Jackson Jambalaya

Is there a debate tonight?

YES...8 people showed up....its a barn burner!!!! Mary is explaining now why she had the MPD extract a kid from Holmes CC and had him brought to her office for questioning....after she had his dog shot!!!!

You're full of shit 9:33. The new auditorium at Madison Central was 90% packed. Very well managed debate except for multiple microphone failures. They got after each other pretty good as the thing heated up. Mary was in command, gaining applause many times when she said "We are not going to change ANYTHING!" John Bell said 'ya know' 234 times but held his own. She nailed his ass with facts about payments to Rudy Warnock. He lied through his teeth about apartments. Mary took command of the stage and kept it.

9:33 must be on his campaign. The comment reminds me of those stupid ads JBC has online.

Love it 10:06! John Bell needs to find a suit that doesn't look like a cheap piece of crap, and he also needs to learn proper grammar. John Bell, "where we're at" is not good grammar. Just another reason he doesn't need to be mayor!

Because obviously your judgement of the man's suit is a valid point of argument that should definitely persuade voters...

One only halo ok at the city border between Ridgeland and Madison to see how Mary's reign has hurt the city. Both Hwy 51 and Highland Colony Parkway show it. Instead of businesses greeting the entrant, you see fields of trees.

Now ask yourself why. And an honest person would know the answer ins Mary.

No, I am not associated with any campaign. Yes, I have lived in Madison for 24 years. No, I will not vote for her.

If JBC were smart, and he isn't, he would ask, " how much better would things be if Mary didn't meddle with business.

/ remembers when there were going to be apartments in Madison. Her change of heart cost the city. Remembers when the ECOL was here. Her retroactive sign lawsuit cost the city. Remembers when Walmart wasn't going to build here because "Madison wasn't for sale". Knows of Two businesses that moved out of town because it was hard to work here. Remembers the 6 ft tall urns on the CVS required by the city. Remembers when there was a train theme to buildings that didn't require urns.

//things are well under her. But wonders how much better things would be if she were gone. Because she is going to leave, quit, or die on day and what happens then?

1:44 in ever said his suit was a reason to persuade voters. That was just an observation. The voters decide for themselves. I think the fact that he can't clearly express his thoughts is a reason he shouldn't be mayor. Of he doesn't even know what he's voting for (Madison Co strategic plan calling for apartments) we don't need him. Mary has done an outstanding job. She's eloquent, classy and above all she doesn't succumb to the politicians around her like JB.

Mary tore him a new one last night. He was speachless when asked a question about the sewer system. "I don't know" is not an answer during a debate. He refused to take responsibility for his Board votes repeatidly. In ;his run for supervisor he promised to pave Hoy Road. He failed, now he says he will do it as mayor. The audience laughed when he kept mentioning fire stations and "smoke and mirrors". It was obvious that he had rehearsed this line and thought it would carry the day. Instead, it made him look like a buffoon.Rudy Warnock has wasted a lot of money in backing such a weak candidate. Madison is not for sale.

I thought it was interesting that the multiple times she exposed him for his vote (as a county supervisor) his retort was, "We're not here to talk about the county."

Never trust a man who says 'trust me' sixteen time, 'ya know'? 'ya know'?

When democrats at the national level take union money and then dole it back to them or give it out to them and then receive it back in donations to run their campaigns, some call that money laundering.

When the Madison County Board of Supervisors (President JBC) does the same with Rudy The Engineer, it's called 'good planning'.

JBC made the point several times that there are good businesses that are chomping at the bit to come to Madison - but only if he's elected mayor. He specifically mentioned a physician in Flowood. If he's serious about being the next mayor he needs to tell us who he's talking about so whoever wins the mayoral race can try to recruit them to Madison. My guess is that there aren't any, but if I'm wrong it would make a powerful campaign ad - "We will bring our businesses to Madison if you elect a new mayor." What do you say, John Bell? Put up or shut up.

How about Target? Banned because they use red concrete balls to protect their buildings and doors from cars crashing into it? Come on Bill, open your eyes.

To 9:23 am Target is coming to Madison and guess what---no red concrete balls !!

How 'bout red concrete pineapples?

10:31 wins the comments debate.

I'd rather see peacocks...

Apparently the Target question has been answered. My eyes are wide open, and they see lots of reasons why good businesses should want to come to Madison regardless of who's the mayor. However, to be fair to the challenger, what other businesses is he talking about? Come on, someone needs to tell us the name of even one business that will come to Madison under a Crosby administration that would not even try otherwise.

Good for Target - it only took how long? How much money was lost because of shenanigans from City Hall?

Regarding businesses that will come to Madison, I can not attest. But I can tell you that there has been at least one business that left Madison. Centerpoint Energy (then Entex) had a small office on Main Street. They wanted to build in Madison, proposed a building design, was shot down by City Hall and they built in Ridgeland. Years later, they expanded in Ridgeland. What improvements could have been made with the tax revenue from a company like them?

Maybe my experience was unique, but I am a small business owner in Madison and had absolutely no problem getting my shop open. The building inspectors, the fire department, the water department, etc. were all extremely prompt in moving things along. The fire department inspector came out within 30 minutes of when I called to let him know things were ready for him to look over. Before I opened, I had another question for fire department and they were able to come out the same day to be sure I had done it right. There were NO delays. And since I've been opened, sales have exceeded projections and the police department makes all my employees feel very safe because they check on us regularly. One evening we ended up staying open longer than our normal hours due to customers continuing to come in. A police officer recognized that we were there beyond normal hours and came into the building to be sure everything was ok. What's not to love about doing business in Madison?

Thanks, and I'm sure Centerpoint isn't the only business that moved from Madison or chose to locate elsewhere to avoid the extra expense that adherence to the architectural standards would have caused. I'm still interested in those that the challenger claims he can bring. Anyone? Anyone?

I wonder where Dickie A. is going to move after next Tuesday? His house is the one when you come out of the main entrance to Reunion. He has many JBC signs out and has actively sought to get the Mayor out of office. His land across from Fontenell will probably stay empty unless he can come up with his own monies to build. Wonder how much $ he has given John Bell? We also did not see Tim "Elvis" Johnson last night. I guess he is home putting together more signs. He should have been at the debate and at the end say "JBC HAS LEFT THE CITY.."

Bill, what do those architectural standards include?

Urns? Buildings built like train depots? Grecian columns?

The point is that when given the choice, businesses chose elsewhere. Like the Renaissance. Not in Madison, is it?

it is easy to casually dismiss the businesses that have stayed out of Madison as being unwilling to conform to the city standards. But that is the point. The city "standards" are stupid.

If anyone needs proof of JBC's hard work (insert loud laughter here)and business building, one only needs to travel through District 1 Madison County. We have a filthy Dollar General, spacious Yandell Road, Shell, a filthy mini-storage, strip malls, and roads that are beyond unsafe. I'm convinced Madison would be West Jackson in four years with Crosby ruling.

Is anyone going to claim with a straight face that Ridgeland is better run than Madison? Yes, Highland Colony Parkway is nice, but much of the city is starting to resemble Jackson.

The city standards are stupid?

Go sell that line somewhere else. There's a reason why Madison commands the highest per sq ft price in the metro. It's because people like you, 1:21, weren't in charge.

As a resident of Rankin County, I dream of the day when our supervisors finally get the memo that ordinances and regulations are good things and that uncontrolled and unregulated growth comes with a high price tag...usually in the form of resell value.

Mary point out rightly that the two zip codes making up Ridgeland and its proximity consist of some 55% renters. But Crosby quickly raises his arms and claims to be against apartments. Right.

So, it took Target a few months to shed it's case of Red Balls. It took Wally World over a year to agree to ditch the tacky blue and yellow eight hundred foot tall signs guaranteeing lower prices. Now the place is the standard all Wal Marts which they could emulate.

Maybe Crosby is going to bring in an Arabian tent maker to open a suit shop with to go-orders like the one he wore last night.

JBC also lied about 'competition' claiming he's always favored it. He's fought it hard, tooth and nail, as Kroger manager. Which hat does he choose to wear and when. Then he bragged that Kroger gas prices are in line with area averages. Bullshit. Madison has the highest gas and grocery prices in the Metro thanks in part to Kroger, with their monopoly.

Busted olive jar ~ aisle 16!

Target finally caved and paid the piper.

Not a matter of 'paying the piper' 4:07. I believe it's called meeting community standards. If you have a view of the beach, facing westward sunsets, do you want somebody with a truckload of surfboards setting up a tattoo-shop next to your hard-earned retreat? If you want a set of red-balls with chicken boxes flattened in the parking lot, head across County Line.

The only red balls that you'll be seeing in Madison will John Bell Crosby's two after Mary beats him in the election May 7th.