A woman claimed she was threatened at JXN Water when she tried to open a water account on August 13 after her water was disconnected because she did not have a JNX Water account.
Calandra Davis made the allegations at the Jackson City Council's August 13 meeting during the public comments period. Ms. Davis told the Council she went to JXN Water that morning to ask if there was a process for "speeding up" her application for water service if there were babies and elderly people in the home when "they turn off the water." She claimed she called JXN Water several times but no one answered.
Frustrated, she and her husband went to JXN Water the morning of August 13 to see what could be done. "Security came out before we could even get out the car, at some point a gun was drawn while my children were there, then Ted Henifin came out and said, really in a threatening way, we could get the water back on tomorrow or it could take a lot longer with the way they were acting. He effectively threatened accessibility to water, which is a human right."
No Council member asked why her water was disconnected.
JXN Water recently initiated a process to disconnect water meters serving homes and businesses that have been using water without having an active account. Earlier this year, JXN Water discovered thousands of addresses with new water meters that were consuming water without an associated account, resulting in unbilled water usage. These properties, where water has been used without an account for several years, have now entered the severance process. Letters were sent to these addresses, letting the residents know that they needed to reach out to JXN Water to establish an account or risk having their water service disconnected without notice. Many residents came forward, established accounts, and began paying for their water services. Unfortunately, many others did not. It is these residents that are now having service disconnected. As of early this week more than 125 people have opened accounts with JXN Water after their service was disconnected. Once customer set up account, water service is restored. Please be advised that JXN Water offices are not open to the public, and immediate assistance cannot be provided by visiting our location. To address any concerns or inquiries, please contact our call center at 601-500-5200. We are committed to responding to your needs and restoring the water service as quickly as possible. JXN Water is committed to collecting payment for all water used by all customers. Everyone must pay their fair share to ensure safe water is available for all customers all the time.
Ms. Davis and her husband repeatedly told JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin the security guard pulled his gun "on a black man." Ms. Davis told the security guard he was "part of the system." However, Ms. Davis video shows the security guard merely rested his hand on top of his weapon and never withdrew it from the holster. She repeatedly said the security guard "felt disrespected because he was small."
"He can't be a pig no more. We need to find out where he work at," said Ms. Davis in reference to the security guard. The word "pig" was used several times.
The Capitol Police issued a statement:
On August 13th, Capitol Police responded to a call for service regarding an alleged disturbance at the Jackson Water Department building. Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee and the customer gathering details on the incident, finding out that the customer became unruly with the employee(s) at the location of the incident, and the security guard attempted to remove the disgruntled customer from the building. While speaking with officers, the customer wished to remain anonymous and stated that the security guard did not draw a weapon. Neither the Jackson Water Department employees nor the customer wished to file an incident report.
JJ did some digging and got some more of the story from a source. JXN Water has been disconnecting water service if the property has no account. Disconnect notices are sent to the property address prior to termination. JXN Water turned off the couple's water service on August 12. Ms. Davis went online and set up an account the same day. However, water service was not immediately restored so the couple went up to JXN Water with their small children in tow to get some answers. However, things went south almost immediately when they arrived.
The couple parked in the driveway instead of in a parking spot. The video shows the car blocking the driveway near the end of the video (around 16:00). Ms. Davis' husband, Ishmael Muhammad, got out of the car and walked up to the door in a rather belligerent fashion. The security guard came outside and an argument immediately ensued as shown in her video. The guard rested his hand upon his weapon as Mr. Muhammad became angrier. The gun was never withdrawn from the holster (as shown in the video) even though the couple repeatedly said at JXN Water and the City Council meeting the guard pulled a gun on them in front of their small children.
The arguing continued until Mr. Henefin came outside. He didn't know their account off the top of his head but he went inside and checked their home address. Mr. Henefin returned and calmly said the water was turned off because they did not have an account. The couple demanded to know when their water service would be turned back on. Mr. Henefin replied he did not know but it could be within a day or possibly longer. Ms. Davis told the City Council was threatening them with the answer. Over 100 people set up accounts to get their water turned back on after it was disconnected due to not having an account. Mr. Henefin said there were other people ahead of them waiting to get water service restored.
The answer did not satisfy Mr. Muhammad nor his wife as they demanded their account be expedited ahead of others because they have small children. Of course, there are probably other homes awaiting restoration that have small children or elderly as well. Mr. Henefin pointed out they were using water service for months without paying for it but that did not satisfy the couple.
The Capitol Police eventually arrived. A female black officer calmed things down. Mr. Henifin and the security officer went inside while she spoke to the couple. The officer asked Mr. Muhammad and Ms. Davis if they wanted to file an incident report. The couple declined to do so. Mr. Muhammad said he is a lawyer and is going to take action against the security guard's company. They said they would take their grievances to the Jackson City Council meeting that morning, which they did.
Kingfish note. Now for the rest of the story. Want to guess who Ms. Davis once worked for?
Who runs the Poor People's Campaign? One Rukia Lumumba. Sistah Rukia donated to Ms. Davis's Gofundmepage three years ago as well.
Her Facebook page contains quite a few gripes, gripes identical to those made by Rukia Lumumba. See if you haven't read this before:
It’s late but I’m gonna say this. JXN Water wants to spin the story that poor Black folks are just stealing water. First, no one should be paying for poisoned water in the first place but that’s another post. I’m an organizer and I like to keep receipts. I set up an account with JXN Water months ago, using the SAME steps we took to set up an additional account 2 days ago after our water was turned off. I called before and was told they would send an account number. I waited and honestly didn’t think anything of it because Jackson is notorious for not sending water bills. Anyway, I called at least 5 times yesterday and today to check on the status of the new account. I was told to give my information and it would be sent to higher ups. After the 5th time, I asked exactly who are the higher ups and where are they located? I was told there is NO office for customers to go to. Again, I’m an organizer and I had a little time so I did a little research. I found out the office was at 1054 Greymont Ave. I pulled up with the family and THEN they found the account but still no process to escalate things for vulnerable households. Even after we were threatened and a gun was drawn, we left and came home to no water. I called AGAIN. I was told we needed an excuse from a doctor to prove we had an emergency because 3 small kids and two with no clean diapers (we cloth diaper) isn’t an emergency enough.I will say this. These systems are not for us. They don’t care about us. They will lie and lie again to save face. But the truth is EVEN is we didn’t follow all the steps, Water Is A Human Right.
Well, there is a reason for the doctor's excuse, Ms. Davis. There is a classification called an "E-Code." It is for someone whose water should not be turned off because there is a medical condition. A noble goal on which we can all agree. However, it came out in federal court last year that Mayors and Council members abused the system, passing E-codes out to family and friends to where over a thousand accounts had a balance of $1.6 million. Needless to say, JXN Water understandably tightened things up after it discovered the E-code abuse.
Keep in mind the Lumumba crowd thinks water service is a human right. Thus, it should not be disconnected as people should not have to pay for water. The couple used water for months without paying for it. They apparently never inquired whether they should pay for it until it was disconnected upon which they wanted it turned back on immediately.
Well, Ms. Davis, water systems require money to run. When they don't get money, they don't run. Example A: The Jackson water system. Mayor Harvey Johnson blew up the billing system with the Siemens project. Your guy, Mayor Lumumba, and Mayor Yarber cratered the system some more by imposing moratoriums on cut offs. When people don't have to pay their bills, they don't pay their bills, right?
Without money, the city could not hire employees or necessary parts to keep the plant operating. The result? August 29, 2022 and that, my friends, is the bottom line.
66 comments:
It's just more Lumumba theatrics.
No gun was ever drawn & only people yelling was the husband & wife. Why did they go there if it plainly states no walk in customers. As always fake news on husband & wife both lying about what happened & not being honest. They knew fully well why their water was cut off. Water is not a Human Right as Everyone must pay their fair share!
The story don't end here. I have it on good authority that Mr. Hennifin offered the couple soft drinks which were accepted. They shared the drinks with the children.
Upon having finished the pops, both cans were found to contain mice. Mr. Hennefin was inside the building by this time, but could be seen and heard laughing large.
Mr. Muhammed said he is a lawyer and will seek psychological counseling due to anxiety, depression and emotional distress. He said, "This ain't gonna end well for you people!"
About this time Sister Rukia arrive with Carlos and the bust out of the Mercedes to comfort Lawyer Muhammed. A call was place to AMR.
All I had to see was the lady washing the dirty diaper out in the flower bed.
Maybe they'll sue Ted. A counterclaim for defamation seems in order.
Seems like councilman Banks needs to look into situations more before siding with someone. Remember the race card Councilman Banks pudhed at Northpark mall.
The actual facts do not matter. The story based on the narrative of Mississippi racism will play well in New York, Detroit, or San Francisco when it is retold. That's how it works.
Pay your f--kn water bill and you will have water. You've been told for a year this was coming and ignored it.
Put them in jail and give them all the water they can drink.
I am saddened by the several comments this young lady (ms Davis) using the word pig referencing the Police. Seems like she is looking for a fight! The female Officer was outstanding! Ms Davis your water will be on Today or Tomorrow. Now go home and wash the dirty diaper and your mouth! No I can go back outside and water my flowers!
Were Mr Muhammad and Chockwe Lumumba Sr ever co counsel on any cases? (asking for a friend!)
Thank you for sharing the full story! Anyone with half a brain could see this was a setup from just the little that the news stations reported on. Half the time these public comments are made there end up being ties to the mayor or his sister. They should all be embarrassed.
This lady (I use that word loosely) admitted on facebook that she did get a notice that the water would be shut off for nonpayment and claimed she made an account under her name at the time (several months ago). Any reasonable person would follow up when they realized there was an issue (when they did not receive or pay a water bill after allegedly setting up an account) but maybe she assumed her buddies in the Mayor's office had set her up on an E-code again!
The entitlement is astounding!
Ms Davis and Mr Muhammad, with all due respect, you knew you've been getting water for years now and also knew you were not paying for it. You've also known for over a year that JXN Water has been telling people, including you, that you need to have an account opened and pay your bill or else your water will be cut off. You even received one or two written letters notifying you that your water was about to be cut ff. But yet you did nothing. You knew this was coming and did nothing to prevent it from happening. That's on you and 100% your fault, not JXN Water's fault or anyone else's fault. Be mad at yourself, not JXN Water. Quit lying, quit bitching, quit blaming others, and accept responsibility for your own inaction and your own failures. Now get in line like everyone else waiting for their water to get cut back on too. You're not better than them and deserve no special treatment.
I don't know Ted Henifin, but dude needs a raise. And the security guy too.
These were "activists" hoping for a fight. If only they could bait Henefin or the security guard into saying or doing something offensive. It was a good try.
That time an attorney named Ishmael Muhammad represented Chokwe Lumumba when he was fined for contempt : https://courts.ms.gov/images/OPINIONS/CO11413.PDF
Of course these are Rukia's thugs
Those poor kids. Parents should be ashamed. Talking to the security officer that way? Calling him a "pig" and upset that he's black and "working for the system" - complete lies to the police officer saying the security officer pulled a gun when video clearly shows he did not? If these are the role models for young kids in Jackson, it's no wonder the city is in the state it is in. Any the mayor endorses this behavior. Sad.
This was clearly a setup from Lumumba. She just happened to know that there was a City Council meeting right after she rolled up to JXN Water attempting to stir the pot? Kudos to Ted, Capitol Police and the security guard for keeping a cool head and doing their best to de-escalate the situation with these lunatics.
Funny that the mayor complained about JXN Water spending so much $ on communications when they're having to do a lot of that because his sister claims people don't know enough about how to pay their water bill and set up accounts! He's a joke. His indictment cannot come soon enough.
Pigs??? The "Mrs." was extremely disrespectful. Frustration does not entitle anyone to be disrespectful to or anyone, and it does not generally get people to want to help you. Case in point - the video.
Thanks Kingfish for posting this.
Baby mamma and baby daddy pay your water bill
I called BS all the way back in the second paragraph when they claimed their calls to JXN Water went unanswered; JXN Water ALWAYS answers my calls promptly. If Mr. Muhammad is an attorney, his billing fee must be pretty low to live at the address they gave in the video. Pretty rough digs judging from Google Earth’s street view.
1:55 for today's win - in a big way!!
But look at the bright side, Tate is bringing them broadband coverage on the government's dime!
I make the "otisfyfe" commenter to be a Rankin county troll.
If the Mayor actually employed Mr. Muhammed, he's even dumber than I thought. Or it could have been a smart move, depending on who the judge was.
Obviously, a set up. First, they have been getting water for years and didn't bother to tell Jackson and/or JXN Water that they were getting free water. Water may be a human right but also have the right to pay for it to. Then second, they immediately go to the City Council meeting and let them sign up and speak. Too convenient!!!
These deliberate idiots claiming "... water is a human right!" should be forced to march down to the Pearl River (where the City of Jackson offloads most of their $h!+) with their bucket and "hep' theysevs."
Access to water is not a right. It's a privilege that can be revoked for nonpayment. Who teaches people this stuff?
The only reason parents would expose their children to a staged, racist episode like this is to turn them into cop-haters & "haters of the system. Muhammed's Facebook page saya he has held senior positions in race-grifting groups like the Advancement Project & Disturbing the Prace. Their kids will grow up to be no better than they are.
This Muhammed guy also refers to Ted Henifin as "the white guy from the federal government that over the Jackson water system." He's the worst kind of racist, just like the mayor who put him up to this.
It was the current mayor's father in that 2001 Leake County contempt. Chokwe Antar Lumumba was born in 1983, so he could not have been admitted to the bar at that time.
IIRC Senior spent 3 days in jail on that.
Is water actually a human right?
Out of everything she said, the one common word from her entitled mind was "lawsuit". Their next favorite word to racism.
I currently operate a water utility. Water should be free, and water actually is free in Mississippi. There is no charge in the rate component for the actual water. The reason is that the utility generally doesn't have to purchase the water it uses. The rate charged to the customer isn't for the actual water. The rate is to cover the expenses it takes to collect the "free" water from the source, clean it up and make it drinkable, and then pipe it to your personal property. For example, a homeowner can drill a well and get "free" water. But I promise that the well driller won't be free, the maintenance and repair on the well won't be free, the electricity to run the well won't be free ............
Do what?
These folk were thinking JXN Water would hep them make a Worldstarhiphop clip? FOOLS!
Councilman Banks you needs to hush!
Choosing to use cloth diapers is not an emergency. You really can’t buy regular diapers for 1-2 days while water is reconnected?? I wish I had enough time or energy to express outrage at being required to do basic adult tasks like pay a water bill.
People who play the race card thinks it absolves them of any personal responsibility….always somebody else’s fault. Perpetual victims….the struggle is real…easy to go through life with no responsibility
Access to water is a right. Feel free to drink out of any of the public waterways.
If getting your water from the Pearl River, I suggest you get it upstream from Jackson.
Ms Davis has had months to make sure “her babies” had water. She chose not to.
As 1:24 said, facts don't matter. I do applaud KF for being one of the last know journalists in MS.
Because we know nobody else will bother to report any of this follow up like they excitedly posted the original lies...will you CJ Lemaster?
Fake ass "journalists" are just the parents that enable and excuse this bad behavior and these toddler-like Lil' Johnny adults just keep throwing tantrums because they are never held accountable.
You will never be able to satisfy these entitled water thieves.
Ben Crump on the scene in 3, 2, 1...
Bold of you to call that slop, water.
So let’s get this straight she admits in a public setting she was told there was NO OFFICE for her to make an appointment to come in & then LIES that a gun was drawn on her! Well sounds like an Attorney needs to represent the SECURITY GUARD for Defamation of Character! She is another Rukia. Thanks KF for showing the ties to Poor Peoples Campaign and other radical hatred groups.
Ms Davis, I was saddened by your attitude towards the Police, the name calling was uncalled for and juvenile! I was also ashamed of your sense of entitlement while seeking assistance. I’m sure you had someone in your circle you could get water to bathe, drink and other essentials.
Councilman Stokes you touched my heart when you said “ what you could do to help”!
Councilman Banks, be Still and don’t Talk so much, Im sure you meant well!
“ He can't be a pig no more. We need to find out where he work at," said Ms. Davis in reference to the security guard. The word "pig" was used several times. “
Your typical Jackson resident
Is there really no business office? One has to do all of that online? ...in a city where a huge chunk of the populace is functionally illiterate? (much less computer savvy... ...assuming they have Internet and/or devices with which to access the Internet... ...or have bank accounts)
The video shows that Ms Davis cannot handle her business because she doesn’t speak good English only Pig talk. That probably way her water wasn’t turned on because they didn’t understand her! The female Police Officer was awsome! I’ll bet you one hundred that Officer has running water and probably works two jobs!
Thank you, Thank you, to all my brothers and sisters in blue!!! Sorry for inserting that horrible pig usage in my comment!
Also dumping waste or doo doo from a diaper is illegal dumping.She should have that added ro her charges!
"I’m an organizer and I like to keep receipts."
Here is a FREE Pro Tip for Ms Davis the organizer: A person has to PAY THE BILL to get a receipt!
Pay your water bill once a month and you get a receipt once a month!
This reportedly does happen in most cities!
Pay with a credit card or bank account and get another form of receipt on the account statement.
A Chokwe plant, no doubt. I swear I’m about ready to start pestering the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Jackson field office to hurry up already because folks in Jackson desperately deserve to be put out of their misery. How do they pick grand juries? I would serve all day every day on any panel anywhere if the proceedings could culminate in an official document styled “The United States of America versus Chokwe Antar Lumumba.”
Another blatant attempt to instigate a confrontation by Lyin Lumumba and his sycophants
In most civilized countries Ms Davis would not dare say the things to a Security Officer or any Officer regarding them as a pig. Then and there she would have been struck in the head and carted off to the pokey. Man only in America we can say such cruel things and getaway with it!
Ms Davis the water fairy did not swoop down and cut your water off! In America you have due process and I am sure you were given notice. If you weren’t given notice then there are protocols in which you have to abide by. Ms Davis humble yourself! You made a spectacle of yourself and that just wasn’t cute. Now, to the Mayor and Councilman Banks, you pacified her and made her nonsense more insane. Councilman Stokes you have a heart of gold and said “how can we HELP until you get your water back on”.
She should have been arrested at the scene for making a false report to police, but obviously is a member of the blessing class.
This is the kind of person we used to see in videos on this blog throwing chairs and food and pulling hair at Jackson dining establishments.
Give her time. She will surface again.
The scandal here, is that there is NO OFFICE.
Banks is soon to be out of office. Good riddance.
1) Muhammad, an attorney, should know that the water company is not required to provide further notice than mail.
2) Hennefin showed great management skills by not getting into the dispute between them and security and addressing their concerns.
3)JXN Water’s security operated properly based upon the threats and demeaning of JXN Water by interest groups, politicians, and others. They do not need to have a desk for establishing service. They parked illegally and it raised concerns. While not on this video (2 cameras at entrance), if Muhammad ignored the security guard, response was proper. Stating justification after the fact doesn’t remove his responsibility to interact.
4) The Public Service Commission (no Jackson jurisdiction) does require no cut-offs of electricity/gas if a weather related (or medical notice) emergency.The customer has to provide that information to the utility. This customer allegedly never signed up for service or provided the service.
5)Not a child abuse expert, but it raises questions if these parents can’t care for their children in finding alternatives when water is turned off.
6) The informed future customer knew that they were not paying, and failed to voluntarily contact JXN Water for 18 months about service (potentially a shorter period if moved).
7) Mother should have removed the children from the immediate area, if felt threatened for their safety.
8) Were these the people partying at La Cazuellas (at the edge of the parking lot) in Kingfish’s video recently (teasing us).
9) They want respect, but do not give respect.
Another manufactured crime of "racism". Ted's apparently a pretty calm character wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't more than an interim water system manager but more a "Developer" and the Kush Klan of Chowke just now realizing this.
Good thing the security guard wasn’t white.
these people were just pissed off cause they probably had not paid a water bill in 15 years.
this was a deliberate attempt to provoke a confrontation. its good that the people at jackson water didn't take the bait. but , of course lumumbles did. this perfectly fits his narrative. as the fish said earlier ....no one at the city council asked why her water was turned off in the first place.
Excellent reporting, Kingfish. Been waiting on this one.
Her work history---nailed it.
Him being atty who represented Lumbumba Sr--great point. He's registered with the Ms Bar as living in Birmingham, licensed in MS.
Great job to security guard, Henifin, and folks at Jx Water.
Councilman Aaron Banks, you suck. Hopefully you will be out of this job soon. That is if the feds can pull you out of the Mayor's butt.
As I had originally thought when I heard this story, this was all a setup to make Mr. Henifin look bad a play the race card. Lumumba and his ilk are just evil. They do not care about Jackson. His only concern is making himself rich and powerful.
A utility service, water or otherwise, that is not properly connected to the utility provider cannot be *improperly* disconnected. I get that it is Jackghanistan and Jackghanistanis involved, but the only question as to the disconnection itself being "proper" or "improper" was answered by the fact that the connection was not proper. No entity can provide "account services," good, bad, or middlin', to a person who has no account, nor is it possible to "terminate" an account that does not exist. The personal interactions AFTER the disconnection have nothing to do with the situation as it existed when the disconnection occurred.
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