MEMPHIS, Tenn. — State Representative Joe Towns is asking Mayor Jim Strickland to use every tool to fight de-annexation.
During a press conference outside City Hall, community leaders said it seems Memphis is being targeted and picked on.
Towns said if this does happen, property taxes would go up significantly for businesses and homeowners.
Lawmakers are asking the state to delay a vote on de-annexation.
If passed, the state bill would allow residents in six Tennessee cities including Memphis to vote to de-annex their communities if their city absorbed them in 1998.
Towns and people who live in the areas that could be impacted are asking everyone to think about the consequences.
“We’re also asking the governor. The governor needs to veto this thing. This thing needs to be vetoed at some particular point,” said Towns.
“Bottom line is if Memphis doesn’t survive, they don’t survive and that’s how I feel about it. I’m against it because of the city of Memphis; most of these people work in Memphis,” said Guy Bloom, a resident.
WREG spoke with Senator Reginald Tate over the phone.
Tate said he supported the original version of the bill asking only Southwind and Wyndyke be annexed.
He later changed his mind when he learned other areas would be affected as well.
Tate told WREG he did not know other areas would be impacted at the time and says the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.
Senator Lee Harris says he asked the State Attorney General’s office for its thoughts about the topic.
The bill passed the House Monday.
It could go before the Senate as early as Monday.
