MY TURN: Taking Back Our Neighborhoods - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith

MY TURN: Taking Back Our Neighborhoods

Posted: Updated:
WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith
  • News on WMCTV.comNews

  • Sunday, May 19 2013 11:46 PM EDT2013-05-20 03:46:55 GMT
    (WMC-TV) Two people are dead and two others are wounded after a shooting at 2323 Ketchum Road, according to police.Three victims were transported to The MED by ambulance, and one other by private vehicle.Two
    Two people are dead and two others are wounded after a shooting at 2323 Ketchum Road, according to police.
  • Sunday, May 19 2013 11:38 PM EDT2013-05-20 03:38:31 GMT
    (WMC-TV) - 18-year-old Antwion Dowdy is in custody in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old outside a graduation party in Memphis.Dowdy is charged with first-degree murder. Police say 15-year-old
    (WMC-TV) - 18-year-old Antwion Dowdy is in custody in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old outside a graduation party in Memphis.Dowdy is charged with first-degree murder. Police say 15-year-old
  • Sunday, May 19 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-20 03:18:09 GMT
    (WMC-TV) The San Antonio Spurs suffocated the Memphis Grizzlies, 105-83, in San Antonio.The Spurs neutralized forward Zach Randolph (2 pts, 7 reb) and shot 14 of 29 from beyond the arcCopyright 2013 WMC-TV
    The Grizzlies fell to the Spurs 105-83 in game one of the Western Conference Finals.
MEMPHIS, TN -

Urban blight has been a prime focus of our "Taking Back Our Neighborhoods" project since it began almost four years ago, so we were thrilled to hear this week that Mayor A C Wharton has launched a campaign to fight blight in the city of Memphis.  

I think you'll be hard pressed to find anybody who doesn't think that's a good idea, except of course the owners of these dilapidated houses. In many cases, these are people who live in other states or suburban Shelby County. Wharton's comment to the absentee landlords was direct. He warned them that "if it's not good enough for you where you live, it's not good enough for the city of Memphis."

The mayor's attorney said their next target will be the banks that own foreclosed properties in the city. This all sounds great Mayor Wharton, but please don't stop there. There are a number of large commercial real estate properties that should also be on your list of prime targets.

That's my turn. Now it's your turn. To comment on this segment or anything else, email yourturn@wmctv.com or call 800-465-1210.