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The raw truth is this: Memphis has struggled. Our population has declined. Over the past two decades, Memphis has seen its population fall from about 688,700 in 2000 to roughly 618,600 in 2023, a loss of nearly 70,000 residents, or about ten percent of the city’s people. Nearly one in five families still live below the poverty line, working hard but struggling to make ends meet. Blight and abandonment have left their mark on too many neighborhoods. And for years, violent crime has shaped how people see our city, both from the outside and from within. Last year there were 12,000 more victims of crime as compared to the same time period this year. This is a sobering statistic. We are at a pivotal moment for Memphis.
The struggle is not the end of our story. It’s the spark that drives our comeback. That’s where we’ve been. But it’s not where we’re going. Every day, we are imagining, planning, and building a better Memphis; one that is safer, stronger, and full of life.
“Struggle is not the end of our story. It’s the spark that drives our comeback. "
We’re changing how Memphis fights crime. Our police department is staying focused, using precision, data, and partnership to go after the people driving violence in our city. Through operations like Code Zero, the Fugitive Task Force, and Operation Rolling Thunder, we’re taking illegal guns off the streets, arresting repeat offenders, and recovering stolen cars.
And it’s working. Serious crime fell nearly 18 percent in 2024 and another 25 percent in 2025. In the first month of the Memphis Safe Task Force, where 13 local, state, and federal agencies came together, crime dropped more than 50 percent. That’s real progress. Our job now is to make sure those results last long after the task force leaves town.
We also have to stay focused on what really matters. Memphis doesn’t have an immigration problem. We have a violent crime problem. Our priority must stay where the pain is. Some of the strongest growth in our city is coming from Latino families and entrepreneurs. The Latino community is one of the fastest growing in Memphis, and Latino-owned small businesses are helping to create jobs and strengthen neighborhoods across our city. That’s who we are, a city of builders, dreamers, and doers from every background, working together to make Memphis home.
"Rise 901 is a plan and a pathway to the Memphis we’ve promised our children. "
That same spirit is driving our next step, a plan we’re calling Rise 901: Safe and Prosperous Memphis. It’s how we sustain the progress we’ve made and build on it for the long term. We are asking the State of Tennessee to support us with focused investment over the next two years to strengthen public safety, expand education, grow our workforce, and revitalize our neighborhoods. Rise 901 is a plan and a pathway to the Memphis we’ve promised our children.
That investment will help us hire more police officers and community safety specialists, offer free college tuition for officers, and launch a skilled-trades pipeline that connects high-risk Memphians to stable, good-paying jobs. It will help us build affordable housing in North and South Memphis and transform downtown and our airport gateways into places that reflect the safety, pride, and promise of this city.
This is what it means to sustain the gain. We are pursuing the partnership and support needed not just to maintain progress, but to thrive.
In the know. We’ve launched a webpage to keep you updated on the federal and state action to support Memphis’ public safety efforts. The Memphis Safe Task Force began operations the week of 9/29, with Tennessee National Guard patrols beginning on 10/10. Visit memphistn.gov/safeandclean to learn more.
Good News!
   Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov
Track Our Progress
The linked reports below provide evidence to support our public safety strategy and our work to ensure municipal fiscal responsibility. These dashboard provides a quick overview, with the ability to dive in deeper to neighborhoods and divisions. Both dashboards updates daily.
 SAFER COMMUNITIES: For more info on how to use the safer communities dashboard, go here. Or for the whole dashboard, go here.
 FINANCE TRACKER: For more info on how to use the finance tracker dashboard, go here, then follow the prompts to the tracker.
Our Blight Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38107, 38118, 38127, 38128.
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
Want to know what's happening in Memphis? Explore these event calendars to stay in the loop on all the city has to offer!
Memphis Public Libraries
Memphis Parks
Memphis Travel
Arts Memphis
Choose901
I love Memphis
City of Memphis Meetings & Notices
2055 Regional Transportation Plan Survey. Provide your input on the plan that defines the vision for the region's transportation system by taking the online survey (English & Español). For more information, visit https://memphismpo.org/
Riverfront Master Plan. If you haven't had the chance to give your input on Mayor Young's Riverfront Master Plan, It's not too late. You can check out the assets included in the Masterplan and give your feedback here.
Memphis Fire Food Drive:
🔥 Join the fight against hunger!
Now through Nov. 15, all Memphis Fire stations are collecting nonperishable food items to help local families.
Together, we can make sure no one in Memphis goes without. 💛
#MemphisFire #CityOfMemphis #Memphis #FoodDrive
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