Nearly 1,000 people have signed a petition seeking the de-annexation of Cordova from the City of Memphis, citing the city’s struggles with crime, poverty, and road maintenance as key motivators for the effort.
Anonymously created, the change.org petition argues Cordova has experienced “a downward spiral” since it was annexed by Memphis in 2012, with “an alarming increase in crime rates and a significant drop in home values,” as well as schools left “suffering” without “essential services,” and “pothole-ridden roads” depressing economic activity.
“The annexation was driven by greed for tax revenue from Wolfchase and Germantown Parkway rather than genuine concern for the welfare of Cordova’s residents,” the petition argues. “This lack of focus on our needs from Memphis is evident as we watch our beloved town deteriorate into what’s now derogatorily referred to as ‘Dirty Dova.'”
Containing 975 signatures at press time, the petition also contains two videos from two supporters, who offered their own reasons for backing the de-annexation effort.
“I think this would be very, very beneficial for our community to grow,” said one supporter. “For us to be our own little town, this would be really beneficial to us, despite what others may think.”
The petition, reportedly started in August, comes after the citizens of South Cordova and the surrounding area successfully petitioned to de-annex their communities in 2019.
That process ultimately concluded in 2021, with the neighborhoods of South Cordova, Southwind-Windyke, and Rocky Point removed from the Memphis city limits, with Fox 13 Memphis reporting at the time that many residents said the loss of city services was “worth it.”
According to that outlet, Memphis lost around 4,200 people, 1,806 homes, and roughly 2.3 acres of land after the three neighborhoods reversed the annexation. While Cordova was annexed by Memphis in 2012, the city in 2016 began allowing annexed communities to petition to have annexation reversed.
The Tennessee Star attempted to reach the organizers of the petition, but did not receive a response prior to press time.
Crime in Memphis is down slightly in 2024, but the city continues to lead the nations in multiple categories of criminality, despite Mayor Paul Young meeting with gang members and pledging to address crime immediately upon taking office.
Memphis saw more killings per capita than any other American city in 2023, even when compared to other cities with reputations for violent crime, including Baltimore, Detroit, and New Orleans.
Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) has pledged to direct statewide attention to the city’s battle with crime through his Make Memphis Matter initiative, and recently told The Michael Patrick Leahy Show that crime will result in the “hollowing out” of the city without intervention.
“We had 400 murders in 2023. Crime is just out of control. If we’re not careful and if we don’t get crime under control, we’re going to witness the hollowing out of Memphis,” said Taylor.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Cordova Community Center” by Thomas R Machnitzki. CC BY-SA 3.0.
