FAST FACTS:
(MEMPHIS, TN 2/10/2010) The streets are starting to look like the face of an adolescent with acne.
Spreading all over the city, the chunks of pavement are starting to take big chunks out of people's pockets.
The other night, Tameka Sledge of Olive Branch, decided to drive home using a different route. "I drove down Riverdale," she said,"...and the reason why was because there are so many potholes on Hacks Cross." It was about 11 o'clock, at the corner of Shelby and Riverdale, when Tameka met the Big Poppa of potholes. "The hole was so big," she said, " I swear I could sit in it, it was so big." She hit it, and her front tire was slashed. "When I hit it, I knew I was in trouble."
The city of Memphis gets potholes every year, and every year they have to repair them. It's almost a source of pride for the Department of Public Works. DPW officials say call if you call the Pothole Hotline before noon they'll have that pothole repaired before the end of the day. Those days might be coming to an end.
Memphis is just like most major cities in this country. Memphis is like most of us. The financial spanking that the economy took last year is still affecting the way things operate. Memphis City Government is in the process of cutting at least $10-million dollars and probably more. "Worst case scenario," according to Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, " I'll have to get rid of 500 employees. Now don't worry, the pink slips aren't going out in the mail, but I have to be honest. This is a consideration."
If that many employees go, services will be affected. "We pride ourselves on getting those potholes repaired the same day," Mayor Wharton said. "If we have to layoff people it may take several days to repair that hole."
City Councilman Bill Boyd is on the budget committee. "It's going to be a tough one," the 30 year veteran in government said. "I know this isn't very popular," he said, "...but I would be in favor of raising property taxes to avoid laying off workers and affecting city services. Things like potholes and picking up trash."
All of this talk doesn't do Tameka Sledge much good. She's going to have to replace a tire on her car, and that will probably cost close to $500. She can send a claim in to the City of Memphis, but in past years, there haven't been any claims paid because the accidents were reported before the city was notified of the pothole.
"Of course I'm angry," Sledge said. "I go out of my way to try and avoid hitting potholes and I end up wrecking my car simply because the city can't fix things and all their streets are messed up with potholes."
- Memphis Public Works says they are swamped with pothole complaints
- Pothole hotline for Memphis is 528-2911
- Memphis City Attorney Number is 576-6614
(MEMPHIS, TN 2/10/2010) The streets are starting to look like the face of an adolescent with acne.
Spreading all over the city, the chunks of pavement are starting to take big chunks out of people's pockets.
The other night, Tameka Sledge of Olive Branch, decided to drive home using a different route. "I drove down Riverdale," she said,"...and the reason why was because there are so many potholes on Hacks Cross." It was about 11 o'clock, at the corner of Shelby and Riverdale, when Tameka met the Big Poppa of potholes. "The hole was so big," she said, " I swear I could sit in it, it was so big." She hit it, and her front tire was slashed. "When I hit it, I knew I was in trouble."
The city of Memphis gets potholes every year, and every year they have to repair them. It's almost a source of pride for the Department of Public Works. DPW officials say call if you call the Pothole Hotline before noon they'll have that pothole repaired before the end of the day. Those days might be coming to an end.
Memphis is just like most major cities in this country. Memphis is like most of us. The financial spanking that the economy took last year is still affecting the way things operate. Memphis City Government is in the process of cutting at least $10-million dollars and probably more. "Worst case scenario," according to Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, " I'll have to get rid of 500 employees. Now don't worry, the pink slips aren't going out in the mail, but I have to be honest. This is a consideration."
If that many employees go, services will be affected. "We pride ourselves on getting those potholes repaired the same day," Mayor Wharton said. "If we have to layoff people it may take several days to repair that hole."
City Councilman Bill Boyd is on the budget committee. "It's going to be a tough one," the 30 year veteran in government said. "I know this isn't very popular," he said, "...but I would be in favor of raising property taxes to avoid laying off workers and affecting city services. Things like potholes and picking up trash."
All of this talk doesn't do Tameka Sledge much good. She's going to have to replace a tire on her car, and that will probably cost close to $500. She can send a claim in to the City of Memphis, but in past years, there haven't been any claims paid because the accidents were reported before the city was notified of the pothole.
"Of course I'm angry," Sledge said. "I go out of my way to try and avoid hitting potholes and I end up wrecking my car simply because the city can't fix things and all their streets are messed up with potholes."
