Jackson Free Press

April 6, 2005

Democratic mayoral candidate Frank Melton announced at a March 31 catfish rally at Howard Wilson Kia on Highway 80 that, as mayor, he would be paying more attention to what he calls the "Forgotten Commercial Corridor." The highway, once a main artery connecting Jackson with Meridian and Vicksburg, began a slow decay in the 1970s and is now considered by Melton and many residents to be a blighted area.

"Someone said, ‘Frank, when you come, you need to have a plan for Hwy 80.' I said ‘I don't think so,' because there's a group of people out there, both residents and business people, who have been out here for many years and for the last two years they've been developing a plan for Highway 80, and I promise you all if you choose me as your next mayor there will be no politics, no race and no negative influence," Melton told the crowd of cheering supporters. "My job as mayor is to be their biggest cheerleader."

"It starts with crime enforcement," said Nina Holbrook, of the MetroCenter Area Coalition. "We already have the infrastructure. We have 100,000 cars a day going up and down this corridor. If we get the crime and prostitution out of here, it's a no-brainer."

"I can't say the current administration hasn't been friendly," Holbrook added. "We've been working with city economic development. We've done a lot in the last year, but we've got so much to do. We need a lot more. It's been done in other areas, like downtown. Why not here?"

At the same time, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. was addressing a group of University Club members at the third annual "Chat with the Mayor" gathering. "I understand this is ‘Highway 80 Day,' so I'll spend some time talking about it," he said to laughs.

Johnson said the area is now designated as an "urban renewal district" and that the city has put more than $1 million into it so far—and helped more than 70 businesses in the area. He pointed to Puckett Machinery as an example. "They were thinking of moving outside the city of Jackson," he said.

His administration has worked with the Highway 80 Coalition to add more street lights and increase code enforcement, he said in a statement given to the media: "The Jackson Police Department has met with the coalition to talk about their concerns on several occasions." Operation Cupid has focused police stings in the area, with 51 recent arrests, he said.

The statement said the city has invested more than $2 million into the corner of Highway 80 Valley Street into a new garage and offices for JATRAN. "We chose that location because we wanted to make sure that there was sizable public investment in the area," the statement said.

At the University Club, the mayor spoke of focusing on the infrastructure in that area and of new housing and development in West Jackson, including 40 new homes on Calhoun Street and new businesses around Westland Plaza, including the Walgreens with a new façade, lighting and parking. He also pointed to Battlefield Park, which was crumbling and infested with problems. Now, "there is a new clubhouse, pool, ballfield," he said.

Responding to Melton's accusations without calling him by name, the mayor said that the efforts to revitalize downtown must not be pitted against efforts in the rest of the city, which both Melton and Whitlow are doing in their campaign statements. "It is important to have a vibrant Downtown," Johnson said. "If Downtown is decayed and dying, you better believe that's the case with the city." It is vital, he said, for businesses to re-establish themselves and re-invest in Downtown and West Jackson, and he said that's happening due to his efforts at public-private partnerships.
"The private sector is showing confidence that the city is moving the right direction," he said.

Previous Comments

ID

169007

Comment

Just 10 days ago I was robbed at gunpoint in an area off the Highway 80 corridor. The thug who robbed me told me and my companion to "get out of the neighborhood." (We were standing in front of a property my friend owns). This area has gotten really bad and it drains the city. One of the officers who took the police report expressed gentle scorn at us for even being in the neighborhood. I wish the neighborhoods in this area could get better police support. The police were polite to us and took our information, but there was absolutely no sense of urgency or even concern. I'm not sure the best way to do it but I do think the criminals in the area get away with way more than they should be getting away with.

Author

Izzy

Date

2005-04-09T11:16:36-06:00

ID

169008

Comment

One of the officers who took the police report expressed gentle scorn at us for even being in the neighborhood. That's absurd. He or she needs some retraining. We should never forget that we all have the right to go where we please (as long as we are not trespassing) without being harassed or threatened, at gunpoint or otherwise. And the police should keep this in mind as well. -- Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2005-04-11T07:29:38-06:00