A viral TikTok highlights Memphis' persistent problems with potholes
The city of Memphis got dragged in the comments Wednesday after the city attempted to rebut a viral TikTok that highlighted Memphis' persistent problems with potholes.
The TikTok, posted by Traynor Jennings III, showed Jennings standing waist-deep in what he called a pothole but the city described as erosion from a damaged underground waterline.
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"Hey, City of Memphis, there are holes like this everywhere," Jennings said.
The TikTok has been viewed about 3 million times, putting the potholes that are ubiquitous throughout Memphis in the harsh glare of the viral spotlight.
@traynorjennings City of Memphis, we need these massive holds repaired! #roads #taxes #memphis ♬ original sound - traynorjennings
The city of Memphis did not take kindly to Jennings' TikTok and offered a rebuttal Wednesday afternoon.
"This [TikTok] may be funny to watch but was unwise to remove the metal plate and place yourself into the cavity of washed away soil in the middle of the street. Your best bet is to call 311 and report road damage and potholes, " the city said.
But that's not the case, said Jennings. He took to Facebook and the radio-show circuit to push back on the city's claim that he moved a steel plate that likely weigh hundreds of pounds.
"Hey City of Memphis, if you want accurate clarification, please reach out to me. I’m strong but I can’t move a massive plate...," Jennings wrote. "I do not appreciate you falsely accusing me of moving a plate. That is unacceptable. Someone that wrote this article has no idea of the facts. I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was trying to say “hey Memphis the hole needs to be fixed because calling 311 did not get the hole fixed.”
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The city later amended its post and removed the reference to moving the metal plate. A four-foot by four-foot steel plate weighs about 652 pounds, according to onlinemetals.com.
In its post, the city also touted its investments in paving. According to the city's paving map, the stretch of Waring Road in question is going to be paved in 2023.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, in an interview with WREG, apologized to Jennings for the city's comments about moving the plate.
"The city was wrong for that assertion. That has been removed. I take full responsibility for mistakes made by the city and I do apologize to him,” said Strickland.
Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Doees Memphis have a pothole problem? Viral TikTok highlights issue
