JUSTPEACE MEMPHIS Campaign.Update Thank You Commissioner Joyce Avery

Today I had the opportunity to speak with County Commissioner Joyce Avery, who has now pledged to support the four funding initiatives sponsored by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and supported by this campaign.With Commissioner Joyce Avery's support we now stand at SEVEN pledged votes of support on the Shelby County Commission.
So far this adds Commissioner Avery to a list of supporters that includes fellow Republican Mike Carpenter and Democrats Deidre Malone, Steve Mulroy, James Harvey, Sidney Chism and Matt Kuhn.

Republican Wyatt Bunker also has indicated strong support for these programs, sharing our belief that these are community priorities, but could not as of yet commit to voting in favor of their funding. He is however is interested and very willing to continue this conversation as this campaign rolls on.

I urge all of you out there to write Commissioner Bunker at wyatt.bunker@shelbycountytn.gov or call him at the County Commission offices at (901) 545-4301 and urge him to support the work of the JUSTPEACE Memphis campaign and to support funding for The Jericho initiative, The General Sessions Drug Court, expansion of Pre-Trial diversion services, and Vertical prosecution.

I also wanted to take the time to express our thanks to the the members of the Shelby County Democratic Party's Executive committee for their UNANIMOUS vote to endorse these reforms and this campaign. This week the SCDP EXECOM will also be sending a letter of support to that effect to the Democratic members of the Shelby County Commission.

I also plan on continuing my conversations with Shelby County Republican Party Chairman Lang Wiseman, to see if the Shelby County GOP will also endorse these reforms. It has always been our goal to make this a bi-partisan effort, and to not simply be content with the seven votes needed to pass these reforms, but to work for nothing short of a unanimous 13 yea vote victory for these worthy reforms and programs which combat drug abuse, address mental illness in the criminal justice system, and curb criminal recidivism in our community.

DEMAND CHANGE

Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell