The leader of the local group, Jackson for Jacksonians, called out the Mayor on social media after he said paying an extra $850,000 for the Riverside Drive project was due to a "clerical mistake." Val Vickery penned her frustrations in an "open letter":
I am grateful I got to meet you about a month ago now. You have a warm smile, and you shared a perspective I had not previously heard. I am so glad you came to a J4 J meeting. I only wish that I felt more hopeful today that Jackson is moving in a positive trajectory than when you met with us , but Sir, things seem even more dismal. I wish I had known then about the more than 3/4 MILLION DOLLARS we taxpayers paid for cost overrun for Riverside Drive transformation. I am personally feeling sick over that because, even more than the wasted money is the despair because there seems to be nothing positive that has come out of this. The facts have been flowing out. When mistakes occur, they are quickly discovered, repaired and not repeated, but it appears this debacle is more “normal” than unusual for the handling of city finances. Excuses for why it happened don’t give us confidence it won’t happen again. Sir, when things like this happen to private citizens, the penalties hurt us deeply, enough that we learn. But it seems when you are in public office you have no consequences for decisions you make on our behalf. You can even run for office again. This should not be! One philosophical difference, it seems the two of us have, is that I believe running a tight ship financially is VITAL to having a vibrant city, and to you social issues are allowed to trump financial integrity. I bet if we could talk as individuals we probably would agree that matters of justice and compassion are important. I think we disagree on whether it is your job to prioritize social issues over paying our bills. There are many excellent ministries in our city like: Jackson First, We Will Go, Gateway Rescue Mission, Stewpot, Center for Pregnancy Choices , Jackson Leadership Foundation, Shower Power to name a few. These give evidence to Jacksonians being caring and compassionate people. Sir, we demand our City operate with efficiency, accountability, honesty, and justice for all. Taxpayers have been treated unjustly with this $850:000 cost overrun for reconstruction of Riverside Drive. We will be watching much closer the next year and a half. If our meeting privately could help me be able to alter my opinions and show Jacksonians we are on a better path, I will be happy to meet and report. God bless you, Sir.
What's interesting is the Mayor met with her group a month ago. Watch for yourself.
42 comments:
Here's the beauty of Jacksonians 4 Jackson - it is truly bipartisan, with multiple ethnic groups represented, age groups, and genders.
When Val stated "demanding [the] City operate with efficiency, accountability, honesty"
That's simply holding power accountable to execute on behalf of the municipality.
The group was open to the mayor coming and he held true to his word to come out and meet with the people.
Now's the time to execute and find a way to get things done.
If the mayor wants another term in office, perhaps it's time for her to clean shop and recalibrate his team. Because what's currently representing his administration, is not working.
Shockway doesn't give a damn about this woman or her letter.
Shockway is in it for Shockway
Maybe it's just my jaded nature, but the first thing that comes to my mind about that 850K is me wondering how much of it went back directly into HIS pocket.
And about my 'jaded nature', I came by it honestly, over time, and it was caused by folks like Mayor Lumumba and others in positions of power and control.
The video doesn't show it, but was the meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance?
Would seem that you fine folks have a deficient memory, or are very poor historians.
Don't expect any better from this narcissistic scum sucking pig.
His gum flapping and lies are just noise.
Val Vickery is tenacious. God bless her.
The problem is that a lot of the looney liberals in Belhaven and Fondren believe those social matters the Mayor feels so strongly about they too feel strongly about so they vote for him even though the guy shouldn't be in charge of anything, not even a lemonade stand, let alone a City of 150,000 residents.
However, all too often, emotions win out over logic, so you will likely see the Mayor easily re-elected. If that happens, you will assuredly see at least one home in Fondren for sale.
People interact with this person as though he cares at all about the city.
It's like watching people go try to pet bison in Yellowstone.
Blah, blah, blah. Right? You know? Blah, blah, blah....
"to you social issues are allowed to trump financial integrity."
That's a pretty good insight.
What was the point of having him speak anyway. There is NOTHING he can say that would overcome his record over the past six years. This group can't have any smart people in it.
I give her credit for doing this. To date, its only been Stokes who has called him out publicly.
I'm not watching him bloviate through that video, but I bet there was a lot of hand motions and hand wringing, "rights", "you knows", empty promises, excuses, pointing fingers at someone else, and some buzzwords thrown in the mix. Correct?
The writer wrote with much more politeness than this incompetent mayor deserves.
And @9:59, if this mayor wants another term in office, he only has to run for re-election. There's nothing Jackson for Jacksonians or any other interest group can do to change that, because Jackson's black electorate will vote for him because he's black, and the white electorate will vote for him because it makes them feel better about themselves, proving to themselves that, See, I'm not racist even though I'm white.
After seeing the demographic make up the writer and the group in the video, nothing they say, do or believe will have any effect on this mayor or future mayors. It's crazy they believe they can have an impact. All elected leaders are accountable at the ballot box, what these Belhaven/Fondren folk don't understand is the vast majority of Jxn voters support the mayor and think he's doing a great job.
Was that Ivory, scuse me, DR Ivory Walker standing to her right and if so, why did he stand until she finished and then he took a seat? Frankly I thought he had passed away.
The mayor was allowed to sit at the head table and speak merely as a courtesy. But, allowing him the courtesy to speak is about as worthwhile as asking for a courtesy-flush in the airport restroom.
10:25 am Yes, there may be some" looney" liberals. There is no doubt that some liberal Democrats have been crooks (have Bob Mendenez up for first prize in that category for looney and crooked).
But this moment in history, the GOP is winning both categories and adding total incompetence!
Both parties best start seeing competence, mental and intellectual as a requirement and make sure all of their members are educated about how government is supposed to work.
These clowns in the House are truly crazier than the Mad Hatter and have no clue that without taxes (every single IRS employees earns far more than his salary on the government's behalf and pays the salaries of House Repsentatives). They have zero common sense. Worse, they are putting our national security at risk as their ignorance of foreign policy is near non-existent.
I don't care if some of them were great at their prior jobs...made loads of money as well. But if you don't learn how to do a totally different job or even take over or work with a different group of people, there's a necessary learning curve or you be a failure.
Whatever is broken, first you go see how it got broken and if it can be repaired. These guys wouldn't replace a broken windshield wiper, they junk the entire car! Or they think they can improve on windshield wiper design.
Please think GOP people!!! Your new speaker and Tuberville and Marjorie and George are either too lazy to learn the job, too dumb to understand the job, seriously mentally ill or taking money wittingly or unwittingly from foreign enemies.
And, if you imagine the majority of citizens don't matter when you start imposing your " religious" beliefs and changing our government to making what the majority of citizens think meaningless, your little "war on America" will fail. Your politicians on issues, especially abortion so cowardly , they won't take a vote in most States. Even in MS, our legislature didn't have the balls to put the law up for a vote.
@ 12:28 PM,
Do you realize that all the nonsense you just typed has exactly " f- all" , as the English would say, with the city of Jackson and our current plight.
WTF just happened?
And @9:59, if this mayor wants another term in office, he only has to run for re-election. There's nothing Jackson for Jacksonians or any other interest group can do to change that, because Jackson's black electorate will vote for him because he's black, and the white electorate will vote for him because it makes them feel better about themselves, proving to themselves that, See, I'm not racist even though I'm white.
Seriously disagree, in the election he won, only 17% of registered voters turned out.
Change is coming and it will be by the hands of Jacksonians4Jackson
There's a lot of people sick and tired of being sick and tired.
hate on us, jock about us, but we are putting in the work, in the trenches getting it done and about to make shit happen!
If you believe Shokewae Talifairo gives two rips about what an older Caucasian lady thinks about his management ineffectiveness, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Nettleton, MS to sell you! In American political discourse in 2023, administrative incompetency is maybe 4th or 5th on the priority list for voters.
I hope this do-gooder with Jacksonians 4 Jackson gave the mayor a preview of her comments before posting them online - given his thin skin, a heads-up isn't a bad idea if it truly wants to work with him - not that the mayor cares what a white person thinks, but still ...
The people at city hall just don't have the intellectual capacity to do what needs to be done.
“every single IRS employees earns far more than his salary on the government's behalf”, ladies, and gentlemen, here's a depth of ignorance seldom seen.
12:28 deflects, likely is Dr. Omari or some other Lumumba shill. Lil Choke has sealed his loss at his next election with plenty of Blacks hurting from his piss poor management.
Pickett only got 20% of the vote against a white Democrat in a majority black district. Rukia went down by 20 points. Read into all that what you will.
In case you haven't noticed, they aren't quite as vocal about Capitol Police as they used to be
"What was the point of having him speak anyway. There is NOTHING he can say that would overcome his record over the past six years."
You are correct, but all of the looney liberals on Nextdoor were giving her grief stating things like "your group doesn't seem to be about making Jackson better, just getting rid of the current Mayor." Like getting Jackson better doesn't involve voting the Mayor's incompetent rear out of office. That's how looney these people are. No living in reality at all.
So, in fairness, she decided to organized a meeting with him.
"Seriously disagree, in the election he won, only 17% of registered voters turned out.
Change is coming and it will be by the hands of Jacksonians4Jackson
There's a lot of people sick and tired of being sick and tired.
hate on us, jock about us, but we are putting in the work, in the trenches getting it done and about to make shit happen!"
The issue with folks like you is you have no frame of reference. Your viewpoint is that of other black and white middle/upper class "do gooders" in Belhaven/Fondren/FNEJ. Unfortunately you guy represent a very small percentage of Jxn voters, even with 15% voter turnout, Babychuck wins again.
If Kim Wade gets on here and says there a realistic chance Babychuck won't win, I'll start believing. Who's going to run against him?
Pickett only got 20% of the vote against a white Democrat in a majority black district. Rukia went down by 20 points. Read into all that what you will.
In case you haven't noticed, they aren't quite as vocal about Capitol Police as they used to be
Jacksonians4Jackson is one of many groups across the city, that is getting active, fighting against the apathy, being the change agents the city needs.
People across the city are becoming more receptive to Capitol Police and the CCID, because we are ready for change!
They can joke about us, hate on us, say whatever but we are out there putting in the work!
Chowke and his tribe will take credit for any reduction in crime actually accomplished through the efforts of the Capitol Police and not the JPD.
If Kim Wade gets on here and says there a realistic chance Babychuck won't win, I'll start believing. Who's going to run against him?
hate to break it to you Bubba Sparks - Kim was at the meeting last night and he'd tell you himself - the low turnout did Antar no favors
a decent ass candidate runs - he's freakin toast!
Here's the beauty of Jacksonians 4 Jackson - it is truly bipartisan, with multiple ethnic groups represented, age groups, and genders.
So what. BFD.
Then Vickery demands, warns they'll be watching "much closer" and finally offers to meet with the half-Mayor privately in order to "show Jacksonians we are on a better path". What a sucker.
Val and her pals are nothing but another self-anointed group who somehow thinks they are more representative than the myriad of other astroturf groups already operating in Jackson.
This is the group that my dermatologist is a big part of… she was telling me about this when I was at her office at renaissance not too long ago. Good to know.
"the vast majority of Jxn voters support the mayor and think he's doing a great job. "
Wait until the water system is finally functioning again, and they have to pay their water bill or go thirsty.
That “letter” reads like it’s written by a 6th grader.
Take your medicine Jackson. You get everything you deserve.
Val Vickery, I moved to Jackson in the early 70’s. Shortly thereafter I bought an affordable house in Ridgeland. I then moved to Madison. I now live in Reunion. I only go to Jackson for medical appointments, but it appears I will not have to do that any more because many in the medical profession are moving to Madison.
Jackson 4 Jackson has already been duped by the former candidate for Mayor (a couple of times) Congress, Governor and no-telling what else, the wonderful Hooker Street resident, Charlotte Reeves. She has sidled up with Val Vic and is using this nascent organization as a diving board for her to jump in again in 2025 and ensure Chockwe's reelection by pulling off her 7% +/- of the vote from any truly qualified candidate.
Chockwe can be beaten next election if there would be one "Qualified" candidate running in the general election against him. But if its a repeat of the 2021 election with Ms. Monte along with three or four other loosers in the race - nobody will turn out again because there is not an acceptable choice.
Val seems to be sincere in her efforts, although misguided in her beliefs (maybe now, her previous beliefs) that working with this Mayor has possible benefits. But if she falls in line with the few women of Charlotte Reeves tribe of dumdums and think that's a solution, she should save the ink in her pen and the nerves in her typing fingertips for better uses.
The mayor can’t/won’t be beat in the general election. He will only be beaten in the Democratic primary by a qualified competent African American who receives both Democrat and crossover Republican votes. But that can be done. There is a lot of discord in about the mayor in both the black and the white communities. Just need someone to step up.
Sounds like she was OK with everything until the $850k overrun or mistake was made on Riverside. She's about 6 or so years too late with that letter. She hasn't been paying attention.
@7:29… lol not sure what your comment is attempting to accomplish… I’m sorry you have to live in Reunion, but happy for you that you don’t have to go as far for your medical appointments now! I’m quite the opposite and try to avoid driving out to Reunion, save for a swingers party every now and then of course. To each their own!!
Very thankful for what Val and J4J are trying to accomplish, and am cautiously optimistic that the majority of the citizens of Jackson are finally waking up to the fact that a change in leadership is sorely needed, and that we don’t have to accept the status quo.
A 'decent' mayoral alternative will not develop just as one has not developed to challenge Lynn Fitch. Fitch will round out her PERS retirement income second only to Cecil Brown and Willie Simmons...none of the three having logged a distinguished legacy.
November 4, 2023 at 9:48 AM, so, you still haven't gotten over Lynn rejecting your proposal in high school? You're on here every opportunity to display the dejected lover persona. Get over it already.
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