Tensions run high in Memphis as Mayor Paul Young and local officials face the residents of Orange Mound, seeking action in the wake of a recent mass shooting. At a town hall meeting attended by a crowd eager for solutions, Young acknowledged the emotional weight shouldered by the community, affirming that giving up on the city was not an option. "I think our hearts are heavy, it's concerning, it's frustrating," Young told attendees in a statement obtained by WREG. The mayor's address comes in the aftermath of two tragic events—a mass shooting at an Orange Mound park and a deputy-involved fatality—occurring within days.
Crime, youth engagement, and the lack of a local precinct were among the primary concerns as residents used the 'One Memphis' tour to communicate their worries freely. Interim Police Chief CJ Davis stated they have identified approximately 18 persons of interest related to the mass shooting, as per information shared with Action News 5. "We are looking at that Carnes Avenue," was Chief Davis' response to a suggestion about establishing a precinct in an available building on Carnes Avenue, echoing the community's call for a stronger police presence.
Public safety, often singled out as the top concern among residents, also extended to the domain of economic disparity. A resident pointed out to Local Memphis, "with crime is the wealth gap," implying a connection between economic struggles and the propensity for crime. Mayor Young also highlighted the importance of activating community centers and providing activities like midnight basketball to engage the youth and keep them off the streets.
The conversation wasn't limited to law enforcement and activities; residents discussed the proposed tax rate increase, which Mayor Paul Young defended as a necessity to compensate for inflation and lost federal funds, necessary to "address those costs and give Memphians the future they want and deserve," according to Action News 5. The mayor also promised to invest in community centers throughout the city, which struck a chord with Jennifer Fason, mother of one of the victims, who took her message directly to town hall attendees and the mayor himself: "Y'all are doing a good job keep it up, don't fall short they want us to fall back, we not gone fall back we gone keep going forward." Fason told WREG, urging a proactive stance against crime for the safety of Orange Mound and Memphis. The next town hall is scheduled for May 28 in Raleigh, where the mayor hopes to continue engaging with the community and exploring effective strategies against crime.
