City Council Presses on Beale Street Deal

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Performa/Beale Street deal with the city of Memphis may be inked, but before the ink dries this time, some city council members want another attorney to give the contract the once over.

Did you ever wonder why it is that unlike the movies, nothing that ever involves Memphis City government has "The End" attached to it? For example, wasn't June 7th supposed to mark the epic finale to the decades old Beale Street management saga?

"I felt and the attorneys felt that it's in the best interest of the city of Memphis and its citizen taxpayers that we settle this litigation and move to the brighter future that Beale Street has."

"We're very happy. We got what we wanted. I think the city got what they wanted. So, I think it's a win/win situation for everything."

End of story, right? No money changes hands, a bitter lawsuit becomes fodder for the paper shredder, and the music plays on. Uninterrupted peace and harmony that's lasted all of... 22 days.

"We're not contesting the settlement of Beale Street. We want that settlement. What we want to do is make sure that the settlement does not impede on the council's responsibility."

"If the Mayor decides that he wants to let us have $15,000 to contract with them then we will. I'm waiting for the Mayor's response in writing... that we have the ability to go out and contract with an attorney."

Now, let me get this straight. Chairman Collins, you want Mayor Wharton, as the sole contracting officer under the City Charter, to give the council the approval to hire an outside attorney for $15,000 to look at the settlement he himself, a lawyer, and a bunch of other city hall attorneys have already agreed to? Why?

"If you read the settlement it says that the Beale Street Merchants shall receive rent credits. Which means if they were not to receive those rent credits that money would be due to the city of Memphis in the form of revenue."

Now, granted those unused rent credits, if the city got them, could amount to more than $400,000. But, considering last year's big bruha over the millions the city spent on paying outside attorney's fees, why can't City Council Attorney, Allan Wade, look into it?

"It would be a conflict of interest because Mr. Wade works for the city of Memphis."

But, if Wharton says no to an outside attorney, then we may be on our way to another endless story at City Hall.