Memphian distressed about considerable tire dumping in South Memphis
In the heart of South Memphis, resident Maurice Benard Dickinson voiced concerns repeatedly about an excessive tire dumping issue and how it’s negatively impacting his neighborhood.
Neighborhood Neglected Amidst the Blight
He stated that his community has become the breeding ground for hundreds, if not thousands, of discarded tires. These are being dumped on a property near his residence, situated on the bustling street of South Third Street.
According to Dickinson, no less than 500 tires have been mindlessly discarded at this property, turning the area into a dystopian dumpsite. In an effort to control the growing problem, he has taken upon himself the task of trimming the property’s overgrowth, which he believes serves as a haven for pests and could potentially endanger the health and safety of local residents.
“It’s a problem to me because snakes and stuff are coming out. I’m just asking the city to just, you know, take care of it,” said a distressed Dickinson.
The Silent Echo of Unanswered Calls
Dickinson lamented the lack of a professional response in the matter from the city. He confessed that he had tried to contact local authorities by dialing the city’s helpline, 311, multiple times over the past few months. However, the only response he received was a cryptic note left on his door, failing to offer a sustainable solution or even an acknowledgement of the problem at hand.
As per the records of the Memphis 311 map, the latest complaint regarding the property’s deteriorating condition was lodged on August 23rd, 2023. Documentation reveals that the location was subsequently identified as noncompliant merely two days later. Furthermore, it came to light that the city’s last effort to clean up the mess was in October 2023.
Incessant Ignorance Breeds Unsolved Problems
Intriguingly, the map also sheds light on approximately 512 unresolved 311 complaints sprawled across the city. These complaints rapport the undesirable state of both occupied and vacant properties plagued with messy yards or excessive weed growth.
While the relentless tire dumping issue continues unabated, residents like Maurice Dickinson anxiously anticipate a more proactive response from city officials. The longer this problem persists, the longer the residents of South Memphis will have to endure the adverse effects of such ecological negligence.
This situation is urgently calling for an efficient collaborative effort between the local community and the city’s administration to ensure the restoration of this famous Memphis neighborhood.
