MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mayor Paul Young visited Rhodes College today as part of an ongoing initiative to address the concerns of various communities. The town hall focused on crime, campus safety and the economy but was not open to the public.
The Mayor spoke to over one hundred students and faculty members this evening, encouraging Rhodes students to remain in Memphis and emphasized the unique skills they bring to enhance opportunities in the city.
"We need you right now," he said. "You can apply your talents and skills to make this community great."
He was joined by representatives from MLGW and Police Chief CJ Davis. Together, they discussed crime, responding primarily to inquiries focused on these critical issues. The conversation also covered campus safety and new initiatives from the city, including the progress of AI-enhanced cameras.
"Last week, we installed maybe 20 or 25 cameras, and we're continuing this process throughout the city and at major intersections," Davis said. "This will also help us track traffic issues and accidents, and keep data for us."
Mayor Young also addressed housing affordability, outlining his latest efforts to promote homeownership and economic development in Memphis.
"What we're trying to do is get more quality supply," he said. "This may mean you see more developments with smaller units that are more conducive to younger individuals and families. But at the end of the day, it's going to take us looking at our incentives and making sure that they are tailored in a way that allows for that to happen."
Chief Davis mentioned that monitoring will be implemented to ensure that these cameras do not contribute to any form of profiling within the community.
