MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The level of blight in the city is unacceptable.
That's what Memphis Mayor Paul Young said on the current state of the city. Young’s proposal for the upcoming budget takes direct aim at the problem.
Young and his team included an additional eight million dollars in the budget which will be used solely to maintain Memphis’ highest traveled roads.
“That will go towards maintaining 30 major corridors in every part of our city on a weekly basis,” Young said.
Young's proposal includes a weekly grass cutting, as well as litter and garbage clean-up.
"We would do that not only using existing city contractors, but also finding ways to engage those in the community those neighborhood based groups where they can hire individuals from those specific neighborhoods,” Young said.
The other premise behind the initiative is to ensure that the City of Memphis supports and facilitates the growth of the small business ecosystem.
Robert Traylor, owner of Daisy‘s Restaurant in South Memphis, says he appreciates the plan and believes it will boost his business.
“If it’s a clean environment, I believe business will pick up,” Traylor said.
Young told ABC24 one of the biggest drivers behind this cleanup initiative is to reduce crime. He says crime and blight have a direct correlation.
“We know if the neighborhood we know if a neighborhood looks like no one cares people will behave as such,” Young said.