Jackson Jambalaya

Hiring Hays Dent is a good thing?? Says who?

Could this be related to the budget dispute regarding the lobbyists fees instead of a power struggle over who thinks they should be Mayor? If it is ultimately a budget dispute, the Council holds the purse strings. Also, your use of the noun "Democrat" as an adjective is probably intentional, but incorrect.

Says any group that wants to actually be successful in lobbying the State Legislature for ANYTHING. Raise your Pints did the same thing for the very reason that they have the ear of the Republicans. It's just good politics.

Why make that recommendation if you don't have the votes?

[Meanwhile Jackson's taxpaying middle class continues to leave the city unabated.]

Elections have consequences. The mayor should be able to put his own people in whatever position he chooses. The electorate can judge him and his team during the next election. He will have to run on that record…

Petty politics from petty characters on the council.

For the longest, it was said that Jackson had a lopsided power dynamic, with the mayor being very powerful and the council having very little power.

But in the last six months, the council has shown they can be a pain. Wow!

Were they previously not exercising their rights or did they realize they could act in the omission of a written law? Because council members disliking the mayor is nothing new.

Uh, 11:30, the council members won their elections too. Get over it.

He's a mayor, not an emperor (despite the example being set in D.C., and in Gwyneth Paltrow's disturbed little mind)

Hayes Dent Public Strategies is a fantastic firm. They could have helped the city with the current power structure in State Government.

What would they have done in the Kush?

Exactly 12:38... or should I say Hayes... ;D

If the Mayor wants a particular person to handle lobbying over council objections, he'll have to put that person on staff. The council has the duty to review and approve all professional services contracts. This one is no different. They probably should have seconded the motion to open up discussion as to why they don't want these particular lobbyists, but ultimately, its their prerogative as to who they approve ofhiring. As far as Jackson not being in the room when money decisions are made, David Blount, Hillman Frazier, John Horn, and Sollie Norwood in the Senate, and Earle Banks, Alyce Clark, Mary Coleman, and Bill Denny in House represent the City of Jackson and each sit on their respective appropriation committees in the legislature. Maybe the Mayor and his staff should work on relationships with those folks.

Imagine Margaret Barrett-Simon not being at a meeting.

There are better choices! Lets see who they come up with! Hayes is too tied to Lynn Fitch and others who don't do anything! Birds of a feather stick together, and that ain't always good!

10:08 what rock have you been hiding under? Dent & Fitch have been done, you are right she does absolutely nothing which is why I'm guessing they split. He sux for hoisting her on us.

@1:51. Me thinks you don't get it. It doesn't matter who those people are you mentioned or what committees they sit on in the state legislature. The republicans run the show. You can talk to these people all you want, but unless you have Tater in the senate or Herb Frierson in the house blessing you ain't getting shit. Jax better hire a republican leaning lobbying firm or they won't get anything from the state. By the way, they don't like low life democrats much anywho. And 10:08. Lynn and Hayes don't get along so where have you been? She screwed him over big time. BTW Lynn....you won't be getting anything from the legislature again this year. I can guarantee it again.....it's good to be me.

I call BS on 11:07. He appears to be claiming to be a legislator. And this is the second or third post he has claimed to be in a position to withhold funds from the state treasurer.

First, I'd assume a fellow legislator would know "who those people are" and that although they don't wield the gavel, they are involved in the appropriations process. A legislator would know that.

Second, although access may not be the same, there are effective democratic leaning lobbyists today, just as their were effective republican leaning lobbyists when republicans were in the minority. A legislator would know that.

"Low life democrats"? I think it's obvious that you've blossomed from the talk radio cocoon. When not trying to rile up the lowest common denominator of voters like yourself, legislators do actually get along across the aisle. Some are even - gasp - friends. A legislator would know that.

Finally, to imply that (1) the treasurers office won't be getting anything from the legislature this year and (2) that this won't be the first time the treasurer won't get anything is absurd and shows your true ignorance of the process. Any Joe Blow can look online and see not only has the Treasurer gotten sufficient funds from the legislature to run her office, she has gotten an increase every year she has been in office.

Please take your revenge-fantasy somewhere else. We know you're not the real deal.

And Margaret wanted to be Mayor...ha

What's a good reason (not an excuse) to be absent from these council meetings? If these people were in the private sector, they'd be terminated for excessive absenteeism. And please don't go yacking about elections being the time to fire public servants. These people know they're insulated or they'd show up.

I agree with the previous post. Both firms are pretty good from I understand, this is an indictment of leaderless, rudderless, Jackson. Yarber seems to want to get something done but I don't think he figured how difficult it would be to deal with Priester and Stamps, two people who CLEARLY want his job. This ain't Goodwin's Team of Rivals here, hell, this isn't even bush league. I fear Yarber is going to take Jackson back in his attempt to move it forward.