Friday, September 8, 2023

Jackson Parks Director Resigns

 The city of Jackson issued the following statement. 

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Friday accepted the resignation of Director of Parks and Recreation, Ison Harris, Jr.

  Harris served the City of Jackson for eight years. He thanked the Mayor for the opportunityt To serve and said he planned on spending more time with his family.

“I want to first thank the Mayor for the opportunity to serve the City of Jackson. I’ve served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the past several years and I’ve loved every moment

 of it,” Harris said. "For the past 8 years, I’ve given my all to the department but not I’m ready to step down and allow someone else to have the opportunity to lead Parks and Rec."

“I truly am appreciative to my staff for all of their hard work over the past several years,” Harris continued. "I respect their dedication to this city and the residents that we serve.

 I am truly indebted to them…Right now, I look forward to spending more time with my family. I’m also excited about the next chapter of my life.” 

Mayor Lumumba accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude to Mr. Harris for his public service to the city. In that time frame, Mr Harris has made numerous contributions to the Parks and Recreation Department and City of Jackson that have not gone unnoticed. 

“Mr. Harris handled the department with integrity and dedication. He has made great strides during his tenure here to consistently and tirelessly reach out to the community

 and hold events that uplift our Youth and others, as well as significantly upgrade our City’s golf parks and the Jackson Zoo, among many other things,” Lumumba said. “He accepted these challenges amid budget constraints and we are grateful for his service in making the city a better place. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.” 

65 comments:

Anonymous said...

All of these resignations, in addition to Rukia's loss and the City Council's actions are indicative of the tide that's turning in this City. The successes we're seeing with several aspects of city-related business all exclude the mayor and leave him looking like the unpopular kid at school that no one is telling where the party is anymore. The pendulum is swinging the other way finally.

Anonymous said...

"...he planned on spending more time with his family."

Translation: "I am jumping off this sinking ship."

Anonymous said...

You couldn’t pay me enough to be subordinate to Antard and his clown show. Imagine watching that simp getting verbally stripped down by Sista Rukia or Omari Ph.D and then having to take orders from that manchild. He’s more pathetic than Barrack “Cream Pie” Obama or Bennie “man boobs” Thompson.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking that this guy would've preferred better references to his legacy than the zoo and the golf course.

Anonymous said...

"golf parks"???

Anonymous said...

Jackson had a parks director? Could have fooled me.

Anonymous said...

Another one bites the dust

Anonymous said...

Maybe Woods will be able to handle this one.

Anonymous said...

Word on the street is that they are appointing - you guessed it Steven L. Hutton as the replacement for the new Director.... Please Tell me where the Civil Service Law allows this? A convicted felon who will, by way of being the director of the entire Parks and Recreation division, have access to things such as Youth sporting activities Girls and Boys alike- be allowed to even be a considerable option. And we won't even dare to mention the money laundering and kickbacks fake LLC companies and the list goes on and and on..

Anonymous said...

You looking for Parks and Recreation ….got to Baton Rouge . Acres and Acres of parks and every activity represented. They even have Croquet courts.

MBrookes said...

Did I read that right? He upgraded the zoo? I suppose he was also responsible for the hideous mess at Smith Park.

Anonymous said...

Public Works
Parks

Next

Anonymous said...

What exactly did he do? City pools are in shambles, grass not cut in parks, zoo is a mess, playgrounds aren't safe.

Oh yeah, they renamed the golf course. How racist.

Anonymous said...

Another director resigns? Rats leaving the ship?

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many more rats will jump ship knowing this administration is going down in flames.

Anonymous said...

do other cities have "park rangers" which were listed in CoJ's new budget?

Anonymous said...

I’m looking forward to seeing how they work the mayor’s vision into the job description for this one.

Anonymous said...

Since it would be public information, what, exactly was Stephen Hutton convicted of and what sentence did he serve?

Don't tell me to research it and report back. I would not know where to begin. Whoever posted that information has it on the tip of his tongue and can save us the time.

Anonymous said...

He left everything in tip top shape. Grove park looks like a tornado went through there. Battlefield park did have a tornado go through there. The trees still have not been cleaned up. Can Wingate put the parks and recreation under Ted also.

Anonymous said...

"When the captains start fleeing the battlefield, the general has lost the war."

- Me

Anonymous said...

Jackson has parks and recreation? What are they? Pistol ranges and self-defense classes to survive living in ‘The City With Soul’?

Anonymous said...

COJ Parks Department has during the Lumumba years has been stripped of employees & equipment. Its a shame that the remaining fine employees teceive so little support. I know the park in midcity has had picnic tables, garbage cans & playground equipment destroyed by the dope boys that operate their business in the park.

Anonymous said...

Just put a cone in it!

Anonymous said...

Since these things come in threes, let's move on to the zoo shut down.

Anonymous said...

KF: Speaking of Zoo, what is current status of Zoo funding if not included in budget. Confused why Council didn't vote on it as a budget item.

Even fleas know to hop off a dying dog said...

Shad, Shaggy, Scooby and the rest of team have already camped out in the Mystery Machine and investigated the zombie wasteland formerly known as Buddy Butts Park and the masked villian(s) are about to be revealed like an Arthur C. Clarke's episode of "Connections". Don't be surprised.

Anonymous said...

Chok's about to get himself another major award.

Anonymous said...

1:09 Google is your friend

https://www.wapt.com/article/former-mississippi-fair-commissioner-sentenced-after-pleading-guilty-for-prostitution-charge/37269003

Anonymous said...

Will there be a gala to celebrate this momentous inability to hire or retain employees?
Like the "We Aint Got No Water" celebration?

Anonymous said...

You don't have to research hard, KF did a couple articles on the bozo, but if you insist. He was convicted of pimping. Plead guilty and served a crap show sentence.

Anonymous said...

..”an evolving exodus in an evolving city..”

Anonymous said...

Lol trees haven't been picked up - but someone sure did get paid for doing it.

Kingfish said...

There is a search box in the upper right hand corner

Anonymous said...

@2:15 - I believe it's part of the Parks budget. WAPT article seemed misleading saying it wasn't mentioned in the budget. WLBT article said that the zoo was indeed being funded so I assume it's just buried in there with whatever they approved for Parks and Rec.

Anyone know where we can see a detailed copy of the final approved budget though? As in one that would go line by line for each department? Did not see that on the CoJ website, just the agenda for the meeting where they approved it. Surely it doesn't require a public records request to be able to see that, but nothing would surprise me in Jackson!

Anonymous said...

Maybe we can have listening sessions and then a celebration for all of the accomplishments in the parks department.

Anonymous said...

@11:03AM. I hear you and hope you’re on to something. But, Antard is about as shameless an SOB as I’ve ever seen. Just watch. He doesn’t give a damn about this city or the residents. He will always think he can hoodwink everybody and he counts on folks not paying attention. As long as he has a mailing address in the City of Jackson, my hope for the city is slim to none. He will gaslight his way to (a) taking credit for everything everybody else is doing and (b) blaming the whites for all the woes of Jackson. This is the man who can just held the first annual celebration of his biggest failure. It’s like he doesn’t feel humiliation despite being publicly humiliated at every turn. Repeatedly. Judge Wingate, the Special Chancellor, Ted Henifin, the Governor, the EPA, State Health, MEMA, MDEQ, Bennie T, the City Council, his own staff . . . he just pops right back up and comes back for more. His has hyperinflated ego sustains his alternate reality. It’s kinda scary.

Anonymous said...

I predict that someone is fixing to be arrested very soon on Federal charges at the City of Jackson,MS.

Anonymous said...

On the one hand, I can ask what difference does it make if the parks & rec director resigns. Then along comes Antar saying "Here, hold my beer."

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Pimping Charge, was he pimping or passing out hookers names and references. I too have

been trying to find out what actually happened, because I am the Nosiest Man Alive and to make sure I don't

do it too! Does anybody know the details of what he did?

Anonymous said...

Last one out please turn the lights out

Anonymous said...

Everyone is abandoning the S.S. Lumumba

Anonymous said...

You could have posted three links in the time it took you to write that, Cap'n.

This is why I don't contribute.

Anonymous said...

No posts matching the query: Steven L. Hutton. Show all posts
Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


Nor, using the search box, are there matches for Steven Hutton without the L.

Kingfish said...

Maybe you should learn how to use a search box. Just enter Hutton in the search box. Four stories will appear.

As for the other dude, sorry I didn't answer the question in the manner you wanted. Told y'all how to find the stories but I'm expected to do your homework for you. I should provide every old story upon demand to your satisfaction instead of pointing you towards the search box. Got it.

Andrew Carnegie said...

7:31, don’t fool yourself, you never had any intention of contributing, and decided that being taught how to use the search box is the excuse you will use to justify that decision you had already made. I chip in $20 every fund raising season so cheap-ass clowns like you can come here for free.

Anonymous said...

I can use the search box, but I cannot find the details of the crime. That’s what I want to know what actually happened such as if someone is charged with conspiracy that doesn’t tell me what happened.

Anonymous said...

It is hysterical to me that someone asks 'What did that dude do to get into trouble?', and EVERY response has taken the form of "Google is your friend". The closest anyone got was that it has something to do with hookers. Its like "hey man, do you know the score of the game last night", and the response being "you've got a DVR, watch it yourself. Do you honestly expect me to keep up with every detail of this world, so that you can just glide through life. What do you think I am, 'ESPN'?"

LOL.He asked for a short description of an event that you know about. Either answer him or don't say anything. Otherwise you look like an ass. And, there is no reason for you to respond to this post.

Anonymous said...

It is easy to see who lives in Jackson and who doesn't in these comments. I live across the street from a large park in my old childhood home and its great. For everyone's information, Parks & Recreation was the one department that did real work around the city. A mowing crew shows up every 2 or 3 weeks, and they even remove anything that is growing in the creek and ditches. They are fantastic about removing fallen trees within a week or two.

However, I found out what all those city lawyers do. There is a tree at one end of my street that fell from a neighbors yard about 9 months ago. It stretches from my neighbor's yard, across the street, and into the park. 9 months ago, Entergy had cut the part in the road and made a one-vehicle wide path through for their trucks. Since then nothing has happened. The neighbor told me that the city, not Parks & Rec., sent him a letter saying it was either his or Entergy's problem to clean up. I think the city is wrong on the law. There's no damage to the park. It would maybe take an hour to load it up.

Anonymous said...

Maybe you lay off the booze and do the job we pay you to blogger boy

Anonymous said...

...or a person could just use Google. You know, type in 'Jackson Jambalaya' or 'Kingfish', along with 'Mississippi', and the name you're looking for. I do it all the time. Why is this so difficult for some people? If I don't succeed with a site's internal search apparatus, I go to an Internet search engine.

Then again, some people are just deliberately obtuse.

Anonymous said...

Every credible search box will search first and last name entered. If this blog had a decent search box, the name Steven L. Sutton or Steven Sutton would have produced the desired results. Instead, we're supposed to figure out it's necessary to leave off the first name.

Once again, the King of Jackassery proves himself a jackass.

Instead of all the snyde, immature responses, how much easier would it have been to simply throw up a link. Nope, can't do that - That would make too fucking much sense.

Anonymous said...

Let's take the 'search' a step further. Steven L. Sutton, a felon, is mentioned as the replacement (see post at 11:38).

Using this blog's search feature provides a number of articles/threads for a Sutton, but an entirely different Sutton, one who is a judge, nothing about Steven Sutton. Well, maybe we should read every damned thread (a bunch of them) to try to find the right Sutton. Or is it Hutton (also mentioned above)?

Anonymous said...

"Word on the street is that they are appointing - you guessed it Steven L. Hutton as the replacement for the new Director.... Please Tell me where the Civil Service Law allows this?"

Civil Service Law? What the hell has this got to do with Civil Service or law, for that matter. There is no law regarding the hiring of a felon for a job with the city of Jackson. Civil Service, incidentally, is a division of a FEDERAL agency.

Ben Watchin said...

Kingfish loves conflict. And where none exists, he will create it. And that, my friends, is the bottom line.

Anonymous said...

The important thing is that he capitalized the 'y' in 'youth.'

William F. Buckley said...

I am laughing my ass off at the search box impaired people on this blog who seriously think there is a problem. By simply entering “Hutton” I found exactly what I wanted, yet some ass-clown says the search box is not “credible”, as if that was an actual adjective used for search boxes. Luddites such as these should maybe stick to forms of communication that involve an Etch-a-Sketch or crayons.

Anonymous said...

OMG!

Copy and paste this into the address field of your browser:

https://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/search?q=Hutton

If you don't know where the address field is, ask the nearest 12 year old.

If you are not at work said...

If your 'google fu' is good then you know how searching just a last name may give different results than using both the first and last name.

Give it a spin with the last name Janus, and then try with the first and last name, Hugh Janus.



Anonymous said...

Nobody seems to know who he was pimping was it the ballerinas in the bunkhouse was it his wife? Was it some other horse what was going on?

Anonymous said...

I had a lot of interactions with Ison. He was a dedicated employee and did a great job. He will be missed.
He cared about the city and was responsive to the mayor, city council, and the public. Hope his replacement has similar characteristics.

Kingfish said...

Those four stories contain the court documents. He was arrested and indicted for pimping. We don't know many more details because since he pleaded guilty, not much was revealed.

Kingfish said...

Ison was a decent parks and recs director, considering what he had to work with. The draft 2022 audit shows he had the department operating in the black. I live near Parham Bridges park. His crews are out there on a regular basis cutting the grass as well as the grass on that triangular medium. I know he's consulted with Mr. Ford a few times.

As for BR. BREC has its own revenue stream of property taxes and is run by a board, not the city, although the Board does appoint a director.

Anonymous said...

A lot of posters here seem to be the ones who wanted others to give them the answers to the tests. Bunch of em.

Picture this as a Trudeau Cartoon in Frames said...

Poster A: I don't like Mr. X because he's served time for a felony.

Poster B: Really, what crime did Mr. X commit, since you know?

Posters C, D, E, F: You stupid son-of-a-bitch. You expect Poster A to answer that question when you could spend your own time researching? Do a google search. Or take a chance on his crime being covered rite-cheer on this-here blog and search the blog. You stupid-son-of-a bitch.

Poster B: Sorry Fellas. Y'all are right. I should have known better. After searching, I got my answer and read several articles about his crime, his plea, his sentence and his family life.

Posters C,D,E,F: Oh yeah, well, what did you find out?

Poster B: You stupid sons-of-bitches. You expect me to tell you that? Do your own fucking research!

Anonymous said...

It was a simple question, seems to me, 8:58. I never knew it was a test. My bad.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.