Weekly Update

Friends,

I’ve said many times that I believe the men and women who serve in your Memphis Police Department are some of the best officers is the country, and we are working every day to recruit more officers and retain the ones we have.

As a reminder since we’ve taken office, and in partnership with the City Council, we’ve increased funding for the Memphis Police Department by over 20 percent, improved the pay (30.75 percent-32.75 percent), and improved benefits for our officers. Because of these actions, we now have the highest paid officers in the region for the first time in many years.

But equally important as pay and benefits is making sure our dedicated officers feel appreciated and respected by our community. That’s where Back the Blue 901 comes in. Created around a year ago, Back the Blue 901 is a nonprofit and nonpolitical organization on a mission to support the Memphis Police Department through morale-boosting efforts.

One of those efforts is coming up again soon. Its annual “We”ll have a Blue Christmas” will be held at each precinct on December 12, 2023, and they’re looking for corporate or individual sponsors to help them share the support of our officers. For more information or to become a sponsor, please email, backtheblue901@gmail.com or donations can be made online here.

Chamber Day at City Hall: Economic development is a team sport, and we have great teammates at the Greater Memphis Chamber. This past Wednesday we held our first annual “Chamber Day at City Hall”.

This concept was born from the Chamber’s annual MEM2Nash event in which business leaders travel to Nashville to spend time with leaders in our state government. During Chamber Day at City Hall, local businesses were introduced (if they didn’t know them already) to leadership within MPD, Public Works, Engineering, Planning and Development, Housing and Community Development, the COO’s Office, and the Mayor’s Office.

This was a great opportunity to hear from local business leaders and to show them the many tools we have to offer to help them grow their businesses. I have long said we work hard to be a government that operates at the speed of business, and events like this help us to do that.

Now, I’m no historian, but I’m not sure that there has ever been a better time economically in Memphis than right now. 

• We have thousands more jobs than eight years ago.
• Salaries are going up.
• Poverty is going down.
• Property values in all neighborhoods have risen.
• Tourism is increasing.
• There are over 10,000 good paying jobs open and available now.
• There is free job training available.
• There is even job training available that pays its trainees.

Thanks to our city team for participating, and thanks so much to the Greater Memphis Chamber for helping to organize.

115^th Holy Convocation: For the second year in a row, I have had the opportunity to welcome COGIC back to Memphis as they host their Holy Convocation.

I had the opportunity to thank them for our partnership on building quality affordable housing, giving those in need second chances, and equally as important, bringing their Convocation back home to Memphis.

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours,