Weekly Update

Friends,

For several months now, I have talked about our broken criminal justice system. The “Revolving Door” that is our court system not only releases people much too quickly to commit more crimes, but it also fails to deter those same criminals and others from committing crimes. 

Auto theft is a prime example.  In 2021, Memphis police arrested 1,620 for auto theft or theft from a motor vehicle (21% of whom are repeat offenders), and almost none of them were held by the court. Last year from January-March, 1,399 cars had been stolen. During the same time period this year, 3,631 have been stolen. In case you’re wondering—that a 160 percent increase!

There is almost no legal consequence for car thieves.  And according to intervenors working with youth on the streets of Memphis, teens and young adults know that; even if they are caught stealing cars, nothing will happen to them.  Sometimes, they brag about that fact to officers when they are arrested.

And we know the consequence that we all pay when criminals face no consequences—more crime. If we are going to tackle our crime challenge, it will take everyone—city, county, state government, and the faith community—working together to do it.

The first time: My senior leadership team visited the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this week to be recognized as part of Women's History Month. While in the capitol, they took this photo in front of the sculpture which reflects the story of the 19th Amendment and the Woman Suffrage Movement by sculptor Alan LeQuire. For the first time in city history, all the members of the senior leadership are women.

Chief Operating Officer Chandell Ryan is the most recent to join the team this past December. Joining her are Chief of Police C.J. Davis, Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat, Chief Human Resources Officer Alex Smith, Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Sink, Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouche, Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford, and Chief of Staff Maria Fuhrmann (not pictured).

It’s an honor and a pleasure to work with these wonderful women each day.

An opportunity city: The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) is partnering with UpSmith, Inc. to provide Memphians with paid, 7-week low-voltage technician apprenticeships – at no cost to participants who earn $20/hour during training.

Classes start in April, end in May, and cover fundamental electrical concepts, advanced wiring methods, blueprint layout, and more. Upon completion, graduates earn $20/hour and $40K+/annually as low-voltage technicians with local low-voltage cabling firms, starting in June. 

UpSmith is offering its program at TCAT’s Downtown Memphis facility, located at 550 Alabama Avenue.

 

If you like technology and want a career that will serve you for life, this opportunity is for you. Apply now, here.

Next week’s schedule: Quick reminder—there is NO PICKUP on Tuesday, April 4, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day.

All pickup days after Tuesday will slide over one day—view the schedule above to see when to put out your carts for pickup.

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours,