MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor Paul Young delivered the State of the City address Thursday night, reporting strides in the fight against crime and announcing the efforts of his first year in office.

“We want to celebrate our city. We can not ignore the people that are dying in our community,” Young said.

Two people were killed and another three critically injured Wednesday after a shooting in Soulsville — Young took a moment in his address to ackowledge the lives lost and injured.

“While crime is an important story — it is — I want us to get to a place where we are focusing on something else, we’re focusing on what’s next,” Young said.

Young said that next step is already being achieved, as his administration exceeds its 2024 goal of a 10% reduction in crime. He said it’s down a total of 13%, with motor vehicle thefts down 39%, murder down 29% and violent crimes down 19%.

Young said the reductions were made possible through Memphis Police initiatives like Operation Code Zero, Saturday Night Live and, in Quarter 4, Young says “MPD launched a 90-day pilot to address fugitives leading to 838 fugitive arrests and the clearing of 1,000 warrants.”

Despite recent crime, Young said the city is entering the “Era of Yes.”

He announced two new departments, the Office of Creative and Cultural Economy and the Joint Office of neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

“Yes to the things that are going to positively impact our community; innovation, growth, investments, jobs, education. all of the things we know are needed in this community,” Young said. “As we move forward, we plan to call on every leader in our community to lay down their differences and pick up this common cause for our community.”

Young’s administration says its ongoing battle with blight is making strides. he says Operation Blight Zero and Strike Teams help reduce the number of rundown structures, cleaning up lots and looking at ways to hold people accountable.

“The next step for us is to continue to do that work, but also look out for legal strategies to hold those property owners accountable and go after them if their not going right by the community,” he said.

On transit, Young says the next City Council meeting we can expect to hear a request for an extended pause in funding.

The goal is to see how much money is needed until the end of the year, and looking at MATA’s next fiscal season.