Friday, January 18, 2019

Flashback Friday: $40 Mill & a Job

Today's edition of Flashback Friday continues to take a look at who said what when it was time to vote for higher taxes to fund the construction of the Jackson Convention Center.   JJ reported last week that the convention center had an operating loss of  $1.4 million per year* and has already lost nearly $300,000 just a few months into the new fiscal year. Earlier post with financial statements. The Capital City sharecroppers promise it would generate $40 million in revenue and create 700 jobs when they told us to vote for higher taxes.  Check out these past editorials and articles.













 *The loss does not include depreciation expense that averages $2.5 million per year. 

21 comments:

Max Masculinity said...

The Great Duping of Jackson Voters.

Cynical Sam said...

Follow the money. Whose relatives built it?

Suckers!

Anonymous said...

Close the Convention Center.
Close the Telcomm Center.
Close the Zoo.
Close JPS.
Fix the streets.
Hire more cops.
Fix the water system.
Get some real judges.

Jackson is lost.

Anonymous said...

Jeff Good where are you now? You demanded this thing....and not a peep from you? Hello?

Anonymous said...

it's great facility, and could truly be of great value, and I hate that it is a financial burden, but currently, its a diamond in a pile of poop........People want to go to nice places, and enjoy nice things. There is no green space, parking was never considered, and then there is the safety element of the area. It's Jackson's version of the beef plant. I can not help but think if we had good leadership and judges, and a vision to work towards that was based on re-creating beautiful city, we could pull this out......but......then I see a image of our city council, and realize that we probably have the most inept fraud controlling the future of this city....

Anonymous said...

It’s a hard sell for any industry, corporation or organization to announce a convention, trade show, seminar or meeting in Jackson. Traveling whether through the airport or roads is shocking for anyone not from West Virginia or Arkansas. Not knowing if a city will have water is an uncertainty that event planners are not willing to factor into their plans. Attendees safety is anything but assured. These telecommunications, web browser, real estate, trucking and petroleum multimillionaires need to step up with a master plan and not expensive economic band aids; lest Jackson is one disaster away from a Black Hawk Down scenario.

Anonymous said...

Remember that project consultants will give the city whatever projections they want as long as they get paid. They will put in enough small print disclaimers so that the opinion is really worthless except for the propaganda needed to sell the project to the gullible public. The convention center was not tied to adjacent or dependent private development so none of the individuals boosting this project had anything to lose. That should have been the red flag for the voters (politicians have no red flags), but the voters of Jackson and most of Mississippi, are more trusting and saw this as a positive effort. It was positive, but maybe not so smart.

Cynical Sam said...

Wasn't Charlton Heston's film "The Omega Man" based on Jackson?

Brylcream Commando said...

The Black Democrats voted as they were told to vote. The monolithic voting bloc owns this convention center mess and now gets to enjoy their fruits. Jackson is exponentially crumbling and the neophyte the Black Democrats installed as Mayor is totally clueless on how to move forward. Special fund bailouts are now the order of the day in Jackson until the Legislature figures it out and shuts the unauthorized transfers down. Those aren't LeFleur East's whites filling out all those expanding subdivisions in Madison and Rankin counties. That is Jackson's fleeing black middle class. But Robert Graham got Dorsey's street freshly paved!

Anonymous said...

Go sit in a Mexican restaurant in Madison and look around you. That's our cream of the crop and not a single person in there can see their own feet because of the size of their belly. No way somebody is going to hold a convention of any magnitude in Mississippi unless its the coast, and that is hardly Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

9:38, what are you talking about? Good is doing his part. Didn't you see him making a fool of himself on tv peddling gift cards to drum up some extra 1% from ice cream and pizza sales.

Anonymous said...

I still think the convention center could serve some use.

But there are some self-inflicted wounds by the state that the city just can't go around.

One of the biggest is the state flag with the Confederate emblem. There are many organizations that host conventions in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. That just will not host events in Mississippi due to the flag.

The Jackson Metro area has the infrastructure to host a NCAA Bowl Game; NCAA mens and womens basketball regional tourney; soccer; baseball; softball; or track.

There are opportunities. We simply refuse to make changes to draw in those revenues.

Anonymous said...

Who was the contractor that got this boondoggle contract? Let me guess, another Yates built project? Amazing how many of these disasters they are a part of it. They push and lobby behind the scenes to get these things moving forward and they rarely pans out as sold to the public. Well, it pans out for Yates, but no one else. Kemper....the Pearl stadium....the outlets....the convention center...I am sure that I am missing several. They are a great contractor and company, but there is a massive wake of wasted public dollars behind them, with their influence over (and money to) public officials being one of the main culprits in these things moving forward.

Anonymous said...

3:36 Pleeeeese move on to something else. I hate the state flag as much, if not more than you do, but it ain't the problem with Jackson hosting big conventions. The coast and Tunica have the same flag and they host conventions all the time. Get a new excuse. And Jackson does not have facilities to host NCAA tournaments. The coliseum is a joke and bowl games and the rest require sponsor money and some semblance of fan support. Maybe Jackson could host some kind of a demolition derby on Jackson streets. We've got those facilities.

Anonymous said...

We need to schedule a medical intervention for 3:36 pm

Kingfish said...

So the opponents "stand to benefit" from convention center.


Did they?

Anonymous said...

10:19 is on to the truth. Despite the support of upper-crust Jackson, and the mental sheep idiots that follow anyone and anything, the required 60% did not materialize until Derek Johnson united the preacher-leaders late in the campaign claiming twas but an elaborate scheme by Madisonites and Rankinites to kill Jackson. A convention center could then be built at the reservoir and shared by Rankin and Madison. 700 jobs needed in the bold new city - good bold paying jobs for Jackson about to be stolen! And all of the enlightened pro-economic development republicans believed the poop too. LMAO - Mic drop!

Mud Bog Races said...

@4:55 PM is onto something .. demolition derby and mud-bog races. Yea, they would create 1,000 jobs and bring in millions in tourist dollars.

Maybe sell some more bonds.

Happy times are here again...

Anonymous said...

Donk drag racing for the win! https://business.facebook.com/BecauseRaceCarTeam/videos/1860950017534483/?video_source=permalink

Anonymous said...

Jackson would need to be safe with running water at ALL times and streets that are NOT full of potholes for the convention center to be successful. Back to the basics would be a great start to move Jackson forward.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm.... Baseball stadium with guaranteed attendance... Convention Center in shady part of town that no one feels safe in... It's a no brainer for Jackson.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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