78.2 F
Memphis
Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Buy now

<
>

KIDS EAT FREE: Tennessee set to launch Summer EBT Program for 2023-24 School Year

0

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) have teamed up to launch a new program aimed at providing additional nutrition benefits for families during the summer months.

The Summer EBT Program will provide eligible families with $120 for each school-aged child to purchase groceries while school is out.

According to TDHS, most families will automatically receive these benefits if their child is enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Families First (TANF), and/or TennCare. However, some parents will need to apply for the program.

The program will be funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Summer EBT benefits will be distributed by TDHS based on records provided by TDOE, school districts, and through USDA funding.

To be eligible for the program, students in grades K-12 must have attended school in person during the 2023-24 academic year and their family must be enrolled in SNAP, Families First, or TennCare.

Students who have qualified for free or reduced-price lunch at a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participant school will also automatically be eligible for Summer EBT benefits.

Families who are not automatically enrolled but attended a NSLP-participating school during the 2023-24 school year will need to apply for the program. The application process can be completed online through the Summer EBT Parent Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/parent. Approval for benefits will be based on income guidelines.

Once approved, families will receive a one-time lump sum of $120 per eligible child on an EBT card. The card must be activated before it can be used to purchase groceries. The EBT card will be mailed to the eligible child’s home based on current school records.

Parents can also use the Summer EBT Parent Portal to view their child’s benefits, link their child(ren), verify or change their address, and sign up for text message notifications. For any additional questions or assistance, parents can contact One DHS Customer Service at 833-772-TDHS (8347).

For more information about the Summer EBT Program and eligibility requirements, please visit https://.tn.gov/SummerEBT.

Halbert presents corrective plan to Commission; files to dismiss petition for ouster

0
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert

Following numerous delays – including several no-shows – a long-awaited corrective action plan was presented to Shelby County Commissioners from hard-pressed Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert during the Wednesday, May 15  Audit Committee meeting.

The item was deferred from May 1.

“Absolutely not. I’m not going anywhere,” said Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert in response to the suggestion for her to step aside. (Screen capture)

During the report, Halbert complained about her department being underfunded. Mayor Lee Harris’ administration quickly balked at the suggestion.

“Over the last four years the Clerk has had more resources than she could spend. Financial Reports show the Clerk’s Office didn’t spend $855,245 in 2020, $928,159 in 2021, $1,445,183 in 2022, and $2,288,653 in 2023 totaling just over $5.5 million,” read a statement from the mayor’s office.

It included a caption stating, “Financial reports show Shelby County invests too much, not too little in clerk’s office.”

The report is the result of an audit ordered by Tennessee State Comptroller Jason Mumpower in March. A team was sent to Memphis after Shelby County Trustee Regina Newman pulled inaccurate revenue reports submitted by the clerk’s office.

The set of six recommendations from the state followed.  Determining the value of a $25 wheel tax that was approved in 2023 topped the list.

But aging tools have complicated the various tasks the office performs – including calculating the tax.

“According to our third-party sole-source state system contract team, right now, the wheel tax cannot be separated,” said Halbert. “However, an audit firm did help us put together a platform to identify that wheel tax number. That is one of the challenges we are still working on.”

The tax is currently counted twice. Once, to register the recently passed $25 wheel tax. The next, to note previous rate of $50. The typical vehicle owner pays $75 per year.

“There are so many transactions the clerk’s office performs, it’s just not technologically available – in advance – for a system to be created…they’re just not going to do it,” said Bennie Smith, who oversees IT for the clerk’s office. “There’s not a technological way you can go and add Shelby County twice.”

A “10th of the month” cutoff date also complicates matters. Additional receipted funds routinely come in that require reporting. Yet, Halbert’s office indicated that her office was told to “stop sending” a second report. Only the report due every 10th was wanted. The date was “hard-set” during Halbert’s tenure.

The person who gave the order wasn’t named.

Moreover, the clerk’s office is also required to turn over money within 30 days. It cannot have idle funds.

“If we don’t report that to you, we could be under-reporting. We would rather err on the side of caution,” Halbert said. “We need to document every penny, especially if we are going to have it on an Excel spreadsheet.”

Adopting the state’s BIS system, the ledger would reflect “all those transactions.” It was another recommendation from Mumpower’s team.

Halbert also said the commission and administration should receive a report from any entity touching the financial reporting involving the clerk’s office. Reports that don’t “zero-balance out,” would require an audit. 

Furthermore, she recommended a forensic audit to dig deeper into the accounting practices of previous administrations. She also claimed the administration has prevented her from conducting one.

Commissioner Mick Wright – who has requested Halbert’s resignation several times – asked if her office was still under audit.

“No, because Shelby County intervened and they interrupted the audit,” Halbert said. “I’d like to leave it at that. … The audit was stopped, and not by the Office of the County Clerk.”

He also pressed Halbert on her claims that building codes limit the number of customers allowed in various clerk’s office locations.

“This is the No. 1 complaint that I get is folks having issues with the County Clerk’s office, and it’s virtually every day,” Wright said. 

Despite the prolonged controversies, the embattled clerk does have her defenders on the commission.

“It’s just difficult, because I followed so much of the headlines, which completely sought to just drag you without the proper context for why the performance is not meeting our expectations,” said Britney Thornton. “I would just hope that, to my conservative colleague on the left (gesturing to Wright), your constituents would care about issues beyond the clerk’s office.”

Halbert’s problems don’t end with the Commission. A petition from a special prosecutor investigating her office has also been filed. It seeks her removal from office. The request reflects many of the shortcomings highlighted in the audit of her office.

On Wednesday, May 15, in a press conference and flanked by her legal counsel, Halbert addressed the swirling controversies around her.

She indicated that her attorney would guide her responses due to the ongoing litigation. Halbert’s team emphasized that the motion to dismiss the investigation rests on the argument that no willful misconduct or criminal activity has occurred, only administrative disagreements.

“When we look at the law, what we do is look at what the standards are,” said Halbert’s attorney Darrell O’Neal. “Mere negligence or because you don’t like how I run an office are normally not grounds for removal.”

Halbert heself also responded to her critics, asserting that public office requires adherence to the law, even if it is unpopular.

“It is my job to obey the law. I am sworn under an oath of office, and I’m not going to apologize for operating within the law,” she said.

 

SC Mayor Harris’ budget raises eyebrows at SC Sheriff’s Office

0
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris unvelied a proposed $1.6B Budget on May 1, 2024.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ proposed $1.6 billion FY2025 budget may have hit a speed bump after the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office claimed the first draft eliminates hundreds of vacant positions to balance the books during the Wednesday, May 16 Shelby County Commission Budget & Finance Committee meeting.

“The mayor’s budget creates a concern for the community’s safety and employee safety. Now is not the time to defund the sheriff’s office, eliminate positions, or hold the public safety division to a flat budget, when other departments experience growth in their area,” said SCSO Chief Administrative Officer Alicia Lindsey. 

The administration plans to defund over 400 positions within the department. 

If approved, the budget would trim the on-the-books staff to 1,715 positions. The proposal provides $203 million for salaries, including fringe benefits. 

Any government positions vacant for more than 18 months were on the chopping block. The plan was first announced by Harris during the budget retreat in January.

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, meanwhile, is requesting $205 million for FY 2025. Maintenance to the Shelby County Jail — including failing jail door locks — make up the $2 million difference.

“All I want to do is be made whole. There are slight increases in our budget, but that’s due to maintenance of effort costs and things that go on in the jail,” said Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner.

The approach taken by administration to tackle a $60 million deficit and provide a balanced budget and provide six percent increases to most county employees. Vacancies in every department were taken into consideration.

“In this mayor’s FY2025 proposed budget, we actually supported the sheriff’s department more than Shelby County ever has, by doing two things. We were able to give all Sheriff’s Department employees six percent increases,” said Shelby County Director of Budget & Fiscal Planning Michael Thompson.

The other move was easing salary restrictions from $31 million in the FY2024 budget to $8.8 million.

“The salary restriction for the sheriff’s department in the Y2025 proposed budget is significantly less. That means they have more ability to go out and recruit and hire and support our citizens’ safety,” said Thompson.

According to the administration, the unfunded positions are still available. If needed, they can be funded by the commission, or from the department’s own budget. However, the likelihood of an influx of hundreds of new officers is unlikely.

“We left for the sheriff’s department 300 positions for them to fill each year the sheriff’s department does a training class. You cannot have enough training classes to fill 300 positions in a year. So, we are still leaving the door open for the sheriff’s department to fill 300 positions,” said Audrey Tipton, Shelby County Director of Finance & Administration. 

“We’re saying, ‘Hey, Sheriff’s Department, please go out and hire the 300 vacant positions remaining in your FY2025 budget,” she said. 

Nevertheless, the move to “unfund” positions could trigger a lawsuit from the sheriff’s department. 

A maintenance of effort required by state law forbids cutting salaries to law enforcement agencies, unless requested by the sheriff.  The Shelby County jail is also required to be fully-staffed.

“That is a proposed elimination of positions. You can say they’re just not funded. But, if you haven’t funded them, it doesn’t matter if you have a position, or not,” said Lindsey.

Legal staff for either the commission or the administration were not on hand. Questions of the likelihood, or timeline of a lawsuit, if the budget passes went unanswered.

During the meeting, a comparison was drawn with the Memphis City Council’s effort to reduce funding to the Shelby County School system in 2008. Around $51 million was cut from SCSC’s budget – roughly 5.5% of its overall budget – to lower property taxes in the city.

It also tested the school system’s maintenance of effort requirements. 

The City of Memphis was ordered to pay a $57 million settlement to SCSC in 2015. 

Along with the sheriff’s department, committee members heard from a slate of county government division heads, who presented their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

SLIDESHOW: Scenes from LeMoyne-Owen 2024 Commencement

0

May 11 was a lovely day for Commencement at LeMoyne Owen College.

In a switch from previous years, LeMoyne Owen held their commencement ceremony in the courtyard area near the center of campus. Hundreds of grads, families and loved ones were on hand to celebrate the occasion.

TSD Photojournalist Gary S. Whitlow was on hand to capture the occasion. Check out thes sights and view a livestream of the ceremony above!

This post will be updated.

A Dream No Longer Deferred: LeMoyne Owen ‘forgives’ a long-forgotten debt so 79-year-old can march after a 51-year wait

0
Richard “Dickie” Williams finally received his degree from LeMoyne Owen College in 2024, after a $50 ‘debt’ from 1973 was cleared. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)

It was 1973 when Richard “Dickie” Williams took his final exams at LeMoyne-Owen College. By that point, he’d completed all his course work, despite having to leave school for a one-year tour in Vietnam. But he hadn’t paid off his bill with the college.

And that meant he never received his degree, never enjoyed his commencement. But that all changed on May 11, when Richard Williams received his degree in elementary education from LeMoyne Owen College – a fresh faced college grad, ready to embark upon life at the tender age of 79.

“I’m all retired,” Williams chuckled when asked about his next career move.

It’s a winding road for a man whose initial reason for going to what was then Owen College had little to do with getting an education. Like a lot of young men in the 1960s, he was trying to stay away from the combat zone.

“I ain’t gonna lie: I went to Owen to dodge the draft,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to Vietnam. Too many of my friends getting killed over there. My brother had been there and just got back home. So, I didn’t really want to go, but they got me anyway.”

Williams’ younger brother is John Gary Williams, former singer with The Mad Lads, a 1960s soul group signed to Stax. John Gary’s music career was interrupted when he had to go to Vietnam, where he witnessed horrors and death.

“From what I understand, he said, ‘Dickie gonna get killed over there,’” Richard said. “I didn’t really think about that. I knew it was dangerous, but I always trusted God. So I just took my chance.”

Williams went to Vietnam in 1968, survived it, then returned home to Memphis where he resumed his education at the now-merged LeMoyne Owen College in 1969. Four years later, with all his coursework complete, he was ready to graduate. But there was one problem.

He owed the school $50 – which doesn’t sound like a lot, but for comparison’s sake, consider: Gasoline was about 39 cents a gallon; movie tickets were about $1.50 and record albums on vinyl cost about $5.00. 

“It was a misunderstanding about that $50,” he said. “I had all the credits to march. I forgot the lady’s name who prevented me from marching. But she was just doing her job, I guess. I hold no malice against her.”

With a wife and family, Williams just went on with his life. He tucked his academic papers away and went on to have a 33-year career with the EEOC, including working as an investigator. He still got to feed his inner teacher as a mentor and community volunteer. Set to turn 80 in November, he was fine.

Fast forward to earlier this spring. After coming to campus to hear a high school classmate speak, Williams’ niece took him for a conversation at the registrar’s office. 

“She talked to this young lady and told her, “My uncle had enough credits to graduate but I think he owes $50.’ The young lady said, ‘Let me see what we can do.’

Later, she called Williams back and asked if he had any proof of his claim. And, of course, he did.

“I kept those papers. I don’t know why,” he said, before correcting himself. “Well, I do now, but back then, I don’t know why I was keeping all those papers. And when I showed it to her, she said, ‘We don’t need anything else. You got the proof.’

“And that’s how all of this got started.”

Several weeks later, Williams finally marched across the stage to receive his degree — a dream no longer deferred. So what are his post-baccalaureate plans? Start teaching? Maybe grad school?

“No sir, I’m good right here,” he said with a laugh. “Like I said, I’m retired.”

SLIDESHOW: No prom?!?! No problem! Parents step in to make a memorable Sneaker Ball for JP Freeman students

0
Stepping out! (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/Tri-State Defender)

Memphis parents stepped up to create a magical prom night for their middle schoolers after the school unexpectedly canceled the planned events.

The “8th Grade Sneaker Ball” was held at Southbrook Mall on Saturday night, a joyous celebration filled with dancing, laughter, and fresh kicks.

Larry and Syreeta Dotson, parents of an eighth-grader at John P. Freeman Optional School, were the driving force behind the event. After their daughter shared the disappointing news of the cancellation, they quickly mobilized, gathering resources and support to ensure the students wouldn’t miss out on this cherished milestone.

“I was really sad. I was kind of upset about it,” Dodson’s daughter told WREG.

Larry, a booking agent, used his connections to secure the venue and other necessities for the event. Syreeta, alongside other parents, rallied the community to make the night special.

“Whitehaven is strong,” he said. “And as an alum of John P. Freeman, we could not let the hard work of our youth go without a grand celebration as they prepare to transition to high school.”

“The parents are in full support of celebrating the kids,” Syreeta Dodson said to WREG. “We see the hard work, we see the sleepless nights…and they need to be celebrated.”

The Sneaker Ball was a resounding success, with students reveling in the opportunity to dress up, dance, and create lasting memories. While the reason for the school’s cancellation remains unclear, the community’s response showcased the power of parents coming together to support their children.

TSD Photojournalist Gary S. Whitlow was on hand to snap pics from the Sneaker Ball . .  check them out above!

Former Congresswoman Val Demings to Keynote NAACP Memphis Freedom Fund Celebration

0
Former U.S. Congresswoman Val Demings of Florida will be the keynote speaker at the Freedom Fund Gala in June.

The NAACP Memphis Branch has announced that Val Demings, former U.S. Congresswoman from Florida, will be the keynote speaker at its 48th annual Freedom Fund Celebration on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

The event, themed “Thriving Together: As One,” will be held at the Halloran Center for Performing Arts & Education in downtown Memphis.

Demings, a former social worker and police chief, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023. She gained national prominence as an impeachment manager during the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

“Val Demings has an incredible story to share with Memphis,” said Kermit Moore, President of the NAACP Memphis Branch. “Her life story is inspiring, from her childhood to walking and serving in the hollowed halls of Congress.”

The Freedom Fund Celebration is the NAACP Memphis Branch’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the organization’s programs and initiatives aimed at promoting social justice and equality.

“The Honorable Val Demings has a message for our city,” Moore added. “We look forward to hearing her insights and being inspired by her words.”

Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available, and more information can be found at www.naacpmemphis.org or by calling (901) 521-1343.

TSD e•Edition: An Exclusive Q&A with Mayor Paul Young — plus superheroes, vending machines, and the power of education

0

If you’ve been following us in 2024, you know things are different.

We’ve gone paperless (mostly — more on that in a moment), so we can ramp up our online operations. Thus we’ve introduced the “e-Edition” of our newspaper. It’s a whole new look and feel for us here at TSD, and we think it’s symbolic of a new era of covering Memphis and the Mid South as only we can.

In this edition: the full transcript of our exclusive interview with Memphis Mayor Paul Young, in which he explains why he’s asking for a tax increase and what Memphians can expect if the City Council approves it. Also, the Heal The Hood Foundation has launched an exciting concept in literacy: a comic book vending machine. Plus the latest on embattled Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert, and a special guest post from the President of Southwest Community College. Of course, you can read all of that online, but we think you’ll dig it on the page too.

Click above to access a PDF of our paper — laid out in familiar style. You can flip pages, zoom, etc., all from your computer, tablet or smartphone. And be on the lookout for our monthly print edition in limited circulation!

There are many more changes on the way! Stay with us and stay tuned!

UPDATED: The TSD Interview: Mayor Paul Young: ‘We can certainly cut, but our community also wants better results’

0

Say this about Memphis Mayor Paul Young: He ain’t ducking no smoke — especially when it comes to his proposed FY2025 budget.

We learned this during his 100 Day Mayoral Address last month.

“I think it’s time for us to step into a reality that allows us to flourish,” he told hundreds of Memphians during an event at Mount Vernon last month. “When I …present our budget, I’m going to ask for a tax increase. I’m putting it out there straight, no lying, so you can hear directly from me.

“I’d rather not ask,” he said at the time. “But I believe it’s the right thing for our city.”

Since then, the Mayor’s Office has released more details about his proposed budget, including an extensive presentation breaking down how the city is already cash-strapped even as the costs of payroll and essential services continue to escalate. It makes a case for new programs to support schools, fight blight and curb crime. It ask citizens to imagine a better Memphis.

But at the end of the day, it also asks them for more money. Specifically, an additional $.75 on ad valorem taxes, which for a home valued at $100,000 would mean an increase from $675 to $863 — about $188.

This chart shows what homeowners could expect to pay at various tax thresholds. The Yellow line is with no increase; Mayor Young’s proposed increase is highlighted in blue.

Not surprisingly, public opinion on the proposed tax increase is . . . mixed.

I spoke with Mayor Young on the morning of May 6, just hours before members of the Memphis City Council were set to begin deliberating on how (or IF) they would give Young what he’s asked for.

We talked about his proposed budget, how he hopes to get Memphis to buy-in to his tax increase and how people will know if it’s working.

Earlier this week, we posted the video above. Below is a transcript of our interview, edited for clarity and length.

Lee Eric Smith: First, thank you for joining us, Mayor Young. I want to acknowledge that it feels like you haven’t stopped campaigning yet. You’re obviously not campaigning for office, but for the hearts and minds of Memphians to do  . . . something. How would you describe what you’re campaigning for at this stage in your administration?

Mayor Paul Young: I wouldn’t call it a campaign. I feel like I’m working to represent our city. Our city needs a lot of healing. It’s hurting right now. It’s important for me to be present, to acknowledge and address the negative things we’re dealing with, but also remind people we have greatness on the horizon. There’s greatness still in us, even as we go through some of these challenging times. As mayor, it’s important that I champion that message and that, again, I’m present.

Smith: That gets to a question I was going to ask a little later. There’s a big administrative piece to your job, but there’s also an inspirational piece. People look to you to set the tone, to engage us in a vision. How are you balancing the public and inspirational part with the administrative, “got to crunch the numbers and run this city” part of it?

Mayor Young: Well, I’ve been working in local government for many years, and I’ve led major divisions within the government. So, the governance side is very natural for me. Working within the bureaucracy, making it more efficient–those are the reasons I wanted to get into this work, to make our systems work better for the people. We spend a lot of time during our days making sure government operates efficiently. We have a great team. The other side of my role is to be the ambassador for our city. The mayor really is the chief ambassador for our community, and our ambassador needs to be out there spreading a message of hope and putting some action behind the words.

Smith: I tend to think there’s a point when elected officials, especially administrative ones, get into office and get hit with some piece of information that changes their perspective. A candidate may campaign on “no new taxes,” then get in office and realize that’s not possible. What was the piece of information that kind of changed your perspective after you got into office in terms of what would be needed, especially relative to the budget?

Mayor Young: I never campaigned on “no new taxes,” but I certainly had it as a principle going in that we would not raise taxes, particularly in my first year, because I understand how challenging a time it is. 

But as I got deeper into the budget process, I realized if we don’t do something now, we put our city at a really, really risky place financially.

To make it short, we pull out of our reserves, and we want a nice, healthy rainy day fund. Our credit rating agencies say we need at least $80 million in reserve. Ideally, we need $140 million. We’re at roughly $100 million this year. When we finished our budget for this first round, we were roughly $90 million over (budget). We cut it down, and after all the cutting and then adding some of the new expenses, we’re at $53 million over (budget). So if we pulled $53 million out (of the rainy day fund), we’d be below the recommended reserve amount from a credit perspective. And we can certainly cut, but our community also wants better results. 

I felt like it was important for us to go ahead and put us on a strong fiscal path. And in addition to covering the hole, doing some things that are over and beyond what we have been doing so that our community can get better results. 

That means making our community safer through camera technology. It means cleaning up our community and investing in neighborhood-based cleanup crews. They’ll be cleaning on a very regular basis. Then, then investing in our children and opportunities for them to be engaged after hours to get them off the streets doing some of the negative activities that we’ve seen in the past.

Smith: Let’s talk about that a little bit – people may not want to pay higher taxes but if they are going to pay higher taxes, they want to know the money is being spent properly. So in addition to seeing cleaner streets or longer hours at community centers, what other ways will people be able to look and say, “Okay I’m paying more in taxes, but at least I’m seeing X in my neighborhood, on my street, in my school”?

Mayor Young: Well, one is we want to make sure that we are enhancing service delivery. So, the things that we do every day, we want to make sure that we continue to do them well, and where we can do better, we want to enhance it. 

Things like picking up the trash and paving the roads, potholes, I get a lot of questions around that – how efficiently are we doing those things? Those things don’t necessarily demand an increase, but demand that we are on top of our services. So, we want people to see better results there. 

We also want them to see more people out cleaning, cutting grass, picking up trash. People need to see aesthetically, folks out there doing this work because it makes them feel like their government is working on their behalf and blight contributes to crime. If it looks like no one cares in a community, people behave as such. And so, we want to make sure that we’re changing that aesthetic feel and then the reality of crime.

A lot of the crime we’re seeing is happening because we have some idle minds that are occupying their time with things like stealing cars, breaking into cars. So the investment in youth is not just a feel-good program – it’s part of the crime prevention strategy. If you don’t engage our youth, they will find another way to engage. We want to have structured activities in our spaces for them.

And finally, there’s the investment in the technology I spoke about. Even with this much crime, it’s still a small amount of people creating the most havoc in our community. The quicker we can get them off the streets and bring them to justice, the quicker we can restore safety. This camera mesh technology will allow us to do that.

Smith: You’re asking people to buy into a vision where some of the programs may take a while to take root. You’re asking people to, for lack of a better term, kind of ‘suck it up’ for a minute. But people are hurting and they want relief now. How do you get people to buy into this idea of delayed gratification?

Mayor Young: It’s really a matter of making investments where people can see things happening differently, where they can see their money in action. That’s why I think it’s so important to have crews out on all of our major corridors on a regular basis, so people see them as they’re commuting to and from work or school.

We also have to be more thoughtful around how we’re policing in our community. This means stepping up our investigative services and making sure that we are not just patrolling the streets, but also patrolling social media, anticipating where violence may happen based on online conversations. 

These are the types of things, that if we’re doing them and we actually see the reduction in crime that we are looking for, that’s part of my goal to have at least a 10% reduction in overall crime year over year. Once people see the fruits of that, they’ll believe it was worth it.

We also have some opportunities coming up as we pay off a significant debt within two years. That will open up funds in our budget, and we can explore further tax adjustments when we have more revenues available. Right now, things are tight, and this increase puts us on a strong fiscal path moving forward.

Smith: Crime, and violent crime specifically, seems like one of those intractable problems that it’s hard to tie to a line item on a budget. It’s hard to say, “If we spend this amount of money over here, then we’re going to have X fewer kids drag racing on the highways, or fewer gun-toting youth going into convenience stores.” For people who see this every day, how do you measure results or tell them, “Hey, we’re spending the money this way, and this is how you can tell it’s working, even though it’s not obvious”? I hope that question makes sense.

Mayor Young: Yeah, I see what you’re saying. We look for indications of success. Crime is not going to be solved overnight, but we can get it trending in the right direction. We focus on year-over-year reductions during specific periods of time, like a decrease in summertime infractions, because we know criminal activity has seasonality to it. If we get the right people off the streets, you’re going to see fewer shootings and car break-ins. 

In conjunction with that, we want to work with our partners at the state, federal, and county levels, including the district attorney and our sheriff, to ensure that the right people stay off the streets and get the justice necessary for our community. This is an ongoing process, and I think people want to see that reduction. When they see it, I think they’ll feel much better about the direction our city is going.

Smith: Let’s imagine the city council has approved your budget proposal as is. How quickly would people begin to see results of what’s included? Would it be weeks, months, years? What would be some of the signs that it’s working or not working?

Mayor Young: My goal is for you to see immediate action. I’m putting myself out there as a leader and saying, “This is what we need, and failure is not an option.” We have to work really hard to make sure we have all the agreements in place so that on July 1st, the start of our new fiscal year, we’re moving forward. 

We’ll be funding new programs at community centers, deploying crews to clean up major corridors and streets, and starting the process of implementing cameras throughout the city. These efforts will start immediately. While reductions in crime will take some time, my hope is that by the end of the summer and into the fall, we’ll start to see positive trends.

Smith: You’ve been talking about the budget for a few meetings now, including some out in the community. What kind of feedback are you getting from average citizens, say in Orange Mound, Frayser, or other areas?

Mayor Young: I hear mixed things. There are certainly those opposed to any tax increase, some because they literally can’t afford it, especially seniors on fixed incomes. I like to remind them of tax relief programs specifically for seniors. Others, particularly in the business community, point out that higher taxes can be a disincentive for investment and make businesses want to leave, especially since we already have the highest tax rate in the state. 

I understand that, and I believe there’s a balance. But I also know that if we don’t stabilize our community, make it more attractive, and address our problems, we will lose businesses anyway. We have to ensure our community is fiscally solvent and addressing our most pressing needs. 

And lastly, I hear support – but with the caveat that people expect results. They support the investment as long as it leads to reduced crime and a more attractive community. So, for me, it’s about ensuring we execute if and when this budget is approved.

Smith: I imagine there’s a portion of the electorate, those in more affluent areas with higher property values, who will be paying significantly more in taxes. They might say, “I’m fine over here. The problems you’re addressing, while important, are happening ‘over there’.” How do you engage those residents and help them realize that if crime is happening in Orange Mound, Frayser, or South Memphis, then it does impact other parts of the city?

Mayor Young: It might have been harder to make that case 20-plus years ago when crime was more confined to areas facing the greatest challenges. But now, crime is mobile, and our community’s challenges are community-wide; they won’t stay in one area. If we don’t support all areas of our city and all our youth, the negative impacts will be felt across the board. I think that’s more apparent than ever, and it’s not a hard case to make that these investments will result in a safer community overall.

Smith: The council is deliberating on your budget. What would be your ask of Memphis voters and citizens?

Mayor Young: I’d ask them to support our city and our young people. I know a tax increase isn’t something anyone wants, but it puts our city on a strong fiscal path. Ideally, we would be growing, and more tax revenue would be generated naturally. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. This investment will kickstart that growth. I’m asking for this increase, and I expect you to hold me accountable to deliver the results our city deserves.

Smith: Shifting gears, a few weeks ago, you spoke at the dedication of the new reflection park honoring Martin Luther King Jr. You spoke passionately about the power of love and healing to address the pain many in the city are feeling. This isn’t something you typically hear from elected officials. Can you talk about why this approach is so central to your leadership?

Mayor Young: Memphis is an amazing community with great people and so much diversity. I want to unify our city; we’re more powerful together, and love is the thing that can bind us all. It’s not politically popular to say we need more love, but at the root of many of our challenges is pain. 

We have many young men, particularly young Black men, who carry so much hurt. That hurt manifests as anger and toughness. If we understand that these individuals are hurting and need love and attention, it changes our perspective. It might not sound tough, but it’s exactly what’s needed. If every person takes the time to share kind words, it changes outlooks. 

I’m not naive enough to think everyone will respond, but some hearts and minds will change, and it takes everyone to get us where we need to go.

COMMENTARY: Education: Bigger than grades; preparation for life

0

By Tracy D. Hall, President of Southwest Tennessee Community College

During our second annual Southwest Workforce Center Open House and Career Fair on April 18 at the Macon Cove Campus, alumnus Calvin Sanford shared his story of overcoming a life of crime and lack of opportunity to his transformation into a successful entrepreneur.

Dr. Tracy D. Hall
President of Southwest Community College

Calvin’s journey to Southwest took 10 years, as life presented him with detours. He was a single father at 19 who found himself dealing and using drugs that landed him in jail 26 times. After his last arrest, the prosecutor gave him three choices — jail, probation with diversion, or school. He chose school and enrolled at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Determined to turn his life around and be a better role model for his children, Calvin took full advantage of his time at Southwest. He became active in clubs and activities, achieving a 4.0 grade point average, earning a place on the Dean’s List, and in the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. He credits Southwest faculty and staff mentors with giving him the opportunity and “grace” to change his life. At Southwest, Calvin also met his wife, and they eventually had two daughters, aptly named Dream and Genesis.

Upon graduating from Southwest in 2018 with an Associate of Science in Accounting, the Shelby County Criminal Clerk’s Office agreed to expunge his record. With a new beginning, Calvin transferred to Christian Brothers University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing in 2020. Calvin is now the Chief Executive Officer and director of Marketality, LLC, a Mid-South marketing agency.

Calvin shares his story with youth on the wrong side of the law who have made poor decisions and he motivates them to see beyond their circumstances. In a recent WMC-TV5 news story, he said, “I was young and a product of my environment. It’s no excuse, but it is what it is. If you grow up with less opportunity, if you grow up around trouble, if you grow up around negativity, then more than likely you’re going to convert to that.”

“Education is bigger than grades. Your life literally changes when you walk in that path.” | Calvin Sanford, Southwest Tennessee Community College and Christian Brothers University Alumnus, CEO of Marketality, LLC

Calvin’s story of opportunity and redemption through education fuels our work at Southwest. As an open-access college and the second-largest higher education institution in Memphis, we meet students where they are and help take them to where they need to be. At Southwest, we don’t just teach. We counsel, mentor, guide, parent, love, and care for our students. Our nearly 8,000 students come to us with many challenges, from transportation, childcare issues, food, and housing insecurities to criminal records like Calvin’s. The work can sometimes be overwhelming, but it is what we, as a community college, are called to do—advance the community and its people.

We cannot just wait, though, until students reach our doors as adults. We have to reach them earlier and younger; we cannot, however, do it alone. This is why we are grateful to have collaborated with business, industry, and K-12 partners to sponsor career and technical boot camps for high school students.

During the Open House, a panel of our industry partners and high school students discussed their boot camp experiences. The overwhelming message from the industry leaders was a recognition of their corporate civic responsibility to nurture and grow young talent and provide them with positive experiences. The high school students shared how the CTE boot camps provided valuable career exposure, direction, and character-building opportunities that will benefit them now and in the future.

“I am afraid of heights and electricity. (But) I looked at everybody do it, and then I did it. So, I basically learned off of what they did.” | Student panelist recalling how he modeled his behavior after his peers during the MLGW Lineman Summer Boot Camp.

The youth panelists also said they would encourage their friends to participate in future career boot camps. This last point is perhaps most profound, given Calvin’s recounting of his negative youth environment. Young people with positive experiences influence other young people to choose better and be better.

By choosing education, Calvin Sanford discovered a talent he never knew he had. K-12, higher education, and business and industry partnerships are investments in young people that can help them recognize their potential sooner. As the saying goes, building strong children is easier (and perhaps less expensive) than repairing broken men and women.

For partnering with Southwest to build strong children through hands-on career education experiences, many thanks to Memphis Shelby County Schools Division of College, Career and Technical Education, Arlington Schools, Germantown Municipal Schools, Collierville Schools, Memphis Light Gas and Water, Stryker Corporation, Atlantic Track and Turnout Company, City of Memphis Office of Youth Services, TechEd2Go and the parents and guardians of the boot camp participants.