The Jackson City Council approved Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumbumba's request to award a no-bid $400,000 contract for garbage pick-up at right of ways in March.
The Council approved a contract with New Way Mississippi, Inc. on March 18. Council members Virgi Lindsey, Aaron Banks, Brian Grizzell, and Wanda Clay voted for the contract while Kenneth Stokes, Ashby Foote, and Vernon Hartley voted against it. The contract term is for one year and can be renewed.
The contract term is for one year. New Way's website describes the company as:
a nonprofit organization that offers transitional housing programs and other resources for formerly incarcerated citizens. Since 1998, we have been assisting various individuals who want to stay out of prison and lead better lives.
Larry Perry is President of the company.
JJ obtained the record of payments through a public records request:
The total amount paid is $174,936.
The city did not issue a request for proposal or quotes. New Way's contract to provide similar services expired at the end of February. Councilmen Foote and Hartley inquired when they could expect such clean-up to take place in their wards as they are strewn with trash.
The Council approved the contract on March 18. Mr. Stokes heatedly attacked the contract. City Attorney Drew Martin said the next administration could cancel the contract. A public works employe said there are 286 of right-of-way miles in Jackson.
Mr. Foote criticized the administration for not soliciting bids for the contract but only found support from Hartley. Hizzoner said the city pays engineers more all the time without issuing RFP's. (That's covered by the professional services exemption.).
Lumumba co-defendant Aaron Banks justified the contract. He said New Way was the only company who performed such work while providing work opportunities for inmates. Mayor Lumumba said New Way was a partner of MDOC in hiring inmates.
Mr. Perry did not attend the meeting.
25 comments:
Chowke, the gift who keeps on giving, along with his partners in crime Virgi Lindsey, Aaron Banks, Brian Grizzell, and Wanda Clay.
The only company... there is supposed to be documentation for sole-source-justification on record. Where is it? More bullshit out of the Ludumbass camp.
Someone from the city council should introduce a motion to provide funds to the Locke Ward and the Urban Landscapers who have been taken it upon themselves to clean up parts of Jackson. The work they have done has been more than just picking up litter.
I can't say whether they've done any work but, did they submit work performance reports when they submitted invoices? If not, how many people are actually employed? Do these people receive all of the money paid for their work or a portion? If a portion, what percentage? Do they work in exchange for housing and food? Who are the "inmates" that are being helped? Is there a list of names? If not, why not? The questions are racing through my mind.
Someone from the city council should make a motion to provide funds to Locke Ward and the Urban Landscapers for the work they have done and continue to do for the city. Their work is much more encompassing than just picking up litter per the New Way contract.
I wonder why there are so many (used to be) nice homes for sale at bargain prices in northeast Jackson?
Well this company certainly has not been very effective.
Does the city check to see if they doing
the job?
The Shok-Way regime continues to strike from afar-
What kind of snake will the current Mayor call this now that the rock has been overturned?
Why are we paying post-incarcerated inmates to pick up trash instead of having currently incarcerated inmates doing it for free? Probably not enough kick back for Chokwe.
Someone should get a copy of that insurance certificate for New Way via FOIA. I can almost guarantee that whoever is writing that policy doesn't know they are doing ROW maintenance and clean up with their labor force. Talk about modern day slavery...
Shouldn’t the work be performed before payment is made. This is some made-up garbage that was approved to pay some of their Tower Loan payments for Aaron’s rent to own furniture.
This same non profit has contracted with MDOC in the past, no idea whether that inspires confidence or not.
@ 1:13 "I wonder why there are so many (used to be) nice homes for sale at bargain prices in northeast Jackson?" Likely because any house built post 1970 has no appeal to anyone to restore or is even architecturally pleasing... It's why every cookie cutter subdivision in any suburban area will eventually be run down because who wants to fix those up? Not much attractive about a builder grade house built from 1970 to today. Meanwhile, houses in Fondren and Belhaven are prime for revitalizing because they were well built and are actually attractive. It's why they can ask for $300,000+ for a 3/2 in Fondren today. Same goes for most Sheffield and Eastover homes. Watch, all the trendy homes in Gluckstadt will be worth a lot less come 30 years. Of course, what you're asking about in Jackson has other factors at play too.
CRIMINAL! And they are doing NOTHING! Private citizens and contractors are doing this work! I hope they are not just sending out checks from the City. They should be forced to submit itemized list of work performed with before and after photos!!!!!!
Virgi Lindsey was and is a zero.
The 990s for this non profit...take a look.
Chokwe's campaign filings.
Chowke's usual cut at 30% equals $120,000.
Free the R.O.W. says Rukia and her bouncing belly brigade. Does Socrates do R.O.W.s?
The 990s for this entity go waaay back. Nice side gig if you can get it.
Despite repeatedly telling us they have the biggest and they are the best -- and now they do 'Jackson' -- how telling it is Kingfish that the Barksdalers never report on the large volume of stories that you bring to the public's attention almost everyday.
Where's the piss ant gossip blog stalker troll hiding now?
How do the Barksdalers benefit from spewing non-sense? Volumes of small dollars, from low income households, like Dollar General?
I’d really like to know.
With all the great work Locke Ward and Roger Parkes and crew are doing AS VOLUNTEERS all over the city, begging for private donations daily, THIS CORRUPT CRAP MAKES ME SICK.
BIGGEST disappointment in the history of our city. And some of my neighbors here in Belhaven are honoring her in the park. She was the worst EVER.
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