The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners threw WLBT out of a public meeting last week.
WLBT is investigating Commissioner Paul Martin's mileage records. It seems the Commissioner cites a medical condition to drive all over the country on the airport dime. Make that dimes because he gets paid much more money than if he simply flew to the multitude of conferences and seminars he feels compelled to attend. WLBT showed up at a Board meeting last week and well, the Commish was not too happy:
We wanted to ask Martin about these trips ourselves, so we showed up to a JMAA board meeting last Thursday. Upon our arrival, Martin got up and paced around the room, then left.
A few minutes later, we were also told to leave.
Communications Director LSherie Dean told us we couldn’t cover the meeting inside the room, instead pointing to a designated area outside where we could watch it on a TV screen.
She later said it was because of COVID, but few people were even wearing masks during the meeting.
Dean also said we didn’t reach out to her first to get cleared ahead of time to be there, but that meeting is public. The JMAA board is a public agency.
Asking a member of the public to ask permission just to be able to attend would be a violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act.
JMAA legal officer Steven Williams later told us that was a misunderstanding, and wanted to make clear that reporters and the public are always welcome at those meetings.
JMAA was to put it mildly, full of crap. What C.J. LeMasters should have done was turn on his camera and force airport police to make him leave a public meeting. The more physical force used by the police, the better on camera. What the Commissioners did was nothing short of political thuggery, but such thuggery seems to be taking place more and more, right, Kenny Wayne or Dr. Omari?
Oh yes, the Commissioner in question. Despite his medical condition, he somehow managed to fly to Hawaii on the airport tab. Mr. Martin invaded Paris in 2019 and reconnaissanced the Global Air Show Leader's Forum in Dubai in May 2021. The Board Chairman also flew to Montreal last year.
No wonder Mr. Martin wanted to throw WLBT out of the meeting. WLBT investigation and video of WLBT removal.
39 comments:
You gotta love Organized Crime.
Did any of the white JMAA leadership ever pull this crap?
if you mean Dirk, nope. Mr. Newman wouldn't have pulled that crap either.
Whoops. A logical fallacy already appeared at 10:00 a.m.
Momma, my brother peed off the back porch - How come I can't?
I know right.
And what if Republicans deny reporters access to meetings….same outrage ….oh wait no there’s not.
You can take a piss on the front and back porch if that’s what you prefer.
This is America, yo.
Home
of the Free.
Grifters all
BS. You've been reading this website for years probably. What do you think I would do if a Republican did that to moi? It would get the same coverage. I've only had it happen to me a couple of times. The Hinds County Election Commission tried to go into executive session to discuss the budget. I raised hell and they back down. Another time, the Pelahatchie BOA went into another room for exec session. The current Mayor was the fire chief and EOC guy. He tried to make the public leave the meeting room anyway until I called the attorney over and straightened them out on the open meeting act. You might even remember when that majority white board tried to hold work sessions away from the public (huddling in a corner of the room and whispering), yours truly raised hell about it too and went to the Ethics Commission about it - and won.
CMU Board barred Alderman Les Pen from videotaping a Board meeting on his phone. I went to t he next Board meeting and set up my tripod. Mrs. Blackmon could not have been any nicer.
" Mrs. Blackmon could not have been any nicer". She is just a jewel, isn't she?
Who says crime doesn’t pay?
I’m pretty sure they have a public comment section of each board meeting. I guess that’s just for show since WLBT wasn’t allowed to speak.
Notice in the WLBT report, there is no evidence in the paperwork he got from his FOIA request that Martin actually drove to the destinations he turned in mileage for. There are no odometer pictures and no expenses turned in for hotels or meals along the way. No wonder he doesn't want to answer questions about his travel.
You have got to love a blank check and Paris in the spring.
State used to allow mileage much more than it does now. Employees abused the hell out of it. I had a friend who lived oh, an hour and 15 away. She would drive to Jackson and back every day, claiming mileage. It was a nice check and this was early 2000's. From what I understand, state put a stop to such things. Correct me if I'm wrong.
@10:13 there was no violation. Otherwise McDuff would have gone to court vs Ethics Commission. Thanks for playing.
Ahhh Covid. The excuse to pull a little rank and file by people who wouldn't normally have any authority.
Top dog for airport authority can't/won't fly ? Well, that right there is the first red flag.....a very bright and large red flag. Lol.
"Medical reasons ..."
Curious what "medical reasons" prevented said Commissioner from traveling by plane but the same "medical reasons" do not prevent traveling by car, especially given these travel distances?
Genuinely curious.
Kingfish - I know the state has cracked down on "travel" by personal vehicle but that should have only included actual work business and not commute to and from work regardless of where you live. If this person was collecting mileage to and from work this is theft by the employee which was allowed by the supervisor. Not the same as approved work travel. Now employees must prove there is not another state vehicle available at all to get approved for personal use.
So how much have we paid him for mileage? I bet he drives a Prius.
Whoa, Kingfish, I was unaware Pelahatchie had gotten itself a new mayor! I assume there's a lot less drama over there now?
Yes the state is really strict now. I had to drive Piece of junk crown vic to Tupelo because it was available. Didn't know if i was going to make it. I am for the strictness though it's good.
I am from Jackson and totally support the state taking over the JMAA. This is yet another reason. They can't run shit and can't help abusing and being "big dogs".
Due to his health, he can ONLY FLY if it is OVER 8 hours in length. Anything shorther makes him ill......
12:37 : So he will fly overseas with no issues.
I’m also a resident of northeast Jackson and I beg the state to take over the city
I've lost track of how many board resignations there have been at JMAA over the last year, but apparently it still has enough for a quorum. There's talk on Facebook about FAA investigations into safety violations, the loss of a $4 million leasing opportunity due to incompetence, the list goes on. Relatives tell me there's not even a coffee shop at the airport anymore, & we still aren't being told anything about how two people waked up to TSA, made a bomb threat, left & still no arrests.
Working for the city of Jackistan is a license to steal. As a matter of fact, when hired you automatically receive a "blessings card."
We are driving to Paris this summer!
Not approving comment because post has nothing to do with Trump
CJ is a wimp. No Nobel Prize for Journalism in his future.
CJ has lost a step. Letting some dipshit like this push him around. Bout as crazy as Bobcats 85,000 Silverado.
Excellent point, 11:01(2).
If nothing else, COVID has demonstrated to me that many people will instantly abuse any power they get, and are incapable of working without supervision.
For years I've advised folks visiting Mississippi for the first time to fly into New Orleans or Memphis instead of that little "air port" in Jackson.
Gawd, that so called "International airport" is such an embarrassment!
(I've seen better facilities at crop-duster hangers in Belzoni).
The airport does not have a coffee shop?
The lady in the TV clip should go to jail for denying public access.
Shad—if you have any modicum of respect for yourself after your Gov Bryant coverup, for the love of God and all that is Holy do your thing on these fools. The trips abroad (with ZERO to show for it), the racist architect contracting methods for highest bid, potentially false mileage records…what else you looking for, son? You popping grannies for less on the weekly.
Agreed 11:01. Madison County BOS has a gatekeeper that won’t let people in the same room as Supes unless they are on the agenda. He forces people to wait in the lobby and watch on TV. It’s the only power SV has, and he isn’t letting it go.
Having seen and dealt withe airport commission, i will say with full knowledge that they are clueless on how to run a fruit stand much less airports. The State should investigated the expenses of this concision and , if fraud , jail time. As long as the so called mayor appoints these no nothings , there will never be a good airport in the metro area. Please ,State of Mississippi take the airports away from this bunch of yahoos.
If he was a state employee:
Mileage reimbursement should have been at the cost of rental car rates and receipts returned for gas expenses. That includes the use of a personal car, unless some exemption existed for use of personal vehicle. He would have also have been required to have prior authorization for out of state travel and used what is called the “trip optimizer” form. This was recently relaxed, due to a shortage of rental cars, which is what he may try to claim on his forms. So yes, he was over paid. This should fall on him or their executive director and a repayment should be demanded.
Maybe it’s different for this city appointed board.
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