Jackson Jambalaya

Little ole Mississippi is going to blow this scheme sky high, with a healthy dose of the TRUTH.

Thank you Linda for telling your story.

Thank you Dennis Smith.

Thank you Kingfish.

Senator Longwitz, the situation with MDMH and Oxford House screams for legislative hearings.

Is that your head buried in the sand Bill Billingsley?

I live outside the metro area and don't have a dog in this hunt, but I'm curious as to just what the legislature can do. I figure they can defund the pocket change that's going to pay the recruiters, but how does that help the people who already have these houses in their neighborhoods? There are what, 15 of these houses already here? Talk about closing the barn door after the horses have gotten out...

Incredible journalism KF. A level of effort and quality that the metro area will never see from any other media outlet. Major kudos!

A very brave lady to come forward and give us an inside look at how OH is actually operating. She is up against a powerful mental health lobby. This confirms a lot of the concerns Mississippians have had. The Department of Mental Health needs to take this seriously, and not focus on excuses.

The Governor or the leg. could tell the state staff to quit doing the bidding of the federal government and shut the program down. Most of the state staff do not know who they actually work for.

Sen. Longwitz, do something!!!!!!!!! This is a huge crock and needs to be exposed to sunlight, the best detergent. Where is the drug testing, the mandatory attendance of meetings? Oh wait, that's against the basic tenets of Oxford House itself.

Bill Billingsley, it's never too late to return Jerry Avery's $1000 donation!!!! Hahah.

Why was this guy transferred from one OH to another? Just to satisfy their residence-grant status! This is not about therapy. It's about red tape and money.

I just hope MDMH has stopped recruiting from prisons to neighborhoods. Senator Will Longwitz and Governor Bryant have each made it abundantly clear to MDMH they must stop recruiting from prisons to neighborhoods. The OH monthly reports posted online revealed that focus. I wonder if MDMH has gotten that message.

@6:52
Don't think for one minute that just because you're not in the Metro area that you won't be impacted by OH. They may very well show up in YOUR neighborhood! Nip It, Nip It In The Bud!

Thank you KF and Dennis Smith for getting to the real story.

Get ready Tupelo. They are about to open another Oxford House in your city.

1012 McKinley St.
Tupelo, MS 38801

Another 3 bedroom house for males and, as Senator Longwitz has noted previously, despite the fact that there are numerous vacancies in all the other already open Oxford Houses.

Somebody in Tupelo needs to contact Nancy Collins ASAP. Collins sits on the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee.

The interview absolutely shatters Mikula's spin.

Bombshell. What would the Board have to say about this? This is more powerful than any letter from the Guv or Delbert. She speaks truth to power with no motivational factors other than to help others.

The Oxford House model clearly failed her loved one. How can we sit and watch this sick scam wreak havoc on the neighborhoods? Surely, DMH can find something else.

You mean that they started relapsing as soon as the DMH Board meeting was over with in Meridian??

No required detox before you enter an Oxford House? WTF??

Rick Barry, how does your letter look now?

Oxford House: We are very strict about relapses. We have a no-tolerance policy.

Oxford House:....sometimes we send our tenants to detox and don't tell anyone...sometimes we cover up relapses...sh**t happens.

If the house could be self-run, then why would they even need Oxford House in the first place???

If I can magically lose weight while eating Doritos on top of my first dessert of the day, then why would I need to go the gym?

A lot of things are self-run by the way, try visiting Cuba or Iran. It's very nice this time of year I hear.

"No one has to know about this relapse..."

Probably because the Oxford House tenants also double as Oxford House laborers. That sounds vaguely familiar. "Arbeit macht frei..." Or in this case, "work makes you sober."

DMH Response: we checked with Meridian ourselves and no one relapsed.

Best quote of the video: "It's a great scheme...means well, but. That's the best way to put it."

Why are more houses opening up despite vacancies across the state?

DMH, why do you side yourself against the Governor and the rest of Mississippi? You are screwed and don't even know it. I know all of you live in Madison, but you know Madison is still in Mississippi, right? I don't know anyone who supports you (other than those in Maryland). Also, a side note: not many newly-fashioned red brick homes in Maryland. It may take some getting used to up there.

The DMH board needs to be held accountable for their lack of oversight. The continued state of denial of the DMH board and its attorneys is just confounding. Is it just simply a matter of pride that they continue to support a program that is only in place to enrich a select few individuals at the expense of the people suffering from addiction? It is clear that the DMH board is more interested in trying to bury this issue than in serving the citizens of Mississippi. The entire DMH board needs to be re-evaluated for competency to serve.

Wait what? Who is Jerry Avery? What difference does it make that he gave $1000 to Longwitz opponent (except that it makes him the second biggest donor)?

How can anyone categorize the SAHA as NIMBY or uppity after this? I'm highly offended by the insinuations of Mark Stovall in his comments or Rick Barry in his letter against anyone who slightly might have reservations against Oxford House.

Why are we even still talking about the seed money? That should have been taken away from OH a long time ago.

She says she witnessed a tenant relapse, eating prescription pills like candy, in a near "comotose state" he was so damn high, go out to a car and retrieve a loaded gun and bring it back inside the house. Tell me again why I have no right to be concerned for my safety and my children's safety??????!

Here's the J. Rick Barry letter. Doesn't exactly square with the first-hand account, does it?

http://m.meridianstar.com/opinion/in-response-to-crawford-s-column-on-oxford-houses/article_2bd47324-1251-11e5-bced-db8e7f446c9b.html?mode=jqm


In response to Crawford's column on Oxford Houses

I would like to respond to Bill Crawford’s recent column about the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Oxford Houses in Mississippi. In 2013, DMH and the Board of Mental Health chose to fund Oxford House because it was the only evidence-based sober living home model on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.

Prior to the Oxford House located in northeast Jackson, 13 Oxford Houses had been successfully established and operating throughout the state. Unfortunately, the Oxford House in northeast Jackson which has raised concerns just happens to be in an influential neighborhood. I did not select the location of this house, nor did the Board or DMH. The rental process is between the landlord and Oxford House.

There has been a lot of misinformation regarding the oversight of Oxford Houses in Mississippi. For example, it has been said that there is no supervision, no drug testing, and residents are recruited from jails. This is simply not true. Oversight is provided by both Outreach Workers and through the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services. Residents are subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing. If a resident refuses testing, they will be removed from the house. Since inception of Oxford House in Mississippi less than 5 percent of their outreach presentations have been made in jails. The majority of presentations are conducted in alcohol and drug treatment programs across the state.

DMH and the Board are working to address recent concerns of Governor Bryant. I, like Governor Bryant, support opportunities for individuals to succeed and get clean. The Oxford House model is designed to give people recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction a second chance at life. That is what we want - people to become working, productive members of society. People without safe, supportive housing often return to environments that promote relapse. We must remember, none of us are perfect. As Jesus said, “Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to cast the first stone."

I respect the concerns and questions that have been raised about Oxford House. However, by approving the funding for Oxford House, DMH and its Board are working to fulfill the mission to support a better tomorrow, by making a difference in the lives of all Mississippians.

J. Richard Barry

Member of the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health

Meridian

I guess we will get another article from the Clarion Ledger about how we should just continue to overlook all of the problems with the OH model and their mistreatment of the citizens of Mississippi. Thank you Kingfish for your reporting on this.

This is abuse and exploitation of vulnerable adults for profit. Without support most will relapse and that support must include 12-step programs and accountability.

I believe this is one of the first steps of the current Administration to bust open neighborhoods and is covered by the Fair Housing Act. This Act is going to be used to violate everything you believe about property rights.

Recovering people, find a stable environment. Find a good sponsor or two. Do ninety in ninety and don't drink or use no matter what. You can do it without being considered disabled by the Feds. Once you have worked the steps and stayed sober you are a first class citizen capable of moving in the world without chemical crutches. You are not disabled.

@ DMH: Might want to check up on the misinformation you received about the relapses in Meridian. You are being lied to.

So when will MDMH put Oxford Houses in Madison and Brandon in the neighborhoods where the Staff lives?

"... evidence-based sober living home model ..."

Barry is an idiot. Who provides the evidence? The Oxford House mothership. Who does MDMH contract with to provide oversight? The Oxford House mothership.

It is total crap. Why open a house in Tupelo when the other houses are far below the optimum therapeutic level? Because it is all a scam and the idea that the houses have some optimum level where everyone benefits is even more crap. Temporary walls that can be easily removed? That is fraud.

Mikula, Avery, Stovall. Time to reach out directly to their neighbors.

Ok, all of these comments are fun and good, but DMH needs to address the serious accusations of cover up as well as the fraudulent applications at play here. Why would such a department go to great lengths to protect a Mickey Mouse organization?

Where is Bill Denny? What a waste of a House Representative.

J. Richard Barry

I get that Rick Barry is trying to conceal his own imperfection in choosing OH then handing them the keys to the state. But when you invoke the Lord's name to cover your tracks, that's where he lost me.

I am very sorry her loved one wasn't able to stay sober. However I have to state that OH isn't and never has been a treatment center. It is for people who want to live sober and stay sober. If someone needs that much supervision they should be in a treatment center. In an OH the resident is responsible for themself with the help of the other residents. The out reach worker is there for guidance not to sit with someone 24 hours a day.

So, 10:10, I have one question for you & MDMH: WHICH IS IT? Are they supervising these recovering residents or are they following the self-government model? It can't be both. Seems like J. Richard Barry & Assc. give any answer that will get their chestnuts out of the fire at the time. Very convenient, J. Richard. Very convenient for you. But not for taxpayers or recovering addicts.

10:10pm....Goooooooood Mooooorrrrrnnnning Maaaarylaaaaaaaaaaaand! We have our first customer! What the hell is the outreach worker's purpose if not for providing supervision to people who would otherwise relapse??

77 days and still no results from the Silver Alert.

10:10pm, you need to come down off of your high and realize what you are saying. If Oxford House didn't provide some type of therapeutic experience, then what would be the point of even needing an Oxford House in the first place?? It's circular logic. Oxford House is supposed to provide something that a crackhouse can't. However, the reality is that the only difference between a crackhouse and an Oxford House is.....actually I don't know. I can't think of anything funny for that one. Probably is no difference.

@10:10 - It wasn't just her loved one, it was also the other lone resident. Please provide the statistics for all the Jackson houses - how long each resident has been in the house, in particular. If you review the public records from MDMH, there is tremendous turnover - add in the apparent willingness of OH to let someone who relapses return in 3 days (really? really? 3 days detox is going to help someone who has relapsed?) then clearly OH has no concern for their (cough, cough) clientele and lots of concern about their stream of income.

Nice job, Kingfish, and major kudos to this woman who was willing to speak the truth.

I am totally for supporting those that want to get clean but that is NOT OH's agenda. It's all about the money, follow the money.

KF. I've Been in an OH for over a year. Can you do a video of someone who has worked their program and has been successful. Relapses are going to happen. This woman is angry because her loved one couldn't stay sober. It's not OH's fault. We are here to live and learn to get back into society. We have to want our sobriety. If I relapsed today it would be my fault not anyone else's. I have 17 months of sobriety and it is because I have worked hard and have had a safe place to live. These lies being told are so sad. I am grateful for my sobriety and I'm grateful for what OH has done for me.

10:10pm, let's get this straight: there is no mandatory level for sobriety before entering an Oxford House (aka, no detox before entering); the house is self-run by a group of said men or women; the outreach worker is not mandated to provide on-site guidance....so who is? They are supposed to go cold turkey all by their lonesome? How does this work? Answer: It doesn't. Outreach workers should just be called the "fixers" or the "bag men." They cover up relapses when they occur either by quietly sending them to dry out or to shut up.

Your excuses are only that much more concerning due to the fact that Oxford House doesn't have to exist in Mississippi. There are countless other evidence-based, SAMHSA-approved resources for the recovering addict.

Oxford House for Beginners:

1) no mandatory level for sobriety upon entry (you can enter hungover if necessary)

2) no mandatory attendance at AA or NA meetings

3) no mandatory drug tests

4) mandatory manual labor to satisfy the Outreach Worker (aka Bossman)

5) add 7 men going through withdrawals and you get an Oxford House...God Bless America.

10:40pm, you just happened to be reading Kingfish late at night...please.

KF, I've got a cousin that dealt with poly-addiction: alcohol, meth, pills, etc. He is from the coast but was sent to an Oxford House in Jackson to avoid going to jail. Nevertheless, he escaped from this Oxford House up here with no repercussions. He is back to his old ways of burning the candle at both ends and writing Waylon Jennings-esque songs. It did nothing for him. It actually put him in a dangerous environment. I'm glad he's out and at least living in a humane environment with his parents.

10:40pm, if Oxford House is so great then why are you still living in one after a full year? It sounds like you could move on at this point. Where is the return on your investment after overpaying for rent, living with a bunch of other guys, and reading Kingfish this late at night.

Rick Barry was a vote away from being a federal judge.

@10:38: I am truly happy that OH program has worked for you. I applaud your dedication to your recovery and wish you continued success. But just to be perfectly clear, I have had a front row seat in this matter and there are no lies in this video.

10:24pm, it's only 77 days if you're living in Maryland. 76 for Central Time Zone. busted. The Maryland alert has buzzed again.

So much for the complete BS that if a OH resident relapses BOOM they are sent packing out of the house. Absolute complete bullshit. Where is the harpy now telling us that the East Northside house have 5 bedrooms?

Barry is the husband of the former Mayor. He is the attorney for the Lauderdale Board of Supervisors and is the Bob Montgomery, oops, I meant Godfather of Lauderdale County. He is also the real power of the board of MDMH. Don't let the smile or suit fool you. Get out the brass knuckles and spiked baseball bats.

Is Barry wearing a hairpiece or the same style he sported as teen?

I'm skeptical that we need therapy and supportive housing in the same house. Actually, OH puts up a house and calls it both. It is nothing more than just an escape from jail and a delayed entry back into the real world.

Scott Spivey, congrats on being honored by MBJ for some award, but can you put your brain to work at this? There are other housing alternatives that need not double as therapeutic avenues. I wouldn't live with my counselor if I had depression, and I wouldn't expect the same from my substance abuse therapy. If ever you could make an impact on MS through your current capacity, now would be the time!!

10:42 ok so an addict gets in Some where you get 24 hour supervision. Take lots of drug tests has food cooked for you, are told every step of your day, go in facility vans where ever you need to go, have counselors available 24 hours a day. I mean that's what everyone is saying addicts need right? Now the 90 days are up and you leave. All clean and sober with your one bag of clothes. What now? Most do not have family to go home to. Most if lucky have minimum wage jobs. Where is a place safe for them to relearn running a household, to be independent, to remain sober without someone by their side 24 hours a day? If there are countless places list a few. I would like to know.

10:55. I am still living here because it takes time to rebuild one's life. And as for over paying rent that is yet another lie. I have a safe home, cable, utilities, everything needed to live and get back on my feet. And the return on my investment is that I'm clean and sober, I am a tax paying citizen, and I can stay up late if I want.

J. Richard Barry,
Instead of writing that ridiculous letter defending Oxford House, you should be switching allegiances, and distancing yourself from this mess. Maybe there is still time for you to save your career and stay out of prison.

All that letter did was throw the spotlight on YOU. Now, I'm wondering just how deep you are in this, and how Oxford House and local profiteers "influenced" you. What, exactly, is your relationship with this cabal?

Instead of getting prissy with us, you should be saying, "I had no idea these abuses were occurring. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will do all that we can, to rectify the situation."

Oh, and please stop taking Jesus' name in vain. Weaponizing Jesus, in order to use him to shut us up, is probably a seriously horrible sin.

Too funny. The Jerri Avery drops $1000 on Billingsley's campaign. Guess that explains why Billingsley ducks the Oxford House issue while knocking on NEJackson doors.

Rick, why doesn't the MDMH Board take responsibility for siting the houses? If you did you might put them where kids are not so close as they are to the Northside house. How can you wash your hands of it and leave such decisions to 20 something year olds as in Jackson? Or you might lead by example and put them next to Jerri or Diana or even yourself.

KF: you have hit the spot once more as the interactive Kingfish of this muddy Mississippi pond!

Thank you, Kingfish, for keeping this story relevant and for continuing to report on it. It means a lot to those of us who live close to an Oxford House.

11:32pm, it does not require a PhD or a phony pair of smart glasses to point you in the right direction. Just go to SAMHSA's website and look for substance abuse/substance prevention treatment options. You will find far better options anywhere, bar none. Oxford House is the substance abuse version of Barnham and Bailey, where the patient is the clown. Jerri Avery is holding the whip and blocking the door so you can't get out alive.

Catch my drift?

11:44pm, you don't realize how badly you are getting screwed it is amazing. You can't just "call something a lie" and hope that no one pursues the truth any further. If I share a small house with 7 men, it better be damn cheap, close to free. You are paying double the market rate if you are paying anything close to $125-$150 a week as DOCUMENTED in Oxford House reports.

You have no right to stay up late according to Oxford House rules, Mike Martindale told me himself you have a curfew. However, Oxford House enforces its own rules, too. So, throw that out the window...if you can manage to part the black drapes on 2230 E. Northside.

Your level of safety is such a mirage...from the video, we see how anyone under the influence can carry a gun to no consequence. Outreach workers don't correct behavior...they cover it up.

There isn't a single empirically sound study that supports the notion that substance abuser should live with other substance abuser during early recovery if they want to stay clean and sober unless they are being strictly monitored while doing so.

There are many empirically sound studies that indicate substance abusers should avoid contact with other abusers and recent abusers except in controlled and well defined environments like AA and therapy.

Those trying to get clean and sober should avoid places and people which are likely to trigger a relapse.

Those people to avoid would include those also newly sober. Those who have been sober long enough to have learned why being sober is a good thing can help those in recovery.

Two recent addicts unsupervised are just as likely to start talking about how good their addiction of choice made them feel rather than constant focus on the bad things their addiction made them do and how many people they hurt in the process. They haven't been clean and sober long enough to talk about the benefits of being clean and sober when one or the other is fighting the temptation of an quick " feel better".

ANYONE who studied mental health suggesting otherwise is astonishing. If anyone with real expertise in this field is supporting this boondoggle, I have to believe they are benefitting either monetarily or politically or in their career path . They are either in denial ( wanting to believe this will work subconsciously because they benefit from that belief) or they are sociopaths.

That OH would fail to help addicts is a clinically a given. It is not a new, innovated approach. Successful innovation is based on knowledge and facts and sound testing not imagination alone!

Dr. Jim Herzog of Jackson was the DMH board member that led the committee to recommend OH in MS. He is still on the board and also maintains his public support of OH even though numerous issues have been brought up to him. I wonder if he is unwilling to break ranks with the Board stance on OH due to the consultation services he provides to Region 8 Mental Health Services? Each board member's financial ties to state funded contracts should be publicly disclosed.

Jim Hood and the AG's office has been a major advocate of OH in MS, both with the DOJ and as legal advisors to the DMH board. I would like to know Mike Hurst position on this issue.

Hey 9:48, Dinosaur Denny has been all busy with Jurassic World being released. Lots of promo work......

Can't we all agree to just keep beating the Felix Vail story to death?

So Paul Malloy, still thing the inmates can be left to run the asylum?

Hertzog, Avery, Mikula, Rowzee, and Barry will never put an OH near their fancy digs in the burbs of Madison, Brandon and Meridian. It is all for them "Ddo as we say, Not As We Do!"

11:44 --Mr. Molloy - get some rest -- It's hard to be CEO of this train wreck, and worry about keeping your pockets lined. You've got to stop blogging at midnight -- men your age need their rest. I remember something someone told me a long time ago -- in Mississippi -- we might talk slow, but I promise we're thinking fast -- you equated our slow drawl with a slow intellect.

How much are you paying the "piper" now for that decision??

Interesting video. Interesting also that someone who's had positive experiences wasn't also sought out for comment. Nothing brings out the fools like a good OH bashing post.

I just threw up in my mouth. This is a contrived interview with someone who is looking to blame someone else because her "loved one" chose to relapse. And you people are eating this up. Oxford House has houses world wide with as success rate that is unmatched in the recovery business. Oxford House is not a treatment center. It's a second start for people who "want" to stay sober. Some will fail in Oxford House. More will fail leaving Copac or any other addiction treatment facility. Maybe you can afford to send your "loved ones" to Malibu Addiction Centers but they have an even higher failure rate. It's up to the person, not the facility. Oxford House gives you a second start in a safe environment. If you don't succeed it's NO ONES FAULT BUT YOUR OWN. I know. I'm in recovery. I could decide to use tomorrow and who will stop. No one because it's a personal choice to stay sober. Oxford House just offers you a place to do it. They can't make you do it. That's up to you. Contrived interview with a person looking to point the blame. If you drink too much and beat your wife is it your wife's fault or yours. Please. Let me go brush my teeth now from the near vomit. You people are supposed to be educated yet you listen to a woman who has no addiction experience except she has a loved one who can't stay sober. I may be sick all day.

Nothing stopping any of you from trying to contact me. Email address is on my website in the center column. YOu get interviewed, you get the same treatment. Alone in a room with me, Dennis, and the cameraman. No handlers, no attorneys, no nothing, and at the mercy of our questions.

Quit being a crybaby.

Interesting also that someone who's had positive experiences wasn't also sought out for comment.

Nothing stop you from stepping forward, starting your own gig and presenting the other side. But we already know that you won't.

"This is a contrived interview "

Dennis Smith conducted a phony interview? Good luck with that accusation, knucklhead. Make more such comments and keep sounding stupid.

@8:40 Of course the OH residents are going to give positive testimonials considering the influence OH wields over them. OH controls the residents through the housing. The lady in this video was free of the OH influence and was able to speak freely.

I love some of the choices on the SAMHSA site. Altrurlife.com. 345$ per month or 14$ a day for your methadone doses. Or 90$ a week if you want liquid form. Lovely. Trade one addiction for another and call it getting sober.

I just threw up in my mouth.

But, but, but

Let me go brush my teeth now from the near vomit.

What is "near vomit"? Are you mistaking vomit for a problem with acid?

I may be sick all day.

You aren't sure? You may be 'near vomiting' all day?

The comments of anyone who questions the credibility of Dennis Smith should be summarily dismissed.

SAMHSA only allows evidence-based treatment options to be advertised on their website. If you think methadone is not considered evidence-based treatment, then you might also find solace with those who view a self-run, no mandatory drug-tested or level of sobriety-established facility as a crock as well.

I'll take methadone any day over Oxford House.

Kingfish, please forgive them...Dennis Smith is not well known in Maryland. They are not up to speed on his credentials.

This is ridiculous. Hatchet job against OH as presented. Most of you people will eat up anything. Give me an objective report, with both sides presented, interviewed by someone not living down the road from the maligned house. Then I'll make up my mind. All that said, Mr. Smith is as fine a newsman that lives in MS, and I like him personally.

Here are some population stats for Oxford Houses across the country:

Alabama pop: 4.849 Million (M) # of Oxford Houses: 1
Kentucky pop: 4.413 Million # of Oxford Houses: 4
Arkansas pop: 4.413 Million # of Oxford Houses: 4
Georgia pop: 4.413 Million # of Oxford Houses: 1
Florida pop: 4.413 Million # of Oxford Houses: 3
Mississippi pop: 2.994 Million # of Oxford Houses: 17

Follow the money, folks. Follow the money.

A few Oxford House stats for comparison:


Alabama pop: 4.849 Million # of Oxford Houses: 1
Kentucky pop: 4.413 Million # of Oxford Houses: 4
Arkansas pop: 2.966 Million # of Oxford Houses: 4
Georgia pop: 10.1 Million # of Oxford Houses: 1
Florida pop: 19.89 Million # of Oxford Houses: 3
Mississippi pop: 2.994 Million # of Oxford Houses: 17

Follow the money....

9:01 -- I think that she has plenty of addiction experience.

Also, how you paying for those Oxford Homes "Worldwide" -- with those US tax dollars you're reaping in Maryland?

In addition, from her testimony, I"m not so sure Oxford Houses are safe environments to recover in, unless you're packing a gun. Seems the "roomies" might be armed and high from what she stated, and she has the text messages and saw it firsthand from her interview.

I am saddened by the hatred of "Jackson's Finest." Ugly, nasty, mean, hatred. You sound like spoiled children who have always gotten their way and when they don't they throw tantrums and point fingers and spew down- right evil things from their mouths. All this while hiding behind "Anonymous." Dennis Smith may actually be a fine reporter, but if he had done a honest video in favor of Oxford House you would vilify him and hate him and spit at his children. I would love to print my name on this post but then you would turn on me and attack my family and I would lose my job and you would hold up crosses every time you see me or my children. You would tell your children not to play with mine and convince the teachers to fail them. Please stop this behavior. It's demoralizing to us regular folk here in the state who don't have the resources that you do and who are trying to help others instead of beat them down.

2:27 I don't think this lady who gave the interview hates anyone. I don't think people who want to know why our government is spending money on a private organization who takes advantage of very needy people are themselves "spoiled children." I think the "spoiled children" in this situation are 2 groups, Oxford House Inc and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. How dare anyone ask questions about Oxford House and the federal money they get? How dare anyone ask why the Department of Mental Health has chosen this group and why they are willfully ignoring the major failures of Oxford House?
I can see how no one wants their very lucrative apple cart to be turned over, but I thank all involved who are asking the right questions.

Another Oxford House success story.

Woman Sentenced for Leaving Child Wandering Busy York County Intersection

A woman convicted of leaving her daughter wandering around a busy York County intersection admitted to having a drug addiction.
.....
Her 5-year-old child has been in the custody of a foster parent since Venable’s arrest in June, when officers found her passed out in her car while her daughter walked unsupervised along the median at the intersection of Hampton Highway and Victory Boulevard.

The child, who appeared dirty and unbathed, told officers her mother was dead, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Krystyn Reid said during Venable’s plea hearing in November.

Officers found Venable unconscious in her car with a fresh needle mark on her arm and a needle lying 6 inches away from her, Reid said.
.....
Venable was living at an Oxford House — a home for recovering addicts — until she tested positive for opiates in January and was arrested for violating the terms of her bond.

Me thinks @2:37 PM has no clue who Dennis Smith is.

Oxford House Tyranny Finds Jacksonville, North Carolina

Neighbors said they received no communication about the plan and raised concerns about its possible impact to children who live near the faded-beige home at 107 Winthrope Way at the corner of Grandford Place. Seven vacancies are advertised online for men seeking “recovery from drug and alcohol addiction” by the nonprofit, Oxford House — which promotes “Self-Help for Sobriety Without Relapse,” according to its website.

The home is about a mile from a daycare center and retailers on Western Boulevard. The neighborhood is quiet despite that proximity.

On Wednesday, all blinds were shut in the home’s windows.

Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Oxford House landlord stabbed with samurai sword by ejected Oxford House resident.

Mandeville, LA: Former Oxford House resident charged with felony theft and forgery after stealing checks from his Oxford House.

June 16th at 9:13pm is the first comment that I have seen out of the several hundred on this subject that actually gets it. Their 2nd paragraph nails it...

"I believe this is one of the first steps of the current Administration to bust open neighborhoods and is covered by the Fair Housing Act. This Act is going to be used to violate everything you believe about property rights."

There is a concerted effort by the Administration to "diversify" neighborhoods and communities that has been under way since day one. This is just one of the tentacles. Hope and Change my friends....Hope and Change.

Hello 3:21 I wasn't referring to the untruthful lady in the video. She is an ex meth dealer who's boyfriend can't get sober so it must be someone else's fault. Do your research. I was referring to those of us who live here in Jackson especially those who are being hateful and mean because an Oxford House moved close by. Probably I was referring to people like you.

Hello 3:26 I know who Dennis Smithis. I know his credentials. Very respected. I also know he owns a house in the disputed North East Jackson area so he has a dog in the hunt. That makes for a little bias on his side. That's why he only shows a negative ex meth dealer who wants to blame Oxford house because her lover can't seem to stay sober. That's why everyone is on a witch hunt. Sure you can pick out the few failures among the thousands of successes. I bet I can find a few failures in the East Jackson area as well but mostly there are successes. Let's play far. An ex meth dealer who wants her "loved one" sober so she can get her bills paid is not a good example in my book.

When you come in an OH you come in knowing that if you drink or use you have to leave. OH is a home to recover safely in. It is not perfect. No program is. This loved one knew that when he signed all his paper work when he was admitted to the house. All you want to focus on is the negative examples. There are far more good than bad examples. However when someone tells something good you ignore it or criticize them or claim Maryland is blogging. There was never a gun. Someone thought they may have seen a gun in someone's car that wasn't even a resident there. We live in the real world and in the real world you can't make people stay sober if they don't want to. Relapses will happen. Unless of course we want to go back to Hitler days and just throw all the alcoholics and addicts in a compound.

Hmmm....... pretty serious accusation. What is your source? She says all she has ever gotten was a speeding ticket. Then you have to smear Dennis Smith of course. Nice try. Is this Mr. Paul? Why don't you publish your name so you can be available for service of process?

Ex meth dealer??? Please provide the source of your accusation. And she does not need "her lover" to pay her bills. This lady is self sufficient. Grabbing at straws...this is so sad it is funny!

One person's experience and opinion does not make a case for anything.

You have no idea 4:55 PM where Dennis Smith lives.

Absolutely true, 4:42! Another term to describe it is AGGRESSION BY PROXY. The 'Administration' is, in this case, enabling/using Oxford House as the Aggressor, in the destruction of neighborhoods.

An ex meth dealer?

1) what's her name?
2) what's your name?
3) in what years did her meth dealing occur?
4) what are the circumstances surrounding her conviction?
4 (A) who was the arresting officer?
(B) where was she caught?
(C) how much was she caught with?
(D) did she sell to a confidential informant?
(E) when was she arrested?
(F) when was she convicted?
(G) was she convicted of a felony? More than one? > ( G-1) > only one?
(G-2) > how many? ( G-2-A) wow that's a lot!
5) how much time did she spend incarcerated?
6) what's the minimum sentence for her charge(s)?
7) what's the maximum sentence?
8) and she's out now?
(9) why would a convicted meth dealer go in front of a camera to do an interview about a drug rehab program in which ( insert here) had a relapse?
(10) she's gaining what?
(12) so this is just all smoke and mirrors to detract away from the reality of the situation?

Holy shit what a joke. This person is being put up for what purpose? I challenge any one of the dolts who claim this "interview" (is it an interview?) proves their biased point to demonstrate how. Nothing but hearsay, unfounded speculation, uneducated opinions and baseless points of authority. She knows so much about how to properly run these houses? Where's the question (really where are any questions) testing her education and experience? So many sheep. I'm embarrassed for you.

This same lady has posted on Sen Longwitz FB how thankful she is for OH. The same lady thanking the out reach worker for his help. Same lady used to drug with her loved one. I'm sorry he relapsed but OH didn't make him drink.

H e y king fish how much did you pay her for her video? Nice little sum I bet.

Let's tell good stories. In the past 2 months my OH has had 2 people move out on their own. Clean sober and living their lives. We currently have 3 New members who have just obtained jobs and are attending their meetings and doing well. One other member is working 2 jobs and is saving to get out on their own. The fifth person is retired and battling cancer. The fellowship between the residents here is amazing. We are learning to live the life of clean, sober, productive citizens of the state of Mississippi. I wish everyone could and would stay sober however if that person chooses to drink again then they have to as accept the consequences.

Hell 8:27, KF didn't pay for this. The Longwitz campaign fund provided the dollars. Probably did go thru KF, but I'd bet he was just the channel. Of course, you won't see this as a 'disbursement' on the Longwitz report, but hey, at least he filed one.

You are pathetic. I didn't pay one dime to her directly or indirectly. I'm not Charles Johnson. Mr smith was paid for the actual work he did. That is it. Try smearing some more.

20:03. No one is reading your horse shit questions. Get a life, read a book learn to think on your own.

KF, at 5:18, "what's your source?" Comment. Odd, given the post that allowed the unsourced ramblings of the subject of this post.

"20:03. No one is reading your horse shit questions. Get a life, read a book learn to think on your own." June 17, 2015 at 9:58 PM

I was reading those questions, although the time they were posted was 8:03 - not "20:03". Can't you do ANYTHING right? Is that your problem? Do you do drugs, maybe because they help blunt the pain from your failure at EVERYTHING? I think those were EXCELLENT questions. Why do they bother you so much? Why don't YOU go and have a "relapse" or something?

"Me thinks @2:37 PM has no clue who Dennis Smith is. "

I'm pretty sure they don't carry his broadcasts in Maryland :-)

And 9:58 - ok, you won't answer the questions. So what are you trying to hide and why? (see how that works?)

Of course I know who Dennis Smith is. I live in Jackson, not another city or state. I probably know you. My guess is you know me. I hear that Dennis Smith owns a house in East Jackson. He doesn't live in that house. Still puts bias. I won't say my name because you then would hate on me. I'm trying to protect my income and family. I'm in recovery. 9 years this year. Oxford House is not to blame if someone relapses. The person is to blame. Everyone is responsible for themselves. All Oxford House does is offer a safe environment to become a better person. Oxford House treats people like adults and does not offer 24/7 hand holding like the lady in the video said her lover needed. I know East Jackson people who drink too much and drive. I even know East Jackson people who smoke pot and do "lots" of cocaine. I even know the drug dealers who bring the drugs to you. You live near schools and have guns in your cars. You do drugs. You drink and drive. I know you if not by name by face. You would even say hello to me. The woman in the video sold meth with her lover. Fact. If Dennis Smith wasn't being biased he would have reported that. The woman in the video is not telling the whole truth. If Dennis Smith wasn't being biased he would have touched on those facts. Here is the big question . . . Have you had trouble with the people living in the Northside Oxford House? Have you had any trouble with the people living in the Forest Part Oxford House? Have they had parties or torn up the houses or caused a ruckus of any kind? No. They have fixed up the yards and cleaned up the houses and they all have jobs and they all are just trying to make a better life for themselves. Why not allow them to do that? They are not the ones drinking and driving through you neighborhoods and making drug deals or carrying the concealed weapons in their cars. I know you.

And Kingfish, you said the lady said she has never even gotten a speeding ticket. I have never met a drug dealer yet that says "Oh by the way, I used to deal meth." It's obvious to me that this woman came forward with an offer and the ransom was paid for bad information.

You may have an argument to make for OH, but claiming the lady was paid or made up will not work. No one could make up a witness with as much detail and consistency as she has. She is real enough. And KF told you no payment was made. He is for real also.

10:12 Maybe Kingfish is "for real." And I'm not saying the lady is a "fake" witness. She is the real lover of a former Oxford House resident. The former resident admitted in other treatment situations that he and his girlfriend were meth dealers. So yes, she is real enough. She blames her woes on Oxford House. How did Oxford House fail her? She was fully educated on what Oxford House is and is not. She should blame her lover. He can't stay sober. Oxford House can't keep anyone sober. It can only give them a safe place to reach their potential if they choose to STAY SOBER. He chose not to stay sober. That's why he isn't in an Oxford House anymore.

Question:
So you are just saying this lady showed up one day and said I need to tell my story? It was just a few days before she was looking forward to her lovers recovery and him help paying her bills. Wonder how that happened? Wonder how her bills are getting paid now when her lover is in treatment in another state? Everyone has a price and someone who as an agenda is always willing to pay the price.

Oxford House is not a 24/7 treatment facility. They are safe homes for people who want to change and get better. Let's do a hypothetical : You have a 21 year old son. He gets into drugs. He gets arrested. He goes to treatment. He comes home to YOUR house. A safe comfortable environment. You work. Your wife works. No 24/7 hand holding but you believe the environment is good for him. A few weeks later he is doing drugs again. Back in treatment. Is this YOUR fault? Or is this his responsibility? You offered him a safe place to recover. He chose to relapse. Oxford House is a safe recovery house. You can't make everyone stay sober but you can give them the opportunity to do it in a safe, non-violent, non drug infested house in a good neighborhood. This is Oxford House. It has worked for thousands of residents across the country. It could work for your son or daughter or husband or wife or mother or father in the future. The addict has to want to change. This video shows me a woman who wanted her lover to change but her lover didn't really want it like she did. So now she blames Oxford House instead of him. Give those houses a chance. Keep an eye on them. Have conversations with them. Treat them like humans. They like to talk about politics and good books and trips they have taken and life in general. They like to BBQ and socialize and relax. Take them some cookies and milk. They will then become your friend and look out for you house and family. I know. I've been there. Look for the good in people and yourself.

East Jackson? Thanks for telegraphing that you're comment is wholly bogus.

Disregard the clueless and anonymous @10:45 AM who is only here to shoot the messenger.

Northeast Jackson. Sorry I left off the North. Audubon, Sherwood, Eastover. I guess you consider yourself more north then east but you are more east than Belhaven and Fondren. Am I not correct. But if that's your argument for my not being legit I'm laughing. Sure wouldn't want you Northeast Jackson people confused with the low life that live in Belhaven. I lived in Fondren. Between Meadowbrook and Northside. Not far from you.

Keep it up @11:37. With each comment you only reinforce that you are bogus.

Am I not correct.

No, you are not.

Sure wouldn't want you Northeast Jackson people confused with the low life that live in Belhaven.

Again, you are not correct. Not even close.

I lived in Fondren. Between Meadowbrook and Northside.

Specifically where? Since you don't live there any longer provide us with an address. Surely you remember.

People who live in Maryland would think East Jackson actually exists...come on give them a break people. They can't help it!!

MDMH did NOT ALLOW Linda to speak at their monthly meeting today. She requested time, as a taxpaying citizen of the state of Mississippi, to speak about her experience with Oxford House, and was denied by the Board of Mental Health.

Senator Will Longwitz, who took time to travel to Corinth for the meeting this morning, was limited to only 15 minutes to speak.

Last month, the Board of Mental Health allowed Oxford House and various people associated with Oxford House over an hour to speak.

What is going on here? This is all smelling to high heaven.

@9:29 Not buying that I know you or any of the locals knows you. I've lived in the area for over 50 years and never once have I heard anyone refer to it as "East Jackson". Not in conversation, not in the media, not anywhere. So, if you want to troll this site and pretend to "know us", please get your vernacular straight, it's "Northeast Jackson". Also "Sherwood Forest." And, again, if you had roots here you would know that Belhaven and Fondren are most certainly considered Northeast Jackson and are the heart of the area. Is that "not far from you" comment a veiled threat, by the way?

And, yes, there have been issues at both houses. Ask the neighbors. Oh, that's right several have moved out already. No one feels safe, probably not even the OH residents themselves, with the constant turnover. Oh, and they all have jobs? Did you not see the signed lease where 2 of the 4 were disabled/not working, one was (cough) self employed, and only one could list a job?

Also, despite your multiple posts claiming the lady sold drugs and was paid for the interview, there's been no evidence. Using one of your fellow OH residents who is in relapse as an accurate source does not count. Even if it were true, what difference does that make? Isn't your whole point that OH former addicts should be treated with dignity and respect? And yet you attack someone you say is a fellow addict/recovering addict anonymously online? Nice. The woman related her experience with OH and how it is run, and you don't like that. We get it, it's no fun to be caught with your pants down. So please quit posting the same attacks/accusations over and over. It makes you look a bit desperate, dear.

I have friends and family who are in recovery, and I completely support programs that help anyone get clean. Oxford House is simply a money grabbing game where no one wins, including the residents.

And, if I may ask, exactly how do you know all the drug dealers?

The Oxford houses in Jackson are not a "safe comfortable.environment." It cannot even fairly be called "Oxford Houses." According to the federal court cases cited so often by defenders of Oxford house, there is a way the Oxford house model can work and help people. It requires 8 to 15 people in a house with four or more "good-sized bedrooms." The reason the Oxford house model works, they say, is that people with longer periods of sobriety are there to mentor and help the other residents and to hold them accountable. There is nothing that resembles the Oxford house model going on in Northeast Jackson. And it is probably not happening the other ones in the state. How can you call what Linda woods described a safe comfortable environment? They put two struggling addicts in a house together unattended. You might as well have just sent the two of them to a cheap motel room somewhere with a fully stocked bar. there was no support, no mentorship, no structure, no hope for these two people. So, naturally, they relapse. And she says Oxford house outreach workers ignored it and hid it.
What further evidence do you need that this is not just a disaster waiting to happen - it is a disaster and it is happening now. The State Board of mental health has let go of the wheel and closed their eyes. Somebody has got to stop them before this problem gets even worse.

In response to June 18th at 9:29am:
I live on Forest Park, and your residents of Oxford House have done nothing as you describe...they have not fixed up the yard, the house, or done anything productive. The place looks like crap, and these men sit in the carport ALL DAY LONG, doing NOT SHIT but smoking and leering at women who are out exercising or walking their dogs. They don't appear to have showered in weeks. They need to get off their lazy asses like the rest of us and GO WORK. And don't tell me they have jobs, because they are there sitting on their ass in the carport (who does that? why not at least sit in the backyard?) and smoking when I leave for work in the mornings, they are there if I come by the house at lunch, and they are there in the afternoon when I come home. Worthless.

So MS is to have 17 OHs while FL has 3?

MDMH better hope that it all works out. If they allow OH outreach workers to recruit directly from prisons, MDMH can be certain it will not work out. The MDMH Board needs to keep a close eye out on the recruiting.

Regardless of the arbitrary limits the MDMH Board puts on citizen and representative input, and how pissed off they get at our input, they can be certain the rest of us will continue to watch them, the Staff, and their OH program closely.

Truly one of the best statements offered throughout the entire OH debacle by June 16, 2015 at 9:13 PM:


"Recovering people, find a stable environment. Find a good sponsor or two. Do ninety in ninety and don't drink or use no matter what. You can do it without being considered disabled by the Feds. Once you have worked the steps and stayed sober you are a first class citizen capable of moving in the world without chemical crutches. You are not disabled."

12:59 The disabled who live in Oxford Houses must do volunteer work. They are not allow to isolate and sit around the house all day.

You are partially correct. I don't have roots here. I moved here about 10 years ago. Sorry but for me I still call everything East of the 55 and South of County Line Road East Jackson. I do know it's called Northeast Jackson now. LOL I never considered Fondren part of that area I guess because it's funky and hip.

You can find me many mornings at Broad Street. Many of the workers there know my name. Great coffee and I love having early breakfast there before it gets too crowded.

I'm not your enemy. Just a supporter of recovery and a big supporter of the truth. The truth is subjective. This woman in the video see's what she wants to see because her man won't get sober. I have been around long enough not to believe one persons version of the truth. Since you have been in Jackson 50 years I assume you have also been around long enough not to believe one persons version of the truth. I ask only that you research yourself and not rely on this blog for information.

Finally, how do I know the drug dealers? I have worked with them over the years. You probably have too you just don't know it. They aren't always like you see in the movies.

If you want to have coffee sometime lets meet up at Broad Street. I imagine we would have a fun spirited conversation even if we don't change each others mind. LOL I believe in recovery. My wife tells me I'm fighting the good fight. I feel that I am too. It won't get me rich but it will bring me riches in other ways. I understand from this blog that NORTHEAST Jackson believes in recovery as well just as long as it happens somewhere else. I would love to discuss the facts with you sometime, Dear.

at June 17, 2015 at 9:01 AM - "I just threw up in my mouth. This is a contrived interview..."

Yeah, you just shit in your britches too. You are like many of the OH residents - unable to control yourself... mind or body. Nobody buys your crap.

In response to your just submitted article, what else did you expect? If you tell a lie enough times, and keep repeating it, to some it becomes the truth. That is what the OH people are hoping.

Destroy the messenger, not the message. Right out of the "Obama Playbook", written by Saul Alinsky in his infamous "Rules for Radicals" epistle.

1:48 You sound like a fine part of society.

Funny how people don't really read the FACTS posted about Oxford House. They only attack the person who posts but they forgot the facts were there to read.

Through all his blather, 3:26 PM is only here to misdirect and spin tales. He won't meet anyone at Broad Street. He's FOS.

East Jackson? No one says East Jackson. My girlfriend who grew up in New York has lived here less than a decade and even SHE says Northeast Jackson. Even your bit about Broad Street rings hollow. You remind me of the people from those Old Style beer ads where the people tell Dennis Farina they live just off "The Lip".

https://youtu.be/ibnp5lpqzlc?t=1m

But since the staff at Broad Street knows you, that makes you legit. Yeah, right. Go look through your copy of the JFP for other advertisers whose name you can drop.

I've tried telling of my success on here. Every single time I'm criticized, ignored, or told I'm someone from Maryland. I would come forward and do an interview but it wouldn't matter. You talk about a smear campaign that's all this has been from the beginning. Sen Longwitz quoting that most are felons or sex offenders. PROVE IT!! None of us are. Like I said before I'm very sorry ms woods loved one relapsed but that was his choice. There is leadership in these houses (I have 17 months). The fact is OH isn't a recovery center and the residents are independently responsible for themselves. Others are there for support and fellowship and accountability but can not force someone to not take a drink.

Kingfish,

I've lived in Jackson for 45 years. I have lived at the same address for 20 years. I continue to be dismayed at living in Jackson, but it is absolutely comical.... the twisted means at which you will personally attempt to find legitimacy from this area.

So you paid Dennis Smith to help with an interview on a subject of little consequence. The subject should have never been personalized. YOU chose to personalize the subject matter and after having chastised others who personalized something that was your sacred bovine excrement.

You label yourself a reporter, a reporter who shows open hypocrisy. One who suggests the reader should just take your word for someone's credibility while bashing the credibility of others based on anonymous posts, rumormongering and hearsay.

Modern life has turned sad. This blog has shown it's tendency to delve into the personal lives of others under the guise of freedom of information, when it's nothing more than furthering lies and promoting degradation of another.

Here's something for you. If you have any balls, quit looking for the gotcha. When presented with a potential "story," always take the approach of trying to find the good of the story. If you can't find it, then the story being told will be real and not so forced.

You have personally attacked individuals you know nothing about using this avenue and then you have whined and cried when it comes back on you. If you don't have the aforementioned balls, grow some and before you type your next letter ask yourself, would a member of America's greatest generation approach this the same way......

Who's the insignificant anonymous and dismayed, sans balls, at 5:31 trying to call the kettle...

If @5:31 PM himself was actually packing a set he'd not have posted anonymously. Maybe the Northside Sun is more his speed.

I would come forward and do an interview but it wouldn't matter.

Your coming forward would certainly be more persuasive than your discountable anonymous comments.

@9:29 am, 10:45 am, 11:37 am, .5:17 pm, 8:49 pm, 4:57 pm, 4:55 pm and many others, plus most mornings spent at Broad Street - good grief when do you find time for work?

Glad you are clean, but there are hundreds of Oxford Houses and similar homes across the country. Why not transfer to one where you don't have to spend so much of your time defending the program? And wouldn't you want to make a lot of people happy not to be making so many people unhappy? If OH is the raging success you claim, I'm sure many neighborhoods would welcome you with open arms. You really have an option for a win/win here, dude.

Re: I would come forward and do an interview, but it wouldn't matter?

Shocking that no resident/former resident has stepped forward given the amazing success of OH

Lol @ 6:50 see dismissed and criticized. And I'll have you know I did make a video about my recovery here at OH. No one cares if someone achieves something good. Ask the good senetor to post that one on his FB. Won't happen. In fact it was shown at one of the meetings in meridian and later that evening I waited on ashby foote and spoke to him. No recognition at all. No one pays attention to the success stories. Doubt those two even heard a word nor cared. In fact three of us made videos.

Anonymous said he posted anonymous. Now that's funny.

@ 8:17 PM, send the video to Kingfish or post on YouTube and provide the link. What do you have to hide?

" it's not OH's fault".
Two words:

Premises liability.

Amen, 5:31. It's laughable to listen to this "interview" and the person posting it screams journalistic integrity. I've lived in Madison for 15 years and MS for 44. I know and like Dennis and also have dined many times with him. He has great integrity, but that won't shine this pig of a report.

Kingfish fancies himself the martyr. Laughable. You are Donna Ladd using faux journalism to attack something you personally dislike. You've allowed the mean spirited posts about residents and the local owners, none of whom I know.

I thought it all just click bait until now. Now I know you're personally and emotionally attached to this issue. There won't be any balance. I won't pay it my more mind.

We are incredibly blessed to have Kingfish revealing the truth on this and other local travesties. You OH peeps go on back to Maryland. We know who is local and who cares about our community. Thanks, KF for keeping this issue on the front burner. Good job.

10:04 living in Madison...are you willing to put an OH next door to your home?

Also, out of curiosity, how do you know this is a "pig of a report?"

I'm so sick of Will. He keeps feeding us these lines of BS. He hasn't done a thing for us but TALK. He's supposed to be OUR senator yet, I haven't seen him get these half way houses shut down. $hit or get off the pot senator. If you somehow win this time, I'm running against you in 4 years. I could get something done. You obviously cannot!!!!!!!!! If I could title this post, I'd say: Anybody But Will in '19!

10:57: You expect Will to be able to just directly. shut OH down? Obviously you have not read the FHA or the protections given by preemptive Federal statutory law. No, Will is having an effect by going to the only people who can assert any control: the people who apply for the Federal grants this thing feeds on, MDMH. He has already had the effect, along with the Governor, of slowing recruiting from prisons. Also MDMH has said they stop asking for seed money. MDMH knows we are watching closely. We are safer now through his efforts than we would have been. So, BB clone, just shut the f@(k up.

Senator Longwitz is doing a great job with this. It takes time to conduct an investigation, especially this one is complex. Be assured, he's doing his homework.

I agree with 10:57. Will is using us & these houses to get re-elected. We are being USED by him. He hasn't done a damn thing but blow hot air, just like every other politian. We are being asked by our fellow homeowners to donate to his campaign---for what---4 more years of NOTHING but promises? If I say this outloud, y'all will jump on me and I'll be the next next one y'all come after. We are no more or less safe than before all this crap. I'm with you 10:57...anyone but Will.

Hello 8:15 You asked when do I have time to work if I go to Broad Street most mornings? Let's see . . . Broad Street does open really early. I get up. I workout. I shower. I go to Broad Street. I eat and drink coffee. I go to work at 8am. Pretty simple really. And the funny thing is I see the same faces at Broad Street everyday. Men in scrubs and the super tanned guy who drives the fiat, Tommy, I think his name is, always sitting with two or three other men. I see women getting ready for the day, sometimes Senators and Legislators and lobbyist. I know them too. I always nod to those regulars who know I'm a regular. We have a special Broad Street bond even if we don't really know each others names. I see George in the expo window who has worked there for years and Brandy who has been there for a while now, and occasionally the owner swings by(I forget his name -- tall Jewish guy) to say hello if he see's me. You can usually find me in a booth but since there are only 4 I occasionally have to suffer a table (sometimes under the stairwell). So yes, if you get up early in the morning you can get so much done before you have to work. I work 8 to 5 just like a regular person. And yes, you may even know my face or may even know me.

Recovery is an amazing thing. People changing their lives for the better. My life is amazing now and just 10 years ago it was a mess. Complete chaos. I never stayed in an Oxford House myself but after my rehab I did stay in a similar style house owned by a minster in my home town. He believed in recovery. The house was in a nice neighbor hood and he modeled it very much like Oxford House. Nobody monitored us or watched us. We worked together. I was one of the first people in the house. We started with two of us directly out of rehab. It took a while to build the house but over a few weeks we had another roommate. By the time we were up to 4 the other man who started with me had relapsed and was no longer allowed to stay with us. I was disappointed because he and I had gone to rehab at the same time but life is what it is. We mowed our lawn and my dog lived with us and we flourished with 4 addicts recovering together. After a few months I decided to take a job in another state so I ventured out on my own. They filled my slot at the house. I can't say if it's still being used as a recovery house but it was a great experience.

I work in Recovery now. Life is rich and fantastic and amazing. Give the guys in Oxford house a chance. Get to know them. Keep an eye on them if you feel you need to but give them a chance. But please don't treat them like animals. Don't say nasty things about them. People can change. I did. Now in a way I'm one of you guys, but 10 years ago you would have been calling me horrible names and telling me to relapse and to go to hell or other mean evil things. It really would have been demoralizing to anyone not in recovery to hear such hatred but in recovery it hurts even more.

Let's all take a step back and take a deep breath and be human. Treat each other like humans not like dogs. I love the people I have met in Jackson and I love the men and women living in Oxford Houses. So let's be fair and educate and learn and grow and not overreact. Life is good for you and maybe if you allow it, it will be come good for the residents of these Oxford Houses. I won't post on this thread again I'm just asking that we be civil and nice and try to understand each other. Have a wonderful day. Oh, and I will never call Northeast Jackson East Jackson again. I promise. Live and learn. Life is too short to hate so much.

I never stayed in an Oxford House myself ...

End of story. Finis.

There is nothing stopping Oxford House from sending me the video that was played at that board meeting. There is also this wonderful invention called Youtube. Its amazing. You upload the video. It plays. You send me a link to the address and voila, I post it on the website. Its quite simple actually but I imagine you folks in Maryland are more sophisticated than us country folk down here and have a different new-fangled way of doing things.

Not once has anyone sent me a statement, a column, or interview request from Oxford House. Not once. There is nothing stopping an Oxford House resident who wants to tell his story from contacting me. Nothing at all. Kingfish1935@gmail.com.

8:57
What exactly, and precisely, is your concrete suggestion Will do now that he has not already done? He just went to Corinth and back to appear before the MDMH Board. He has spoken with the Governor's office. He has forcefully expressed the concerns of his constituents. He continues to express the concerns of his constituents. We are all bound by the strictures of the FHA. What are you suggesting in the bounds of the law? Or are you just a Billingsley guy trying to blow hot air during an election summer?

11:35 YEAH!! I can see it now... ANONYMOUS for Senate!!!!!

June 18, 2015 at 8:17 PM

Most people walk the walk every day.

Then there are those who falter and wallow in their own excrement. Many of those get back up, clean up, and walk the walk. They do so quietly and proudly without really wanting others to know or to acknowledge it.

They do it without wanting a frickin oscar. Get over yourself.

Will is doing his job as our state senator. I think everyone is starting to realize that stopping these guys is going to be difficult, and removing the existing Oxford Houses will be damn near impossible, but the battle will continue. Frankly, I wish he hadn't been so public about it because I think the publicity has been bad for the neighborhood, but I'm glad he's at least trying to work on our behalf. Kingfish, why don't you ask Will's opponent where he stands on this? You seem to be the only journalist in the area who's interested in this issue. He's never been shy to talk about other things, and the voters deserve to know what, if anything, he's going to do if he's elected.

Will sucks. And before you guys start saying I'm Billingsly-I'm not. Never met the man. Never met anyone of his family members. Dont work for him. Know nothing about him. However, I will be voting for him after seeing what an idiot Longwitz is and has made of himself over this issue.

1:35
I think Will understands that not everyone agrees with his position on OH, but at least he has a position, has led, and has represented his constituents. That is more that I can say for others.

Actually, the board member only gave a $300 check to Billingsley. It was misstated on a campaign finance report and the corrected version has already been sent in to the SOS office.

I've been following this. Didn't know who my senator was (sue me, I have 4 kids and 2 jobs.) I probably voted for him but I can only remember about a month's worth of important stuff. I am so danged glad he is MY senator as he has led the effort to stop the cancer that is OH from spreading not only in Jackson but also to Ridgeland, Pearl, Madison, Brandon and our other suburbs. He has some courage and cojones. I wish we had more like him. I am now a believer and am actively telling my friends to vote for him. (And please OH reps don't reply, I'm SO over you and your trolling.) And if you are interested, ask him or his wife why they care about this. I can assure you it isn't a campaign platform - they have real life experience. That's what made me a Longwitz supporter. I hope his stand gets more supporters as this is the first time in 20 years I've really paid attention to who's representing me (see above "sue me" note). I love Jackson and all our metro area and just want it to remain solid and safe. OH offers nothing to support or (gasp) improve our communities. Even if they did help out of towners recover (which is unlikely giving their complete lack of support), does that justify hurting neighborhoods that are fighting to keep homeowners? At risk of being castigated, I wonder why the rights of those who have made bad choices trump those who have fought the good fight and are just trying to get by. I wish the best for those fighting addictions but not at the expense of middle or lower income families who are being affected. Don't believe me? Check who is living near the Forest Park house. No one. This is not directed at OH residents, they are just trying to get by. But OH is aggressively trying to change neighborhoods to pocket the cash. MDMH and others are profiting from this mess and elderly homeowners are getting the shaft.
BTW Kingfish you are a man to be reckoned with a true crusader in my opinion. Thanks for championing our community.

Anyone lse thinking that those from the Ms Dept of Mental Health may be getting a kickback? Why else would they be involved in this debacle? This kind of thing doesn't happy if someone is not making a profit. Am I right?

Avery is an employee, not a board member. No board member is on the financial report.

I am so tired of reading about how OH is this big money making scheme. It's not. The out reach workers are paid a reasonable salary (the one here in Jackson drives a used Chevy) the houses were give 4000 to start up(which they pay back monthly) the landlords get market value rent (our house is 1200 a month) the residents pay 125 a week. Even with a full house that is only 3000 a month (our house holds 6) how much do you spend a Month with rent/mortgage, electricity, water, gas, cleaning supplies, cable, phone, internet? OH is only one of many that receives money from the grant the mdmh provides. WHERE is all this money you're talking about? I've live here a year I've seen everything that goes in and out of this house. I've been treasure and president while here. And as for everyone being on disability that is not true here. All but one of us works and she is retired and is battling cancer. None of us are felons and none of us are sex offenders.

Interesting read on the most recent DMH board meeting. I guess that I should not be surprised that that board member Landrum is tired of listening to the concerns about OH. My three year old throws a similar tantrum when he gets tired of hearing my concerns over his poor decisions. However, just like my three year old, the DMH board needs to keep hearing from us until they make better decisions.

http://watchdog.org/225097/mississippi-board-of-mental-health/

I bet MDMH board member Robert Landrum lives nowhere near an OH. Need to target one next to his family. Two thing bother me about the MDMH Board and staff: 1) their hypocracy and 2) their arrogance.

Appreciate the update Kingfish but IMO the difference between $1000 and $300 was more about the optics of someone in a position of State oversight over the Oxford House program contributing to a candidate who is telling voters in the Republican heavy Northeast Jackson precincts that the problem has inexplicably been manufactured by his opponent than it was about a harmless campaign finance reporting error.

Jerri Avery wouldn't dream of hosting an Oxford House in her Madison neighborhood, nor any other neighborhood where her family and close friends reside, and I'm sure Mr. Billingsley wouldn't either.

Had Walter Michel remained our Senator he wouldn't have tolerated the covert deployment of these Oxford Houses into his district -- into the very neighborhoods he grew up in -- and it is ludicrous to believe that Walter would have been any less aggressive in addressing the matter than Will Longwitz is now.

Mr. Billingsley is also openly telling voters that Walter Michel is supporting his candidacy. If true I certainly hope that Walter will re-evaluate that support in light Mr. Billingsley's punt of this critical issue important to Northeast Jackson Republican voters.

The issue will still be here in August Walter and voters are paying attention. Effectively telling Northeast Jackson that they have no choice but to like-or-lump the Oxford Houses in their midst is unacceptable and will not be forgotten.

Be assured, the MDMH obviously has something to hide in regards to the OH. When they REFUSE to listen for 2 minutes or even 5 minutes to a person who can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that OH outreach workers are blatantly falsifying reports, it does not take a PhD to figure out they are part of this elaborate scheme. Please support Senator Longwitz as he is FIGHTING for answers from those who CHOOSE to remain silent.

Funny no one mentions that the senetor was acting such a fool he had to be reminded that he is a public figure.

Apparently the outreach worker gave this man a chance to go back to rehab and sober up. He did and came back and used again. This lady is angry about it. This is one person's side who is biased and only knows what her boyfriend told her. Absolute proof? Please. When you become a resident in an OH you get a packet of rules and regulation that you sign. You know there is not someone standing over you 24 hours a day telling you not to drink. You know that if you do you have to leave. There is no reason to be angry if you mess up. This woman's point of view is twisted with anger and bitterness because her friend couldn't stay sober. Rules are rules. I doubt that if the twenty something residents here in Jackson had been there to speak they wouldn't have been able to either.

@ 12:57. It's not worth mentioning because everyone knows Longwitz is a fool. It would be like saying-did you see the sky today? It's blue. Longwitz' hasn't done a DAMN thing for our district for 4 years. NOTHING. Now at the 11th hour he's trying to ride in & act like he represents the people of our district. Wake up fools. Y'all are being used by him to try to revive his horrible political career. He's hated by Republicans (cause he thought he wanted to jump in the tea party & then changed his mind). He can't even get the damn Republican Governor to back him!!! A Rep gov won't back a Rep incumbent senator...why??? Because he's an idiot. Think about it! He's hated by the democrats (for obvious reasons). He's hated by the tea party because he told them that he wanted to be one of them & then switched (like he's flipped on most issues because he doesn't know what he's doing). Who's left??? The whiney northeast Jackson folks who are pissed because they didn't follow the white flight to the burbs. They're pissed & trying to find a scapegoat for their plummeting property values. It's all OH's fault because your property values have been falling quicker than a stripper's panties at Danny's on Friday night. Let's blame it all on OH, MDMH, etc. We need to blame our worthless legislators who haven't done a $&@%ing for us since they've been in office-our idiot senator, absent representative, & clueless city council man (Foote)....not to mention the mayor,police chief, etc. Stop whining, get a real estate agent to list your over financed house before it falls farther, get in your car tomorrow after you obligatory trip to church (where you obviously learn nothing about helping those that need help) & go house shopping in Madison or shut the &$@% up. It's no longer hip to be in NE Jackson as long as you spin your days whining about it. You can still drive to your morning tennis matches or your brunches at bravo. The world won't come to an end. And that my friends, IS the bottom line. And no, this ain't Bill Billingsley OR Maryland. It's just a dose of reality medicine you need. Peace Out.

7:42 You sound like you need anger management. Bless your heart.

7:42 pm needs more than anger management classes. 7:42 needs a mercy enema!

Ha 7:42. You do sound mad & angry & possibly in need of anger mgmt. But, I don't see a single false statement there! Good job telling it like it is! Peace back to you.

7:42 and 10:59, you are obviously the same person writing these comments.
Please continue with this. Calling an elected an "idiot" and saying "he can't get the Republican governor to back him". I saw a nice smiling picture on Facebook of Senator Longwitz and Governor Bryant at a function last night I attended. And you forget that Governor Bryant called for the de-funding of Oxford House in Mississippi altogether. You are doing your cause a disservice with the name calling. If you cared about recovery, you would care about why Oxford House case workers are lying about relapses. It is the fox guarding the henhouse, with taxpayer money.