Jackson Free Press

It is going to be painfully ironic—and useless—if the recent murder spate is the factor that finally gets the Jackson media to start questioning Mayor Frank Melton. Unless proven otherwise, the nine murders in 10 days are not Frank Melton's fault. To my knowledge, he did not put the guns in the killer's hands; he did not tell them to rob and kill; he did not provide illegal drugs that people are willing to kill for; he did not tell a troubled man to pick up a weapon and go kill his girlfriend and another man.

Likewise, it was not Mayor Harvey Johnson and Chief Robert Moore's fault in spring 2003 when there was a spate of murders, armed robberies and home "invasions" (a media term usually applied to robberies in "good" neighborhoods) that, temporarily, sent steadily dropping crime in Jackson upward before continuing its downward turn weeks later.

Like Chief Moore said then, crime was not "out of control" and could not, and would not, be curtailed by political kicking and screaming and grandstanding. He tried to tell an uninformed media that spreading that falsehood, that "perception," is irresponsible and naïve. There is much more to crime-fighting and prevention than declaring that crime is the No. 1 issue, as our friend Ronnie Agnew is wont to do, then saying that we should not re-invest in Jackson until all the crime is gone, thus setting us up for failure. There is certainly more to do than issuing goofy mayoral proclamations that the city is on "lockdown" because troubled men with easy access to guns commit murders of passion.

Simply put, crime is not the No. 1 issue. It is a symptom of much bigger issues. A strong community that works together to deal with its problems—all of them—is the No. 1 issue. Part of a good quality of life in any city is the ability to live in safety and not in fear. The way you get to that place—especially in times of tough economics—is not by spewing simplistic sound bites or, in Mr. Melton's case, spinning his cap around, lining up a posse for the TV cameras, and roaring off into the West Jackson sunset. For one thing, the bad guy might just see the good guys coming. And by that point, it's too late for the latest victims of crime. The real work comes long before you don the SWAT vest.

The answers are difficult—and they cannot ever be captured in a sound bite. Proclaiming "It's over!" never prevented a violent crime, as we're seeing in living color in recent weeks. "Shock and awe" did not work in Iraq; "shock and awe" is not going to work with the types of violent crimes Jackson is now facing.

What must replace Mr. Melton's five-month comedy of errors is a whole bunch of activities and actions and plans that will likely bore the fidgety new mayor silly. It may be fun to storm a sex-toy shop with cameras from his old TV station in tow, but the realities of crime-fighting, prevention, apprehension, imprisonment and rehabilitation are varied, detailed and take time to implement. Sure, many Jackson voters were infatuated with the idea of the boisterous cowboy shocking and awing the thugs out of Jackson—but the reality of such absurd theater is starting to sink in. And how.

But the answer is not for the media to suddenly turn their sensationalistic spotlight on the rising murder rates and start screaming that Melton did not fulfill his 90-days-to-Camelot pledge that got him elected. Yes, he set himself up for abject failure with such proclamations—but the city's media should be flogged for letting him get away with such absurd promises, for pretending that the breathless promises made a lick of sense. The media should be faulted at least as much as Mr. Melton for the time and money wasted so far in his administration on nonsensical displays for the camera, the sound and fury indicating little.

One of my favorite new city employees could well be Police Chief Shirlene Anderson. It's hard to know for sure—she's too busy carrying water for Frank Melton and heeding his whims to actually communicate if she is a good leader or not. Unfortunately, he seems to be yanking her strings like a puppet, telling her who to hire and fire, what media she can and cannot talk to, what media sweeps to organize.

I'm getting calls from people inside the city administration and from the campaign—including from high-ranking officials who didn't like the JFP's tough coverage of the campaign—who are telling me that the city is being run abysmally under Mayor Melton, micromanaged by egotistical managers, is rife with political fiefdom wars, and is divided into contingents from the campaign, from the last administration, from WLBT.

The city administration's morass could end up resulting in more crime, and may have already with the elimination of the city's Crime Prevention Unit with no immediate replacement actions. A poorly run city will certainly result, yes, in more perception of danger that will, in turn, drive more people and money from the city.

Those of us who value the city and want to see it progress into a rich, vibrant and diverse creative class city are not just going to give Mr. Melton a pass until redevelopment is derailed, crime has skyrocketed, community policing is dismantled, and the quality of life has returned to hopeless and helpless times. Such apathy is not good enough for the people who love Jackson.

Neither is a mayor who treats us like children. Jackson adults and businesses are perfectly capable of making our own decisions about the hours we keep. Trying to tell his adult employers—Jacksonians—what we can and cannot do is crossing the line, pure and simple.

My suggestion for Mr. Melton is that he start right now, today, learning how to be a good mayor and how to run a city, even if the details and legalities bore him. We don't need another meaningless sound bite from him. We need action, lawful action. We need honesty. We need real leadership.

We do not need a daddy.

Previous Commentsshow

"I’m getting calls from people inside the city administration and from the campaign—including from high-ranking officials who didn’t like the JFP’s tough coverage of the campaign—who are telling me that the city is being run abysmally under Mayor Melton, micromanaged by egotistical managers, is rife with political fiefdom wars, and is divided into contingents from the campaign, from the last administration, from WLBT." Scares the hell out of me. This man is no more qualified to be a mayor of a city than I am. Even scarier is that so many people in the city (and definitely outside the city) truly believe that this man was "Jackson's last chance". Especially when a great mayor was ousted for this clown... I can only hope that Harvey Johnson would consider running again if things don't get better.

millhouse

Nov 24 2005

Easy, millhouse. Melton has a solid resume as both a CEO and a volunteer. I voted for Harvey, too (with apologies to John Kerry, I voted against Melton before I voted for him), but the other day I heard somebody who knew Johnson very well, and was fiercely loyal to him in the mayoral race, say that Melton is surrounding himself with good people and beginning to come around. I don't have any trouble believing that. Although Melton's public persona is that of a brainless cowboy, he has a history of meticulous planning, awareness of nuance, attention to detail, and even an occasional willingness to change horses when the old one gets tired. He is many things--I don't think anybody should be proud of his platform-free campaign, of his weird Dirty-Harry-meets-Barney-Fife persona, and so on--but (a) The mayor's power over city government is limited (there's only so much damage he can do), and (b) An objective assessment of Melton shows that he has considerable potential. I'll be honest: I was high on Harvey Johnson when he ran unsuccessfully in 1993 (when I was 15!), and was one of the people who put him into office in 1997, and voted for him again in 2001 and 2005. But when he first won in '97, I was disappointed with his first year or two. I felt like nothing would change, that he would continue Kane Ditto's policies and that his "Man with a Plan for Jackson" slogan was just marketing. He didn't really catch fire until his second term, and if he had solid opposition in 2001, I don't know that he would have had the opportunity to earn our respect to the extent that he did. Personally, I'd love to have him for mayor again and wish we still did. But I do believe that we're going to be pleasantly surprised with what Frank Melton does when he settles into office a bit. The deal with Johnson depends on what he does, politically, between now and 2009. If he finishes his Ph.D. or teaches urban planning or heads up a think-tank or writes a book or what have you, then I expect he'll be back. If he runs for another public office (and I heard a rumor that he might--can't remember which one), and wins, then it'll be someone else in 2009. But we really have some very good potential candidates out there who have yet to run for mayor, including some friends of mine--some with better resumes than Harvey Johnson. I wouldn't mind seeing someone like Faye Peterson, or Jim Evans, take a crack at it. So if even greater success leads Johnson to create a vacuum for 2009, I'm sure we'll fill it. That's assuming we even want to replace Melton. He just took office in July, and four years is a good long time. Someone forwarded me a post from a local conservative who, intending to insult the JFP, implied that he didn't think Jackson would have any arts districts, or a thriving downtown, or a decreased crime rate in 2009. That assessment of Melton is far more negative than mine. If he continues to do the paternalism thing for four years, and doesn't have anything else to show for his time in office, then obviously he'll be gone; cowboy outsider only works the first time (just ask Ross Perot). But what I really expect him to do is learn from his mistakes, which (his obvious stubborn streak aside) he actually has a pretty good history of doing, and slowly earn our respect. I would not be surprised if, in 2009, JFP writers are lambasting the Clarion-Ledger for unfair criticism of Melton, just as we did when they unfairly criticized Johnson. There are already early indications that the mainstream press' criticism of Melton will be just as mind-numbingly stupid as its criticism of Johnson was. Wonderful cell phone commercial recently: Executive says "This phone really shows I'm sticking it to The Man." His assistant says: "Uh, sir, you are The Man." And that's the problem the anti-Jackson boys now face. How can they hate Jackson, and love Frank Melton, when Frank Melton lives into his role mayor of Jackson? And I think he will. And I think that when he does, he will both earn, and need, our support. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 24 2005

I'm a bit less optimistic than Tom because of my interactions with Mr. Melton and his administrationn to date -- however, I agree with him that they need to get on the stick and fix the problems. Now. And it's up to all of Jackson's citizens to hold his feet to the fire to learn how to be a mayor, lead the city, manage people, figure out what's legal before proclaiming it, make his administration open and accountabile and so on. If he doesn't, we're in big trouble. And I for one do not want a city that is wallowing in the mess that we see hints could be ahead if Mr. Melton doesn't figure out the demands of his job. I want him to fix these problems. I want to live in a city that continues the amazing progress we've seen of late. I do not want to see him fail. However, holding him accountable is what is going to help him figure out how important it is. Beyond that, your comment about the conservative e-mail is, simply, astounding. It's depraved to predict that the city is going to be in the cultural toilet in order to, somehow, get back at the JFP because we're working so hard toward helping the city's renaissance ... and happily reporting successes. What an ignorant, small-minded, vicious weasel. Bet he's one of about four people I've met in Jackson who I would classify as such. The good news, though, is that there are so many others who make those goobers irrelevant, which is of course they're biggest problem. No one cares what they say. As for your point about lambasting the media for blaming Mr. Melton for every crime spike ... you're right, Tom. We will be doing that as I start out this column doing. However, we are going to continue to hold Mr. Melton responsible for his actions (and inactions) as well. But what the JFP will NEVER do, no matter who is on what side of the aisle, is buy into simplistic crime sensationalism that hurts the city and its residents, young and old. Never. And if people don't know me well enough to know by now that I/the JFP calls its like we see it regardless of party or other political affiliation, then well they're in for some surprises. If Mr. Melton fixes his problems, we will applaud him. If he doesn't, we will hold his feet to the fire. Pure and simple. Try us.

DonnaLadd

Nov 24 2005

One more thing: There are people working against Jackson's creative renaissance because they like things the way they are -- for instance, because they make plenty of money off division rather than reconcilation, regressiveness rather than progressiveness. We all know people like this, if you think about it. (Hint: They run businesses that draw lines and cater to only certain people and neighborhoods. And all these people aren't white, either, so don't limit your thinking on this front.) Our job is not to keep these people's fiefdom's intact. It is to make Jackson a better and more vibrant city for as many people as possible. Screw the people who are promoting division. Those people suck.

DonnaLadd

Nov 24 2005

You know, 40 years ago the issue was balls-out segregation. 30 years ago, it was "busing." 20 years ago, it was "transitional neighborhoods." I'm beginning to think the issue has always been segregation and people are just finding new words for it. Right now that word seems to be vague objections to "culture," which I think is really just a foo-foo way of saying "We're not racists, but we'd rather not be surrounded by a bunch of Those People." So I think you're right. This is about carving out comfortable territory more than it's about anything else, and that has to stop, and the answer is desegregation. Agreed that there are problems on both sides, but I think the problems on the "black" side of the equation, though there are definitely some to be found, are probably overstated. Growing up as a race-conscious moderately liberal white boy in Jackson, the vibe I got was "Love Martin Luther King Jr., hate Malcolm X." But damned if I don't love Malcolm X too, now that I've started looking at what the man actually wrote, and I've found that to be true regarding a lot of black folks who were supposed to hate me. And by and large, even in Jackson the really troublesome power is mainly in the hands of affluent whites, most of whom don't even live in Jackson, who go to parties where the only black folks present, if there are any at all, are catering. You probably know this, by the way, but nothing in my post was meant to be a criticism of the way the JFP is covering Melton right now. I think you're right to keep an eye on him and to cover him the way you do. My issue isn't the present; it's the future. And this may be my naivete showing, but I think that future will include a considerably improved Frank Melton. You know, when I was a teenager, I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation. L-o-v-e-d loved it. But I didn't start watching it until the third or fourth season, so I'd never really sat through the two-part pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint." Finally did catch the rerun later on. And for the most part, it was crap. And I wondered: How could my favorite TV show have started off on such a lousy note? And what I'm saying is that in four years, I think we could be saying much the same thing about the Melton administration. Or not. I trust Jackson's voters. They had every reason to vote for Melton the first time--not because he's Jackson's last hope (though that may be what the N-JAMmers like to say), but because he's a beloved local celebrity. I think the number one mistake people on both sides make about Melton is that they assume he got elected for his politics. He didn't, and the proof is that nobody knew what his politics even were. No, he got elected because he's Frank Melton. He could have run on the Natural Law Party platform and he would have still stood a pretty good chance of winning. I mean, Frank Melton won for his ideas about as much as Jesse Ventura did. That's why he never put out a platform; he didn't have to. The election wasn't a referendum on Johnson, or Moore, or crime; it was natural frustration with the real problems cities face (which would have been present regardless of who was mayor), coupled with the chance to vote for a blunt, charming, well-known non-politician to "fix things." Happens all the time. He'll have to do better if he wants a second term, because that trick only works once. So either he'll do good/great things and carve out a role that the majority of Jackson voters will be able to support, or he'll get creamed in 2009. Either way, it's not going to suck for longer than four years. I promise. My bet? I think he'll do fine. Not that you should cut him any slack; just that I have a hunch that once he gets his bearings and realizes what he can and can't do as mayor, and loses a little of the righteous indignation, you won't have to. I'm a big believer in redemption, and I think that sooner or later, the Melton administration will have a kind of born-again experience. It took a while for Johnson to figure out what he was doing, too; the only difference was that he was wise enough not to go around proclaiming things until he did. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 25 2005

I should add that if/when Melton does improve, it will be in large part because of constructive criticism. So whether his supporters see it that way or not, article series like this--written almost four years before the next election cycle--are actually more pro-Melton than anti-Melton. What his supporters should be more worried about is the criticism that is nonsensical and ergo can't be refuted, like the nonsense that the C-L has been offering up in the wake of recent murders. If the C-L is still doing this in 2008 and 2009, he may well find himself Robert Moored no matter what he accomplishes. Re fiefdoms... Wonderful quote from Malcolm X that a dear friend of mine has hanging on her wall: "I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those who do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. I believe that there will be that kind of clash but I don't think it will be based on the color of the skin." Malcolm X has been shafted by pop culture. The movie redeemed him a little, but he's still somebody whites are supposed to keep their distance from. Same story with Stokely Carmichael/Kwame Ture. Both were admirable people--sometimes said things that sounded harsher than was probably intended, but stick any of us in the middle of a civil rights movement and we'd do the same thing. What people don't realize is that it was Malcolm X's refusal to buy into the weird race-based philosophy then espoused by the Nation of Islam and his embrace of traditional, antiracist Islam, that very probably cost him his life. And then history remembers him as a big meanie? Christe eleison. A little bit of a ramble, anyway, but the fact that white culture has lied to me about people like Malcolm and Ture triggers my baloney detector any time I hear about allegations of black racism. Which is a shame, because black racism is a real problem that has probably already affected me in some ways and will no doubt affect me more profoundly down the road. But there's a boy-who-cried-wolf dynamic in this for me. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 25 2005

Timely article, Donna. Hopefully, Frank will eventually get it right since he's the Mayor of Jackson. Once again, good insight and courage. Tom, I can't thank you enough for studying, evaluating, and deciding for yourself whether Dr. King, Malcolm X, Paul Robeson, and the likes, are due hate or respect. Good and true old folks are rendered unafraid to die when they know people like you are following. The truth is the light, and it shall forever set us free.

Ray Carter

Nov 28 2005

Harvey Johnson, Jr. served as mayor for eight years. He cared about the downtown area, and that is good, but he was unable to prevent Jackson from being named the nation's tenth largest metropolitan area for crime in 2003, not to mention, the exodus of Jackson residents to the suburbs. It was time Jackson gave somebody else a chance to turn things around. I am optimistic about Jackson's future with Frank Melton as mayor.

Kendrick Johnson

Nov 29 2005

I agree that Melton is a fresh personality who will bring entirely new ideas to the table (some good, some bad), but I think you're selling Johnson a little short. Nobody could have prevented white flight. Especially not Johnson, since most of the exodus from the past 15 years happened during the early '90s, before he took office. The 10th-largest-metro-area thing comes from Morgan-Quitno, whose methodology does not appear to meet the standards set by the FBI Uniform Crime Report. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

Ray, thanks for this. A friend was talking to me the other day about how folks with disabilities are portrayed in film--where they had to be either cured and made normal or die from something, but almost never get to keep living with their uncured disability, presumably because the character's very existence doesn't seem to "fit." Prophets make people equally uncomfortable. The prophecy has to be "cured" one way or another or people's sphincters get twitchy. When I look back, every civil rights leader of the sixties falls into one or more of three categories: Martyred (MLK, Medgar Evers, etc.), disparaged (Stokely Carmichael, Jesse Jackson, etc.), or obscure (Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Walter Bruce, etc.). It's like "We'll worship you if you get killed, but if you have the bad manners to keep breathing, we're going to either piss on you or ignore you completely." So I've learned to pay no attention to conventional wisdom when it comes to prophets. I've also learned, similarly, that the stereotype of the beloved worker for justice is a bad joke. So I've learned to have special respect for folks like yourself, who are the real descendants of the civil rights workers, more or less thanklessly doing the work of saving this damned human race--just like they did. I'm slowly learning how to pick up my own plow and join in, but I seem to spend way too much time hunting around for loose soil when what I probably need to do is just use a little more muscle. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

That should read "We'll worship you if you get killed, because then you'll finally shut up, but..." I mentioned in one of my blog entries how this worked with MLK. He got shot, so suddenly nobody remembers that he was organizing garbagement and speaking out against poverty and social stratification, nosiree, all he was about was getting those block letters off the drinking fountains and getting folks to stop saying the N-word in public and then he was ready to call it a day. And he's dead and his family has been placed squarely into the "disparaged" category, so there's nobody in a position to argue with this very milquetoast interpretation of his life. MLK was dangerous to the status quo, people; that's why he got shot in the first place. So if we want to live into his footsteps, we should be equally dangerous to the status quo. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

("garbagement" --> "garbagemen")

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

Constance Slaughter-Harvey was the first black lawyer I ever met, and she was the lawyer and teacher (at Tougaloo) who inspired me the most to become a lawyer. She even inspired and urged me to return to Mississippi. We had co-dendants on a case several years ago, and I could tell she was proud of how I turned out. Presently, about a third of the black lawyers in Mississippi did their undergraduate work at Tougaloo, and almost all owe some debt of gratitude to Connie, the first black female graduate of Ole Miss Law School. For many years, over half of the black lawyers and doctors in Mississippi attended Tougaloo for their undergraduate work. I'm all for giving Frank Melton a fair chance although I preferred Johnson. I applaud the City Council and honest critics for pointing out his shortcomings and missteps. Hopefully, he will learn from them and move on in the approprate fashion. I'm slowly becoming impressed by Marshand Crisler. I had formerly viewed him as a person with more style than substance. I'm eternally proud of how my friend Kenneth Stokes is handling himself these days. He still loves and fight hard for the common man, but is doing it in a nicer and kinder fashion now.

Ray Carter

Nov 29 2005

Sorry for misspelling co-defendant. I always catch my errors too late.

Ray Carter

Nov 29 2005

Kendrick wrote: but he was unable to prevent Jackson from being named the nation's tenth largest metropolitan area for crime in 2003, not to mention, the exodus of Jackson residents to the suburbs. I assume, Kendrick that you're talking about the Morgan-Quitno "dangerous" rankings that politicians and the Ledge love to bash the city with? If so, you might want to read my piece this week for some needed Morgan-Quitno context. It's also worth noting that if you are going to judge Johnson's crime record based on those records, you have to give him credit for making the city the "least" dangerous that it had been since the record-keeping started more than a decade ago. Context is everything. Also, and respectfully, your comment about Johnson not being able to stop the "exodus" to the suburbs seems misinformed. That "exodus" actually started in earnest in the 1960s with laws ending legal segregration and really took off in the winter of 1970 when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the public schools here to integrate; I believe the number of white families who fled immediately was something like 70,000, although I need to go back and check the number. The truth is that no mayor has been able to stop that exodus, which is based on a whole lot more than fear of crime. And, in fact, anyone who bangs the drum of crime in a sensationalistic, political way is actually feeding that exodus by scaring people out of the city. That runs counter to every lesson about the advantages of healthy economic development. Of course, one would not know that by reading The Clarion-Ledger's naive, simplistic proclamations about crime. They are so part of the problem. A big part. As I said, context is very important.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

I noticed that in the Birmingham News, they recently had two articles about the Morgan-Quitno rankings. One basically talked about the disbelief from the mayor and people that are trying to get Birmingham back on track and the other was more of an editorial working to debunk a lot of the misinformation. I also did a search in the online edition of Little Rock, AR's paper and found nothing. Either they don't know about their entry into the "dreaded top 25" or they're all about hiding it. Anyway, in both cases these papers have done pretty much the opposite of what the C-L has done with these rankings. The C-L uses these rankings as honest to goodness truth while other cities that are VERY similar to their best to make it be known what a farce these rankings really are (or just flat out don't give it the time of day). As far as Mississippi being the least livable state, I think that's preposterous. I've travelled around enough to know that this is ranking doesn't hold water. And, the fact that the state is actually growing - while many states in this country lose population every year - would seemingly be a good enough sign to disprove this.

millhouse

Nov 29 2005

I'll preface my comments with the cliche term "problem, reaction, solution" Harvey Johnson was a good mayor, period. He did eveything he could do to enrich the quality of life we are all seeking eventhough his hands were tied behind his back on a host of issues concerning Jackson's present and future. He as does Frank have NO CONTROL when it comes to crime. Frank Melton is having the same type of troubles during his current adminstration with no relief in sight. Both mayors have pushed Jackson in the right direction as much as they can even given the slack cooperation from the houses of government in Jackson, Mississippi. I applaud Frank for instituting a curfew for all ages because I run into more childlike adults than I do children in general in Jackson. I see both administrations being hampered with ridicule and bashing but nobody is attacking the people/institutions who are holding back the Mayor's ability to get stuff done.

Jocelyn

Nov 29 2005

I applaud Frank for instituting a curfew for all ages because I run into more childlike adults than I do children in general in Jackson. Joycelyn, I believe you will find that there is no "curfew for all ages" in Jackson. I don't believe that is legal for Mr. Melton to do unless martial law is declared. Just because he throws around the word "lockdown" doesn't mean there is a curfew for adults, even the "childlike" ones you don't like. People should not be misled by Mr. Melton's rhetoric. We have constitutional rights here. Likewise, the so-called curfew for businesses (which was only enforced against certain businesses in Jackson and not others) was also apparently not legal.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Millhouse, later today, I'll post some of the headlines I found in Nexis from papers around the country who take a dramatically different view toward both Morgan-Quitno rankings and the cities they are headquartered in than The Clarion-Ledger does. The headlines put this Gannett rag to shame.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Ever notice how most of Morgan-Quitno's "Most Livable States" have a high cost of living and are at least 90% white? I want to ask them "Livable for whom?" Jocelyn, Melton does not have an all-hour curfew, and even the juvenile curfew is seldom enforced. He briefly set out an all-hour/business curfew in the immediate wake of Katrina, which is common in the immediate wake of natural disasters (though not usually for hurricanes this far inland), but had no means by which to enforce it and there was even conflicting information from city officials as to whether or not a curfew was actually in place. I do think that Melton has considerable potential, but agree that there's a limit as to what the mayor can do, and that folks in Jackson might put a little too much emphasis on who the mayor is and not enough on who other city officials are. Ray just commented on Marshand Crisler, and I agree with his assessment, but I note how little comment there has been from the C-L and so forth regarding the City Council. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

ladd- First off, learn to spell my name right. I've noticed this mis-step by you for quite some time. it's Jocelyn, not Joycelyn. thank you kindly. Secondly, I spoke broadly for the "curfew for all ages" so please don't get off in taking my words out of context. I'm not as informed on the "curfew" as most of you are because it didn't bother me that much so I paid it no mind. but ask yourself, what is there to do in the Jackson streets after 2m anyway? hmm...how about Jack the nearest person riding by and add to the cities homicide rate? no, bad idea. I like Franks' approach. Most of the current homicides have been done by adults and not kids anyway. He's not locking down our movement, because I can definitely get up and go to my mother's house on the other side of town without some "checkcard" or permission slip from the Mayor. I see Frank's move as that of telling adults that it's time to get responsible around here. If you can't learn to be out under the city lights after 2am without acting like a wild animal, then I'm going to make some suggestions. and I see NOTHING wrong with his approach. Maybe people around here will start taking on some accountabillity for a change. Lastly, Where in the constitution does it say that having a curfew is un-constitutional?

Jocelyn

Nov 29 2005

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. That's pretty explicit, really. The right to assemble at any hour is one of the most obvious and basic constitutional rights, and very much what the Founding Fathers had in mind in other contexts where they referred to "liberty." And there is a long history of precedents against blanket adult curfews, which even the most conservative members of the Court support. Juvenile curfews are not always considered constitutional, but only because of the doctrine of in loco parentis, which lets the government function as a parent in cases where the minor is at risk. But even with juvenile curfews, the Court has traditionally found that they are unconstitutional unless a specific exception is made for political and religious activities. As for what one does at 2am: Work the night shift. Volunteer. Party. Drink. Screw. Visit Aunt Lucille. Whatever one wants, because one is a U.S. citizen. Unless there is exceptional risk to public order (as in the case of a natural disaster or riot), it's really none of your business or Melton's what I do at 2am, and he has never suggested otherwise. If you want to propose a blanket adult curfew, then please, by all means, run for mayor. But to my knowledge, we've never had a mayor who did. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

Sorry, Jocelyn, I know something named Joycelyn, thus the slip. Todd hates it when I call him "Tadd," too. ;-) Otherwise, I didn't "take your words out of context." You wrote as if it were fact: I applaud Frank for instituting a curfew for all ages ... I don't want readers to be misled by your post; thus, I pointed out that Mr. Melton has not done that, and to my knowledge it is not constitutional for him to do that. As for your disdain for anyone who would be out at 2 a.m. -- respectfully, that is not up to you, or Mr. Melton. It is none of either of your business why an adult is out at any hour unless he is she is going something that you can show to be illegal. As I said, we do not need a daddy state ... or a police state. This is America. Otherwise, I have little to say to your assertion that there's nothing wrong with telling law-abiding adults what we can and can do with our time. As an American who values the freedoms granted to us by our Constitution -- every freedom does not have to be delineated in the document, thank God; study up if you do not understand what I mean -- I have so little respect for such a view that I'm not going to get into a brawl with you about it, pure and simple. You are entitled to your opinion, but fortunately it is not the rule we live under. It would not be America if elected officials could arbitrarily decide when adults could move about as they wish, and I believe most Americans understand that well. But I do want it clear that adults in Jackson are not living under a "curfew." Thus the reason for my post to you.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

"Juvenile curfews are not always considered unconstitutional...," I meant to say. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

it's really none of your business or Melton's what I do at 2am, and he has never suggested otherwise. All of your post is right on, Tom, except for that statement. Actually, he has stated otherwise, when he declared to TV cameras that the city was under "lockdown" and that parents were to be inside their homes between midnight and 2 a.m.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Now, the Supreme Court can't make up rights out of whole cloth, but they can draw implicit rights from other amendments. The right to privacy which provided the basis of Roe v. Wade, for example, is implicit--or has at least been regarded for the past thirty-odd years as implicit--in the Fourth Amendment. Scalia and Thomas don't believe that it exists; the other seven justices have indicated that they believe it does. If Alito is added to the Court, then he may be the third justice who does not believe in a right to privacy. But even they recognize the explicit First Amendment right to assemble. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

Donna, I'd say that Melton has every right to say that parents should be in their homes between midnight and 2am. What he doesn't have the right to do is actually make it happen. There's a lot of Barney Fife "nip it in the bud" rhetoric from Melton, you'll get no argument from me on that, but the Constitution says nothing about prohibiting mayors from making fools of themselves in front of a TV camera. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

I just reread your post. Okay, point conceded that he did imply it was his business. I probably should have added a parenthetical "(when he's in his right mind)." Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

"I agree that Melton is a fresh personality who will bring entirely new ideas to the table (some good, some bad)" - TH He may be a fresh personality; but, I don't think he has any "new" ideas! The raids (sex shops, clubs), the threats (city boards, Maple Street, King Edward, citizen's rights), the "boot-camps", putting poor to work in trades, etc... What has he proposed that is "new" or "outside the box?" This man is trying methods that are proven to NOT WORK in running a city. He needs to go hire (or bring in privately) Ex-Mayor Campbell from Atlanta or some other bright folks who have turned cities around and bought "new" ideas to their cities. His focus is so far off base right now that we are going to be 10 years behind the 10 years we are behind come the end of his term. However, that does not mean he cannot right the ship and steer us in the right direction. He seems bright and is a very energetic person. Those two things combined with tighter lips and better council from his staff could work wonders. Though the outlook is slim. "Ever notice how most of Morgan-Quitno's "Most Livable States" have a high cost of living and are at least 90% white? I want to ask them "Livable for whom?" - TH And cold!!! You ae so right on with this comment, and one I made to my spouse earlier this week when I saw the article on the net.

pikersam

Nov 29 2005

what is there to do in the Jackson streets after 2m anyway? Pop's Around the Corner

Justin

Nov 29 2005

I think the word "curfew" is what's got you people in such a fray. If most of the clubs close at 2am or close by, then why not go to where you should go and not hang out in the streets? all Frank is doing is implying that people need either be peaceable at that hour, thus no need for a curfew, or use a few shock words to get people to talking about taking responsibility at that time of night and I all for that. You people act as if Frank is going to shutdown Jackson like the Richtstag...LOL GET OVER YOURSELVES.

Jocelyn

Nov 29 2005

pikersam, Melton has a pretty good history as a businessman and local volunteer. Most of it is pretty quiet, unimpressive stuff, but the man has staying power, learns from his mistakes, and is surrounding himself with bright people. Your assessment of Melton may turn out to be right, but my gut tells me that once he settles in, he'll be good enough. He'll still have his verbal gaffes and his Barney Fife moments, but in the final analysis, when we look at what he's actually done, I think we'll be reasonably happy with him. Maybe not as happy as we'd be with a third term of Johnson (for whom I also voted in the primaries), but things change. Jocelyn, you're all over the map here. First you said there was an adult curfew in Jackson, ostensibly in defense of Melton; then you acknowledged that there wasn't; and now you seem to be saying there isn't but ought to be. You asked to see the constitutional language prohibiting curfews, I showed it to you, and you haven't responded to it. You seem to believe that Melton is not being adequately tough and still needs to propose an adult curfew. I think that would doom his political career and end up getting struck down as unconstitutional anyway, so there's no point even if it were a good idea, which it isn't. I think you're still hanging on to that first post of yours in this thread where you said there's an adult curfew in effect courtesy Melton, and now that you find out it's not true, you're trying to rescue the comment somehow. That's a lost cause. Nobody thinks you're stupid. You had some bad information, and that happens to people all the time, and that's okay. But now it's time to give it a rest and move on. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

why not go to where you should go With due respect, it's not up to you or Mr. Melton to tell a law-abiding adult where we "should go." And I will never "get over" an attempt to limit freedoms. Sorry. If you don't like those kinds of conversations, I suggest you skip the Jackson Free Press and reserve your belittlement for people who give a damn about what people who belittle the idea of freedom. Protecting freedom, and watchdogging policitians who seem not to understand what freedom means in America, will always be a primary goal here. No apologies, Tadd. Oops, I mean Jocelyn.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Nobody thinks you're stupid. You had some bad information, and that happens to people all the time, and that's okay. But now it's time to give it a rest and move on. Tom (Tam?) makes a good point. There is no shame in believing the mayor's nonsensical rhetoric about "curfews" and "lockdowns"—however, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense not to question the rhetoric from time to time. The biggest question everyone should be asking is why Mr. Melton responds to any challenge with "It's over!" or "We're on lockdown!" or "We've instituted a curfew" — when none of those are true statements. They are merely sound bites, designed to pacify people who are used to hearing only sound bites for him and who are conditioned not to challenge dramatic sound bites. Again, sound bites do not prevent crime or make a city more "livable." On the "livable" point by the way, I agree that MQ is pretty much ridiculous, especially on the "livable" point. It is precious to watch the Ledge do the absolutely predictable thing and ignore the new "dangerous" rankings, though. They don't even have enough class to report the "news" whether it or not it supports what they've said in the past. They're pitiful. My prediction: The new rankings will show up within the next week buried deep in someone's column in a way that will de-emphasize them, as well as the fact that the Ledge did not report them as news in the same way that they reported the rankings when they were more negative. That's what they usually do.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Donna (Dora?), I think that we can figure out why Melton does what he does not by looking at what he stands to gain, but at what threatens him at the time. Right now, the C-L is all but implying that he should have donned a mask and cape and grappled down from the rooftops to prevent all those recent homicides. So he's responding with equally irrational tough guy rhetoric, fighting nonsense with nonsense. On the one hand that never works and on the other hand it always works. It never works in the sense that it doesn't convey any actual, you know, solutions; it works in the sense that it conveys passion and intensity. He'll never win reelection doing that, but it's an effective way to control the mainstream media by forcing them to focus on his personality traits rather than his policies. Melton goes overboard with this, but sometimes the situation calls for it. I still think a ridiculous commercial profiling Robert Moore as the ultimate badass, with "Eye of the Tiger" or something equally macho playing in the background as decreased crime rates and glowing personal accounts of his leadership play through, could have won Johnson reelection. We'll never really know, I guess, but... Thing is that Johnson was never a real politician. He was a policy wonk. I loved him for that, and he was much more decent than the usual mayoral candidate, but I always kind of wondered what would happen if he ran against somebody who was a master politician and a master at using the media because all of his earlier opponents (a scandalized Ditto, a white-gloved Charlotte Reeves, an invisible Daryl Neely) were so obviously out of their league. But by 2009, if Melton is still all sizzle, Jackson will be ready for its policy wonk again. And heck, don't be surprised to see me working for Johnson's campaign if that happens. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 29 2005

Tom, no one will ever accuse you of not going out on every limb to give Mr. Melton the benefit of the doubt. And I appreciate the spirit you're doing that in -- it's not blind naivte (or worse), as we've seen from many others. I completely agree with you that The Clarion-Ledger is likely to turn on a dime here if they perceive it as helping their readership in some way (which they desperately need to do). However, I think here that you are giving too much of a pass to Melton, being that he has alwayss done what he is doing now. It is not simply in response to the media blaming him for not being able to personally send Recio (his bodyguard) to watch over every house and business in town. The truth is, this is how he communicates. He talks in sound bites, and ran a campaign based on promises he wouldn't be able to fulfill. Common sense told one that. The danger, of course, now is that his "style" is going to adversely affect the city. The morale in the city administration is *extremely* bad right now. We got more reports today. People in the know are worried sick about what's going to happen. I'm not kidding. This is serious. I also do not think it is good enough to criticize public servants who worked hard for the city and make accomplishments for not being able to overcome the idiocy of the media in this town. What needs to happen, instead, is media literacy -- that is, educate people on what the media are, and are not, doing, and then empower and encourage them to speak out against the media that are, in fact, hurting the city. We have the power here if we will use it to make the media better, rather than continually having to dumb down the political discourse to something they are comfortable reporting to their consumers who hate Jackson. Alice Walker said, ""The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." That is a serious problem here in Jackson; too many people just assume that the media are going to be the way they are regardless, not to mention the political discourse. It does not have to be, though, and one way to change it is to say that a police chief does not need to don silly cowboy hats or mayors to dress up like a kid wanting to be a cop and busting sex shops to make us all "feel" safe. But we must first face a very basic truth: Mainstream media love crime. Reporting it. Sensationalizing it. Editorializing about it. Complaining about it. This doesn't always translate into doing a whole lot about it because -- guess what? -- they would loss a lot of their readership who only picks up the paper to read about the latest shooting or see a mug of a young "thug." We can be better than this. And we can make the media be better than this. The first step is deciding that it's not good enough.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

I should say: " ... helping to INCREASE their readership." I've seen no indication that the Ledge cares a whole lot about helping the readers themselves. Sure, individuals over there would like to, but the corporate model rather gets in their way. It's about profit margins, stupid.

DonnaLadd

Nov 29 2005

Thanks for this. I want to make it clear that I don't mean to sound like I'm giving a pass to Melton; I said that I felt his mayoral campaign was the worst I'd seen since Possum James', and I still wish he had a more policy-oriented administration. The fact that I feel like there's a method to what he's doing doesn't mean that I approve. But I've found that incumbency does good things to people sometimes, and my suspicion is that Melton will get better over time. He might not. If he doesn't, I'll probably be stuffing envelopes for some other Democrat in 2009, trying to do unto him as he did unto Harvey. But I came into this with a lot of respect for Melton as a human being--not because of his public persona, but because of what people who knew him said, because of his willingness to confront the inadequacies of the Kane Ditto administration, because he did light a fire under some people's derrieres, because of what he did with his time, because of what he'd accomplished during his career. Ordinarily I'm not big on fatcat capitalists, but I'm reminded of what Ginger Rogers once said about Fred Astaire: "I did everything he did, but backwards in high heels." For a black man to have as much local power as Melton had during the '80s, and for him to still be on top...that's incredible. I have to respect that. Plus he wasn't anybody's Uncle Tom; and nobody was immune from his criticism. I still remember that brilliantly worded RANT he delivered, circa '90, about the tendency certain white Jacksonians had to describe any group of young black men as a "gang." I knew what he was talking about because I lived in south Jackson and I remembered hearing some of my neighbors talk about the new "gangs" walking down the street, who were after all just black kids, and by all appearances law-abiding black kids. Stuff like that. Whether he was completely fearless and independent or not, he came across that way, and I think that's what people remember. I think that's why he was able to say "You know me," and offer up no platform, and still walk away with the election. I still maintain that the election had absolutely nothing to do with ideas. If Melton and Johnson reversed their platforms, I believe Melton still would have won just because he was Melton. You gotta remember: It was the TV stations and the white Clarion-Ledger and the black Jackson Advocate, and he was the only one up there kicking butt and taking names. In many ways, and I hope you don't take offense at this, I feel like his role in the culture was a lot like yours is now. I stopped watching "The Bottom Line" around '92 or '93, so I don't know for sure what he did during his later tenure, but during the early years he at least came across to this young teenager as a fierce and independent voice for Jackson. I liked him a lot. When he beat Johnson, the 27-year-old Tom Head was disappointed but the 13-year-old Tom Head was THRILLED. And I was hanging around at the integrated State Street Y at that point, my best friend biracial; if there was any race code, I was oblivious to it. There really was a Melton mystique. I was a huge fan of the guy. So maybe he's a really good svengali, maybe he's a really good guy all around, maybe he's something in between. I know he's a hothead. I know he shoots off his mouth. But he has done so much, and until recently didn't go out of his way to take credit for it, that I have to believe he has a fire in his belly and is sincerely concerned about the lives of low-income urban youth, and in the final analysis I have to believe it was that, maybe helped along by a certain amount of personal vanity, that finally led him to bite the bullet and run for mayor. That's not to say that I'm sure he'll be good. So far, he's been terrible. But I have a certain amount of hope that we really did know him when we voted for him, and that the bizarre, enigmatic hothead we just voted into office will do good things for this city after all. I'm loathe to think he's one of the bad guys. He's one of the incompetent guys, but incompetence can be fixed, or at least corrected for. He always implied, early on, that he didn't want to run for mayor because he thought he'd do a lousy job. Something, probably connected in some way to his tenure at the MBN, changed his mind. [continued]

Tom Head

Nov 30 2005

[continued] We get frustrated because Melton isn't discernibly policy-oriented. He comes across as a cowboy like Bush, not a deep thinker like Johnson. But we've got to remember that we're two people with graduate school educations, who spend considerable time studying this stuff and interested in municipal policy debates, who are having this conversation. That is, by and large, not Melton's target demographic. I suspect most people don't pay much attention to municipal elections, and what attention they do pay, they tend to pay to personalities. The debate did not generate blockbuster ratings; the City Council meetings don't seem to generate huge amounts of interest, which is probably why they're on public access cable instead of a local affiliate; city politics is, let's face it, less interesting than national politics. This is in large part the fault of the terrible local media, but also because there's no abortion, gay marriage, sexy international crisis, Supreme Court, or anything like that. The perception is that there aren't likely to be profound differences in policy between one candidate and another. This is why there are so many celebrity mayors and celebrity ex-mayors, and really, Melton is one of them. The Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura comparisons are, IMHO, very apt; like them, he won based on his popularity as a general public figure rather than based on his policy or his leadership record. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Nov 30 2005

I remember when Melton came to my high school...probably '91. He had everybody in that auditorium fired up like crazy! It was amazing. He started walking out with his mic still on and then right before he hit the door he let out his famous catch phrase, "and that, my friends, is the bottom line" and the crowd went nuts. He then disappeared into thin air... almost literally. We were in the back and ran out to see where he'd gone and he was nowhere to be seen. Undoubtedly, the man has a stage presence. Like you say, I think the 15-year-old millhouse (what I think I would've been when you were 13) would've been ecstatic about Melton's election. But the ousting of the first mayor that I think made tremendous progress in Jackson in a long time really left me dazed. And I don't doubt that many of the ones responsible for getting him into office are the same ones that call(ed) groups of black people "gangs". I definitely hope that the man becomes a competent mayor, for Jackson's sake. I think he has a lot at stake here with his reputation, etc. If he's a flop of a mayor, what will that do for his super-hero image? So, I'm sure he'll do everything he can to improve...surrounding himself with good people is the best thing he can do.

millhouse

Nov 30 2005

Tom, you might want to take the Ventura and Governator analogies a bit further. Arnold's not too popular, last I heard, and Ventura was not considered a successful governor. Also, if Melton's so smart, and surrounding himself with such smart people, why is 1/2 of what he proposes illegal or outside his authority? I don't see that he's learned anything in his first few months, and the mistakes he's making are stupid mistakes. I'm not impressed, either with his style or his 'policies.' If he's as smart as you say he is, why do we have to 'give him time to settle in' to his new role? How is it smart to demand the resignation of board members who do NOT fall under his jurisdiction, for one example. I don't see that as "a new mayor who hasn't settled in." I see that as supreme arrogance combined with ignorance of the laws - neither of which are qualities I admire in a mayor.

kate

Nov 30 2005

Tom, I apologize for not addressing your comments as promptly as you would've liked but I have to step away from the computer screen from time to time and BREATHE...lol Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ^^^Again, where is the mention of a curfew on here? or even the right NOT to have one? And the right to assemble peaceably is left up to the judgement of law enforcement these days, because I can't go out here and "peaceably" meet at the corner at 12midnight with 15 of my closest friends and not be immediately harrassed by JPD thinking we're a girl gang or lookouts or something..haha... try it and see what happens. and lisa, Imean ladd...lol..;o) no offense but I don't wish for Frank or me or anyone to tell you where you "should go", common sense does that for most of us anyway so we don't need to be told, it just happens. but you have some that want to wear their "freedom" badge just so they can stay out long enough to commit a crime and that's irresponsible. Somebody(Frank) has to do something...and making veiled threats (real or implied) is his way. He's always been like this. Remember his "Bottom Line" show on the WLBT? He hasn't changed one iota. And sadly, the "rule" we live under right now is not the same "rule" our parents lived under in the 40's and 50's and has gradually morphed into a police state over the years, you're just now seeing it happen due to things you are just now seeing physically(i.e Frank's brashness, Bush's boldnesss, Rumsfeld's cockiness...etc...), but on paper, we're already there lisa, I mean ladd :o)...Frank just has the beans to say such wild and "unconstitutional' things to create what I like to call "problem, reaction, solution"...He creates a problem with his words, his administration gets the people's reaction through your paper and other media outlets, then he offers his own brand of a solution...which will be? ??? *start the trailer....coming soon to theaters its.... Cowboy Frank...Rated J for Jails!***disconnected So in my eyes as an observer of you(the media) and Frank(the mayor)Your freedom to spew rhetoric about Melton's ideas on your site is just as bad as Melton's freedom to spew his "I'm the cowboy of jackson " mantra. you both fizzle each other out, unfortunately. So I'm not in argumentation with either of you (lisa and tadd), I mean ladd and Tom..;o)..I'm just pointing out to you that your rants of "foul ball mayor..foul ball!!" are exactly the response his camp wants to go forward with what they want to do and that is...to police us. it's a hard pill to swallow but it's the truth.

Jocelyn

Nov 30 2005

I agree with Kate. It seems to me that a smart person would learn the rules and laws before trying to take actions! How can you overcome obstacles and roadblocks if you don't know they exist, and haven't figured out how to avoid or overcome them? Without any real cerebration there won't be any calculated successes - only luck. He needs to consult and heed Sarah O'Reilly's advice before making decisions. A winner needs more than instincts and showmanship.

Ray Carter

Nov 30 2005

Quickly ... Love the Lisa-I-mean-Ladd; glad you have a sense of humor, being that you come on here like you have a dragon to slay, Joyce. Now to address your long response: *I* am not on the payroll of the taxpayers; Mr. Melton is. It is one thing to be a gadfly, or an editor, or a television station owner; it is another to be the mayor of a city. People need to learn the difference, and should have perhaps considered the difference before the election. Being good at one thing does not make you good at another. I would rather challenge you to show me how everything I write is "rhetoric," much like Mr. Melton's sound bites. With all due respect, Joyce, I suspect to make such an assertion, you do not understand the meaning of the word "rhetoric" any more than you seem to comprehend the idea that the government (of the U.S. at least) cannot cast a wide net -- say, by imposing a "curfew" or "lockdown" on adults at night -- because some might later do something wrong. That is NOT the country we live in or that our soldiers are dying in honor of. You can disagree with my conclusions, but the truth is that I am an information junkie. I do heavy research, I read widely, I talk to experts, I reason and compare before making statements. That is not spreading a bunch of rhetoric. Your statement about me is, quite simply, bullsh!t designed to try to discredit me because I am challenging a mayor that you seem to believe can do no wrong. That's your problem, not mine. I suggest you study up on logical fallacies; it would help every posting that you make. Otherwise, I've wasted enough keyboard time responding to you.

DonnaLadd

Nov 30 2005

On the topic of Sarah O'Reilly, Ray — I don't know her well, although I'm familiar with some of her past record. I will say one thing: Melton is making her look like a really bad city attorney. Either she is not giving him good legal advice, or he's not taking it. Either way, it doesn't look good for her resume.

DonnaLadd

Nov 30 2005

Agreed, Donna. The City Attorney is certainly trying to tell him what he can and can't do but he's not good backing down, changing horses, taking unwanted advice, or accepting the the words or theme, "you can't do that." Lots of financially and otherwise succesful people have these problem. They believe their truculence made them successful. Unfortunately, Johnson and Melton are viewed as two extremes. Johnson was a deep thinker but too slow to act. Melton is real quick to act, but, so far, doesn't appear to think critically at all. McLemore, Crisler, Blunson, and some more people, are going to teach him a democratic lesson before all is said and done. I'm worried he's going to fail the lesson and blame the teachers.

Ray Carter

Nov 30 2005

"I agree with Kate. It seems to me that a smart person would learn the rules and laws before trying to take actions! How can you overcome obstacles and roadblocks if you don't know they exist, and haven't figured out how to avoid or overcome them?["/i] - Ray Well if his posse hadn't spent the first two months trying to find "wrong doings" by the Johnson administration then maybe he would have found time to "learn the rules" of being Mayor. I mean they hit the ground running with accusations of gas theft, abuse by municipal clerks, personal vehicle abuse, that Johnson didn't balance the budget (ah... duh - you have too!), etc… You name it, it seemed like all they wanted to do was find some type of evidence that HJJ had been abusing the office and handing out contracts to cronies! So far, it is like WMD's in Iraq - ain't no where to be found and little evidence to show otherwise.

pikersam

2005-11-30T11:43:36-06:00

ID

71013

Comment

;o) slaying dragons? where did that come from? my demeanor is nothing of the sort, my comments are just contrary to yours and you don't appreciate it and that's fine. but I never said everything you write is rhetoric. but when you stick your own bad-taste feelings about the mayor into your writng it chips at your credibility a bit. unbiased reporting is the foundation of great journalism(to me at least). I have no qualms about you blasting the Mayor IF you blast the same people that are pulling the other end of the tug-o-war line (i.e. city council, other city officials and businessmen, even the governor, etc..).. but Frank is your whippingboy, and I understand that. It seems he can do no right in your eyes just as much as you claim he can do no wrong in mine. but on the contrary, Frank has done wrong in my eyes on a number of things, but I take my feelings out of it and study what's really going on and why he disappoints in some areas and conquers in others. and since I know a little bit about how shady politricks can be, I'm on the right track in saying, his hands are tied behind his back and no matter what he does good, his badspots will outweigh them because the badspots are the real issues and he can't do anything to fight those issues because his hands are tied. I don't want Melton to put on a vest and grab a badge no more than any of you, but if he can shake up local government and this city to the point where people will get off their rumps and make the city better instead of pointing fingers and blaming his position for everything, I'm all for it. I wish the Mayor of cities' had the last say on issues, but they don't, the city coucil holds the power, and that's reality. if the city council was more promoting a safe city, a vibrant city, a more commercial and attractive city, then the Mayor's job would be that much easier, WITHOUT him having to "push buttons" and make idle threats to the public at large. Being good at one thing does not make you good at another. You should take your own advice, because you can't be Maggie Wade in one instance and Judge Judy the next. and I really hope you don't get offended if I challenge your comments(and others) as much as I challenge Frank Melton's. Because I find both sides to have interesting p.o.v's even if I don't agree.

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T12:04:41-06:00

ID

71014

Comment

Frank's words are just that words..until action is put behind them. Like, if I say "Jackson, the bold New City", well, if jackson is not striving to be the Bold New City, then I'm wrong for calling it that and should be tarreed and feather for it...lol...just kidding,,but that's how I view Melton's comments about a "curfew lockdown"..it's a strong phrase that gets attention and that''s really what this city needs so we can start to pay more attention to our city and it's course. because afterall, WE the people are ultimately to blame for ALL the mess that happens here. NOT the Mayor alone. so when we point fingers at Frank, let's find others in city/local government AND the crowd that are just as guilty and challenge them too, shall we?

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T12:09:15-06:00

ID

71015

Comment

Jocelyn and Donna, I'm enjoying the fight. I hope that doesn't mean I perverted. Both of you express yourself quite well.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-11-30T12:20:28-06:00

ID

71016

Comment

I meant, I hope that doesn't mean I'm perverted.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-11-30T12:21:37-06:00

ID

71017

Comment

I would ask that we all support the Mayor to do a better job even if right now we feel he isn't instead of trying to assasinate his character. I'll rest my fingers now... ;o)..bing bing

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T12:32:18-06:00

ID

71018

Comment

Having watched the 3-ring circus that is Jackson politics these days, I am continually surprised and amazed at how ignorant "Da Mayor" continues to be regarding the rules of city government. I expected a sharp learning curve in the first couple of months, but his recent pick of Jayne Sargent and the firestorm that erupted from some council members, astounds me. I doubt that it is due to poor advice and counsel from his staff...just the opposite...he has picked, IMO, one of the most outstanding members of the community to be involved in his administration. From his excellent picks of Robert Walker as CAO, Sarah O'Reilly as City Attorney and Payton Prospere at Finance, to his more controversial picks of Pat Fordice initially for HHS and Jimmy Heidel, he shows an almost masterful stroke at forming coalitions with otherwise opposing groups, and has assembled a great team of advisors and leaders IMO. I believe these people are trying to give him good advice but he has to be willing to LISTEN AND RESPECT THEIR COUNSEL, which appears to be his biggest downfall as both a leader and a person. He is so busy sucking up all of the oxygen in a room with his rhetoric that he rarely seems to listen to good advice, choosing to say the first thing that enters his head rather than take a minute to consider the ramifications of his words and actions. While some may argue that he is picking "celebrities" instead of qualified candidates, I believe that what Melton is trying to do is send a message that Jackson is "open for business" to ALL, even the "white and middle-class flighters" in Madison and Rankin County who flew the coop when the City "got too black" for them but who might be willing to invest in Jackson again if City Hall puts out a red carpet for their dollars. This doesn't mean that he isn't about promoting home-grown and minority enterprise (it's almost a requirement in a city that is 70% black), but I think he also realizes that making Jackson better requires participation and capital investment from ALL of it's citizens...we can't afford to exclude anyone in the metro, even the folks who bailed out on Jackson when it was convienient. It's an interesting strategy, but one that may be undermined by Da Mayor's lack of diplomacy in dealing with the council, his empty rhetoric, his baffling tendency to declare proclaimations and policies w/o studying the legalities or impacts on taxpayers, and his thin-skinned responses to criticism.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-30T12:45:08-06:00

ID

71019

Comment

but I never said everything you write is rhetoric. but when you stick your own bad-taste feelings about the mayor into your writng it chips at your credibility a bit. unbiased reporting is the foundation of great journalism(to me at least). Then, you're in trouble, Joyce. There is no completely "unbiased" reporting, and objectivity is a myth. The best a good reporter can do is a ton of research and reporting, and then tell the truth based on it. That does not mean that you sugarcoat part of what a candidate or elected official does in order to look like you think that "half" of what everything they do is right in order to go around claiming that you're "objective" or "fair and balanced." That's a lie that bad media tell the public. The *truth* is what is important. And the *truth* is that everything I say about the mayor or anyone else is based on facts that I have gathered. And the *truth* is, so far he has done, or communicated, very litttle that is positive or shows that he knows how to lead the city, starting back during the campaign when he walked out of the JAN forum and other silly stunts to avoid answering actual questions that sound bites can't answer (which is what I and my style of journalism are known for). It is up to him to *do* it and *communicate* it, if he wants it out there. I am not going to make things up on his behalf, sugarcoat lies and mistakes he makes, or twist his words to help make him look better. As a member of the Fourth Estate, I am doing the public a disservice by doing that. I would leave this business before I twist myself into a pretzel to try to fit the truth into a neat little package of three quotes for/three quotes against. That's dishonest journalism, and I guess it figures that someone who seems to believe that the role of journalists is to make public officials look like they're doing a good job would think that's in "bad taste." You also seem to think that individual rights are in "bad taste"; thus, it's hard for me to respect anything you say beyond that. We operate in different realities. Obviously: "Jackson: The Bold New City" is a marketing label. And a mayor is doing to use the occasional sound bite. But Mr. Melton's problem is that he does not seem to communicate well beyond sound bites. It's as if there is little below them. If there is more there, it is up to him to figure out how to communicate it to the public. So far, he's going a bad job at communication, except perhaps to those who think that sound bites mean something substantive. I agree with you, by the way, Joyce that the Melton is not responsible for everything that happens in the city, especially crime. I start the above column saying that. But he is responsible for what he's responsible for—which isn't stopping all crime. It would be ridiculous for anyone to think he can do that, just as it was ridiculous for him to promise to. What we need to see the mayor do is his job. And that job includes not making rash statements and actions that will get the city sued -- and being intellectually honest about things like curfews. He, after all, should set an example for young people and not displaying a basic respect and understanding of the law and civil rights and liberties is not setting a good example for young people, not to mention adults. Finally, if Mr. Melton improves, we will report it. I don't want to see the city in an administrative mess for four years; it's not good for any of us. Our primary goal in our coverage is to watchdog the city to ensure that they get better and start respecting public accountability. They're still a ways from that. But I agree with others that I hope it happens. But I assure you that it won't if we don't get the hot spotlight on them. There's too much arrogance there for a number of those people to figure it out on their own. I expect some shake-ups will be needed along the way, but that happens in public office and business. The problem will be if bad managers are kept on who hurt the city, not if they're turned over. But, the bottom line is the leadership must come from the top. It could be that Mr. Melton needs to go get training somewhere in how to run a city, or find some good mayoral mentors. I don't know what his network is like within the municipal world, but shadowing some other good mayors could be worth his time. Just a thought.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T12:47:24-06:00

ID

71020

Comment

There is no "character assassination" going on here, Joyce, at least not of the mayor. You seem pretty set on destroying mine, but that's OK, I'm a tough cookie, and I'm pretty in tune with how my job works work. The fact that you think that questioning a public official's actions (and inactions) is "character assassination," I suppose, is in line with not understanding why you can't tell adults where they can and cannot be at 2 a.m. Again, we have very different views about what it means to live in a free country, I suggest.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T12:57:03-06:00

ID

71021

Comment

Let me add to my earlier post for clarity. By mentioning his pick of Ms. Sargent for HHS, I in no way mean to imply that she isn't qualified, just the opposite...I think it is a great choice, another in a line of great selections by this Mayor. But given the controversy he just went thru with Jimmy Heidel and his status as a consultant, I would have expected the Mayor to try promoting from within...there are surely qualified people in that department who could be elevated to department head? But he knowingly picked someone who would have problems being appointed, and appeared to rely on his friends on the counsel to back him to the 11th hour, which they did, but he comes off again looking like someone who routinely sticks his nose up at policy and conventional wisdom, in favor of his approach. I did vote for him because I felt he had a passion that Johnson lacked, but I also want him to lead in a fashion that promotes unity between government, the business community and the citizens of Jackson, not spark more controversy and create more division. I suspect most people in Jackson still believe Frank is doing a good job in spite of his public missteps just because he appears to be passionate about his office and sincere in his desire to combat crime (even if he can't do a darn thing to curb it); it would be interesting to see an opinion poll of the city electorate to get a sense of how his administration is perceived at this point.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-30T13:00:51-06:00

ID

71022

Comment

BTW, I suppose I'm not as bothered by Melton's "LOCKDOWN" proclaimation as some of you here, mainly because I welcome an increased police presence in Jackson and a more direct interface with the public (e.g. roadblocks, satellite precincts in shopping centers, etc.) if it can be done effectively and without violating basic civil liberties. One of the reasons you don't hear about crime in Pearl, Brandon, Madison and Ridgeland is because the bad guys know that crimes committed in those areas have to be well timed to avoid the numerous patrols throughout those cities. This doesn't mean that crime doesn't happen in those areas, but in theory a criminal is less likely to strike if his chances of evading capture diminish with increased police presence.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-30T13:21:50-06:00

ID

71023

Comment

Excellent comments, Ejeff and Donna. However, Ejeff, I wonder how anyone could truly believe Frank is doing a good job right now considering his failings and missteps that we have all highlighted or admitted and his obstreperous behavior and intrasigence to change?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-11-30T13:41:20-06:00

ID

71024

Comment

ejeff, your analysis seem quite smart. I agree with you that Mr. Melton's strength is, or should be, assembling diverse people. I, too, have been riveted listening to him speak to a roomful of people. You can see how his charm offensive works. But you're also right about the weaknesses in then empowering them and leading. He needs to identify his weaknesses and fix them. And, for the record, running a city is very different from running a business. Sure, there are things they have in common ... and there are things they don't. Like being instantly accountable to the public.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T13:42:27-06:00

ID

71025

Comment

I, as one Jacksonian, think Melton hasn’t a clue as to what he’s doing! I completely agree with Ladd, and hope that the JFP will continue to hold Melton accountable. The redundant sound bites are ridiculous and should leave most questioning Melton’s intellectual capacity.

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-11-30T13:47:08-06:00

ID

71026

Comment

The "lockdown" part seemed to be about citizens, not police, ejj, at least the way he told his former TV station. Sure, have more cops on the street, but don't create the atmosphere of a "police state." I believe there is evidence out there that such an atmosphere can actually increase the incidence of crime. Obviously, I don't agree that Melton is doing a "good job." At best, he has shown some glimmers of possibility that, so far, have been far overshadowed by his long stream of bad decisions, false statements and meaningless sound bites. I, for instance, really like his emphasis on fixing crumbling housing. However, where's the beef? Saying it is one thing; doing it is another. We need to hear less, and see more positive action. And a big dose of humility would be great. It's really goofy, and self-defeating, to promise the moon and not be able to deliver it. It's another story about people naive enough to believe that he can "solve" crime in 90 days. But it's Mr. Melton who is our employee, not all the people who bought the empty rhetoric. He's the one we have to focus our spotlight on and hope others folks learn some reality as he learns how to do his job right.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T13:47:37-06:00

ID

71027

Comment

Thanks, K. I don't believe we've always agreed on everything -- I forgive you -- but I appreciate the vote of confidence. Don't worry; it would be irresponsible of us as a media outlet to do anything other than hold public officials accountable, based on solid research and reporting. We're doing the best we can with our small staff and considering all the debris the city keeps throwing at us to try to throw us off course. I must say, Mr. Adam Lynch is a bulldog, and he loves and knows the city. Having him escorted out of a public meeting in City Hall by his bodyguard, as Mr. Melton did recently, isn't going to change our mission of telling the truth, and letting the chips fall where they may.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T13:50:57-06:00

ID

71028

Comment

I'm waiting, Ejeff. Please help me dispell the hoodwinked and bamboozled labels that are dominating my thoughs thus far about Da Mayor's performance.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-11-30T13:58:55-06:00

ID

71029

Comment

Adam got escorted out of a public meeting? FABULOUS!! I wish I would have been there. That there's my kind of good time. ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-11-30T14:06:34-06:00

ID

71030

Comment

Yes, there are some kind of journalistic angel wings you get when something like that happens. I can get you kicked out of something if you'd like, Ali.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T14:07:53-06:00

ID

71031

Comment

”Thanks, K. I don't believe we've always agreed on everything -- I forgive you -- but I appreciate the vote of confidence. Don't worry; it would be irresponsible of us as a media outlet to do anything other than hold public officials accountable, based on solid research and reporting. We're doing the best we can with our small staff and considering all the debris the city keeps throwing at us to try to throw us off course. I must say, Mr. Adam Lynch is a bulldog, and he loves and knows the city. Having him escorted out of a public meeting in City Hall by his bodyguard, as Mr. Melton did recently, isn't going to change our mission of telling the truth, and letting the chips fall where they may.” Ladd, you and I not agreeing, never! It is great to see local media hold public officials accountable. May the falling of the chips begin!

Author

K RHODES

Date

2005-11-30T14:17:03-06:00

ID

71032

Comment

ejeff, I don't equate curfews and lockdowns with more police presence. Those are two different things. Also, let's not forget that Melton dismantled the Crime Prevention Unit, and has yet to replace it with anything. To me, his words say one thing, and his actions another.

Author

kate

Date

2005-11-30T14:30:43-06:00

ID

71033

Comment

I've got to revise and print out a few hundred pages to mail in about three hours, so can't talk much, but... - Agreed that Melton sucks as mayor now. - Agreed that Melton ran a pretty bad campaign. - Reasserting that I don't think Melton will suck as mayor later. - Reasserting that I think Melton is a pretty decent guy, the mayor stuff aside. - Agreed that N-JAM support for Melton is not a good thing. - Reasserting that Melton received support from lots of good activists, too. - If Melton improves by 2009, I'll say I told you so. - If Melton doesn't improve by 2009, I'll likely volunteer for his strongest Dem opponent. - Really sucks that they "escorted" Adam from a public building. Not good. - Glad the JFP is calling Melton on all this, as much for his benefit as for ours. - Still not sure what Jocelyn is driving at. - Very much a fan of K's posts, especially when we disagree. I think that about covers it. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-30T14:39:03-06:00

ID

71034

Comment

ladd, don't fret. I'm not out to assasinate your character or Melton's. He's doing a good job of it on his own and you..well, I can't say you've stepped in the proverbial shit pile yet, good for you, so you can cool your heels...;o) All I'm telling you, in a nutshell is,Frank was elected by SOMEBODY, although none of of you here would claim him as your vote for mayor, so that means we have to deal with the mess of the thanksgiving table that was made...lol..and bashing Melton is no different than bashing all the past mayors, because they didn't do shit for Jackson either but mess it up more. and I didn't vote for Melton. I didn't even vote. why? what for? I saw the city on this "Melton crack high" thinking Jackson was headed for a cultural renissance after the "criminals" were snuffed out..but some dream that was. I didn't vote because I felt Melton wasn't the right guy for the job and Harvey was tired of trying to help Jackson. He, btw, was the best mayor jackson had in a long time in terms of moving the paperwork through in the mayor's office. some may disagree, but that's them. his hand were tied too when it came to crime and he too got demonized by the ledge constantly for his lack of controlling crime. It all boils down to the Mayor, whoever it may be, needs to have the cooperation of the citizens, city council., and businesses, ON THE SAME PAGE...to move forward. I can't sit here and dump all the cities ills on Melton or even blame him when he drops the ball and says something off the cuff...the man is frustrated!...I don't blame some of the outrageous things he's saying because it's obvious the majority of the people just don't give a damn themselves to respect one another and have a cool city that other people would love to brag on. He's doing the best he can. and to demonize him for shouting "GET YOUR MESS TOGETHER JACKSON OR I''LL LOCK IT DOWN!!" lol...then I'm all for it. Melton is from Texas, a much faster place than Mississippi, so to see how slow they move in Jackson to get stuff done, it's no wonder he's pushing butttons...it's pretty funny actually now that I think about it..:o)..You said something one time about holding people accountable, he's doing the same, just now, he's the Mayor and his threats are more surreal...lol

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T14:46:01-06:00

ID

71035

Comment

In response to... Ray C: I agree that several of us are disenchanted with "Da Mayor's" performance given his foot-in-the-mouth tendencies and missteps in making what should be simple political decisions, particularly in dealing with the City Council, but that's probably because we pay attention to politics in general. But my question is more of a rhetorical question for the City of Jackson as a whole, how does the average rank and file citizen see Frank at this point, especially if as I suspect many of them do not follow politics closely. Do they fall for the 30-second soundbites that get spewed from City Hall these days? BTW, I can't dispute the term hoodwinked in terms of the electorate, because I don't think most of the Melton voters really cared about Frank's qualifications to be mayor so much as they wanted to boot Harvey "do-nothing" Johnson out of office for whatever reason. As the sayings go, "buyer beware" and "you get what you pay for (or in this case vote for)". Ladd: I realize his term "Lockdown" was directed at the citizens, but I don't think most of us took it seriously, or even interpreted it as a true curfew. I still travel at night in the past week and haven't been stopped once (but then I don't really go around the city after 10 most nights anyway). I think most Jacksonians felt it meant that JPD would be out in full force with roadblocks, neighborhood patrols, and stopping of suspicious activities. For a true "Lockdown" to work, the business community would have to actively shut down at a specified time and everyone would be expected to be off of the street (martial law). Again, w/o having a declared "state of emergency", this would be impossible to do for the Mayor of JPD alone. Maybe it's a question of interpretation, but I don't think even JPD took the term to it's most literal sense, but I could be wrong.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-30T15:27:20-06:00

ID

71036

Comment

Jackson citizens are known for finger pointing, I know because I was notorious for it until I started to hold more than one person accountable if it involved more than one person and to run Jackson involves more than one person(being the Mayor) ...so I for one, don't want to be blamed for it so I'm trying to find out who else is mucking with progress in the city of Jackson and let's put their feet to the flame too. melton was in hot water before he became mayor, nothing new. I want to know what's the causes for the delays instead of dogging the one in charge of the city. it's counter- productive in my eyes. Every Mayor of jackson seems to stall out and no, Melton does not know how to be a Mayor, but a landslide voting turnout shows that WE as a whole picked this poison...so drink up. I applaud your efforts to "watchdog" him, but without a concrete sitdown/stand up press conference with him to get concrete his-own-words answers, we are out of luck. all we have to go on is your paper bashing him for not taking your interviews which piss people off, or the ledge asking the wrong questions, which pisses people off...lol..or him getting on TV using his connections to granstand, which pisses people off..lol which goes back to my original point I was trying to make, which was, there is really nothing we can do about Franks rants or indecisions or idle threats. all we can do is react to whatever he's pitching and next time...vote with a purpose..lol..we got a few more years...let's support the positive things he's doing before he hauls off and paints a yellow line down the middle of Jackson and say he's making a new city out of one side and making a jail cell out of the other side..lol...don't push him..he'll do it!...lol

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T15:28:42-06:00

ID

71037

Comment

I HEART ADAM. Adam, if you need a body guard, I'll be happy to tag along. Will also bring the evil, deaf, attack dog that can't hear "no". ;-) I also wonder where all those people caught for lewd behavior at the "sex shops" are? Anyone? They like to boast that some men were caught having sex in public but no arrests? Much like the promises I've heard about housing and crime, no substance. There, I feel better. <<>>

Author

kaust

Date

2005-11-30T15:29:05-06:00

ID

71038

Comment

THANK YOU ejeff....THANK YOU

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-11-30T15:29:42-06:00

ID

71039

Comment

Jocelyn, actually, all we have to go on are Frank's own words and actions. And, I don't see anyone on this blog blaming Melton for Jackson's problems, because it's obvious Jackson's problems have been around for a long time. I want Frank to be a Mayor, not a cowboy. I want to to do his job, not make grandiose statements. And mostly, I don't want him doing stupid and illegal things, because he's too arrogant to understand his role as the mayor. ejeff, the MAYOR should not IDLY be using words like LOCKDOWN and CURFEW. It makes him look (at least to me) arrogant and ignorant at best, and down right creepy and scary at worst. If he's not serious about these actions, why is he threatening us with them? As Donna explained upthread, he's setting a horrible example in this city, and displaying woeful ignorance of existing laws. It's embarrassing, as well as scary. And, it ticks me off that we get all this overblown rhetoric from the man who whacked the Crime Prevention Unit. As for the roadblocks, what good do they do? We went through one a few weeks ago, and the glance at my driver's license did nothing for security in Jackson. And Tom, Melton better be "improved" well before 2009.

Author

kate

Date

2005-11-30T16:43:10-06:00

ID

71040

Comment

“I realize his term "Lockdown" was directed at the citizens, but I don't think most of us took it seriously, or even interpreted it as a true curfew.” – ejeff Don’t you see you have made our point ejeff? As the elected leader of our city, any city, you do not go around making idle threats or speaking off the cuff. It is the surest and quickest way to lose respect from your constituents and lose office. I think we have all heard the “Boy who cried Hog” commercial and know that you do not “cry wolf” nor say the “sky is falling” without repercussions. “All I'm telling you, in a nutshell is,Frank was elected by SOMEBODY” - joycelyn Umm… maybe we should go ask the Hinds Co. Election Commission who exactly voted for Melton. You know, they were being such good partners and playing fair with the city during these elections. NOT! Add to all this that we now have a leader who finds it necessary to “remove” a reporter from City Hall (a place we pay for and maintain) “JENGA” is about to be yelled from the citizens as Melton topples us. Leaving us to pick up the pieces while he heads back to that ultra-fast state of Texas – you know since they do things so much better over there joyce. And is it just me or is the downtown area actually getting worst. I see more windows broken on State St., more vacancy signs on Capital St., and just more trash in the streets.

Author

pikersam

Date

2005-11-30T16:54:25-06:00

ID

71041

Comment

Don't you see that I don't disagree with any of you regarding the Mayor's willy-nilly-silly use of these terms. I'm actually just as tired of the rhetoric as you all are. I simply recognize the limitations of his office and his powers and I don't take his threats seriously. If the Mayor lacks the political sense to know what he can and can't do and what the limits of his powers are, then he shouldn't have ever run for office. But he did, and he was elected by a clear majority (not of the entire electorate, but those who bothered to vote), and since we don't have recall powers in this state, we are stuck with him (until hopefully a better candidate runs in 2009, are you listening Marshand?). Which means taking what he says at face value and comparing it to what he really can and can't do. It does undermine his credibility with people who may have believed he would be the "greatest" mayor in Jackson's history, but it doesn't do much but irritate folks like me who knew better. What's truly sad is that as brilliant as most of the appointments he has made are, I fear that his lack of political sense and clear boundaries will undermine their ability to do their job, and will probably result in several resignations between now and 2009.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-11-30T17:07:16-06:00

ID

71042

Comment

I gotta teach a class, so I only got a sec. ejeff, I actually agree with much of what you've said. However, it is inexcusable for me for a grown man, much less a mayor, to go around and make untrue, or illegal, or unconstitutional declarations all the time. The judge in Meridian didn't buy his excuse that he didn't know better when he lied under oath. Why should Jacksonians? There's the potential for even more lawsuits, and at the very least, it's making the city of Jackson look really silly, and at a time when we're swarming with national media looking for yet another reason to bash Jackson (see Brian's article this issue about the NYT bashing of Jackson). Melton already made a fool made out of us in Business Week, for goodness sake. THIS type of behavior is not good for business, dude. And Joc, you are so all over the map with your comments that I'm not going back in to defend myself against your attacks. Suffice it to say that YOU ARE NOT READING WHAT IS WRITTEN and then making declarations about what others are saying that they are not (like the idiocy about people here saying all of Jackson's problems are the mayor's fault. That was the Ledge in the last administration, remember? People around here are capable of critical thinking). Twisting people words repeatedly is a violation of the User Agreement, just so you know. Secondly, some good-heartedly ragging of other bloggers is fine and fun, but your vicious little "lol" after every sentence makes it sound like you are belitting other people's comments, which you are, simply because they disagree with you. Such public belittlement is considered trolling. Thus, based on two different types of violation of the User Agreement, and repeatedly, this is your last cause. Follow the rules, or leave this site. Your choice. And don't argue about it on here; I will simply delete it and ban you. Your only choice here is to, from this point forward, post respectfully. You can disagree, but the ugliness is over here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T18:23:03-06:00

ID

71043

Comment

... last CALL ... not "cause"

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T18:23:44-06:00

ID

71044

Comment

Agreed that it'd be nice if Melton improved before 2009. Heck, I'd like for him to have improved before he actually got into office. You remember, I'm sure, how much I kvetched that his campaign was not adequately policy-oriented, that it had no platform. I was astonished that he beat Johnson. I have heard, from a wonderful progressive champion we both know and love, that Melton is bringing in some longtime, credible people who were well liked by the Johnson administration and is showing signs of listening to their counsel. That's partly responsible for my optimism. Another part of it is that I still feel like I know Melton, on some level. But I dunno. I'm strange, Donna. Saw a conservaitve person tonight (sometimes identified with N-JAM) who I hadn't seen in a while that I'd had many angry arguments with online, and I saw him in person and just melted. Shook his hand, shook his little daughter's hand, asked how he'd been doing. None of the anger was there. I just might not have the right personality traits to play an effective role in political activism when I'm not dealing strictly with policy and ideas. And it isn't even that I'm being manipulated; it's that I'm honestly just plain not wired that way. It takes an AWFUL lot for me to see anyone as part of an enemy faction of any kind. That's why I would be completely worthless as a military person. My BSRI score is 0.53, and while I come across as pretty male in person, my personality is really very, very effeminate. More so than yours in many ways, I think. I'm not the Union soldier out on the battlefield; I'm the Union housewife with a cousin in the Confederate army who hopes nobody gets hurt. Of course, all of this changes when there's something I can actually do. Hearing that his bodyguard sent Adam away, I'm already trying to think "How could more mainstream press attention be focused on this?" But a deeper undercurrent is "What could I do to make Melton see what a good paper the JFP is, what its goals are, what it's here to do?" Because I think we both know that he has a very inaccurate idea of what you folks do. I don't think he's scared because you're the Light of Truth or whatnot. He's obviously convinced himself that you're some kind of fanatical pro-Johnson rag. So how would I explain this to him, if we were standing together in a hallway, to put the bug in his mind so that he might take a second look and realize what you're really trying to do? It may be that I'm being overly generous to Melton. I have no idea; I can't read the man's mind. All I know is that, looking at his story or what I know of it (not from his campaign commercials but from people who actually know him, and knew him 10 or 15 years ago), my gut tells me that he's just learning, that he's doing the best he can, in his way, that he genuinely cares about the kids he's worked with in Jackson and wants to do anything that he can, anything at all, to make their lives better. He's a very flawed person, sure, and the story of Melton's term, for me, is whether his good qualities will outshine his flaws or vice versa. Jury's still out, but I'd like to think you'll be in for some pleasant surprises. But if he keeps this up, then Jackson's well-being trumps his, obviously; I'm patient with Melton, but his political future is not a priority for me. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-30T20:15:36-06:00

ID

71045

Comment

I might have sold my commitment to fighting the good fight a little short (my Civil War fantasy would be more underground railroad than oppressed housewife), and I never meant to call either of us "effeminate" (what a dreadful word), but you know what I mean. Or not. I'm not really sure how well I got my point across. Very rough couple of weeks for me as you know, and the effects of all that plus sleep deprivation plus a really stiff book deadline make me rambling, introspective, and not particularly coherent. I think maybe I should finish up my work early, put in a good 8 hours of sleep tonight, and wake up by a number that has an A.M. after it rather than a P.M. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-11-30T21:56:07-06:00

ID

71046

Comment

Don't worry, Tom, I'm still confused about why you shouldn't shake the hands of someone you disagree with. Discourse should not be so damn personal, although too many people make it personal in order to try to discredit and then it causes all sorts of acrimony. I'm all for getting along with people I don't agree with; truly negative, nasty people I just try to avoid. I may or may not be civil to them when I see them in public; depends on my mood. But, fortunately, there are so few of them around that you don't have to think about it very often. As for Melton, the public pressure seems to be mounting quickly for him to figure it out. That's what I want to see him do as well, but a big part of that is going to involve canning the rash comments and decisions that aren't lawful or don't make sense (like those boot camps. Lord. Does he not study any of the research!?! The only thing the phrase "boot camp" is good for is getting votes from vicious people who always thinks it's "the other" people's kids causing the trouble, until it's their's being treated like dirt and them being blamed for it). But that's a conversation for a different thread. So we wait. Strikes me that the ball is in Mr. Melton's court. But it does seem that the pressure is mounting.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-30T23:13:01-06:00

ID

71047

Comment

to kate: I agree with you totally, but in the spotlight of mayor comes pressure and when Frank is talking or making grandiose statements, I find that it seems to come from a pent up frustration that he is encountering before he goes to press and it seems all he can do to say something brash to jig everybody off because apparently his views and ideas aren't being welcomed as the new mayor. now how come, the majority landslide of Jackson voted on him but somehow he can't get a thing done? what's wrong with this picutre? ladd, pardon me for interpreting your words as I did but I assure there no "attack" going on here. I get confused everytime you mention it. If anything, I'm trying to see where you and others stand on the Mayor's report card thus far. I would give him a strong C+, given the people and resources he has to work with. Above average is passing in any school. I think he'll get a lot better with time and the people he has to work with understand that he is serious about improving Jackson...shock value or not. thank you. I'm done with this topic.

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-12-01T09:29:34-06:00

ID

71048

Comment

Jocelyn, what is wrong with the picture is that Frank won't learn and master the rules and laws that would allow him to get things done. The system of rules and laws are not going to go away so Frank can practice Frankisms. He also refuses to build the allies and coalitions that would aid him in getting things done. No man is bigger than rules, policies and laws. There are calculated and thoughtful ways to overcome rules, policies and laws but he want take time to learn them. The city council isn't as dumb as the electorate.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-12-01T10:10:20-06:00

ID

71049

Comment

I might add, Jocelyn, that all systems without checks and balances have failed. No man is capable of checking and balancing himself completely. The Bible and every history book bear witness to this.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-12-01T10:21:40-06:00

ID

71050

Comment

I think I suscribe to Tom's line of thinking. While many of Da Mayor's actions and language mystify me, I have chosen to try to remain optimistic that his learning curve will flatten out, and his tone-deaf ear to criticism will be corrected. But much of that depends on his willingness to examine himself and his own actions and words. Melton doesn't come across as a deep thinker, but I would like to believe that he is capable of learning from his mistakes (if he chooses to) and will either learn to play the game that is city politics, or he will pack up his toys and leave in 3.6 years. I unless he can deliver a stellar record of accomplishments over the next four years that he can convince Jacksonians have moved the City forward, he will be a one-term mayor. Hopefully we won't have all pulled out our hair in frustration.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2005-12-01T10:22:54-06:00

ID

71051

Comment

I'm hopeful he will learn from his mistakes too. He has this wonderful opportunity to be all Johnson couldn't be. He knew Johnson's shortcomings and imperfections after watching him for 8 years. He has known Frank longer, and if he doesn't know his own shortcomings and imperfections then I don't feel sorry for him. If Frank is really smart he will take some time to study his missteps, think critically about the tasks before him, and seek the advise and counsel of some wise and smart people near and far from him. The mouth or tongue is a wondrous thing. It feeds us. It speaks for us. It often propels us. It adorns us. And, as my daddy and too many friends and enemies have shown me, the mouth or tongue can get get you in lots of trouble, including getting your ___ whupped. I have no empathy or sympathy for a grown person letting his mouth write checks his behind can't cash. We should know better.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-12-01T10:54:50-06:00

ID

71052

Comment

just when I was about to leave this alone Ray Carter says something so disturbing that I wonder if Jackson is really a zombie town. Now, I understand if you people feel Melton is the wrong guy for the job as do I, so I suspect you all either voted for Harvey or didn't vote at all. that being said, what does it say about the other 99% of citizens of Jackson who overwhelmingly voted this guy in and not know that he's politically inept to run the city? I'll tell you, It's called the blind leading the blind. I gotta go...please let me go...lol...:o)

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-12-01T11:30:58-06:00

ID

71053

Comment

99% of citizens voted for Melton? Jocelyn, you're impressing the heck out of me with your in depth research and accurate comments.

Author

kate

Date

2005-12-01T11:35:31-06:00

ID

71054

Comment

I get confused everytime you mention it. If anything, I'm trying to see where you and others stand on the Mayor's report card thus far. Jocelyn, your more recent post is better without the belittlement. I'm sorry if you can't see how many of your words are in "attack" mode. One hint is the little "lol" you put after your comments about what you think other people are saying as if to make fun of them from some superior throne. I doubt anyone is offended about what you think of them -- I am not -- but it makes you look silly and discourages intelligent discussion on a thread, as any troll postings do. The other problem, and it's a bigger one in my book and I don't let it go on for long, is that you are either not comprehending what people are writing, or are intentionally rewriting it to something you can then attack. I, for instance, have never ONCE said that all the city's problems are Mr. Melton's fault. In fact, I say just the opposite and in clear words that any adult with basic reading comprehension skills can understand. I also am (a) not having a war of "rhetoric"; I talk specifics and facts; (b) not "bashing" him -- that would mean a personal attack and not criticism of specific actions and inactions of a public servant; (c) not "sticking bad-taste feelings about the mayor" in to "bash" him. The truth is, I like him in person; he even told me I remind him of his journalism days (when he challenged public officials). And I have had several conversations with him by this point. I am not quoting the content of those talks yet because they merit further discussion first. However, he and I have talked about sitting down and doing a JFP interview soon. I'm hoping that happens. I think the public would really enjoy just reading his answers to a series of substantive questions, much as Adam did with the sheriff last week. If it happens, I will publish the whole thing on the Web site, unabridged. The bottom line is ... Mr. Melton has potential as many people have stated. He's got to go work on his weaknesses and get some learnin' and good advice that he listens to on how to run a city, not alienate employees and citizens, how to be open and accountable even to media who question him (like he used to question public officials); think before he speaks and acts; and so on. That is his responsibility here, and there is nothing "bashing" about saying that. We have devoted more time than any other media in Jackson trying to understand Mr. Melton, his promises, plans, ideas, actions and so on. We are going to do that whether or not he talks to us directly and, frankly, if he is only going to talk in sound bites in an interview, the interview ain't worth diddley squat anyway. That is, we are doing everything in our power to fulfill our responsibility as a media outlet in Jackson. We are reporting, commenting on what we find as we deem necessary and letting the chips fall where they may. I believe the Frank Melton of old would approve mightily.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-12-01T11:37:25-06:00

ID

71055

Comment

kate, give me a break. musteverything I say be taken out of context? I only said 99% as a metaphor for the landslide victory he got running for Mayor. can you please addresss something other than a few vague comments I make here and there. it's not like I'm talking french or something..wee wee..;o)

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-12-01T11:39:35-06:00

ID

71056

Comment

the other 99% of citizens of Jackson who overwhelmingly voted this guy in not a factual statement no matter how you parse it. and not know that he's politically inept to run the city? It's not the "politically" part that is the most disturbing, although that's proving to be true, too, it seems. Are you blaming the citizens for not knowing what they didn't know? I'm not. I don't believe you can blast an entire citizenry for believing in someone who tells them what they want to hear, and a mainstream media that repeats it without question or context. Mr. Melton is responsible for his actions and inactions; the media are responsible for theirs. And the "zombie town" thing is just stupid; it's not even clear what you're responding to in Ray's comments. It's clear that you just want everyone to say, "Frank's doing a great job!" and be done with it. I hate to tell you this, but you're on a blog where people think for themselves. And you can leave anytime you want, Joyce. No one's asking you to stay, or tethering you here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-12-01T11:42:33-06:00

ID

71057

Comment

kate, give me a break. musteverything I say be taken out of context? I only said 99% as a metaphor for the landslide victory he got running for Mayor. Jocelyn! You made an unfactual statement; there is no "metaphor" in that. I'm getting suspicious here. Are you F.M.? You're kinda doing what he does: Make declaratory statements and then say, "aw, I didn't mean that" when challenged. I'm tired of it. You're derailing conversation here with this goofy crap. And, yes, if one thinks about it, there sure is a metaphor in that part.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-12-01T11:45:06-06:00

ID

71058

Comment

ladd, that was a hell of a speech. I've been net-spanked. I use lol's a lot, that's just what i type when I want to express something instead of typing "that's funny to me" or "wow" I'm sorry if your feelings are tender about it but I've noticed it all over this site, am I missing something? I see "lol", ";O)" amongst all kinds of keystrokes here. but I digress. *wink*

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-12-01T11:52:19-06:00

ID

71059

Comment

no, I'm not F.M....<-- Frank I suppose. I'll just say landslide from now on, ok? sheesh louise..<-- can I insert a laughy icon here please? I'm derailing? I'm not the one perceiving attacks at every reply. I'm paranoid now.. noooooooo

Author

Jocelyn

Date

2005-12-01T11:55:29-06:00

ID

71060

Comment

No, Jocelyn, you are the one who is putting words in people mouths and accusing them of bashing, bad taste, being a zombie and then having "tender" feelings when they call you out on such, yes, attacks. It's not my problem that you do not know how to have a conversation without making it personal, thus derailing it as you have done. We're done here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-12-01T12:02:18-06:00

ID

71061

Comment

Joycely, I wasn't making a threat to you or anyone else; I was only trying to illustrate how talking before thinking used to get us children into trouble, including fights we couldn't win and should have avoided. Most of us learned from those incidences while still children. In other word, wisdom demands we think before speaking on important issues, matters, and situations. If Frank continually refuses to do that, why shoud anyone have sympathy or empathy or forgive him. Similarly, I was trying to make a point about the limitations of man. Proverbs is a great illustration of this. In that book of the Bible, King Solomon, widely reported as the wisest man to ever live, talks about the limitations of himself and all of mankind. King Solomon realized he needed the aid and counsel of someone greater and other than himslef to be all he was capable of. This is no less true for people who don't believe in the Bible. Any experienced and logical person will tell you that you can't run anything successfully without learnig the rules, policies and laws of success. Unnecessary stubborness and pride are often a detriment to succeeding. Harvey Johnson can tell you about this.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-12-01T13:58:00-06:00

ID

71062

Comment

and his obstreperous behavior and intrasigence to change Spoken like a true Tougaloo graduate! ROTFL Now, back to lurking...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-12-01T21:25:37-06:00