Tuesday, October 7, 2014

PEER report questions Port of Gulfport job claims

PEER stated in a letter to Representative Cecil Brown (D-Geritol) that the Port of Gulfport Restoration Program has created only a few jobs after  HUD granted permission to the Mississippi Development Authority to redirect $600 million of Hurricane Katrina-related housing relief funds towards the restoration and repair of the Port of Gulfport.  MDA claimed the transfer would create 2,586 jobs "created or retained".  The port had 2,058 jobs prior to Hurricane Katrina.  However, there is PEER states that such is not the case:


According to MDA's latest QPR (Quarterly Performance Report), which documents performance from April 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, the agency reports that the PGRP has created a total of five of the required 1,300 jobs, one joo f which is held by a low- or moderate- income person.  MDA also reports that the program retained 814 jobs of the requires 1,286 jobs, one job of which is retained by a low- or moderate income person.

 The letter states that HUD could pursue a variety of remedies, including repayment of funds, if it determines the state did not comply with the terms of the grant.  HUD said in February that the state could only document a less than 200 of over 2000 jobs it claimed were created at the port by the grant.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was predictable, and indeed predicted. Corporate welfare at work.

Anonymous said...

Crony Capitalism as its best (worst).

Anonymous said...

"Corporate welfare"??? What kind of idiot are you? To use tax dollars to rebuild a state-owned facility is "corporate" welfare? Under your theory, the rebuilding of the bridges across the bays would be another example of "corporate welfare".

Anonymous said...

Another Haley Barbour fiasco.

Anonymous said...

This is 600 million of the money Thad brought to help missippi folks who lost their homes to Katrina. There is already over 3 million gone?? Wonder where that went.

Anonymous said...

Just a reminder that over $6 BILLION.....yep With a "B"...Billion, has been spent on infrastructure, bridges, marinas, downtown streetscape projects, sidewalks, tax subsidized CDBG housing, apartments, Section 8 housing, etc on the Coast. You folks North of the Coast can complain all you want. You took our gaming revenue and got a whole bunch of new roads all over the state to a bunch of po'dunk towns back in the 90's. I mean how many ways can you drive to Starkville???. Leave the Port of Gulfport alone. New Orleans and Mobile spend $500-600 million every 10 years. We are competing and will compete. And if you can't find a cheap place to live on the Coast right now or can't find a job....you just don't want to work or expect free rent. Go Gulfport!

Anonymous said...

PEER probably got it right this time and it looks like we didn't get our money's worth on that spending - which should shock no one.

However, I think its important to point out that PEER is a bunch of hacks who play the role of attack dog on whatever project they get assigned. They have never issued a report that wasn't critical and the reports are usually written by one of their folks that has never actually run anything. If the "audit" is just "I read in a book that you should be doing X,Y,Z but I've never worked for anyone besides PEER", then the reports will be as useless as they are.

Anonymous said...

I get it. PEER is just a bunch of hacks and 25,000, er, 50,000 new jobs have actually materialized at the Port.

No wonder the GOP establishment is fully invested in teaching Common Core math.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.