Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Overpaying? The Jackson Way Continues.

Who will lobby for Jackson?  Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba placed Quincy Mukoro's lobbying contract on the agenda for yesterday's meeting of the City Council. The contract was up for renewal but the Mayor tabled it until the February 18 meeting.  Several sawces said the Mayor did so when he realized he did not have the votes to get the contract renewed.


Mayor Lumumba convinced the City Council to hire Mr. Mukoro's lobbying firm, the Octagon Group shortly after he donned the purple in 2017.  Mr. Mukoro worked on the Mayor's campaign.  The lobbyist registered  Jackson as a  client in November 2017 for the 2018 lobbying year. He reported in April 2018 his compensation was $135,000 ($110,000 compensation and $35,000 retainer). 

The lobbyist registered in 2019 and 2020 but he must have been working for free because he didn't report any compensation for either year (although 2020 is still young.). Who says public service is dead today?

The city is required by law to report its lobbying expenses as well.   Jackson reported it paid Mr. Mukoro compensation of $135,000 in 2018.  It didn't report the compensation for 2019.

Kingfish note: If one wishes to find an example of over-payment, one need only look at Jackson's lobbying contract.  Jackson is paying nearly double the next largest lobbying contract for a municipal client in Mississippi:


Jackson: $110,000 (assumed since it's not reported)
Biloxi: $60,000 (Keith Heard)
Tupelo: $60,000 (Clare Hester)
Ridgeland: $36,000 (Joel Yelverton)
Ridgeland: $30,000 (Camille Scales Young)
D'Iberville: $36,000 (Benjamin Thompson)
Diamondhead: $30,000 (Trey Bobinger)
Meridian: $30,000 (The Beth Clay)
Starkpatch: $25,000 (George Flaggs)
Ocean Springs: $20,000 (Joe Gill)
Oxford: $18,000 (Kelly Cress, John Morgan Hughes)
Madison: $12,000 (Al Sage)

Hattiesburg: $0 (Mayor Toby Barker.  He is a former State Representative.  He said he does his own lobbying.  He makes his own visits to the Capitol and handles the town's bidness himself.)

Mr. Mukoro's only other client is the Black Caucus of Elected Officials. He has represented several other minor clients in the last five years.   In other words, he has no real book of business but for the city of Jackson.  Jackson is paying nearly double and triple what the top lobbyists charge their municipal clients.  Mr. Mukoro's previous gig was a stint Director of Government Affairs for the Mississippi Municipal League.  Simply put, there is nothing in Mr. Mukoro's resume that justifies his hire, much less $110,000 per year.

Truth be told, Mr. Mukoro has done nothing of note to earn his pay while representing Jackson.  Little Lord Lumumba's legislative agenda has been a bust every year he has been in office.  The Mayor shows up with his entourage at the Capitol every so often and leaves with nothing.  Jackson could have spent nothing on lobbying during Lord Lumumba's reign and achieved exactly the same result.

To make the comparison worse, Jackson paid its previous lobbyist, Worth Thomas, $50,000 per year.  Mr. Thomas is well-respected at the Capitol and has a stable of clients such as AT&T, Mississippi Power, and Baptist Memorial Healthcare.  So Jackson dumped a proven veteran for someone with no resume while doubling the pay.  Such a move is sooooooooo Jackson.

Virgi and The Bleats should reject the Mayor's bid to renew Octagon's contract and hire someone who is experienced and competent.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

so you bitch about Jackson paying too much in bribes to a guy whose job it is to bribe a group of people who look to be bribed to make decisions where our money is to be spent.

how much bribe money should Jackson be paying a guy to bribe the group to be bribed in Jackson for Jackson?

Anonymous said...

That money isn't going to lobbying. It's headed right back to baby chok, or probably to pay off a debt. It just has the appearance of being used for lobbying.

It always works this way. You "hire" a consultant and he delivers the cash per your instructions. A lot of it comes back to the sender, but it's a great way to buy stuff and pay debts.


Jackson politicians don't send this money out with no strings attached.

Anonymous said...

10 54 AM

so every other county that pays its bribers money gets the benefit of the bribe money? its just Jackson where the bribe money goes back to the mayor?

gotcha!

had no idea it was that simple.

Anonymous said...

It's said that a fish rots from the head down.

There's a reason the Council censured Dr. "Music Man" Blaine and was set to vote against the Mayor's buddy. There really needs to be an investigation/audit of how this administration spends our money.

Anonymous said...

I hope they throw the book at baby chokwe. He's a grown spoiled brat. Had everything he wanted all his life. I went to private school with him. Always pampered.

Anonymous said...

Going from $50,000 to $135,000? Damn, talk about stickin' it to the man....

Anonymous said...

Jackson Zoo and its $6,000,000 collection of animals has been CLOSED 128 DAYS.

Mayor GumFlap says it won't open until the summer because of "weather delays".

No doubt Fat Melvin believes that.

Unknown said...

As a past member of the Mississippi Municipal League, I can assure you that Quincy did his share of lobbying at the capitol and did a fine job of it.

So to say he is unqualified and has no experience is simply untrue.

Dave Nichols, former Mayor Monticello and the former is by choice.

Anonymous said...

I live in Jackson... the issue is the elected officials don't think its the people's money but rather there money. They're public servants but in there small minded opinion the believe they're royalty

Kingfish said...

So tell me what he got done for y'all. Because a slew of Mayors said otherwise.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 11:48. He/she summed up the difference between politicians v. public servants.

Below is an article that examines the problem from a clinical perspective:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201112/narcissism-why-its-so-rampant-in-politics

Anonymous said...

KingFish,Shaw White,the Clarion Ledger & Jackson Free Press needs to point their laser focus investigated tools into this matter. This will make Jackson a better place to live. All talk & no action make Jack a dull boy.

Anonymous said...

Jackson and Hinds County should go in together and jointly hire a well-connected Democrat AND Republican to lobby for them.

Anonymous said...

So what did Worth Thomas accomplish that is so proven!!!!?

Anonymous said...

this is one lobbyist you won't find in the locker room at ticos.

Retired Lobbyist said...

I don't know the Mukoro guy, but Worth Thomas is a pro and good at what he does.

The comparisons with other cities is questionable, since Jackson is a hot mess and needs help in far greater ways. If Jackson could bring back Thomas or someone comparable, even if it cost more ($75,000?), some good might come of it. One thing for sure, Jackson must have a lobbyist.

Kingfish said...

WT brought home the capitol complex bill, which Little Lord Lumumba has tried to undo.

fed up in Jackson said...

to me, the bigger question in these relationships is, if all were doing the job they were elected to do, would lobbyist be necessary?

to argue for a lobbyist existence is essentially lobbying for a crooks right to take your stuff stuff.

Kingfish said...

Harvey Johnson fired his and then got embarrassed on the water bonds because he didn't know the procedures for getting them - but the lobbyists did.

Advice to the Mayor, since his lobbyist didn't tell him: Leave the entourage at City Hall behind. The legislators, black white Republican Democrat you name it, they all laugh at the Muhammad Ali -size entourage. You're a pretty engaging speaker one on one, leave them behind, and that includes Dr. Omari. Makes you look weak having her around all the time. Just bring who you really need for a particular issue, like the police chief (Chief Davis, not your boy Robinson), the PW Director, etc and speak to them accompanied by the lobbyist.

They are the guys who write the checks. You're just one of a long list of people coming up there with a hand outstretched for money. Jackson is nothing special to the Capitol.

As for lobbyist, The Republicans run everything. Get one who can get in their doors, not party it up or rub elbows only with the Black caucus. The lobbyist is supposed to get help for Jackson, not be a somebody in a certain group.

Anonymous said...

wait... the "chief financial officer" of desoto county is the "municipal finance VP" of this lobbying firm?

https://www.desotocountyms.gov/directory.aspx?EID=82

hmmmmmmm.......

Anonymous said...

Quincy worked hard for the city and was successful in getting bills passed. He is well-respected at the Capitol by folks on both sides. WT will raise enough controversy to kill a bill so the client can hire him again the next year. Personally saw him do that. If a city is going to hire a lobbyist, Quincy is an excellent choice. I think the bigger issue is whether ANY city should be hiring a lobbyist every year. A simple call to or meeting with the legislators representing those cities is often enough.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Quincy for your personal testimonial (at 8:59). You must have gone to the Trump University to learn the Art of Self Promotion and how to make facts fit your needs.

Please though, in promotING your worth, tell us one bill you got through the NS Legislature on behalf of the City of Jackson. Just one - during the two legislative sessions that have been during your $135,000 tenure.

Or even, tell us one Republican committee chairman you have worked with during the two yeas (and one month) while working on behalf of the City.

Getting a bill filed (always by a member of the black caucus) doesn't count. Hell, I can get a bill filed, as can any Tom, Duck or Harry.

You claim you have been very successful on behalf of the City - give us one specufic or STFU.

While you are at it, since you claim to be lobbying at the federal level as well, what have you done in that area except moan about the need for federal dollars - while condemning those that grant them? Do you haveany - just one - success story for that justification of your (Mayor's ?) slush fund contract

Anonymous said...

Had lobbyists been in existence during the time of Shakespeare, he would have said to kill all the lobbyists instead of kill all the lawyers. Lobbyists are this seething mass of whores that write bills to benefit their clients, then get the bills introduced and passed by legislators that are too stupid to even understand what they are voting for.

Anonymous said...

I'm told that The Capitol City Complex Bill was mostly Mr. Mukoro, and the CID (Community Improvement District) Bill that passed last year was due to the hard work of Mr. Mukoro. I'm also told that Mr. Mukoro also played an instrumental role to ensure cities were a part of the use tax diversion bill from the 2018 Special Legislative Session. I was told by veteran lobbyists that Worth Thomas had NO SIGNIFICANT role in those bills.

I was also told that Mr. Thomas is well respected, but rarely shows up at the capitol.

Inquiring minds would like to know???

Signed.. "The Gymp"

Anonymous said...

I must say I would really like to meet this Quincy Mukoro guy...

Anonymous said...

I have been informed that Quincy worked about 10 Years for the Municipal League and has relationships statewide. I believe there are glaring reasons why some people don’t like the concept of a young, charismatic and intelligent guy representing a majority black city. I am sure Worth Thomas a known Yarber supporter will be welcomed to lobby for Flowood....

Kingfish said...

He had nothing to do with the CCC bill passing. Wasn't even working for the city at the time. As for the CID bill, Virgie Lindsay was down there at that capitol working it.

10:02: You're funny. You can't handle someone disagreeing with you for any reason but race.

Anonymous said...

"I believe there are glaring reasons why some people don’t like the concept of a young, charismatic and intelligent guy representing a majority black city."

I look forward to seeing one get elected here.

Anonymous said...

Ok,

So I was told to check out this particular story on this blog, and I am blown away. I've lobbied for over 15 years. Mr. Thomas and Mr. Mukoro are good people that work hard and do their job well. But why so much anger over Mr. Mukoro's contract. You must admit, he is probably under paid to represent "JACKSON!" No legislator (including their own) really wants to help Jackson. I know it sounds bad, but it's just the truth. To represent the city of Jackson is like having two full time jobs at the capitol. Just think about those other cities being represented. Every legislator (especially republicans) wants to say they helped Oxford, Biloxi, Tupelo, Madison, Starkville, Diamondhead, Ridgeland, etc. I think you get the point. Those are darling shining star republican cities. It don't take much effort to represent them, therefore it doesn't take much money. If you find where a republican municipal/county stronghold is paying a huge amount of money for lobbyist, then that is definitely a buddy buddy deal, because they already have the ideological politics in their favor. They really don't need much of a lobbyist. As a legislator (especially a republican legislator) it is politically tough to say I drove all the way to Jackson, spent taxpayer dollars to help the City of Jackson. Bless the heart of whoever wants. That job!

Kingfish said...

Look at the numbers. Paid nearly twice as much as the nearest one.



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