Jackson Jambalaya

Bahahahaha, one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. I wonder how many people got mugged in the out takes.

1:23 really? Really? Get over yourself.

Nice effort but I wonder is the money changers being driven out relate to money being spend with no work being done. Yep, there is lots of money changing hands.

I don't live in Jackson, but I work there a few days a week.

I don't feel safe in Jackson and I wouldn't live there bc of the taxes, public schools, crime and infrastructure issues.

I do want jackson to get better though. I don't like that it's the way it is. It makes me sad. There are places I used to enjoy going years ago that have deteriorated and are no longer safe places to visit.

I hope that jackson is able to get things turned around. It would benefit all of us if Jackson succeeds. I would love having a zoo I would want to take my kids to. I would love feeling safe leaving my car parked at the state fair. I would love for more exhibits to come to Jackson.

I really do hope it gets better. We lose so much talent out of in state schools because we don't really have a draw for young professionals. I wish that would change and I hope Jackson can get back on the map as a desirable place to be.

4:01 - "We're looking at you, Ferguson."

A video of strawman fallacies.

Zoo, bus system, sewers, water,convention center and all major facilities should part of a metro/regional system . First step is for Jackson to divest themselves and the Metro area can take can start to rebuild.Jackson must let go first.

Not a bad video but get ready for the cow field dwelling, fake tanning, my kid plays soccer because it is the only thing he is half way competitive in posters.

The claim that "thousands" have returned to Jackustan since 2010 isn't supported by USCensus data.

The myth/fact combo about infrastructure is preposterous and a fabrication. If anyone is "disengaged and wanting things handed to them" it has been the ruling political class of the past 20 years.

1:23--the answer is zero. This wasn't filmed near the Laxmi at 3AM..

FACT: JPS has 7 A Schools (none are high schools), 6 B Schools (all elementary), 21 C schools (4 high schools), 16 D Schools (4 high schools), and 8 F Schools. (4 elem, 4 middle). How is this an example of a public school district that works?

A good first step--there is a lot of positive Jackson out there.

CMPDD projects (Slide 7) that Jackson's population -- including the black population -- will continue to shrink. But, of course, that has nothing to do with crime and schools.

That might be the most comical thing I've ever seen. I love how they only discuss downtown Jackson, and of course it was filmed in the middle of the day in downtown Jackson (even the video producers are aware of safety measures).

Note how they say we can never have racial unrest because our cops are thugs too.

Thanks for the laugh kingfish, I needed it on this Monday afternoon.

2:09, as someone born and raised in Madison, I find your comment EXTREMELY disturbing.

It's a nice sentiment, I suppose. Though the gentleman at around 3:05 in the video would do well to note that passing with a 90% "yes" is not quite the same as having 90% of residents vote for it. It's more like everyone who owns property in the city figuring out that it's either property or sales, and everybody pays sales tax.

I actually thought the video was a nice change of pace. At least someone is working to make a difference. Easy to potshot from the bleachers. I applaud those willing to step onto the playing surface and compete in the marketplace of ideas.

Soooo ... the objective is to drive the money out of the temple, like Jesus did? And the "temple" in this case is Jackson?

If so, then mission accomplished.

They didn't read from Luke or they'd have had to read where Christ looked upon the city and wept.

I'm a lifelong Jackson resident, who still works and worships here. Our biggest issue is the public schools. No middle class person (black or white) will live where they cannot send their child to a good public school. As the schools get worse, Jackson's middle class will continue to flee to Rankin and Madison counties. Solve the school issue and MANY other issues are resolved. That being said, there is a LOT of good in Jackson and I'm glad to hear someone changing the conversation on our city (if even for just this week).

I see little humor here, just people doing what they are asked to do - spout a bunch of "feel good-isms" that can't really be backed up, and are, for the most part, someone else's opinions.

The best part is the guy refuting the rumor that Jackson might break into racial violence. He attempt to read the cue-card without making it obvious is laughable.

The rest is just pathetic.

Haters gonna hate. Enjoy your houses that look exactly like your neighbors' 45 minutes outside of town.

Unless you do something to help (like pay taxes here), you're not entitled to complain about Jackson.

'Unless you do something to help (like pay taxes here), you're not entitled to complain about Jackson.'

Considering most of the crime committed in Madison is done by you Jackson residents, I'd say we are very entitled to complain.

Well done St. Andrews.

Anyone who pays any tax inside the City of Jackson is entitled to complain.

Maybe my house will sale when this video gets published. On the market for 2 years. 4 other houses on the block are now up FOR SALE. Friend of mine living in south Jackson had to give his house away to move to Madison. Dream on that Jackson will prosper. I really hope so.

Most of the comments remind me of pot-bellied men sitting on couch drinking beer, eating pizza, and cursing the athletes on TV for not playing hard enough.

I really loved the scripture delivery and all that is of course true. Past that though it was a bunch of hyperbole, but nicely produced! Reminded me of a Joel Osteen video.

I work in Jackson during the week and live in an apartment downtown, close to the core of the capitol, governor mansion, and St. Andrews. Daytime, its great. Nights, gambling with your life if you take a nice after dinner walk...

@3:34, but but but I thought Madison was SAFE.

Guess what? Safer/better Jackson = safer/better Madison. No amount of brick can save you. Until the residents of the burbs join in the effort to improve Jackson we will all fall together.

Also, criticizing on a blog doesn't count as "effort."

Until the residents of the burbs join in the effort to improve Jackson we will all fall together.

What do you specifically want the 'residents of the burbs' to do?

Nice video. Jackson, like Mississippi in general, is often made a punching bag for the media and commenters on social media. As is the case with the rest of Mississippi, it is good to see the good things in Jackson represented as well.

New readers on this site should keep in mind that the negative comments on here are posted by a group of people that (largely) take the side of the abortion protesters that have been a thorn in Fondren's side (See thread in "Abortion Protesters Show Up at Fondren Presbyrterian").

It's okay. Jackson will keep improving while they just keep being trolling the internet looking for things to complain about.

The fact that the Ted Cruz/McDaniel voters don't approve of this video makes me like it more.

5:12 running Jackson down. Duh. Get involved in the efforts downtown. You know....the capital city. Duh on steroids. Get involved and quit bitching, offering nothing but bitching.

Have any of these people driven around Jackson,doing so will just make you nearly cry for the deterioration that is everywhere.years of neglect and misuse of public funds are evident everywhere and no relief in sight.

"Until the residents of the burbs join in the effort to improve Jackson we will all fall together."

Anything suggested is considered too expensive, "not reflective" of the culture of the majority of Jackson citizens and disregards those with low incomes. The majority of Jacksonians have voted for those that run the city and county. Don't ever think the suburbs will support you. You have made it clear that you know what's best for your citizens. Now you must live with it.

6:31, thanks for your input Sonny Sharp. How does it feel to know your place in life will never improve past "internet troll."

'They didn't read from Luke or they'd have had to read where Christ looked upon the city and wept."
March 30, 2015 at 2:52 PM

If there's an award for BEST BLOGSPOT POST OF THE YEAR, this one should win. BRILLIANT!

6:47 = 2:52

Jackson is safe uh... I'm going to tell that to my Aunt and Uncle who live off of cedars of lebanon because they were burglarized last week.

Though, I did see a white guy running down old Canton Road in Fondren... At first I thought he was running for his life then I realized he was jogging his for health.. I'm joking Tom Head, and Donna Ladd... don't send me hate messages on Facebook.

I give it too Jackson I was impressed with Fondren and Downtown. I didn't know in downtown there is a sushi bar, a Smoothie King, Courthouse Fitness Center, and McAlister's. I didn't know there is a night life in Fondren.

Many suburbanites supported Frank Melton. He was an unbelievable disaster as a mayor and as a person. Jackson is still trying to recover from his fiscal failures abd still paying. The post regarding public schools was spot on. They were integrated wrong and helped create the disaster we have now. It is going to take work to recover the state capital and hurling mud does nothing constructive.

No mention of a trip down West Capitol that Amazing Jackson Zoo.

That's all it takes? Talk nice about Jackson and things will magically turnaround?

@March 30, 2015 at 3:24 PM :

I AM entitled to complain about the current state of the Capitol City. I have lived in mississippi my entire life's span. A few of those years i was a resident in our Capitol City but moved back to Madison County to live in a better school district for my children.

I can remember going to Jackson with my mother when i was young. It was an event that took the whole day. Shopping, eating and touring our Capitol city were exciting. These days I don't go into Jackson more than 5-10 times per year and only on business at that. I hope that the people will one day, just maybe, get the right leaders and start to turn Jackson around.

The main thing to remember, in my opinion, is that it's taken decades for Jackson to get in the shape it's currently in so don't expect it to be better by next week. The right people and patience.... a lot to ask for but it's possible.

Would love to see Jackson rise back up. With a busted city council who are corrupted beyond years..... Feel good Vid is weak at best. My daughter got her window busted out and cleaned out trying to enjoy the Jackson Nite life,Yea Jackson is safe and on the rise... Do you smell what your shoveling? I work in downtown Jackson, don't know what these paid for peeps (or lost souls )are talking about! Guess they missed all the empty buildings downtown...

What a pitiful attempt to put lipstick on a pig. St. Andrews is valiantly trying to maintain a congregation in a dead downtown, and others attempt to say all is good when it isn't. Jackson, like MS in general, needs to address its pathetic ranking issues and then brag about how great things are.

I don't believe this was filmed in Jackson. If it had been, Jeff Good would have forced his way on camera and hogged all the speaking parts.

This little ditty will be effective if shown in a fifth grade classroom. Otherwise not so much.

Reminds me of my favorite Dilbert cartoon.

Boss: "I'm getting reports you are being cynical."

Dilbert: "I call it an accurate world view, you should try it sometime."

Most of you are a--holes for denigrating Jackson. You don't want to pitch in and help your capitol city improve, only to knock it down. I've lived here since 1974, and sure, I've had some bad experiences, but no more than I would have had in any other metropolitan area. Get off your high-handed moralistic attitudes and try to save and improve the city. Those who choose to move away and ignore Jackson, good riddance.

Get off your high-handed moralistic attitudes and try to save and improve the city.

What sort of exact help do you want beyond everyone only talking happy talk?

Bless their hearts.

Tom Ramsey as a spokesman for Jackson?

That is akin to Bundy being a spokesman for sororities in the panhandle or Dahmer being a spokesman for LGBT causes.

Ramsey has been everything from a PI, Hollywood TV/Movie Producer, Lobbyist, Investment Advisor, and now wanna be Chef/Restaurant big whig.

He is, in one word, a fraud.

I love how people so desperately avoid the elephant in the room. It isn't the 'uppity white folk' than ran Jackson down. Until we are able to discuss the issues that are plaguing the black community that makes up Jackson, they will continue to drag it down.

Micah Gober, sadly A LOT of people are like you and are very ignorant as to what is going on in Jackson. I mean, I know people are stuck in the Jackson of the late 1980s/early 1990s, but c'mon! That time has passed and Jackson is getting better! There are still areas that need improvement, but for the most part most neighborhoods in the good areas of Jackson are doing just fine! And yes I said good areas, because just like every other city in the world, Jackson does have it's bad parts. West Jackson& South Jackson both have fallen in the last 30 years, but like I said, every city has bad parts of town that nobody goes to.

I live in and work in the suburbs. But, there really is a lot of cool stuff in Jackson. If I were them, I would have stuck to that theme rather that quoting a bunch of erroneous data in their "fact" sets. I particularly like the myth that businesses don't want to operate in downtown followed by an employee of a FOUNDATION saying that isn't true. AND as far as I can tell, the incident about Jesus in the temple was about not turning God's house into a place of commerce. I really don't see where it was intended to be any global societal commentary.

I appreciate the effort and nothing wrong with trying to promote the city. Some of the facts were wrong but for a citizen-driven promotion, no harm, no foul.

If it were me, I would have used that New York Times Story as a road map. Take a video camera and do a day in the life of Jackson.

'but for the most part most neighborhoods in the good areas of Jackson are doing just fine!'

Please refer to the Jackson Crime reports Kingfish posted. I believe you and I might have a different definition of 'doing just fine.'

Dad always told me "son, never trust a man in a bow tie".

Who dresses their kid in a bow tie in a polo shirt?

Nice feel good video. I wonder how many people have had their cars broken into downtown, or houses robbed, or a gun pulled on them? Like another poster said, it's not white, republican, surburbanites doing it. Address the problem, call a spade a spade(be called a racist while doing it), then we may can start seeing some change. No amount of struggling business men or kids in bow ties will change the idea of Jackson from those that have lived here our whole lives.

Sorry 9:52 AM. Having to dodge daily an obstacle course of potholes the size of wash basins in my "good area" of Jackson does not mean we're "doing just fine". Had high hopes for Yarber but now realize he's completely outmatched for the job.

"I didn't know in downtown there is a sushi bar, a Smoothie King, Courthouse Fitness Center, and McAlister's."

Wow! Just like 463 in Madison has!

How cosmopolitan! Tres chic!

'Citizen driven' my ass. This is a direct product of Jeff Good and Ben Allen with complimentary box lunches from Hal and Mals. The only thing citizen driven about it was the citizens driving their old Volvos and bicycles to the filming location.

As I read these comments the news reporter is advising of another "boil water alert" on Duling Avenue.

http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/23,16243,148.html

Don't know what gives Kingfish the idea that this was 'citizen driven'. It was concocted by Jeff Good and Ben Allen. The only citizens driven were the ones driving the Volvos to the shoot and those riding their bikes.

Lots of the "Facts" provided in the video are not true. Unfortunately, I might add. I would love to see Jackson rise back to the previous wonderful city that it once was; but, until the current residents of Jackson wake up and take part in the reconstruction of family values, there will be no peace. How long will it take for them to understand that taking responsibility for themselves is critical for everyone, not just the residents of Jackson.
It is sad to see the destruction of the neighborhoods that we grew up in. The serious lack of pride in the homes and surroundings. How can those values be instilled into someone that did not have to work for it? I don't think it is possible.

Thank God for St. Andrews. They are making a positive difference.

Well, to quote one of Donner Kaye's interns who posted here about six weeks ago, "When we find out collective voices, identify a holistic approach, we can soar".

So, the Episcopal Church is using scripture to advance a liberal agenda?

And this is news, how?

I invite everyone on this blog who says how much they hate Jackson to come to Fondren Thursday night. It's First Thursday, and there will be bands, things to do for the kids, a farmers market, not to mention all of the fantastic restaurants and bars that are all within walking distance. I know that people are going to say "well, my car may get broken into or I may be mugged." That line is GETTING OLD and is untrue. Come on...come play with the cool kids!

No shit Sherlock, when there is a huge crowd of liberals walking around drinking craft beer and police watching there isn't gonna be problems, just like the sweet potato vaginafest parade, but what about walking out to your car at midnight after drinking at Fondren Public, or parking at the back of the lot behind Babalou, you are risking a mugging. Bourbon Street is fine at night but walk 3 blocks north alone and your ass is gonna get mugged.

So the only cook in the metro is in Fondren? Really?

12:40, Thursday night most folks I know will be going to Maundy Thursday services in and around Jackson. I wish they'd have planned it for another night.

Well, to quote one of Donner Kaye's interns who posted here about six weeks ago, "When we find out collective voices, identify a holistic approach, we can soar".

Pretty sure I heard that line in Blazing Saddles.......

@12:40 nobody cares about being cool. But we do all know plenty of people who have been robbed or had their cars burglarized or stolen. So sell that "it's untrue" bs somewhere else.

I don't hate Jackson. Few probably hate Jackson. But choosing to not go there because it is statistically unsafe is just a choice I make for myself and my family. I personally know too many who have been in danger or been robbed/burglarized. It's too risky for me. Maybe that makes me a coward. I'm ok with that. I would love for Jackson to be safe. I would love for Jackson to get a top notch police chief and really work to make a difference. Simply stating that Jackson is safe doesn't make it safe. It isn't. I want it to be safe. Most of us in the burbs really do.

" I wish they'd have planned it for another night. "

Uh, First Thursday has occurred on the first Thursday of every spring/summer month in Fondren for a few years now. They can't change the calendar just for you.

I'm willing to bet that a large majority of the folks reading and responding to this blog site don't give one whit about 'playing with the cool kids'. Fondren has sold itself with that brand for ten years now. Part of the problem.