ISSUES FIRST, If you want to be Mayor, Support Code Enforcement

The key to understanding where Memphis needs to go, is to understand that our problems and challenges as a community are not separate issues but are all connected and a deficit in one area has a related negative impact on other areas. For example, if a city has an overwhelmed and or inadequate system for Mental health or drug rehabilitation, then it's only a matter of time before homeless services and law enforcement services are impacted by this, which in turn has an impact on Jail population and overcrowding, as well as law enforcement manpower issues which in turn effects other areas as well."A topic I will cover later."
Thus a common flaw in how some candidates relate to the public is that candidates will make promises to address certain issues without context of what the root causes of the problems are. Thus even sincere efforts to address problems are often doomed to failure before they begin. That's why I wanted to take the time today to write about one of the root factors "like MATA reform" in several of the challenges that the next Mayor will face and hope will address. That being the clear need for the City of Memphis to rededicate and support efforts of Code Enforcement and Community Enhancement services.


Currently one of the major challengers facing our neighborhoods is the problem of blight, as it plays a role in declining home values,crime and related public health issues. As more and more properties are allowed to be abandoned these vacants become open sores in these areas and magnets for criminal activity as well as sites of illegal dumping of trash. This in turn leads to new breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats and disease, which in turn causes higher medical issues for area residents. Combined these factors promotes a downward spiral effect in our communities as a result more people either move away, taking community capitol out of the neighborhood and/or encouraging more trash dumping,a greater influx of criminal activity and a greater decline in property value and stunting community redevelopment.

Currently the division of Community Enhancement and Code Enforcement are tasked with tearing down condemned vacants at a rate of 1500 properties a year, however the city currently only tears down vacants at a rate closer to 700-800 a year.More to the point, these properties are spread out across the city in such a manner that no on notices any real change to their communities.
This is due to several factors, chief among them is that while there are many hardworking government employees in these departments, there are several bottlenecks in the processing of demolitions as well as an overly long and time consuming contracting process, that prevents speedy action. There also needs to be a more aggressive effort in the quick and speeding elimination of illegal dumping ground around our city this is especially true in the North Memphis and in the Beclair/Highland Heights area. Case in point Creepy Hollow There are also many unethical landlords who's lack of proper action in upkeep their properties puts the well being of their tenants at risk.

Also more needs to be done to address the serious and shameful problem of lead soil contamination, which is remarkably high in many lower income areas of the city. Lead paint from older housing stock as well as old lead pipes and in many cases industrial contamination has produced a serious health issue. Lead poisoning according to Wikipedia, may cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity. In addition "symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include neurological problems, such as permanent and temporary reduced cognitive abilities, or nausea, abdominal pain,[11] irritability, impotence, insomnia, metal taste in the mouth, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, chest pain, headache and, in extreme cases, seizures, comas, and death. There are also associated gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, which are common in acute poisoning. Other associated effects are anemia, kidney problems, and reproductive problems." This is especially a problem for children in these areas who may become contaminated by playing outside on lots which contaminated soil or by ingesting paint chips.Lead poisoning has a direct link to learning disabilities reduced mental development, and in a growing number of studies has a causal link to higher aggression and lack of impulse control and crime linked behavior. Get the lead out

The Grow Memphis program at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is currently working to build more community gardens in neighborhoods across the city. The EPA list a lead soil level of 300-400 ppm as the high threshold of lead soil contamination in areas where children play. Last week a potential garden site near the Foote homes area was rejected as the lead soil contamination level was at 1760ppm. The sad fact is that we have know about the dangers of lead poisoning since the 1970's, and while the city and county have active lead abatement programs for housing that's doing alot of work in this area,not much is currently being done about these vacant lots which are a source of lead that enters the home via wind and via shoes. These departments need to be a higher priority and fully supported by the next Mayor.

a few simple ideas..

*Increasing the level of paralegal staff to expand capacity to process demolition orders and increase the volume of cases in Environmental court.

*Pull together all of the shareholders in Code,Community enhancement, OPD and others to find other "bottlenecks" in the system, while eliminating redundant or noneffective elements to ensure a more speedy process.

*Remove bureaucratic red tape that slows down the contracting process and provide greater oversight of contractors to ensure that all permits are being pulled.

*Become more aggressive in the leveling of fines for code violators, and work in better concert with the District Attorney's office and the Health department to ensure the swift reporting and prosecution of irresponsible landlords, illegal trash and tire dumpers.

*Focus Demolition efforts in areas with the highest levels of blight. 800-1500 demolitions per year may not seem like much spread out across the city, but it would make a big difference in some of our high priority areas, in the short term, and pave the way for redevelopment of these areas in the long term.

*Plant Sunflowers,Goldenrod/Start Community Gardens on the thousands of vacant lots owned by the city. "Let me finish.." One of the many problems in lower income areas is the lack of grocery stores and access to healthy foods. Community garden programs like GrowMemphis offer neighborhoods reduced blight, healthy produce and opportunities for economic development and self sufficiency.
Now as for Sunflowers and goldenrod... the planting of Sunflowers/goldenrod in vacant lots owned by the city would play a major role in restoring formerly blighted communities, and more importantly could prevent these areas from becoming sites of illegal dumping, and save the city some of the long term costs of having to constantly cut the grass and clean up on over 5000 sites. Sunflowers also have been shown to be excellent tools for removing toxic substances like uranium, cesium-137,strontium-90, arsenic, and cadmium from the soil. There are reports about a limited ability of both plants to remove lead from contaminated soil as well. Sunflower seeds are safe to eat,even from lead contaminated soil and are also a leading source of birdseed that could open some minor economic opportunities in these areas.
Imagine the next time you drive threw a neighborhood with a lot of abandoned properties that you replaced all of those lots with fields of sunflowers.

*The next Mayor can also use the bully pulpit of his or her office to better communicate to the public the dangers of Lead poisoning and increase the public awareness city and county services that offer testing, treatment and home abatement. Also the efforts of HCD's Lead abatement programs need to be better supported in future budget cycles.


So when you receive a call from a campaign worker on behalf of a particular candidate, or meet one of the candidates in public. Ask them what their plans are on these issues like MATA and Code Enforcement, and hold them accountable.