Wharton Fires Back at Forbes

Memphis, Tn - Third most miserable city, that's the ranking Forbes Magazine gave Memphis.

 Now Memphians are firing back telling Forbes to walk a mile in our shoes. And the team leader for the campaign is Mayor A. C. Wharton, he wrote an open letter to Steve Forbes, just a week after Forbes Magazine named Memphis one of the most miserable cities in America.

"Not saying you have it wrong, but saying we have it right," says Wharton.

Wharton bragged about our Grizzlies and Tigers, our performing arts venues, our hospitals, our compassionate corporations, but most of all, Memphians themselves.

He wrote:
"It’s not about a basketball team or a ballet. It’s about our people. As their mayor, I simply cannot allow to pass without comment some of the things you have published about our city."

Wharton invited a crew from Forbes to come to the Bluff City.

"To watch our rebirth, or renaissance, our revival," says Wharton. "That's my challenge. If they can spend ink on what's wrong, how about a little ink on saying here's what they're doing about it."

Forbes named political corruption, crime, and weather as just a few reasons why Memphis is miserable.

To that Wharton responded by writing:

"Violent crime in Memphis is declining steadily. There is a new era of transparency and ethical behavior in city hall, due to a couple of executive orders that I drafted and signed when I took office last October. The sun shines here 230 days a year."

And Wharton says this letter is not just to convince others Memphis is great, but also to convince the people who live here.

"This is more than just a letter, you're going to see a full blown...crusade," says Wharton.

• Email to Steve Forbes Sforbes@forbes.com
• Mail to Forbes Magazine, 60 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011
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