MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There is a new person in charge of cleaning up Memphis.
Joy Touliatos is taking over as Interim Director of Public Works after the retirement of Robert Knecht.
Touliatos has worked with the city's youth crime intervention programs and was Shelby County Juvenile Court clerk.
“None of the priorities have changed just because I’ve become interim director,” Touliatos said Thursday. “We’re still focusing on the illegal dumping; we’re still out in the communities.”
South Memphis resident Tajuana Malone said her neighborhood is one that Touliatos and Public Works should visit, as blight and illegal dumping are a constant concern.
Malone also said the grass at the corner of Cameron St. and South Pkwy. is so overgrown, it has become a driving hazard.
“There’s cars coming, but I can’t see the cars coming, so I try to ease out...and one vehicle has to swerve around me to keep from hitting my vehicle,” she said.
Malone said the tall grass has been growing out of control in her neighborhood since at least June.
“We’re putting other drivers at risk - we’re putting ourselves at risk - and that’s not OK,” she said. “I just want the city to come and clean up our neighborhood.”
Touliatos takes over after serving as Deputy Director of Public Works, where she was responsible for services such as neighborhood improvement, street sweeping, drain and street maintenance and more.
When it comes to illegal dumping, Touliatos said mattresses and tires are what they see the most.
“That is a constant thing that we see, and it’s something that Public Works and Solid Waste are cleaning up daily,” she said.
Touliatos said that it will take all Memphians lending a hand to truly clean up the Bluff City.
“We’ll be able to help each other and make this city beautiful again,” she said.
A City of Memphis spokesperson said code enforcement is coming to South Memphis on Friday to investigate the overgrown grass.
Residents should report all illegal dumping and code violations by dialing 311.