Some Jackson dirt, er, make that dirty water, came out in federal court today as U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate outed a long-time practice of giving free water service to friends and family of the favored few.
Judge Wingate held a status conference on the federal takeover of Jackson's water system today. Water Receiver Ted Henifin was humming along as he presented his report to the Court when the old warhorse asked him about Ecodes.Judge Wingate asked Mr. Henifin: Have you determined who has the authority to place residential and commercial customers on Eplan?
Seeing the Receiver's puzzled look, the learned jurist continued as he said he literally bumped into it. He said it was created to help customers. If the city is responsible for the "non-delivery of water, something is wrong with city pipes, for example,", the customer is not required to make payments until the city corrects the problems. Judge Wingate said the program had a great beginning as such customers should not pay when the city is clearly at fault but then later on, more entities and homeowners were placed on Eplan over the years, which means regular bills were not submitted to such customers. "In fact, over the years, Planners were not required to make any water payments for years," said the judge. Such favoritism continued so long, Judge Wingate said, "some people in fact, considered this forbearance on having to pay water bills was a right they had." They had been off the water billing system for so long, they did not think they were required to pay any water bills. The Plan extended to certain homeowners and businesses and much revenue was lost, said Judge Wingate.
However, Judge Wingate was not through explaining this sordid bit of history to the Receiver. The judge said he asked "persons connected" to the Jackson water department how he could find out who was on Eplan so one could investigate whether they were legitimately on the Eplan. Staff told him there was no computer model that identified the Planners so people just stayed on it.
Judge Wingate concluded "So, I asked from time to time. I didn't have a lawsuit to work with at the time. I was given various reasons why Ecode was used. It was abused because "other considerations were involved, it lasted quite a while, for years. I want to know why the city couldn't hit a button and see who was on Eplan.
Mr. Henifin said such a program might explain why 6,500 improved properties in Jackson do not have water accounts. A dumbfounded Receiver said this was the first time he heard of the program but promised to investigate.
Jackson city attorney Tori Martin just had to chime in on Judge Wingate's comments after Mr. Henifin finished his presentations. She said Ecodes were only used for buildings and facilities were it was medically necessary to continue water service. She blamed the rest of the problem on the Siemens billing disaster and lost bills.
Judge Wingate was having none of it as he explained things to the City Attorney. He said
Ms. Martin, the Code matter goes way beyond that, it goes way beyond making sure water was not cut off at these various places. This Ecode matter goes back through various administrations. This determination as to who was going to receive an Ecode has other aspects to it. We can discuss it at another time. You are not fully familiar with it. Unfortunately, people were placed on it for favors. This whole matter with the Ecode has a long history. It has gone through several administrations who wanted to put certain people and businesses on Ecodes for not the proper purposes.
At some point, we can talk bout it. I can tell you I am very familiar with it. When I found out about it, I was incensed. Every time I made that inquiry, I was told there was no computer that could spit out Ecodes.
Justice Department and EPA attorneys watched it all on Zoom as they got a front row view to real Jackson corruption.
91 comments:
so this has been going on for several administrations?! the wheels of justice are awfully slow...if we ever get to the bottom of this???
Id like to get on G-Code like the majority if the Jackson populace
Code Groceries
[AND] if they aren't receiving a water bill then they aren't paying for sewer or garbage either.
"....... other considerations."
(1) skin color?;
(2) ward in which property located?;
(3) friend of mare?
I wonder if Mr Hennifin actually has control of the billing system since he inherited same system & same staff in place before he arrived. And of course the computer system can identify who is being billed so by elimination one would know who is not being billed, if in fact Hennifin wants to know?
Read Henifin's report KF pub'd the other day. He and his crackerjack team are spending next to no time chasing a solution to the billing system.
Henefin’s new billing system based on property values will fix the friends and families freebies plan. Everyone’s water, sewer and garbage gonna be free when property values all go to zero.
Telling admission by Wingate that he's known about the rampant corruption for a long time but apparently did nothing to stop it since he believed he lacked a legal vehicle. So much for doing the right thing Judge.
So, potentially 6,500 improved properties with free water service (along with sewer/garbage). Even at an unlikely but generous assumption that 6,500 properties manage to avoid paying a minimum usage rate of say, $20 per month, then that’s over $1,000,000 per year in lost revenue.
My money is on the likelyhood that Chowke and Rukia are on the E-code plan, right?
2:46, that bill likely includes water, sewer and garbage, so if no bill is going out, it’s probably a minimum of $50 per month. Much more for businesses.
I wonder if Mr. Hennifin is going to stay now?
"Who ordered the gratuity"
This may be the tip of the iceberg. What other "brother-in-law" scams is the city running?
I love how Wingate put Martin in her place. Wingate went to Yale, I don't even know how she passed the bar exam.
Chowke will claim that he wasn't aware of the E-Plan in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... (Even though he is probably on this plan).
This explains the protesters seeking their right to free water.
3:04…ain’t too many businesses left in Jackson
"E-Plan" as in "Entitled-Plan."
Jackson don’t need no businesses, it’s got uncles Joe and Lubumble paying its bills.
Wingate fixates on issues.
He may not rule for months or years. But when something bothers him, he focuses on it.
Eplan will be exposed.
Taxpayers would like to see a listing of all those on the E-Code plan. That will be forthcoming, right?
Martin should've just let the pitch go by but she always feels the need to chime in on everything. On the garbage contract hearings when she was there as an observer and not representing a party, she always had to jump in to get a word in, just couldn't stand sitting silent when her service wasn't required. Should've just stayed quiet about this today but instead, she tried to correct a federal judge albeit rather professionally and politely only to give him a chance to expound on the subject some more.
I seriously doubt there is a list.
Time for a FOIA request for the E plan list, KF.
Jackson, taking grift to the next level.
#:00 pm FOR THE WIN if he/she would add the M-Bar.
@2:36 - A lot more than $50/mo. Our garbage fee alone is $47/mo. Sewer is more than the water. Last month was $130 total bill for the two of us. Down from $180 the month before. If all 6500 properties had only a $100/mo bill that would be $7.8 million revenue per year
So ol' Teddy acknowledges 6500 suspect properties without water accounts but only now at Judge Wingate's request is promising to investigate?
Something seriously wrong when the big name hired gun hasn't already been sighted in on such an obvious target.
Me thinks Henifin's advertised prowess is starting to look like puffery.
How much of Martin's need to interject on this KF was misdirection to divert attention away from a political time bomb? Get the right systems person in there and you'll get a list sorted by system transaction date. Then we'll learn which Mayor was the most corrupt.
This just gets gooder, and gooder. It's way more entertaining than the circus, even though we do have clowns.
2:40 - I am going to rely upon the Yale educated, federal judge's opinion as to whether he has authority to do something about an issue he had heard about but had no details. You seem to think a federal judge can order any fix to any wrong he thinks exist in society even without a case in his court alleging that there is a federal issue between two parties.
That is an extreme view of federal power which would override everyone's individual, corporate, municipal, and states rights. Federal judicial power does not extend that far. There has to be a case alleging a violation of federal or constitutional law in front of him.
In this instance the EPA and the City of Jackson avoided a federal trial and entered into an agreement in Wingate's courtroom to settle EPA's allegation that Jackson violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Now, he has authority to look at everything concerning City of Jackson water & sewer services, including whatever this E-plan thing is.
"Martin should've just let the pitch go by but she always feels the need to chime in on everything."
Sounds like the Mayor. With the State showing it has some interest in helping Jackson, how much further along would Jackson be with a Mayor who is receptive to that without creating a war of words in the media? Take the damn W man.
Hey….I read this and after four Makers Mark “four thummbs” ooops… I started singing’ “Ain’t non Woman But the One I Got!” And DO NOT reprimand my spelling…this is Friday and im allowed Tom make missspellings A O K…I’m good.
LeMaster rips off this reporting w/o attribution in 3 ... 2 ... 1.
Reading the headline half expected to see Nicholson woven into this Kingfish.
5:21pm
"Equal treatment under the law" proscribes against free water bills for special political alliances, so of course this situation offends Wingate.
Ooops!
Just wondering what they will find when they check the 'refunds for overpaid' desk?
The judge did not say he had 'known about it for a long time'. He said he is very familiar with it and it has been going on 'for a long time'.
He did say that at one time when he knew about it, he did not have an ongoing lawsuit in which to bring it up. A jurist cannot simply bust up in here and assert privilege and start jabbering about corruption without there being a case at hand.
Hey, did anyone ever hear how Baby Chok defined the word "radical?"
CJ, Anthony, and St. Nick were in the courtroom. If they report it,it's legit
Thank Judge Wingate. Hopefully Fox News will air this!
I bet those zoomies were bewildered
Third party guy didn’t know about it because he’s not trying to solve the billing issue!!! Still pushing for equity in billing.
6,500 ecodes??? I call BS on that!
KF, CJ reported initially at 5pm and then a more detailed report on the 6pm news.
Ponder this as every city in the State of MS has multiple residents of different means of income such as low, middle class and high earners. Yet no other city in the state has had financial crisis from incompetent administrations going on national news pushing the race card to push and divert the truth more than the COJ. Fox New please report this!
So Col. Nathan R. Jessep is accused of a CODE E (Red) in court by Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Lt. Kaffee demands the TRUTH. Col. Jessep said YOU couldn't handle the truth. this is getting good.
Free the land. Free the water bill. Keep it free. Keep it if the books.
LeMaster has ripped off JJ numerous times in the past so any skepticism expressed by readers here he's earned.
Clean the Water
Free the Land
Arrest Lumumba
RIGHT!!!!
Does E-code stand for exempt or equity? I almost left out entitled.
I do, however, recall a court ruling stating that volunteer firemen could NOT be gifted with free water by any municipality in this state and that all recipients of the service must be billed in the same manner.
So, the onus is on all crack-reporters (sorry Kingfish, I'll include correspondents) to reveal the exact point in time, and with which mayor in the wheelhouse, this crap began.
Next, let's go over to the tag office and see who's riding around with free plates.
Must be a lot on Cplan. Do the crime don’t worry about the time!
Mayor Chokeweed was on the Greta Van Susteren show this week. The discussion was about the potable water in Palestine, Ohio after the train derailment chemical spill. He is now an expert on creating undrinkable water. I bet next he will be doing commercials for one of the bottled water brands Woka-Cola sells.
It is pretty easy to count the number of building (and other properties) that have city water. Somebody, please do it, then send those responsible to that nice jail in Rankin county. If I was an affluent property owner in northeast Jackson, I would be furious.
I know who Nick and Anthony are, but who is CJ? I like to follow as many people as possible to be informed on this mess.
Does not matter. The city is completely unable to produce a list of the system users, much less account for 50% of the water produced. Most of the users have Code F’s right now - as in Code Free.
By what calculus is the number 6,500 free water/sewer/garbage users determined?
If that number is right, then the addresses of non-paying Eplan are easily also determined.
Hennifin told Wingate: +/-, "There will be a battle to implement my system. I may need your help implementing my property based billing."
Wingate responded: +/-, "Just let me know".
So when will Wingate now recuse himself from Henifin's "battle"?
Could it be as simple as trading an election vote for free water and sewer (E-code) from the City? I wonder what elected City political positions other than mayor might have been interested in such a trade.
I think it is equitable that those who have been discriminated against should receive free water and a number of other free or discounted benefits. Believe me, I know a number of prosperous people living in northeast Jackson and they can afford to pay for these things.
Hinds property records show that hizonner owns 10 parcels; 1 in Clinton and 9 in Jackson. Hmmm, has he benefited from this entitlement?
I'm blown away. Glad Wingate was on top of this, bring it to light. I'm just dumbfounded. Thanks, Judge Wingate. Thanks Kingfish for reporting this.
Hello fellow commenters, this is Fox News. As you correctly guessed, we do, in fact, have our staff members pour over the comments section in this blog. Obviously, the commenters here are nothing short of genius and they know everything about everything, from real estate, to how judges function, to infectious diseases. So of course, following y’all will inevitably lead to the next big story that conservative America needs to know about. What I’m truly impressed by is how you are trying to bring national attention to Jackson for the sole purpose of embarrassing it. What’s impressive is how you reconcile being so spiteful with your Christian faith (which requires some serious mental gymnastics).
Per your request, this will be the only story we air for the next month. Enjoy and thanks!
Now you know why @10:12 failed at stand-up comedy.
If there is an actual "E" code in the data, then a list can be produced. The easy way to not get a bill is to remove the record of there being a meter. Next to E-code, there needs to be an audit of the meters, how many they have and how many (which ones) are billed.
Sick burn, 10:50. I’ll definitely crawl back into my hole and leave you “good” people alone now.
So ol' Teddy acknowledges 6500 suspect properties without water accounts but only now at Judge Wingate's request is promising to investigate?
Something seriously wrong when the big name hired gun hasn't already been sighted in on such an obvious target.
+1,000,000
Do not believe Wingate will ultimately conclude he has the authority to jam Henifin's equity plan down the throats of the state Legislature.
Example of Lumumba management.
Water, Sewer, Refuse Rates
Of approximately 50,000 households in Jackson (based on reported trash pick-up info), that means more than 10% are permanently exempted from paying.
Welcome to the real Jackson, Mr. Henifin.
He was dumbfounded by what the Judge said. He really didn't have a clue. Of course, the system may not be set up to recover all the Ecodes. Would that surprise anyone?
Mayor will have a press conference Monday. Wonder if he will try to (respectfully) argue with Wingate and say it's not true.
Any elected official, whether mayor, council, state official, etc. who isn't paying a water bill should resign from office. Hey Shad, where are you. If the mayor has a Code E, that is a felony.
6,500 x 2 votes (2 adults/household) = 13,000 votes for each dem mayor.
How many Jackson employees have a “code E” exemption.
13,000 votes is exactly what you needed to win in 2021. Interesting.
Attn 12:10PM I will vote for him if he is in jail.
What’s your point, 12:10? Are you suggesting that democrat mayors need to help these people avoid their utility bills in order to win in Jackson?
I heard about "free" water and other "favors" back in the 70's.
These freebies were not limited to Jackson but throughout the State.
Indeed, if you go back in the C-L archives, one was a "loan forgiveness" for Ed Pittman that apparently was "legal" too. Contracts that specified unique features or qualifications of a particular group or business were and still are common.
Houses and condos in Destin and automobiles were given either for free to a penance. Sometimes Country Club membership was thrown in.
And, you are all surprised that we have a crop of less polished politicians ( who are more brazen and who assume " everyone is as crooked as
they were and are?").
No mention of the straight piping that has occurred for years.
Easy enough to compare tax roles with water bill accounts.
Everyone that hasn’t paid a water bill through Ecodes or straight piping should be criminally charged.
Henifin is a traveling "expert". In a year he will declare victory ...take the money and run.
Jackson, the first 3rd world country in Mississippi.
Free the water bills. Any bets that Chowke and sista Rukia don't get a bill?
When they get the list of Code E beneficiaries, someone should match it up with their property values. That would be interesting to see indeed.
If Ted knows of 6500 improved properties that are without accounts, is that a list that could be obtained via FOIA?
There are up to 1.2 MILLION gallons of completely free water coming out of the Spillway every day. Stop whining, Jackson. You have easy access to free water all the time without limit.
Now, if you want it collected, sanitized, treated, and piped directly inside your house on a 24/7 basis, that costs money.
REALITY that Chokwe Et Al deny every day.
"Jackon: Mo Free Stuff*"
*Being murdered available at no extra charge
@1:21 - Something that might not occur to you is the fact that country-club memberships, auto loaners and condo perks come from something called 'the private sector'.
Hey Baby Chok, How can I get a CODE E?
Yes at 9.29 would be interesting to see Code E's versus Chok contributor lists. If Last Call or M Club is getting free water I may go Crazy up in here
Free, Free everything is Free. all you have to do is Vote for Me
Oh wow, so another one of those cray right wing stories that people were getting free water in Jackson for years is actually true. Don't tell me the missing cash deposits (when people pay their bill by cash and that money is stolen) story is true also. They are all true. I know Anna and MS News will be all over this any time now. Beuhler Beuhler is anybody here
KF and 5:03 — I think she grossly overestimates her own competence. She typically does one of two things: 1. Throws up a red herring which folks have long been onto; or 2. Attempts to pontificate and ends of exposing her very rudimentary grasp on whatever the subject is. Apparently, she did both with Judge Wingate. She needs to get chewed up and spit out more often. It’s the only kind of reality check that would get her attention.
In any event, hats off to the judge. Every day that Chokwe gets exposed is a good day.
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