Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Henifin To Take Over Sewer System

Ted Henifin will soon be wearing another hat.  U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate issued a proposed stipulated order giving Mr. Henifin the same control he has of Jackson's water system.  

The order came as no surprise.  Despite Jackson's efforts, its sewer system is probably in worse shape than it was when the consent decree began in 2012.  The EPA announced the order in a press release posted below. 

EPA Press Release

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Justice Department, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the City of Jackson, Mississippi, agreed to a proposed stipulated order, lodged today in federal district court, to expedite needed sewer system repairs and to address spills of raw and undertreated sewage into homes, businesses, streets, yards and waterways. Under the terms of the agreement, the federal court would appoint Ted Henifin as interim third-party manager of the city’s sewer system. Henifin, who has been serving as interim third-party manager for the city’s drinking water system since November 2022, would manage, operate and maintain the city’s sewer system.

The proposal is an interim measure until the parties negotiate modifications to a judicially enforceable consent decree to achieve the sewer system’s long-term compliance with federal and state regulations. The proposed stipulated order is subject to a public comment period through August 31, 2023, during which public meetings will be held in the City of Jackson. 


 “In November of last year, the Justice Department filed a proposal to appoint a third-party manager to oversee and implement improvements to Jackson’s drinking water system,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today, we continue to protect the health and safety of Jackson residents by proposing the oversight and programs needed to restore Jackson’s sewer systems.”

“Under today’s agreement, expedited measures will be taken to address the City of Jackson’s deteriorating sewer infrastructure and inadequate operation and maintenance, which have caused residents and businesses to endure sewage discharges that threaten public health and the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This action shows the continuing commitment of the Justice Department to seek justice, health and safety for the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, and to prioritize enforcement in the communities most burdened by environmental harm.”

“This agreement is an appropriate next step in our enforcement efforts to ensure that the City of Jackson lives up to its responsibility, pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act and Mississippi law, to address and correct issues with its sewer system,” said Executive Director Chris Wells of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

The agreement acknowledges that the city failed to achieve significant progress under a 2013 settlement among the parties that was entered by the federal court as a consent decree, and that the sewer system has further deteriorated over the last ten years, resulting in violations of the settlement, the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law (MAWPCL) and the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits associated with the sewer system.

The agreement requires implementation of certain programs and capital projects to improve the sewer system’s condition, operations, and maintenance that are anticipated to bring near-term relief to the city’s residents and businesses.

The interim third-party manager would have the authority to, among other things:

  • Operate and maintain the city’s sewer system in compliance with the CWA, MAWPCL, and NPDES permits;
  • Implement capital improvements to the city’s sewer system. This includes a set of priority projects to investigate and repair certain areas of the sewer system (including 215 areas previously identified by the city as emergency sewer failure locations), and certain repair work associated with the Savanna and Trahon wastewater treatment plants; and
  • Implement or continue implementing programs to post signage about sewer overflows for which there is a reasonable expectation of public exposure; keep fats, oils, and grease out of the sewer system; and clean and inspect lines on a recurring schedule.

Under the proposal, the EPA, the Justice Department, the MDEQ, and the City of Jackson will resume negotiations within three years to modify the 2013 settlement to achieve long-term compliance with the CWA, MAWPCL and NPDES permits.


 
A copy of the proposed stipulated order and instructions for submitting public comments is available on the Department of Justice website

 All comments must be electronically submitted or postmarked by August 31.

Public meetings to receive comments are planned at the Mississippi e-Center, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS on August 21st, from 6pm – 8 pm.  Additional meetings are being planned and will be announced separately. More information and details on the public meetings


The case is being litigated by the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section, in conjunction with EPA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

Stipulated Order

The EPA, MDEQ, and Jackson entered into a consent decree for the sewer system in 2012.  Jackson has been unable to comply with the decree.  The crippled billing system deprived it of much needed revenue.  Borrowing costs rose due to the downgrades in the city's bond rating.  As the finances crumbled, so did the sewer system.  There are now over 250 sanitary sewer overflows in Jackson as crap literally runs through the streets.  The order states 

from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022, the City reported 460 SSOs, which released over 111,081,920 gallons of untreated wastewater, 13 SSOs at the West Bank Interceptor low point, which released over 95,219,768 gallons, and 27 Prohibited Bypasses from the Savanna Street WWTP, which allowed 4,465,590,000 gallons of untreated or under-treated wastewater to discharge into the Pearl River;

 The order states there are 215 known "locations" in the wastewater treatment system that need "emergency repair" but the city has not been able to fix most of them.  

Thankfully, federal funding will finance much of the repairs.  Congress authorized $125 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help the water and sewer systems and another $8 million in ARPA funds.  State ARPA funds will partially match that grant. 

The Court appoints Mr. Henifin to manage the sewer system. Some of his duties are: 

* Provide a financial management plan within sixty days of the order for the sewer system just as he did for the water system. 

*  Meet with the city within 90 days of the order to discuss the current rate structure.  Mr. Henifin has the power to adjust rates if the City Council takes no action and more has passed than a year since the last adjustment.

* The Receiver can not sell any assets nor borrow money without Court approval. 

*  The EPA, MDEQ, or city can move to replace the Manager after a 45-day notice given to all parties. 

* Receiver shall submit a status report in January, April, July, and October.  A public meeting will be held on the same schedule as well.

*  Mr. Henefin shall use "best efforts" to respond to public records requests unless he can show doing so would prevent him from doing his job. 

* A website shall be created for the public. 

* There shall be a thirty day period for public comments. 

Posted below is the sewer priority project list. 





 

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who will make the repairs to the streets after all of these pipes are dug up?

Anonymous said...

Such BS. Federal judges have way too much power if they can stomp on elected officials like this. I’ve gotta question for you racist bootlickers of KF: would this shit fly in Rankin Co?? Be honest rednecks

Anonymous said...

I don't know if it's coincidence or not but every since the city council voted for Ted to take over sewer, there has been an influx of utility vehicles and workers around and down in manholes doing work and assessing repairs. It's like the poo poo fairy came down and gave us an early Christmas gift.

Straight Pipe said...

Considering how many of the truly large mission critical responsibilities have now been removed from the half-Mayor's administrative domain, a reduction in compensation is now appropriate for that job. The Jackson City Council should begin an overall evaluation of current (and budgeted) positions to effectively right-size the staffing levels of the executive branch to meet the new reduced portfolio duties.

Anonymous said...

Starfield, "we will continue to protect". Is he freaking insane. He hasn't protected in years.

Anonymous said...

@2:12 PM - Shit only flies if it hits the fan.

Anonymous said...

Can pay for the streets using the 1%sales tax fund which is apparently not being used. As for Rankin County, they bill their customers and make them pay. Then they use the proceeds to make needed repairs and employ competent people. Like all other water systems in this state (except one). If this is just racism, why aren’t they taking over other majority black city’s water systems? Cause they are run well. Somebody needs to start a go fund me to build a statue of Judge Wingate for standing up to these grifters. Hopefully history will show this as the turning point and cleaning up of the capital city. For ALL our sakes.

Anonymous said...

But, but, how are Chowke and his racist cronies going to get a piece of the action?

Anonymous said...

2:12, I missed the story about the Rankin County "rednecks" having these problems. Please direct me toward your source. Otherwise return to your comic books.

Anonymous said...

Soy boy warning at July 26, 2023 at 2:12 PM.

Anonymous said...

Bootlicker @ 2:12, answer me honestly, are you ok with the squaller and filth in Jackson, MS and are you satisfied with the job Lumumba is doing in the city?

These kinds of things happen in cities like Jackson & Detroit, not Rankin County. And until it is, these whataboutisms(word's the left like to use) are useless unless Rankin County is in the same situation as Jackson, which they are not.

Anonymous said...

Who will make the repairs to the streets after all of these pipes are dug up?

Welcome to the latest Lumumba FUD.

Anonymous said...

The Mayor was using the water and sewer revenue to prop up the city budget. Now all water and sewer will be in a separate fund like it is suppose to be. Council and Mayor have to budget without this money. Looks like some city offices will need to be cut of lazy employees.

Anonymous said...

How about we just make Ted mayor? Jackson would be in much better hands and the one who now holds that position would have more time to run all over the country telling everyone how well he is doing his job.

Anonymous said...

Put him in charge of crime interdiction in Dodge City.

Anonymous said...

Just give him the entire city. Chokwe is worse than useless.

Anonymous said...

2:12. It would never get to this level of corruption in Rankin County. Stop with the BS. The elected officials you speak have proven they can’t handle the job. Sad that you think it’s okay to let these people keep screwing around. You’re the redneck.

Anonymous said...

@ 2:12…. No different than the CoJ condemning, seizing and razing a house when the owner doesn’t take care of his legal responsibilities. Damn shame the State doesn’t revoke the City charter for gross malfeasance.

Anonymous said...

2:12. It would never get to this level of corruption in Rankin County. Stop with the BS. The elected officials you speak have proven they can’t handle the job. Sad that you think it’s okay to let these people keep screwing around. You’re the redneck.

Anonymous said...

"Just give him the entire city. Chokwe is worse than useless."

Yep, it is well past time for Jackson to go to a City Manager in charge city charter. The folks who can get elected in Jackson have zero business running a city of 200k when they couldn't run a lemonade stand. When was the last time there was an organized and competent Mayor?

Beige Neck said...

@ 2:12 - Dear Black- Neck; This is White- Neck, or as you call me, Red-Neck, here to answer your question.

Yes, if my streets and drinking water in the kitchen were to start seeping raw turds, I'd welcome federal help in a heartbeat.

I can't imagine the basis for the question. Well, unless you're in that column of a handful of folk who (by some stretch) consider themselves, Jackson and the Mayor to be victims.

Feel free to get someone to explain that to you.

Anonymous said...

@2:12 lives in a clown world. He has to be saying stuff just to get a reaction. There's no way anyone with ANY common sense would think Jackson can handle its own problems at this point.

Anonymous said...

Lumumba and Co. must be trembling with anger.

EFGAlterEgo said...

July 26, 2023 at 2:12 PM
Yes. If Ridgeland (where I live) was as fucked up as Jackson I'd be praising Judge Wingate for fixing a colossal fuck up.

Kingfish said...

Let's just say Karl, Ed, and Barbs are not fans of this website. But you know what, despite all their taking turns running Canton, they haven't tried to run CMU as Jackson runs its public utilities. CMU is a separate district although the city appoints the board. However, you don't see any of them trying to place it directly under the Mayor's control as a certain Jackson Mayor wants to do. You know why (besides those three being much smarter than the Mayor)? Because CMU provides the services and they know not to mess it up.

Anonymous said...

Have any of you people considered that this is exactly what the mayor has hoped for?

First it removes him from the firing line of personal responsibility.

Second, and more importantly, it opens a parallel pipeline of federal money that Wingate can set aside to pay for the entire system. Henifin's salary increase alone will have to come from somewhere.

Anonymous said...

does Ted know anything about running a police department? zoo?

Anonymous said...

Some city workers came and inspected the sewer in my yard yesterday. I've lived here for decades and that's never happened.
They were very nice and professional also.

Anonymous said...

2:12 - if the sorry bitches that were supposed to be running the show would have kept things in order, no one would be having this issue right now.

Anonymous said...

I’m sure there are “concerned citizen groups” that will magically appear that have not questioned any “raw boo boo” in the last several years, becoming social justice warriors for transparency 😂😂

Anonymous said...

I'd like to see Jackson become federal territory, yeah that's the ticket.

Anonymous said...

@ 2:12

If we dumped 50 gajillion gallons of shit into the river, the citizens of rankin county would be ecstatic about the feds taking things over. Oh yeah, we wouldn't re-elect the morons who were obviously asleep at the switch either.

We may be rednecks but we don't enjoy bathing with terds

Anonymous said...

So, with the new hat does there come an additional increase in his pay. 2:12, no need to have any input here.
And KF, thanks for your input about Canton and our CMU. They are hardworking folks doing the best they can and we have few issues with our water and when we do it is taken care of quickly and efficiently.

We can only hope said...

I wish water czar Ted would run for Mayor when he finishes cleaning up the Mayor’s mess of a water and sewer disaster

Anonymous said...

2:12, I live in Rankin County, and to answer your question....Yes, if our water and sewar were in such horrible shape as Jackosn's is, I would most certainly welcome federal help and a federal judge appointing a manager like Ted Henifin to be in charge of this and to fix the things that the present so-called leadership had failed to do. It boggles my mind that some people in Jackson like you would rather have no running water or no drinkable water and sewage running all over the streets than to have someone come in to help fix the problem that your leaders have woefully failed to fix. You're an ungrateful idiot. As 2:23 said, go back to reading your comic books.

Anonymous said...

KF - you mentioned Canton and CMU. Things are not as they evidently appear to you. While we don't have the sewer and water issues as Jackson, at least not yet, that's not to say things are rosy. The current city/CMU leadership is grossly incompetent. Fifteen years ago, CMU was a shining example for all small utility companies. Not so anymore.

Anonymous said...

@3:13 PM

Even if Ted's knowledge of operating a zoo and police dept were 0%, that would still be more knowledge than Chockwe has.

Anonymous said...

KF - better do some fact check before you praise CMU.

Anonymous said...

2:12, My electricity is provided by a co-op and the one time I've had a problem, the crew showed up in the pouring rain and got it working that night, then came back a few days later for the permanent repair.

My water is provided by PRVWSD, and I've haven't lacked water in 6 years. My trash pickup has been equally reliable.

If any one of those services, and especially if all three, I would be looking for elected officials to stomp on myself.

Rankin Co. resident

Anonymous said...

Let's see if we can recap the Mayor's accomplishments the past 5 or 6 years:

-JPS was about to be taken over by the State because the Mayor couldn't fix it. Thankfully the Kellog Foundation came in and saved the day and is trying to fix the schools....not the Mayor.

-Crime is out of control and JPD's staff is way below what is needed to properly police the city. So the State comes in and starts the Capitol Police to help....not the Mayor.

-The water system fails, and the State and Feds come in to fix it.....not the Mayor.

-The sewar system fails, and the Feds come in to fix it....not the Mayor.

Oooops, damnit, that's not list of accomplishments. That's a list of complete and total failures by the Mayor. Sorry. Every single service the City is supposed to provide to its citizens has failed miserably, and the Mayor has done nothing, I repeat nothing, to improve any of them. Can someone tell me what good the Mayor has actually accomplished in the past 5 or 6 years ? Someone ? Please ? I'll wait.

Anonymous said...

2:12pm
is likely seething that Henefin, unlike Lumumba, is billing water customers for amount used and 2:12 is seeing his straight piped free water/sewer service going away.

Kingfish said...

I know. However, the water, sewer, and electricity still works in Canton.

Anonymous said...

Beige neck/white neck; you are the winner today. We Love you!

Anonymous said...

Judge Wingate, Henefin, CCID and HB 1020 are the most positive things to happen in Jackson in a good 20 years. And make no mistake, the mayor doesn’t like this because it precludes another avenue to monetize his office with “contracts”.

Anonymous said...

While he's at it, I bet Ted could whip up an RFP for permanent garbage collection. He was able to start up a call center in less than a week!

Anonymous said...

2:12’s thought process is the root of the problems in Jackson. 2:12 is an obvious racist or simply looking for feedback.

Anonymous said...

A few things:

1) Ted Henifin is very capable and is doing a good job. Kudos to him. However, he's no one-in-a-million water manager. There are plenty of capable people who could do this when they have $1 billion handed to them by the federal government. There are hundreds of water systems in this state providing quality service and doing it from the revenue from the rate base and staying on budget. Jackson couldn't do that, and Henifin isn't constrained by budget or revenue. He's got a blank government check. Brandon has about 1/4 of the water customers as Jackson. How good do you think Brandon's water/sewer system would be if the feds handed them $250,000,000 (1/4 of $1 billion)? I'm going to say that the Brandon mayor and public works director would be shouting for joy. The point is that it's a lot harder to maintain a system correctly and on budget, than it is to fix something when money is no issue. With unlimited funds I can fix anything. My 18-year old daughter could fix the Jackson water/sewer system if given enough money. But Henifin is doing a good job.

2) Lumumba and this city council all need to go.

3) Wingate wants to see it fixed. Good job by the judge.

4) Jackson couldn't run a lemonade stand successfully.

5) What will we do when other cities or water systems get in this condition? Are we going to bail them all out with taxpayer money? Why are the shitty ones rewarded with a big check from Uncle Sugar? Why do we punish good management and reward bad management in this country?

6) The lesson to water and sewer systems is this: Don't work hard. Don't manage and maintain. Don't give effort. Don't stay up at night thinking about your system and how to improve it. Hire your unqualified friends and don't expect them to work ore perform. Sit back in the air conditioning, do nothing, and let the damn thing fall apart. When it falls apart, the federal and state government will have to step in and provide the money and expertise to gt it all back running.

Anonymous said...

Attn 4:13 P M don’t cut the mayor to short, I travel a lot and I have seen him going to paid vacations, I mean paid conferences to places as nice as Paris (for you ignorant subscribers, that is in France), and Banff Canada (an extremely nice resort) to get caught up on the latest new options for saving a dying infrastructure like our Capitol city.

Anonymous said...

CMU also has natural gas, and it's much cheaper than Atmos.

Anonymous said...

Your water and sewer are in the process of getting fixed after years of excuses. Don’t be fooled and listen to the excuses made by some preachers and some community leaders about who should fix them, that hadn’t fixed them.

People, its about whose pockets get lined and childless pride for the resistance

Pay Mr. Heflin $1.2 million to just fix everything that hasn’t been fixed in Jackson. Taxpayers were paying taxes for years and getting nothing but promises.

Anonymous said...

2:12, nice try at a false equivalence there. The difference? Rankin County (and most others) simply do their job, which is simply providing the public with infrastructure and public safety…Without using the city tax receipts as their own personal slush fund or handing out “favors”. Our mayor and the people he surrounds himself with have no concept of running a city; rather, they are there for themselves, not for us. It’s time for him to go (not going to happen b/c we cannot field a decent candidate to replace him) or the alternative is to neuter him and render him powerless to continue stealing from the people.

Anonymous said...

“I wish water czar Ted would run for Mayor when he finishes cleaning up the Mayor’s mess of a water and sewer disaster“

Not no, but hell no. The worst thing that could happen for the future of this City is for someone competent to run it right now, so the State feels comfortable turning the water and sewer systems and policing back over to someone like Ted.

Anonymous said...

A lot of people are hammering 2:12, but all should realize that there are plenty of 2:12s who will return Lumumba to office with a re-election victory.

Anonymous said...

We all know Henifin has a federal checkbook. Can you imagine how long it would take Lumumba to run around figuring out how he can kick it back, with studies and paying unqualified contractors.

John Blutarsky said...

No one is possibly as stupid as 2:12 purports to be; he is just a chain-yanking troll who wants to see how much shit he can stir up in the comments. It worked!

Anonymous said...

Will The Chokester roll out one of his favorite slogans. "Promises Made, Promises Kept" in re-election bid?

Anonymous said...

If I might be allowed to suggest a course of action, CoJ would do better to have both a mayor of works and a mayor of ceremonies. Ted would see the things that have to be done get done and without graft, kickbacks, and sweetheart hook-a-bother-up deals; Chokwe, on the other hand, would make visits to elementary schools to make talks on how busy and important he is.

Anonymous said...

2:12, maybe you want to read Kenneth W. Adams et Al, Plaintiffs-appellants, v. Rankin County Board of Education, just for a good start. Total Federal control, down to extracurricular activities, start/end times of schools, etc.

Or M.B. ex rel. Bedi v. Rankin County School District. Where the Federal courts banned religious expression by the "horror" of an anti-theist Bigot being given a Bible. That was issued by our local Social Engineer and Democrat Politician, the Honorable Carlton Reeves, USDJ-Democrat.

Yes, Rankin follows the USDC rulings regardless of the partisan or anti-theist bias of certain US District Judges.

Unlike a certain City Administration not following EPA orders. And then lying about it.

Empires Always Die said...

Asst. A.G. Kim mentions the Department's commitment to "justice, health, and safety."

Note the order of priorities: "Justice", first. One would have thought that justice might be subsumed under the category of clean and available drinking water.

But, then again ....

Anonymous said...

How do the majority of Jackson citizens feel? Do they approve of having the outside dater and sewer administrator? Do they approve of bill 1020 that gives the citizens extra police protection?
Is it just the elected officials and their cronies that object?

Anonymous said...

5:40 summarized it far better than I, but regardless...my thoughts precisely.

We are stealing from the ants to keep the grasshoppers happy, and if the ants refuse this slavery they are called racist.

It's almost funny.

Almost.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure that everybody that lives on the Pearl River downstream of Jackson will be thanking Judge Wingate.

Anonymous said...

All of the critics seem to avoid looking at MS spending of Federal dollars and State allotment of money.

The legislature treats a rural town with 2000 people in a county with less population than all of Jackson the same. It also funnels federal money into the county in such a way, that infrastructure needs for a few get more money than is needed when Jackson, for example, gets $200 million that is $30 million short of the most needed "repairs". You demand to " know where the money went!" when it went to repeated "patching" while the "roof" continued to generally deteriorate.

So in short, the smaller the population in Mississippi, the more likely is getting enough funds. The next largest city on the coast, would be (and was beginning to) suffer the same effects until Katrina monies were based on "start from scratch" funding.

And, I wouldn't be so smug if I lived in Rankin. In Jackson, I avoid driving in the poor areas and apparently, Rankin residents posting do the same. Sadly, I had to drive through some of your bad areas when I had a property theft. The locater on one stolen item was a specific address in Rankin County. The police were "uninterested" just accepted the "word" of the occupant that he didn't " have it". Nothing was done. If you don't investigate, it didn't happen, I suppose. That it was suspected to be a location of a crime theft ring and the "occupant" had done "time" for theft" didn't matter. You also seem blind to crime when it comes to aggravated assault, robbery, theft and rape. Indeed, reporting is a problem in all of Mississippi but worse is reporting with no investigation which happens in Madison as well and has for decades.
If you deflect State problems all to Jackson because of the reality of having the level of poverty and racial makeup, it works to allow corruption like some of the most recent at the State level from ever coming to light without a State Auditor or dogged reporter to make sure it does.
I still am amazed that there is more outrage with non-specific claims of corruption in Jackson than there ever was with the Magnolia Venture Capital scam, the Meat Packing Plant,murders in Biloxi that took far too long to solve and a long list of other past scandals of "good ole boys".
Yes, there's a corruption problem, but it is system wide and will continue until you have enforceable State laws to make corruption harder. We barely have a " please fill in your name and amount and purpose" form for taking money from the cash drawer " form. And, we need federal distribution of funds to be prioritized by need and to account for population differences. Resurfacing a seldom travelled roads instead of maintenance at the expensive of high traffic roads that are deteriorating is just plain stupid. Just as giving money to fancy up a water system that has no external stresses that cause it to become damaged faster rather than one that is stressed and serves a large population is plum crazy. Even then, the money is poorly spent with poor quality with low durability for the quantity spent.
But+ the winner of the legislative incompetence award is that any money left over in an agency budget gets spent at every electronics and office supply place and oh, maybe depending on amount a car lot or at a "retreat" at the end of the fiscal year so it will appear the agency was " underfunded".

Kingfish said...

I've been on Mary Miles Road a few times. Know what you are saying.

Anonymous said...

Believe it or not 10:46, there are some rational Rankin/Mississippi residents who agree with you.
Its odd to me that you assume that because I live here, I will defend Rankin corruption?
Why would I want my leaders to steal or not provide transparency?

You seem to make that accusation based on the commonality of that occurrence if you rown City.

I know most every WLBT article about COJ murder is riddled with angry Jxn residents who openly state they do not want transparency or crime reporting.

And while I do see the occasional uneducated Rankin resident blindly defend some thug Bubba-cop because they worship the blue line, it seems far more prevalent in your own neck of the woods to worship and protect the elected criminals.

Why cant we want decent leadership and fair funding for all cities?

Anonymous said...

10"46 makes some valid points.

But: "If you deflect State problems all to Jackson because of the reality of having the level of poverty and racial makeup,"

That statement imputes a pervasive, system-wide motivation against poor people and black people. The idea that some unseen "They," as a society, are actively working against the interests of black people, as a foregone conclusion, is why people have such a hard time swallowing critical race theory and other race-based philosophies.

It's the same old idea of "The Man," as a monster hiding under the beds of little clack children. I'll call it what it quite literally is: "a conspiracy theory."

The fact is, most of us judge others on their behavior. And the behavior of the City of Jackson, as a whole, stinks, literally and figuratively.

Anonymous said...



"How do the majority of Jackson citizens feel? Do they approve of having the outside dater and sewer administrator? Do they approve of bill 1020 that gives the citizens extra police protection?
Is it just the elected officials and their cronies that object?"
July 27, 2023 at 9:07 AM

How do most Jacksonians feel? One of the TV stations aired a rare interview with an elderly resident of West Jackson. The man very eloquently expressed his wish that all of Jackson were within the CCID. I suspect that he's part of an overwhelming majority.

Anonymous said...

I hope you are right and I at the same time that makes is sadder 3:13.

I hope the CJ LeMasters and DonnerKay "Journos" are haunted by interviews like that since they refuse to participate in exposing the truth and corruption in Jackson when it is against the Democratic leaders.

They contribute as much to the demise of the City as they think ol' Whitey does.

Anonymous said...

Judge Wingate should go ahead and make him mayor.

Anonymous said...

If Henefin gets the water and sewer problems straightened out, please put him over garbage removal and Jackson Police Department next.

Anonymous said...

So Brooke Floyd was/is happy with a consent decree from 2013 that the COJ including current mayor has not implemented or follow! Ten years & you want to cast stones at Henifin? Talking @ biting the hand that feeds you!!! If he post quarterly reports; that is more Han you are currently getting. Crime reports to federal government as required by EVERY law enforcement agency have not been reported in decades. Thank Wingate, Ted and Jesus for giving COJ someone willing & able to assist. Now sit down & say thank you. The entire US has been fed a crock of lies and you all should retract & be ashamed of yourselves. Don’t expect it to be 100% better overnight when the last 10 years the administration covers it up!

Anonymous said...

Brooke Floyd = Rukia Kai proxy

Anonymous said...

The second paragraph begins, “[d]espite Jackson's efforts, its sewer system is probably in worse shape than it was when the consent decree began in 2012.”

KF, did you write that? If so, precisely what efforts are you referring to? Efforts to pay monthly leases so the hydrojet trucks don’t get repossessed? Efforts to provide the barest of maintenance? Efforts to respond to repair breaks within say 10 years? I stay fairly current and am having a helluva time coming up with a scintilla of effort.

Anonymous said...


2:12pm might have a premise if the elected official in question wasn’t incompetent, dishonest, and corrupt. Fortunately, the state and the feds recognize that American citizens deserve clean water and air without the stench of raw sewage and acknowledge that the City of Jackson has failed miserably to provide either for many years. As it is, we can count our lucky stars that U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate understands that municipalities have a duty to provide certain basic services and gives enough of a damn to stick it to them when they do not do so. Further, it makes zero difference what anyone in Rankin County might think. For starters, they wouldn’t have the problem since their county and municipalities actually do their jobs.

Meanwhile, you keep on shilling for Chokwe. I’d ask y’all to refrain from the petty sabotage of the interim management so they can continue to work diligently righting the ship for the City, but I realize that’s not on your agenda.

Anonymous said...

One sure way to motivate Judge Wingate to take a special interest in your case is to give him reason to suspect that you're trying to put one over on him.

If your client gives inconsistent testimony that seems to change to better support their case, it's time to seriously consider settlement.

That's one of the reasons I figured he was perfect for this case.



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Trollfest '09

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.


Note: Security provided by INS.

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.

Note: Security provided by INS
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