The Clarion-Ledger called the airport take over bill "state-sponsored theft" in an editorial published Friday. However, one short passage gives one pause and shows the mindset of the state newspaper:
In recent years, the board has hired different attorneys, taking a lucrative contract away from the Baker Donelson firm and divvying up the work between two firms. It is worth noting that the two new firms are minority-owned and closely aligned with U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson.
Ah yes, the same newspaper that raises hell over legislators parking RV's in a parking lot downtown or a legal pay raise given to a county prosecuting attorney calls the fees charged by several sets of attorneys to an agency with a $17 million budget "lucrative". The Clarion-Ledger's stance on sweetheart deals and outrageous fees seems to disappear when Friends of Bennie become involved. JMAA has a budget that is a fraction of the budget of JPS, Madison County, Rankin County, or Hinds County yet pays much more money to at least two law firms. Two law firms that send four attorneys to every board meeting Of course, the newspaper wouldn't know that little fact as its reporters do not attend JMAA board meetings. It is much easier to call such contracts "lucrative" than it is to question the spending. Earlier post about JMAA legal fees. One can only wonder what the newspaper would call the outrageous fees JPS paid on a refinancing of bonds last year. Make no mistake, this website questions the fees paid to the Walker Group, May firm, and Baker Donelson.
Disappointing. Very disappointing.
21 comments:
Good call, Kingfish!
In the world of poorly disguised political hacks such as Sam Hall, corruption is acceptable if it comes with a (D) behind it.
Just this afternoon I noticed a brand new billboard type sign on Old Brandon Rd. just east of the airport advertising 100+ acres commercial property contact JMAA.
that's what this whole mess is over - those 100 acres that are now available for development following JMAA's working with Rankin County to build a new road making them accessible. You don't believe this mess has all been about airlines or vendor accessibility in the airport do you?
Sam R. Hall has zero credibility. Everything he writes is grandstanding in hopes of being "recognized".
How soon will the Braniff or PanAm contracts be signed? Looking forward to some renewed competition and better direct destinations.
They suck. I'm hoping we can get Eastern.
Gallo said the whites that left Jackson moved to Rankin and Madison. Now they want their airport back since no blacks fly out of Wiley Medgar Evers.
Keep looking forward to those new airlines. I am sure that the management of all the airlines are anxiously awaiting a change in the Board of Jackson's International (and now, evidently, regional) airport. This new board will certainly make the enplanements double within a month.
And anyone that thinks Gallo has a clue about what he is talking about - other than what he is told by "The Big Man" Davenport, which are the talking points of Feel, than they should hold their breath while waiting for those new airlines. That would help long term with the area's gene pool
11:15....I gave up trying to figure out what your last paragraph said and decided instead to try to diagram it. I gave up on that too. I'm so failed.
Sounds like something Gallo might say. Makes zero sense, which is par. Between stutters. Ahh bah bah bah bah bah.
Priester admitted that control over development of that 100 plus acres is what this is about.
Then Mel said he wanted control to appoint minority contractors....and thats where he lost me.
I want the area developed efficiently, economically, with haste, and with wisdom.
too much to ask?
Haste makes waste.
C
The Clarion Ledger said there were no Hinds County appointees. I wonder if Jackson is in Hinds County or is Jackson (the city) is in Hinds County or a separate entity. The Airports ( and there are two not just Evers) are some of the worst run airports in the country. They need a board that knows something about aviation , not a bunch of political appointees that are know nothings.
Worst-run?
How so?
What about all of the other people who paid for the airport, not just Jackson? Shouldn't they have equal say as the people in Jackson as they paid just as much for the airport as Jackson did. Or do they not matter as most of them were white?
12:06 - Ah, long term parking, short term parking, boarding, baggage claim, inability to park at the front doors to unload your shit and not have some goober tell you to move along, sub-par cabs, dastardly customer service at the parking-pay-booths, paper towels and gum in the urinals 24/7, lack of attractive vendor kiosks, pitiful bar, piss-poor directional signs for those unfamiliar with accessing the parking or unloading ramps.....should I go on for you?
Not being able to park any length of time at drop-off and pick-up came about after 9/11 and I believe was strongly recommended by Homeland Security. This practice has nothing to do with the Airport Authority.
The hiring of attorneys could well be the impetus for even dreaming up this legislative heist. Other "authorities" in the state will regret they didn't pay more attention when it was only Jackson's ox being gored. The Mississippi Municipal League should have supported Jackson on this one.
12:44 - What other people? The citizens of Rankin County, nor the citizens of Madison County paid nothing to develop the airport. Yes, they might pay a fee to use it every time they fly, but that's not an ownership payment, that a fee for using it. No different than the people from Dallas that use it when they pass through.
When you get down to it, the citizens of Hinds County, other than those that live in Jackson, paid nothing for it either.
Jackson may deserve a better run airport. But that is not the problem of the state, or anybody that wants to comment here that are not resident, taxpaying citizens of Jackson. Don't want to use it? Don't like the service? Don't like the gum in the urinals? Then go somewhere else to fly.
I might agree with you on some of the issues about the operation, although not all. But I also don't like the service I get in some restaurants (both in Jackson and in Madison County. I don't use fast food places or chains, so I haven't eaten in Rankin and can't speak about them) When I don't like the service or the quality, I have the choice to go elsewhere - I don't have the option of taking over the restaurant and giving it to someone else to operate.
I mentioned to John May that I saw in the Clarion-Ledger and in Jackson Jambalaya that The May Law Firm is closely connected to Bennie Thompson.
John responded, "You cannot believe everything you read in the Clarion-Liar, especially when Sam Hall says it. Regina ran for mayor twice and Bennie did not support her either time. And I seriously doubt that Bennie could pick me out of a lineup. Chokwe Lumumba recommended us for this Board, end of story."
Mr. Irvin, I wrote that the Walker Group was tight with the Congressman. I'm aware that the Mayor recommended the May Firm.
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