Jackson Jambalaya

A lot of people rent, what's the big deal?

If you worked for Gannett would you buy a house? I'd be renting....And it'd be a short term lease!

many, many people in Jackson metro area live in towns all across the state but work in Jackson and rent a place to stay during the week.

Nothing to see here, move along...

Who is Leslie Hurst?

When she first came to Jackson, there was talk of her buying a condo in Jackson, but if I were her, I'd rent instead - everything seems short term at the paper.

There seems to be an odd sense from commenters on the blog that, if you don't own a home, you're somehow not truly vested in your community.

You see it repeatedly in the commenter who always says, in response to any comment about Ladd or Kaze ranting on Jackson, "they don't even own a home in the city", or "they're just renters".

Owning a home is a break-even proposition at best (or used to be), that many people find unappealing and unaffordable due to the high level of maintenance. People who don't have enough money to buy without paying PMI get screwed even harder.

This is true especially in Jackson where, as KF has noted many times, the housing stock is typically older and in need of repair/renovation.

As for this woman, she's probably smart enough to know not to buy in a soft market where she might not be around for much longer. Is she vested in Jackson? Probably not, based on what we know about her company.

Would her purchasing a home here change that in any material way? Other than being a giant albatross around her neck when Gannett moved her or let her go, probably not.

Andrew M. Newcomb

If she's only had the job since December, it wouldn't be at all surprising if her old home hasn't sold yet, and that she is renting in the interim. Six months isn't a very long time to sort out housing (and possibly employment for other family members) given the current state of the market.

I can't blame her. She was give a dog of a newspaper that has no hope of survival. The place is voide of leadership and vision. If I were her, I wouldn't commit to anything more than an extended stay hotel.

Given her history, she probably won't be here much past the final axe across the CL's neck.

Uh, 1:53 - SHE is supposed to provide the "leadership and vision".

Gannett buys home of executives when they move from location to location.

She is not long for here, this is a death stop for Publishers of Gannett papers. Bill died, the others have been escorted out the door, the last one without an ounce of dignity.

The Jackson Metro area includes more than just Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties now. Folks from Vicksburg/Warren (actually even into Louisiana), Copiah, Scott, Simpson, Holmes, Yazoo, Claiborne, maybe some others all work in the above named tri-county area. No issue here.

She would be smart if she does rent. She has a) New position with a paper that is rapidly sucking down the drainpipe, and, b) a local real estate market that is not exactly crackling with re-sale activity.

I would suggest that if she does decide to buy that she can get ALOTTA house for the $$$ in Jackson and Hinds County.

I heard she lives on a houseboat on the reservoir, and every weekend she goes up the river with Bert Case. LOL

Seriously, why are we supposd to care if this woman owns property around Jackson or not? Maybe she doesn't like yardwork.

Fish, is this really "interestinig"? She's over multiple markets as a VP and actually moves a good bit. I doubt she's been in any market much more than 5 years or so as she's continued to move up the corporate ladder. I can assure you she's well regarded with the folks at Gannett corporate where she'll likely land next as her career continues to escalate. It has nothing to do with anything other than logistics. This one was a miss Fish and very "Ladd-esque".

anon 5:11 - "The Jackson Metro area includes more than just Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties now. Folks from Vicksburg/Warren (actually even into Louisiana), Copiah, Scott, Simpson, Holmes, Yazoo, Claiborne,..." Really...really, come on now put the pipe down and come sit at the reality table. Why dont you just say form hwy 82 north to 98 south and everything in between is the greater jackson metro area. but the best is EVEN SOME PARTS OF LOUISIANA. BAHAAAHAAAHAAAAAAA.