Responding to a rise in violent crime, the Shelby County Commission has approved a resolution requesting that the City of Memphis be designated a federal “priority community” — a move paired with a one-time request for $10 billion in federal funding.
According to Commissioner Mick Wright, who sponsored the resolution, the designation would be unprecedented.
“It’s not, to my knowledge, anything that currently exists,” Wright said. “This is my attempt to say Memphis should be at the front of the line anytime any kind of resources or funding are available.”
Commissioners approved the consent agenda item in a 9-0-1 vote during their Monday, June 2, meeting. It was the second vote on the proposal.
The resolution references recent remarks by FBI Director Kash Patel, who reportedly referred to Memphis as the “homicide capital of America” during a congressional update in May. Patel, appointed in early 2025, made the comment in testimony to the U.S. House following a violent weekend in Memphis in which 12 people were shot — three fatally, including a 16-year-old girl.
“As members of the federal government are looking our way, are talking about us, this is to say, ‘We need help,’ and we should be at the forefront when they are thinking about the communities they want to help,” Wright said.
The resolution also quotes U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who urged Patel to “make certain that we have every resource we need in Memphis.” It also references Mayor Paul Young’s support for “any effort that brings more resources to Memphis.”
Memphis currently has a homicide rate of 15.8 per 100,000 residents, placing it among cities with the highest murder rates, including St. Louis and New Orleans. However, according to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, violent crime in the city declined by 9 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Wright, one of four Republicans on the commission, said the $10 billion request targets infrastructure issues that impact public safety.
The resolution identifies:
- $1.4 billion to replace the aging Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Ave.
- $1.5 billion to rebuild the Regional One Health campus.
- $2 billion for Memphis-Shelby County Schools to address deferred maintenance.
“Those are three specific things, but it says we have a tremendous amount of need,” Wright said. “I put that figure at somewhere around $10 billion of additional capital need that we have.”
None of the three projects are addressed in Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which is currently under commission review.
According to the resolution, prioritizing federal investment in Memphis and Shelby County “will produce a massive return on investment and free up local resources to fully meet public safety demands.”
Wright introduced the resolution during a General Government Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28.
“From my standpoint, this is just a general request for help,” he said. “The resolution speaks specifically of our capital needs.”
Still, not all commissioners were fully supportive. Some voiced concern about potential conditions attached to federal assistance.
“Sometimes, when you get help from the federal government, it comes with strings. Conditions,” said Commissioner Henri Brooks, who chairs the committee. “At this point, considering the current administration, I’m not sure I want to go there right now. But I support your concept.”
Brooks abstained from the final vote.
During the committee discussion, Commissioner Erika Sugarmon emphasized the need for collaboration across all levels of government to address Memphis’ public safety challenges.
“When I talk to state representatives, they are of the mindset that we all need to get together — all of the elected legislators, like the munis [municipalities], as well as the state level and the commissioners,” Sugarmon said. “Maybe we could have something at the federal level as well.”
