The city of Jackson refuses to respond to a public records request for a permit allegedly issued for a streetball tournament.
Controversy erupted when WJTV reported July 20 that a streetball tournament that took place on Dixon Street after the city banned all large public outdoor gatherings.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the city mistakingly issued a permit for the block party:
Video surfaced online of a large block party on Dixon Road in Jackson, where very few of the attendees were wearing masks.
On Monday, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said this was a failure by the city to let the party get as big as it did. The city gave out a permit that allowed the block party to happen before they announced stricter COVID-19 policies. The mayor said that mistake won’t be made again.
Lumumba expressed disappointment in the community for it’s lack of mask wearing.
“And you know, I just think we have to do a better job of displaying personal responsibility. I thought it was reckless of people not to have masks. I thought that also when we look at where the event was taking place, that it’s one of the communities that has been most disproportionately affected by this virus here in our community,” stated the mayor.
Lumumba said there have been no fines given to anyone at the event. However, he said events like this will no longer be approved by the city until the virus is under control.
Yours truly submitted a public records request for a copy of the permit on July 22. The Mississippi Public Records Act states the government must provide the records or deny the request within seven business days. If the government can not comply with the seven days, it must state in writing that it needs another seven days to provide the records.
Seven days came and went with no answer. It was as if a request was never submitted. The Municipal Clerk replied last week the appropriate department had not responded to the request. Fourteen days have passed yet the city has not provided a denial or a copy of the permit.
44 comments:
And you wonder why we call your racist white ass KKKingfish. Why don't you go bother Flowood or Pearl!
Why would you presume that the prestigious office of Mayor Antar Chokwe Lumumba should have to cater to the frivolous requests of a meddlesome white boy with a blog for white racists?
The City of Jackson does not have the same rule book as the rest of us. They do what they want....apparently.
I'm no fan of Labamba, but what, KF, do you need a copy of the permit for? The man said he made a mistake and should have cancelled it after the outbreak. Sounds to me like you're just looking for anything to stir the pot.
Permits are raaaaacist.
An this surprises anyone?...
U mad? Stay mad whites lol
Get mad and stomp ur feet because nobody gaf!
Take em to the Ethics Commission! The routine flaunting of the public records laws by many in this state needs to be appropriately punished.
Sounds like the mighty Kingfish got schooled on how little power he wields and how insignificant is the voice of this little pissant blog.
Maybe start showing the Mayor a little respect and you will receive some in return.
Mayor Lumumba represents the ideals and struggles of the African American community in Jackson. And when you disrespect him you disrespect them.
My takeaway is the City is simply too inept or doesn’t care enough to comply with regulations. That’s why nothing ever gets fixed - water, streets, schools, crime, libraries, zoo,..on and on. You have to care enough to actually work to fix it.
What Kingfish is looking for is something deeper than a permit snafu. Not that there is anything there but, it's called investigative journalism. It happens all over the country.
This is Jackson. It depends on WHO requested the permit. In Jackson everything is relative to WHO wants whatever. Everything.
Permit probably doesn't exist.
This is a public health issue, NOT A RACE ISSUE! But of course the actual RACISTS raise the RACE CARD!
Obtaining a copy of the permit is what investigative journalists do...investigate.
KF, stay the course.
Excellent journalism. Keep up the pressure. Local journalism means keeping public servants accountable.
The Bold New City does not have to respond to public record requests from white Krackers like KKKingfish!!! They will eventually have to do so, but until then, Baby Chok and his cronies at city hall will exercise their Black Privilege.
Why is it racist to want to see the permit? I want to see exactly what it was the city agreed to during a pandemic.
Is there evidence other than the mayor's bloviating that a permit ever existed in the first place?
11:28 Bingo.
Maybe Kingfish is trying to see if the City is lying about the permit by comparing the date issued with the date the Mayor signed his pandemic orders. Lumumba may or may not have known about the permit but if a city employee signed a permit contrary to the Mayors order, then the Mayor has a problem and should welcome the information. Information uncovered by a member of the public, not hidden by a city employee.
To everyone claiming this is journalism and not racism please explain why only the City for Jackson gets this much scrutiny and not Mayor Windham or Mayor Mary, or any other white mayors in the metro. Notice how it is always Mayor Lumumba and Mayor Beecham that get the burning attention of JJ. Where is Kingfish during the Pearl or Flowood city council meetings? Never once seen him in Byram, Clinton, Brandon, Florence or Richland either.
A public right-of-way is being blocked and utilized. So a permit should be necessary.
KF decides to do a public records request for information pertaining to the permit. That is his right and I assume KF was willing to pay the proper reproduction fees.
Jackson should produce the info per the law.
It really doesn't matter why KF wanted a copy. The law is the law. And Jackson constantly refuses to follow law, then plays the race card when busted.
To the esteemed lawyers who read and comment on this blog: If a permit were indeed granted, and it could be proved that people became infected because of a lack of precautions, could one bring a case against the city?
And if a permit does not exist or was never applied for/granted/denied and no penalty was issued against the organizer, can the city limit other such gatherings, or is it just a free-for-all?
What would you bet that if a street hockey tournament with a bunch of white kids and their parents took place in Jackfranistan it would be shut down immediately?
...and black folks complain about systemic racism?? In Jackson, the system IS black.
Anyone got the 411 on the Elton Rd ATV park Cucky and his minions tried to shut down(while his city was in a literal weekend long shootout)? Guess the ATV park won and shut his ass up quick. Tough guy he is.
It is preferential treatment to allow one community within the city to hold a large public gathering, while others are expected to follow the 10/20 rules on distancing, avoid unnecessary errands, and wear masks. You can read racism into it if you like, but it doesn't apply to the records request -- but, it may apply to the application of the restrictions (or, lack thereof).
There is no permit.
@11:40, my suspicion also. Or it could be that Antard's spin about a long ago issuance will prove to be completely bogus.
In any event, not a journalist in all of Mississippi more versed and experienced in taking FOIA requests to the Ethics Commission than Kingfish.
The Lumamba administration reminds me more of the Baby Trump disaster every day.
sorry. this is a matter of public health. our tax dollars likely went to the test and or treatment of people who attended this event. taxpayers have a right to know about the permit
The reason KF's investigative journalism seems so odd is because this state has seen so little of this in many years.
What about these big weddings that have been happening in/around Jackson the last few weekends? The South, Providence Hill Farm, The Westin, Old Capitol Inn...All have hosted weddings the last few weekends and there have to have been more than 20 people at them all. The virus has to be spreading at these events.
@12:08 - Because those cities aren't the equivalent of third world countries? The City of Jackson's infrastructure is falling apart, the city council is a joke, and there are shootings happening more than once a week. The mayors of the other cities aren't issuing curfews and closing down bars, while allowing events like the street ball tournament. KF has reported on items from Madison and Rankin counties -the Costco dispute, school board issues in Rankin county - plus the board of supervisors in Madison county is a regular topic on this blog. The main topic of this blog is Jackson; it's in the name. Duh.
Contrary to popular belief Jackson is not a City in the proper sense. It has more similarities to a Fief. Nor does it have the population.
Jackson is a sh*t hole.
I just love Harmony.
What about these big weddings that have been happening in/around Jackson the last few weekends? The South, Providence Hill Farm, The Westin, Old Capitol Inn...All have hosted weddings the last few weekends and there have to have been more than 20 people at them all.
More of the same bluster you trot out time after time. You don't know and can't prove a damn thing.
Most "big weddings" I know of were postponed, or just plain didn't happen in normal fashion.
The mayors of other nearby cities aren't known to be the deceiving type of politician as Jackson's mayor. Ladumba takes extra careful watching & oversight because there's little he won't try to cover up.
Seems like Antard Ladumba is caught in another lie.
August 12, 2020 at 4:10 PM. Correct.
It's like watching cats covering up sh*t.
On Monday, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said this was a failure by the city to let the party get as big as it did. The city gave out a permit that allowed the block party to happen before they announced stricter COVID-19 policies. The mayor said that mistake won’t be made again.
Translated this means: You white folks need not apply for any permits!
There was never a permit. You can take that to the bank. Baby Chok is a serial lying progressive Marxist, but I repeat myself.
This is the biggest fake news hoax probably in the entire country - everyone knows it. The extremely right and nasty KF is jealous of all the great success going on in Jackson. Everyone said they would fail, everyone, and now they’ve got the greatest economy in history. No one said Jackson could do anything close to this and now fake news blogger KF wants to make up lies, probably the biggest lies ever because he is so jealous. Congratulations to Chokwe, some people like him and some don’t but he will go down as the greatest thing to happen to white people ever other than maybe George Washington. Some people may even say greater than George Washington even but I think Washington was still probably the greatest.
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