Of all the health care issues that any community faces, infant mortality causes the most heartbreak. Nothing matters more than giving our babies – each and every one of them – a fighting chance. Nowhere has it mattered more than in Memphis.

This morning I rode my bike east on the Greenline and through Shelby Farms thinking about how perfect the fall morning is and what a great asset we have in our bike paths, parks and recreational areas.

“The job is basically getting 7,000 people to stop bickering and remember why they got into this business,” he said stoically before breaking into his trademark grin. “Should be pretty simple.” A recent acquisition and a second pending acquisition were about to triple the size of the “family” as Phil Trenary lovingly referred to his Pinnacle Airlines employees, and Phil understood his culture was falling behind. “We need to stop behaving like separate airlines and start acting like one.”

You have probably heard some public discourse around the use of code names for projects seeking incentive packages in our community.

As developments across the Downtown Memphis landscape compound, desire for consumption by and connectivity between people is a universal sentiment. Our investors, architects and developers, funders and supporters believe that attracting people is the greatest indicator of a vibrant center city.

As I begin my journey of service as Sheriff of Shelby County, I am humbled by the faith this community has placed in me.