Graceland Expansion: Mayor Pushes Back

Above, the Graceland swimming pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that there's a major difference of opinion between the may of Memphis, Tennessee and Elvis Presley Enterprises.

According to WDAM:

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - The Memphis mayor and the manager of Graceland are at odds over the use of city funds. 

Mayor Jim Strickland released a statement Friday saying Joel Weinshanker--managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises--is criticizing City leaders simply to get more money to fund his business. 

A day earlier, Weinshanker urged people at a town hall meeting to vote out city council members and Mayor Strickland. Weinshanker said the city leaders are refusing to communicate with him and help him with expanding Graceland, which he says will improve Whitehaven. 

"What we rally need is to have an interaction with city government, which, at this point, they won't even speak to us because of our disagreement with the arena [FedExForum]," Weinshanker said. 

Strickland released a 300-word statement Friday pushing back against Weinshanker's claims. 

Strickland said the whole controversy boils down to one thing: using public money to fund a private business.

It will be interesting to see how things develop. Stay tuned!

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