tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post7873779397252648996..comments2024-03-29T08:26:13.262-05:00Comments on Jackson Jambalaya: Priester SpeaksKingfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06184990110961727404noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-49096711041284482472020-02-22T22:07:31.155-06:002020-02-22T22:07:31.155-06:00I'm glad to see that someone is at least consi...I'm glad to see that someone is at least considering the question of what to do with the money - if it is received at some point down the road. <br /><br />But like the Councilman says, the first place that the money should go is to repay what was "borrowed" due to the water/sewer fund being depleted.<br /><br />That includes all the various 'loans' that Priester mentions, which were from funds that the Council has the oversight over. No faulting his logic there. <br /><br />But he failed to mention the one other major outstanding loan of the water/sewer enterprise fund - the $15 million or so that was borrowed from the 1% Sales Tax monies - which should also be repaid from these dollars as the debt comes due in September and there is little chance that the money will be in the enterprise fund to repay these loans otherwise.<br /><br />With that being done, there can be additional street repair, drainage projects, and other work done throughout the city. And without it, the water/sewer operation will have to continue operating on a shoestring, eventually leading to an EPA takeover of the system.Remember ALL your bankersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-58978286243384179482020-02-21T11:31:53.101-06:002020-02-21T11:31:53.101-06:00Federal court requires a unanimous jury verdict. I...Federal court requires a unanimous jury verdict. If the case looked like a slam-dunk, maybe the city could have gotten a competent litigation firm to take it for less than the standard 1/3 contingency fee. Maybe the city could have gotten someone to take it on an hourly rate, but that would have required a large retainer paid up front to bill against. A client can't rewrite an attorney fee contract after the fact based on the result of the case. That makes no sense in any business relationship where outcomes are uncertain. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-87106835077056966882020-02-21T08:32:25.016-06:002020-02-21T08:32:25.016-06:00@3:45 PM You are wrong on so many levels? First ...@3:45 PM You are wrong on so many levels? First county court only has six jurors, and you only have to have 5 of the 6 in a civil case to get a verdict. In circuit court it is 9 of 12. Federal courts do it differently depending on the judge. I have have seen as few as seven in federal court. Regardless, Morgan & Morgan might well charge 40% and 45% respectively, but I assure you this case was over their tiny little heads. Be that as it may, my point is that with such a large amount in issue, the city should have negotiated a much better percentage than 1/3. There are plenty of very good lawyers out there who could handle the case and would have gladly charged a lot less of a percentage. And my original point was that I wonder if this contract was required to be bid out, because if the city had bid it out, it would have been a much lower percentage. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-80400781160945090952020-02-20T20:08:29.646-06:002020-02-20T20:08:29.646-06:00@7:29 when you can't perform even the basics o...@7:29 when you can't perform even the basics of city governance then, yes, the obvious is insightful. The descent began long ago while the rate of decline has accelerated under Mayor <br />Greenhorn.Theca Jones of the Roguish Gent Podcasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10718702203539710365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-3982215141719266892020-02-20T19:46:49.804-06:002020-02-20T19:46:49.804-06:00@4:48 PM - But the streets at and around Baby Chok...@4:48 PM - But the streets at and around Baby Chok's house are well maintained, and his driver drives him in a city car, so if a wheel or two are damaged the generous taxpayers of NE Jacktown pay the bill.Cynical Samhttp://www.maga.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-10929667018684042852020-02-20T19:29:41.048-06:002020-02-20T19:29:41.048-06:00So Melvin gets praised for his highly intelligent ...So Melvin gets praised for his highly intelligent approach without addressing the goofiness of the city giving $30M away. Why didn't Melvin "I'm brilliant" Priester push for a better deal on the legal fees? Surely the City Council had to approve the legal fee agreement. If not, Melvin should be addressing that problem <br /><br />As for his tome on how the money will be spent, have we descended to the point that the obvious payments seem insightful?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-11814942617195750092020-02-20T16:48:21.838-06:002020-02-20T16:48:21.838-06:00"The cliff" will return very soon, excep...<br />"The cliff" will return very soon, except there won't be any big settlement coming.<br /><br /><br />In other news, I spent about 3 hours yesterday driving from UMC to St. D and Baptist in my Ford F-150. The damn streets are beyond horrible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-57077283478361366422020-02-20T16:31:46.970-06:002020-02-20T16:31:46.970-06:00Good explanation by Priester. Good day for Jackso...Good explanation by Priester. Good day for Jackson. Keep moving forward to resolve the water/sewer issues. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-37518976898407819842020-02-20T16:28:46.766-06:002020-02-20T16:28:46.766-06:00The reason that baby chok stated at the presser th...The reason that baby chok stated at the presser that he wasn't taking questions from the media is because of the $30,000,000.00 gorilla in the room.<br /><br />There will soon be some disappearing money magic tricks.<br /><br />"Whatever it Takes"http://www.maga.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-80781635489728901412020-02-20T16:24:56.631-06:002020-02-20T16:24:56.631-06:00I'm with 2:35, and serious question: Exactly w...I'm with 2:35, and serious question: Exactly what is the return to the federal government on an "investment" in the Jackson water system? Unless the word investment is just being used to mischaracterize spending to rectify years of incompetence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-28545018683144423262020-02-20T16:03:53.973-06:002020-02-20T16:03:53.973-06:0060 mil for the zoo!60 mil for the zoo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-51060579429821337612020-02-20T15:45:51.024-06:002020-02-20T15:45:51.024-06:00Morgan and Morgan attorney fees (considering every...Morgan and Morgan attorney fees (considering every nickle and dime they also charge) are 45% if a jury is empaneled. 40% if filed and settled out of court. Do the math. <br /><br />If tried in county court, you've gotta have a 12/12 to get a win. If moved to federal 8/12. Consider the risk inherent in not getting a dime. Quit bitchin'. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-57083238706473062022020-02-20T15:44:33.069-06:002020-02-20T15:44:33.069-06:00Raise your hand if you are confident a huge chunk ...Raise your hand if you are confident a huge chunk of this money won't end up in the general fund and go to the Mayor and councilmen's pet projects . . . or worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-61240677806389401402020-02-20T15:38:14.011-06:002020-02-20T15:38:14.011-06:00KF is there any way to see what the collection rat...KF is there any way to see what the collection rate is on all metered accounts monitored by the COJ? I don't have a Harvard MBA, but, uh, I don't know...getting collections up might be a great place to start. I'm all for helping people who are struggling to make ends meet, but please name one other service provider who will ignore 180day+ past due accounts and not shut off service... ATT & Comcast shure as hell won't. Entergy makes sure they get their check too. HELLS BELLS hinds county tax collector and a mortgage companies/banks will literally sell the property on the front steps of the courthouse if you don't pay. Even credit card companies will turn you over to collection agencies if you are behind. It's immoral for the local government to "pick-n-choose" which accounts it enforces. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-75813792179504849152020-02-20T14:39:10.874-06:002020-02-20T14:39:10.874-06:00$30 million in attorney's fees? I realize tha...$30 million in attorney's fees? I realize that this was done on a contingency basis, but I have to wonder if it was required to go through some sort of bid process? 1/3 of such a large sum is unreasonable in my opinion. I'll bet they could have found good attorneys who would have done it for less of a percentage. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-23566512726345615032020-02-20T14:38:00.077-06:002020-02-20T14:38:00.077-06:00Yes, because THIS is how city government should wo...Yes, because THIS is how city government should work... **eyeroll** how about a board work session and not an individual social media session to make these decisions? <br /><br />Also, should we beat our chest before the money hits the bank? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-27599578305985022032020-02-20T14:35:39.525-06:002020-02-20T14:35:39.525-06:00"I'm not telling you who to vote for, but..."I'm not telling you who to vote for, but without significant federal investment in urban water infrastructure projects, the people of Jackson will have to pay for the necessary maintenance and repairs to our crumbling water-sewer system..."<br /><br />Pardon me, but why would the federal government (in other words, YOU) be responsible for this, and /or make an investment in the city of Jackson? The city has been mismanaged for decades and critical preventative maintenance wasn't done - so now this is the responsibility of people outside of Jackson? <br /><br />Sorry, but the city will have to file for bankruptcy, which will force city hall to act as adults and prioritize its spending. Stupidity isn't a just cause for a bailout. Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himselfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-60845299295313525082020-02-20T14:18:36.905-06:002020-02-20T14:18:36.905-06:00Antar couldn't have penned this explanation if...Antar couldn't have penned this explanation if his life depended on it. Also doesn't have the balls to talk about the freaking $30 million that seems to have gone to the lawyers. (hey good for them) Priester is not a genius or anything (although top of his class for a year at Murrah!) but compared to other options he is a good choice to lead the city in the near future. If he can shake free of Bennie and his momma he has my vote.<br /><br />Antar tries to be MLK or Obama or Morgan Freeman just reading a press release. Just talk like a normal person and quit trying to sound smart. Cause it isn't working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-76399436659726207472020-02-20T14:14:50.558-06:002020-02-20T14:14:50.558-06:00Standing by. "Whatever it takes."Standing by. "Whatever it takes."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-21147824117035274212020-02-20T14:02:49.723-06:002020-02-20T14:02:49.723-06:00$30 mil in attorneys fees-$30 mil in attorneys fees-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-30238890899119770502020-02-20T13:58:06.007-06:002020-02-20T13:58:06.007-06:00So a Birmingham based firm gets 30,000,000 dollars...So a Birmingham based firm gets 30,000,000 dollars for less than a years work.<br /><br />😯 Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-64613641508291132922020-02-20T13:56:32.255-06:002020-02-20T13:56:32.255-06:00At least this guy puts forward some semblance of a...At least this guy puts forward some semblance of a plan. The problem is there is not a definitive plan this very moment.<br />They were planning to reach a settlement, they damn well should have an exact strategy and budget ready to go. The terms of the settlement outlining where every cent is going should have been released simultaneously. There are no new facts here just a final number. If nothing else an “ inflated plan” to make the whole should have been part of discovery. Establishing damages including future damages had to be part of trial preparation. Does this settlement adhere to and Is it financially sufficient to cover the cost to get the billing component corrected?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-80017675196323311442020-02-20T13:41:01.929-06:002020-02-20T13:41:01.929-06:00I am not opposed to contingent fee arrangements wh...I am not opposed to contingent fee arrangements which are often the only way someone can get good representation. But are we to understand that the attorney fees on this non-litigated matter are going to be $30 million dollars!? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447438783001404385.post-25189450602232199052020-02-20T13:38:21.323-06:002020-02-20T13:38:21.323-06:00Leave it to Melvin Priester, Jr. to act as the int...Leave it to Melvin Priester, Jr. to act as the intellectual voice of reason and the "adult" in the room.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com