Sunday, August 12, 2007

Kane Ditto: Crime Fighter Extraordinaire. NOT!

(Click on chart to enlarge)

One of the main arguments you hear in support of John Ditto is that his father served two terms as Mayor of Jackson. The major issue facing Jackson right now is the crime epidemic. However, if one is supposed to support Mr. Ditto because of his father's service, one must ask what exactly was Mayor Kane Ditto's record on fighting crime? The above chart (click on chart to enlarge) is a compilation of crime statistics since 1981. Mayor Ditto's term was from 1989 to 1997 when he was defeated by Harvey Johnson.

As shown in the chart, crime skyrocketed under Mayor Ditto's watch, including the highest number of homicides ever recorded in Jackson in a single year and then decreased during Mayor Johnson's term.

Homicides went from 40 reported cases in 1989 to 91 in 1994, never falling below 60 a year until after his term was completed. Auto theft shot up from 1,080 reported cases in 1989 to 4,952 in 1994. After 1992, the number of reported cases of auto theft was at a minimum of 3200 was at least 3,269 a year. Before Mayor Ditto's term, there was never more than a thousand reported cases of auto theft in a single year. Larceny, along with other categories, skyrocketed as well and stayed at a high level for the remainder of his term. There was some improvement in crime during at the end of his term, which coincided with the service of Police Chief Robert Johnson. If one looks at the chart more closely, one can see that crime decreased steadily under the Johnson administration.

Mayor Ditto's record also consisted of hiring incompetent police chiefs such as David Walker and Jimmy Wilson along with endless turmoil in the JPD. The City Council, led by Credell Calhoun (recently seen trying to get his nephew, the JSU shooter, off the hook), Kenneth "I didn't know I owned crackhouses" Stokes, and Louis Armstrong (last seen taking bribes from strip club owners and being involved with the man who firebombed The Jackson Advocate while toking up with his son on tape) became a weekly circus disgracing the City of Jackson while Mayor Ditto sat meekly in chambers watching the circus (at least Melton walks out when he has had enough even though he is usually wrong.).

Mayor Ditto was a fairly weak mayor as crime exploded under his watch. Jackson is facing some very serious problems. The last thing I want is the expertise that brought us nearly 100 homicides a year and Jimmy Wilson.

Having said that, I do not know John Ditto and have only met him once. I thought he was nice as well as being very intelligent. He might be perfectly qualified to sit on the City Council. I am usually not one to count someone's parents or relatives against him when I enter the voting booth. I am also not going to vote for someone because I hope he might just be like his relative. There are too many problems facing Jackson right now. We need to elect leaders on their merits, not on a false hope based on who their parents are.

4 comments:

Tom Head said...

Crime went up during Ditto's term, yes, but that was consistent with national trends.

If we say Ditto was a bad crimefighter, then we have to say that Harvey Johnson was a spectacularly good one (he may have been) for reducing the crime rate by such a huge margin, and that Melton is a spectacularly bad crimefighter (he may be) because crime rates have gone up during his tenure.

Personally, as I've said many times before, I don't think the mayor plays any kind of decisive role in crimefighting. National trends, and the overall strength of JPD, seem more relevant.

Kingfish said...

I must disagree. During his tenure, he had a revolving door of police chiefs. Standards were changing as every chief has his own set of rules and policies. It does take a new chief awhile to get familiar with an area and its crime characteristics before he can truly understand how to fight the problem.

All but one of the chiefs Ditto hired were losers and didn't work out anywhere else either. I think he was more worried about staying in power and thus thought he HAD to hire Black police chiefs that he thought would meet with the approval of Blacks instead of just hiring the best man for the job. As I've said before, I would've tried to hire Greenberg or one of his proteges. The JPD is considered a joke by surrounding law enforcement agencies and that reputation began under Ditto's term when he hired these losers.

Tom Head said...

There was a definite revolving door, but I don't remember him hiring losers. I remember him hiring people and then not giving them time to do their jobs.

Re black police chiefs, that was either a tacit or explicit campaign promise in 1993--if reelected, he would appoint a black chief. In 1997, Jackson voters wised up and asked why not just get a black mayor instead, and we got Harvey Johnson--who, judging by the same crime stats you use to criticize Ditto, was superb and arguably the best mayor we've ever had.

I mean, that's the thing. If Ditto sucked because crime was high, then Johnson rocked because crime was low. You can't have it both ways.

Kingfish said...

The flaw in your premise is that I am slamming Harvey for crime.

They were losers. They didn't amount to anything anywhere else except for Robert Johnson. The first two were an embarrassment. period.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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