Jackson Jambalaya

But....they said they sent the financials...but, but, but....

There are 5 elements that contribute to the success of a downtown redevelopment. They are:

1) Waterfront
2) A large Fortune 500 company as an "anchor" with several thousand white collar jobs
3) A major university or hospital system
4) A sports venue
5) Public transportation system

There was a time 15 years ago when Jackson reached a tipping point. Had WorldCom elected to stay downtown -- and had it emerged as a successful company -- the Braves stadium may well have located there also. This would have given us two of the five elements to try to redevelop downtown. Generally, institutional investors look for at least three of the five before investing the BILLIONS that it takes to make a downtown flourish. Jackson has none of the five, and doesn't look like to improve on that score in the next 20 or so years.

You can file Old Capitol Green next to Farish Street and Harborwalk. There's just not the critical mass to support these projects. If Wall Street wont touch them, why should the taxpayers of Jackson or Hinds County?

Those five elements are impressive but don't compare to what we do have: The Stokes Twins.

The reason Worldcom pulled out was the ONE and ONLY Kenny Stokes who refused to go to the ground breaking. The reason the Braves went to Pearl was Harvey Johnson said he wasn't going to give a blackman $1,000,000 to bring them to Jackson. Pearl did and that's where they are. If you doubt this then just call Tim and ask him.

Wait a second. I remember the rest of the city council having a hand in the worldcomm deal. Weaver caught hell too.

Anon 9:00....If I remember correctly WorldCom left downtown because they needed a zoning variance to build their new headquarters. Stokes refused to show up for the vote (he was maybe the committee chairman or something) and so they never could get a quorum...or something like that. So WC shrugged their shoulders and cut a deal with Mississippi College. Can someone recall the details for me?

And if I were the Braves I wouldn't have located downtown either. With no major businesses, or corresponding entertainment district there, whats the point?

Who was the guy on the city council smoking dope during the breaks and trying to shake down the cable company? Maybe he and Kenny didn't get their due. I'm sure they were just following Jesse Jackson's playbook.

Sachmo.

I remember when Bernie announced the move to Clinton, Kenny blustered loudly: "We not gonna take dis!"

@7:30. I worked for a local developer several years back. While talking with a local business instrumental in trying to bring new development to downtown, their director told me that the Braves called the City several times to discuss the stadium idea and no one never would return their calls. Also how dare you make such a racist statement.."white collar jobs"..The city council would not go for that!

9:00 - what "blackman" (sic) got $1,000,000 to bring the BRaves anywhere? I remember Harvey being quoted as blowing off the Braves economic impact by saying "baseball is a white man's game" or something similar.

KF, I apologize right off the bat for being this stupid, but I don't get something.

the Hinds County Department of Economic Development
the Board of Supervisors
the Mississippi Development Authority
the Jackson Redevelopment Authority

Is it me or does this look strange to you too? 4 groups kind of approving this but not really approving it and each telling the other to go to someone else for the money.

At what point can one of these groups just say---this is stupid, stop. And which one of these groups has the controlling authority?

As with everything else involving Jackson, are most of you beginning to spot the trees of common denominator through the forest?

10:42, the black man's name is Tim Bennett. I met briefly with him one time about another business venture. He had (has) a company called Overtime Sports, and also owns (owned) a college baseball league called the Cotton States League.

While I never saw the money myself, the story that he got it has been around since the Braves got here. The only part of 9:00's comment that raised my eyes is the part about the source of the money. I have always been under the impression the money came from the Braves organization.

I have no idea what his situation is currently. The last time I saw him was about five years ago.

That would be Tim Bennett - He is now in the process of bringing a team to Gulfport - It will be at the new Port - Tim is a good guy and very knowledgeable - He just couldn't work with Haaavey -

9:16
Louis Armstrong. Another of our stellar current city employees. Atta boy Harv, great hire.

10:42 the money came from inside the City's employee benefit fund, which at that time had over a 1,000,000 surplus

10:42 the money came from inside the City's employee benefit fund, which at that time had over a 1,000,000 surplus

10:42 the money came from inside the City's employee benefit fund, which at that time had over a 1,000,000 surplus

Jerry: That's illegal.
Kramer: No it's not.
Jerry: Well, it's certainly against the law.
Kramer: Well, um..yeah.

Armstrong was re-hired by the City under the Melton regime. NOt defending Harvey, but will Bluntson or Lumumbo really do better?

4:14
Johnson has left that convicted felon in his position with the city. Thanks so much for setting the hire date straight without, of course, defending the moron that has been in charge of the city.

Why would the M Braves ever wanted to be in Jackson? It is quite a pit and all the druggies would have robbed everyone.

I hate to be the buzz kill, but no amount of money in the world will ever revitalize the downtown area.

8:35, I think the conversation with Jackson had to do with upgrading Smith Wills and putting the MBraves there. It got into a "give us what we want, or we'll go to Pearl...no you won't...yes we will...no you won't...yes we DID."

Did Maloney promise 'no credit check financing'?

This will get done, unlike Harborwalk. And to anonymous at 8:35 on June 14, hogwash! Lots of events happen in Jackson and no one gets robbed, shot, killed, etc. Stay away if you don't wanna go.

Eagle; What are those (lots) large events happening in downtown Jackson where no crime occurs concurrent with the event? And when you provide your list, remember you said 'lots'. Your admonition to 'stay away' has been answered. People stay away from Jackson in droves. Imagine walking to your car in Jackson at the end of an 11 p.m. ninth inning.

Shadowfax - quit picking on eagle, and just admit that no one has EVER been robbed or beaten after a game featuring Jackson's NFL team, Jackson's NBA team, Jackson's NHL team, or Jackson's MLB team. The massive crowds, made up of wealthy Mississippians who make these games possible, leaving after every game discourage the thugs.