Mayor Lee Harris' Update: A Second Chance is Good for Ex-Offenders and Shelby County

April is Second Chance Month. Enacted by President Joe Biden in 2021, the President's idea is to focus on policies and programs that aid in crime prevention, reduce recidivism, and expand opportunities so that individuals with a criminal history can rejoi...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update: Ukraine is Fighting for all Democratic Nations

Since I have been Mayor of Shelby County, I have regularly lifted up the concerns of the oppressed here at home and in places around the world. I have pushed for an expansion of our country’s refugee program and worked with stakeholders, like Wo...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update: Growing Mental Health Court Doubles the Number of People Helped

Work is underway to double the capacity of Shelby County’s Mental Health Court. This vital court provides access to mental health care and other services for offenders with mental illnesses. Currently, the court has the capacity to support 50 in...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update: A Successful Fight Against Blight in Northaven

For more than a decade, Northaven was plagued by trash from illegal dumping, litter, and blight. After we took office, those residents reached out to us about their perpetual problem. We knew we could find a solution. 

That solution was the Northa...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update: Southern Justice Summit Awards Ceremony

Recently, our office recognized warriors who have led the way in the fight for public safety reforms across the South. The 2nd Annual Southern Justice Summit: Awards Ceremony honored individuals who have been in the trenches, working to make our communiti...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update: ARPA Funds Now Going Out to Those in Need

Thanks to President Biden's leadership we are set to address even more of the many needs of Shelby County residents hit hard by the COVID-19 global pandemic. In March, President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. Th...

A Special Update from Mayor Lee Harris: Appreciating Our Veterans

I say quite often that Shelby County is the greatest county in Tennessee. Many things make our county great. Shelby County’s more than 52,000 veterans are at the top of the list.

Earlier this week, we came together for our 4^th Annual Shelby Count...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Welcoming Afghan Refugees

Since the end of the conflict in Afghanistan this August, federal officials say more than 123,000 Afghans have been airlifted out of their homeland. Thousands of Afghan evacuees were brought to the United States and some are now in Shelby County. It is my...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on the Road to a South Memphis Renaissance

It is encouraging to see projects that focus on ridding our community of blight. That’s what’s happening in South Memphis. We recently transferred 71 blighted properties from the Shelby County Land Bank to two nonprofit organizations t...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on the Work of the COVID-19 Community Council

Recently, we brought together residents from all walks of life to form the Shelby County Mayor's Office COVID-19 Community Council. These Shelby County residents volunteered to serve. They served as trusted messengers within their own networks wh...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Shelby County's Youth Leadership

Our administration has worked hard to include the voices of Shelby County's young people. These young people have used their voices to offer creative solutions on issues impacting their generation and all of our county's residents. We ar...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Proposed ARPA Allocations for Shelby County

Last week, I presented to the Shelby County Commission’s Budget and Finance Committee our planned allocations for the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds coming to our county. Thanks to President Joe Biden, these new resources will allow us t...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Shelby County's Oil Pipeline Regulations

Last week, the Shelby County Commission gave its final approval for an ordinance that seeks to limit where companies can construct oil pipelines. The County Commission’s bipartisan 10-0 vote is intended to protect Shelby County neighborhoods and...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Reducing Recidivism One Haircut at a Time

Studies show when an ex-offender has the ability to earn a decent living, they are less likely to break the law and return to prison. A new barber training program for inmates with the Shelby County Division of Corrections aims to provide the skills neces...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Agriculture in Shelby County

Shelby County is an agricultural powerhouse. That was on full display last month at our first ever Shelby County Summer Ag Day, where we brought cows, chickens, goats, and a pig to Civic Center Plaza in Downtown Memphis. Our recent Ag Day was an opportuni...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on the Administration's Third Year

No one could have predicted that as September 2020 marked the beginning of my administration's third year, we would continue to face the unimaginable. Because of the global coronavirus pandemic, businesses were closed, schools grappled with onlin...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on a Celebration for County Employees

I have said many times that Shelby County is the greatest county in Tennessee.

With more than 763,000 square miles, we are the largest county in the state. We have more than 930,000 residents, the biggest population in the state. It's a county bri...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on New Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor

Every day dealing with COVID-19 is more political than the last. Our Health Department employees have been harassed and threatened.

The politicization of the pandemic has been a dangerous trend here and around the country, as we continue to battle COVID-19...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Shelby County's Inmate Vaccine Success

As the Delta variant continues to surge, we continue our outreach to everyone in Shelby County to remind them of the importance of getting the vaccine to help stem the tide of this deadly pandemic. Our latest effort includes a prison education program at ...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Reducing Recidivism in Shelby County

Roughly 95% of all inmates nationwide will return to their communities, a fact that's true for the inmates in custody with the Shelby County Division of Corrections, where the average stay is from two to four years.

I believe while those inmates are in She...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on Shelby County Homeowner Programs

We're proud that Shelby County administers a program to help residents buy homes and fulfill the age-old American dream.

And we're especially proud of the recent changes we've made to give program participants more money for down payments, lower interest r...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on 50 Days with Under 100 New Coronavirus Cases

In early March of 2020, the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed here in Shelby County.

Since that day the capacity of local government has been tested like no other time in recent history. We’ve been called on to help support the local ec...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on Ongoing Mental Health Reform Slate

Over the course of many months, we have instituted a growing slate of mental health reforms to better the lives of Shelby County residents and our county employees.

As has been stated many times before, the coronavirus pandemic brought to the fore the some...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on the 2021 Mayor's Summer Work Experience Program

This week it was my privilege to welcome some of Shelby County’s best and brightest young people for the first day of our 2021 Mayor's Summer Work Experience program.

It’s an opportunity for participants to work a paying summer job and learn about Shelby C...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on COVID Vaccines for Sick and Shut-in Senior Citizens

With summer just a few weeks away, Shelby County and our nation seem well on the road toward a return to normalcy.

But as eager as we are to get back to our lives before the coronavirus pandemic, it is critical that we continue to make progress getting She...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on the Safe Leave Policy for Shelby County Employees

Last year my administration enacted a new Shelby County paid parental leave policy for employees whose families welcomed a new addition.

Unfortunately, there are other, less joyous circumstances that arise and force employees to be away from work.

Recently,...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on what CDC Changes Mean for Shelby County

The message last week was simple and profound: If you’re vaccinated, you’re safe. No masks, no social distancing.

That was the announcement a few days ago from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden. Our ...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on Local Oil Pipeline Legislation

This week we acknowledge a step forward in the protection of Shelby County neighborhoods and our valuable water resources from oil pipelines and the potential damage they can spawn.

On Monday, the Shelby County Commission approved in the first of three rea...

Mayor Lee Harris' Update on the Shelby County Community Gardens

Last year, when we made the decision to reestablish the Shelby County Community Gardens, the coronavirus had not yet touched our community and social distancing was not even in our vocabulary.

The intent then was to provide a free outdoor space for residen...

Mayor Lee Harris’ update on Removing Barriers to Mental Health Care for Shelby County Residents

My administration’s work toward better mental health care outcomes for our community has taken another step forward.

On Monday the Shelby County Commission approved a contract with Alliance Healthcare Services, a mental healthcare provider, that ...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on the $1.4 billion Proposed Shelby County Budget

Earlier this week, I presented my third consolidated budget to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

I’m pleased to say that the $1.4 billion proposed budget contains no property tax increases, no cuts, gives a 1.5 percent pay raise to all ou...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on the Move with the Mayor Community Bike Ride

Last Friday was a beautiful day, perfect for riding a bike.

That’s what Assessor of Property Melvin Burgess and I did with dozens of our friends, colleagues and neighbors.

We led a safe, family-friend bike ride through Shelby Farms Park to kick of...

Mayor Lee Harris’ Update on the COVID-19 Community Council

More than a year into our battle with the coronavirus, we have all worked hard to reduce fatality and infection rates, to re-open businesses, and to return to our churches and family gatherings.

We’ve worked to emphasize best practices, like wear...