Weekly Update: State of Memphis Housing Summit

Friends,

Creating more quality, affordable housing has been important to us since coming into the Mayor’s Office in 2016. Over the course of my first term as mayor, I'm happy to say we’ve constructed or incentivized the construction or renovation of over 5,000 affordable quality housing units.

But, we know there is still much more work to be done in this area.

That’s why yesterday our Division of Housing & Community Development (HCD) hosted it’s 2nd Annual State of Memphis Housing Summit. This year, 850 people with representation from six different countries participated in sessions with national and local experts on housing issues in our community.

During the Summit, I was able to have a conversation with Dr. Andre Perry, author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities, where we discussed opportunities and solutions to address the Black wealth gap in our community. Other sessions included a conversation between three Housing Directors from majority African American cities; discussion between National Civil Rights Museum President Terri Freeman and Color of Law author Richard Rothstein; and breakout sessions covering a range of topics like Demystifying Displacement, the Future of Economic Integration and Homebuying Trends.

The Summit also featured eight short videos highlighting housing issues and success stories like this one from South City. Recordings of the sessions will be available next week on the HCD website.

COVID-19 Update: Recent data shows that we must take this virus more seriously.

It’s not going away anytime soon, and as you can see, we’re experiencing a dangerous surge as we move into the flu and holiday seasons.

The Health Department tells us there are two main drivers of the recent increases:

1. Sick people are not staying home, and
2. Extended family or friend gatherings are not following the standard protocols:

• Wearing a mask
• Practicing social distancing
• Washing your hands
• Staying home when you feel sick; and
• Getting the flu shot

We are at yet another crossroads with COVID-19, and the choice to do the necessary things to slow the spread and save lives rests solely in our hands.

Best of Memphis: As many of you know, each year the Memphis Flyer announces its Best of Memphis readers poll. The list is exactly what the name says—it’s a list of some of the best our city has to offer, and it’s compiled based off of votes from its readers.

Congrats to everyone who made this year’s list. But, I want to draw special attention to our city-owned assets that made it and say special thanks to our employees and partners who help to make them what they are.

Below is quick list of them:

Best People Watching - Beale Street
Best Gallery - Brooks Museum
Best Park - Overton Park and Tom Lee Park
Best Dog Park - Overton Bark and Sea Isle
Best Family Entertainment - Memphis Zoo, Levitt Shell, and Pink Palace Museum
Best Museum - Pink Palace Museum
Best Live Music - Levitt Shell and Live at the Garden (Memphis Botanic Garden)
Best Event Rental and Weddings - Memphis Botanic Garden
Best Golf Course - The Links at Galloway

If you have some time over what looks like is going to be a great fall weekend, go check out some of these spots. It will be time well-spent.

Yours,