What do you call it when a Clarksdale Mayor and his clan of Commissioners make themselves the highest-paid city officials in Mississippi behind closed doors? Nothing. What do you call it when someone points out the Mayor and his clan of Commisioners made themselves the highest paid city officials in Mississippi behind closed doors? Racism.
The Clarion-Ledger reported:
In a June 14 meeting, the city commission was expected to discuss raises for every city employee, according to the agenda. The commission, though, went into a closed session to discuss and vote on the raises.
After leaving the closed session, City Attorney Melvin D. Miller announced the board had unanimously approved $2,600 raises for every city employee, $5,000 for each department head, $22,000 for each of the four city council members and $35,999 for the mayor.
Espy's raise is more than the $34,622.12 starting salary for the city's police officers and firefighters, according to figures provided by the city clerk’s office.
The white Commissioners must have caught hell from their constituents because they tried to revisit the pay raises last night.
The Monday night vote on whether to reconsider the raises went on racial lines.
City Commissioners Timothy ‘Bo’ Plunk and Ken Murphey voted to amend Monday night’s agenda in order to bring a motion to reconsider the raises. Commissioners Willie Turner Jr. and Ed Seals voted not to amend the agenda. Because of the deadlock, Espy had to cast the deciding vote. He sided with Turner and Seals, effectively voting to keep their raises.
Plunk and Murphey are white. Turner, Seals and Espy are Black.
The same Mayor who hired race-baiter Carlos Moore as a judge played the race card:
Before the vote on whether to amend the agenda to reconsider the raises, Espy pointed to a deep rooted Black and white divide in the city as the real root of citizen outrage. Espy, currently serving his second term, made a point to thank the people of predominantly Black Ward 3 and Ward 4 for his being reelected. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, about 81% of Clarksdale residents are Black.
“I don’t care anything about money,” Espy said. “I’m trying to get it right for Clarksdale. So I’m asking my white brothers and sisters to stop. Just stop. My intent... is to try and save this place.” Rest of article.
Yeah, Mr. Mayor, people who don't want to see politicians line their pockets or bankrupt their city are klukkers. Got it. The black residents present at the meeting said there would have been no outrage if white politicians had done the same thing. Naturally.
30 comments:
Clearly racism. No other explanation
Another reason that no job creating businesses will move there. And they'll be lucky if they keep the ones there now.
What city is this?
Clarksdale is going to hell in a hand basket. The Espy family is the reason
Espy chopped Off Luckett’s legs at the knees.
I guess Clarksdale doesn’t have their own blog named after food so Kingfish is assuming the role. Just let us know in the title that you are reporting on events outside the metro. I was very confused and thought for a second that perhaps I had shifted timelines into an alternate reality.
It's all about payback to whitey for his previous sins.
How is giving pay raises “saving this place”?
Being able to set your salary and then increase it. Life gets no better than that! Never happened to me. What a shame. I could'a been a contender.
"What do you call it when a Clarksdale Mayor and his clan of Commissioners make themselves the highest-paid city officials in Mississippi behind closed doors?"
Mississippi.
What do I win?
PS - Mississippi has been going to hell in a designer purse paid for with taxpayer money since...well, since designer purses have been a thing.
I wonder if Gallo will bring up this BS with Espy the next time he has him on his show.
Quit hatin'. Pimpin' ain't easy!
The band keeps playing like nothing is wrong while this shithole state keeps circling the drain. Need a few more voter suppression laws to at least prolong the inevitable at the state level a little longer.
Another Delta city down the tubes. Racial has nothing to do w it. Check the budget. 6 months when the city files bankruptcy will tell the truth. But no one wants the truth. So sad for Clarksdale.
If there is no revenue coming into the city, where is the raise coming from? Seems like they would run out of money after a while.
All about the "Four high" bitches.....
"All city employees should receive recognition for their commitment to the entire city, promoting community spirit, and for their relentless professionalism and reliability," Espy said...
Clarksdale is a dwindling sh!thole, a far cry from what it once was. It is a safe haven for the gangsters from Memphis to hide out. Most people I know from Clarksdale do not move back after college. As for the comment about Bill Luckett, that guy deserves everything he gets. He is worse than George Wallace playing the race card.
Just get out while you are still alive.
This is perfectly logical. Clarksdale has only lost 28% of its population over the last 20 years.
This is what happens when people who spent their lives working the system actually become the system.
Espy said that he has the calling for public service. The only calling he is looking for is the calling his investment broker.
What's left of Clarksdale You deserve better than self serving "officials"
11:09 hit the nail on the head. Spot on!!!
Nothing but a "I'm gonna get mine" attitude.
C'dale removed most of the red lights downtown years ago to save money on electricity....before Espy was mayor.
Soon the good idiot citizens who voted for him will paying out the arse for water and property taxes to cover his fraudulent raise. And it is that. And rest assured, those two white guys will be cashing their checks as well. THEY ARE ELECTED....THEY ARE NOT INNOCENT.
Why is anyone surprised about Clarksdale ?
Since KF is focusing on towns outside of Jackson, I suggest he visit McComb.
My Lord, they have some elected city officials that make the Jackson City Council look like a group of NASA engineers.
Chris Espy..ran against Big Bucks Bennie and lost...not Mike Espy who lost against Hyde-Smith Carlos the Clown is the same Carlos the Clown from the Greater Grenada area, allegedly
It does seem like the drama in Pelahatchie has settled down since Beecham lost her re-election. Time to check out another small town. Looks like Clarksdale is worth keeping an eye on.
Yet more souls traded at the Crossroads of 61 and 49.
Wonder if these Mensa members are “paying” for these raises from the federal covid $ recently allocated to all cities and counties in Mississippi through American rescue plan act….May be why espy worded the raises around essential covid work as that triggers the covid $ to be used. Of course its one time $ (allegedly) being used for assumed re-occurring cost (salary) but when has that ever stopped governmental spending.
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