Jackson Jambalaya

They have you 'requestors' by the balls. Petitioner is within its rights, according to Mississippi law, to shield from public view any document, study or record related to a development project undertaken by a development authority.

Can you post the full order when you have a chance? Which judge and who represented Mattiace/Bailey/Barksdale?

Mr. Fish, have you tried to contact Mattiace or his firm to ask questions directly? Are you searching for any specific information that you could simply ask for, or is this a blind expedition for new source material?

Yup, Precious and his wife said the same thing.


Of course, we could start talking about the Capital Tower.

Wow, this is getting personal.

Singletary must have a vested interest in protecting MDA. Like Epps, maybe the Feds should look at his financial records.

http://msbusiness.com/2009/12/umc-alleges-state-smartsynch-conspired/

When this project is build or defeated and confidentiality no longer matters, please try again.

Rule of Law are just for the little man. Mr. Andrew Mattiace is above the rule of Law. He is in his own world. Good name would be Mr. Untouchable. And that my friend is the rest of the story.

Not so, 6:54. The material is still subject to shield as it (likely) will contain confidential information related to efforts, negotiations, deals, etc. Even the playbook for a failed plan is confidential.

And,7:46, he is a successful businessman, and you are a useless blogger. That is the rest of the story.

Mr. 7:56: Do you know Mr. Mattice / Untouchable? This is all so personal and unfounded. What's the beef? Sounds like he was faster than you in jr. High track or stole your girlfriend. Come on, tell the rest of your story. We're here for you.

Is that a serious question, 10:48? What's the beef? Well, we are talking some black Angus quality public funds being used to line a developer's pocket without being told how, exactly, those monies are being appropriated. Throw in a dash of mad cow (in the form of said developer having a rep for not paying his bond notes for Lowe's) and you have a full-blown case of bovine scatology. That beefy enough for ya?

6:54 and 7:46 would not know the man if they bumped into him. They're simply on the band-wagon thinking they're opposed to Costco. They don't really know whether they're against it or not. Just jumped on the band-wagon. Makes them feel like they're part of something.

Aw, 8:42, formerly 7:56, did that hit a raw nerve? Yes, was a serious question. Your level of anger is misplaced and attacks are personal. Was just asking your personal history. You're using bad information as your excuse for attack.

And the same Butler Snow that helps AT&T keep their contract for telecom (and other) services to state agencies a secret. They're only our tax dollars. Why should we be entitled to answers?

Not the same person but I have a serious question for you: do you itemize blog comments on your client's bill? Is it subject to the same hourly rate as real lawyerin'?

I never knew developers had roving bands of sycophants posting on blogs for them...

Are you serious? Precisely what are these developers trying to hide? This MDA Tourism Grant funding is absolutely RIDICULOUS!!!! I DO NOT WANT MY TAX DOLLARS FUNDING A COSTCO IN RIDGELAND!!! I didn't like doing it at the outlet mall in Pearl, and I don't like doing it in Ridgeland either. As broke as this state is, why in the world are we looking for ways to give away more money???! PLEASE STOP TAKING MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET AND GIVING IT TO WEALTHY DEVELOPERS!!!! Rise up, fellow Mississippians!!! Call, write or email the Governor of our great state and let him know that we think the MDA Tourism Grant giveaway STINKS and that our money could be better spent elsewhere!!!!

There should be no such thing as "confidentiality" or "secrecy" pertaining to tax breaks. None.

Now that the GOP controls the Legislature & the Mansion, of course, I expect to see this swiftly reformed. Thank heavens those corrupt Democrats are out, and good government is here at last!

10:05...Yeah Butler Snow probably helped AT&T set up the AT&T scholarship for state agency, (ITS) executives kids to attend Jackson Prep.

Stay on it JJ, expose the corruption.

None to expose.

Well, now. There ya go. 6:30 Claims nothing to be found so just call the damned investigation off, as if there was one.

"I didn't do it, detective."

"Oh, OK, then you're no longer a suspect, thanks."

6:48 No one said not to investigate. The statement meant that nothing illegal would be found. Thanks for your little detective scenario tho.

Cracks me up how all of these WEALTHY RIDGELAND HOMEOWNERS are so upset about the WEALTHY JACKSON DEVELOPERS. All of us normal folks can't wait for Costco to come. It will bring GREAT jobs to the area! Give it a rest on the corruption allegations!

Someone should look into the amount of tax payers money going to Milwaukee Tool in Greenwood.

Andrew Mattiace is an honorable businessman. I've known him 20+ years. Those who don't know him are just whiners because it feels good to trash successful people. Tax revenue generated and jobs created are a healthy byproduct to successful developers. No matter where you shop, a developer had something to do with it. They are in business to make money; no different from you or I.

Hey 12:26 on 9/5 -- calm down, Lady. You're going to give yourself a heart attack. The tax rebate incentive is exactly what it says - a "rebate". The only money the project would get back is IF it's actually built, and IF the stores actually produce sales tax. No one is "STEALING YOUR TAX MONEY!!!!!" (The caps and exclamations were added in case you like to read in the same manner you type.)

Here's a thought - don't go to Costco and purchase anything. Then your sales tax dollars will be safe. You can keep your money to spend on another gate at the entrance to your driveway, or for another glass of wine at the CCJ while the rest of us peons enjoy our NOT-INCREASED millage rate in Ridgeland, thankyouverymuch.

I keep seeing where Bill May and his posse are spreading misinformation and saying that Costco and Mattice will be stealing our money for 15 years. After some investigation (actually reading the bill) I have discovered that this is not true.

By my calculations, the sales tax created by that development should be upwards of $7 million annually. That means $28 million would be rebated in only 4 years. The city and county would then collect and keep the $7 million every year from then on. That actually sounds like a good deal if you look at facts and not simply listen to the gated-neighborhood rhetoric.

By all means, 2:24, please share those calculations with us and what your numbers are based on.

Not that other guy, but a quick calculation would be:

Costco sales: $140,000,000 (the average warehouse does $164,000,000 but I discounted it because all the people in Dinsmor are going to boycott.)

Sales tax: 7% = $9,800,000
Sales tax rebate: 80% = $7,840,000 annually. Doing the math, this would pay back $29,000,000 in less than four years.

This doesn't take into account any diversions the state, county or city may make first. But it's also not counting the ad valorem bump either. All things considered, it's a huge win for the city, county, and state, not to mention the residents who will benefit. Wish my city could pull something like this off for us.