The Early Word: Where cops and recovering addicts live are hot topics
Wakey, wakey, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, July 10, and there’s heartwarming news from our neighbor to the west. An inclusive playground designed for children with disabilities is opening today in West Memphis. And tonight, NBA Summer League continues in Salt Lake City as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Memphis Police Department’s residency policy was a hot topic at Memphis City Council on Tuesday, after MPD Assistant Chief Shawn Jones was let go following reports that he lived in Georgia. Memphis Mayor Paul Young told the council he let Jones go over morale issues, not because of where he lives. But some council members had concerns that Jones was allowed to work in Memphis for years despite a policy requiring MPD employees to be able to report to work within two hours. There are no official residency rules though, due to state law.
Residents on Nelson Avenue in Cooper-Young are mobilizing against a planned recovery home for addicts on their street. A Vision For You Recovery, a for-profit business that operates three recovery homes in Nashville, plans to house up to eight recovered addicts in a home at 1925 Nelson Ave. At a community meeting this week, some neighbors expressed safety fears and concerns over parking. It’s also not clear if a recovery home is allowed in the neighborhood under the city’s development code. A Vision for You cofounder Tyler Bell said they plan to let the process with the city play out and hope to win over neighbors.
Plus, MLGW and xAI are both designing greywater plants, Brian Kelsey is still going to prison and Jaylen Wells saves the day.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. She’s a diehard morning person who spends her free time running marathons and ultras. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South.”
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