Jackson Jambalaya

Meh..time for some new blood there.

Please, someone -- anyone -- oppose McGee. I will vote for a 3-legged donkey before I'll vote for McGee.

The Costco kids wants another 4.

Is there going to be a Costco in Ridgeland or not?

A dime-to-a-dollar that the first three comments are from the same Dinsmor residents that were out in front of polling places harassing people who were in favor of or indifferent to Costco building in Ridgeland. They are strictly one issue people and are overlooking how much better Ridgeland is because of Gene McGee and his leadership. You better watch out for what you wish because you might be sorely disappointed when you get it. Grow up and realize we all have to sometimes accept things that may not be entirely to our liking. We have to be a whole city, not divided by the interstate.
By the way, how long has Sam's been in Madison? The last time I was there (this morning) the area had not deteriorated.

In the past, he was unbeatable. However, because of his COSTCO dishonesty, he's going to get his ass handed to him, irrespective of who opposes him. He can't disregard the voters, in favor of "community development," and expect to remain their mayor. If he thinks so, he must believe Ridgeland is predominantly democrat.

Go look at McGee's Facebook page. His support is pretty widespread. Even on social media it's hard to find people who are against him. Obviously there was a segment mad at him when Costco hearings took place but even that group seems to have diminished.

Gene is responsible for the ridiculous amount of apartments in the City. He is also on Buster Baileys payroll. Gene is the worst thing that has happened to Ridgeland. The only reason Ridgeland is the somewhat nice (getting worse by the day) is its close proximity to the City of Madison. It has been able to leach off of Madison's success.

When Gerald Steen tosses his hat in the ring, it will be all over for McGee.................

@6:38
While I agree that some of the apartments are causing problems in Ridgeland, you are WRONG about Gene and the apartments. The zoning was in place before he took office. Only a few were built after he was elected and the zoning was previously in place to allow them. Check the records of the last few years. Mayor McGee has fought tooth and nail to rid Ridgeland of blighted sub-standard apartment complexes. As a matter of fact he is giving the nicer ones almighty hell to try and run them out. Check out the newest density requirements for complexes that were built legally under the requirements in place when they were built. As for Madison's success, about 20 years ago they were near bankruptcy due to the non-business environment promoted by Mayor Hawkins. A group of business men finally convinced her that Madison could not survive without commercial development. If she hadn't yielded Madison would not be where it is today. It takes a balance of both residential and commercial to survive and grow.

Hemphill Construction dropped of some equipment at the site last week and it looks like they may be in the early stages of clearing.

8:37

Gene openly supported and pushed for all of the apartments in Ridgeland. Claiming that the City needed the tax revenue. Without Madison, the entire City of Ridgeland would look like west Jackson. Instead of the majority of the City on the east side of the interstate looking like west Jackson, as is the case today.

It really is very simple. If Ridgeland voters reward Gene's blatant dishonesty with another term in office then dishonest mayors is what Ridgeland can expect after Gene.

he has done well for the city, but Costco fiasco should have him resigning.

Gene's position on Costco shouldn't be an issue. His blatant lying about it should be.

What 10:17 said. McGee is a liar. He lied to his constituents, deliberately, for the benefit of a developer.

If you vote for a corrupt liar for mayor, you deserve to be ripped off. Do better, Ridgeland.

("Full disclosure" - I'm a Dinsmor resident who doesn't care about Costco, because, duh, the parkway was built to be developed, not to be a four-lane bike trail.)

Is Gerald Steen getting in the Ridgeland mayors race ?

McGee is a hell of a lot less crooked than Mary. If she can stay he can stay in no problem.

Commercial development is what pays for police and fire protection, park maintenance, and upkeep of roads. Without it, the city would indeed look like West Jackson or Clinton.

To the Dinsmore resident @5:31am......... There was a NDA in place between the City of Ridgeland and Cosco. Some information that you would have liked to have shared was covered under that NDA, and therefore, could not be disclosed to the public. That's the way business works. Time to get over it and move on.

Gene's decision to continue is bad news for Steen. He's pretty much worn out his welcome on the MadCo Board and is known to be the scoundrel holding the swing vote. He is perched on his own Petard, slowly losing the strength to avoid the blade.

8:59 Didn't Steen vote to get rid of Warnock? I thought he was one of the good guys. How has he worn out his welcome? Representing his district to get road money? Not doing what he is told by the big money people or other supervisors? How has he worn out his welcome?

Bill May or Steve Maloney for mayor of Ridgeland.

8:55 - nope. The mayor does not have the public's authorization to lie to it.

He could have said "I can't discuss that."

Instead, he lied.

9:49; You don't pay close enough attention to MadCo politics. Just as Steen ran on 'no new taxes' but made the motion to increase them several years back, he feasted at the Trough of Rudy for years and then voted to get rid of him when he realized there were already three votes for terminating Warnock.

He's the best at sticking his finger in the wind to gauge speed and direction. He's a conniver for sure and will slice you off at the knees if he senses an advantage. Just ask around. Why do you think he is the most distrusted person in the building?

Somewhere in here should be the fact that Costco has been consistently ranked at the top of the list of national chains in Consumer Reports. It way outscores the competition for price and quality of its store brands, and for service. Sam's is consistently near the bottom. I'm hoping it gets open sooner than later; it's taken a long dang time to get here. Kudos to the mayor.

It would seem that Gene has either assigned a city employee, or hired someone, to monitor this blog and practice damage control. Too many of the comments sound alike, all in favor of Gene.

"It would seem that Gene has someone to monitor this blog and practice damage control. "

12:56

Folks who like Gene will speak up for him. Didn't you just come through the Donald/Hillary thing?

12:56, I'm 12:29. I live in Jackson (cue funeral bells--not), and don't know the mayor from Adam's off ox. I honestly welcome Costco after years of listening to hosannas from other states. Beyond that, it looks to me that most of the comments are coming from sourballs. As usual.

Ok, 10:31 (Bill May or Steve Maloney for mayor of Ridgeland.)- this is THE most hilarious thing ever. These 2 are power hungry lawyer wanna-bes.

1:54, 2:05
So, do you get paid by the comment, or what?
You can live anywhere and still be a blog trolling prostitute.

@9:49 AM..
Steen hung with the other supes during "the bad old days" when they were partnered with Warnock to rip off the MC treasury and (among other things) built useless a "resort" lake in the middle of nowhere that went way over cost (surprise!!) with Warnock's engineering. Millions were spent (we still owe $1 million) and the unfinished "resort" lake won't hold water.

Before the last election, Banks and his other stooges (John Bell Grocery-boy & Baby-Banks Howland) had their heads in the sand about voters being fed up. Steen was smart enough to see it coming. He quit being a Banks stooge and started saying he wanted to replace Warnock, etc. He fooled enough voters to barely get re-elected by a 37 vote margin.

Hello to Alan Hart! Long time no see.

With Steen sliding into home with a 35 vote margin, how intelligent is Bishop to be listening to advice from that almost-loser? Both will get flushed next time around. Bishop better turn his cap around and figure this shit out quick.

@7:48...
While I don't always agree with Bishop, he is a God-send. Would you prefer to have Banks back in power. With Steen and Griffin, he would have had a majority and Warnock would still have the county by the gonads.

10:56...You are correct. However, does that mean we should be ok with a corrupt politician of a different flavor? The definition of 'morten's fork' is two equally unpalatable choices. Bishop and Steen will constantly fight over which is the sole swing-vote. They never got chosen at recess so they both covet that role.

8:37, has Gene Magee not been Mayor since 1989?

How many new construction permits to build apartment complexes were issued during his term since 1989?

You say it is a "fact he is giving the nicer ones almighty hell to try and run them out;" do you think it's American to take campaign contributions from developers for many years, allow many of the existing apartment complexes in Ridgeland to be constructed during your term, then, in a Stalin like manner, violate property rights by creating new density ordinances and requiring property owners to “tear down” buildings in order to comply, when everybody in this country with an once of sense knows these units were grandfathered in?

Sounds like you are either extremely ill informed, or a Magee tool who thinks folks are stupid enough to believe Magee is a good Mayor, and a good person.

You don’t issue permits to build apartment complexes then tell owners years later they have to tear down some of the buildings. It’s amazing that it took the Obama Admin. to tame in a Stalin like Ridgeland Mayor and Boar of Alderman; all so-called REPUBLICANS.

From the MS Business Journal/Wall Street Journal regarding Ridgeland:

Some of the apartment complexes went up 25 to 30 years ago and others less than 10 years ago, when Ridgeland and other cities were more generous in the building densities they allowed and more willing to grant multi-family zoning designations.

“Unlike eminent domain actions that undergo legal review and must compensate property owners, the amortization and zoning ploys legislate away property rights without compensation,” the WSJ said.

Bishop led the charge to approve a development near my neighborhood yesterday. There was much opposition from our side but we lost this battle (not the war). The developer of said new neighborhood is a major financial contributor to Griffin's campaign and defense war-chest. Go figure.

1:55, sounds like it will be a great neighborhood. So you think you can live in the area but others should not have the same right? So self serving and so focused on yourself. You want to control other peoples land? You must have loved the old Soviet Union.

Could be worse @1:55 PM. You could be stuck in the Jackson cesspool.

Gene Lied!!!!!!!!!!!! No way around it. He even called it operation Santa Claus. Anybody would be an idiot to believe a word he ever said. Costco in the West Neighborhoods and Trampoline park in the East side!!!!

4:48, we recognize your multiple exclamation points, darling!!!!!!!!!! You are far too angry and emotional to understand. The Mayor mis-spoke, possibly (rumor vs no-comment), but he is a good man and a good mayor and good for the City of Ridgeland.

I am anon at 1:55. I made a mistake in saying the developer is a Griffin supporter and contributor. The developer is a major contributor to Bishop! How Bishop sucked in the developer of Livingston, who knows. So, here we go with Rudy again! Follow the money in MadCo and look no further.

3:54; We all know the 500 acres will eventually be developed residentially. We are simply opposed to having three houses per acre. An acre (get out your dictionary and a tape measure) is actually a small piece of land. That benefits nobody but the developer and the company selling roofing shingles.

I wish Steen would run for Mayor. We all know he wants it. And I'm told he has a good bit of money in his treasure chest.

7:16 - Some would say Rudy clawed back that Steen war-chest when the Board sent his ass packing. But Steen still apparently has supporters in the district that kept him in office by 30 votes and we assume they would support his bid for Grand FooPah of Ridgeburg.

If he can stay in bed with Banks for 10 years he can work with D.I. and Stokes, both numbskulls in their own right. And he can call himself Geraldo and get the apartment vote.

Gene did lie, no one will run against him ever at this point.

In Madison county so has David Bishop more than once and to many.

Steen isn't going to run for mayor of Ridgeland until he gets finished owning David Bishop to get everything he wants for the next few years.

Damm shame to see men lie, cut deals and play ignorance.

9:17 Nothing wrong with Board members working together to get things down for their districts. Warnock is out and will continue to be out. Both Steen and Bishop want nothing to do with Warnock. Both campaigned to make changes in the engineer. Mary's two on the BOS just want to make people think that and make Bishop bow to her. The four BOS members have all been on board with the great changes that have taken place in the county.

@9:17..
Where do you get your BS?? I worked hard to help Trey, Sheila, and David get elected. I know all three well. They are all good people and we would be up shit creek if all three had not been elected. Frankly, I didn't know Bishop before the race, but I went all out to help him rid us of Banks and Warnock. Since then, I have been pleasantly surprised how good a supervisor he has become. David is his own man. He doesn't answer to Mary or Steen or anyone else. He may be hard headed and determined, but he is also honest and has turned down shady offers to help him pay off his legal bills.

David will get the job done. He will vote with Trey or Steen or anyone else when he thinks it is appropriate. Of course, whenever he and Steen vote together on an issue, you hear all the Chicken Littles cry that the sky is falling and David has "gone to the dark side"!! Without David, Madison County would still be at Warnock's mercy, the county would finish being bankrupted by the bogus Banks-Warnock Airport, we would still be bleeding $$$ paying for the financial black hole that is Griffin's "resort lake" in the boonies of District 5, and the same old corrupt machine would still be in business.

Repeat after me.."Thank God for David Bishop, Trey, and Sheila"!!!

6:13 - You should take a look at Bishop's latest fund raiser 'invitation'. It hit the streets just this week. There are three major contributors and sponsors for this event. Not sure what Bishop has done for Landrum (yet), but he just swung a deal to spend over 2.6 mil on the road the doctor lives on and got Scott Gideon's 600 house development approved just this past Tuesday. But, hey, he's his own man. The only thing we're missing is Rudy. And he'll be back.

6:13, only 600 houses on 500 acres? Are you sure about that? If so, is that all?

If you, a loved one or friend happens to live in a south Madison County subdivision, let us know if the density is 1.2 homes per acre or less.

But of course, you were supposed to be the last one in, huh?

500 acres is the whole pie. Streets and 'green' spaces will lower that number substantially.

12:01, sorry Snowflake, 600 homes on 500 acres, is 600 homes on 500 acres, regardless of streets, green spaces and lot sizes. It’s still 1.2 homes per acre with the exact same “impact” whether said homes are on small lots with green spaces, lakes, etc., or larger lots with smaller or no green spaces, lakes, etc.

Again, if you, a loved one or friend happens to live in a south Madison County subdivision, let us know if the density is 1.2 homes per acre or less.

Won’t you just be honest and admit that you were supposed to be the last one in?

Back to the Ridgeland Mayor…Since 1989 Gene Magee took campaign contributions from apartment complex developers, allowed many of the existing apartment complexes in Ridgeland to be constructed during his term, then, tries legislating away property rights as the Wall Street Journal states: “Unlike eminent domain actions that undergo legal review and must compensate property owners, the amortization and zoning ploys legislate away property rights without compensation.”

Gene sounds like a closet Leftist.

There will not be any green space to speak of in that development.
The developers don't leave trees and natural settings.

The only green Is that which will be in pockets of Bishop and Steen pockets for another term....

Maybe just maybe Steen will go run for mayor of Ridgeland , he would be the heck out of District 3 supervisor chair and take Bishop with him.

Take a look at Madison's Ironwood. It's bounded on the west by North Old Canton and on the East by Old Rice. Used to be owned by Dr. Hunt Bobo, I believe. If you still can't figure it out, it's directly across the street from where Charles Webster lived in his little mansion. The place has virtually been clear cut. There are three houses per acre, some with a zero lot line. No green space.

Developer is the same guy who will develop "Bishop's Plantation" that's being discusssed here.

Developers have two plans. The first plan is to cram as many rooftops into a parcel of land as they possibly can. The second plan is to figure out which politician to own. The rest just flows.

PS: There are several one acre per house subdivisions in Madison.

A new group of fools protesting new subdivisions have come and gone for years while south Madison County grows. Funny thing is, many, if not most of the new fools protesting, are living in the subdivisions the old fools were trying to keep from being developed. A fine example of hypocrisy since the fools protesting growth, always want to be the last one’s in.

Gene running another four after he said he was done....#MORE RETIREMENT FUNDING NEEDED