Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba accused U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of playing politics with his attempt to initiate Operation Legend to Jackson. Operation Legend is Justice Department program to reduce violent crime in major cities where it has spiraled out of control this year. The Mayor made his remarks during a meeting of the Jackson City Council last week.
Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote began the festivities by pointing out crime has gotten much worse in Jackson. He cited several statistics:
*Aggravated assaults are up 57%
* Armed robbery of businesses are down 35%
* Armed robbery of individuals are up 15%
* Carjackings are up 217%
* Homicides up 44% (and broke the record last week)
* Rape/sexual assault up 41%
* Total of violent crime categories are up 48%
The Councilman also noted JPD was severely understaffed and said it needed help. No one else discussed the crime statistics or actual crime problem. The rest of the discussion devolved into long-winded speeches about turf.
Mr. Foote urged the Administration and City Council cooperate with the Justice Department on Operation Legend. The Justice Department's website states:
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative across all federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight the sudden surge of violent crime, beginning in Kansas City, MO.However, this being Jackson, no good deed goes unpunished. The Mayor attacked U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst while City Council President Aaron Banks said he wanted to have more discussions on Operation Legend or in other words, he wanted to have a conversation about the conversation (5:00).
What drew the Mayor's ire was Mr. Hurst contacted the City Council about Operation Legend. He complained the U.S. Attorney did not contact him (7:26). The Mayor said he's rather have federal assistance for hiring mental health professionals, improved ballistics identification technology, and speeding up the federal criminal docket (Um, Mr. Mayor, you don't keep up with that docket, do you?) .
Mayor Lumumba accused Mr. Hurst of playing politics with crime (9:30). The Mayor said he was "the most political U.S. Attorney in the city's history." Councilman Charles Tillman rose up from the grave and rasped JPD should create a manpower list to be funded by the Justice Department (11:15). He said "we need people to come here and stay, not do an operation and you're gone." He closed by stating the federal government should "fully fund" JPD. The Mayor followed Mr. Tillman in asking for even more federal grants to help young people "in perpetuity."
Mr. Banks (17:30) said he wanted to have more conversations between the City Council, Mayor, JPD, and the Justice Department.
Mr. Hurst told WLBT and WAPT he returned the Mayor's phone call. The Mayor called him back and the U.S. Attorney returned the phone call. Mr. Hurst said he has been waiting since September 16 for the Mayor to call him back. He also said the Justice Department did not need the city's approval to initiate Operation Legend in Jackson.
47 comments:
I thought Mike was already involved with Operation EJECT in the city and county.
"Operation Legend". Well, kinda sorta. It's named after a 4 year old that lost his life to gun violence, and his name was LeGend Taliferro. Hmmmm. Taliferro? WHO else is, er, was a Taliferro?
Go Ashby. And with Priester's departure, you are surrounded by a Confederacy of Dunces.
Idiot...remind me again who is making this political? The Mayor’s ego is literally costing lives.
Just unbelievable.
The feds should quit playing politics and enforce the law.
Quit grand standing and work....or resign and let someone do it.
Playing politics? Good grief, man. Your people are literally dying in the streets. Hurst doesn't want your job.
The one and only thing that matters is the last sentence in Kingfish's opening post. That, my frans, is the real bottom line.
We reap what we sow. Give us money only.
Even if Lamuba had accepted Hurst's assistance it would have little to no effect on the situation. How many programs, both state and federal, similar to this one have failed over the past 25 years. They keep thinking that money will solve the crime problems. It won't. These are character issues, morals issues, human decency issues. Only a change in culture will solve Jackson's crime problem.
Armed robbery of businesses are down 35%. Of course it's down. There are not many businesses still open in Jackson. So they are now robbing individuals.
Okay, so the Mayor doesn’t want any help with crime in Jackson? Obviously, he’s content to watch his citizens die in the streets of Jackson; but, are you, the citizens of Jackson, content to see your family members, your friends, your children die in the streets of Jackson, to have them shot through the windows of your own homes? And, it going to get worse if you do not demand your mayor take advantage of the assistance offered to the City of Jackson.
Then can I refuse to pay my property taxes? Oh wait...that’s different. How about the state not give the city any funds or any assistance? Oh...that’s racist. I’m coming up short on answers
If it's not about Shock-Way, it's not going to happen.
I don't like heavy-handed government, but I don't like arrogance either.
Basically, the city doesn't want to be helped, they just want a check.
F--k them, it's time for the feds to quit asking and start arresting. To hell with asking baby chok anything. Just do it.
2020 = 127 (Projection based on current murder rate.)
2020 = 97 (YTD. +16.86% YOY. New Jackson Record)
1995 = 92
1994 = 91
2018 = 84*
1993 = 84
2019 = 83*
1991 = 76
2008 = 73
1996 = 67
* Antard Lumumba Yearly Average = 83.5
Hurst should do it anyway....BUT, he needs to start at the top by investigating Chokwe, Green, Kidd and certain members of the City Council. At the same time, the need to use ATF, DEA, FBI, MBI, etc., to tamp out crime and run these problems out of Jackson. Tate needs to take over JPS and seek assistance from the Feds on that issue. Non-profits and churches need to them swoop in when things settle down and provide guidance and assistance. Chokwe is correct that there is a mental health element to this as well. The mentally ill panhandlers should also be detained, evaluated and treated. If they can’t be redeemed, I’d buy one way bus tickets like our neighboring Southern cities do and ship them to liberal utopias like California and Colorado.
They are not rejecting assistance , they are rejecting assistance that appears to come from Hurst and administration sources. If somehow they could get the exact same help with Bennie's name on it they would brag and welcome it. But the chance that the Trump assistance will be successful is too great and they are determined to stall until after the election. It's not about WHAT. It's about WHO.
Think about it. Antard would rather let the city burn while he lives safely behind a gate.
Look at it on the bright side - at least the zoo has reopened.
It's past time for the state to take over administration of the city.
Simply put, Lumumba is incompetent.
"Elections have consequences" has to be one of the best presidential quotes of all time. Obama managed to get all of the problems with Jackson and other areas devoid of leadership summed up in a single phrase that illustrates how the voters are ultimately for their choices.
is there a “middle class” in Jackson? it seems to me there are haves and have nots. Those lines aren’t racial any more. There are significant “Black” populations in the burbs and crime isn’t soaring except for the city proper. walk around madison-who will rob you? then walk west capitol st and it’s a question of how many times you’d BE robbed
The mayor and council are true Mississippians. Reject federal money unless it comes from the right party. Just like medicaid expansion and Obamacare, we may need it bad, but we don't want it. Go Mississippi.
Tell Lubumba a there's a new Sheriff in town. His name is Prime Time. Prime Time.
Now do you really think the Mafia would open it's books to the Feds?
7:41, wrong - Operation Legend has produced tangible results in nine cities across the country. [Within the first 30 days, efforts in Kansas City resulted in more than 200 arrests, according to U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. Among those apprehended were suspects in homicides, assaults, robberies, and drug trafficking.] in 30 days...in one city; and understand that the federal government doesn't waste its time on small players, these are hard-core, repeat offenders who represent a real threat to public safety.
Its not that most cops in Jackson/Hinds County aren't well-intentioned and don't want to catch criminals, they become disillusioned when their efforts are undone by a court system that believes criminals' rights are more important than those of law-abiding citizens. I remember a meeting several years ago where JPD refused to share gang information with the FBI and ATF because they were in fear of losing their jobs; no telling how many murders could have been prevented.
Not to mention that federal agencies have better tools and technology to assist in the quick apprehension of these thugs, and when federal charges are filed, the Hinds County cabal is sidestepped.
Lumumba has blown a golden opportunity for real crime reduction in the city - what in the fuck is he thinking?
"Lumumba has blown a golden opportunity for real crime reduction in the city - what in the fuck is he thinking?" Let me ask you, would you honestly bite the hand that feeds you?
Not much left to say but get out now while you are still alive!!
Baby Chok is too busy working on a "guaranteed income" program with some other mayors (all blue city progressives). It would be something like $500/month/person. I haven't read about this in the local media, but if you Google "guaranteed income Jackson" there are quite a few articles about it around the country.
Oh, Jackson doesn't need the feds for a perception of crime.
How's that 'technology corridor' with all the cameras along Hwy. 18 working out? How many Credible Messengers has the mayor's sister brought onboard to resolve disputes? How much have we paid her for doing nothing? No results, so why not try something else? Nothing is working so far.
New word. Megatard.
I agree with 7:41. More arrests won't fundamentally change anything in Jackson, though they may very well save the life of an innocent victim.
What happened to Hurst's Operation EJECT? I thought that was supposed to fix everything? Hurst is just an impotent as everyone else, throwing things at a wall and hoping something will stick and reduce crime by 1%, so he can claim success and take a promotion.
DA Hurst should try again with an African American ADA at the helm. Don't nobody in the Radical Republic of New Afrika want anything to do with any program that has a powerful white male in charge. Seriously, what was he thinking? Of course whites aren't allowed to have a racial preference. But when you are dealing with black egos you better eat that humble pie and grovel, you chalkie mufugga!
"I remember a meeting several years ago where JPD refused to share gang information with the FBI and ATF because they were in fear of losing their jobs; no telling how many murders could have been prevented."
Yeah man, I heard the AC Turnbulls were about to bop with some of the Warriors tonight.
Pitt Pather...Get back to your indoctrination of children at Millsaps. This conversation is for adults.
I bought a business in Jackson late 90’s, paid little over 4 million for building. Probably done 3-4 hundred improvement since original purchase so I decided to have it appraised. Gone down in value 650,000. Got another, 680,000. Asked both appraisers same question, “why”? Got same answer “Jackson”. Both said for the price you paid someone could build a building in Madison, Rankin and have less taxes, better police and safer area.
"Tell Lubumba a there's a new Sheriff in town. His name is Prime Time. Prime Time."
Is Coach Sanders related to Enoch Sanders ?
" I bought a business in Jackson late 90’s, paid little over 4 million "
As the old saying goes . . . (I don't think I'd be telling that).
“If the Feds arrest me, I’m telling on all y’all”.
4:57 I was also surprised someone would admit it... but... was actually trying to figure out who it is so we could pitch our operation to them. Serious.
12:02 a.m. is correct. The feds already operate the Eject program in Jackson, and the U. S. Marshalls already work closely with JPD in arresting suspects. The Mayor is right to call out Mr. Hurst for his political grandstanding.
Look for things to change when Pres. Biden appoints a new U. S. Attorney.
I’m with No. 3. Mo’ POlicemans to bring them up to par.
This shouldn't surprise anyone. Turning Jackson into an autonomous region is one of the stated purposes of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (co-founded by Chokwe Lumumba The First):
"The People’s Assemblies that MXGM are working to build in Jackson, throughout the state of Mississippi, and other cities where we have chapters, are designed to be vehicles of Black self-determination and autonomous political authority of the oppressed peoples’ and communities in Jackson."
https://freethelandmxgm.org/particpatory-democracy/
"We say ‘Free the Land’ because We want independence so that we can ensure our Human Rights are protected and that our land will be a zone and base for all who seek liberation and freedom.
"As a national organization, each of our chapters works towards securing land as a base for community organizing and self-determination for the Black nation."
https://freethelandmxgm.org/land/
Doesn't the Mayor live on a gated street?
One of my great, great, great, great grandfather was in the Battle of Jackson for the Union. He did more for Jackson then the Mayor ever will. But that's right, somehow my ancestors were all racist.
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