Jackson Jambalaya

Kinda hard to create a radical new city when you don't have water.

Hahahahahahaha

8 million for professional services seems high but hey they got to get theirs while getting is good and who is said professional I bet ole Socrates is slobbering at the thought of this "windfall". I work in the infrastructure construction industry and we wont even consider doing work for the city because of all the "hoops" ya got to jump through. You have to meet over 25% minority participation and those are all engineers or professional service fees you have to pay just to meet the DBE goal. I am all for minority participation and helping black owned businesses dont get me wrong but at some point ya just gotta do what ya got to do to fix the problem no matter who is making the money. BTW what has happened to that 1% sales tax money for Infrastructure havent heard about it in a while.

I’m asking Jesus for the powerball numbers. And that hasn’t happened either.

KF, I agree that the state should oversee all work done if this project is approved. It is an utter embarrassment that our capital city is in such a deplorable state.

But the new walking track was a priority and definitely needed......

..Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine....

From: Tater
To: Mayor Antar

Wish in one hand and....and see which one fills up first.

Seriously tho, the Mayors from every other town in MS can send a memo to Tater and say just two words...."Me too!"

Other cities should learn from Jackson - all the spending on non-necessities on costly items such as those beautification projects (see the lakeland median) that look great now but won't amount to hill of beans when aging infrastructure rears its ugly heads and you can't drive on the roads or drink the water. If you're also unlucky enough to have a mass outflow of population, you're really in tight spot.

He issued a proclamation declaring a civil emergency.
Bless his heart.

Improvements just at the two surface water treatment plants. I though Fewell was supposed to be decommissioned but could be wrong about that. Oh yeah a few miles of mains too.

Maybe they ought to split the system up and put it on wells. How many meters does the city have? At least it could be segregated that way with tie valves and wouldn't lose the whole city in a crisis

And just whom would oversee the spending of the $47 million? Shall we just trust the Mayor, City Administrators, and City Council to spend the money efficiently and honestly.

There is no way to help Jackson. If the water system was fixed and Jackson was given money to maintain it, would be back in same place in 10 years. Asking the State to help is just a way to shift blame.

So 7 million to determine the extent of the neglect. 10 million for the plans to refurbish and bring the system up to at least 1970 levels. Another 10 million to grease the hands of corrupt politicians that have run the shit hole into the ground. Another 10 million to establish the right amount of minorities that probably don’t have enough resources to start. 5 million for the mayor to run ads praising his accomplishments. And 5 million to fix a problem that needs about 60 million to finish. Perfect!

Did anyone notice that the date for the estimate is dated last December? Wasn’t the mayor just on tv saying it would cost billions to fix? This doesn’t add up.

How did the mayor “give away” $30 million in legal fees? Did the City of Jackson pay Seimen’s legal fees?

In any event, the Seimen’s lawsuit had nothing to do with maintenance of the water facilities, pipes, etc. Your point is clearly misplaced. Not that it matters. Most of your readers don’t care as long as it fits their narrative that Jackson should burn to the ground.

And you’ve pointed out yourself that the State has no right to take over the airport. That doesn’t change with a cold front.

I'm just going off memory (and a bad one at that), but wasn't Harvey Johnson (aka Election Man) supposed to fill out some kind of paperwork to apply for a federal/EPA grant many years ago, and his staff just forgot to do it? If all you had to do was fill out the paperwork and submit it to get free money, I can't think of a better example of incompetence that than. As stated many times, this crisis has been brewing for decades, and if I'm close to remembering the story correctly, a lot of the blame falls on Harvey.

Some "self closing" manholes would be a good start to reduce cars flipping upside down etc etc

Your 3 points KF are right on the mark.

Antard's wish list is not a plan, it is only a list.

Plus, NO money, NOT A PENNY, until Antard acknowledges and agrees to pay off the loans the city received from the infrastructure fund.

Over at the dying weekly, er, bi-weekly, er monthly Lumumba newsletter Mr. Donna Ladd's, aka Todd Stauffer, latest opinion column says:

After a years-long ordeal with an extremely fraught $90-million contract with Siemens, the City has recently stabilized water billing ...

Stabilized? Seriously? As in it is now working or only partially working? How do YOU know Stauffer?

Since the conversion to the new system I (who stupidly still lives in Jackson) have received 8 correct water bills. That's right, ONLY 8 after what, 5-6 years? How do I know? I read my own meter religiously and photograph the readings every week. Have been doing this for years. My bills have nearly all been estimated and all estimated too high from actual usage. I've trooped down to Metro Center more times than I can count. Nobody there can ever resolve the problem and too many times they don't even possess the logic and reasoning skills to understand the very basic information I'm trying to present to them. So monthly I pay for my garbage (weeks * rate), I pay the sewage minimum charge and I don't pay them for any water at all since they believe I already used far more than actual. The city thinks I owe them about $1500 cumulatively than I've paid them. Well, they can take me to court because that is where we are headed if they try to collect. I have the means to hire an attorney and I plan to do so just to stick it up Antard's ass if they want to collect on their billing f'ck ups.

My next door neighbor has been fighting them since the very first bill using the new meters (FOR YEARS) because the meter serial number on her bill does not match the serial number to the meter actually installed in her yard. She has no idea at all whose water meter is reflected on her bill and, because she also has the means to retain an attorney to take the city to court, is also done trying to fix the problem.

So Todd, YOU ARE F'ING CLUELESS.

Anybody reading this who lives in Jackson, learn to read your own water meter and photograph the reading at regular intervals. You'll be glad you have the documentation later. It isn't too late, start today.

Actually, @11:29, the state has every right to take over the operation of the airport.

@11:39 AM, the fact that Harvey is rushing to the sympathetic media to massage the narrative about his time in office tells you all you need to know. Harvey doesn't want his onion peeled.

Go to the legislature with a package to allow Jackson to make additional assessments on it's own citizens and businesses to repay a 50 million bond issue. But also require an audit and independent oversight.

KF the airport land grab is a separate issue and should not be held as hostage by the state...Jackson and the legislature disagree, they do not have to be enemies.

@11:40 AM, two people on my street have the meter serial # mis-match. It is gross incompetence. How hard can it be to fix that?

Was anyone else surprised at the mayor's claim earlier this week that the city had awarded a $2 million contract to Hemphill Construction to build a protective dome over the Curtis water plant at the reservoir to keep out bad weather? But, the ice storm hit before the dome could be built, otherwise the dome would have prevented current problems, the mayor told news media. Who heard about the dome before then? The way the mayor yammers about his accomplishments, you'd think he would have been talking about this preventative step long before this week if it's an actual step the city took.

What about that 14 million a year sales tax implemented to fix water system? What about that settlement with Siemens?

Baby Chok wants an "efficient" water system. The moron should want a RELIABLE water system.

What about the $60 million the city netted from the Siemens settlement last year? Has Jackson pledged any of that money, which arose from a contract to fix the water billing system, to actually spend on the water system.

At this point, Mayor Lumumba's letter to Gov. Reeves requesting funds looks to me more like a hostage negotiation.

We have nice streets and sidewalks to the Civil Rights museum though.....

At first I thought the 11.4% Construction Phase Inspection and Contract Admin fee was outrageous...but thinking again when you factor in the security the professional would need to have with him/her when working in some of these areas it makes more sense.

The President of the US came to Jackson a couple of years ago and BabyChok refused to meet with him. Why not meet with the most powerful man in the world and make an infrastructure appeal?

Easy answer: Lumumba would rather score political points within his party than help his city.

I have no sympathy for this clown.

Why should citizens of Jackson have to pay for water infrastructure that supports all the State Agencies, federal buildings, museums, hospitals that support the State, capital buildings etc. This is the States Capital. Pay for it Tater.

When I left Jackson 13 years ago for the Ms. coast, I also bought property in Tn., as I knew this would happen. Between the Jackson bailout, the PERS bailout, and increased cost of living from the new sales taxes (I'm retired), I may have to relocate.

KF - your terms are spot on perfect. Don’t give the city a dime unless they comply. Additionally, the $47 million should only be available for actual construction cost. Planning, administration, crony payoffs have to be on the City’s dime.

Sure...if the city has no control over any of the money, contracting or project management.

The same clowns that have already looted the productive people still left in Jackson now want to loot the pockets of the entire state.

a city manager needs to be appointed to take over for a few years. it worked in detroit-downtown is back, surrounding neighborhoods are full of young professionals who work downtown. crime is down. education indicators are going up

tate doesn’t have the guts to do this.

After all the years OBC has been in operation and all the previous weather events we're just now learning the plant needs to be sheltered? Doesn't pass the smell test.

"The Big Payback"

LOL to the clowns who think meeting Trump at the museum dedication would have resulted in better infrastructure. That is nothing short of delusional and just plain bonkers.

And this State has been doing the same thing by thumbing it’s nose at the national government, especially when a Democrat is president, while at the same time, accepting more than its fair share of federal dollars.

When was the last time Tate or Abbott met with Biden?

The legislature is not going to give the city of Jackson $47 million. My representatives and senators are laughing about this as I type.

My bet is the Leg waits to see if Jacksonians realize their mistake and send Lumumba Jr packing. Don't think there will be much love and little help if voters keep him around. Lumumba's scamming the 1% monies to use as operating funds did not go unnoticed. Take it to the bank the Leg ain't going to reward his thievery.

... it worked in detroit ...

Only AFTER Detroit declared BK.

When was the last time Tate or Abbott met with Biden?

When, exactly, did Bennie go to Trump, or Obama, or Bush 43, and asked them to lend Jackson a helping hand? Who are the clowns who keep voting the perpetually ineffective Thompson back into office?

Is everyone lost on the irony that Baby Chuck-Way will have to beg Senator Harkins for the bond money? HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

What I would give to be a fly on the wall. I would give him about $5 and tell him to pound sand. Maybe he can borrow some money from the lawyers they are paying for the airport lawsuit they are stalling on. HELL NAW!

12:48 - Pay for it...Or Move It like som many private business who’ve left the City limits due to poor government and poor conditions

Don’t all of the hospitals in Jackson have their own water sources?

chokwe ain't getting the money and he knows it. this is part of his long range plan to show how he's been fighting against the man, aka whitey, his whole life. just another stepping stone to the national stage. once he gets denied, he can then blame the white governor, the white lt governor, the mostly white conservative legislators, the mostly white conservatives all over ms, the white power structure, white capitalist climate change, my dirty underwear, and on and on and on and on......

but, i could be wrong, cause if you ask my wife, i often am. if the state does decide to give money to jackson, they shouldn't actually give any money to jackson. they should set up an account and have complete control of spending the money. jackson could have input on where the money goes, but not the ability to actually touch the money. a full and complete audit should also be done of the water dept, and people should go to jail for any theft, fraud, or straight-piping that is found, whether it be citizens or city workers.

Don’t all of the hospitals in Jackson have their own water sources?
March 5, 2021 at 3:42 PM

they probably do. but they don't magically refill themselves. the towers will get them through an emergency, but will also go empty if the city cant get enough water to them in a timely manner to refill what they've used.

12:48: They already do pay for it. It's called taxes, utility bills, and rent. Just because Jackson is the capital city doesn't mean it has the right to take the rest of the state hostage.

" build a protective dome over the Curtis water plant" ???

" But, the ice storm hit before the dome could be built,
otherwise the dome would have prevented current problems" ???

" Who heard about the dome before then" ???

Well, this is the first I've heard about building a dome over anything.
Hell, they have a hard time maintaining the little planetarium dome.

However, I think someone envisioned building a mechanical "domed" stadium at JSU about ten years ago.

LOL

" Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba asked the Legislature. . . "

That fact is hilarious.

BTW, from what little I saw of the Mayoral debate at MC Law, this lil' fellow did seem to loose his cool when confronted about facts from his opponents.

That was cold of Babychok to throw Delwood under the bus in the debate last night regardin thr airport. Machiavellian

Maybe it’s time to move the capitol out of Jackson. Maybe rotate it like the MSHAA football championships, between Oxford, Starkville and Hattiesburg.

" Don’t all of the hospitals in Jackson have their own water sources? "

Big time !

(Along with massive generators)

" Don’t all of the hospitals in Jackson have their own water sources? "

City water on normal with well backup on emergency; at least on the hospital big block and elevated tank visible from I-55. Not sure about Baptist but suspect they also have a well.

Is it ok to say "Loo-mumba" ?

Who is this clown that thinks meeting with a President cannot help? Oh yeah, nobody ever goes to the Whitehouse other than tourists. Nobody ever desires to meet with a President in the Oval Office. Get elected President and nobody wants to see you.

As for anyone meeting with President Biden, they can meet with Biden after his first press conference. Biden can't even string together enough coherent cognition to read an address to the nation on a teleprompter.

Tell Mayor to ask his friend Michael Bloomberg who has lots of money. Heck Mayor showed up for press conference in Jackson with Bloomberg when he made a run for President! Seriously thought Bloomberg was all about helping since he helped with Arts Commission if memory serves me right. Asking for a fried

So people are now using the Jackson water issue to complain why hasn't Tater asked Biden for help?! The Hill reports that Biden is the first President in 100 years to not hold a press conference the his first 100 days of office. Just how is anyone supposed to get access to Biden when he is being hidden by his handlers.

BTW, yesterday Biden said "Indian-desent are taking over the country." I checked CNN.com and MSNBS.com and neither mentioned it but both websites had stories about the racism in the Republican party.

Kingfish, I know that you think a "forensic audit" will cure everything. But it won't.

A forensic audit might find evidence of illegality; it might find that the system is broke; it might find a lot of crap (no pun intended when talking about the city of Jackson's water and sewer system)

And having DEQ and/or DFA hire engineers to look at the system and decide the value of projects is a piss in the ocean as to what the state should do if it were to bail out Lumumba and the citizens of Jackson. Nice try, but you are way short of the goalline (kinda like LSU during the last football season, but I digress).

Its a fact that sooner or later the state or the feds will have to take over the control of the water/sewer enterprise system of Jackson. Neither entity is just going to hand millions of dollars over to the city - not under this administraiton or any other. That kind of money doesn't come without strings attached, and Jackson has proven that attaching strings is not enough - theu just break them and wait for future consequences.

In order to fix the problems in Jackson, its going to take several million dollars - and those dollars need to be spent actually fixing the system, not on hiring various consultants (i.e. Marshan Crisler to 'help' some national consultant that actually does the work), nor to funnel out dollars to various EBO enterprises that do nothing but sub out the work to competent contractors. The dollars actually have to be spent digging holes in the ground and putting in new materials - properly.

The state could do this by committing dollars to the system but putting the operation and management of the system under a 'control board' with a hired manager of the system. And that is the ONLY way the state should commit any more dollars to the salvation of the utility system of Jackson. Of course, the city fathers will holler and scream about 'whitey' taking it from them rather than thanking the state for saving the city from bankruptcy.

Baby steps like you mention won't do it. Yes, a forensic audit would be good to have to look into potential corruption, but it won't do much more - because we already know the outcome. The system is broke. And they don't have the means to fix it - either the balls between their legs or the brains between their ears.

Let's see Baby Chok put on his mayoral knee-pads and beg for money.

12:48 - maybe the state should pay for better education of folks like you.

While the water infrastructure does provide (or at least, is supposed to provide) service to state agencies, it also provides service to its 165,000 residents and to what businesses, churches, and non-profits still reside in Jackson.

Just like the residents are supposed to do, the state agencies pay for the water used in their facilities and the sewage that leaves. That is the amount that the state is 'obligated' to pay for the infrastructure which is exactly (in proportion) the amount that any user is 'obligated' to pay.

The state has no more obligation to pay for the water/sewer infrastructure in the city than does the car dealership on I55 Nort (or I20 south, if there are any left down there). Water in any other city is a profit-making enterprise, and the payment for its use covers the cost of constructing and maintaining its service.

Jackson should be happy that the state has buildings in town that are using its services - based on the collection policies of this administration, the state may be one of the few users of the service that actually pays for it - while many of the resident users have taken advantage of the various moritoriums declared by the city. Or just not paid their bill at all knowing that the city is not shutting of service for any of its "poor, downtroden citizens".

"tate doesn't have the guts to do this"

Is that a fact - or isn't the correct statement "Tate doesn't have the legal authority to do this"?

Its true he could be granted that legal authority by action of the legislature, but on his own, he couldn't come close. Realize you are one of the TateHaters on this site of which there are many, but sooner or later you should admit that under Mississippi's constitution, the Governor can't do much of anything on his/her own.

About time you started accepting that realism and point your loaded finger somewhere else.

2:00 - when was the last time that Biden invited them to a meeting? One doesn't just walk into the Oval Office and declare themselves wanting to meet.

I'm not sure either is jumping up and down waiting for an invitation, but its not their call. Although I'm sure you know this, but just want to take a pot shot ---- just for the hell of it, at any Republican close by, and they were your target for today.

4:37 - get a clue. The hospitals have their own WELLS to fill up their water TOWERS. They have these because (1) they are a large user of water, and (2) they must have water even in emergency situations.

Most have a back-up alternative connection to the city if for some reason their well failed, but that's not an issue here.

They have their own source of water, not just their own storage systems.

(Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba asked the Legislature to appropriate $47 million).

As Kim Wade says:
"If he thinks that will ever happen, he's lost his rabbit mind".

I don't think Lumumba expects the request to be granted. I think he's setting this water crisis up as an example of racial inequity, to brand himself as a fighter for justice and champion of the disenfranchised in order to further his own career. That's what his dad did, and it paid well enough to put Antar through private school.

Or course it won't fly around here, where people grew up with him and know him to be a big-mouthed, spoiled rich kid. But his sights are set on the national stage, where it might actually gain traction if he can avoid having to answer the hard questions.

"State law currently bars Mr. White from auditing Jackson so the legislature should modify the prohibition." I wasn't aware of this and it's crazy. How long has this law been in place and for what reason was it drafted in the first place? I can promise you the last thing Lion King wants to see is Shad darkening his door.