretion. That
is a major problem matter.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
End up with.
Speaker 12 (46:39):
I think over like a thirty million dollars and a
thirty million dollar deficit. We cannot have anybody having the
liberty to spend money at their discretion that is supposed
to be meant to run a company, to to to carry.
Speaker 9 (46:54):
On business for the citizens of Mythics.
Speaker 12 (46:56):
The reason I have problem this, I don't I.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
Don't write the bus.
Speaker 12 (46:59):
I han'tritten ABO in over forty years, but I have
a problem with it because the.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
Service is supposed to be there.
Speaker 9 (47:03):
For the sentenzens.
Speaker 12 (47:04):
And number two, after going into this deficit, the mayor
came in acts seventeen percent of Charby County residents to
foot a ten million dollar bill, or not not bill,
but bring up ten million dollars through the registration of
your vehicles.
Speaker 9 (47:24):
I was part of that seventeen percent.
Speaker 12 (47:26):
If you got money going to support matter, the money
should be supporting matter in the proper way, not in
someone's liberty or discretion to go in and have fun
and help of the time with it. So if you
could address those things with matter, with the CEO or whoever,
that would be great.
Speaker 9 (47:40):
I understand they're going to get a trustee.
Speaker 12 (47:42):
That would be great, But that's the problem. Help them
that where that's one of the problems.
Speaker 4 (47:46):
I think coming man appreciate that words, yeah real quick,
and I think that's seventeen percent. That was directly I
think it was Chevy County mayor and not the city mayor.
But but but if we're reading turns of giving money
to Matter and not watching the money, I mean, this
is one of the things that we had been hammered
(48:08):
on for at least ten years. We have been saying
that the Memphis City Council should somewhere somehow controlled the
dollar bills because we saw the dollar bills going to
thirteen seventy eleven Rod and that was it, and we
didn't see what was going on in terms of that's
(48:29):
the headquarters of the Memphis Area Transit door. That's thirteen
seventy eleven Road out of Watkins So and I know
old where because there's a sanitation bar not too far
from it and my dad worked down there, so and
that's before Matter was built. But the fact of about
it is is that we had all ways hammered on
(48:51):
it because we really saw the City of Memphis given
matter of money over and over and over the years
and we was like, but the ners, it's getting work,
what's going on out here? And then we would actually
uh see that matter would hire people paying them one
hundred thousand dollars for jobs that that that you could
(49:13):
actually pay them twenty thousand dollars for it. But it
was just people all over the place that was just
just having our jobs like they were Senta Claus. And
then you got you had one hundred people. Uh and
you just look, that's millions of dollars. It's just like wow.
And so so so we we saw the unnecessary administrators
spending that that should not have been happening. That money
(49:34):
should have been used to improve the bus service and
it wasn't being used. But but I think the city
councilor right now, to their credit, uh, it's just trying
to control the dollar bills in terms of how this
money is going to be spent.
Speaker 3 (49:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:48):
Uh and let me take another call and then just
represent the prison to get you in and uh oh okay,
they just dropped all right, So before we get out
of here, thank you, miss mos about by the way,
uh as you can see, and let me put this disclaimer.
Speaker 3 (50:00):
This caveat on no means we're here to bash the
board or Memphis Area trans Authority and its whole complete.
Speaker 2 (50:11):
Process. But we just a concern man, That's basically what
it is. It's about concern and hearing from the people
and find out. As we mentioned earlier, where do we
go from here? Speaking of which I know you got
to get out here, mister Pearson. What else is on
the plate for you before you go? But what else
you're working? I know you have recent town halls and
about you know Xai Guess in the pollution and this
(50:32):
kind of talk to us about what's happening in your
in your what you're doing.
Speaker 10 (50:36):
Absolutely, let me say last thing about Matter. Sure, we
have to take ownership of the system. If the city
council and the mayor want to get involved as relates
to the hiring process, they have to get involved and
be serious about making sure that MATTER is well funded.
It actually takes seventy million dollars to run Matter at
least it requires taking away the deficit that we do
(50:57):
have of sixty million dollars. But the only way we
get and improve transit system as if people get involved
and get engaged. And you can't say you care about
who's CEO, but you're not caring about the people who
are dependent on riding the bus. So if you want
to take ownership of it, do that. Just like MLGNW
reports into the mayor's office and on the cabinet, the
CEO of Mattis should be in the mayor's cabinet and
(51:18):
working directly with him to make sure that the citizens
of this city actually do have good public transit. And
the city council has to put the money where their
ideas are. That's what you have to do. It requires
money and resources and holding people accountable. But we're not
going to do that just you know, on goodwill hoping
things improve for me. I want to thank everybody who
came out to our town halls. We had five town
(51:39):
halls in ten days, all across the city and the
county about XAI and pollution. We have a toxic air problem.
It is not reserved to Boxtown in Westwood. We all
have anf and air quality in Shelby County as well
as DeSoto County, and so we're learning and we're teaching
people about that. And you can go to my website
to learn more about justinja dot com. Next Tuesday, I'll
be a City Council with about twenty other folks from
(52:00):
three one oh nine. The mayor pasted quote unquote community
Benefits Ordinance, but there's no community Advisory Board to help
determine that the money gets out, where the money gets allocated.
And so we don't want this to become a slush
fund for city councilors. We don't want to become a
slush fund for their administration. We wanted to be directed
by the community. So next Tuesday, September ninth, will be
at City Council for public comment, and we invite everyone
(52:22):
to come out and say we deserve essay. In Mississippi,
we're having a meeting on September eighteenth at Pastor Billingsley's Church.
More information on that at memphiscap dot org. That's Memphis
gap dot org. Memphis Community Gets Pollution where the privilege
of serving is our board chair. But we're going to
have a meeting in Mississippi because sixty six gas turbines
are coming to South Haven. We knew when there were
(52:45):
thirty five in Shelby County that it was more pollution
than the airport. They're going to be double that right
across the border, and so and it's coming and we
do not believe that they're going to have any pollution
controls on that, and so our air quality is going
to suffer again from XAI and what Elon Musk is doing.
And you can learn more information at memphiscap dot org
(53:06):
or you can just I'll send out information to my
list serve as well. And the last thing that we're
working on is to do some public the people's hearings
in Nashville, and one of the focuses is going to
be on public transportation. So we'll have mister Moseley, Commissioner
Bailey Memphis Bus Rises Union to come up to Nashville
and to present in a forum and a public hearing
(53:27):
there about our transportation problems and challenges here. But the
best thing people can do in your amazing listeners is
to continue to listen, obviously to the bell ringer, and
to show up when it counts to these meetings, because
an informed people is a powerful people.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
Representative Tennessee state representative of course, Justin J. Pearson, as
you know, he's not only a politician, but he's an activist.
If I can say that, mister Pearson, remember that Tennessee
House of representatives representing the eighty six district in covering
parts of the city of Memphis.
Speaker 3 (53:58):
Am I right about it? That's one hundred percent jenter
of my life. Peers, thank you, thank you for being here.
Speaker 2 (54:03):
Closing words of mister Moseley uh Man, thank you so
much for being here.
Speaker 4 (54:07):
Man words well, I just want to thank you for
an opportunity to be here. And I am here with
my not only friend, but my state representative for District
aged six and definitely distrib ated six is proud of
Representative Peerson and we're looking forward to do some great
things from him and in their future. But I want
(54:28):
to also think the people who have called this radio
station and who have voiced your concern about public transportation
here in Memphis. Uh And I want you all to
know I am listening and and and I and I
am doing my best to articulate your concern to the
matter board and the City Council, both mayors, the County Commission.
(54:53):
I'm breaking my niked and burning at midnight. Or I
think it was doctor King that said, you have to
do your job so well that no one one can
do it better. And that is what I'm all about.
And that's the challenge that that I try to live
by every day. And and that's the challenge that I
believe my state representatives lived by every day. And I
know that's the challenge that staying Ball live by every
(55:15):
day because we listened to this radio station and he's
continuing the tradition of w d I a UH and
and I go back way back to some of the
some of the great UH radio personality of w d I.
I get upset with somebody changed my radio station. All right,
let me.
Speaker 3 (55:36):
Thank you behind that man.
Speaker 2 (55:37):
Look, I want to thank these two fine gentlemen for
coming in to w d I this morning, especially you
justin Pearson, Man, you know represented man, you turn that
car around, got over here.
Speaker 3 (55:45):
Many John on the.
Speaker 2 (55:46):
Spot, aptly good name. Absolutely, that's good. We have to
put that with on them. Man, that's a great moniker.
But no, you you turned around, you came here, you
manage you jump right on the end, man, And I
think it was not just by happenstance, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (56:01):
All Right, thank you WDI listens. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (56:03):
Man. He's on and popping.
Speaker 1 (56:05):
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show weekdates from six to
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis ten
to seventy wd IA
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