In the emailed responses below, the District 2 council candidates outline their plans and priorities.
Scott McCormick: As a district representative on the Memphis City Council, my main priority is to advocate for the district I am elected to represent, District 2.
Germantown Parkway is a bit like the Wild West. Just last week two banks were robbed. Car break-ins occur in the various parking lots along the parkway and some businesses have been forced to close due to criminal activity. People want to feel safe. Wives, mothers, and daughters all want to get their gas without looking over their shoulders. I want to sit down with the police director and discuss how law enforcement resources are allocated to District 2.
“Out-of-town landlords’’ neglect their properties when vacant. Weeds are allowed to take over yards and visible disrepair is noticeable with many of these houses. One example is a house I pass almost every day. The windows are boarded up and the garage door is barely hanging [by] its rails. It is an eyesore and a nuisance. Another example was a new[s] story about a Cordova woman who moved in only to find the house was infested with rats. The landlord ignored her until the news station became involved. The council needs to address this issue, as it not only affects District 2 but all the districts. These real estate companies, which own 400-plus homes, need to be held accountable to maintain their properties.
Cordova is a part of the city that contracts its garbage service through a private company. The service is unreliable. I personally experience missed trash or recycle pick-up at least once a month. Yard waste will sit on the curb for months at a time before being picked up. Yard waste is supposed to be picked up every other week. This is another issue that is a nuisance for the citizens of District 2.
Jerri Green: I have been out knocking on doors and talking to my neighbors in District 2. From the grandmother concerned about the skyrocketing MLGW bills and frequent power outages to the funeral director concerned about the gun deaths he sees each week to the parent wondering about opportunities for their children in a city that is in a crime crisis, each voter is looking for leadership to take action.
The theme running through it all, District 2 is ready for change. And they want someone who not only has a record of success, but has proven they are tough enough to lean in on these hard issues and make a real difference. On the city council, I plan to focus on innovative strategies to tackle crime, improve infrastructure, and support youth.
As senior policy advisor for Mayor Lee Harris, I have started the nation’s first free gun lock by mail program by a local government to keep guns out of the wrong hands. I’ve supported our law enforcement officers with increased benefits and in-precinct youth counselors. I also started a jobs site for ex-offenders because if you’re too busy working, you’re too busy to go back to a life of crime. These are solutions with proven results.
All my plans start with data. I will use data to make sure MLGW has a robust tree trimming program that targets the areas most susceptible to power outages. I will also make sure proposed improvements align with the costs being charged to customers. It is time to hold the leadership accountable.
I would also be the first woman — and mother — to hold this seat. That means I will not just bring change, but also common sense and compassion to my work, especially as it relates to the next generation. You can count on me to always show up for my children and yours.
