Jackson Jambalaya

I’m not seeing what happened?

Locke Ward is not all there. He doesn't believe that Jackson has the highest murder rate in the U.S. and he also thinks that cleaning up parts of Old Canton Road is going to cure what little crime problem Jackson has.

Get out now- while you can!

Wow. You need to understand he was just doing something good for the community. Does not care to have any praise for it. He does it because it makes him happy. You know maybe you should try getting up and helping the community because obviously you are not a happy person if you are taking time out of your day to write a rude comment about Locke. Cleaning up does not fix the crime and he is aware of that. next time why don't we write something a little sweeter!

9:04 St Louis, Missouri has the highest murder rate of any city and Cook County Illinois, the highest of any county.
I would not go out alone in any city unless very familiar with the areas that are high crime areas. Murder rates in every city tend to be in the neglected or industrial areas or where poverty and drugs are a problem. I go out to eat in Jackson or to an event all the time and am never afraid. I'm an old lady but not senile and know where I can be safe or not. Try not to be a wimp who falls for every political fear tactic!

I hate that his car was stolen, but this should not surprise anyone.

Locke Ward is a fine man and friend. He is trying to be a good citizen in his hometown. If all of us would do the same thing, our own hometowns would be that much better. To criticize Locke is a terrible thing. You should be ashamed.

Since you don’t know me, you don’t know what I do or don’t for the community. But I spend more than I make rescuing hundreds of dogs and cats in the town that hates animals. All I’m saying is is that his approach to tackling crime is nonsense and he refuses to acknowledge how huge the problem is.

Where did this happen?

9:24 Jackson isn't included in major city crime statistics because Jackson is not a major city. In Homicides Per 100,0000 Jackson has 87.8, New Orleans 74, St Louis 68, Chicago 29. Jackson qualifies as one of the top ten murder cities in the world.

Google it again. Jackson has had the highest murder rate in the U.S., by far, for the last two years.

Locke is not trying to tackle crime, but rather keep our area clean, and engage people to get involved and invest in our community. AND THAT is something we all should do be it fondren, Madison or anywhere. Very simply stated, he is simply doing what the City of Jackson has failed at doing for the past far to many years, and cleaning up, and getting others involved. To diminish what he has done is petty. Bigger than the pettiness though is the ignorance that it has to take to not realize that the continual downward spiral of Jackson will eventually negatively affect surrounding suburbia. We all live in a community in this 3 county area

Why does Jackson need private citizens to clean up its community? I thought it was the city’s responsibility to do that? Don’t they collect taxes from its property owners and charge local sales tax to handle those issues? I just don’t understand?

You need to READ his posts. He believes in the broken windows theory.

It is insane how few people who live in Jackson know this. Kinda like they have no clue about the Republic of New Afrika.

You need to read what he posts. He believes in the broken windows theory (popularized first in NYC) - that if you clean up a city, crime will go down.

The same reason a bunch of WOMEN are doing the job of saving the lives of the thousands of neglected and abused cats and dogs in this shithole. At least we aren't pretending it will solve Jackson's crime problem.

For those of us who do not live in Jackson and have no idea who Locke Ward is or what this video is showing, can you give a Readers Digest condensed explanation?

9:24: Here is the top 10 cities in homicides for 2023 , which is measured at a rate of per 100,000.

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/01/09/homicides-drop-by-double-digits-second-year-straight-jackson-rate-killings-still-ranks-highest-nation/

Jackson has been number 1 for the last four years, by a large margin. Maybe the reason it does show up in national news articles is because Lumumba refuses to publish the crime statistics, perhaps for that very purpose.

I do hate that it happened. There’s nothing more unnerving than being the victim of a crime. But the fact that it happened to HIM makes it no more important than the other dozens and dozens of car jackings and thefts being perpetrated upon the residents of Northeast Jackson. While it may be a watershed moment for him personally, it certainly isn’t for the rest of us. This thug has no idea that Locke has spent 2000 hours pressure washing the underpasses. Because it’s not about HIM. It’s open season in Jacktown. And only getting worse. It’s heartbreaking to watch. And I’m glad this wasn’t worse than it was. ☹️

Realtor lady mad he getting free publicity.....which really ain't free ;)

Wish they'd have been doing the underpasses when 'residents' were there. Also the Fire Dept should've been hosing those underpasses routinely with random/unannounced blasts - would never have had to spend unnecessary $$ to construct fencing... but certainly that was a result of creative lobbying to line some pockets. Our society's getting dumber.

I have contacted City Council member Ashby Foote numerous times regarding trash on the streets in NE Jackson, particularly on the streets adjacent to the old Colonial Country Club (Atkinson). He has never responded. Nothing has been done. Pathetic.

9:04/9:47 and 9:06, and wherever else you all have chimed in, I'll start with, "Shut. Up.'' 9:06 probably does not live here. And animal rescuer, for God's sake, thank you and keep it up as it is certainly needed, but you do you, and Locke and friends do their thing. For all you know, he is keeping you from traversing through the woods or tall grass or a muddy creek to rescue a little darling. I'm sure you're tired and fed up, but be kind. It takes a village.

“Lumumba refuses to publish the crime statistics”

Not that I'm taking up for the mayor, but it may be the FBI causing it not to show. The Biden administration, and the FBI, changed the reporting process so that the actual crime rate is much higher than what is reported. Especially so in the large blue cities.

A friend of mine contacted Foote about 911 not answering the phone. Foote told him that the mayor refuses to allow the council members to interact with city employees (the employees work for the executive branch). It would not surprise me.

9:04 - How dare you say this. Locke is simply trying to do is part to make a better place for others. Take your personal miseries somewhere else. There’s nothing but goodness coming from Locke’s efforts. He’s a wonderful person. And he is certainly got himself together. Making a comment like this only compounds any problems out there. Why would you want to be an agent of more chaos?

2:56, The mayor has refused to publish the crime statistics. It has been covered extensively on this blog in the past. Use the search bar and you will see for yourself.

I live in Jackson. One time my car was stolen from my driveway. It was when I lived in Deerfield in Madison County. Jackson has problems and its current mayor is both dishonest and incompetent. A lot of people who live in Madison or Rankin County think that’s not their problem. But it is. If Jackson succeeds its suburbs do better. When Jackson fails its suburbs also suffer, just not in obvious ways.

How do you propose the suburbs go about rescuing Jackson from crime, 4:54?
Is there a way for us to make the citizens of Jackson stop murdering folks?
Can we teach the citizens to stop voting for empty bow ties?
How do we make Rukia pickett the Mayor's office and demand her brother do his job and stop stealing tax monies?

@5:12. Well Said..

Whatever happened to establishing curfews and having sweeps to keep the riff-raff indoors after 10 or 11 PM?

Much of the trash floats out of the large pick-em-up trucks driven on I-55. I've seen this every other day from Madison to UMMC.

September 9, 2024 at 11:58 AM and September 9, 2024 at 9:03 AM
Lock Ward's car got stolen while he was cleaning up.

I swear, I don't think those of you who don't see all the homes that are being renovated or improvements all over the city ever see anything that you don't look at with a negative outlook. Drive down Ridgewood Rd. You'll see more newly remolded homes than the few still unkempt.
You don't appreciate the fine architecture that can't be duplicated as the materials are now far too expensive or no longer available.
Every city goes through cycles. That happens in every state no matter the color of the majority population.
And, here in MS, we give property owners far too much leeway when they don't maintain their properties.
IF you don't want every town and city in MS to prosper , look in the mirror and see a fool!

You seem to confuse factual reporting of the factual problems in Jackson, with people cheering for Jackson to fail 10:10am.

Perhaps you should look in the mirror and stop letting your emotions override rational discussion of the undeniable issues?

Saying "stop being mean to us" is not going to fix Jackson. But sincere congrats on the progress you see and I hope you guys vote for better leaders soon.

Let me know when this "cycle" is over and I will visit this resurgent safe city you describe.

September 10, 2024 at 10:10 AM
That's great that those are happening. But that is only happening West of I-55 in a narrow corridor of Jackson. Drive around South and West Jackson. Lots of houses that need to be torn down.

September 10, 2024 at 10:10 AM
>And, here in MS, we give property owners far too much leeway when they don't maintain their properties.
Absolutely agree with you there. I'm not a big fan of Madison's City HOA attitude, but Jackson's free-for-all isn't it either. That crackhouse just north of Parham Bridges certainly needs to either be sold or demolished.

Someone please tell 9:04 what per capita means.

Meanwhile, who the hell is Lock Ward and why does Kingfish play these silly games?

What are you claiming 9:04 got wrong about the murder RATE? It's expressed as a percentage of 100,000 people. Jackson has had the highest murder RATE in the US for two years in a row. Fact. Not debatable.

Everyone NORTH (scrolling) of my post should thank LW for his efforts to save JXN and I would encourage him and his family to relocate. Madison County is calling your name….. Locke, you deserve more.

"remolded homes"...No, that's Thalia Mara.

I apologize. I meant 9:24, who began his post with the time stamp (9:04). 9:24 is the one who must not understand per capita. I am fully aware of how the murder rate is derived.

What an ignorant comment. Locke is one of the best guys I know. I've known him for prob 40yrs. What have YOU done help anything, besides anonymously talk shit on here which obviously is a huge help to the issue...