Whoa National Guard Troops going to Memphis

#176
#176
Vol8188 said:
I’m genuinely ignorant of this. Can you give me an example of legislation that does that? Or is it people trying to promote their specific district?
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I've been out for a few weeks but wanted to respond.

I'm not a big fan of govt providing incentives to businesses but if they do, they need to be applied consistently, fairly, and in accordance with law.

The State provides ECD grants for companies moving into the State and/or expanding. Counties are designated by Tiers. Tier 1 are well to do counties and get lower amounts while Tier 4 get higher amounts since they are poorer. Shelby (Memphis) is a Tier 3 county; however, the state will offer companies investing in Tier 1 counties in Middle TN (Montgomery, for example) 3x as much for the same exact project in Shelby.

Where this leads to an issue is if the state offers a company $20.2K to move to Montgomery County and $6.7K for the same job to move to Shelby, the locals have to offer enhanced local incentives to bridge this gap. Less local revenue = less cops.

This doesnt excuse the poor leadership from Memphis nor does it excuse the crime numbers. It does provide context for for some of the financial reasons why there isnt as many cops on the street as there should be.

All numbers from ECD database.
 
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#177
#177
McDad said:
It very well may be. There's a sliver of a chance that it gives the folks closest to violence hope things can improve with the right leadership.
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Been out so I wanted to respond.

I fully admit to being cynical but where was the Governor's crime concern when he approved having 6 of the 1200 state troopers stationed in all of SW TN. You read that right. 6 total.

Or the concern when he closed the state crime lab in Memphis. Or moved that crime lab 90 miles away and disproptionately underfunded and understaffed it. It is so understaffed, the locals have to take money out of the local budget and send forensic scientists 90 miles up the road to get crime kits processed sonetime within the decade.

As stated earlier, it doesnt excuse the leadership or the crime but provides context and the reason why most of us locally see it is a hollow gesture and a PR stunt...
 
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#178
#178
BigOrangeMojo said:
Been out so I wanted to respond.

I fully admit to being cynical but where was the Governor's crime concern when he approved having 6 of the 1200 state troopers stationed in all of SW TN. You read that right. 6 total.

Or the concern when he closed the state crime lab in Memphis. Or moved that crime lab 90 miles away and disproptionately underfunded and understaffed it. It is so understaffed, the locals have to take money out of the local budget and send forensic scientists 90 miles up the road to get crime kits processed sonetime within the decade.

As stated earlier, it doesnt excuse the leadership or the crime but provides context and the reason why most of us locally see it is a hollow gesture and a PR stunt...
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The answer is self evident, I think.

Votes. Governor is allocating resources into places he is getting votes. Either a D needs to be elected, or Shelby Co has to be purple for resources to be allocated to the area.
 
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#179
#179
McDad said:
The answer is self evident, I think.

Votes. Governor is allocating resources into places he is getting votes. Either a D needs to be elected, or Shelby Co has to be purple for resources to be allocated to the area.
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Yeah, 100%

I just find it really disingenuous to hear how he is all of a sudden concerned with crime and economic development in Memphis when this admin has 6 years of actions that are directly contrary.....

The cynic in me is they will flood the city full of resources in lower wintertime crime months, pull back those resources in higher crime summertime months, go back to willful disproportionate underfunding, and use that as a way to get the county under state or federal control....
 
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#180
#180
BigOrangeMojo said:
Yeah, 100%

I just find it really disingenuous to hear how he is all of a sudden concerned with crime and economic development in Memphis when this admin has 6 years of actions that are directly contrary.....

The cynic in me is they will flood the city full of resources in lower wintertime crime months, pull back those resources in higher crime months, go back to willful disproportionate underfunding, and use that as a way to get the county under state or federal control....
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I wouldn't put it past him. But from a political standpoint, this is a slam dunk. Get to appear tough on crime. Get to campaign on that.

The small sliver of optimism I am generating has nothing to do with politicians. I hope the people there will see improvement and realize they have a chance to change things for the better.
 
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#181
#181
McDad said:
I wouldn't put it past him. But from a political standpoint, this is a slam dunk. Get to appear tough on crime. Get to campaign on that.

The small sliver of optimism I am generating has nothing to do with politicians. I hope the people there will see improvement and realize they have a chance to change things for the better.
Click to expand...

I agree. We've seen immediate low double digit% decreases in crime going from 6 troopers for a 7 county region to a 40-50 trooper saturation in Shelby County. We've seen 80% reduction in interstate/highway shootings with just some nominal enforcement. This is still a disproportionate resource shortfall but immediate and noticeable results.

How many people have been victims of crime the last 6.5 years due to a willful and disproportionate neglect from the state? I go back to 6 troopers total in a 7 county area and state crime lab fiasco.

I hope it works. I hope you see a drastic reduction in crime. I hope a fair and proportionate amount of criminal and economic development resources stay and 6 months from now we arent back to the past 15 years of actions.....

I will repeat once again. In no ways am I defending the crime numbers or failures of Memphis leadership. I do think all sides and causes need to be discussed. Until citizens, local leadership, and state leadership want to pull in the same direction for an extended period of time, nothing will change foundationally...
 
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#182
#182
Heading eastbound on Walnut Grove just now. Passed by a portion of the westbound lanes completely shut down by an army of Shelby County Sheriffs.

10-15 blacked out Suburbans in line passed by. Followed by 6-7 white panel vans with blacked out windows. Followed by 4 or 5 more black SUVs with blue lights. Followed by another half dozen motorcycle troopers or sherrifs.

Somebody is here…
 
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#183
#183
85SugarVol said:
Heading eastbound on Walnut Grove just now. Passed by a portion of the westbound lanes completely shut down by an army of Shelby County Sheriffs.

10-15 blacked out Suburbans in line passed by. Followed by 6-7 white panel vans with blacked out windows. Followed by 4 or 5 more black SUVs with blue lights. Followed by another half dozen motorcycle troopers or sherrifs.

Somebody is here…
Click to expand...

We're on our way to the Pony...
 
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#191
#191
BigOrangeMojo said:
I've been out for a few weeks but wanted to respond.

I'm not a big fan of govt providing incentives to businesses but if they do, they need to be applied consistently, fairly, and in accordance with law.

The State provides ECD grants for companies moving into the State and/or expanding. Counties are designated by Tiers. Tier 1 are well to do counties and get lower amounts while Tier 4 get higher amounts since they are poorer. Shelby (Memphis) is a Tier 3 county; however, the state will offer companies investing in Tier 1 counties in Middle TN (Montgomery, for example) 3x as much for the same exact project in Shelby.

Where this leads to an issue is if the state offers a company $20.2K to move to Montgomery County and $6.7K for the same job to move to Shelby, the locals have to offer enhanced local incentives to bridge this gap. Less local revenue = less cops.

This doesnt excuse the poor leadership from Memphis nor does it excuse the crime numbers. It does provide context for for some of the financial reasons why there isnt as many cops on the street as there should be.

All numbers from ECD database.
Click to expand...
That's interesting to me. How are the tiers determined? Can you go into more detail or otherwise direct me to a source where I can look up this info?
 
#192
#192
KB5252 said:
That's interesting to me. How are the tiers determined? Can you go into more detail or otherwise direct me to a source where I can look up this info?
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Tiers are based on avg per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate. Shelby is a borderline 2/3.

Your 3s amd 4s are predominantly small rural counties. Your 1s are suburban counties.
 
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#194
#194
BigOrangeMojo said:
I agree. We've seen immediate low double digit% decreases in crime going from 6 troopers for a 7 county region to a 40-50 trooper saturation in Shelby County. We've seen 80% reduction in interstate/highway shootings with just some nominal enforcement. This is still a disproportionate resource shortfall but immediate and noticeable results.

How many people have been victims of crime the last 6.5 years due to a willful and disproportionate neglect from the state? I go back to 6 troopers total in a 7 county area and state crime lab fiasco.

I hope it works. I hope you see a drastic reduction in crime. I hope a fair and proportionate amount of criminal and economic development resources stay and 6 months from now we arent back to the past 15 years of actions.....

I will repeat once again. In no ways am I defending the crime numbers or failures of Memphis leadership. I do think all sides and causes need to be discussed. Until citizens, local leadership, and state leadership want to pull in the same direction for an extended period of time, nothing will change foundationally...
Click to expand...
State troopers have nothing to do with local crime. That’s a cop out excuse. Memphis’ problems is Memphis and its people. 100%
 
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#195
#195
Rickyvol77 said:
State troopers have nothing to do with local crime. That’s a cop out excuse. Memphis’ problems is Memphis and its people. 100%
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Absolutely they do. Local cops are being diverted to state highways. Every local cop on a state highway is one not in a high crime area. Drugs are huge cause of crime, and trooper saturation absolutely impacts trafficking of drugs. Double digit reduction in crime as result of most current saturation.

Not a coincidence that interstate shootings declined 80% during 2023 saturation.

But go ahead and defend 6 out of 1200 troopers in a 7 county region....

Gov Lee is sending 300 troopers. Guess he is blowing money since they dont impact crime...
 
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#196
#196
Things I learned today...

When the Highway Patrol seizes tens of millions of illegal drugs and illegal guns headed towards South Memphis, it does not impact crime....
 
#198
#198
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#199
#199
jvol1 said:

Is anyone else bothered by this? The only training troops can do in cities would be against citizens.
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Two thoughts.

1. We are spending a ton on military. We know we will never force defense to be financially efficient. Would be nice to get some ROI on that and to assist locals.

2. The federal overreach is really, really concerning.
 
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