Jackson Jambalaya

Brandon Senator Yancey proposed a bill severely limiting the powers granted to the Pearl River Valley District. Copy of bill. What probably stirred Mr. Yancey to action was the scene a few weeks ago where Reservoir homeowners had no actual elected representation on the board while they fought the Mandalay apartment conversion. Even though the homeowners won the battle, more than a few of them noticed that the board had little, if any, accountability to them as board members are appointed by various agencies and governments.

However, the Jackson Free Press published a story that turned a bill that proposed incorporating some elected representation by reservoir homeowners and a paring back of overlapping functions such as law enforcement, into an attempt to push the Two Lakes project through some back-door legislation. Article

Adam Lynch cited the enabling legislation for the PRVD, which includes language about flood control being one of its functions, as the feared loophole that could allow the barbarian horde from Crane Ridge to pour through and implement Two lakes. He states "critics" of the Two Lakes plan say the bill could be used to open the door to the Two Lakes plan but he never seems to get around to saying who the critics are. The one person he quoted besides Mr. Yancey was Bennie French, the General Manager for the District, and French said he didn't think the bill would result in the Reservoir being used for flood control. After a few opening paragraphs covering the bill itself, the rest of the article (over two-thirds) devotes itself to linking Two Lakes to this bill even though no one, Yancey, French, or anyone else proposed using his bill in such a manner if passed. Lynch even wrote "Yancey said this week that McGowan and his lakes plan had no influence in the bill he submitted. " However, in the logical labyrinth that is Editor Ladd's mind, facts never get in the way of an obsession.

For some reason the JFP has replaced its obsession with all things Melton with all things Two Lakes. It also wrote an editorial this week about Two Lakes, the last of quite a few pieces on the issue. It repeatedly raises the specter of landowners living near the proposed development enjoying, gasp, an appreciation in their property values but never seems to get around to asking who would benefit financially from the levee plan or how the same Corps that screwed New Orleans is suddenly the final word as far as they are concerned.

Ladd made no bones about her motivation this week, as in her mind, because some of these same people supported Melton and the Better Jackson PAC in the last Mayoral election (which gave nearly $20,000 out of the approximately $500,00 donated to Crisler -that's right, FOUR PERCENT), also support Two Lakes:
"The more things change, the more they stay the same, Brian. Many of the same folks who backed Melton and bashed us for telling the truth about Melton are now mad at us about Two Lakes. No sledgehammers this time, though. I hope. ;-) posted by ladd on 01/21/10 at 07:20 PM "Link

Even a simpleton can spot the logical fallacies in such a statement. One can only wonder if she would oppose the act of breathing if she realized it was something Melton did. That statement was made in a discussion about the fines paid by Melton's bodyguards. A discussion about Melton and sledgehammers was somehow turned into a discussion of Two Lakes by her. Such obsession reminds me of when she wrote fifteen or so straight blog posts about Sarah Palin. Read for yourself.

She also bragged about her comprehensive coverage when in fact, the coverage has been rather lacking. There is no discussion of the levee plan or what financial interests may be involved on that side of the issue. No mention is made of what buildings would be lost on the Hinds County side in the levee plan and how according to Ben Allen, none of them are in Rankin County. There has been little talk of any possible tax increases to help pay for the levee plan. All we hear is "Two Lakes, Two Lakes, Two Lakes", which is then led by a link to Melton, evil rich white folks who want to plunder Jackson (but no mention of evil rich white folks from Rankin who want to plunder Jackson), or some other goblin that captures her fancy.

One can only wonder what twisted bit of logic will be used next to attack Two Lakes. I'm sure somewhere, somehow, David Duke and Richard Barrett will appear in an article about Two Lakes. When you are on a jihad, facts really don't matter and such is their coverage of Two Lakes.

Read more of the JFP's coverage of Two Lakes.