Memphis is currently ranked in the top 5 most dangerous U.S. cities. Ramping up for the 2019 Memphis election, Police and Fire Department Unions came together to advocate a sales tax increase, by a half-cent, in order to restore health benefits and pension plans. The Unions have been vocal about the sales tax increase boosting police and fire officials’ retention rate and adding incentives in recruiting new officials.
The City voted in favor of the sales tax referendum on Election Day, October 3rd. Bill Dries, a reporter for the Daily Memphian, says that the concerns regarding the local crime rate are reflected in the fact that the sales tax referendum passed.
Dries joins The New Tri-State Defender’s Karanja Ajanaku for a journalist roundtable, hosted by Eric Barnes for this week’s WKNO-TV Behind the Headlines. Guests talk about what it means now that the referendum has been passed.
In addition, guests discuss the overall results of the 2019 Memphis election. Ajanaku explains reasons that Strickland won the mayoral race, including the fact that the citizens of Memphis “did not see a big enough reason to switch gears” with a new mayor.