Jackson Free Press

As rumors swirl about everything from gas prices to lawlessness, the City of Jackson has seemed to take a bunker mentality. They are, apparently, having "briefings" twice a day between the city and the Hinds County EOC—but are not opening them up to the media, or media questions. They give us a hand-out of "highlights" afterward, but we cannot ask questions about where power is being restored, the priority of restoration, the problems, gas issues (and all sorts of rumors are floating on that), issues regarding potential crime and looting and what should be done. Very importantly, there doesn't seem to be key people addressing issues of refugees and what the people of Jackson can, and should, do to help them. Here at the JFP, the e-mails and phone calls are fast and furious with questions and requests—and we can barely handle them, although we are doing our best.

We are leaving messages for city administrator Robert Walker, with the Public Information office and other pertinent personnel—but with little response so far. We are told from upset people within the city that the Mayor himself has not been showing up for the briefings this week.

These are difficult times, this is the capital city, our population is swelling with refugees from the storm, and we need to know that the Mayor is coordinating efforts and information. We are even hearing reports of some people trying to move out of Jackson out of fear from the rumors. This will not do.

We ask JFP readers to help us by calling the city and request that they open these briefings to the media at the very least and be willing to answer questions, or tell us you do not know the answer. We also encourage the mayor to appear so that he can answer questions about what's being done, what's to be expected and what Jacksonians can do to help others in need. Referring us to organizations like the Red Cross that are too swamped to answer their phones will not do, either. We need leadership and accurate information through this difficult time. Now.

City Public Information Numbers:
601.960.6615
601.259.2470

Also, feel free to post any unanswered questions here. I have it on good authority that the mayor's office reads the blog, even if they do not respond to public information requests.

— Donna Ladd

Previous Commentsshow

I just got this City Briefing from this morning e-mailed from the Public Information Office. I have asked numerous times over the weeks for such statements to be e-mailed, rather than faxed, so that I can post them on the Web site. I appreciate that they complied with most recent request for this today. This is a start, but we still need those briefings open to the media so that we can ask questions. HIGHLIGHTS OF 9 A.M. BRIEFING FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS REGARDING STORM RECOVERY The City of Jackson and the Hinds County EOC will conduct briefings twice daily to update information in the continuing recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Briefings are at 9:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. The pressroom at the Hinds EOC is available. Highlights from todayís afternoon briefing: POWER ï Entergy officials reported Friday morning that 18,000 more customers in the City of Jackson had their power restored. The number of customers without power is now 38,446 in the city. The company states that progress is being made, but reminds citizens that storm debris is still being cleared for crews to reach certain areas. After the storm Monday night, the number of customers without power was 72,000. PUBLIC WORKS ï Water system pressure is returning to normal. Samples sent to the state Department of Health on Thursday for contamination readings are being analyzed and results made available Saturday morning. Water well system pressures will return to normal levels by Saturday. Sixty waste water lift stations out of 93 in the city are back online and operating at capacity. There are only 35 traffic signals in the city that remain without power. Approximately 60 traffic lights suffered minor damages and are partially operational. Replacement parts for those signals in disrepair have been shipped and received. Public Works crews will begin repairs immediately. PHONE SERVICE ï BellSouth reported Thursday morning that service had been restored to 11,000 customers and were working with Entergy to get to service restored to customers in Jackson. POLICE ï Curfew remains in effect for persons under the age of 18 years old. The hours of curfew are between 10 p.m. ñ 6 a.m. A curfew for businesses will be enforced between the hours of 12 a.m. ñ 6 a.m. JPD reports no major looting and problems involving long lines and disturbances at gas stations is being alleviated with beefed-up patrols at those locations. FIRE ï Only five of the cityís 21 fire stations remain without power, down from seven on Thursday. Those without power are located south of Hwy. 80 include #24 Wiggins Rd., #15 Clinton Blvd., #11 Terry Rd., #14 Lynch St. and #12 McFadden Rd. The station at Flag Chapel Rd. still has no telephone service. Chief Chandler advised that several city firefighters have volunteered to help with recovery efforts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. PARKS ï Parks and Recreation are preparing community centers for use as possible shelters for evacuees or residents who need them. Facilities include Grove Park, Medgar Evers and Champion, which now has power. Smith-Wills Stadium is being used by utility companies as housing for work crews. Members of the Jackson Senators management will be providing food to utility workers on-site. The ASA National Softball championships to be held in Jackson have been moved to Albany, Ga. BUS SERVICE ï Mayor Frank E. Melton issued an executive order Thursday allowing all citizens and visitors to ride JATRAN buses at no charge. The order will remain in effect until further notice from the Office of the Mayor. WATER & ICE ï Water and ice is being made available again on Friday at the Mississippi Fairgrounds. Distribution is limited to city and county residents and begins at 8 a.m. Proof of residency is required either by drivers license or student identification card for local college students. Water remains plentiful and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has dispatched 50 more trucks of ice to the Fairgrounds to be available on Friday. Water and ice can also be found at the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College on the north parking lot. SHELTERS ï Seventy-five evacuees have been moved from T.L Love Community Center to the Trademart on the Fairgrounds, where there are cots and showers. Another 25 are leaving today for other accommodations in Georgia. Human and Cultural Services expects to find shelter space for 75 medical personnel arriving from the VA in New Orleans today, possibly re-opening Champion Community Center. They report that about 450 meals are being delivered to senior citizens every day. Please call the Mayorís Action Line at (601) 960-1111 to volunteer in shelters or to aid seniors.

DonnaLadd

Sep 2 2005

Good news. Nash Nunnery, Public Information Officer of the city, just called me personally to tell me that the city is holding an "emergency City Council meeting/press conference at City Hall at 2 o'clock. The mayor will be there." Thank God. And don't say that yelling never works. We'll keep y'all posted.

DonnaLadd

Sep 2 2005

This afternoon at the emergency City Council meeting, all Council members called for better coordination and communication by the city. We will have more details soon on the specifics of this meeting; meantime, here is a press release that the mayor's office just sent about the meeting: MAYOR MELTON ENCOURAGES CITY TO AID DISPLACED VISITORS Mayor Frank E. Melton encouraged and requested that all local institutions of higher learning accept any displaced college students and that the federal government provide vouchers for all such students to aid in continuation of their studies. He also requested that all local and licensed day care facilities coordinate with the emergency agencies, such as FEMA, MEMA, EOC, etc. to provide assistance to any displaced pre-school children in the City of Jackson. During an emergency session of the Jackson City Council Friday afternoon, the mayor asked that the Jackson Public Schools accept all displaced elementary and secondary school-aged children housed in the city to the extent that the school system can accommodate them, and requested that the city implement assistance to provide space and/or teachers to the local school system for this purpose. The mayor also encouraged and requested that all clean up contractors contracting with the city utilize and employ local citizens as well as any able-bodied adults. He has directed and asked the Planning Department of the City of Jackson to immediately begin implementation of a housing program to provide displaced persons in the city housing opportunities, which includes structure rehabilitation necessary to provide adequate temporary and/or permanent housing.

DonnaLadd

Sep 2 2005