Memphians' social media feeds were dominated by an unusual conversation last week — Mayor Paul Young bringing his frustrations with recent criticism online.
Ongoing citywide debates spilled onto social media, with Young, in a Sept. 16 rant, responding to online chatter calling him a "sellout."
"I have seen a number of misinformed, silly a** posts trying to paint me as a sellout the past few days. PY from Oakhaven wants to respond (because I have plenty to clap back with), but the God in me says to stay focused and keep doing the work," the post reads.
The next morning, Sept. 17, Young again took to Instagram to address the discourse about his performance.
"I really do hear you. I really do have the same concern," he can be heard saying in the story
post. "I love this city. I'm not trying to kill nobody."
Though Young was not explicit in what he was responding to, many are pointing to a post from local attorney Henry Reaves about the mayor's handling of SpaceXAI's data center in Southwest Memphis.
Reaves' Sept. 15 Facebook post said, "They just gave Westwood, Whitehaven and Boxtown to a racist junkie, who could care less if the residents live or die. Mayor Young is too b***h made to say anything about it."
The post spurred hundreds of comments, with community members continuing to weigh in on Young's stance on both data centers and the Memphis Safe Task Force extending into the weekend.
Key issues come to a head at City Council meetings
The Memphis City Council's Sept. 15 meeting was dominated by ongoing talks of a potential moratorium on data center development in the city.
Following weeks of discussion, the Council put a pause on moving forward with the total ban, but continued considering enacting specific parameters for data centers.
Community members spoke to the Council, some pointing out that SpaceXAI's data centers have been in Memphis for two and a half years with no previous city action.
Council members were divided on the issue, but many seemed to share the sentiment that Memphis could set an example for other cities facing similar choices.
“I think this is a pivot point for not only our city but for our country," Councilman Philip Spinosa Jr. said in a committee meeting.
Dozens of community members also showed up in protest of the recent ICE raids in Berclair where 121 people were detained. Advocates say the Aug. 30 raid was the largest in Memphis' history.
Many wore signs saying, "ICE took my neighbor" or "ICE out now" while sitting in the audience or giving public comment. Protestors asked the council for assistance supporting Memphis' immigrant communities and caring for the children that were left behind when their parents were detained. Some also asked for the council to publicly oppose ICE's operations in the city and with the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Several children whose parents were detained were also at the meeting. One young girl spoke to the Council directly, wearing a sign that read, "ICE took my mom," and telling members how much she missed her mother and what she would say to her if she could.
Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington had to repeatedly bang her gavel during the public comment portion of the meeting, quieting the chambers from applause and loud displays of support.
County commission elects new leadership
The newly sworn-in Shelby County Commission elected two Commissioners to lead them through the next year.
Shante Avant will continue as chairwoman of the Commission for the next year, with Henri Brooks taking the vice chair seat. Avant and Brooks are among the five Commissioners returning for another term, with eight new members joining them after the August election.
It took a few rounds of voting to elect Avant, and then Brooks, at the Sept. 14 regular meeting. Commissioners mostly voted along party lines, with the Republicans pushing for Commissioner Mark Billingsley, who served as Chairman of the board in 2019.
Both the chair and vice chair of the County Commission serve for one year at a time, leading the body's regular meetings and directing committee assignments.
The Commission also approved the salary of Avant, which is close to $37,000 for the year. Other Commissioners make about $35,000 a year.
Coming up
The Memphis City Council will next meet Oct. 6 at City Hall, 125 N. Main St. Meeting agendas for the Council's committee and regular meetings will be posted on the city's website closer to that date.
The Council is expected to continue discussing a possible ban on data center development, or more likely, regulations for the ones within city limits.
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Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Data centers, ICE raids dominate Memphis City Council, social media talk
