Thursday, March 31, 2022

Showdown in Downtown

Mayor Wins.  City Council must produce minutes by Monday. 

The Jackson City Council and Jackson First Consul Chokwe Antar Lumumba will square off yet again in court today.  Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson will hold a hearing in Lumumba v. Jackson City Council at 9:30.  The issue is the City Council's alleged failure to present the minutes to the Mayor for approval since September 2021.  Earlier post.  The hearing will be streamed so this post will be updated.  This link should work.  

City Council attorney Samuel Begley filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion yesterday against the Mayor.  He argued the law prevents the Mayor from seeking a writ of mandamus against the City Council.  His motion to dismiss states: 

The requirements for bringing a petition for writ of mandamus in the circuit court are set out Section 11-41, as follows:

On the complaint of the state, by its Attorney General or a district attorney, in any matter affecting the public interest, or on the complaint of any private person who is interested, the judgment shall be issued by the circuit court, commanding any inferior tribunal, corporation, board, officer, or person to do or not to do an act the performance or omission of which the law specially enjoins as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or station, where there is not a plain, adequate, and speedy remedy in the ordinary course of law. All procedural aspects of this action shall be governed by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.

 Section 11-41-1 expressly authorizes the Mississippi Attorney General or a district attorney to bring a mandamus action against a governmental officer or board. The statute does not authorize any other public official acting in his official capacity to obtain a writ of mandamus.


 

 Live-blog

Mr. Begley took pains to point out the Mayor filed the petition in his official capacity as he repeated the claims made in his motion.  

The Mayor's counsel Jessica Ayers argued the Supreme Court ruled a private citizen could petition for a writ of mandamus.  She said the law requires him to ensure the laws of Mississippi are "executed correctly."  Mr. Begley said he was acting in his official capacity in rebuttal. 

Judge Peterson cited Dupree v. Carroll.  She said the City Council had a statutory duty to ratify the minutes within 30 days after the meeting.  The City Council approved the minutes for February and January this week.  

Lumumba counsel Felicia Perkins said the minutes from September 27 to November 9 were not presented to the Mayor until recently.  She said the minutes from November until now had not been presented to the Mayor. 

Mr. Begley said the City legal department held onto the minutes from January.  He said the Clerk of Council did not receive the minutes until March.  He said there is a process that includes the executive branch.  He said the minutes pertaining to the garbage contracts in 2022 were approved and transmitted to the Mayor.  

Ms. Perkins said "but for this action, the Council would not have started to prepare these minutes."  

Mr. Begley said the minutes could "be wrapped up by Monday."   

Judge Peterson ruled the Mayor had standing to file the petition as the City Council failed to perform one of its statutory duty.  She said the Court will issue a writ of mandamus against the City Council.  The minutes from November 23 and all December 2021 City Council meetings will be produced.  The minutes will be produced for approval from January and February 4 meetings.  The minutes from the remainder of February and March 2022 were approved and fall outside the scope of the writ. 

The City Council will produce the minutes by April 4.  A show cause hearing will be held on April 11 if they are not produced. 


 


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

But baby chowke is not a public official - he is a member of the lumumba royal family, a monarch. Only the unwashed masses need to follow Section 11-41-1.

Anonymous said...

" ‘What difference, at this point, does it make?'

Anonymous said...

I know that Lumumba is extremely arrogant and power-crazy. Just how wide and deep is the criminal corruption on the part of Lumumba? Is it true that some of his bodyguards/"goons" are JPD officers? Lumumba does NOT seem to have ANY genuine fear of the Lord (OR of the very real place where the Lord does send some people--namely hell). Lumumba will NOT be able to escape GOD.

Downtown! said...

"And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares

So go Downtown
Things will be great when you're Downtown
Don't wait a minute more Downtown
Everything is waiting for you Downtown"

Petula Clark

Anonymous said...

So why was Mayor Gumflapper sitting on the Council minutes from the Special of August 19, 2021?

Anonymous said...

Mayor Lumumba won, as he should have. Now we await ruling from Justice Dickinson.

Anonymous said...

Pyrrhic victory. Going forward Council no longer running the minutes by the Mayor for his blessing prior to approval.

Anonymous said...

They are all calling Bentley of Atlanta to get the new cars brought over today.

Anonymous said...

Ain't Organized Crime wonderful?
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is an American federal law. ... RICO means that the leaders of any group can be tried for crimes if they forced others do the crimes or help with the crimes. The RICO act covers these crimes: Embezzlement. Bankruptcy fraud or other fraud. Wonder when and if we'll hear about this in our little burb.

Anonymous said...

Didn't the City Council approve all of those minutes on Tuesday? Does this ruling have any real effect?

Anonymous said...

Do attorneys have their own version of the English language just to sound important? "I don't think there's anything urgent and NECESSITOUS," the City Council's attorney (Begley) said. Necessitous? Why not just say "necessary"? I noticed in yesterday's hearing conducted by Judge Dickinson, the clearest, most direct responses to the judge's questions were given by Waste Management's attorney. Everybody else talked around the questions, invoking legalese constantly. It is a court of law after all, but WM's lawyer knows his stuff & didn't have to hide behind legal mumbo jumbo. The good lawyers don't act lawyerly & regal just to make themselves sound important.

https://www.wlbt.com/2022/03/31/judge-says-jackson-city-council-must-present-minutes-mayor-by-april-4/


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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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