M. LaTroy A-Williams - Let's Talk!
M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams on Memphis’ Economy and His Plans:
- Memphis’ Decline and Potential:
- Memphis was once the 6th largest city in the U.S., now around 14th to 18th.
- Believes Memphis has potential to be 3rd or 4th largest due to its central location.
- Economic Development Plans:
- Mud Island International Trade Center:
- Create 80,000 new jobs paying $35 to $350 per hour.
- Attract global businesses to Memphis.
- President Island Green Jobs Operation:
- Inspired by Obama’s $4 trillion green jobs initiative.
- Focus on energy, wind, and other green technologies.
- Potential for jobs paying $50 to $500 per hour.
- Transit System Development:
- Sees potential for growth and job creation.
- Mud Island International Trade Center:
- Challenges to Growth:
- Lack of sophistication in local leadership.
- Resistance from “good old boy network” fearing competition.
- Racial fears and economic disparities.
- Proposed Solutions:
- Round table discussions with diverse participants from Memphis and beyond.
- Encourage competition among shipping companies (FedEx, DHL, UPS, USPS).
- Strong congressional leadership representing Memphis’ interests.
- Criticism of Current Leadership:
- Claims Memphis has been on a “trickle-down theory” for 18 years.
- Argues for a “trickle-up theory” approach.
- Criticizes the current congressman for ineffective representation.
- Call for New Leadership:
- Emphasizes need for representatives who understand and reflect the community.
- Argues against sending unprepared individuals to face tough business interests.
- Positions himself as the “tiger” needed to deal with “lions” controlling the city and state.
Alexandria-Williams presents himself as a candidate with fresh ideas and the necessary toughness to bring about economic change in Memphis, focusing on large-scale development projects and addressing racial and economic disparities.
Economic Development Plans
Mud Island International Trade Center
M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams proposes transforming Mud Island into an international trade hub, potentially creating 80,000 new jobs with wages ranging from $35 to $350 per hour and attracting global businesses to Memphis.
President Island Green Jobs Operation
Inspired by Obama's $4 trillion green jobs initiative, Alexandria-Williams envisions turning President Island into a green jobs center focusing on energy, wind, and other green technologies, with potential jobs paying $50 to $500 per hour.
Transit System Development
Alexandria-Williams sees significant potential for growth and job creation through the development of Memphis' transit system.
For Memphis to Grow, Steve Cohen Must Go!
For Memphis to grow, Steve Cohen must go! The city's economic performance has been lagging behind other major Tennessee metros, with Memphis falling 40 spots to #175 out of 200 large cities in the Milken Institute's 2024 Best-Performing Large Cities report. Despite some recent investments, including St. Jude's expansion and Ford's Blue Oval City project, Memphis continues to struggle with high poverty rates and economic disparities. M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams argues that Memphis has declined from being the 6th largest city in the United States to around the 14th or 18th largest today, indicating a lack of effective growth and development under current leadership. He criticizes the "trickle-down theory" approach that has been in place for the last 18 years, coinciding with Cohen's tenure in Congress. Alexandria-Williams advocates for a "trickle-up theory" and emphasizes the need for new leadership with fresh ideas and concepts to make Memphis grow, suggesting that Cohen's representation has not adequately addressed the city's economic challenges or leveraged its potential as a centrally located distribution hub.
