Monday marks a changing of the guard in the City of Memphis as Paul Young is sworn in as mayor.
While Young is preparing to lead, current mayor Jim Strickland is signing off and saying goodbye after eight years on the top floor of Memphis City Hall.
In his final week on the job, ABC24 Content Manager Brad Broders sat down with Mayor Strickland for a candid conversation on this tenure and legacy.
No topic was off limits as mayor Strickland laid out what he believed where his successes and breakthroughs, along with challenges and disappointments.
"I think being mayor of a major American city is the best job you can have," Mayor Strickland said during a sit-down interview on Wednesday.
He's leaving the job of Memphis mayor after two terms, including a second term dominated by surviving and clawing out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The economy went into a tailspin for a time — thousands of people lost their jobs," mayor Strickland said.
Still, mayor Strickland lists the city's pandemic response — including mass vaccination and testing sites — as one of his administration's greatest accomplishments.
He's also proud of his team expanding city services, including more paved roads and opportunities.
"We've doubled number of summer job programs and doubled number of capacity at our community centers and libraries," mayor Strickland said.
He also points to the fact that Memphis' unemployment is lower compared to when he took office in 2016 as well as U.S. Census data showing the Bluff City with its lowest poverty rate in decades.
"We've created programs to get people jobs with criminal records second chances, disconnected youth 16 to 24 who are not in school but don't have a job," Mayor Strickland said.
Still, he also concedes the pandemic created new challenges, especially for those same young people.
"Gangs did not socially distance and the negative influences out there pulling young people away, I think we are still feeling the effects of that," mayor Strickland said.
Memphis set three new yearly homicide records in Mayor Strickland's eight years on the job and 2023 also saw a surge in robberies and those under 18 facing criminal charges.
"The crime level is a huge disappointment and frustration," mayor Strickland said.
Mayor Strickland said not having a bigger impact on cutting crime was among his deepest regrets, despite launching city programs intended on addressing the root causes of crime.
He blames the crime issue in part to lax sentencing when someone is convicted of shooting and injuring another person, along with easy access to guns.
"Federal and state law allow for the proliferation of guns throughout our city but then inadequately punish the wrongful use of those guns," mayor Strickland said.
The mayor's team also leaves office well short of the administration's goal to return Memphis Police to its 2011 peak of 2,500 officers.
Despite new signing bonuses and pay increases that made MPD officers the highest paid in the region, the force under mayor Strickland fluctuated between 1900 and 2100 officers, including a little more than 1950 officers as he leaves office.
"Yes, it is frustrating and despite the incredible work and the obstacles we've have, I'm incredibly proud of the team effort because we've maintained and that alone is a victory," mayor Strickland said.
He also departs as the Department of Justice continues its pattern and practices investigation into MPD, sparked by the January death of Tyre Nichols.
Mayor Strickland is concerned the DOJ's eventual conclusions and actions could negatively impact MPD and the city's ability to recruit and retain officers.
"I would certainly be open to changes and making improvements but do not want a federal takeover of the police department," mayor Strickland said.
Mayor Strickland said he believes that mayor-Elect Paul Young, who also served in his administration, brings what he sees as the perfect blend of economic development and leadership experience.
As for his future, the mayor said he'll take the next few weeks off as he maps out his next job. One thing Mayor Strickland did reaffirm: he does not plan on running for any other elected office in the future.