Van Turner
Learn more about my campaign here
My Blueprint for Change
Youth
How would you create more things for youth to do - including jobs and safe educational, fun places? Please be specific.
Summer Jobs Program - Work in coordination with schools and communities to ensure ALL our young people have a Clear pathway to employment.
Youth Apprenticeship Program - partner with union apprenticeship programs to ensure youth in our city are exposed to paths to high wage jobs. In collaboration with local schools, universities, labor organizations, and justice agencies,
Re-engagement Center - open a “Re-engagement Center” particularly tailored to draw in young people ages 16-24 who are not working or in school (opportunity youth).
Mayor’s Youth Commission - As mayor, I will create a youth commission to hear directly from young people
Careers
What do you believe is the appropriate local investment in post-secondary training, internship and apprenticeship opportunities?
At the crux of my campaign is a promise to Memphians that we need to prevent crime before it even starts. That means investing in our young people outside of the traditional public education system, including the items you’ve outlined. As mayor, I have two main functions that work in tandem. First, the bully pulpit -- which allows me to relentlessly advocate for this issue and draw in private partners like yourself that want to collaborate in private-public partnerships. Second, funds. As mayor, I will support the public-side of these private-public partnerships that are critical. As an example, I am proud to be supported by the Memphis Labor Council and will be outspoken about the great work they are doing to ensure our young people have a pathway to a good-paying job that doesn’t require a degree. I’ll also look to technology to ensure that we are working with groups on jobs that will only increase with importance in the coming decades.
Wages
How would you impact wages or working conditions for Memphians, especially young adults?
It is extremely frustrating that the state has refused to heed the calls of so many to raise the minimum wage. As mayor, I can and will advocate to the State Legislature and the Governor to raise it, but I know that it is unlikely our calls are headed.
But as an attorney who’s represented numerous employees who’ve faced discrimination, I know this challenge first hand to ensure safe working conditions. We can work with law enforcement and the DA, who I am proud to have the endorsement of, to vigorously go after wage theft employers, who prey on the young.
Predatory Practices
How would you address companies that take advantage of poor people, for example slumlords and predatory financing companies?
Many times, these individuals and entities are technically in compliance with the law, which makes them particularly difficult to go after — despite their clear predatory nature. As mayor, I would work creatively to tackle this issue, like exploring expanded housing protections for low income tenants. And there are some grounds to undertake this tactic. The Supreme Court held in Gladstone, Realtors v. Village of Bellwood that a municipality can sue for its own injuries that result from Fair Housing Act violations. I would direct the city attorney to look for ways to break novel legal ground to address these issues.
