JB Smiley Jr.

@jbsmileyjr.bsky.social

Candidate for Shelby County Mayor| Councilman| Lawyer| AΦA | https://secure.ngpvan.com/2KpQ6IgorEWrIEj5AQW0eg2

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize why Republicans are suddenly taking aim at majority Black communities with their redistricting efforts. They see our participation in democracy as a threat to their power.

Democracy is a threat to a Republican Party more interested in securing power than the will of the people. Redistricting is an excuse for them to dilute all of our political power for the sake of their interests.

Tennessee’s radical Republican supermajority is trying to erase our 9th Congressional District and silence Shelby County. This is a power grab to dilute our voices and rig the map because they cannot win the people. We will not be erased. We must fight this.

There’s no excuse for maintaining the same old status quo anymore. We’ve seen where that gets us. We need change from the bottom up with leaders who understand what working families need and how to get them what they deserve. That’s the leader I promise to be.

When our communities are underfunded, people leave. If we want future generations to develop real roots in the places we’ve called home for so long, we have to invest in them every step of the way and give them a future worth fighting for.

We’re getting closer to Election Day, and closer than ever to charting a positive, pro-community future for Shelby County. I’m excited to hopefully win, and in doing so start doing the work that working families need to prosper.

Shelby county faces real threats to the wellbeing of the people who call it home from rising prices, underinvestment in critical resources, and more. If we don’t take bold action now, we may not be a community for us to come home to.

How can we expect our next generation to root themselves into our communities if we’re not investing in their schools and doing nothing to make housing affordable for when they finally step out on their own?

Far too often the profits from data center development fall into the hands of a few while the consequences of their operations—higher electricity costs and pollution—are borne by all of us. We can’t let Memphis be another example of that if we want to build a better future.

A month ago, the average cost of gas in Memphis was $2.58/gallon. Thanks to Trump and the GOP, it’s up to $3.90. This is what happens when you let people who only care about the donors lining their pockets into office. We deserve better.

We spend an unbelievable amount of time at our jobs. A huge part of most of our lives is spent working, so it’s only right that we all be able to organize for better pay and conditions in the places that time is spent. I want to be a leader who helps workers do just that.

No Kings protests and the continued mobilization of so many people in protests across the country are a sign of how ready this country is for a change in the status quo. Trump’s agenda has created nothing but hardship for Americans across the country.

Our small businesses have the chance to play a major role in the education of working folks throughout our communities. We have a chance to work with them and others to develop apprenticeships, fellowships, and on-the-job training roles that give people the skills they need to succeed in any market.

Our educators shouldn’t have to spend their already lower than deserved pay on classroom supplies and other resources for students. We should have an education system that is well funded enough to cover what our kids need in the classroom.

Republicans are perfectly comfortable with our food costs going up, our gas cost going through the roof, our housing costs becoming unaffordable, and every other cost that makes our lives harder continuing to increase, all while standing against any measures that would put more money in our pockets.

It’s our responsibility to build a safer Shelby County by treating public safety as a shared, countywide responsibility, one that breaks down artificial jurisdictional lines, upholds human dignity at every stage of the justice system, and replaces cycles of harm with pathways of stability.

Safe communities are stronger communities. We need to invest in ensuring our neighbors have their basic needs met, all while providing our law enforcement officials with the resources they need to tackle issues as they arise.

Access to preventative services such as annual wellness visits, screenings, immunizations, and basic chronic disease management are key to ensuring our communities stay healthy. Together, we can ensure that every community member has these services available when they need them.

Access to preventative services such as annual wellness visits, screenings, immunizations, and basic chronic disease management are key to ensuring our communities stay healthy. Together, we can ensure that every community member has these services available when they need them.