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- (female announcer) 
  Production funding for

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Behind the Headlines 
  is made possible in part by:

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the WKNO Production Fund,

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the WKNO Endowment Fund,

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and by viewers like you, 
  thank you.

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Memphis Mayor Jim 
Strickland on his record,

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and his run for reelection

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tonight on Behind the Headlines.

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[dramatic, orchestral music]

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I'm Eric Barnes with 
The Daily Memphian.

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Thanks for joining us.

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I am joined tonight by 
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland,

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thanks for being here again.

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- Thanks for having me.

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- Along with Bill Dries,

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reporter with The 
Daily Memphian.

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I should say at the top here, 
just a note of fairness,

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that we had Tami Sawyer, 
Shelby County Commissioner

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and candidate for Mayor 
on the show two weeks ago.

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People can get that 
on the WKNO website

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or download the podcast 
on dailymemphian.com.

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We've also reached out to 
former Mayor Herenton's campaign

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and asked him to be on the show.

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They have so far 
declined to attend.

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Thank you for being 
here, appreciate it.

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- Thank you. 
- As we get close to,

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early voting is some weeks away.

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- (Strickland) 
Yes.

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- The campaign gets more 
heated, and two weeks ago

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when Tami Sawyer 
was on the show,

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I won't try to go point 
by point of what she said,

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I don't think that's fair,

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but she did accuse you 
of not doing enough,

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and I'll paraphrase 
lightly, to combat racism,

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to not use the Office 
of the Mayor enough,

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and strongly enough 
to combat racism,

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and also to combat sexism.

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Do you have a response 
to those accusations?

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And she said things to 
that effect elsewhere.

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- Well I think her more 
pointed comments,

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I think you softened 'em up.

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Her more pointed comments 
don't deserve any response.

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I let my record 
stand where it is.

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We have an extraordinarily 
diverse administration.

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Fact, we have more women 
in leadership positions

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than city government 
has ever had before.

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I think my record in 
improving education,

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and services to the 
public for all Memphians

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stands on its own, and I 
think the response I get

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throughout the city, 
people understand that,

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and they know that I'm 
serving everyone equally

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and better than they 
were four years ago.

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- Do you, is there a 
particular onus on you as,

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I mean, we are a majority 
African American city,

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majority female city, 
you are a white male

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and I talk about 
this on the show

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and we try to talk 
about issues of race

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and prejudice and so on.

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I'm a 51 year old white guy 
talking about those issues.

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Do you feel a particular 
onus as Mayor of this city

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to address those issues 
because we are a majority black

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and a majority female city?

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- No I feel an onus on me to 
better serve the public.

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When I took over, we said

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we're gonna increase 
our MWBE spend.

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When I took over it was 
12% of our contracts,

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we're now up to 20%, the all 
time high for city government,

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and we had the 
largest MWBE project

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in the history of the 
city with $49 million

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going to MWBEs at the 
convention center,

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and you know what,

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you know what County 
Commissioner Sawyer's

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MWBE number over 
at the county is?

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Three.

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3%, and that program is run 
by County Commissioners.

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So this election's about 
results, not rhetoric,

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and the results show 
we're makin' a difference

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and she is not.

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- And MWBE stands for, 
for people not so sure?

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- Minority-owned Women-owned 
Business Enterprise.

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- And the $49 million, that 
project is which one?

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- The convention center. 
- Convention center, okay.

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Bill.

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- Do you think that the 
discussion of this

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should involve national issues-- 
- (Stricklnad) No.

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- or is this race just about 
what happens in Memphis?

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- It's about what 
happens in Memphis.

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Our challenges in Memphis are 
great, meaning they're large.

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We have real challenges.

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The violent crime 
rate's too high, poverty is

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too high, our educational 
achievement's too low.

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We have to unite in Memphis

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behind attacking 
those challenges

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and that's what I've done in 
my 3 1/2 years in Memphis,

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as Memphis Mayor, 
I've united the city

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as much as I can to 
tackle those challenges.

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If the public wanted 
me, or if I wanted

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to address national issues, 
I'd run for Congress.

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I'm not runnin' for 
Congress, I'm tryin' to solve

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Memphis problems and 
serve Memphians better,

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and that is a difference

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and I think most of Memphis 
agrees with my position.

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To really reduce violent crime

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and to increase the 
educational achievement level

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in the city and reduce poverty,

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all of us, Democrat, 
Republican, white, black,

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Hispanic, business 
leader, labor leader,

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retired person, Millennial, 
all need to be behind

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increasing that third 
grade reading level

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and driving down violent crime.

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Those, if we can do that,

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that's how you 
revolutionize this city,

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and that's what we focused on.

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- Do you think that there are 
legitimate differences to be

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discussed about, specifically 
about fighting crime?

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Because one of the most 
profound differences here

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is you say more police 
equals less crime.

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Commissioner Sawyer says 
that she doesn't think

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that that's the case, 
that in fact more police

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means more people arrested.

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- Well, the more people arrested 
that are committing crimes.

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I mean, that's illogical to 
me, but that is a difference.

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We need more police 
officers, she says we don't.

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Also, Mayor Herenton said 
when he was faced in 2006

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with the highest crime 
rate the city has ever seen

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before or after, he said the 
next year, runnin' for Mayor,

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that there's nothing he or 
any Mayor in the United States

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can do to reduce crime.

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So I disagree with 
both those candidates.

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We need more police officers, 
and there's certainly

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what the Mayor can do can 
help drive down crime.

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The Mayor alone can't 
drive down crime,

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but you can make a difference,

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so we've increased, shortly 
after I became Mayor

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we dropped down 
to 1900 officers,

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when we had 2400 eight 
or nine years ago,

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we're now over 2000, 
we're gonna get back

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to 2100 later this year,

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our goal is to 2300 
by the end of 2020.

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Everywhere I go people 
want more officers

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patrolling the streets, 'cause 
the more officers we have,

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the more community 
policing we can do,

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the more Blue CRUSH we can do,

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the more patrols that we can do,

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the more investigative 
work we can do,

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so I'm committed 
and when we got,

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when we were at 2400 
officers in 2011, 2012,

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that was the recent low 
of crime in recent memory.

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Crime had been reduced from 26%

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from the Herenton high of 2006.

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- You've been in 
office 3 1/2 years,

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you've added a net 
approaching 150 it sounds like

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based on your numbers 
for the low of 1900

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we're over 2000 now, 
hope to be at 2100

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by the end of the year, okay? 
- Yes.

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- So let's give you the end of 
the year number which is 200.

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Why is it taking so long?

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- For a long... 
- When it has been,

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you've talked about it every 
time you've been on the show,

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when you campaigned, why does 
it take so long to rebuild?

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- Two reasons.

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Number one, what we 
inherited was no process

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for retaining and recruiting 
police officers, none.

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You had to physically 
go to a police precinct

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and hand write a form to 
apply to be a police officer.

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Well as you know, a 22 year 
old, they all apply online

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and on their phones, and 
so we had to revamp that.

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Then we had to go through a 
campaign of the Best in Blue,

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to really go out there 
and recruit and market,

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and that recruiting and 
marketing and background checks

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and physical tests takes 
about, took about 6 months,

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and then the class itself 
takes almost 6 months.

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That class being the training

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- At the Police Academy.

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And not everyone 
makes it through?

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- No, I mean-- 
- Okay.

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- I'm guessin' 80% 
 only make it through

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because it's tough 
physically, and academically,

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and you have to be 
able to shoot a gun

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so all that, that whole 
process takes at least a year

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in and of itself, now we have 
shortened that first 6 months

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to about 4 months, and the 
second reason it's tough,

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it is tough to be a 
police officer nowadays,

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and every other city is out 
there tryin' to recruit,

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well one other thing, with 
that low unemployment rate,

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young people have other options.

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- Well is part of 
the problem money

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and 2 is, is there 
money in the budget,

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if you could get 
to 2300 immediately

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could the city afford that?

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- Yes, because our overtime 
budget would go down

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- Okay.

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and then that could help 
pay for those salaries.

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Second is, looking 
back to before

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when you were on the 
Council, City Council

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and Mayor Wharton was in, 
he made and the council made

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very deep cuts to benefits

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and for city employees, 
police officers included,

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changes to pension, the 
whole pension reform.

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First of all, did you 
vote for those cuts

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as a City Councilperson, 
and in hindsight

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was that vote, 
wherever use you're on,

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was it a mistake?

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- No I did vote for it, and 
even though it was very tough,

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and I wish we didn't 
have to do it,

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financially it was required 
because also remember,

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our pension plan per 
year was underfunded

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by about $50 million, 
it was upside down,

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which the underfunding 
of the pension

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started under Mayor 
Herenton in 2005 or 2006,

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so he left us an 
underfunded pension

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and we've had to make up for it,

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and those changes to benefits

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did contribute in part to 
the loss of police officers,

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but the biggest problem was 
there was no recruitment effort.

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In 2014, zero police 
officers were hired,

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so we had to create 
a whole mechanism,

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an operation from nothing 
and we have done that.

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In fact the Best in Blue 
campaign is so good now

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other cities are starting 
to copy the marketing.

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- In hindsight, just one more 
and then I'll go back to Bill,

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in hindsight though, there 
was a cost associated

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with losing those 
police officers,

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and there was a cost associated

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with funding the pension plan

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and balancing the 
budget in a recession,

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I mean there were costs but 
if you look at those costs

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there were a lot of 
police officers left,

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the people say that the unions

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almost encouraged 
people to leave--

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- They did. 
- sort of a protest,

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again was that cost worth 
it given what has been

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the reduction in crime 
fighting efforts,

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I mean there's a cost 
associated there, right?

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Let alone the personal 
harm for people,

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but the economic hit, or the 
perception hit from Memphis,

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again was that cost worth it?

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I think it was a 
necessary change,

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because our pension, it's 
easy to brush aside that

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but the state passed a law

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saying we had to fully fund 
our annual pension cost.

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At the time they passed 
it, we were putting

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about $20 million a 
year into our pension.

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The required payment 
was $75 million,

245
00:11:23,550 --> 00:11:26,152
so you either raise 
taxes dramatically

246
00:11:26,152 --> 00:11:30,990
or you cut expenses, and we 
cut expenses, and we had to.

247
00:11:32,392 --> 00:11:34,327
I wish we didn't have 
to, I wish Mayor Herenton

248
00:11:34,327 --> 00:11:35,929
hadn't started that ball rolling

249
00:11:35,929 --> 00:11:38,398
by underfunding the 
pension, but we had to deal

250
00:11:38,398 --> 00:11:41,467
with that problem, and 
I think we dealt with it

251
00:11:41,467 --> 00:11:44,537
the best way we could, but I 
think we've gotten over that

252
00:11:44,537 --> 00:11:46,706
and we're now on 
the upward swing.

253
00:11:46,706 --> 00:11:50,310
If we can, as you pointed 
out the last two years

254
00:11:50,310 --> 00:11:52,979
we're averaging roughly 
a net increase of 100,

255
00:11:52,979 --> 00:11:56,182
and we need to amplify 
that even more.

256
00:11:56,182 --> 00:11:57,650
Bill, about 15 minutes left.

257
00:11:57,650 --> 00:12:02,121
As we record this there is 
this thing called Project IRIS--

258
00:12:02,121 --> 00:12:02,922
- Yes!

259
00:12:02,922 --> 00:12:04,390
- which is out there,

260
00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:07,427
which is on the land that 
Belz Enterprises has

261
00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:12,432
across New Frayser Boulevard 
from the Nike plant.

262
00:12:13,633 --> 00:12:16,469
You've talked about this 
in kind of guarded terms

263
00:12:16,469 --> 00:12:19,172
because this goes to 
the Board of Adjustment

264
00:12:19,172 --> 00:12:22,241
in mid-September, I think.

265
00:12:23,243 --> 00:12:25,511
What does this project mean

266
00:12:25,511 --> 00:12:28,948
for that particular 
area of the city?

267
00:12:28,948 --> 00:12:31,017
All I can really talk 
about is the potential

268
00:12:31,017 --> 00:12:33,653
because I don't think 
it's a done deal,

269
00:12:33,653 --> 00:12:38,024
but the potential is 
huge for that area.

270
00:12:38,024 --> 00:12:40,293
It's over 3 million square feet,

271
00:12:40,293 --> 00:12:42,061
according to the 
document they filed

272
00:12:42,061 --> 00:12:43,563
it's over 3 million square feet,

273
00:12:43,563 --> 00:12:47,133
and has over 1800 parking spaces

274
00:12:48,334 --> 00:12:51,404
for we have to 
presume employees,

275
00:12:51,404 --> 00:12:56,309
so we've worked really 
hard to bring in business

276
00:12:56,309 --> 00:12:57,810
in all areas of town.

277
00:12:57,810 --> 00:13:00,079
J&J Trucking is a good 
example off American Way.

278
00:13:00,079 --> 00:13:04,384
700 new jobs right there in an 
area that had disinvestment.

279
00:13:04,384 --> 00:13:06,352
Frayser, we've 
worked really hard

280
00:13:06,352 --> 00:13:09,656
to improve the 
housing stock there,

281
00:13:09,656 --> 00:13:12,158
the last two years for 
the first time in decades

282
00:13:12,158 --> 00:13:13,626
home values are goin' up.

283
00:13:13,626 --> 00:13:15,862
This would complement 
it incredibly well,

284
00:13:15,862 --> 00:13:18,631
that we could have 
a lot of jobs,

285
00:13:18,631 --> 00:13:20,633
a lot of investment there,

286
00:13:20,633 --> 00:13:24,404
and in fact it's relatively 
close to neighborhoods.

287
00:13:24,404 --> 00:13:27,607
People could actually walk 
to the work, you know.

288
00:13:27,607 --> 00:13:29,442
I hear a lot of stories about

289
00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:34,347
International Harvester 
and Firestone,

290
00:13:34,347 --> 00:13:37,350
they helped build the 
adjoining neighborhoods,

291
00:13:37,350 --> 00:13:39,686
really build up 
those neighborhoods.

292
00:13:39,686 --> 00:13:41,988
We'd like to do sort 
of the same thing

293
00:13:41,988 --> 00:13:45,158
and it has huge 
potential impact.

294
00:13:45,158 --> 00:13:47,460
- Are these distribution jobs?

295
00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:49,362
- I can't confirm any of that.

296
00:13:49,362 --> 00:13:51,798
I can only confirm 
what's in the document.

297
00:13:53,132 --> 00:13:56,102
We have marketed 
this property before

298
00:13:56,102 --> 00:14:00,907
and one thing I think I've 
changed about city government

299
00:14:00,907 --> 00:14:03,209
is I'm personally involved 
in economic development,

300
00:14:03,209 --> 00:14:05,144
trying to push it, 
taking property

301
00:14:05,144 --> 00:14:06,813
and really actively 
trying to sell it

302
00:14:06,813 --> 00:14:10,616
with the cooperation of the 
private sector and the Chamber,

303
00:14:10,616 --> 00:14:12,985
so we have marketed 
this property before,

304
00:14:12,985 --> 00:14:15,421
hopefully this one 
actually happens.

305
00:14:15,421 --> 00:14:17,490
- The reason I mention 
the distribution jobs

306
00:14:17,490 --> 00:14:21,627
is because County Mayor 
Lee Harris has talked about

307
00:14:21,627 --> 00:14:24,731
some jobs that, in 
distribution and logistics

308
00:14:24,731 --> 00:14:27,233
are a mainstay of 
the Memphis economy,

309
00:14:27,233 --> 00:14:29,001
he's talked about 
some of those jobs

310
00:14:29,001 --> 00:14:32,872
becoming obsolete 
because of automation.

311
00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:37,610
Do you have concerns about 
our reliance on distribution

312
00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:38,511
for that reason?

313
00:14:38,511 --> 00:14:39,912
- In part, I mean yeah.

314
00:14:41,314 --> 00:14:42,915
Every mayor should be 
concerned about automation

315
00:14:42,915 --> 00:14:44,917
no matter what your industry is, 
and that's why Memphis

316
00:14:44,917 --> 00:14:49,655
and Tennessee is so 
uniquely situated

317
00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:52,892
with the free tech school and 
the free community college,

318
00:14:52,892 --> 00:14:57,296
which then Senator Harris 
supported and voted for

319
00:14:57,296 --> 00:14:59,232
gives us a unique opportunity

320
00:14:59,232 --> 00:15:03,236
because if you were better 
trained for a job today

321
00:15:03,236 --> 00:15:04,837
you are more likely to be able

322
00:15:04,837 --> 00:15:09,208
to evolve into the new industry.

323
00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:11,744
You know I often brag 
about airplane mechanics,

324
00:15:11,744 --> 00:15:14,914
you can get a degree, or 
certificate from the TCAT,

325
00:15:14,914 --> 00:15:16,749
Tennessee College of 
Applied Technology,

326
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:19,652
for free in Memphis, 
it takes 18 months,

327
00:15:19,652 --> 00:15:22,855
and people our age think 
of an airplane mechanic

328
00:15:22,855 --> 00:15:24,524
with a tool-belt and wrench.

329
00:15:24,524 --> 00:15:27,260
It's very computer driven,

330
00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:30,730
so if you can be an 
airplane mechanic,

331
00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:33,966
or a machinist 
building hip implants

332
00:15:33,966 --> 00:15:36,669
and starting at Smith & 
Nephew at $19.50 an hour,

333
00:15:36,669 --> 00:15:39,372
if that industry 
changes and evolves

334
00:15:39,372 --> 00:15:42,408
you are more likely to be 
able to get more educated

335
00:15:42,408 --> 00:15:44,477
or evolve with those changes,

336
00:15:44,477 --> 00:15:47,113
so that's why Tennessee, 
that's why I'm optimistic

337
00:15:47,113 --> 00:15:49,048
about the future of 
Memphis and that we can,

338
00:15:49,048 --> 00:15:52,418
we can accelerate this momentum 
that we have with this gift,

339
00:15:52,418 --> 00:15:54,587
we're the only state in 
the country with this.

340
00:15:55,888 --> 00:15:57,456
- Bill mentioned Project IRIS,

341
00:15:57,456 --> 00:15:59,659
and over the years, back to 
when you were in Council,

342
00:15:59,659 --> 00:16:01,460
since you've been 
Mayor projects come in

343
00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:04,430
so, you know, FedEx 
Logistics is moving downtown,

344
00:16:04,430 --> 00:16:06,165
ServiceMaster has 
moved downtown,

345
00:16:06,165 --> 00:16:09,001
other warehouse, distribution, 
different types of jobs,

346
00:16:09,001 --> 00:16:11,571
Indigo Ag which is a high 
tech employer downtown,

347
00:16:11,571 --> 00:16:14,207
all those I am 99% sure,

348
00:16:14,207 --> 00:16:16,475
all of those have involved 
incentives of some sort,

349
00:16:16,475 --> 00:16:19,378
and critics of your 
administration will say

350
00:16:19,378 --> 00:16:21,013
the city has the 
wrong priorities.

351
00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:24,684
They're giving away 
taxes to corporations

352
00:16:24,684 --> 00:16:27,220
when they should be 
spending money on crime,

353
00:16:27,220 --> 00:16:29,455
or on education, or on services,

354
00:16:29,455 --> 00:16:31,190
and so if you look 
at your record,

355
00:16:31,190 --> 00:16:33,192
and we'll just stay with 
the 3 1/2 years as Mayor,

356
00:16:33,192 --> 00:16:35,761
are you comfortable that 
the incentive packages

357
00:16:35,761 --> 00:16:37,897
and the tax breaks given 
out to these companies

358
00:16:37,897 --> 00:16:39,966
have been to the 
benefit of Memphis?

359
00:16:39,966 --> 00:16:41,968
- 100%. 
24,000 more Memphians

360
00:16:41,968 --> 00:16:45,838
are working now 
than 3 1/2 years ago.

361
00:16:45,838 --> 00:16:50,843
2400, and for someone to 
suggest that we should pause?

362
00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:53,546
No, we should accelerate.

363
00:16:53,546 --> 00:16:57,516
Very few of those incentives 
have involved cash.

364
00:16:57,516 --> 00:16:59,952
What they are is 
reduced property taxes,

365
00:16:59,952 --> 00:17:03,089
and most of them involve,

366
00:17:03,089 --> 00:17:07,260
we're receiving more 
taxes during the PILOT

367
00:17:07,260 --> 00:17:09,195
than we received 
before, think about it,

368
00:17:09,195 --> 00:17:11,163
Union Row is a perfect example.

369
00:17:11,163 --> 00:17:13,399
That's a mostly blighted 
piece of property

370
00:17:13,399 --> 00:17:16,936
that's getting very little 
property taxes, very little.

371
00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:18,838
When they put an 
office tower there,

372
00:17:18,838 --> 00:17:22,475
the property values would go 
up and the taxes would go up,

373
00:17:22,475 --> 00:17:24,343
but they're not 
gonna pay those taxes

374
00:17:24,343 --> 00:17:27,446
'cause any other city, or any 
other state's gonna let 'em

375
00:17:27,446 --> 00:17:30,383
get a reduction, so we give 
'em a reduction to here,

376
00:17:30,383 --> 00:17:33,019
which is still higher than 
the taxes they're paying,

377
00:17:33,019 --> 00:17:36,956
so it's misinformation that's 
being spent, put out there.

378
00:17:36,956 --> 00:17:38,791
We're getting more tax dollars,

379
00:17:38,791 --> 00:17:41,294
we're getting more jobs, and 
we're cleaning up blight.

380
00:17:41,294 --> 00:17:44,597
We've gotta keep our 
foot to the pedal

381
00:17:44,597 --> 00:17:46,098
and accelerate this momentum.

382
00:17:46,098 --> 00:17:48,668
- You say, talk about taxes, 
there's a sales tax referendum

383
00:17:48,668 --> 00:17:51,370
on the ballot this time 
that would dedicate...

384
00:17:51,370 --> 00:17:53,039
It's a little complicated 
but the gist of it,

385
00:17:53,039 --> 00:17:54,807
the intent of it is to dedicate

386
00:17:54,807 --> 00:17:57,076
that quarter point 
in the sales tax

387
00:17:57,076 --> 00:17:59,645
to fire, police...

388
00:17:59,645 --> 00:18:01,247
why do I do this 
without Bill's help?

389
00:18:01,247 --> 00:18:02,915
- Fire and police benefits. 
- Thank you, Bill.

390
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:04,250
Are you in favor 
of that referendum?

391
00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:05,851
- I'm not gonna take 
a position on it.

392
00:18:05,851 --> 00:18:07,086
I'm not gonna endorse it

393
00:18:07,086 --> 00:18:09,322
in any Council race 
or judge's races,

394
00:18:09,322 --> 00:18:11,891
and I'm not gonna take 
any position on that.

395
00:18:11,891 --> 00:18:13,993
We did do an analysis, 
we hired someone

396
00:18:13,993 --> 00:18:16,362
to do an analysis and 
gave that to the Council

397
00:18:16,362 --> 00:18:19,732
a week or so ago on the 
cost and the revenue of it.

398
00:18:21,801 --> 00:18:23,636
I'm worried about my race.

399
00:18:23,636 --> 00:18:26,906
Even though it's 
not legally binding,

400
00:18:26,906 --> 00:18:29,542
if it passes and I'm Mayor

401
00:18:29,542 --> 00:18:31,544
I will fulfill the 
intent of the voters.

402
00:18:31,544 --> 00:18:32,378
- On the agreement, okay.

403
00:18:32,378 --> 00:18:33,579
- Bill, go ahead.

404
00:18:33,579 --> 00:18:36,415
- If it passes and 
if you're reelected

405
00:18:36,415 --> 00:18:41,354
does it complicate the first 
budget of your second term?

406
00:18:41,354 --> 00:18:43,022
- I don't believe it does.

407
00:18:43,022 --> 00:18:46,959
I believe for the 
first budget for sure,

408
00:18:46,959 --> 00:18:49,061
the revenue is higher 
than the expense.

409
00:18:49,061 --> 00:18:50,296
- Okay.

410
00:18:50,296 --> 00:18:52,932
There's been a whole 
other discussion

411
00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:55,201
about funding for 
Shelby County schools.

412
00:18:56,569 --> 00:19:00,239
In a second Strickland 
term, would there be a move

413
00:19:00,239 --> 00:19:03,509
for the city to directly 
fund Shelby County schools

414
00:19:03,509 --> 00:19:05,578
in some kind of ongoing way

415
00:19:05,578 --> 00:19:07,213
beyond what the 
city is doing now

416
00:19:07,213 --> 00:19:10,249
with Pre-K and other 
education initiatives?

417
00:19:10,249 --> 00:19:12,084
- Well let's not 
roll over Pre-K.

418
00:19:12,084 --> 00:19:15,888
That is revolutionary what 
we've been able to do.

419
00:19:15,888 --> 00:19:17,857
Couple years ago 
with Mayor Luttrell

420
00:19:17,857 --> 00:19:20,659
and Superintendent 
Hopson, we created

421
00:19:20,659 --> 00:19:22,662
and Mayor Harris has joined in,

422
00:19:22,662 --> 00:19:25,998
we created universal 
needs based Pre-K

423
00:19:25,998 --> 00:19:28,567
for the first time 
ever in the city,

424
00:19:28,567 --> 00:19:30,269
let's not roll over that.

425
00:19:30,269 --> 00:19:33,639
Quality Pre-K, followed 
by quality K through 3,

426
00:19:33,639 --> 00:19:35,374
which the schools are 
really workin' on,

427
00:19:35,374 --> 00:19:39,211
can revolutionize this city, 
so instead of 25% roughly

428
00:19:39,211 --> 00:19:41,414
of third graders reading 
at third grade level,

429
00:19:41,414 --> 00:19:46,018
let's get up to 75% and so 
many of our problems disappear,

430
00:19:46,018 --> 00:19:49,522
so we've really focused on 
early childhood literacy.

431
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,526
The challenge with 
funding anything new

432
00:19:53,526 --> 00:19:55,261
is where does the 
money come from?

433
00:19:55,261 --> 00:19:57,096
As you know our 
budget only increases

434
00:19:57,096 --> 00:19:58,831
by about $10 million a year.

435
00:19:59,932 --> 00:20:02,334
A 1% raise for 
every city employee

436
00:20:03,736 --> 00:20:06,038
is about $4 1/2 million.

437
00:20:06,038 --> 00:20:08,541
Insurance costs go up, 
so that $10 million,

438
00:20:08,541 --> 00:20:09,942
and we have to fund,

439
00:20:09,942 --> 00:20:12,311
we're looking for more 
funding for transit,

440
00:20:12,311 --> 00:20:15,815
so there's limited 
amount of money.

441
00:20:15,815 --> 00:20:18,717
Anyone promising 
significant more money

442
00:20:18,717 --> 00:20:21,787
to Shelby County schools 
out of the city budget,

443
00:20:21,787 --> 00:20:23,289
you better hold 
on to your wallet.

444
00:20:23,289 --> 00:20:26,225
There's gonna be a big tax 
increase comin' to do that.

445
00:20:26,225 --> 00:20:28,260
- Is the tax, I had asked 
Commissioner Sawyer

446
00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:29,729
who was on the 
show two weeks ago

447
00:20:29,729 --> 00:20:31,330
and I should say it's 
available online,

448
00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:32,798
and we've reached 
out, I should repeat,

449
00:20:32,798 --> 00:20:34,900
to Mayor Herenton's campaign 
to have him on the show,

450
00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:36,368
he's so far declined,

451
00:20:36,368 --> 00:20:39,605
but she said that tax 
increases were on the table

452
00:20:39,605 --> 00:20:42,875
and if you win reelection, are 
tax increases on the table?

453
00:20:42,875 --> 00:20:45,878
- I've never taken 
a no tax pledge,

454
00:20:45,878 --> 00:20:48,347
although in my 8 
years on the Council

455
00:20:48,347 --> 00:20:51,951
and 3 1/2 years, 
we've not proposed

456
00:20:51,951 --> 00:20:53,519
a property tax increase.

457
00:20:53,519 --> 00:20:58,057
The reason is our property 
tax rate is already higher

458
00:20:58,057 --> 00:20:59,592
than anywhere else in the state,

459
00:20:59,592 --> 00:21:02,261
our combined city county tax 
rate, dramatically higher

460
00:21:02,261 --> 00:21:05,264
and I think that retards 
any kind of growth

461
00:21:05,264 --> 00:21:06,532
in business and population

462
00:21:06,532 --> 00:21:09,935
so we've gotta try to 
keep the line on that.

463
00:21:09,935 --> 00:21:13,639
Now I will never say 
never, but I think

464
00:21:13,639 --> 00:21:16,208
we oughta do everything 
we can to avoid that.

465
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:17,710
Population growth, as you know,

466
00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:19,645
I think is our 
number one challenge.

467
00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:21,147
We're trying to grow our city,

468
00:21:21,147 --> 00:21:22,882
and raising our taxes

469
00:21:22,882 --> 00:21:25,484
so much higher than 
our suburban cities,

470
00:21:25,484 --> 00:21:29,155
or Nashville which we're 
at least 50% higher,

471
00:21:29,155 --> 00:21:30,623
that hurts us.

472
00:21:30,623 --> 00:21:33,325
- But could you find the money 
by changing priorities,

473
00:21:33,325 --> 00:21:36,929
and do you feel 
like there is a way

474
00:21:36,929 --> 00:21:38,497
to change priorities 
in your budget

475
00:21:38,497 --> 00:21:40,799
or are the priorities 
where you want them?

476
00:21:40,799 --> 00:21:42,301
- Oh the priorities...

477
00:21:42,301 --> 00:21:45,337
What we've done is we've 
focused on public safety,

478
00:21:45,337 --> 00:21:46,806
and intervention with kids

479
00:21:46,806 --> 00:21:48,774
doing more in our libraries, 
community centers,

480
00:21:48,774 --> 00:21:51,577
summer camps, summer 
jobs programs,

481
00:21:51,577 --> 00:21:56,248
that's what we've focused on, 
and with roads and transit.

482
00:21:56,248 --> 00:21:58,651
Those are the 
priorities we have.

483
00:21:58,651 --> 00:22:02,354
The county could 
give more to schools.

484
00:22:02,354 --> 00:22:06,025
In fact, the budget that 
Commissioner Sawyer voted for

485
00:22:06,025 --> 00:22:08,494
cut the Shelby County 
schools' request for money

486
00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:09,728
by $26 million.

487
00:22:10,896 --> 00:22:14,800
They asked her for more 
money and she said no.

488
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,037
Again this is about 
results, not rhetoric.

489
00:22:18,037 --> 00:22:20,606
Let's look at the 
results of what you do,

490
00:22:20,606 --> 00:22:22,441
not what you're gonna promise.

491
00:22:22,441 --> 00:22:25,444
You know, she could 
have funded schools

492
00:22:25,444 --> 00:22:29,215
over on the county 
side, and she didn't.

493
00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:30,816
- Look, we're talking 
about spending

494
00:22:30,816 --> 00:22:32,151
and taxes and priorities.

495
00:22:32,151 --> 00:22:33,986
Tom Lee Park, and 
the riverfront,

496
00:22:33,986 --> 00:22:35,888
there's a $70 million proposal

497
00:22:35,888 --> 00:22:40,893
for a completely transformed 
Tom Lee Park, the cobblestones,

498
00:22:42,261 --> 00:22:43,529
that's in mediation 
right now to some extent.

499
00:22:43,529 --> 00:22:45,731
We'll talk about that, 
but is it appropriate

500
00:22:45,731 --> 00:22:48,968
for that $70 million 
to be a priority?

501
00:22:48,968 --> 00:22:51,003
Critics of that 
proposal will say,

502
00:22:51,003 --> 00:22:52,471
why aren't we putting 
that money towards police?

503
00:22:52,471 --> 00:22:54,607
What aren't we putting 
that money towards schools,

504
00:22:54,607 --> 00:22:57,109
to other priorities that 
we've talked about today?

505
00:22:57,109 --> 00:22:59,078
Why is that such a priority 
for your administration?

506
00:22:59,078 --> 00:23:02,014
- I'm sure The Daily Memphian 
has pointed out the fact

507
00:23:02,014 --> 00:23:04,383
that those funds cannot 
be used for that,

508
00:23:04,383 --> 00:23:06,051
or at least I hope y'all have.

509
00:23:06,051 --> 00:23:10,823
Don't just repeat false 
information, correct it.

510
00:23:10,823 --> 00:23:12,091
- We have written that.

511
00:23:12,091 --> 00:23:13,425
- The city...

512
00:23:13,425 --> 00:23:14,860
- And I'm sure you've 
heard this criticism

513
00:23:14,860 --> 00:23:16,395
- but the question 
doesn't reflect that.

514
00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:18,197
- No no no, but I mean look 
you gotta ask the question

515
00:23:18,197 --> 00:23:19,665
that this is what 
people come out and say,

516
00:23:19,665 --> 00:23:20,899
and they come out and say that

517
00:23:20,899 --> 00:23:22,067
and they wanna know 
how you respond to it.

518
00:23:22,067 --> 00:23:23,335
- It's a false narrative.

519
00:23:24,536 --> 00:23:26,205
The money that the 
city's putting in

520
00:23:26,205 --> 00:23:30,142
is basically state sales 
taxes generated downtown

521
00:23:30,142 --> 00:23:33,679
that are limited by the 
Tourist Development Zone

522
00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:38,417
by law to tourist attractions, 
which is where the money went

523
00:23:38,417 --> 00:23:41,754
for the pyramid for Bass Pro,

524
00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:43,522
money for the convention center,

525
00:23:43,522 --> 00:23:45,557
and money for improving 
the riverfront

526
00:23:45,557 --> 00:23:47,993
because that's a tourist...

527
00:23:47,993 --> 00:23:49,261
could be a tourist destination

528
00:23:49,261 --> 00:23:51,063
which other 
riverfronts have shown,

529
00:23:51,063 --> 00:23:53,332
so that money, one time money,

530
00:23:53,332 --> 00:23:56,035
could not be used repeatedly 
for police and fire.

531
00:23:56,035 --> 00:23:59,071
- The other money is 
being privately raised.

532
00:23:59,071 --> 00:24:01,874
And about that, you came 
out a couple weeks ago,

533
00:24:01,874 --> 00:24:03,342
the party, the Memphis in May,

534
00:24:03,342 --> 00:24:06,412
and the Memphis River 
Parks Partnership,

535
00:24:06,412 --> 00:24:08,981
formerly RDC, have 
been in mediation.

536
00:24:08,981 --> 00:24:10,416
In the midst of that mediation,

537
00:24:10,416 --> 00:24:12,651
you came out with a statement 
that this is mediating,

538
00:24:12,651 --> 00:24:14,753
effectively, I'll 
paraphrase what you said,

539
00:24:14,753 --> 00:24:17,122
this is simply mediating 
how Memphis in May

540
00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:19,558
stays in the park, not 
whether it stays in the park,

541
00:24:19,558 --> 00:24:22,561
and prior to that a lot of 
people, people on the show,

542
00:24:22,561 --> 00:24:24,496
people who wrote guest 
columns in The Daily Memphian

543
00:24:24,496 --> 00:24:26,999
and in elsewhere, were 
saying this is all about

544
00:24:26,999 --> 00:24:29,168
booting Memphis in May 
off the riverfront.

545
00:24:29,168 --> 00:24:31,870
Was that ever a 
possibility to you?

546
00:24:31,870 --> 00:24:33,138
- (Strickland) 
No, in fact I--

547
00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:35,274
- But, so where did 
that narrative come from

548
00:24:35,274 --> 00:24:36,508
and let me put it this way,

549
00:24:36,508 --> 00:24:38,711
did mediation hurt 
the public discourse

550
00:24:38,711 --> 00:24:41,480
because we couldn't have 
Carol Coletta on the show

551
00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,148
and talk about 
the details of it.

552
00:24:43,148 --> 00:24:44,817
We can't have Jim 
Holt on the show

553
00:24:44,817 --> 00:24:45,918
and talk about the details.

554
00:24:45,918 --> 00:24:47,152
You all are somewhat limited,

555
00:24:47,152 --> 00:24:49,655
and so all these sort 
of stories get out there

556
00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:51,557
because of the silence 
around mediation.

557
00:24:51,557 --> 00:24:53,826
- Again, all this is driven by,

558
00:24:53,826 --> 00:24:55,861
a lot of it's driven 
by social media,

559
00:24:55,861 --> 00:24:58,263
and I don't know if, this 
may be shocking to you,

560
00:24:58,263 --> 00:24:59,498
[Eric chuckles]

561
00:24:59,498 --> 00:25:01,033
everything on social 
media is not true.

562
00:25:01,033 --> 00:25:04,069
I said from the get go, if you 
go back to my original quotes

563
00:25:04,069 --> 00:25:07,239
they said, "We want a better 
Memphis in May in the park

564
00:25:07,239 --> 00:25:09,375
"one month a year, 
and a better park

565
00:25:09,375 --> 00:25:11,310
the other 11 
months of the year."

566
00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:14,012
What I put in 
writing, people acted

567
00:25:14,012 --> 00:25:16,548
like it was breaking news but 
it was really no different

568
00:25:16,548 --> 00:25:18,417
from whatever I said.

569
00:25:18,417 --> 00:25:19,952
- With 45 seconds here,

570
00:25:21,153 --> 00:25:23,422
why not redevelop other 
parts of the riverfront?

571
00:25:23,422 --> 00:25:24,990
A lot of people 
point to Mud Island,

572
00:25:24,990 --> 00:25:26,525
people point to MLK.

573
00:25:26,525 --> 00:25:29,695
I mean is this money, the 
TDZ money a one time shot

574
00:25:29,695 --> 00:25:32,698
that we're using 
it all on Tom Lee,

575
00:25:32,698 --> 00:25:36,301
and leaving other things in 
their less than perfect state?

576
00:25:37,736 --> 00:25:40,305
- Well, you haven't been to 
MLK Park in a long time.

577
00:25:40,305 --> 00:25:41,473
- Yeah.

578
00:25:41,473 --> 00:25:43,842
- MLK park is in really 
nice condition,

579
00:25:43,842 --> 00:25:45,677
in fact it's underutilized,

580
00:25:47,146 --> 00:25:50,549
but there are plans for those 
two parks and those two areas

581
00:25:53,352 --> 00:25:57,189
so you just gotta take, 
we cannot fix every,

582
00:25:57,189 --> 00:26:00,526
we can't put $50 million 
into every single park.

583
00:26:00,526 --> 00:26:02,394
Tom Lee is used most,

584
00:26:02,394 --> 00:26:04,062
and that's where most 
of the money's goin'.

585
00:26:04,062 --> 00:26:05,998
- Are you gonna do any debates?

586
00:26:05,998 --> 00:26:08,867
- When Mayor Herenton 
changes his mind,

587
00:26:08,867 --> 00:26:11,170
and will agree to a debate 
I'll be happy to join.

588
00:26:11,170 --> 00:26:12,704
- All right, thank you for 
being here, I appreciate it.

589
00:26:12,704 --> 00:26:13,639
- Thank you. 
- Thank you, Bill.

590
00:26:13,639 --> 00:26:16,842
Thank you for joining us. 
Join us again next week.

591
00:26:16,842 --> 00:26:20,579
[dramatic, orchestral music]

592
00:26:26,819 --> 00:26:28,821
[acoustic guitar chords]