The Jackson City Council referred an appeal by Occupy Jackson to the Planning Committee yesterday. The Permit Division rejected an application by Occupy Jackson. The group wanted to occupy Smith Park 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until December 26. Councilman Tony Yarber presided over the meeting.
City Attorney Peter Teeuwissen told the council if they approved the application for 24/7 demonstrations for several weeks, then they would have to approve the exact same applications from other groups that the council may find to be hateful and extremist.
The meeting grew heated at times as Councilman Quentin Whitwell advocated rejecting the application out of hand while Counciman Chokwe Lamumba compared him to white supremacist and former Governor Theodore Bilbo. The council voted 4-2 (Whitwell, Simon) to reject Mr. Whitwell's bid to reject the appeal.
Mr. Yarber said it was obvious a compromise was the solution and referred it to the Planning Committee. The committee meets today at 1:00 PM. Several people spoke at the hearing. Former Mayor Kane Ditto opposed the group's application. He said they had camped out in his buildings, torn down signs,and used the restrooms. Mr. Ditto was the only person who spoke in opposition to the group. No representatives from the Downtown Neighborhood Association or Downtown Jackson Partners spoke at the hearing.
Meeting starts at 13:10
Public comments start at 11:00. They get quite entertaining. The one at 20:00 demands portopottiess and "sound amplification". He admits people have defecated in the park. Yeah, instead of simply not crapping in the park, he demands we pay for his bathrooms.
Public Comments end at 1:00. Bilbo comment is at 21:53.
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