Jackson Jambalaya

Someone please remind the people why they are against the state taking over Jackson?

The State doesn't want it.

Watched the video. Enlightening! Wow. Thank you for this. So, what happened after the meeting adjourned?

Mark Baker's proposal is not going to happen and it would only further divide us. But it IS time for us to have some meaningful discussions as to whether consolidating the many layers of government in the Jackson metropolitan area makes sense. Rankin County is trying to build its own waste water facility while the Jackson facility needs improvements. Think of all the layers of government in our area: we have the City of Jackson, the City of Flowood, the City of Ridgeland, the City of Madison, the City of Clinton, the City of Florence, the City of Pearl, the City of Brandon, Hinds County, Madison County, Rankin County, and the list goes on. There are at least 12 different competing interests in a metropolitan area that includes 500k people. It would require everyone to give up a little power, but then we would all have some say on how best to move forward.

The City of Louisville did this in 2003 and it has been very successful. Other areas have considered it such as Pittsburg, PA (see: https://www.heartland.org/sites/all/modules/custom/heartland_migration/files/pdfs/18001.pdf), St. Louis, MO (see http://fox2now.com/2016/05/09/can-st-louis-learn-from-louisville-ky-consolidation/). Here is another helpful report published in 2012 that deals with City/County consolidations: http://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/documents/Reshaping%20County%20Government%20A%20Look%20at%20City-County%20Consolidation.pdf

It's time to think outside the box. We need to find ways to work TOGETHER instead of against each other. This is a message worth promoting, Mr. Kingfish.

1:49, It will NEVER happen. Jackson screwed themselves up because of poor management, political made jobs, hiring incompetents, so called minority contracting requirements etc etc. No way the people living outside the city will bail them out. However, some of Kingfish's proposals make sense regarding shared cost for some of the amenities like the zoo. however, Jackson will not want to give up control because the council members and Mayor can give out jobs and contracts for political favor.

None of the other cities would want to join Jackson in anything. Why would they when the elected officials are providing a safe haven for criminals and want the citizens to throw rocks, bottles, and bricks when police have to chase Jackson criminals back to the safe haven?

Why would any other city want to help Jackson after Jackson has shown they will not even help themselves? Jackson is a cesspool. People usually do not want to live and play in a cesspool.

It'll never happen because of what the majority of Jackson's residents make up. How many of them "contribute"? Serious question. What percentage of those that live in Jackson and use its infrastructure actually have income and/or pay taxes? I'm betting its not a large percentage. Those that got tired of footing the bill so to speak, left and built their own cities. Other than the states governmental offices, the majority of those don't want a damn thing to do with that dump and you cant force us to change our minds. Its a crime ridden, welfare cesspool that has entitled and handed out all of its funds to "their people" and now they are broke. Just like Detroit. You can scream "you're a racist redneck from xyz county" but its the truth and the truth hurts. "Democrats" are what killed Jackson.

Hey, May 11, 2016 at 3:15 PM, I am screaming, can you hear me?
"You're a racist redneck from xyz county!! It's the truth and the truth hurts."

Pay attention. Jackson is imploding right before your very eyes.

It's a race to see if the state or Jackson goes bankrupt first. Anyone thinking those goobers running the state right now could do much better is living in a fantasy world.

From today's C-L video interview with Stamps.

Stamps: "Anytime Jackson has been left without outside intervention its figured its problems out."

BULLSHIT Stamps. Completely bullshit.

Regional services will work but Jackson will not allow it.

If you think the state is being run any better than Jackson, you're not paying attention.

3:59, I hope you are screaming that 3:15 is telling the truth about the majority of Jackson residents. Is there anyone living in Jackson today that pays taxes? Anyone who pays their water bill? Anyone who does not have a criminal record? Anyone who does not depend on some govt. benefits to pay for their housing?

One word...Jatroit

KF you could make some money running a wager on when they actually go into Chapter 9.

Do people who cry racism actually believe themselves? Or has somebody told them that's the way to shut people up? When you drill down sixteen layers through the innards of a problem situation and list your findings, how can that be racism?

Even the uber left JFP is scratching their head on the water system meltdown: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/may/04/city-leaders-loss-over-water-sewer-revenue-loss/

Tony Yarber is inept. He is unfit and unqualified to hold office. He needs to be shown the door when it comes to public service and stick to his preachin gig. Mark Baker is a clown and if you need any evidence to see why the state taking over Jackson is a horrible idea just look at Flint, Michigan and the state appointing "emergency managers" to run the Flint government leading up to the current crisis. I'd like to see Melvin Priester run for mayor and get this city back on track. Yarber isn't going to pray the next election away like he wants to do with potholes and if you need any reason to want his smug butt gone just go see how he represents Jackson on his personal Twitter account.

The State will run Jackson with the same level of competency they employ at running Mississippi. That's reassuring. Here's how it will go down: State takes over. Has a bunch of 'oops' moments (like they do), and will blame "prior administrations." They will divest Jackson of what good is left, while Rankin power-brokers get their slice. A baseball stadium will get paid off. Burn the ships, and walk back across the Pearl.

Anyone who believes the suburbs and their politicians give a hoot about Jackson has not been paying attention.

The State will run Jackson with the same level of competency they employ at running Mississippi.

Which is more competency than the level running Jackson.

8:02 I agree: The sooner someone finds a way to replace Yarber and his clinging cronies and their corruption with Melvin Priester Jr. the better. Priester is far brighter, better educated, and from a bright family, and much more a public servant. I'm very impressed with Priester, and as an attorney, I've been impressed with Judge Priester as well.

The state's "oops" in its budget for this year was a less than 1% error in a $6 billion budget, which appears to be caused by a massive restructuring of the state's budgeting process (eliminating special fund agencies and converting them to appropriated operations.) Whether you agree with the budgeting change or not - the fact that the various agencies didn't have accurate totals on the amount in the special funds at the time of the appropriations doesn't mean a major problem in operating the state. Just as in years past, this minor problem (yes $54 million is minor in the state funds, and really minor when you consider the total budget for the state including federal funds is over $14 billion) can be corrected easily when next legislative session begins.

UNLIKE the city's budgeting problems. Right now the city has evidently expended all of its available money, and gone (illegally it might be noted) into its reserve funds to the degree of $4 million. Much bigger problem than the state's appropriation (not spending) issues.

And while the city has spent all its money, it also can't operate its water department; or its street department; or its police department; or its administrative operations --- need I go on? It can't get the water department where it can collect its bills and send its bills.

The city wants to fire engineers that have been working on the consent decree program for several years and replace them with a new engineering group (from CA) that will have to start over - at a cost of over a half million dollars.

The City Council can't get a report from the finance department on the fund balances - has to threaten to supeona the city employees to make them attend, while the Mayor hides from the problems and trys to pray the problems away. From his new sanctuary in the King Edward.

The city cannot take Chapter 9, as suggested above. In MS, cities cannot take bankruptcy. While Baker might be out on a shaky limb, what solution does anybody have about how to solve the problems? How about just one or two of them - like maybe figure out how to collect the water bills so the system can continue operating?

8:43: Based on what evidence? Same budgeting errors. Same unwillingness to maintain infrastructure. Same cronyism in contracts. Same willingness to put taxpayers on the hook for "economic development" projects. Let's remember DMR, Kemper, Kior, the beef plant and the millions doled out for shopping centers. Let's not forget the broken foster care system, the abysmal mental health system, and the backwoods hokiness that dominated the 2016 session.

What no one wants to admit to themselves is that Jackson provides a convenient smokescreen for the idiots at the state-level. "At least we're not Jackson, right Phil?" You won't see Mark Baker advocate for the takeover of Pearl.

9:30 AM - actually they can take Chapter 9 if the legislature approves it: See
H.B. 1616, 2006 Reg. Sess. (Miss. 2006).

That ain't smoke you are seeing 6:30 in Jackson. It is a raging budgetary fire.

The smokescreen is your own to take decades of actual, bonafide, documented rank Jackson incompetence and turn it into another of your reliable screeds.

Anyone know if the mayor ever showed up?