"The people in the black community feel as if they are beingignored," Murphy said.
Murphy has served on the Muncie City Council, as well as theMuncie Fire Department, for the past 15 years. He has lived inMuncie throughout his entire life, with the exception of when hewent to South Carolina State on a basketball scholarship.
The six-feet-four-inch basketball player graduated with honorsin the field of business administration.
"I didn't go into the field that I went to school for, but ithas helped me in other areas," Murphy said.
Murphy is the only black on the city council, which is comprisedof nine members. He is one of eight black firefighters on Muncie'sforce of 120.
With a reminiscent smile, Murphy said his views of the worldchanged when he returned to Muncie after college.
"You come back and it seems like nothing really changed," the39-year-old said.
Murphy said he wondered how a person could make a difference insuch a conservative city.
One change Murphy proposed to the council this summer was therenaming of Muncie's Broadway Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr.Boulevard.
"I think by renaming Broadway, we're heading in the rightdirection," Murphy said.
The change was brought to Murphy's attention by the President ofthe Whitely Neighborhood Association, Randall Simms.
"He's been in the trenches with me through all of this," Simmssaid.
Simms said that although some might think Murphy is caught in aconflict of interest with being a councilman and an advocate of thechange, he sees him as a good man.
"He's out here fighting for what's right," he said.
Murphy, also a resident of Whitely Neighborhood, said after thecouncil voted the change down in June, the problem justescalated.
Opposition against the change included local businesses who saidthe name change would pose a financial inconvenience. Murphysuggested an extended time of 18 months before the change wasactivated. Simms said money could be raised for inconveniences tothe businesses.
"I addressed all the questions and problems the businesses hadwith the change," Murphy said.
Murphy's eyes widened, sending a wave up his forehead, when hespeculated when the issue would be resolved. Even then, Murphy knewthis was an issue that would not subside after a few days.
"I did tell the council members that they didn't know what theywere getting into," he said. "I think some of them (councilmembers) felt that if when they vote this thing down, it would goaway in a month or two ... it was just going to go away and go backto normal, but it's just opened up a can of worms with what'staking place."
Currently there are separate mediation meetings with bothparties being conducted through the Department of Justice. Acombined meeting with the parties is scheduled to take placesometime next month, Simms said.
Murphy said the intervention of the Department of Justice putsMuncie in a bad light to those outside the city, by portraying itas a place that doesn't work with different points of view. He alsosaid people would not be interested in moving into an environmentwith such a large issue at hand.
The Muncie native recognizes other problems besides the streetname controversy.
"There are some other issues that need to be addressed alsodealing with race relationships, job opportunity in the communityand a better working relationship with the police department,"Murphy said.
Murphy said blacks in the community have voiced their concernsto Murphy about harassment from the police department.
He also hopes to see blacks appointed to city boards andcommissions, and more members on the Muncie Police Department.Currently there are four out of 120.
Murphy said it is his duty to serve and represent the people ofthe sixth district in times of emergency, both literally andfiguratively.
"I'm there for them," Murphy said. "With the city council, I'mhelping people solve problems that the local government might helpto correct."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
