Image Credit: Shelby County Board of Commissioners / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
On Monday, Shelby County commissioners voted in favor of a resolution requesting $10 billion from the federal government and that both Memphis and Shelby County be designated as a “priority community.”
This resolution was filed by Commissioner Mick Wright (R-District 3) after a recent statement from FBI Director Kash Patel where he called Memphis the “homicide capital of America.”
Patel also previously agreed with a request from U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to “make certain that we have every resource we need in Memphis.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young responded to Patel’s remarks by welcoming “any effort that brings more resources to Memphis.”
The text of the resolution states that “there exists in Shelby County intense infrastructure needs that contribute to our homicide rate but could be mitigated with a one-time federal investment of $10 billion.”
According to the document, these needs include but are not limited to:
- $1.4 billion for construction of a new jail
- $1.5 billion to rebuild Regional One trauma center
- $2 billion in school district deferred maintenance
“Prioritized federal support for Memphis and Shelby County will produce a massive return on investment and free up local resources to fully meet public safety demands,” the resolution reads.
During the June 2nd meeting, the resolution which was item 25 on the agenda, passed by a 9-0 vote with only Commissioner Henri E. Brooks abstaining.
Now that the resolution has been passed by a majority vote of the County Commission it will be submitted to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris who may either sign the resolution into effect or veto it.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
4 Responses
Not a dime.
Memphis needs a chain gang program.
OK, how much of this money will end up in some politician’s pocket? How much will actually go to help the situation if the law is not enforced? It puts your police officers in even more danger when the criminals know they won’t be held accountable for their crimes. For your police force, it’s like going fishing…catch and release.
You can build all the jails you want, as long as you have a revolving door in the front. With 64% of the population voting Democrat in every election, you can be assured no one who is arrested will go any further than the county jail. There will be no prison sentences, no matter what crime is committed.
They don’t need $10 BILLION from the Federal Gov.. This is a TN issue and especially a Shelby County issue and, the funds need to be allocated there. If so, I’m pretty sure they won’t need $10 BILLION!! What’s needed is a more “tough on crime” mentality, (hands untied) law enforcement, and jails to put the criminals in. Being the super liberal city that it is, I doubt seriously that will ever happen no matter where the money comes from. Right now, all they care about is how Kash made them look. Being the “Homicide Capital Of America” isn’t good for families or businesses….. or anyone.