Jackson Jambalaya

It should be free.

the "Pay via your phone " downtown parking was one of Chokwe's most annoying accomplishments.

City can’t provide water, but think people want to visit their downtown? The place is a sh*thole and they should never charge for parking.

Talk about having no self-awareness.

I remember Baby Chok touting the millions that the new parking fiasco would generate. All projections were based on an absurdly high occupancy for an absurdly number of hours each day. I was always astonished at how Lumumba could lie with sincerity.

City has water.

Years ago a man renovated an office building in north Jackson. I told him he needed to improve a lot across the street for parking. He didn't think so...that was about 1982...the occupancy never improved.....glad to see some positive stuff about downtown and looking forward to more

I calculated the same thing. Near full parking SIX days a week were the estimates he touted. The square in Oxford brings in more than capital city.

“It’s a simple, hassle-free option for regular users who want to save time and money.”

As simple as paying your water bill!

City workers, government employees, even cops should be required to park somewhere else and ride a shuttle to whichever building they're obligated to be at. Those spoiled brats take up 90% of the spaces needed by the public. Or they should join a Jenny Craig club and walk a few blocks!

@8:49: the city does not have water. The federal court does. Jackson gave it up when the feds bailed Baby Chock out — of the water business, not his “political” prosecution problems.

That is another good reason not to go down town.

They should pay people to come downtown-

God forbid we should ever do what other cities do. Please people, you don't want to live in Jackson or have a nice state capital city, move to Florida. You'll love finding parking in Miami or Mar a Lago.

A couple of years ago I appeared in Jackson City Court to contest a parking ticket. I got ticketed for parking where there was not a no parking sign. I appeared with photographs and the ignorant judge fined me anyway. When I pointed out that I paid the meter but got a ticket anyway, he asked about parking meters in Madison County. When I said, There Are None, he banged his gavel and pronounced me guilty.

The 'lower class' is now the 'ruling class' in every blue city. The "It's our turn" mentality thrives.

This all-day parking rule will only benefit those who work downtown and occupy all the parking spaces. In other words....guess who?

I despise the "app" parking kiosks, requiring one to be a stationary target for crime, located in areas that are crowded with police cars. What was wrong with meter parking that took change for about 25 cents an hour. Occasionally I am forced to park downtown to do business with the tax accessor's office, otherwise I've not gone downtown whatsoever. Anybody could get carjacked or catch a bullet in downtown Jackson.

God forbid we should ever do what other cities do.

That was the soundbite employed to promote the disastrous Convention Center during the run up to the vote. How'd that turn out?

9:03am
Agree. Convention Centers were already losing propositions around the South, in Shreveport for example, when Jackson governance nevertheless insisted it must build one. Jackson gobernment was still so glued to the idea, that the Hinds DA, Jxn Mayor and two members of the City Council jumped at bribes for an unwarranted hotel next to the money losing Conference Center, like catfish grabbing blood bait on a hook.

Harvey Johnson often lamented that 'businesses follow the rooftops' and then proceeded his inordinate focus and treasury spend on downtown regardless. John Horhn would be well advised to not repeat Johnson's calamitous missteps.

Horrible location. Not easy to get too. Out of site from major roads and interstate. Nothing around it. The pie in the sky idea was to develop all that land around it but of course, that got handed over to some shysters out of Dallas and nothing ever happened. Should have gone down by Commerce Street where you have some restaurants and nightclubs.

City can provide $6.5M of water for a leaking monkey moat in West Jxn, but can't pay the bill. How does Hennifin stand the depth of ineptitude even as his contractors are millions in arears?

Word....

The parking meters downtown are horrible. I am a senior citizen. I wear bifocals. When it is sunny you have to take off your glasses and try to read the damn screen and enter your tag no. The city could have bought simple meters that took credit cards and were easier to use. So I avoid downtown.

I fought a speeding ticket with photos which proved I could not reach the speed the JPD cop claimed when the light turned green. The judge, was polite, said I made excellent points but he sided with the officer. I asked how many tickets she writes each day. I showed she generates over $250,000 annually to the city from speeding tickets.

I now stay away from downtown Jackson.

I think any kind of paid parking is problematic to bringing in people to downtown. I don’t see people paying unless they absolutely have to. That’s bad for retail or restaurant development.

"city has water" not for long if Jackson is in charge of it.

"City workers, government employees, even cops should be required to park somewhere else and ride a shuttle to whichever building they're obligated to be at. Those spoiled brats take up 90% of the spaces needed by the public. Or they should join a Jenny Craig club and walk a few blocks!"

I've worked DT for 30 years. With the prevalence of online services, there's little reason to come downtown to conduct any business. There is PLENTY of parking all over DT. That wasn't the case 30 years ago.