Jackson Jambalaya

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber appeared near the end of Tuesday night's City Council meeting.  He and Council President Tyrone Hendrix proceeded to have a little disagreement near the end of this video.

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Time to set the record straight.  The JFP reported yesterday one of its reporters noticed a discrepancy in the votes from a precinct:

"The precinct, located in the Jackson Medical Mall, reported only 33 total votes, according to the official numbers from the Hinds County Election Commission. When this reporter and JFP intern Aaron Cooper stopped by the precinct around 2:30 p.m. on Election Day, though, 67 voters had already signed the roll.

Joyce Jackson said Tuesday night that one of her poll watchers saw more than 100 voter signatures at the Precinct 11 around the polls’ 7 p.m. closing time. Cooper-Stokes defeated Jackson by 163 votes..." Article

The reporter (who I consider to be a good one) couldn't seem to get a straight answer from any one in the county or city governments. Then of course Her Laddness had to chime in:

"We don't know. And we find it infinitely disturbing that no one in a position of election seems able to answer these questions and take responsibility. It doesn't add up, literally and figuratively."

Well, I seemed to have no problem getting answers this morning as there was a very logical explanation for the difference between signatures and votes. Hinds County Election Commissioner Connie Cochran and a source at city hall (don't want to get anyone in trouble for not having permission to speak to media) said there were two electronic voting machines for the precinct. The poll worker clicked on "export" too soon and the votes did not download. As it was approximately 80 votes, it appeared there were many more signatures than votes. When the second box was properly downloaded, the discrepancy disappeared.

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The Jackson City Council referred an appeal by Occupy Jackson to the Planning Committee yesterday. The Permit Division rejected an application by Occupy Jackson. The group wanted to occupy Smith Park 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until December 26. Councilman Tony Yarber presided over the meeting.

City Attorney Peter Teeuwissen told the council if they approved the application for 24/7 demonstrations for several weeks, then they would have to approve the exact same applications from other groups that the council may find to be hateful and extremist.

The meeting grew heated at times as Councilman Quentin Whitwell advocated rejecting the application out of hand while Counciman Chokwe Lamumba compared him to white supremacist and former Governor Theodore Bilbo. The council voted 4-2 (Whitwell, Simon) to reject Mr. Whitwell's bid to reject the appeal.

Mr. Yarber said it was obvious a compromise was the solution and referred it to the Planning Committee. The committee meets today at 1:00 PM. Several people spoke at the hearing. Former Mayor Kane Ditto opposed the group's application. He said they had camped out in his buildings, torn down signs,and used the restrooms. Mr. Ditto was the only person who spoke in opposition to the group. No representatives from the Downtown Neighborhood Association or Downtown Jackson Partners spoke at the hearing.

Meeting starts at 13:10

Public comments start at 11:00. They get quite entertaining. The one at 20:00 demands portopottiess and "sound amplification". He admits people have defecated in the park. Yeah, instead of simply not crapping in the park, he demands we pay for his bathrooms.


Public Comments end at 1:00. Bilbo comment is at 21:53.

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