The bodies are starting to turn up in the Lumumba administration. The administration fired Director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Recovery, Keisha Coleman but she blew the whistle on how the administration operates behind closed doors.
First the history. WLBT reported:
Keisha Coleman had led the less than 3-year-old office, a key piece of outgoing Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s efforts to tamp down on crime, since January 2023. She was by Lumumba’s side earlier this year when he announced, weeks before losing reelection, that the office had awarded $150,000 to community-based organizations working to prevent violence. The press conference marked the beginning of 100 Days of Peace, also known as 100 Days of Action, an initiative that was to feature events like town halls, trainings and listening sessions and conclude with a sneaker ball to celebrate the Jacksonians working to reduce violence. But if an event required funding, it did not happen, Coleman said, and she’s doubtful it will. Just a few months later, on May 7, Coleman said she received her termination letter from Lumumba’s chief of staff, Safiya Omari. Rest of article.
Today, I, Keisha Coleman, former Director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery (OVPTR), was terminated from the City of Jackson following months-long campaign of retaliation, financial obstruction, and unethical conduct by Dr. Safiya Omari, Chief of Staff for the Mayor’s Office. The termination, verbally framed as a “loyalty” issue, follows repeated attempts to hold the administration accountable for gross misuse of public funds and nepotism that jeopardized critical community safety programs. $270,000 in National League of City (NLC) grants funds are at risk of being returned: Deliberate obstruction by Dr. Omari and Executive Assistant Tiffany Murray in that they withheld financial tools and support for 18 months, preventing me from appropriately spending funds meant to serve the community. Most of the work done was done from my personal funds and people in the community who supported the work. (KF: Sounds like how the grant to the Greater Jackson Arts Council was siphoned in Atlanta, doesn't it? ) $202,000 in City Funds Never Allocated: Despite approval for a youth engagement center, these funds were never properly routed to OVPTR’s budget. Tiffany Murray and Safiya Omari had knowledge of this but never sent the approval to finance to appropriate the funds. (per finance staff member) Misuse of OVPTR Funds:* Dr. Omari’s son, Kuwasi Omari, receives a $50,000 salary despite chronic tardiness, absenteeism incompetence to the role, and failure to complete tasks or submit weekly reports.* Tiffany Murray’s salary was partially paid from OVPTR’s budget, despite providing no operational support even after I was hired as ED. Retaliatory Termination and Nepotism* On April 16, 2025, Dr. Omari confronted me about a baseless “loyalty” concern after she saw me the previous Sunday (April 12th) briefly speak with political candidate John Horhn at a public community event. This pretext escalated to termination following:*Disciplining Kuwasi Omari for absenteeism, failing to comply with his 45 day Performance Improvement Plan (Which coincidentally ends May 8) and incompetence and non-compliance. (Other COJ employees have had the exact same complaint with both of Omari's sons but were apprehensive to report in fear of retaliation). "Allegedly" Exposing Dr. Omari’s refusal to provide the tools necessary to appropriately spend $270,000 in grants, and $202,000 in city funding risking forfeiture of both funding resources and denying critical services to communities most at risk;*Advocating for transparency in OVPTR’s finances because I was not given access until January 2025. Dr. Omari’s weaponizing her authority, position, and retaliation included:* Withholding staff hires in order to hire her son, making it difficult to do community outreach, and via Tiffany Murray, not providing me with the training, tools, or resources to do my job. Outside of the one time in March 2024, Tiffany Gave me a realm of copy paper, I’ve purchased, on my own, copy paper, office supplies, flyers, rack cards, brochures, etc. just to have an operational office. Fabricating allegations of misconduct; Using her position to intimidate by making subtle innuendos about giving me a review the day after I gave her son a 45 day Evalution and placed him on a performance improvement plan, by denying travel, or disregarding my requests for approval on other items. 3. Systemic Sabotage of Community Safety OVPTR’s mission—to reduce violence and trauma in Jackson—has been crippled by Dr. Omari’s actions. Programs like youth workshops and development, trauma recovery, and a safe space to meet and facilitate groups, directly endangering residents who rely on these services and resources to feel safe. I’ve repeatedly ask to use space on the 5th floor of the 633 Building (where my office was located) only to be told “no” by Tiffany Murray and Safiya Omari- in the presence of the Mayor. The reason was because the space was going to be the Mayor’s 2nd Office ‘one day’. This directly denies community of service, support, and resources that would assist in the goal of the OVPTR. As of today, the space has yet to be used. In conclusion, my termination is not about loyalty or work performance, it is about accountability and transparency. For months, I fought to ensure the $700,000 in grants and $202,000 in city funds reached the community programs they were intended for, only to be blocked at every turn by Dr. Omari and Tiffany Murray. Paying her unqualified son a $50,000 salary while refusing to provide support and resources to trauma recovery and other community programs is not just unethical, it is a betrayal of Jackson’s most vulnerable. Dr. Omari’s retaliation, including weaponizing a casual conversation at a public festival, exposes a culture of fear and corruption designed to silence dissent. I feel this abrupt termination is an attempt by administration to cover up and or clean up. Either way, I will not be a scapegoat for financial misappropriations or silent about the nepotism. Jackson deserves better. This is not an attempt to smear this administration. This is me being proactive because there is over $470,000 of funds out there that someone will have to answer for and I will NOT be thrown under the bus because I'm no longer there to speak for myself. (The underlining is my emphasis. The boldened statements were emphasized by Ms. Coleman.)
Kingfish note: Is anyone surprised?
46 comments:
Ms Coleman it’s sad you have to go through this Shigity! The Mayor and his Administration will be gone very soon. This is an example of how such low down and dirty politics can be! You will come through this a better person! To chockway shame on you! For the betterment of your people right!!!
Will the new mayor please fire these grifters? PLEASE!!!
I will wager that these funds cannot be located once the new mayor takes office.
Chokwe has spent eight years lining his pockets and the pockets of his Republic of New Afrika comrades. He doesn't give a damn about Jackson or its residents. No one at this point is surprised. Good riddance.
Well at least it's almost over. The radical separatist mob who found themselves a cash cow in Jackson's city government will finally move on. Sadly, Jackson a city which could least afford them might not recover from their incompetence.
How much of those grants went to Rukia’s organizations?
Horhn already said that he's going to launch an audit of the city's finances. I hope he finds what he needs and puts charges on Lumumba. Just because he's gone, doesn't mean he can't pay the price for his bullshit.
Horhn has some questionable individuals with him. You can see the folks lining up for a city job.
How about zero tolerance for grifters regardless of race, color, creed, religion, political affiliation, etc.
Burn what’s left down.
There are GRIFTERS everywhere, especially Perks & Recreation. The director failed to notice that the fence was down on the tennis courts at Batlle Field Park, even when cameras were present. How could you miss the lighting not working? There are grifters everywhere, especially in Parks and Recreation. The director overlooked that the fence at the tennis courts in Battlefield Park was down, despite the presence of cameras. How could they not notice that the lighting was not working? That park used to have the best clay court in the city.
Tip of the iceberg
"One of the violence prevention office’s goals is to quantify the impact of violence prevention work in Jackson through data.
Yes, it's always good to have data if you intend to quantify. I'm just glad Jackson has had this violence prevention program in place for the past three years. Imagine the crime without this program.
Can someone get me a copy of Omari's resume. I have openings and I'm hiring.
Meanwhile, I suggest the feds jerk her passport and restrict her right to travel outside the metropolitan area.
Is 5:29 in an echo chamber?
Is Horhn going to be an improvement?
I certainly hope Shad White has the fortitude to Apply the same Audit situation to Jackson that he says is being done in a more Southern City-we'll see.
Grants: A mechanism used by grifters to pad their pockets with taxpayer's money while looking altruistic to the useful idiots.
Horhn is a replica of Lil Choke, excepting New Africa Kush. Horhn's god is begging race based programs/grants from the state/ feds.
No, his ideology same as Lil Choke's, absent the New Fricsn theme.
You knew what he was when you took the job, and you knew it was a fake office.
Horhn is giving up his Senate seat to take this role. It's strange to me that no one is connecting the dots. There is a common interest in building Jackson by the Legislature and the state as a whole. All of you that say "burn down what's left" are so careless. This city is important to the state of Mississippi. There will be major expectations of John Horhn, not only by the citizens here, but by the state all the way up to the Governor. He's aligned with the resources and support to get things done. Reputations are on the line. Lumumba didn't have that backing and he sure didn't have the respect because he's an asshole and a radical, and he made an enemy of the Legislature right out of the gate.
Yes, I believe things are going to be different going forward. I can already see it in the streets. There are homes that have been empty, all of a sudden getting new driveways poured, new paint, etc - I'm working on mine too.
Wouldn't it be great to be five years down the road with many more payers into the water system? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to say that the city is experiencing a rebirth? Wouldn't it be inspirational to have a revitalized capital city? Wouldn't it be great if I get to actually stay in my home and retire here instead of finding myself fucked totally? Wouldn't it be nice to not have to read the salt that you pessimistic bitches have been rubbing into my wounds for the last 8 years anymore?
Well, I'm still here and I'm still hoping for the best.
Depriest needs to find an effective outreach (to Black voters) platform and on the hurry-up.
If people in this administration don’t do jail time it’s a dang shame.
Crabs in a bucket.
Why would anyone hire or fire when they lost an election and with only days left in office. This is just pure mean and petty! Chockway you and your administrative staff are mean, sad and bullies. I know now why you couldn’t get anything done! Come on Man y’all PETTY! Have a little DECENCY.
Taxpayers = unlimited bank account.
" Office of Violence Prevention and Recovery,"
Laughing out at loud !
Sorry, but I have no sympathy for Keisha C.
She knew the crowd that she was running with ... so I would bet there's more to her termination than will ever be known.
But then again ... no one cares about her personal problems with Antard and his PHD "chief of staff" woman.
OVPTR…Is there a report available on this what this program has accomplished for the City of Jackson? I’m sure a record has been kept.
1:44:
Doesn’t sound like she’s had the funds allocated to her budget to do much of anything; hence, the letter to the council. If this isn’t an open invitation for Shad to do something I’m not sure what is. He’s always complaining that he needs cause/permission. She just told the board, in writing, there are missing funds. What more does he need?
It's "in the mail."
If we had a real State Auditor, he's be all over this instead of campaigning.
I am a fan of Shad White and I have defended him from his detractors. Those who claim Shad is showboating have forgotten Ray Mabus' tenure in that office. But Shad needs to investigate the Lumumba regime. 'Nuff said.
What exactly can Shad do?
Manipulating program money into a personal slush fund and no records kept, so Lamumbian.
I’m gonna go to jail just so I can screw the mayor as much as he’s screwed us
What's horrible is that Chokwe used Horhn's ability to work with everyone against him. I've never seen such blatant racism. Chokwe is trash.
The word on the street is that if Hohrn is elected he will appoint Chokwe to a city no-show job.
What can he do?
Chokwe is a petty bitch! I’ve said it in previous posts. This won’t be the last before he’s out. He will Sabotage the city all the way out the door.
Name ONE city, state, nation that is run by Democrats that isn’t full of fraud and abuse. Just one. Democrats are just grifters.
The City of Jackson is a shithole and here is reason 943.
The regular Low Information Crowd keeps squawking about the State Auditor should be auditing Jackson. Kingfish as asked the question twice. "What the hell can the auditor do". The state auditor does not audit municipalities.
Two other points:
1. If you think Hohrn is a grant writer you have forgotten that Harvey Johnson never had a job in his life (prior to mayor) other than grant writing.
2. There are no dots to connect with Hohrn's decision to run. This job pays more than a legislator's pay and Hohrn needs four high PERS years.
Will Chockway or Archie or Pickett run for John Horne's seat?? Inquiring minds want to know.
Sounds about right
NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, - you realize all the money blue states generate pay for all the red states needs? If no blue states no America. Stop this petty crap and start figuring out how MS becomes self sustaining? Or maybe merge it with 49 and 48?
This program is not gonna prevent any crimes in Jackson. A waste for everyone involved
a "realm" of copy paper....goodness...pitiful all the way around.
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