Cutting the Ribbon at the New Tom Lee Park
September 8, 2023 |
Dear Friend, Last Saturday, I participated in the ribbon cutting for the new Tom Lee Park on the riverfront for which I secured $3 million in federal Community Project funding. I recommend a visit to this newly updated and magnificent city amenity. This week, I conducted a press conference to discuss Community Funding projects that Christian Brothers University is leading in Binghampton and Orange Mound for which I secured funding, and then made site visits to those projects. I also announced $2.3 million for local Head Start programs, welcomed President Biden’s disaster declaration for damage done in the July storms, followed the negotiations to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown, remembered former United Nations Ambassador and hostage negotiator Bill Richardson, invited middle and high school students to register for the Congressional App Challenge, and offered a health tip. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram (and soon on Threads) to see what I am doing as it happens. Cutting the Ribbon at the New Tom Lee Park Announcing $2.3 Million in Head Start Funding for Shelby County Welcoming Presidential Disaster Declaration for July 18-21 Storms Monitoring End-of-Year Spending Negotiations to Avoid a Government Shutdown Registering for the Congressional App Challenge Cutting the Ribbon at the New Tom Lee Park Courtesy of The Commercial Appeal Last Saturday, September 2, was a glorious day for Memphians as we cut the ribbon to the newly renovated Tom Lee Park. I requested $3 million for the Community Funding Project and was pleased when it was included in an Omnibus spending package in March of 2022. The renovations completely transform the riverfront park with amenities the whole community can enjoy. Beyond all that, it’s simply beautiful. I urge everyone to check it out. Showcasing Targeted Federal Spending on Christian Brothers University’s Outreach to Binghampton and Orange Mound On Wednesday, I held a press conference at Christian Brothers University (CBU) to showcase the Community Funding Project funding I secured for its outreach to the Binghampton and Orange Mound communities. I then toured the Carpenter Art Garden in Binghampton to see the work being done for the area’s children and then toured the Landmark Training and Redevelopment Company in Orange Mound to see its successful effort to feed the community with produce from its urban gardens. The federal funding CBU is investing in these underserved communities is paying big dividends and making a real difference. Announcing $2.3 Million in Head Start Funding for Shelby County Also Wednesday, I announced that the Shelby County Board of Education will receive $2,386,144 to operate its Head Start programs. See my release here. Welcoming Presidential Disaster Declaration for July 18-21 Storms On Tuesday, I announced that President Biden declared a Major Disaster following severe storms and straight-line winds in Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, and Henry counties, triggering the availability of federal assistance. See my release here. Monitoring End-of-Year Spending Negotiations to Avoid a Government Shutdown The House of Representatives will reconvene Tuesday with the goal of funding the federal government by our September 30 deadline to avoid a shutdown. There is a lot of irresponsible brinksmanship in the air and untenable proposals from a small group of unrealistic Republican partisans. I’m hopeful cooler heads will prevail. The path forward is unclear, but the effects of a shutdown would be disastrous. I will keep you apprised of progress as it happens. As the Special Representative for Political Prisoners for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, I am keenly aware of, and working to end, the unlawful detention of hostages in autocratic countries. That makes me especially appreciative of the hostage negotiations conducted by former New Mexico Governor and United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson that freed so many who were unlawfully detained. Our country owes him a debt of gratitude. On his passing, I released this statement. Registering for the Congressional App Challenge The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging students to learn how to code by creating their own apps. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. The Congressional App Challenge is open to middle school and high school students in the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee. Students participating in the competition may register and submit their app here through November 1, 2023. For complete registration information and resources, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website here. The Shelby County Health Department continues to spray to control mosquito populations after mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus were detected in 36 ZIP codes in our community. Five cases of the virus have been reported in humans so far this year. The health department advises that people with asthma or other lung conditions may want to stay indoors at the time truck-mounted sprayers are working. See SCHD’s guidance, including details about where the virus has been found and a schedule of spraying locations, here. “Democracy flourishes when people have access to reliable information. Today, we’re experiencing a crisis in news and information. As local newsrooms have disappeared across America, communities have witnessed fading civic engagement, eroding social bonds, surging misinformation, a dwindling governmental accountability. That’s why a coalition of funders is taking action.” – From the $500 million “Press Forward” initiative announced Thursday to strengthen local news. As always, I remain. Steve Cohen |