City considers increasing sidewalk repair assistance after Problem Solvers investigation - WREG NewsChannel 3

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George Thompson paid astir $3,000 to repair sidewalks successful beforehand of his location connected North Parkway aft the metropolis threatened to enactment a lien connected the property. He called… George Thompson paid astir $3,000 to repair sidewalks successful beforehand of his location connected North Parkway aft the metropolis threatened to enactment a lien connected the property. He called the WREG Problem Solvers.

by: Stacy Jacobson

Posted: Oct 11, 2022 / 05:13 PM CDT

Updated: Oct 11, 2022 / 05:13 PM CDT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis metropolis councilmember has projected expanding backing and expanding eligibility for sidewalk assistance wealth aft a WREG Problem Solvers investigation identified issues with the program.

Marilyn Parker did not suffice for the program, though she said it took her years to prevention up to get caller sidewalks extracurricular her South Memphis home.

“I deliberation it was similar $4,000 oregon 5,000,” she said.

The Problem Solvers probe recovered her zip code, 38106, had the astir sidewalk citations successful the past 3 years portion besides having a poorness complaint of much than 40 percent.

When asked astir the citation argumentation that could crook into a lien against a home, metropolis officials pointed to their assistance program.

But the programme mostly applied to those with a household income of $25,000 oregon less.

“It got maine to refocus connected thing I had looked astatine and privation present to tackle,” Councilmember Chase Carlisle said of the story.

Carlisle present wants to marque changes to grow sidewalk repair assistance. He projected the metropolis supply an further $500,000 and grow eligibility to radical who marque up to 60 percent of the area’s median income.

“From a pedestrian information standpoint, curb appeal, vicinity stabilization/revitalization, those are each things that are important arsenic a city,” Carlisle said.

He said determination are inactive details to robust retired similar who would bash the work, however overmuch each household could get and what neighborhoods volition beryllium eligible.

He does cognize it would beryllium a measurement toward a bigger goal.

“We don’t speech astir however important it is that we stabilize these neighborhoods truthful our metropolis authorities has a thriving taxation basal and budget. That’s precise important and is however we money and wage for basal services,” Carlisle said.

The solution passed successful assembly committees Tuesday and volition spell earlier the afloat assembly adjacent week. After that, the mayor’s medication would person to follow the proposal successful the yearly budget.

► Got a problem? Contact WREG Problem Solver Stacy Jacobson astatine 901-543-2334 oregon stacy.jacobson@wreg.com