Jackson Jambalaya

none of this matters if the prices to fly out of jackson continue to rise. i'm flying three times in the next six months-only one of the three is out of jackson. once from new orleans and once from memphis..

Who cares about your itinerary, 5:00. Get on board here or take a cab.

Gonna need a carve out for lawyers that just graduated from law school or it'll never get signed into law.

Doe Doe at 5:00. This isn't about YOU.

will never pass

Rankin > Madison > Jackson? At least have the terms be of equal length.

And why would Madison want any part in this? Answer....they don't

Hinds has several times the population of Madison but no nominees? I'd rather Hinds have some say so than just Jackson.

Wager @8:10 PM?

if this were to be voted in, it would have no bearing on pricing of flights. As long as people are willing to drive 3 hours to save $ 115.00 on a seat, then tickets from Jackson will be what they are. If we don't use it regularly, you can't expect it to be cost effective w/ lessened traffic, or do you expect the government to subsidize your ticket?

All of the rest just appears to be a set up for more cronyism and political favor, and I don't really see where it creates a stable environment at a "board" level. And really, I think we have enough already to thank the MDA for, do we really need to let them set a board member?

I do like how qualifications are spelled out, but I don't think these are correct in their current form. It would seem that they have been drafted to insure that certain people have access to be appointed.

Save $115? More like save over $200 or more per RT. Can get to MSY in 2 1/2 hours, easy. You must also think this Obamanomics economy is going gangbusters.

9:04, give me a break. How could you say it is drafted to ensure certain people get on the board? Who then? Yeah it is intended to get certain people- people that have business sense! Not a preacher, principal, and a DJ. Good lord why is a DJ on the board? Why do they have her play some music in the concourse?

I think it it is a good start. Hell people, it can't get worse!

Since the airport is part of Jackson can Jackson's criminals flee to the airport to avoid capture?

The DJ helps the venture qualify for the tourism MDA tax grant. If the entity plays Mississippi music, it is rolling in the dough. See Mattaice et al.

9:37 not qualified to make comments.

9;04…
STOP with your calling this draft unfair!!!! It is drafted this way for reason and that reason is to make sure NO one get appointed for political favors and also to make sure that person is qualified. It makes NO mention of one's race religion or gender. Its your liberal ideology that points to race as your trying to elude to. Get with the program you race baiter.

SORRY I'M LATE.....I had to get popcorn.

Jackson to New Orleans, round trip, is roughly 400 miles (Memphis is roughly the same). Mileage reimbursement rates are $.54 a mile. If you only make minimum wage, your time is worth $7.25 an hour. If you're spending 5-6 hours in your car and driving 400 miles to save $200, you're an idiot.

This airport has been a cash cow for years and was never run efficiently. In fact, the "incompetent" board has somehow managed to hire the best management it's probably ever had. Airports in mid-size cities all over the country have lately had a problem keeping up with the airlines, but airports still tend to make big money for lawfirms, contractors, etc whether they have major traffic or not. I'm expecting the power-grabbers to make the argument that the airport is not safe. After all it is part of Jackson, so unless we can get some of the responsible (spelled w-h-i-t-e) leaders back in charge all that money going to those black lawfirms, and contractors is going to finance carjacking, robbery, rape, and the Stokes campaign. Good Lord!

We've read a lot on here about the fact that the airport does not belong to the state and doesn't sit on state property. From a legal standpoint, then, what right does this proposal have to become law? What right does the government have to seize a business owned by a municipality?

Can someone provide a sensible answer from a strictly legal perspective?

Would this not be like the legislature deciding to seize and operate Jackson's Amtrak station?

Can someone provide a sensible answer from a strictly legal perspective?

Since you can't answer the question how will you know whether or not you've received a sensible answer?

Get a clue. If the lift was impossible the bill would never have been filed.

Good luck with your fishing expedition.

4:34: The board hired a recruiting firm that was well-known and specialized in aviation industry, not merely a firm that recruited in thirty industries and one of them just happened to be aviation.

The commissioners wanted to stick their fingers into that cookie jar and create a committee to oversee the recruiting. The headhunters told them that if they did so, they would be subject to open meetings and public records laws. Very shrewd. It also killed any interest they had to meddle too much.

@10:59, you are gullible if you thing the Governor, now or ever, does not make political appointments. As previously stated on another thread, the "Preacher" (which he is) is also an attorney. This is a money grab -- anything to take power from Jackson. Naturally, appointments this or any Governor makes would be better than anyone Jackson might choose.

7:02, you need to get a clue. No legislature, especially this one, has ever passed a law that was unconstitutional or unenforceable?

3:52

Recently sent 3 employees to conference in Seattle.
They flew out New Orleans on Southwest.
All 3 went down 1 company car.
Salaried employees getting paid anyway.
Saved $283 per ticket versus flying Jackson.
Even after outdoor parking @ $11 per 4 days and $25 fuel saved $780.

In real world when I use travel budget efficiently able to cover more
travel for department and make more money for company.
Sorry to burst your apologist bubble.

Wager @8:10 PM? Wager @8:29 AM?

Y'all better go talk to Johnny Horhn. Deal has been cut.

Naturally, appointments this or any Governor makes would be better than anyone Jackson might choose.

That is correct.

You sure about that? Given his track record of appointments at DPS and MHP?

As for the pastor, when I use that term, I am referring to Stallworth.

This will get through both House and Senate and the Gov. will sign it.

If this gets through the Legislature (I say "if" because passage would set a terrifying precedence for municipalities with "regional" assets) it will be stuck in litigation for years. At the end, none of it will matter if the FAA won't issue the new board an operator's license.

Out of the chaos will arise . . . rich lawyers.

Here is one that didn't make the cut due to one sentence.

3:52, xxxx xxxx xxxx. The airport is in Kenner which is 140 miles from here so its more like 280 miles round trip...about 5 hours driving round trip. From NOLA you can fly direct to most places you need to go so you save more than 5 hours in layovers or missed flights through Atlanta. But you keep thinking you are the bright one Bubba

It is two hours to Hammond. Then another 20 minutes or so to Kenner, assuming you get off at 310.

The current JMAA board was not appointed by Hizzoner - something KF has reminded us of on a couple of occasions. This crew of five all were given to us by Labumba when Harvey left office without taking care of making appointments as they became vacant.

Yarbor is not likely to do a great job, but would certainly be better than CL did. Trouble is - Harkins' bill or not - the airport and its management belongs to the City of Jackson. It is not a regional airport, was not created as one and the current legislature cannot change that by this bill. If it could I would suggest that the folks in Meridian, Gulfport, Tupelo all get ready to hand over their airports as well. (Golden Triangle is a regional airport, but I would assume that the Gov would start making the appointments there soon since regional airports are the province of the state under the thinking of the Senator from Rankin.)

Political power grab. I wonder if Bryant's daughter, just out of law school, will get the legal contract or have an interest in it? corrupt just like Madison County.

Even today with all we have been shown about politicians there are still some who do not think their favorite politician is a crook.
We need to remove these people from the voting pool.

...and the current legislature cannot change that by this bill.

Yes they can.

Mississippi Business Journal rips Yarber

So Jackson City Hall paid for the terminal, the runways and the roads leading to the airport?

Not hardly.

But what about airport revenues being in the black?

Have you priced tickets out there lately or parked your car there? Airport bean counters have relied on steady increases in carrier landing fees and parking charges – not new business or belt tightening — to erase the red ink.

That Yarber is speaking at all on the airport control proposal is encouraging. We thought the mayor had decided to do with this issue what he long ago decided to do with Jackson’s Farish Street redevelopment: park it out back.

The public heard not a peep from Yarber in the 45 days that followed the announcement of Sen. Harkins’ legislation. The guess is that it took some prodding from his handlers to get him to speak at all.

"No true representation that considers population" Yarber? Do the math. Surely a former school principal can do the math. If you did the math Yarber you'd realize you've just undermined your argument.

@4:03. Guess you are correct, legislature can change it but it will not survive a challenge once their bill gets into the judicial system.

Yes. Jackson did pay for the terminal and the runways. They did not pay for the highways, but that's not part of the airport. Any more than Harkins' office building on Lakeland paid for Lakeland Drive/Highway 25.

The revenues of the airport have nothing to do with ticket prices. Those prices go to Delta, Continental, etc. Guess you don't have any idea of how airports or airlines work, but we will forgive you for your ignorance this time. But how about learning a little basic business and economics before you waste your time away from the fryer before you come back.

5:42- This entire effort is based on a lack of knowledge as to how airports and airlines work. That, or these "Republicans" believe they can overcome economic realities.

Wager @5:11 PM?

I don't know about 5:11, but I'll take it. Assume you mean that the bill will pass and the new board will take over.

Name your bet. I'm in.

5:42,
Maybe you should check out Kangfish previous post and you will be educated on the investment from the National Guard in the construction of the airport. Oh wait that does not fit the narrative. Sorry.

That airport has been stagnant and needs to be shaken up.

The National Guard paid for the National Guard's facilities at the airport. I did check out the post, and read all the background information.

You might not be aware, but the MS National Guard has a large facility located on the north end of the airport. It cost money to build it (and has been expanded since.) The National Guard paid for that - it did not pay for the terminal, the general or commercial aviation parking ramps, the parking lots, the baggage handling, etc.

So - maybe you should check your facts to make sure your narrative fits the facts.

The airport is no more 'stagnant' than many small market airports. You want to make it more active - add several hundred thousand residents in the area and make it a hub. In the meantime, it will be like the airport in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, etc. It will not be like the airport in NOLA, ATL, or DFW.

By the way, check out the non-activity in Memphis now that Northwest has pulled out of there as a hub. Other than FedEx, there is little traffic thru that facility, and Memphis metro is five times the population of Jackson metro area.

Southwest flys Birmingham. Fairly extensive schedule. Try again.

Yes. SW does fly Birmingham. But the airport is still struggling like many others. SW does not make or break an airport's operation - realize it is the measuring point for Harkins' thinking but there is a lot more to be considered.

But Birmingham city has a population that is three times the entire Jackson Metro population. And it still doesn't have direct flights except for the SW to Houston or BWI. I stand by the statement that for smaller metro areas that therefore aren't hubs, under the current airline scheme these airports are not going to be the operation we would like to have.

Say again - look at the change to Memphis once it quit being a hub for NW. Changed its entire business model and useage.

The presence of Southwest in an airport lowers all prices on all airlines on comparable route city pairs. PERIOD.

But go ahead with your misdirection charade. It is amusing.

I don't disagree 6:59. But Southwest decides which airports Southwest wants to service. The airports can't make Southwest or any other airline provide service through their systems.

But Southwest only lowers fares on the competing routes - i.e. when in Jackson and SW served BWI, the Delta fare to DC was lower. But that did not lower Delta's fares to Atlanta, Cincinnati, etc.

I wish SW was here. MDA was largely responsible for their coming several years ago; not the airport administration. If there was adequate traffic, Southwest would still be here - but there is not adequate traffic with our population base combined with the circlejerk of folks that drive to NOLA or MEM to get lower fares. Don't blame those folks, but that keeps passenger loadings down and therefore fares high. To get lower fares, those passengers need to load here but don't because of the high fares. I know there is a term for this neverending process but to keep it simple for all those that believe the crap that spews from Harkins' mouth that this is all about getting SW back and getting lower fares - who 'administers' the airport will not change the airlines' business decisions.

@5:57 - where are you? Buehler?? Buehler? ....

nothing but crickets. Guess he really didn't want to make that wager.

Guess he really didn't want to make that wager.

Nope. Kingfish doesn't want to be the clearing house for the wager.