In a continuation of the city’s efforts to engage with the community, Memphis Mayor Paul Young resumed his “One Memphis” tour at the McWherter Senior Community Center, bringing together city officials and residents to discuss public safety, youth programs, and community services.
“We took a break during the summer, but I want to ensure that we’re having these conversations throughout all of Memphis, not just downtown,” Young said. “These dialogues are critical to our progress.”
Crime Reduction & Public Safety Efforts
One of the central themes of the town hall was public safety, a pressing concern for many attendees. Mayor Young shared encouraging news about the city’s efforts to combat crime, stating that crime rates in Memphis have dropped by 20% compared to last year. However, he tempered this with caution.
“Last year was one of our most challenging years for crime, so we’re not taking victory laps just yet,” he explained. “But it is encouraging to know that we’re heading in the right direction. Our goal now is to sharpen that trend line and make the drop in crime even steeper.”
Young also emphasized that public safety is not solely the responsibility of the police department.
“It’s not just a police thing when we talk about safety,” he said. “We have our parks department, youth services, and other community efforts working together to build a safer city.”
Police Chief C.J. Davis echoed the mayor’s sentiments, offering additional insights into the Memphis Police Department’s strategies.
“We’re working hard to address violent crime, which is our number one focus,” Davis said. “But we can’t do it alone. We need the community to work with us. The drop in crime shows that our combined efforts—law enforcement, public services, and community involvement—are starting to pay off.”
Davis also addressed the issue of reckless driving, which has become a growing concern across Memphis. She encouraged Memphians to “brake it down.”
“We’ve seen an alarming rise in reckless driving, and it’s not just the muscle cars—it’s everyday citizens on their way to work, tailgating and speeding,” she said, mentioning the recent media campaign. “We’ve launched the ‘Brake It Down’ campaign to combat this, and we’re increasing enforcement in areas where we see the most dangerous behavior.
“Everyone in this city is in a hurry, but we need to slow down,” she added. “It’s not just about avoiding tickets—it’s about keeping our streets safe.”
Community Engagement on Youth and Homelessness
During the meeting, Mayor Young responded to a resident’s question about enforcing the city’s curfew for minors, acknowledging the logistical challenges involved.
“One of our goals is to enforce the curfew, but when officers encounter a young person violating it, they need somewhere to take them,” Young said. “Right now, juvenile court won’t accept them, and Child Protective Services is often closed. We’re exploring models like Baltimore’s, where they’ve partnered with community centers to house these kids until their parents can pick them up.”
The mayor emphasized the city’s broader commitment to addressing homelessness and the need for supportive housing.
“We’re investing around $5 to $6 million annually in homelessness services through the Housing Trust Fund,” Young said. “We know housing is a spectrum. Some people need mental health services or substance abuse programs, while others may just need financial literacy coaching or short-term financial assistance to get back on their feet.”
When a resident expressed concerns about the city spending millions on projects like parks while homelessness grows, Young clarified the difference between capital and operating budgets.
“The money we spend on parks and infrastructure comes from capital dollars, which is like getting a loan and paying it off over time,” he explained. “But the money we spend on day-to-day services, like homelessness programs, comes from our operating budget. They’re two separate pools of money, but we are focused on ensuring that everyone, especially our most vulnerable, gets the help they need.”
Investments in Youth and Education
Education was also a hot topic, with one attendee questioning the city’s financial commitment to Memphis schools. Mayor Young reiterated that Memphis City Schools are primarily funded by Shelby County but noted that the city is stepping in to fill gaps.
“Our role as a city is to invest in young people outside of school hours, from 3 to 7 PM,” Young said. “We know that 60% of a child’s success is driven by what happens outside the classroom, so we’re putting our resources into after-school programs and youth services.”
He added, “It’s not just about what happens in the classroom. We have to invest in what happens when they go home and what kind of environment they live in. That’s why we’ve allocated funds for improving school infrastructure, even though it’s not technically the city’s responsibility.”
Ongoing Challenges in Public Services
Memphis residents also raised concerns about city services like trash collection, tree trimming, and the efficiency of the 311 system. “Customer service is important,” Young responded to complaints about 311. “If we’re not addressing issues like missed trash pickups or tree trimming in a timely manner, we need to do better. I’ll make sure we look into that.”
Doug McGowen, representing MLGW, assured residents that the city has ramped up tree trimming efforts. “We’re making progress,” McGowen said. “This year, we’ve trimmed 1,650 miles of right-of-way, which is more than our annual goal. But we know there’s more work to do.”
Future One Memphis stops will be announced at https://memphistn.gov.
