‘He needs to be our voice’: Attorney criticizes Memphis mayor’s leadership
by: Raven Copeland
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor Paul Young sounded off on social media, amid online criticism over his leadership role.
As Mayor Young promises to keep doing the work, Attorney Henry Reaves III is calling on him to do more.
That attorney told WREG about the changes he’d like to see from the Mayor.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young did not mince words in a social media post today, following criticism from Attorney Henry Reaves III over his leadership.
In multiple social media posts, Attorney Reaves, who lives in Westwood, criticized Mayor Young over his handling of SpaceXAI’s data centers in Boxtown and Whitehaven.
“I’ve never said that he has the complete power to stop it. And it’s his fault that they’re here. You know, I know for a fact that these plans have been in motion, you know, for quite some time,” said Henry E. Reaves III, Attorney and Founder, Reaves Law Firm, PLLC. “He needs to be our voice, not the voice of Elon and whoever else. He needs to be our voice, and he needs to address the seriousness of our current situation and time here in America.”
Mayor Young responded in an Instagram post, saying in part quote, ‘I have seen a number of misinformed, silly a** posts trying to paint me as a sellout. PY from Oakhaven wants to respond (because I have plenty to clapback with).”
In the post, the Mayor said he’ll remain focused and continue to work for the City of Memphis; however, Attorney Reaves says he wants to see more action from Mayor Young.
“Just an unwillingness to fight. I would never, ever hold him accountable if he lost the fight that he fought for. I would just love for you to fight for the people of Memphis,” said Reaves III.
Attorney Reaves and Mayor Young did have a phone call Wednesday, which the attorney says was a positive and productive conversation.
“The thing that I do want to say is Paul Young is a bright, educated, you know, Black man, family man. And so, I’m not saying that he’s dumb or anything like that,” said Reaves III. “My post really came from a cry for help. It came from a place of desperation. I desperately want a Mayor who cares enough about the poor folk and the middle class to fight for.”
Mayor Young has not made any additional posts about the matter, and when WREG asked the Mayor’s office for additional comments, we did not receive any.
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