Weekly Update

Friends,

 

I may be dating myself a bit here, but have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day?

 

If you haven’t, the premise of the movie is based on the main character (Bill Murray) waking up and reliving the same day over and over and over again.

 

Unfortunately, because of weak state sentencing laws, that storyline is not too different from what happens at 201 Poplar on fairly regular basis. Over the last several months, I have written about many examples of this.

 

Here is another for the list.

 

On April 10, 2019, a man shot an individual in the left leg.  Fortunately, the person did not die.

 

On February 5, 2020, the same man pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Assault for this shooting and was sentenced to only two years.  He was released from state custody a mere 14 months later on April 20, 2021.

 

On March 19, 2022, yet again, the same man was involved in a shooting where two people died.

 

The 2019 aggravated assault was not the first criminal offense for this man.  In fact, from 2014 - 2019, police arrested him at least eight prior times for (and he was later convicted or pled guilty to) Aggravated Criminal Trespass, Assault, Vandalism $1000 or less, Theft of Property $500 or less (four separate times), and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

 

This is another glaring example of why we support bills before the state legislature to stiffen the penalties for violent crimes.

 

201 Poplar is too often, “Police Arrest, System Releases, Another Crime (repeat).”

 

I am tired of it, and I know you are too. It’s time to stop the revolving door for violent offenders in our criminal justice system.

 

A new Gaisman: Earlier this week and as a part of our Accelerate Memphis program, we held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Gaisman Community Center.

 

 

The new nearly $10 million center will have multiple amenities including: a game room, computer room, art room, conference room, fitness room, flex room, and a large gymnasium with an elevated walking track and lots of natural light.

 

In addition to the new community center, new soccer fields are going to be constructed.

 

The park plan calls for constructing one full-sized adult soccer field with irrigation and sports-lighting and two youth fields that can be combined to provide a second adult field.

 

Once complete, this will be a tremendous asset for the neighborhood and for the community at-large.

 

Memphis Suffrage Monument: After five years in the making and thanks to the leadership and vision of Paula Casey, the Memphis Suffrage Monument, "Equality Trailblazers”, has been installed on the promenade behind the University of Memphis law school facing the Mississippi River.

 

A celebration of the installation and the women and men honored by the monument will be held this Sunday, March 27, at 1 pm. To watch a livestream of the event, you can go here.

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Yours,