Weekly Update

Friends,

 

After nearly two years, I know we are all tired of this pandemic. But, it continues, and we must combat it.

 

You have seen the recent case numbers here locally, and they have significantly increased over the last few weeks. Below is a chart to help illustrate that rise.

 

 

In 2020, 908 people died due to COVID-19. So far this year, 1,790 have people died from the virus--156 of those occurring just this month.

 

Get vaccinated if you haven’t, and if you have, be sure to get your booster. If you need to get tested, do not go to the hospital ER.  Medical staff is already strained, and testing takes up resources and time that could be used to help people who have dire needs.

 

To see a list of locations to get tested and where to get your vaccine go here.

 

Not your normal “Hide and Seek”: On December 13^th, the Memphis Police Department, in partnership with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals, initiated Operation Hide and Seek. During this operation, all three organizations worked to apprehend wanted criminals. 

 

The focus of this operation was primarily to seek out violent offenders in our community with outstanding warrants. Hide and Seek lead to a total of 341 arrests, including 241 felony arrests.

 

Two individuals were arrested for Second Degree Murder warrants. Twenty-five of the arrested parties had active warrants for Aggravated Assault. Six of the arrested had Vandalism/Felony warrants, and four individuals were arrested for Rape of a child warrants.

 

This type of operation highlights the need for more officers patrolling our city streets, which is something I have advocated for since taking office and will continue to push for until we get there. We need more officers, and we need to do what most large cities have done and relax our restrictive residency rules.

 

In the coming days, please keep a lookout for more on this topic from Chief CJ Davis as we again seek approval from city council for a vote by the public on residency.

 

A job well done: Many of you may not be familiar with EDGE, but the work they do for Memphis and Shelby County is invaluable. The Economic Development Growth Engine or EDGE has been led by Reid Dulberger since its founding in 2011. Earlier this year, Reid announced he would be retiring at the end of this year.

 

This article does a pretty good job of summing up the impact Reid and EDGE have made on our community, and we thank him for his service in leading this effort and contributing to the growth and momentum of Memphis.

 

Reid, we wish you the best of luck in this next chapter of your life. Your friendship and your wise counsel during complex economic development discussions will be missed. Thank you again for your service to our community.

 

The promise of a new year: In thinking about what to write as we embark on 2022, I came across this short poem by a man named John P. Read titled “Happy New Year”. Hopefully, it brings a smile to your face and helps to put you in the right frame of mind as we close out 2021.

 

Brush away old heartaches.

Learn from our mistakes.

Another year is finally over.

A new dawn awakes.

 

Let the old year out.

Welcome the new one in.

Bury the bad things of the past

As a new year now begins.

 

Make your New Year wishes

As simple as you can.

Pray for peace and love,

Not for wealth or fame.

 

Pray for health and happiness.

Pray for your fellow man.

Pray for all the ones you love.

Pray for those who've lost their way.

 

As the midnight hour chimes,

We leave the old and embrace the new.

I wish the things you wish for yourself,

And may God’s love stay with you.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Yours,