The plot that is the Jackson dumpster fire thickened yesterday after the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality notified the city of Jackson it may face fines of up to $25,000 per day its failure to collect garbage. MDEQ Director Christophe Wells stated in a letter sent to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the City Council yesterday:
Subsequent to the suspension of its curbside collection service, the City provided a “Solid WasteCollection Action Plan” dated April 5, 2023, to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and established temporary waste drop-off locations at the former Metrocenter Mall and the City’s Class I Rubbish Site located in Byram. MDEQ’s understanding is that this temporary drop-off collection service will be provided Thursday-Friday (8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) at Metrocenter Mall and Saturday (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) at the rubbish site each week until an alternate method of waste collection is re-established by the City. Thursday, April 6, 2023, was the first day of temporary drop-off collection.
Based on the limited number of drop-off locations and the distance of the drop-off locations from affected City residents, MDEQ considers the current Solid Waste Collection Action Plan inadequate for the collection and disposal of garbage from city residents. Furthermore, on Friday, April 7, 2023, MDEQ personnel conducted visual observations of neighborhoods within all seven wards of the City of Jackson. These observations revealed that garbage and other solid waste has been dumped, stored, stockpiled, and otherwise placed curbside and in streets by residents of the City. These conditions are a result of the lack of adequate collection and disposal services being
provided by the City.
Based on these conditions and observations, the City has failed to provide for the collection and disposal of garbage within its jurisdiction and is in violation of Miss. Code Ann. §17-17-5. Additionally, due to garbage and other solid waste observed dumped, stored, stockpiled and/or placed on curbsides and streets throughout the city, the City has caused wastes to be placed in locations where they are likely to cause pollution of the air and waters of the state in violation of Miss. Code Ann. §49-17-29.
Furthermore, the existing and draft City of Jackson Solid Waste Management Plan states that residential garbage collection shall be provided through a third-party waste collection contract. Failure to materially implement this condition of the local nonhazardous solid waste management plan is considered as violation of Miss. Code Ann. §17-17-227.
Therefore, MDEQ requests that the City take all reasonable and prudent actions to reestablish curbside solid waste collection as stipulated by the City’s Solid Waste Management Plan and provide for adequate garbage collection as required by State law. In the interim, MDEQ insists that the City immediately submit a revised “Solid Waste Collection Action Plan” which proposes adequate, temporary solid waste collection services to City residents as required by Miss. Code Ann. § 17-17-5. Such collection services could be located in each Ward or on a geographical basis that would provide waste collection receptacles within “a reasonable distance” from every household in Jackson.
Please be aware that the violations listed above and the continued failure to provide adequate waste collection services to the residents of Jackson are subject to the provisions of Miss. Code Ann. §§ 17-17-29 and 49-17-43 and thus a civil penalty of up to $25,000.00 for each violation per day of violation.
83 comments:
The fines would ultimately be funded by the same people MDEQ is trying to protect. Fine the mayor as an individual.
Yeah well MDEQ has done nothing about the millions of gallons of raw sewage illegally dumped in waterways.
The question is whether this will intimidate one or more councilmen. Labumba will of course blame the council for any fines imposed
Chancellor Clark, please move the hearing to April 10 or 11. This is an exigent circumstance. You CLEARLY have the authority to act fast.
Stokes is going to cave.
He mentioned leaving it up to his ward as to how he's going to vote next time. CopOut!!!
Stokes is going to cave.
He mentioned leaving it up to his ward as to how he's going to vote next time. CopOut!!!
Election year be damned. David L. Archie where the hell are you now?
Will the rats be called as witnesses?
Copied from Northside Sun April 7
Garbage war reaches climax
It was inevitable that the Jackson garbage war would ultimately come to a game of chicken between the city council and the mayor. The Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, infuriated that the council would not rubber stamp his hand-picked vendor, is now letting garbage pile up on the streets. This is just like a little pouty spoiled brat who would rather take his toys and go home than lose in a childhood game. Except this isn’t a childhood game. This is for real. The mayor is on the verge of causing a health crisis in the city. There appears no way around Lumumba’s intransigence other than a court order. Specially appointed Chancery Judge Jess Dickinson needs to issue an emergency order allowing the city council to proceed with a contract without the mayor’s input. A state attorney general’s ruling in Hattiesburg gives precedence to allowing a city council to proceed when the mayor neglects his duty. There is little case law on this issue because it’s almost unprecedented in the state of Mississippi that a mayor would allow a crisis to get to this point. It’s not an exaggeration to call Lumumba the most stubborn, ineffective mayor in the history of the state of Mississippi. All of this begs the question: Why? Why is Lumumba so completely enamored with Richard’s Disposal, a New Orleans based company, that he has caused garbage to pile up on the streets of Jackson? At this point, educated observers have probably reached conclusions, all of which cast serious doubt on Lumumba’s legitimacy to remain in office. Coming on the heels of the water disaster — one of the worst in U. S. history — one must wonder what it takes to remove an incompetent mayor from office. Richard’s Disposal does not have a good track record. A Northside Sun poll shows Waste Management preferred by a five to one margin. Richard’s just lost its routes in New Orleans earlier this year after its poor management caused garbage to pile up in the streets of that city. Richard’s came in last according to the mayor’s own RFP rating system, applied by Lumumba’s hand-picked staffers. The mayor says they are the cheapest, but price was only 30 percent of the mayor’s own criteria. All of this stinks to high heaven, as will the streets of Jackson. The council is absolutely right to stick to its guns and not back down. To allow an incompetent mayor to succeed in bullying its city council will just be the beginning of greater disasters. The mayor should have worked with the city council to develop proper bid specifications and then allowed sealed bids to all bonded vendors. Had Lumumba followed these time-tested sealed bid ding procedures, this disaster could have been averted.
The solution to this crisis is so simple. One or more of the recalcitrant Council members needs to agree to the lowest price Richards contract now. Problem solved. The four rogue Council members are 100% to blame for this self inflicted crisis.
The MDEQ should figure out a way to fine them personally. That would quickly end their love affair with Waste Management.
Big question...who gives in? Will it be the mayor or a councilman? My money on councilman.
And exactly what can MDEQ do if Jackson does not pay the fine?
We have four more dumpster locations in Northeast Jackson. Anyone with a vehicle can make a few trips between now and a few trips after the April 17th date of the Garbage Dilemma Hearing with Judge Clark, which may result in Council doing the Mayor's job of soliciting other proposals.
The mad marxist mayor likely prompted MDEQ's action to try to force- flip a Council member. Stokes should be skeptical of MDEQ's empty threat because, as another commenter posted above, what the f did MDEQ do about Lamumba's 52M gallon shit show in local creeks? Nada.
Dale Danks
The court can't authorize the council to put a contract before itself for the same reason it couldn't authorize the mayor to offer a contract without council approval. Separation of powers.
The race card will shut all of this down.
The feral cats will be the salvation of Jacktown, just as they were for the ancient Egyptians and the residents of Europe during the plague.
The final paragraph, rephrased: Please be aware that your failure to provide garbage collection to the citizens of Jackson is a violation of state law that will result in the said victimized citizens being fined $25,000.00 each day.
The four rogue Council members are 100% to blame for this self inflicted crisis.
The majority is rogue. Such is the thinking lining the path to civil wars.
The police have health check points for people leaving Jackson due to the plague that has broken out due to the lack of garbage pickup. People cannot leave the city! The city has advised the public not to swim in the Pearl River due to toxic chemicals from trash that mix with the storm water run-off. People are who are traveling on the interstate are not advised to exist off the interstate in Jackson. The exits/on ramps will be closed at noon today. Mississippi Health Department and the Governor's office will have a official meeting at 2pm today.
With Republicans likely to retain or even expand their legislative super majorities in November my guess is the recall legislation passes next session.
A couple of news reports said the mayor crashed Stokes' town hall meeting the other night - a meeting Stokes called to get residents' input on the garbage crisis. That couldn't have set well with Stokes. The councilman may well cave - I wouldn't be surprised - but the mayor has never done anything for Stokes except to berate him.
The Lubumba put still working for Madison and Rankin homeowners.
If the State cannot legally get control of this situation, it is long past time for it to do something it can legally do, and that is move the capital to a more welcoming location.
What does it take to wake up the citizens of Jackson? The complete city is a shit hole. No drinking water for months, roads that look like goat trails, highest murder rate in the U.S., trash all along the street even before the garbage crisis, millions of gallons of shit water released into the river, abandoned and burned-out buildings all over town, signal lights not working in several places, reduced police coverage in city, city broke, dogs attacking and eating zoo animals, drag racing on city streets and interstates, and mayor abandoning city.
All of our government agencies are too afraid they will be called racists to do anything. News media covering for the worthless mayor. Mayor lying to everyone who will listen to him and even those who try not to listen to him.
Is being called a racist so bad that no one will actually do their job?
12:01 obviously works in the mayor's office.
Next year, Legislature needs to pass an emergency manager law. EM should have authority to cancel contracts, award contracts, control the budget and whatever else is needed to change the course of Jackson. Put in some review by DFA, if necessary. Make the mayor and council figure heads. Mayor can gum flap - but not run anything. Council can waffle, but not interfere in anything.
Alternative, dissolve Jackson altogether and trim administrative expenses. Law enforcement all done by HCSO or CapPoPo, make fire a stand alone entity. Public works are already run by consent decrees and czars.
Not saying this includes all the details, but someone has to go bold to solve the failed city.
When are y'all (meaning every State & Federal agency) going to get it? Lamumba don't care about you, your office or any threat you make toward him or the City of Jackson. He's just going to thumb his nose at every one of them.
@11:45 Where's David L.? My guess now that the Legislature is out of session he won't be hanging out at the Capitol & with the Blackmon's so much. I could be wrong (We saw you David L.)
Your stories do not tell the story.
Why use Richard? Why not Richard?
Investigate and keep it simple.
Tate should call a one day special session to pass a bill that authorizes a city council to act when a mayor is derelict for his/her duties.
Good for MDEQ!
No worries. I’m sure Rep. Thompson and Derrick Johnson will foot the bill you their guy. Or just accuse MDEQ of being racist.
The problems you face when you let left wing potato heads run anything.
12:01, like the mayor ..is a racist who's objective is to have a "minority" vendor pick up the trash. Never mind that the "minority" is 80% of the population ..and is it possible that 12:01 and the Mayor are benefiting financially from this deal?
Drop your trash at your councilman's house (if you align with Lumumba) or outside Chokwe's gates (if you believe the council is correct). Either way, stop being afraid and try a little civil disobedience.
Sold my commercial property in Jackson for a heavy loss. But, no more water issues and no more sending money to a defunct school system. I’ll take that loss any day and walk away. I owe no one nothing. I miss The “Old Jackson” run by Dale Danks when the City was damn well respected all over the State. Now it’s just laughed at.
Can someone just veto Lumbubbles?
April 8, 2023 at 12:01 PM, have you not read any of the previous post on this board admonishing people not to drunk post? Please sober up, and return to post something reasonable?
Your stories do not tell the story.
Why use Richard? Why not Richard?
Investigate and keep it simple.
Your comment is boneheaded. Catch up.
Put out some effort. Self-educate.
Stop complaining. Or complain elsewhere.
If Stokes caves in and approves the contract, Jackson will be stuck with Richards for the next TEN years. Think about that for a minute. Surely he realizes that and won’t give in to the mayor’s threats. Help us all.
take the garbage cans off the contract
The Mayor cannot or will not give in so the council will have to cave to get the trash picked up. This is what happens when there is a sociopath with narcissistic tendencies gets in charge.
So, who is going to pick up the trash left at the dumpsters scattered around town?
The board asked the Mayor to put out requests for proposal in November. The Mayor didn’t do what was requested so no proposals were asked for except he asked the 3 previous bidders if they would honor their old bid price. The board can’t award a bid based on the Mayors lack of action. The council members who award a contract just based on the Mayor’s word without a bid would be held monetarily liable.
Does everyone understand that? Maybe the council needs to have their own staff put things out for bid. I know for a fact that the Mayor will not let the the councilmen call the water department about breaks in water lines, they can have no contact with them. This came directly from a councilman.
Consider that if Richards' (illegally) gets the contract, and the level of service becomes substandard, there is not a damn thing y'all can do about it. They will be locked in and protected by Lumbubbles. Right?
WM's service in Madison the City is A+.
MDEQ, the city council, the state legislature, Tate Reeves, the Feds…everyone is falling for Bumble’s master plan. Y’all all three steps behind him. He’s playing w y’all like a cat w a mouse. He’s driving a Porsche and getting his trash picked up. Who’s the suckers here?
I was just looking at some video of Jackson, Dam if it don't remind me of the movie, The 9 Lives Of Fritz The Cat.
Copied from a different website. I have no idea if this is true or not.
The majority of the council knows why and refuses to play. If you really want to know what’s going on, go watch the video of the emergency council meeting. Ask yourself, why was there so much questioning and discussion around “how much of the Richard’s Disposal contract covers IT services?” Then ask “why would the Rochard’s representative refuse to disclose who their subcontractors are?”Then delve into who Richards used for IT services during the emergency contract. Then delve into that IT service contractor’s connections to a certain Mayor. It’s nothing more than straight up bulls h i t corruption.
The ONLY things that will bring Jackson up out of the gutter are:
1. Change the form of government.
2. Change mayors.
3. Replace 2-3 council members.
Otherwise y'all are just blowing off steam/spinning your wheels.
"WM's service in Madison the City is A+."
Agreed.
I'm just waiting for mushmouth to step up to the podium and explain all this in terms we can all understand.
Tate Reeves falling for Bumble's master plan? Puh-leeze.
Most people would agree Tate's almost as smart as Deputy Phil Bryant.
This idea is a joke!
People like 8:21, end up in prison.
Unfortunately 8:21p is right. Mayors camp probably anonymously called MDEQ to put pressure on the council. Monday morning he’ll present Richards for the 100 thousand time.
You remember when Trump was in the White House and Pelosi pissed him off, so he grounded her plane from leaving the country? Yeah, same thing different party.
7:33. A+ in Clinton Too.
Who is Richards paying off?
The feds need to get involved because none of this makes sense and smells criminal to me
Whoever keeps saying to just take your garbage over to the mayor's house and leave it has obviously never heard of the charge of littering or the charge of malicious mischief.
But, go ahead...DO JUST THAT...make a point...then remember your court date.
9:30 - I believe it. I'm betting the mayor's mansion on Ridgewood in a gated community with bodyguards is the ONLY place in Jackson where the law is enforced.
April 8, 2023 at 8:21 PM
You and his voters. His track record of breaking services is phenomenal. He hasn't fixed anything yet.
April 9, 2023 at 9:30 AM
That would require a police department that wasn't understaffed. That's another service Ludumba has ruined.
9:30 - unless everyone setting their garbage on the street (knowing there is no pickup) is charged, then who cares where on public right of ways you set your trash. If it’s good enough to set in front of my house, it’s good enough to set in front of yours (mayor).
10:59 - His highness, the Mayor, is not a regular citizen. You really think he doesn't have officers waiting near his mansion just for the purpose of arresting anyone who gets near there. Have you been paying attention?
@11:53 AM Correctomundo (apologies to Pulp Fiction) There is always a JPD cruiser parked across the street from Prince Chowke's gate in the church parking lot.
11:53 - If 'paying attention' were a requirement for remaining in this audience, you could fill the bleachers out of a VW Beetle.
So, IF Baby Chok was financially benefitting by providing IT services to Richards, and therefore is unwilling to disclose such situation as a matter of transparency, right, then why wouldn't he be all IT involved in his "Real Time Crime Center" all the cameras etc. AND the simple reason that IF he were to begin to resolve crime even the smallest bit, his RTCC wouldn't be needed? Kinda all makes sense now huh? Kenny claims da mair has his "Dope Boys". Well maybe he does. Maybe they exist to keep things stirred up.
@8:09 There is an Attorney General’s opinion that to the contrary. If I can find, I’ll try to post it here or at least give a link. I’m assuming it’s responsive to an inquiry from Hattiesburg City Council. Something to do with “mayoral dereliction of duty.”
If the council holdouts capitulate, things will only get worse. Sure, garbage will be picked up to the extent RD picks up garbage. BUT, it will most likely assure that RD gets a TEN YEAR contract.
Think about that. Who decided to create this mess? Who decided RD would get the contract in the first place? Who has thumbed his nose at the RFP process in the first place? Who ignored the will of the people to choose his preferred vendor? Who violated the law and then dragged it out in court for 2 years? Who has crammed RD down our throats, city council be damned? Once you answer WHO, start thinking about WHY.
I don’t know much about RD getting the axe in New Orleans, but if what I read is half-true, imagine how really fast things could go south with them having a 10 year contract?
The poster who put this on the “recalcitrant” councilmen demonstrates why we have the worst mayor in the history Jackson and probably top 5 worst ever nationally. Lumumba will lie to your face every day and stop at nothing to get his way. Just look at the two back-to-back disasters we’ve been going through — water and garbage. It would take a large, colleged-lined spiral notebook to list all his lies. This is a dangerous person.
@7:35 I have come to the same conclusion. It’s like they are evil twins. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum they’re on, it’s the way they do business. Any means to whatever end they desire. The same thing that was said about the former president goes for the current mayor. Lumumba will burn this city down. He’s well on his way as we speak.
The Clarion Ledger has a front page story today headlined "Jackson real estate market suffers from constant issues." Realtors talk about how difficult it is to find buyers for residential & commercial property, saying the city suffers from a "crisis of crises." Seems like a high murder rate, bad or no water & no garbage collection are all part of a plan to drive anyone with any sense out of the city.
Richard's apostles have been on JJ singing hosannas for their garbage cartel and damning the remaining four decent angels of the Council, who have stood for the rule of law and, like most in Jackson, suffered an onslaught of excremental indignities from the scoundrel mayor.
These four victims have scraped and washed too much Lamumba off their boots and faces to now be force fed it also. I hope a war erupts in City Hall on Monday.
I will continue to haul my garbage to one of the newly available, conveniently placed dumpsters until Judge Clark enables the Council to generate two more RFPs, whence to select a reliable trash collector per our rule of law.
Let’s connect the dots since this information comes from the public domain, as it may explain why the mayor only submits RD for council approval:
The subcontractor hired by RD for IT services and the subject of intense council questioning: Expert Professional Solutions, LLC
Mailing address of the one officer (not registered agent) listed for Expert Professional Solutions, LLC on the MS Secretary of State business search: PO BOX 16051 JACKSON, MS 39236
Google that mailing address and you’ll find this organization also uses the same PO Box: Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
I can see why the council is hesitant to give hizzonor, I mean RD, a 10 year contract for “garbage services”.
Lubumba fiddles while Jackson burns! Enjoy y’all’s trip to the dump. You get what y’all vote for.
Bumble gave his constituents free water and garbage service for over a year and then fooled the Feds out of millions to repair Jackson’s water plant and broken lines. Bumble has the state taxpayers paying for most of Jackson’s law enforcement and judicial system now. Whose fooling who? He’s playing y’all like a broken record!
Editorial quotes from the most recent Northside Sun:
Why is Lumumba so completely enamored with Richard’s Disposal, a New Orleans based company, that he has caused garbage to pile up on the streets of Jackson? At this point, educated observers have probably reached conclusions, all of which cast serious doubt on Lumumba’s legitimacy to remain in office. Coming on the heels of the water disaster — one of the worst in U. S. history — one must wonder what it takes to remove an incompetent mayor from office.
The council is absolutely right to stick to its guns and not back down. To allow an incompetent mayor to succeed in bullying its city council will just be the beginning of greater disasters. The mayor should have worked with the city council to develop proper bid specifications and then allowed sealed bids to all bonded vendors. Had Lumumba followed these time-tested sealed bidding procedures, this disaster could have been averted.
1:15 You are 100% correct. May God help the people of the COJ!
@11:28 Federal EPA is in the driver’s seat with Jackson wastewater pollution. EPA is dealing directly with Jackson through a Consent Decree. EPA took this over years ago.
May the rule of law supersede and the protection and grace of God prevail on Monday.
how much IT services does a garbage business need?
This is the same IT company the city used to work on the water billing system. They collected almost $200K for their efforts after the city sued them for supposedly not performing any work https://www.wlbt.com/2021/11/22/jury-jackson-owes-contractor-another-82500/
Well...It does take a pretty crafty, imaginative and creative couple of IT sharpsters to keep up with a database including a thousand or so employees who don't really exist.
Couple that talent with a fraudulent billing and payment system and double sets of books and you've created quite the IT empire.
They need to multitask at these disposal sites. Give out water to the folks as they leave so they will be prepared for the next water crisis. Save millions of $.
I hope and pray that the councilmen who are trying to obey the law continue to vote against yet another attempt to get Richards a contract.
I hope and pray that the Judge rules the city council can continue business for jackson and the RFP process.
I can continue to carry my trash to a designated dumpster, no problem.
Mr. Stokes, you have stated many truthful things. Please do not give in to the hype. Stand strong on the vote.
WLBT, WAPT, WJTV---at what point are you going to do a story about how many times the Mayor has done the same thing, over and over. Would you mind reading the RFP process? Would you mind asking the question----why is the Mayor continually bringing the same vendor before the city council when procedure dictates otherwise?
Thanks Kingfish
CJ, Donner Kay and that other racist black fellow who's name eludes me (Karaoke or Kazam?), they won't say a word about this abuse of impoverished minorities.
They only report faux-racism.
I don't know who they are allowed to be card-carrying libs while letting these Mayoral injustices go unreported.
They should be ashamed but that would require them to actually have empathy.
IT work is 6.57% of the contract value?
Like does that mean the Mayor's favored IT vendor/friend could potentially make $54K per month over the next 10 years to provide IT services for garbage collection? That seems totally excessive to me.
Might be what the Council has heartburn over?
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