Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba fired away at his critics while discussing Jackson's water and garbage issues Monday. The video of the presser as well as JJ's observations are posted below.
* Mayor Lumumba opened the briefing with a discussion of the city's water problems. He said rain interfered with turbidity testing but the water pressure remained stable. A state of emergency remains until significant capital improvement takes place.
The Mayor said he is reviewing hiring retired employees in "ways that won't interfere with their retirement." He said the city has been "consistent" in pointing out it suffered from "staffing challenges."
* He took on WLBT's "exclusive report" last week on the water system staffing. He said the reporting took advantage of "interpersonal conflicts" taking place in a "stressful environment." He said there is a "very shallow" hiring pool of qualified people for the water treatment plants. He took strong issue with WLBT's reporting the plants lacked class A operators at times. He said the logs did not include contract workers. WLBT said it merely reported the information Jackson provided to the EPA.
Devils's advocate time. The 2020 EPA order pointed out the inadequate staffing at O.B. Curtis. The Mayor said he has always been up front up the "staffing challenges." Well, that EPA order and its findings were hidden for a year, including the reporting of a lack of instrument technicians and Class A operators at the plant.
* The Mayor moved on to trash. Several councilmen and media outlets have questioned whether the Mayor has a plan if Richard's Disposal stops collecting trash. The Mayor said make no mistake, his plan is in effect as he intended to give the contract to the winning bidder. He flatly blamed the Council for refusing to pay Richard's Disposal if the "trash piled up in front of homes." He took full credit for awarding an emergency no-bid contract to prevent such a scenario. "The real question they are not asking is I am willing to illegally and unfairly run this company out of business," said the Mayor. Waving his finger at the media, he said it placed more costs on the "taxpayer's backs." He said the RFP is still alive but the Council has "an affinity for Waste Management.'
He warned another RFP would have "astronomical" costs because it would reflect the much higher gas prices. (Um, so if Richard's Disposal suffers from much higher fuel costs, what happens to its margins and net profit if it can't submit change orders?) "If your trash isn't picked up, it's because they purposefully stopped the trash from being picked up," concluded Mayor Lumumba. He blamed Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes (13:00) for telling the media the New Orleans company would withdraw from Jackson if it was not paid.
* A reporter asked why the city does not post Class A operator positions on the city website. He said the city posts such jobs on Indeed.com and other websites. The city advertises for Class D operators, Waster Systems Manager, Water Maintenance & Distribution Superintendent, and Water Service Representative,
A WLBT reporter asked about the residency requirement for water system jobs. Hizzoner said his administration is not enforcing the requirement (although it does violate the ordinance.). He sad "We are not going to make you move from Bolton, Mississippi." He thanked the reporter for the question and providing him the opportunity to communicate the new policy through the media.
He blamed the water system problems on lack of investment in the facilities and too much deferred maintenance. He promised "We are going to be the administration that gets it right."
* WAPT's Scott Simmons asked if RD said when it would terminate garbage collection if it was not paid. The Mayor said the company had not set a deadline but was suffering from the lack of payment and could not continue collecting forever while unpaid. He accused the City Council of trying to "steer" the contract to Waste Management.
* One reporter asked him about a proposed 4 mill tax increase. He said there was an effort to confuse the voters about it and spread misinformation. He said the tax increase will pay police officers more money and costs most homeowners "only" $40 per year.
* He said outside contractors are employed at the water treatment plants. He said an emergency procurement process will be used to more quickly secure bids for work at the plants. He assured the public "We are not sitting on our hands to see what comes back."
* He said September "will be a critical month" as the city will pursue more grants, loans, and funding for water plant improvements. He said there are "several points of failure for a system with many moving parts."
* Mayor Lumumba said he drinks the water "as it comes out of the tap." He said the water coming out of the water treatment plant is often better than bottled water. He said he understood resident's apprehension over the water.
* The city is looking at hiring a third-party company to manage the water treatment plants.
42 comments:
"We are going to be the administration that gets it right."
Mayor Lumumba said he drinks the water "as it comes out of the tap." He said the water coming out of the water treatment plant is often better than bottled water. He said he understood resident's apprehension over the water.
BS & more BS. Happy Friday and this is the best joke of the day.
If the water is so safe, why is there always a boil water notice?
"We are going to be the administration that gets it right." - I'll believe it when I see it.
He said September "will be a critical month" as the city will pursue more grants, loans, and funding for water plant improvements. - I can fix it if you will just give me and my buddies more money...that we will spend on things other than this...like trips to ATL and other cool stuff (or maybe slip some to Richards Disposal???)
That wasn’t a press conference. That was a shuck ‘n’ jive minstrel show performed by a clown.
Reminds me of the Simpson's episode where the three eyed fish Blinky was found in a pond near the Reactor site then offered to the Leadership for lunch, which of course they refused to eat.
Drink water straight out of the faucet! He so funny.
Perception of a clown, right?
Because of his indoctrination in radical thinking it may take this young man years to realize, and admit, that Jackson does not have many options. Like Mr. Stokes he is slowly learning the hard way that every good intention or progressive dream has a price tag and his "people" are broke. His "people" pay the price for his inability to foresee and plan for the problems coming down the road. He was planning for something else.
I’m leaving Jackson because of the mayor. And taking my high property taxes elsewhere
The mayor drinks the Kool-Aid as it comes from the tap.
There, fixed it for you.
If the mayor insists on firing back at all of his critics, he's going to be very, very, very busy.
"Free the land" (of idiots like him).
Do the right thing Lumumba. RESIGN.
Will bet money he is re-elected with 70% of the vote.
What is most troubling to me is his performance, as mayah, is not only approved by Harvard University, but is lauded by the same university.
This praise of a pitiful, failing administration is a prime example of what Jerry Clower defined as, being educated beyond one's intelligence.
This administration is following in the same failing footsteps of other cities with radicalized administration's. These cities are not only failing, but are actually destructive to the standard of living of the citizens.
The purpose of the mayah is not to lead the city, and her citizens, into greater levels of community advancement, but the implementing of Marxist ideology.
Will bet money he is re-elected with 70% of the vote.
How much $$$ you willing to wager?
I'm not laughing anymore because none of this is funny. When is the state going to step in and try to save a failed city? Are we supposed to boil water forever while the trash piles up on the street?
"He said September 'will be a critical month' as the city will pursue more grants, loans, and funding for water plant improvements."
So, up until this point, the city has not been successful in pursuing grants, loans, and funding -- or, God forbid, collecting for water provided. But, September will be different...right?! I'm guessing this latest effort was devised during presser prep, to be able to say, "we have a plan."
Kicking the can down the road until it hits the raw boo boo?
@ 9:54
He got 70% last election and the water situation was the same then as it is now. I have no sympathy for the city of Jackson.
Mayor Bart Simpson sez:
"I didn't do it!
Nobody saw me do it!
Can't prove anything!"
Actually I'd rather have Mayor Bart than Mayor Chokwe.
10:50 I hope you have an opposing candidate that you and your neighbors are already supporting for the next election.
Highly recommend you choose a candidate based on skill and experience, but if you also want him to have a chance in hell at fixing this mess, he better be black too.
The state cant save you from your own election results.
The mayor hasn't gotten anything else right, so why should anyone believe he'll all of a sudden get water treatment right?
Baby Chock Chock = Whiny Baby
Will Kenny run for Mayor?
August 26, 2022 at 10:50 AM; if you continue to live in jackson, then yes, yes you are.
So much blaming of others. Pathetic. Also the next council meeting one of the council people should hand him a glass of tap water and ask him to drink it in front of the cameras or at least ask why priori should pay for water that’s not safe to drink.
“ Anonymous said...
I'm not laughing anymore because none of this is funny. When is the state going to step in and try to save a failed city? Are we supposed to boil water forever while the trash piles up on the street?
August 26, 2022 at 10:50 AM”
—————
Why should the state care or step in when it’s clear the majority of the voters of Jackson don’t? Only when the voters care should the state step in.
I am not being negative about the Mayor, but I wish the Mayor would explain how Richard's Disposal is the low bidder on the RFP. As I understand it, they were the low bidder on the once per week option with cart (Option 1). The City Council opted to go with twice per week with no cart (Option 4), and Waste Management was the low bidder on that option. I would also add that as I read the analysis, Waste Management had the highest (best) score on Option 4.
I understand that the cost to the city on Option 1 (and Option 2) was lower than the cost for Option 4 and the Mayor could be saying that he was trying to save the city that money. But Richard's proposal for Option 4, which is what was actually implemented, is higher in cost than Waste Management. What has now been done is Richard's has been allowed to match the Waste Management Option 4 proposal.
Mayor, please clarify why you keep saying Richards's was the low bidder?
Lil Choke: My plan of rotting Jackson into ruin and then selling its degradation to sympathetic outside funding mechanisms, then comingling those funds to advance my New Afrika agenda slush fund, proceeds apace.
And BTW, I have 5 gal jugs of spring water delivered at home where I drink it on tap.
@10:50
If the State steps in, the State needs to operate the City. There is no reason for the State to prop up any city whose voters continue to elect unqualified candidates. You get what you vote for - Harvard be damned!
Way to go Choke'm.......
You've already proved yourself incompetent. Just keep reenforcing the fact each time you appear on TV or make a press staement.
You can believe the mayah, he may tell the story two, or three different ways, but he wouldn't lie about it.
Blame, blame everywhere but not a drop of responsibility.
2:54pm
"(Lumumba) may tell the story two or three different ways, but he wouldn't lie about it."
Growing up, my parents equated lies with "telling stories" and I was spanked/belted/switched accordingly.
Jackson's punk mayor's whole life is a lie and 150,000 people suffer the consequences of his piss poor character.
The mayor's public statements must make sense - he has former WAPT anchor Melissa Faith Payne helping him communicate his crap. I see she's already in full backtracking mode about his public misstatements on the flooding emergency order.
Ah, Mayor Chuck-it-all-away. He hasn’t gotten anything right so far. Why should we expect him to start now?
"helping him communicate".
(Good luck with that task).
Each week he regresses into yet another toddler-like tantrum.
Sadly for the people that are about to be flooded again, there's no doubt his pressers next week will be entertaining.
Poor Mr. Mayor…..the media is always looking to spread misinformation regarding all of the wonderful progress he and his 5star administration is doing. Like the proposed 4 mil tax increase. It’s really only going to cost a little over $1 a day for most homeowners according the mayor. Why can’t the media just go with his version and quit bothering with facts?
The City Council opted to go with twice per week with no cart (Option 4), and Waste Management was the low bidder on that option. I would also add that as I read the analysis, Waste Management had the highest (best) score on Option 4.
1:09, you're correct. The council chose not to approve the carts because constituents like me were shouting that they didn't want to deal with carts!
Yet the mayor keeps insisting on awarding the contract to RD, even though RD was *NOT* the lowest or best bid on status quo (2x/week pickup without carts). The mayor even announced he'd given RD the contract... despite city council not having approved such.
This entire mess is SOLELY because of the mayor. We can only guess as to why he feels so indebted to RD.
Wanna be mayor Flapsalot and Thompson sealed their fate when shunning the President at the civil rights museum opening. They blew their wad and will not be rescued by the state. They had their chance. The people who continue to vote them in are complete dumbasses.
If I see him in a Madison county restaurant I am going to pay the waiter/waitress to deliver 15 pitchers of water to his table.
This guy is such a lying (or stupid) clown its no longer a joke.
Just like when he lied to the Council about the city of Detroit and its bankruptcy timeframe, he also lied to the Council about the eligibility of using 1% funds for sewer. And then he repeated that lile here.
Truth is, the city has spent millions of dollars of 1% dollars for sewer over the past few years, but once the city pissed many of those dollars away paying for things that were not approved, he can't get the votes on the commission to fund water or sewer dollars.
Guess it is just easier for him to lie his way through an answer than to face the facts of what he and his folks have screwed up.
Lumumba is a disgrace. Though, I give him credit for understanding his constituency. They will re-elect him too.
system-wide water pressure has fallen again
new boil water notice coming
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