Written By JR Robinson

Sen. Brent Taylor’s yearlong feud with DA Mulroy is finished. Now, Memphis needs leaders ready to put politics aside and work together.

The battle is over. Senator Brent Taylor’s relentless crusade against District Attorney Steve Mulroy has finally hit a wall—five complaints filed, five complaints dismissed.

But the real story here isn’t who won and who lost. The real story is this: what have the people of Memphis gained from this fight? What problems were solved? What neighborhoods were made safer? What families were given hope? The answer is none.

Senator Taylor, and every local leader in Shelby County—listen closely: if you truly mean it when you say you want Memphis to matter, then why are you spending your energy fighting each other instead of fighting for each other?

Fighting the Wrong Fight

Imagine this: all the hours poured into drafting complaints, holding press conferences, blasting posts on social media… imagine if that firepower were aimed not at discrediting a public official, but at tackling violent crime, supporting our police, or keeping kids out of the justice system in the first place. Imagine if the passion used to tear down was redirected into building up.

Wouldn’t Memphis be stronger for it?

Instead, our leaders act like schoolchildren in a digital cafeteria—throwing insults, scoring points, pleasing their “side.” Republicans versus Democrats. Team Taylor versus Team Mulroy. But where is Team Memphis?

The People Deserve More

The citizens of Memphis care little about political sparring. They care about whether they feel safe walking to their car at night. They care about whether their children make it home from school unharmed. They care about whether leaders are using influence and power to lift this city, not to fuel division.

When you say “Make Memphis Matter,” do you mean it? Or is it merely a slogan—a shiny bumper sticker concealing the reality that this endless partisan game is counterproductive and self-serving?

A Challenge to Our Leaders

Senator Taylor—what if you took all that energy, all that determination used to fight against our DA, and instead used it to fight for our DA? Not because you agree on everything, but because this city’s future depends on cooperation, not combat.

And to every elected official in Shelby County: Memphis doesn’t need more proof of your loyalty to party politics. Memphis needs proof of your loyalty to Memphis itself.

Enough Is Enough

It’s time to put down the swords. Time to start choosing Memphis over politics. Because every day leaders sling mud, real problems grow deeper. Division keeps neighborhoods unsafe. Distrust keeps citizens from believing in their government.

But imagine the opposite—leaders locking arms despite their differences. Showing us that unity is stronger than conflict. Showing us that Memphis can be a model of cooperation for the state and the nation.

What Will It Take?

The question remains: what will it take to get the great minds of this community to truly work together?

Memphis matters. But if we are to make it matter—if we are to lift this city beyond the cycles of violence and division—then it starts with our leaders choosing progress over pettiness.

The fight is over. Now let the real work begin.