Jackson Jambalaya

Serious question here: why does Jackson (or any municipality) need a lobbyist? Isn't it the job of the Mayor and his team to promote Jackson?

"Mr. Mukoro was the lobbyist for the Mississippi Municipal League but didn't achieve anything of note in the legislature for MML. He currently has all of three registered clients: Hope Enterprise, Mississippi Center for Justice, and Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials."

This says it all right here. Help your friends, help the collective(whatever that means), and help the cooperative. Its all about appropriating funds among cronies, no matter the outcome. Race fist, performance last.

Whatever happened to the mayor picking up the phone and calling the Representative or Senator that represents him and explaining his problem to them?

That's $541,000 is you are wondering.

Think that Mukoro was an salaried employee of the MML.

Heaven forbid Jackson consider hiring a lobbyist with Republican connections.

Quincy Mukoro was front and center of numerous efforts to pass M.O.S.T.. How did that work out?

For what they are getting? I would say so!

It's all the same ole jive. As long as the constituency of these "city officials" do not hold them accountable they will wallow in taxpayer money. They will hire friends, girlfriends, relatives, cronies etc. at whatever prices they can imagine. And they can imagine a lot! They don't have to justify stupid spending as long as they spend it with the "right" people. It just doesn't matter. The issue is redistribution of wealth, not efficient government, or education (see JPS). Remember that, and everything falls into place. The problem is, there is no EXPANSION of wealth. In fact the pie is shrinking. But they don't care. They'll get theirs before the whole thing collapses.

What use is there of winning an election if you cannot put a little money in your pocket and the pockets of your friends?

Jackson can't get anything from this bunch....Jackson ain't their constituency you see.

So save the 123k and use it to buy shovels to fix holes.

Paying a lobbyist - even a good, capable one - for part time work more than you are paying the director of public works easily shows what's wrong with this city. And says a lot about this Mayor's priorities.

And doing it at the same meeting is terrible optics; but notice that none of the council members had the vision to see it.

You are correct. Way, way, way out of line. And the streets continue to grow very large potholes. The first 100 days are soon to hit the mark with no noticeable infrastructure improvements.

Yes, the municipal officials can do their own lobbying but you get what you pay for.

The good lobbyists know the bills, know the procedures, know the statutes. They have good intel and are often mini-CIA's. It's not about wining and dining but providing good information to the clients and being able to negotiate.

Example. Harvey Johnson got rid of the lobbyists for Jackson. He just knew Jackson would get $6 million in the bond bill. The problem was, the people who knew how it worked were fired. It turned out Harvey didn't bother to apply for the money as was required by the law because he didn't known the law. He got egg all over his face when he fought with Tate Reeves and the Bond Commission.

For those of you who are so upset about Lumumba trying to hire one of his supporters, do you have the same objection to Trump backing Strange (who has close Trump ties) over Moore in the AL Senate race?

Q has had some tentacles to the Siemens folks.

He was a salaried employee, dir of govt relations, for the Municipal League. They hire a separate lobbyist — I believe Trey Bobinger. Why should any city, company, or organization hire a lobbyist unl we the lobbyist is favored by speaker, tater, and their republican soldiers. Doesn’t matter. Who is lobbying or not, unless those two support it - it ain’t passing.

What's John Morgan Hughes doing for Hinds County that Worth can't?

Apples-to-oranges @ 12:37 PM.

@12:37pm

There is no way you are serious with that comparison / question.

All JJ readers now feel dumber for having read your post.

Quincy is a total joke. He could not even tell you how a bill is passed. This is all about public money getting into the right hands so it can get back to the right people.

As someone who has responsibility for evaluating lobbyists in the state in order to hire them, I'd like to say, "Who?"

If I were a deeply entrenched Democrat city, I might would want to Republican up with my lobbyist.

This is to lobby the...Mississippi legislature...across the street?

just in case you don't know exactly what lobbying is...... it is legalized bribery. cites have their lobbyists, big business has theirs, ask yourself, who is lobbying for you?

High hopes for this administration are fading fast. Questionable nepotistic hiring of notoriously horrible workers is starting to show. Just because they worked on campaign doesn't qualify them for seats in the administration.
The powers at be have a hold on this city. Until the movers and shakers are rendered silent it seems the same results are going to be produced.
It's time we get rid of anyone who's been on council for more than 1 term.
Also time we realise the state is watching Jackson burn. Once bankrupt the state will move in and sale off the scraps 1 by 1. Blue dot on a red wall.

Well, Mukoro has to add into his price - organizing fundraisers, special events, meals, entertainment, walking-around money, political contributions, strongly recommended "add-on/as-needed basis consultant support services, and other "unique" miscellaneous expenses...

First let me agree that the proposed price is a little high.

But let me also set the record straight. Quincy is a sharp young man, who did the MML a very good job. Forget what he may or may not have gotten new for the member cities. Because one of his main jobs was blocking legislation that was harmful to cities, which he did quite well.

As a former member of the MML, board member and Ex. committee member I was always pleased with his work.

Former Mayor Dave Nichols.

Oh and the former is because I chose not to seek reelection.