Jackson Jambalaya

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is holding his regular press briefing right now.  The presser is streamed below. 

* City is looking for a local manager for the National Folk Festival.  The festival will be held in Jackson for three years.

*  JPS Beautification Day will be held in two weeks.  Volunteers are welcome. 

* CJ Lemasters asked Hizzoner if the use of in kind payments to reduce Tim Bennett's $500,000 past due rent was legal.  Mayor Lumumba deflected, saying it was coincidental the legislature, this website, and Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote started questioning the amended lease. SCORE!

The Mayor did not dispute any facts but instead ranted about the conspiracy forming up against him on Smith-Wills.  It's simple Mayor.  Your man never paid rent, he didn't get the $5 million performance bond that would've paid the rent in case he didn't pay, he leased the parking lot to the VA and didn't tell anyone much less apply his profit towards his rent, and you guys cut his $500,000 debt to $100,000 by reclassifying the improvements he was required to make under the lease as debt payments.  Oh, and he didn't pay a dime all year as required until two weeks ago when this website and the Northside Sun scrutinized his sweetheart treatment.  But yeah, it's all the Republicans fault. Same Mayor who lied about the state paying its water bills, same Mayor who plagiarized his opening campaign speech, and same Mayor who covered up the EPA order for over a year.  

Mayor Lumumba also said the previous group did not pay Jackson anything for the use of the stadium.  Hmm..... when this website checked during the Yarber administration, a group led by Kane Ditto and Call Wells was paying $50,000 per year.  $50,000 a year more than Tim Bennett has been paying . 

Mayor Lumumba said the State Auditor is investigating the contract.