There are 232 article(s) tagged Tami Sawyer:

• March 2019

  • Shelby County leaders hope final DOJ report brings Juvenile Court changes

    Shelby County leaders say they are hopeful the final report on Juvenile Court racial bias will clear the path for substantive changes.

    By Omer Yusuf and Yolanda Jones March 03, 2019

• January 2019

  • Commission approves allocating $1.3 million for new youth justice facility

    The Shelby County Commission voted Monday to allocate $1.3 million to begin designing a new Youth Justice and Education Center to replace the current juvenile detention facility.

    By Omer Yusuf January 28, 2019

  • Harris says proposal for new detention facility has ‘momentum’

    A second vote on Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris' proposal for a new Juvenile Justice and Education Center is expected to take place at the next Shelby County Commission meeting Monday. 

    By Omer Yusuf January 25, 2019

  • King Day observances feature different interpretations of civil rights leader’s Memphis legacy

    The federal holiday honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. included a new grant program for neighborhoods, calls for reparations, questions about who interprets King's legacy and City Hall honors for 10 women activists.

    By Bill Dries January 22, 2019

  • Commission delays vote on initial funding for new detention center

    The Shelby County Commission delayed a vote Monday on allocating $1.3 million for a new Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center after several commissioners raised concerns they were moving too fast on the project.

    By Omer Yusuf January 14, 2019

  • Politics Podcast: County Commissioners Billingsley and Sawyer talk juvenile justice reform

    Shelby County commissioners Tami Sawyer and Mark Billingsley talk about juvenile justice reform with county beat reporter Omer Yusuf, and city government reporter Bill Dries recaps the three new Memphis City Council members and the rocky transition in the Criminal Court clerk’s office.

    By Natalie Van Gundy January 14, 2019

  • Sawyer says discussion on Juvenile Court must shift from employees to systems

    Shelby County Commissioners Tami Sawyer and Mark Billingsley appeared on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast to talk about juvenile justice reform. 

    By Omer Yusuf January 11, 2019

  • Commissioners want more Juvenile Court reforms after DOJ report discussion

    The Shelby County Commission discussed a Department of Justice report criticizing Juvenile Court's due process procedures. 

    By Omer Yusuf January 10, 2019

  • New juvenile detention center, DOJ report to be discussed in commission committees Wednesday

    The Shelby County Commission will reconvene for the first time in 2019 during its committee session Wednesday. 

    By Omer Yusuf January 08, 2019

  • Improving MWBE numbers a priority for some commissioners in 2019

    Shelby County Commission Chairman Van Turner said he wants to make more changes to the MWBE ordinance in 2019.

    By Omer Yusuf January 01, 2019

• December 2018

  • Detention center funding decision taps larger criminal justice system concerns

    County commissioner Tami Sawyer and activist Josh Spickler discuss flaws in the juvenile justice system and the roles a new assessment center and new juvenile detention center might play in reforming the system. 

    By Bill Dries December 28, 2018

  • Harris pushes for new juvenile detention center funding

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris presses the case for funding of a new juvenile detention center ahead of a key County Commission vote next month.

    By Bill Dries December 21, 2018

  • Confederate monument anniversary reveals a work in progress

    One year to the day that Confederate monuments were removed from two city parks, the anniversary revealed the controversy still has some unexpected life left in it among those pursuing the removal of the monuments by different methods.

    By Bill Dries December 20, 2018

  • Confederate monuments anniversary blends with coming city elections

    Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland won’t officially announce his re-election bid until next month.

    By Bill Dries December 20, 2018

  • Commissioners write letter to Haslam urging clemency for Cyntoia Brown

    Four Shelby County Commissioners wrote a letter to Gov. Bill Haslam urging him to grant clemency for 30-year-old Cyntoia Brown, who is currently serving a 51-year prison sentence for killing a man when she was 16.

    By Omer Yusuf December 19, 2018

  • Commission approves TIF for $950 million Union Row development

    The Shelby County Commission voted to authorize a 30-year, $100 million tax increment financing district for phase I of the $950 million Union Row development Monday, despite a request from Mayor Lee Harris and two county commissioners to delay the vote. 

    By Omer Yusuf December 18, 2018

  • Hopson presents school consolidation plan to County Commission

    Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dorsey Hopson outlined his school consolidation plan to the Shelby County Commission’s education committee Wednesday – which includes 28 school closures, 10 new schools and could cost the district at least $700 million.

    By Omer Yusuf December 13, 2018

  • Committee recommends TIF for $950 million Union Row development

    A Shelby County Commission committee is recommending the creation of a tax increment financing district to fund public infrastructure for the $950 million Union Row project, though two commissioners expressed concerns about minority- and women-owned business involvement and gentrification.

    By Omer Yusuf December 13, 2018

  • County still in ‘research phase’ on finding MATA revenue stream

    The recently formed Memphis and Shelby County ad hoc transportation/transit committee met Tuesday afternoon – continuing its discussion on finding a dedicated funding source for the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

    By Omer Yusuf December 11, 2018

  • County Commission to seek state funding for more school resource officers, counselors

    The Shelby County Commission approved adding five items to its legislative agenda Monday night – including a request the state fund more school resource officers, social workers and counselors in local schools.

    By Omer Yusuf December 04, 2018

• November 2018

  • Commissioners seek to add items to legislative agenda

    The Shelby County Commission may add five items to its legislative agenda for the Tennessee General Assembly session in January, including a request that the state fund more school resource officers.

    By Omer Yusuf November 29, 2018

  • Shelby County eliminates phone call costs for juvenile detainees

    Shelby County has reached an agreement with its inmate telephone services vendor, Global Tel, to eliminate charges on all phone calls made by juveniles to their parents or guardians and vice-versa, Mayor Lee Harris announced Monday.

    By Omer Yusuf November 20, 2018

  • Commission committee debates food services contract for Sheriff’s Office

    A dispute between two potential vendors for a food management services contract from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for its three correctional facilities was reignited at the Shelby County Commission’s committee meeting Wednesday afternoon.

    By Omer Yusuf November 19, 2018

  • Women make significant impact in Shelby County elections

    More than 60 women ran for elected office in 40 races throughout Shelby County during the 2018 election cycle, resulting in several historic firsts and government representation being a little more reflective along both gender and racial lines in the county.

    By Omer Yusuf November 19, 2018

• October 2018

  • Commission approves resolution asking DOJ to continue Juvenile Court oversight

    The Shelby County Commission has approved a resolution proclaiming a vote of no confidence in the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to end federal oversight of Shelby County Juvenile Court.

    By Omer Yusuf October 30, 2018