Straight from the Detroit City Council: Kwame Kenyatta. The Clarion-Ledger reported on August 2:
Lumumba previously announced Safiya Omari, a former Jackson State University professor, as his chief of staff. He also hired Kwame Kenyatta, a former Detroit city councilman, to be the mayor's office coordinator. His specific job duties are not known, but Lumumba earlier this month said he will be in charge of contract compliance.
Kenyatta could not be reached Thursday afternoon for an interview. The former councilman resigned his position in Detroit in June for unspecified reasons, according to the Detroit Free Press. The newspaper also reported that he missed several meetings earlier this year for health reasons.
The city website states:
The Mayor’s Contract Compliance Officer reviews and monitors any and all contracts assigned to him by the Mayor, the Chief of Staff or CAO. Contract Compliance is a form of contract management that seeks to ensure that government agencies, contract holders and, in some cases, grant recipients, are complying with government standards regarding equal opportunity employment. The standards include provisions that businesses must accept applications from women and minorities, that government offices must solicit bids for contract work from minority and women owned businesses and that organizations that receive grants from the government follow fair hiring, retention and promotion policies.
Mr. Kwame Kenyatta is the Contract Compliance Officer. For more information, you may contact Mr. Kenyatta at 601-960-1084 or kkenyatta@city.jackson.ms.us.
Well, that is not the entire story about Mr. Kenyatta. He resigned from the Detroit City Council after the state takeover of the city administration. CBS Detroit reported:
Without giving a specific reason for resigning, Kenyatta said now that Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr is in place, the council is virtually powerless.
“I have not been at the table since there has been an EM, and I don’t see a purpose for me, based upon the charter that elected me and the people that elected me, I don’t see it. I wasn’t elected to serve an independent contractor,” he said. ”To sit at that table and act as if we’re making meaningful decisions that have to be approved by an independent contractor is not something that I can see going on.”
Then there was this little threat from Mr. Kenyatta about the state takeover of Detroit. The Motor City Muckracker reported:
Councilman Kwame Kenyatta and a packed room of Detroiters warned today of an impending revolt against state intervention, urging residents to stock up on canned food and supplies.
“Even the Bloods in the hood fight for their territory,” Kenyatta said during a 20-minute monologue on the civil rights struggle at today’s city council meeting. “You are going to have to drag me out of here for me to leave.”
Kenyatta cited Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became an intellectual and civil rights icon, because of his position that black people must sacrifice their lives, if necessary, to win freedom and the right to vote. Many in the audience stood up and applauded.
One by one, Detroiters pledged to take to the streets once Gov. Rick Snyder appoints an emergency manager, which is expected Thursday or Friday. Others threatened to block the entrance of city hall.Article
Mr. Kenyatta was earning an annual salary of $74,000 as a member of the Detroit City Council. He will receive retirement benefits. He lost his home to foreclosure several years ago.
Kingfish note: Here is one of his long-winded speeches. City is burning and you get long speeches on "ancestors" and "democracy" instead of actual leadership on the problems facing Detroit. He speaks of slavery and Rosa Parks but nothing about actual problem-solving. Kind of like the Jackson Public School Board last year when members screamed about due process and their "rights" and avoided discussing actual problems in our public schools. This is a disappointing hire by Chokwe Lumumba. Instead of hiring the best and brightest of the black community, he hires those who specialize in blowing up cities.
26 comments:
Just when I was getting cozy in my denial. Guess it CAN get worse. Sigh.
I knew he couldn't keep his true agenda hidden for long.
People have commented repeatedly on this blog that Jackson is following Detroit into the sewer. There's no better way to speed that up than to put it in the hands of someone who put Detroit in the septic tank.
This is great news! We need a strong Capital City. It is really going to be cool. Wow, just Wow, good news indeed. He will be a big plus to the synergy being created. I am so proud and I can't wait That will be awesome!!!! Really proud of my city right now. We are growing up quite well.
HOUSE FOR SALE Really.... it's big and fine...priced right..any takers?
I wasn't kidding... 3800 square feet, 4 betrooms, 3 1/2 baths, LOT's of bang for the buck....
Close to the zoo?
You negative people astound me! I'm ashamed to be white. Welcome, Mr. Kenyatta, to the City With Soul. I want to personally apologize for slavery, Jim Crow, the Dutch East India Company, America, the state flag, and all the racist white people in the suburbs who don't read the Jackson Free Press.
I, for one, welcome our new Detroit overlords.
So how much are the taxpayers paying for his "services"?
The Detroit overlords and Uboma will save 1:32
No 1:17 PM, my house is in NE Jackson..However, if it's close to the zoo that you want to be, my neighborhood now resembles a zoo....
I think this is nothing more than payback. A job 'being sure minorities and females are considered' for jobs is a do nothing, know nothing position with very few if any expectations. Chokwe is paying off old debts. The real rabbbit trail will lead to what debt is being repaid and why. Just pay attention. He has hundreds of these debts to repay to Chicagoans and Detrotians. He's been running to those places for cover for two decades.
It's great how he was encouraging the people of Detroit to fight for their city. Of course, as soon as Lumumba gave him a job in Jackson, he said "Good luck, Detroit...See ya later, suckas!" Truly, this is a man of conviction and character.
Unreal. He gives a sh*t eating grin talking about private citizens blocking interstates with their vehicles?! So Chokwe is indeed just a lying con man..
I like the silly skull crusher hat and the necklace. It's like looking at a trans-gendered clown.
I hear Kwame plans to move into one of the new apartments being carved for the 'creatives' in the old Federal Courthouse. There aren't enough African-Americans living in Jackson's highly black taxpayer subsidized downtown and he intends to redefine the downtown equation.
A shame that our mayor could not find any of his local voters/supporters that needed the job. Makes a lot of sense to bring someone from across the country to take one of the city's much needed jobs.
But I am sure Special K is well aware of how to accept bids for contracts. Too bad he couldn't make house payments on a $74,000 salary. I feel very comfortable with his track record of grandstanding without substance.
So, we now officially live in the republic of new africa... Who woulda known; who woulda cared; who's gonna cry when the city runs dry?
Wonder who Jackson's "city manager" will be? Won't be long!
Well, gee, since Chokwe is making no bones about giving the old middle finger to Whitey, let's go hire some militant Black Panthers as cops and bring Al Sharpton in as a "special consultant" making $250K in annual fees.
Let's rename the city something incredibly long and unwieldy that will piss off the few remaining white folks. I suggest Medgar Wiley Evers City. Either that or pull some revisionist history BS like the pinkos in Seattle did by changing King County to be named after MLK. We can change Jackson from being named after Andrew to being named after Jesse or Michael. Or Tito...I mean what the hell?
It's not like we're paying deference to history and inclusiveness and tradition. It's whatever Kush-boy wants and nobody better oppose him lest his new Black Panther Bully Boys pay you a house call while the national media ignores it all.
"A shame that our mayor could not find any of his local voters/supporters that needed the job. "
Unfortunately there was not a local person available to take the job as there is zero unemployment among Jacksonians.
Everybody seems to be hiring Dale Danks these days. Perhaps he will be Chokwe's choice for City Manager. But, Dale, being the special guy he is, only wants to 'give back' and will accept no more than a dollar per year.
Dale Danks was present during George Bell's standoff situation at the BP on Northside Drive with Frank Melton. News footage confirms this. Wonder who called him???
Yes, this guy is everywhere.
I miss Captain Tan (Dale Danks) as the Mayor. Whenever there was ever a crisis in the city, he was always there (starched white shirt and all) explaining what was going on. Like him or not, Dale always showed up.
In other news, WLBT reports that Al Hunter has decided to run as an Independent. So much for promises. The implosion continues.
So many snarks in the water,though I do like "Special K." But this is a distressing story, and discouraging. The man is vainglorious, and should not be anywhere near a mayor or anyone else with authority.
Wow, why in the world would a young man with such a bright future surround himself with such a joke. I hate that he even knows this guy
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