Memphis is my home and I believe deeply in its future. I know the challenges our city faces, but I also know the incredible potential that exists when we work together to make Memphis safer, stronger and more prosperous.
Our city is home to hardworking families, world-class institutions, thriving businesses and neighborhoods filled with people who want what families across Tennessee want: strong schools, safe communities and confidence in the institutions entrusted to serve them.
Memphis is also an economic and cultural engine for our state. Greater Memphis represents a more than $100 billion regional economy and serves as one of the nation’s most important transportation and logistics hubs, connecting Tennessee to markets around the world.
What happens in Memphis matters far beyond Shelby County. When Memphis grows stronger, safer and more prosperous, all of Tennessee benefits. And today, there are encouraging signs that Memphis is moving in the right direction.
Since being elected to the General Assembly, I have worked with my Republican colleagues to build on that momentum and help Memphis reach its full potential. That work has centered on three priorities essential to our success: better educational outcomes, safer communities and greater accountability.
Improving education
Every child in Memphis deserves access to a quality education and the opportunity to build a successful future, regardless of their ZIP code.
This year, we passed a new law creating an oversight process to improve outcomes in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. An independent oversight board will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and develop a transformation plan with measurable academic and operational goals.
Progress must also be reported annually, giving parents and taxpayers greater transparency into what is working and where improvement is still needed.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools operates within a nearly $2 billion budget. We have an opportunity to ensure those significant resources are being used effectively to help more students learn, succeed and graduate prepared for what comes next.
Building safer communities
For Memphis to reach its full potential, families must also feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. Here, we are already seeing encouraging progress.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has brought federal, state and local law enforcement together to target violent offenders, clear outstanding warrants and remove illegal firearms from our streets. Since the operation began, the task force has made more than 12,000 arrests, including 122 for homicide and more than 1,200 known gang members, while seizing more than 2,000 illegal firearms. Most importantly, Memphians are seeing significant progress. Overall, major crime was down 36% through the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. In the second quarter alone, murders fell 60%, robberies declined 38% and aggravated assaults dropped 30%.
Those numbers give us real reason for hope. They mean fewer families victimized by crime, fewer illegal guns in our neighborhoods and more Memphians able to feel secure in the communities they call home.
We are building on that progress through the Violent Criminal Court Act, which creates two additional criminal courts in Shelby County dedicated to serious violent offenses. The new courts provide additional judges and courtroom capacity so these cases can move through the justice system more efficiently.
The goal is simple: law enforcement should have the resources to make our streets safer and our courts should have the capacity to see those cases through.
Strengthening accountability
Lasting progress also requires accountability at every stage of the criminal justice system.
That is why I sponsored and passed the Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act this year. The law requires the district attorney to report when certain felony cases resulting from the task force end in a plea agreement, reduced charge, dismissal or decision not to prosecute.
Simply put, when law enforcement takes a dangerous offender off the street, Memphians deserve transparency about what happens next.
This law gives state and federal officials a clearer picture of how these cases move through the justice system and helps ensure our progress on the streets is supported by accountability throughout the process.
These efforts are about more than individual policies. Together, they are helping lay the foundation for the Memphis we know is possible.
Better schools give our children greater opportunity. Safer neighborhoods give families confidence to put down roots and businesses confidence to invest. Greater accountability strengthens trust in the institutions meant to serve us.
There is real reason to be optimistic about Memphis. We are seeing progress; we are building momentum and we have an opportunity to write an exciting new chapter for our city.
I believe deeply in Memphis and its future. I will continue fighting for the schools our children deserve, the safe neighborhoods our families deserve and the opportunity for every Memphian to thrive.
Memphis is worth fighting for. Its future is worth fighting for.
When Memphis wins, Tennessee wins.
Rep. Gillespie represents District 97, which includes part of Shelby County.
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