Days after a heated “fireside chat” in South Memphis where residents fiercely pushed back against Elon Musk’s xAI development and its potential environmental impact, Mayor Paul Young faced a more subdued audience Wednesday evening in Cordova for the latest stop on his ongoing “One Memphis” town hall tour.
The tone in Cordova was measured, but the concerns remained urgent.
Acknowledging the passion displayed at the earlier event — though not delving into specifics — Young told the Cordova audience he welcomed the engagement.
“I love many of these opportunities to meet with the community just to hear what’s in your minds and hearts,” he said. “There are going to be some things that we’re not going to be able to answer in this moment, but we will continue to do that.”
From public safety and infrastructure to water usage, ADA compliance and mental health services, residents pressed for clarity on how the city plans to address long-standing community needs, particularly amid new developments and shifting resources.
One of the most emotional exchanges of the night came from residents in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, who shared personal stories of being left without interpreters during critical medical and police emergencies.
One of the most emotional exchanges of the night came from residents in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Through an interpreter, one woman told Mempis Police Chief CJ Davis her story of calling for help, but being unable to communicate with first responders because there was no translator among them.
“I almost lost my daughter with that situation,” the woman pleaded through the interpreter. “That’s breaking the ADA law.”
Young and Davis both acknowledged the systemic gaps, but it wasn’t enough for the woman and others in the community, who stormed out of the meeting as the interpreter expressed their concerns: “A lot of police officers aren’t educated on deaf culture. It’s very dangerous.”
Members of the mayor’s staff stepped out to meet with the group as Young promised to convene a town hall specifically focused on ADA compliance and accessibility. “I am definitely committed to ensuring that we have that town hall, and we will make that happen,” Young said.
Other residents asked about the lack of housing and support for people with mental illness, with one woman asking why jails had become the default space for vulnerable individuals. Young, drawing from his personal experience growing up in a mental health-focused household, pointed to newly opened treatment beds at Alliance Healthcare Services and a plan for expanded youth services.
“Our jails have become our largest mental health providers,” he said. “We want to divert people from jail and get them into care.”
On the housing front, residents in historic Orange Mound asked how the city plans to preserve the community’s cultural legacy while addressing growth. Young cited the adaptive reuse of the old Melrose High School into a library and senior housing, as well as new homeownership efforts tied to vacant county-owned lots.
“We want to make sure that the design of those homes match the character of what’s already there,” he said. “That’s our way of ensuring that Orange Mound stays affordable and keeps its historic identity.”
Public safety dominated the latter half of the evening, with residents raising concerns about reckless driving, drag racing and inconsistent police presence across neighborhoods. Several mentioned Trinity and Walnut Bend as a particularly dangerous intersection in need of a traffic signal.
Chief Davis acknowledged the scale of the challenge. “Memphis is 340 square miles,” she said. “We’re three times the size of Atlanta, two times the size of Detroit. We just don’t have enough officers.”
Young and Davis both highlighted ongoing recruitment efforts, the addition of Tennessee Highway Patrol officers on local interstates, and new surveillance infrastructure, including traffic cameras and license plate readers.
“We now have about 550 intersections with HD cameras,” Young said. “Cameras don’t stop crime, but they do help us catch criminals.”
Another resident asked for clarity around increasing costs on MLGW bills, particularly fees tied to solid waste and fire services. Young explained that all such fees must pass through City Council and emphasized that the city is attempting to strike a balance between funding better services and minimizing financial strain on residents.
“We know it’s painful,” he said. “But we also know that our citizens want and deserve better services.”
Though Wednesday’s forum was less confrontational, the shadow of the xAI project loomed large. A woman voiced skepticism about the transparency, environmental safety and long-term benefit of a proposed supercomputer facility in southwest Memphis.
“Our goal is to put controls in place,” Young said, referencing the controversial turbines at the site. He reassured attendees that the facility’s systems were equipped with “top-of-the-line” SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology to reduce emissions and environmental impact.
Young also touted the construction of an $80 million greywater recycling facility as a major win for the city — one that had been sought after for years. Greywater is wastewater from sinks, dishwashers, showers, hand basins, baths and washing machines. “They’re building it on their dime,” he said, referring to xAI and its partners. “That’s not just for them — that’s something we’ve needed, and now we’re getting it.”
He added that the city is exploring a revenue model to keep a significant portion of tax income from the facility within the surrounding 38109 community — a move aimed at addressing equity and long-term investment.
Despite the tension at previous stops, Young maintained that the “One Memphis” series is about listening and responding with empathy.
“These conversations matter,” he told the Cordova crowd. “We’re going to make sure your voices are heard.”
