Thursday, October 23, 2025

Riding in Style

The top members of the Lumumba administration liked to ride in style as they helped themselves to some mighty nice vehicles, all at city expense.  Check out their vehicle assignments. 

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba: 2024 Ford Expedition 

CAO Louis Wright: Dodge Durango

CFO Fidelis Malembeka: Dodge Durango

Chief of Staff Sifiyah Omari (PhD): 2021 Dodge Durango

Parks & Rec Director Abram Muhummad:  2023 Ford F-150

Planning & Development Director Jai Kheeton: 2024 Dodge Durango  

Communications and Constituent Services Director Melissa Faith Payne: 2019 Ford Expedition   

 

23 comments:

fed up in Jackson said...

on the last above, 2 people at best, should have issued vehicles......but to look at the inventory list (and note it includes tractors and mowers), we are not ( definitely have not) getting what we are paying for. This list, when reconciled to the condition of the city, the lack of development, conditions of parks, the lack of building permits, etc.......is more than likely a great example of bureaucracy thriving, and how desperate this cities limited coffers need to be streamlined.

Anonymous said...

Please check out the MDOT employees riding in style also.

Anonymous said...

Marie Antoinette would have been proud of their “Let them eat cake” attitude.

Anonymous said...

@1:14 She actually said “Let then eat brioche” but ignorant Americans switched it to cake since they didn’t understand (at the time) that brioche is bread.

Anonymous said...

F150s show up on DFA's vehicle contracts every year. Usually the Durango is on there, but I'm not sure about Expeditions. There are lots of crew cab trucks from 1/2 ton to 1 ton, SUVs, etc. More telling would be what trim level are these vehicles? State Agencies purchasing from vehicle contracts are typically base model versions. If you're seeing a Platinum, King Ranch, or even an XLT I'd hope they were confiscated and not purchased new.

Anonymous said...

"FREE THE CARS!"

Anonymous said...

Would love to see the City's opex on vehicles. But then, that would require an audit...

Anonymous said...

This is why you have pool cars.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't call a bunch of fords and dodges to be "mighty nice vehicles" they are basic cookie cutter vehicles. Its not like they were riding around in Acura's and Lexus's

Anonymous said...

The list is deceiving. Some are the zero turn mowers or fire trucks listed to an individual not as a daily /weekend use vehicle. It would still blow your mind once these type vehicles are removed on how much graft there was under Baby Lumumba

Anonymous said...

The people that no longer work for the
city have they turned in theirs cars?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of ignorant Americans, there is no proof she ever said that. It was most likely Jean-Jaques Rousseau that first used the phrase.

Anonymous said...

Actually, Maria Antoinette didn't say either, it was Jacques Rousseau.

Anonymous said...

Giving themselves nice vehicles is the baseline for people who get elected and think they own the place.

I wouldn't be surprised of Lumumba gave his people HOUSES.

Anonymous said...

Many City and County employees that have vehicles should not have them. Hell if you look at the Hinds County Sheriff's Office you'll find secretaries and assistants with vehicles. You will find people that only report to 1 building a day and do not have to travel to multiple locations or pick up items to transport with vehicles. Same thing with the city and county.

I'll also point out that a Durango is not riding in style at all. They are usually on the state approved purchase list because they are cheap. Having driven several newer ones, they are cheaply made, the seats suck and are uncomfortable, and they ride horribly. The issue here should not just be what they are driving but that they are driving ANYTHING city or county owned at all.

I'd also love to know how many of them are actually reporting the vehicle use either correctly or at all for tax purposes. The use of a city or county vehicle is considered a perk and you must report the mileage of your vehicle use for taxes. You will be taxed more for having the vehicle so A LOT of employees where I worked wouldn't report the mileage and they were allowed to get away with that. I have been told by several that it is the same at Hinds County. Why isn't Shad auditing that?

Anonymous said...

1:19, it’s terribly unflattering when you correct someone, only to get it wrong yourself, especially when you correct someone in such a snarky, anti-social way. She didn’t say it, but just like George Washington and his cherry tree, it’s a part of our collective common knowledge. I could have mentioned brioche and Rousseau, but no one would have had any idea what I meant. Lighten up, dude.

Anonymous said...

Every city and county has administrators with vehicles most of whom do not have a practical basis for having a vehicle. Maybe the best example is county supervisors in most every county.

Anonymous said...

Lumumba is about to go on a REAL expedition!

Anonymous said...

Ticks, leeches, and lice feed while the host goes hungry.

Anonymous said...

Durangos...Hmmm. I figured at least 16 purple Chargers, not the boring Durangos.

Anonymous said...

Hinds County says they are broke. Can't keep up with the bills. But somehow they can afford their nice black SUV's for the sups and their "staffs". All full of B.S.

Anonymous said...

Forgive my ignorance, but why are multiple vehicles assigned to some names on the list?

Anonymous said...

holy shit. that is a ton of city owned vehicles


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