It is a tenet among a certain crowd to blame the "state" for all of Jackson's problems. One Jackson politician even went so far as to say the legislature was hollowing out Jackson. Such themes play well to their audiences but as usual, ignore reality as it was Jackson who hollowed out Jackson through negligence, corruption, and good ole fashioned incompetence. Think yours truly is being too hard? Let's take a look under the hood.
Crime & Police
It was not the state that ran off a popular police chief who got things done only to replace him with a bozo for over five years. Jackson suffered homicides in the range of the 60's each year prior to Lumumba becoming Mayor. Murder went up, up, up after Vance left. Homicides rose to the 80's and then skyrocketed to 157 homicides in 2021. There have been over 100 homicides each year for the last five years. Officers fled JPD as the the number of patrol officers fell below 150, leaving beats unfilled.
The state expanded Capitol Police, putting over 100 cops on the streets. For it's trouble, the state got lawsuits and protests by the Mayor .
Fire Department
The firemen live in squalor. Nuff said.
Libraries
Few things demonstrate Jackson incompetence as the libraries - where they still exist. Eudora Welty and Charlies Tisdale libraries were allowed to fall apart until demolished. The Director repeatedly went to the Mayor and City Council begging to save the books and libraries but her pleas fell on deaf years. The Mayor's Chief of Staff said he was coming up with a plan five years ago. Other libraries have been forced to close. Tens of thousand of books were destroyed because the city dillied and dallied as it studied away. Notice the administration still has not found a home for a downtown library.
Ironically, it was the segregationists who tried to keep blacks out of the city's libraries. The Lumumba administration has managed to accomplish what the Ross Barnetts could not do.
Animal Control & Animal Shelter
The animal shelter was so poorly run, the city had to shut it down. Adoptions had to be paid for with cash and logs were not kept. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened. An outside group offered to spend $300,000 to train staff and get it up to speed. The city said nah, just give us the check. The result is no animal control in Jackson. The city once had over half a dozen animal control officers.
Thalia Mara Hall
Several hundred thousand dollars in state aid sat in the bank while Jackson neglected the HVAC system. The city rented chillers for events. The "microbial growth" did not happen because the system failed over a weekend as claimed by the Mayor but because it was running at a lower level for quite some time, thus creating conditions for the "microbial growth." Such growth doesn't develop over a few days .
The manager screamed for help for over a year but was ignored. For her troubles, the administration fired her. The Mayor claimed the auditorium was ready for the state fire marshal inspection. The state came and said it was if the city had not even touched the auditorium . Hell, months after the first fire marshal inspection, the city still had not cleaned up human crap off of the outside balconies.
How is this the state's fault?
Jackson Zoo
The Mayor took over the zoo from the Jackson Zoological Society board voted to study moving the zoo. Study. The Mayor threw a tantrum, bragging he would hire another organization to run the zoo. The problem is, no such entity exists. The zoo was forced to close for a year when the Mayor foolishly terminated the JZS's lease without realizing JZS had the license, which it promptly surrendered to the USDA. No license means no zoo . Somehow it is the state's fault no one attends the zoo or it took the city a year to get a license .
Meanwhile, the zoo continues to wither away as the collection shrinks and few people attend.
Roads
Is anyone satisfied with the roads? Seen Ridgewood between Briarwood and Old Canton Road lately? Paved only eight years ago, the road is now cratering as the city did not mill the road before paving nor did it perform any maintenance after repaving. So focused is the Mayor on fixing the roads that Public Works has not had a public works director for a year and a half. Somehow, that is the state's fault. Competence at its best. How much would have been paved if the 1% Sales Tax Commission did not exist?
Smith-Will Stadium
The city allowed Tim Bennett to lease the stadium but didn't collect any rent for years. The city then forgave the half a million dollars he owed. The lease required Bennett to get a performance bond but the city failed to ensure he got one. Such a bond would have ensured the city got paid under the lease .
Meanwhile, Bennett allowed a cigar bar to operate. The bar would crank it up while kids were playing baseball right outside the window. The bar completely violated the terms of the lease. Bennett subleased the parking lot to the V.A., violating the terms of the lease. He pocketed all profits from the sublease while not paying his rent. The state finally moved to terminate the lease and regain possession of the Smith-Wills property.
Water System
The water system made a profit and had money in the bank. Harvey blew it up with the Siemens deal. Mayors Yarber and Lumumba worsened things by imposing moratoriums on cutoffs. The current Mayor didn't hire people to run the plants. He caimed we needed to build a new plant when all he had to do was fix leaks and valves that were turned off, something Ted Henifin managed to do. Of course, replacing a 30 year old plant with a new one means sweet contracts for the sweethearts.
The Mayor covered up the EPA's emergency order for over a year after blowing off the Health Department for years. He repeatedly lied until the system collapsed in August 2022. He covered up an ammonia leak. The Mayor lied about ordering parts when several pumps at O.B. Curtis were out for eight months due to an electrical fire . The lies continued until the feds took to over. The Feds didn't trust Jackson with the money. Thus the Congressional appropriation decrees the city has no authority to spend the funds.
Garbage
Complete garbage. The city went without garbage service for two weeks as the City Council and Mayor fought over who should pick up the garbage. The Mayor tried to ram Richard's Disposal, a troubled New Orleans company, down the Council's throat as he tried to force every household in Jackson to purchase 96-gallon garbage contracts from a vendor he selected. Although he claimed he was trying to save money, he ignored an even cheaper bid by Richard's Disposal that did not offer garbage carts. Somehow, that is the state's fault .
Traffic Lights
A multitude of traffic lights went on the fritz thanks to a lack of maintenance. Sound familiar? Of course, the city had no technicians on staff. Hizzoner said the problem was the city purchased them all at the same time so they were malfunctioning at the same time.
Hizzoner loves to blame the state for any and all of Jackson's ills. Given his record of failure, what else can he do but do what he is doing now, blaming the state and stirring up racial division. Of course, his crowd thinks Jackson is just fine but then again, pigs love to live in slop and some people are no different.
The truth is, Jackson hollowed itself out with no help from the state and that, my friends, is the bottom line.
69 comments:
chokwe
Is this in response to Brad "Kamikaze" Franklins Facebook post? The plantation mentality on that one is strong. Basically, if White people endorse a candidate, they are trying to put us down and take over the city. He even got a mention of Trump being one of the problems. There were some people with sense calling out the mayor for his shenanigans so that was refreshing.
Great summary. Today we find out how many voters are blind loyalists to the mayor.
This THING called Jackson-
No. I've done this bit twice on the radio over the last year. Finally wrote it all down.
When one is never held to account personal failings feel like someone else's fault.
and the Mayor was trying to give out contracts to him for concerts at Battlefield a year or two ago. Council said no.
The people left in Jackson wants a city run that way. They like it. Just drive down the streets in Jackson and take a good look at the houses. Those are the privately owned homes. They want Jackson looking exactly like their front yard.
The next William Edwards. Mark my words.
Fantastic summary. Chalkline has already been anointed by Bennie and is just waiting for the esteemed Congressmen to announce his retirement. Both of them couldn't care any less about the City. And slop is not the only thing pigs live in.
The mayor and his cronies are wannabe radical socialists. They cannot do the things necessary to save the tax base and fund essential services because that would appear to be "selling out" to those out of state radicals with whom they associate. They also have no problem with economic failure since it plays into the narrative of victimhood and oppression which underpins their movement. All this while maintaining their own upper middle class existence. Jackson has no chance of an economic/social recovery in this capitalist system while such people are in leadership. FACT.
He has? Why do you think that? Because they are both black?
Great summary. Too many people have been too afraid, and for too long, to call out the Lumumba Administration for fear of being called "racists." KF has been exceptional in this regard.
That EPA lawyer practically begged Lumumba to leave him alone, so he could eventually get out of Mississippi with his career intact.
Chucky has single-handedly brought the city into shambles, and has profited in doing so. He has deflected from any meaningful discord by bringing out the race caed. Hopefully us voters can vote him out of our city 👁️⚖️✴️
I wish I thought any of the low IQ Choke cheerleaders would read this and see what we see.
To the uneducated masses, this is all just "racist".
But kudos regardless, and well said.
Amen, brother.
Well said KF. The people of the COJ deserve better; but only the Citizens can choose their path. If they chose Lumumba then most of us who donated in the past while residing in other counties will No Longer be compelled to help. Like our parents told us you come to a fork in the road at some point in your life. You decide your path. Voters must speak up!
Very well laid out.. Complete malfeasance in the Mayor of Jackson’s office. The Capital of The State of Mississippi should be one of, if not the best in the state.
Chalkline has already been anointed by Bennie and is just waiting for the esteemed Congressmen to announce his retirement.
You keep insisting that is the case but there are a number of other prominent black Democrats who also have their eyes pointed toward that seat.
Though Lumumba could run on a campaign motto of 'You think things are bad now? Elect me and watch everything really turn to shit'.
At it's peak, around 1990 or so, Jackson Animal Control had 14 Officers, 2 Supervisors and 6 office/shelter staff. Kane DItto thought that division was worthless, cut the budget and it's gone down hill since.
Well connected Jackson Democrat this past week shared with me that he wouldn't be surprised if Lumumba doesn't make the runoff and that even if he did he won't win a runoff. The discontent is too widespread.
The voters of Jackson are too poorly educated and will re-elect Chokwe, or someone just as incompenent as Chokwe, and continue to blame the white man for their problems.
Anyone who blames the state for Jackson's troubles should also talk about what the state was doing when Jackson was a thriving city. That wasn't due to the state, either. Jacksonians need to realize the blame lies with the folks they are keeping in office.
Out of curiosity, wonder why Chokwe;s campaign ad airing on TV had to resort to having out of state mayors praising and endorsing him. One would think after listening to all of the smoke they are trying to blow that Chokwe is the anointed savior of Jackson. I am guessing none of those individuals giving their endorsement have spent much time in Jackson during Chokwe's rein.
Hopefully, any intelligent person voting in the mayoral election can see through the ruse.
going back to Harvey J days, we had a good police chief, last name Johnson also, who Kane hired after several not so good ones...Problem with Chief Johnson was he was good at what he did and wasn't going to bow down to Harvey, so Harvey fires him and goes on a "nationwide search" only to find a "step and fetch chief" locally that will bow down to him....and things got worse and worse....
Not a thing will change.
Sad but true. Excellent commentary.
Not true in the slightest
How do you think the Biden administration indicted Antar without Bennie’s consent? I’ll give you a hint: it’s a trick question
It won’t be someone as incompetent and brazenly corrupt as Chokwe. That’s too big a hurdle
Is this in response to Brad "Kamikaze" Franklins Facebook post?
You mean Brad the Carnival Barker who recently wrote to his FB following that Republicans had a super majority in the Washington State legislature?
What is it authoritative code word Brad you and Othor like to throw around? FACTS?
2:42 Gets it.
Add the traffic lights to the list. For years many traffic lights were not operational and Jackson did not have any technicians to repair or replace.
Chokwe
1. violence interruption programs
2. conflict resolution classes
3. orange colored police cars
4. community policing
5. conversations
6. 3 million dollars for cameras
7. credible messagers
8. Emptied out waste treatment plants ( sewage dumping)
9. Got rid of gun stores
10. Bought a zoo for 6 million
It's a shame Jacksonians will likely either vote back in baby Chok or someone who will do virtually the same (maybe just not as quickly.) Kim Wade is the only candidate with an understanding of the tough love it'll take to right Jackson's ship and the will to do it. Without some serious tough love, Jackson's trajectory will continue in the same direction.
Excellent Cliff Notes. Excellent. You did leave out the JMAA Airport fiasco, the destruction of the safest area in the state before he became Mayor (BID DOWNTOWN), the allowance of trash nightclubs with no regard to code bringing all areas around them to squalor, his idiocy in wanting to buy the Batte Furniture store, the awarding of a $400,000 NO BID trash collection contracts to one of his pet friends, to address the mounting litter throughout Jackson, while Roger Parks and Locke Ward collect private contributions to do the same....the list is endless. Really shows us a lot about the mindset of many of the provacateurs in their purposely hateful black to white racism. Until they grow up, Jackson will NEVER succeed or prosper like every suburb around our Capital City is doing. You would think they would see and acknowlege this. You would think they would want to work with the handful of successful businesses remaining here.
Library system is on the upswing thanks to the work of their board. They're in the process of finalizing a new downtown location, and a replacement for Tisdale. Some younger folks are doing some cool work there. It's thankfully one area people can have a major impact regardless of mayoral competency (but a good mayor sure helps)
1:36pm
Corrupt Lil Choke and Jody O have sorely disappointed Bennie T., who may have encouraged the FBI sting on them both. So who does Bennie want for Jxn Mayor? Horhn is ancient as Methusalah. I think Tim Henderson merits support from Jackson and might get Thompson's backing if he's in the runoff. Vote Henderson this pm if you've not already.
I hope Lumumba wins.
He has promised that Thalia Mara Hall will reopen with the sale of fried catfish/chicken at events. I can't wait to grab a box of good ole gas station
crispy-crunchy chicken while watching a Broadway tour of "Les Misérables"..
What has the Mayor proposed to revitalize the core of the city other than several failed attempts (RFP) to develop land that has a HUD lien of several million dollars. JSU stadium, resort, jobs downtown with retail? Nope, not play for the cronies!
You just. But I would love to be able to buy a Hunk ‘o Hunts Brothers Pizza with Hamilton
You said it man. This old city has been through the wringer of self-loathing neglect for 8 long years. The mayoral candidates stoking the tired old racism flames (paying those social media divas) are contractors looking to squeeze the last few drops of juice before their accumulated abuses combine with Antar’s negligence to trigger municipal bankruptcy. They don’t give a rat's ass about anyone or anything beyond themselves. Last time they controlled the outcome of a mayoral election, they served up the Siemens debacle. The only other candidates with any chance to win are a military vet with a solid record but no name recognition and a state capitol mossback with a 30+ year voting career that anyone can research. If the no name guy makes it into the runoff, fair play to him, but that seems unlikely. The people with common sense, whether liberal or conservative, unemployed or employed, white or black, can’t do better in this field than electing John Horhn. If any Jackson resident reading this still has a vote to cast, I hope they cast it for Horhn. All we need to turn the JJ comment section into a Jackson love fest is a functional city government.
Fish/2:48 - In reference to 1:36, I said anointed, not elected. Sheesh.
Wasn't me. Would you like to see the video from the gym to prove it?
6:06 I can't disagree with you more. Horhn is a decades-long inhabitant of the legislature, and I can't think of any similarly-situated politicians who have done anything productive. He's tired of the Capitol, so the mayor's office is the next piece of low-hanging fruit. All we'll get from him is a bunch of platitudes and promises (and weight throwing during his next DUI).
This city is COMPLETELY BROKEN (and it appears to have been put in that condition by design.) It's going to take someone with radical steps (and I mean the opposite of baby Chok's definition of radical) to turn this city from its current free fall. Listen to ALL of the current candidates, and only ONE of them is saying anything different than the same 'ol blah, blah, blah.
Granted, I know Kim Wade isn't in the democrat primary, but when the rubber hits the road in a few weeks, he's the ONLY one with a different plan to turn Jackson around!
Yall used to have a Police Chief, his 1st name was Jimmy if I remember right. He wore Purple Sunglasses & had Stars on his shoulders. He was on TV one night not long after he was hired & said: "The Young Black Male In This Town Is Out Of Control"...He didn't last long after that...Think he went to Canton.
Just think this all stared with Kane Ditto.
And the collateral damage on the tax base. Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and PetsMart leaving for Highland Colony.
No Aldi for Jackson.
There is no hope for the empty SteinMart @ Deville. That would have been a great TJ Maxx/HomeGoods combo store like the one in the Woodlands, TX.
As a Jackson resident, I’ve heard plenty of fellow citizens who are angry at Chokwe for reinforcing the “we can’t run anything” perspective…. I’m hopeful he is soon out of a job.
Franklin is an angry, middle aged nobody. No Job. No future. No respect. Makes a living talking as he accepts those Government checks. Smart guy you would think, basically, but still a loser.
Don’t forget Fitch pulling the bond rating because audits are late (due to the finance department’s inability to provide the auditor with financials in a timely manner).
Honestly I can’t believe you said what you said about the Library. But, we all know that if Mumbles can blame the “White Man” then his followers will think he is king. With that being said we all know the water situation was a catastrophe to say the least. There is no way the state can be blamed for that. And, just a few years ago the law enforcement initiated roadblocks to contain the horrendous crime but, it got stopped by the DOJ because the mommas and granmammies said it was illegal. There you go.
Jackson has voted for what it’s become. Quit throwing State tax dollars and jobs into a failed City. The State should follow the hospitals lead and move elsewhere
Horhn works his ass off to get his vote out on the 22nd he'll win handily.
Lumumba is out of office and going to jail.
@ "The voters of Jackson are too poorly educated and will re-elect Chokwe, or someone just as incompenent as Chokwe, and continue to blame the white man for their problems."
Well I see how to figure out if someone is poorly educated and incompenent.
I think some of you are too young to remember or never knew but there was corruption in Jackson even back in the '70's. Indeed, a blind eye was turned to how well some of the politicians lived and vacationed. There was a reason a few young "upstarts" won elections in the mid '70's to mid 80's. It was due in part to city employees and state employees feeding information to the campaigns as well as ticked off young business and professional people.
Quite a few politicians at every level in the state didn't (and still don't) come from wealth or have an income from work that would explain their "lifestyle". What they do have are " the right connections".
I've watched a few good men and women who got elected give in to the " temptations" after trying hard to succeed without doing that.
KF, I think you can find in the archives of newspapers who the politician was who had a sizeable bank loan " forgiven". A politician can still be able to buy a home for less than it's worth from the wealthy previous owner and of course, the upkeep for years was done by city employees. There were those gifted with use of beach front property or memberships in hunting clubs. It was $5000 to be considered for city contracts in the '70's. Perhaps, you can look up some "bidders" who left the state and get a "big story".
Even today, the wealthy (including nationally known politicians in high office) really don't pay the taxes the rest of us pay. Their homes (and some apartments) including art and furnishings and autos and maintenance and insurance are all owned by their "business" and thus deductible "business expenses". They can even depreciate the value when convenient so it's a " loss".
Politicians of both parties and every skin color learn to " play the game". Some lack " practical experience" and think they know the game well enough as "rookies" to go "pro". Or like Menedez and some Supremes, they get too cocky and get caught having too much fun.
Here's the good news about our tax records no longer being protected, a reporter can, if they move quickly, see if you can get access of the tax records of all our state and city office holders.
11:53 pm Sadly, poorly educated and incompetent are found in my white race. Sadder still, all races have well educated and competent sociopaths. We all need to do our homework and not stop learning the day we graduate, no matter what's on the diploma.
I'm white. I'll vote for Horhn because as legislators go, he at least tried to do learn as much about an issue as he could and showed up for committee meetings more often than most.
I'm also hoping he knows where " enough bodies are buried" to twist the right " arms" on our behalf.
Some crack head broke out a couple of windows at the church where I go. Church is in precinct 1. Officer told me they had 3 patrols for the whol precinct that day. As soon as he got through with me they had to go to a shooting. JPD is in the gutter.
@8:35 AM that wouldn’t fit the JJ narrative. KF has a deep personal hatred for Mayor Lumumba.
Haha. That was Yarber and yes, I reported it. Try again.
Now, normally you’d expect a little gentrification to sprinkle some fairy dust and fix things up but oh no not in Jackson—apparently it’s got a “no whites allowed” sign nailed to the city limits! And then there’s Mayor Lumumba struttin around in tactical vest with federal indictments declaring Jackson's rot has gotta ooze out to the burbs before the white man gives a hoot about Jackson’s problems. Well tip of the hat to you Chokwe—mission accomplished! The suburbs are officially infected. Jackson’s still cancer!
I asked ChatGPT to summarize the above into two sentences for each section. Here it is
Here’s a summary of each section:
Crime & Police: Jackson's crime rate worsened after the removal of a popular police chief, with homicides spiking to over 100 annually. Despite the state's efforts to address crime, Jackson's leadership failed to effectively manage the police force.
Fire Department: The fire department's facilities are in poor condition, highlighting negligence in maintaining essential services for city employees.
Libraries: Many of Jackson’s libraries were allowed to deteriorate or be demolished, with thousands of books destroyed, showcasing the city's incompetence in preserving cultural assets.
Animal Control & Animal Shelter: Jackson's animal shelter was poorly managed, leading to its shutdown, and the city ignored opportunities to improve it, resulting in a lack of animal control.
Thalia Mara Hall: The city's failure to maintain Thalia Mara Hall’s HVAC system led to further damage and microbial growth, with officials ignoring the problem until it was too late.
Jackson Zoo: The zoo's decline was exacerbated by the mayor's mismanagement, including terminating the lease without realizing it would cause the zoo to lose its license and close for a year.
Roads: Jackson’s roads are in poor condition, with inadequate maintenance and oversight, particularly on roads that were repaved only a few years ago.
Smith-Will Stadium: The city failed to collect rent or enforce lease terms with the tenant, leading to violations and loss of revenue, prompting state intervention.
Water System: The city’s water system collapsed after years of mismanagement, covering up issues like pump failures and ignoring necessary repairs, until the federal government had to step in.
Garbage: Disputes over garbage contracts and mismanagement of services led to significant disruptions in trash collection for the city.
Traffic Lights: The city's lack of maintenance for its traffic lights caused widespread malfunctions, a symptom of broader infrastructure neglect.
Conclusion: Jackson’s issues stem from local leadership's incompetence and negligence rather than any actions by the state, which is often blamed for the city's failures.
Great write up.
Buckle up folks because I'm about to take you on a turbocharged trip down memory lane with none other than Harvey Johnson. Out went anyone who could actually turn a wrench or press a button without causing a citywide boil water notice and in came a bunch of folks whose qualifications were about as solid as a wet paper towel.
North Jackson? Oh bless its heart it clung on for dear life like a cat on a screen door somehow dodging total catastrophe for a good 25 or 30 years before finally surrendering to the swirling vortex of Jackson’s madness. And the white folks? Oh hell they packed up and burnt rubber all the way to Madison and Rankin County leaving nothing behind but empty storefronts and unanswered city service requests.
11:10, According to the U.S. Census, Jackson was 27.8% white in 2000, and 14.5% white in 2020.
In a city that has been 70-82% black for the last 25 years, and during which the city had a black mayor the whole time, you say that the number of white people who moved out during that time (about 12% of the overall population) left "nothing behind but empty storefronts and unanswered city service requests."
So by your logic, the continued functioning of Jackson was completely dependent on 12% of the population that was white, who moved out of the city.
Do you really believe Jackson needs to be run by a top-10% of affluent white people, to save it front "empty storefronts" and a total failure of city services?
I realize that's probably not the point you intended to make, but that is the point you actually made. Who's the racist here?
ChatGPT is inferior to Grok3
@11:10 and 12:06 As a 'burb dweller, I can affirmatively state that those leaving Jackson include a large number of non-whites. I think that his little to do with race and more to do with economics. Everyone that can afford to leave Jackson, has left. (With the exception of those who can afford gated communities.) If you want to improve Jackson, you're going to have to find a way to bring back the middle class. It's the middle class who pays the bills.
HJ made it a point to turn Jackson into a chocolate city top to bottom. Even Stokes is on record saying Jackson hurt itself by running off the white business dollars.
Post a Comment