Memphis mayor addresses ‘State of the City’
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Mayor A C Wharton Jr. says fighting crime, reducing blight, improving the city’s finances and spurring economic development are priorities for his administration this year.
In his “State of the City” speech Thursday, Wharton said more than $776 million is being spent on new economic development projects in Memphis, with a predicted annual economic impact of more than $460 million.
He also touted gains in job creation and reduced blight in neighborhoods, including demolition of abandoned properties.
However, Wharton also said police must do more to cut the murder rate, which statistics show was 21.9 per 100,000 people in 2014. He said police will be adding body cameras, increasing the number of officers on patrols and building stronger relationships with the community in efforts to cut crime.
