In their words: Memphis-area leaders reflect on start of COVID-19 pandemic
While most Memphians were still oblivious to a virus spreading overseas, those charged with keeping the Bluff City safe were already alarmed in January 2020.
Topic: Mayor Jim Strickland
RSSThere are 110 article(s) tagged Mayor Jim Strickland:
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March 2025
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January 2024
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City’s failure to enforce Nichols ordinances ‘deeply disturbed’ legal team
Laws passed in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death instituted new data collection policies for traffic stops; stipulated that only marked police cars make traffic stops, and mandated residents not get pulled over for low-level offenses like faulty brake lights.
Related story:
Former officer accused in Tyre Nichols’ death wants trial outside of Memphis
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December 2023
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Sanford: Assessing the positives and negatives of Strickland’s eight-year run as mayor
“I’m willing to say that, overall, (Jim Strickland’s) tenure as mayor was good. Not great, but nowhere near a disaster either. He does have some positive things to show. But we cannot just brush aside the negatives.”
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November 2023
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Redbirds ‘disappointed’ with no AutoZone Park funds; mayor responds
Outgoing Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland responds to a lengthy statement from team president Craig Unger after Triple-A baseball team gets no money for stadium “in desperate need of standard updates.”
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FedEx founder to help fund Liberty Stadium renovations; U of M could control stadium
In something of a domino effect, the Smith family donation for the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will free up cash for the Memphis Grizzlies and the City of Memphis to do renovations at FedExForum.
Related story:
Calkins: Fred Smith rides to the rescue (with $50 million) to forge a stunning stadium deal
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Strickland to ‘Release the Tigers’ at Memphis football homecoming
“We could think of no better way to thank Mayor Strickland for his loyal support of the Tigers than by having him send the team onto the field before the homecoming game,” Laird Veatch said.
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October 2023
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City votes to accept state money for stadiums as mayor, governor address negotiations
The Memphis City Council voted Tuesday to accept $350 million in cash from the state, while Gov. Bill Lee said the state would always work to do what is in the city’s best interest.
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September 2023
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Conaway: Mr. Mayor, before you become Mr. again, don’t leave us in shame
Fair or not, the next few weeks are critical to Mayor Jim Strickland’s legacy and will leave an ugly mark or deliver a bright promise.
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August 2023
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Retired judge examining courts for the city makes $200 per hour
Retired Shelby County Criminal Court Division III Judge James Robert “Bobby” Carter Jr. was contracted by the city to perform an efficiency study on various court systems within Memphis.
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July 2023
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Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield weighs in on Liberty Stadium renovation funding
Some wonder if there will be enough money available to do things right at the Memphis Tigers’ football home.
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May 2023
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Letter to the Editor: Bail reform will work only if the process is transparent
“Everyone wants the same thing — a just process for the accused and a safe city. But the truth is the public does not know if judges are being too lenient or even who they are. We need a centralized source of data where everyone can access the same information.”
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Morris Park is back and ‘forward-thinking’
After a two-year closure, Morris Park reopens with new amenities and more accessibility. “There’s ADA required, and then there is ADA intentional,” Memphis Parks executive director said. “We try to be ADA intentional.”
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April 2023
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Strickland’s final budget proposal would make MPD, MFD highest paid in region
The $792 million proposal is $42 million larger than the current city budget. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is not proposing a property tax increase but said the increase is funded by sales tax revenue, economic growth and the performance of the city’s investments.
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Election Commission subpoenas Strickland in mayoral residency suit
The city administration has declined to take a side on whether it believes the five-year residency requirement is in effect. That puts the city between the Election Commission, which wants some kind of court ruling on what the requirement is, and two mayoral candidates whose attorneys say they will pursue who raised the residency issue in the first place.
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Health officials hold final COVID briefing
Dr. Michelle Taylor, Shelby County Health Department director, said the decision to end the regularly scheduled meetings is a result of improvement over the last few weeks.
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FedEx at 50: Local power of FedEx rests with wealth of jobs, opportunity
An estimated $1.6 billion in annual payroll from FedEx underwrites much of the local economy.
Related story:
FedEx at 50: FedEx hired Annie Leibovitz to capture grit of startups, including Fred, 50 years later
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March 2023
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Strickland confirms pension expansion for new fire, police hires
Strickland said the pension expansion would be part of the city’s upcoming budget and cost between $1 to $2 million annually. It could increase the city’s pension liability by tens of millions.
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‘It’s not going to go away unless we do something:’ Local leaders eye juvenile crime solutions
In Memphis, leaders seem to agree that youth are able to get guns too easily and that they are seeing a trend of younger juvenile offenders and more violent offenses. But there are varying opinions on how to deal with those trends.
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Criminal justice reform group offers Strickland help with data
Just City, a criminal justice reform organization that has often drawn Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s ire, has offered to help the City of Memphis publish more criminal justice data.
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Here’s where Memphis sports venues plan stands
Mayor Jim Strickland made a $684 million improvement proposal. Gov. Bill Lee earmarked $350 million for FedExForum and Liberty Stadium renovations in Tennessee’s budget plan. Where do things go from here? Some questions and answers.
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Opinion: It is time to lay ‘brilliant at the basics’ to rest
“There is nothing basic about racialized poverty and violence in Memphis. And there is nothing basic about the approach required to fix it.”
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February 2023
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MLGW leaving TVA could save $49 million annually, consultant says
While there are real savings if MLGW buys power outside of TVA, according to EnerVision, it’s not a figure that will transform MLGW or the City of Memphis’ budget, but ratepayers would feel its impact.
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Strickland: Memphis committed to new soccer stadium, AutoZone Park renovations
Memphis is hoping to expand ways state money can be used.
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December 2022
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Memphis Sports & Events Center is open for business — and play
“Sports tourism and Memphis youth: that’s what this is about,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland at the opening of the Memphis Sports & Events Center at Liberty Park.
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At the old Fairgrounds, Memphis bets big on competitive youth sports
The old fairgrounds is being repurposed as Liberty Park, a $126 million mixed-used project anchored by the 227,000-square-foot Memphis Sports & Events Center, including apartments, retail, a hotel and more.
Related articles:
Mid-South Coliseum’s future uncertain despite Liberty Park transformation
Fond memories of old Fairgrounds and analysis of the competition led to Liberty Park
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