Jackson Free Press

Also: Darren Schwindaman's editorial cartoon

Tempers flared at the June 27 Jackson City Council meeting between some council members and Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. To date, major crime is at least 16 percent higher than for the same period in 2005, according to crime statistics the Jackson Free Press revealed to the public weeks ago, and council members were eagerly waiting for the mayor to reveal a plan on how to combat the rising crime rate.

Melton dedicated the majority of his campaign platform to crime—saying he would eliminate it in 90 days—and faced embarrassment when the numbers turned out to be up, and mounting community mistrust when he tried to hide the numbers. The mayor's recent "state of emergency" rattled Council members, and thanks to his exclusionary methods in dealing with the council they had no information for panicking city residents begging them for answers.

"It seems to me that if we had stressed the enforcement of our current ordinances and curfews that we already have on the books that we would not have had a need to declare an emergency," McLemore told Melton June 27. "We are inviting people to come to our community and we have an open city, and I really think this emergency order sends the wrong signal. I read in the paper that you're going to renew it for another five days. As I recall there was no briefing by you or your office on this emergency of the council. So could you share with us what is the plan?"

"No sir, I will not share with you (the plan)," Melton responded. "It makes no sense whatsoever to tell the bad guys how you're going to deal with them, and that's a mistake that we've made (in the past). … The emergency order gives us the latitude to do what we have to do without having a whole bunch of discussions with a bunch of people."

"But Mr. Mayor, we have a mayor/council form of government," McLemore protested.

"Dr. McLemore, I have no further comment," the mayor said.

Almost one year into his new career as mayor, Melton and Police Chief Shirlene Anderson have yet to submit to the council a written strategy, or any specific details, on battling the city's rising crime. This poses a stark contrast to the last administration—which critics say took the planning stage to undesirable extremes. Former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. took many long months picking a new police chief to lead the JPD when former chief Bracey Coleman left amid controversy.

When Robert Moore—a former U.S. marshal, and an expert on "black-on-black" crime—did finally take the mantle after an exhaustive search, he took a number of months to devise his "five-point plan," which focused on professionalism, enforcement, interagency cooperation, community involvement and youth programs.

Though many residents were impatiently tapping their feet and shouting during the wait, the resulting plan looked good on paper, and the city's crime figures continued a slow creep downward throughout Moore's three-year stint with the city—reaching the lowest crime levels since 1988.

Melton, though, has little patience with paperwork.

"My plan, essentially, instead of making it a 15-page something that nobody's going to read, is put the criminals in jail, make sure the kids are in structured programs, no loitering around any of our businesses, and helping to fund the county with its efforts on the county farm," Melton said last week. "The plan is real simple if you'll follow the emergency order," which he calls "a major part of the plan."

It's doubtful that the emergency order can remain a permanent part of the mayor's plan for any great length of time, however. Some council members are already muttering about the possibility of a writ of mandamus against the mayor, essentially blocking city business until Melton agrees to drop the emergency order. At the moment, the council likely has three members who are such an extreme measure, with one swing vote still undecided. That particular swing voter has already criticized the emergency order as "extremely bad timing."

The last portion of Melton's plan, involving funding the Hinds County farm with city funds, also drew quick fire from council members, who can recite countless budgetary shortfalls since Melton took office.

"He can't dedicate any money to the county without the council's approval, and I can't see the council approving that with the holes we have now," McLemore said.

Melton argues that he can, however.

"I have learned, through (the city's) legal (department), that within the general funds that are appropriated to the city, I do have the wherewithal to shift those funds, and I want to shift them against our priorities, and our priorities are crime right now," Melton said. "Where I have to have council approval is when I go outside of that funding base."

Council President Marshand Crisler disagrees.

"I don't see where he gets that information from, but frankly, I'm getting sick of fighting with him," Crisler mumbled wearily.

An Affordable Crime Plan

Former Mayor Johnson took pride in the fact that Moore's plan cost the city very little extra money, in terms of implementation. "Basically, there weren't any additional costs for the development of the five-point plan, which was good because the city, even then, didn't have very much money to spare," Johnson said last week.

Many of Moore's suggestions were implemented within the department at no extra cost, and some of the improvements stand to this day.

One of the most dire needs that Moore's plan had to address was a lack of professionalism within the JPD.

"There was an issue of community trust in the city. I pulled together a committee headed by (JSU criminology professor Jimmy) Bell and asked him specifically what does it take to get the community trusting the police department, and he said the department needed to be more professional," Moore said in a phone interview this week.

Complaints were rampant about how police were interacting with the community. Moore adjusted training in the academy, with him often personally handling the training, though work had to go beyond the new recruits.

"The trust factor drove that particular piece," Moore said. "Even when they went on calls, some of the officers were getting into it with complainants. There were fights. Officers were hit or wound up fighting some of the complainants. It was a real mess, so we tried to teach them how, and we set the example from the top. When I first interviewed for the job, I told them that we couldn't allow people to define who we are. We had to define ourselves and build that pride back into our officers."

Melton says the police department is continuing that strict standard as far as professionalism goes.

"We maintain a higher standard of professionalism," Melton assured the JFP. "Our officers know how to handle most situations, and I'm behind them 100 percent."

The new mayor and chief have worked diligently to dispense with officers the mayor considered a "liability." Melton announced that he was signing the termination papers of several officers due to civil rights violations, though the mayor did not name the officers, and the city has ignored public records requests regarding the officers or their violations.

The enforcement aspect of Moore's five- point plan followed the recommendations of criminologists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling's "broken windows" theory, which argues that problems like degenerating buildings lead to more crime if they are not repaired promptly.

JFP staff frequently spot apparent prostitutes exiting dilapidated, off-the-grid property, such as the abandoned Jitney Jungle warehouse on Mill Street or abandoned property on Capitol Street. The property could not be used as a base of operations for such illegal activity if it were not crumbling and thrown open for illegal use in the first place. Moore said crumbling property not only foments a feeling of helplessness and indifference in the community, but acts as a magnet for crime, and interpreted vigorous enforcement of the broken-windows theory as going after the vandal who threw that first rock at the window. He also committed the department to enforcing property crimes.

"One of the criticisms, which I strongly believe in, is that people felt we were soft on crime, so I put in that vigorous enforcement part," Moore said, adding that vigorous enforcement required more flexibility within the department, which didn't happen until the officer head count at JPD went up from 430 to 500. JPD raised its head count with federal help in 1994 from President Bill Clinton, who put 100,000 more officers on the streets through the COPS program to increase community policing nationally.

President Bush has had little patience for the theory, however, and legislators like Sen. Trent Lott have voted against the COPS program—seeing more sense in supplying resources to soldiers overseas.

Too Late For Broken Windows

Melton, comparatively, says much property in Jackson is already beyond such help.

"The truck is in the ditch on that one for us," Melton said. "I totally subscribe to the theory, but what it essentially says is you're supposed to move when the first window is broken. Not when you get into a situation like Maple Street. When the first window was broken at Maple Street was when we should have moved aggressively, but we waited until that truck rolled into the ditch."

Melton said the city will "do whatever we can within the resources that we have," to save private property moving into the first stages of dilapidation, but has to acknowledge that the city's resources are small, and said he may take a loan to the voters.

"I'm seriously considering doing a bond issue that would only deal with the priority issues with the approval of the voters," Melton said. "That would be crime, economic development, education and housing, and if the voters give me that approval, that's all that bond issue will be used for. Our problem right now is that we are stretched financially. We are within the budget, but we're stressed."

In Moore's five-point plan, he also sought to pull in more agencies, like the county sheriff's department and federal authorities like U.S. marshals, to share information and resources, though critics said that true inter-cooperation would only come if the county and city and other authorities shared communications systems.

"We (the Jackson Police Department) were isolated when I first got there," Moore said. "We were all on our own in many ways, so we pulled all the feds and started having meetings with all the outlying chiefs and sheriffs, and I think that improved things, but it was a process and we were still early in it when I left."

Melton said the JPD had an "excellent working relationship with the county and the federal government," but said he would consider other agencies only as a last resort.

"The truth is, the sheriff's department is already out there, and they've been out there doing a good job, but I want to start with JPD in phase one. If things don't get better, then I'll speak with the sheriff, and we will do some joint interdictions—not like we don't do it right now—but I will officially ask for his help. I didn't want to insult the police department because I think the police department can handle this. … If we can't make the progress there, then we'll move to the state and federal level," Melton said.

A Plan For Youth

Moore's plan also sought to curb crime through a kind of preventive maintenance regarding the city's youth.

The plan was to involve JPD in more youth programs to keep children preoccupied. "Sure, that was more the city's thing, but we still wanted to be a part of that," Moore said. "We had our youth programs or junior police programs, but we were also looking to expand outward into the Police Athletic League (police-inspired softball teams). Lindsey Horton was heading that up, but insurance was becoming prohibitive."

Johnson pushed the number of city-funded summer youth programs up from nine to 18 during his two terms in office. The city now has 16, according to Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford. Johnson said he managed to double the total without taking "too big a bite out of the budget."

"We had a conference of youth services providers. We had over 100 folks there to talk about what services are being provided to young people and where the overlaps and duplications are, and how to expand the pool of recipients and that kind of thing. Also, a lot of the summer programs involved part-time help, so the city managed that without too much trouble, I think," Johnson said.

Melton says his plan puts a huge emphasis upon children, however—pointing to a lawn-service team he is assembling of young men from Wood Street and surrounding areas. The youths, with some as young as 12, are going along with Melton on his street "raids" in the Mobile Command Center as well. "McLemore said we need to get jobs for these kids, and we went out and put a crew together, and I'm taking a look at them right now to see if they are who they are and all the expenses (for equipment and salary) are coming out of my pocket. … I'm not looking for any reimbursement (from the city) because I want to get conformable with them before they contract with the city," Melton said.

Melton's still getting the bugs out of that project. The county arrested two of the young people in Melton's lawn-mowing team, Fredrica Jermaine Brunson and Michael Taylor, for ducking court in armed-robbery charges. District Attorney Faye Peterson said a caller identified the two from news footage of a Father's Day barbecue at Melton's North Jackson home.

Still, Melton says other projects for youth are underway. Melton says there are more than 16 city-backed summer projects available from city and says he is encouraged by the activities he's seeing around town:

"I visited all our city's swimming pools and was very pleased by what we saw, and I visited our baseball fields and was more pleased with that. Every last one of them was loaded up. That's the key: keep these kids busy in structured activities. I told the lifeguard that if these kids didn't have money then let them swim free. Now I know that sets you up for some abuse. All of the sudden nobody's going to have money, so they're going to go free, but the biggest motivation needs to give these young people something to do."

Local business owners like Curtis Addison of Addison Auto Body and Customize Shop, on Gallatin Street, said he's looking for young interns to teach machine skills to and has spoken with the city about mentoring through the summer, but has heard nothing back from the city. He says his offer still stands, though the ball is in the city's court.

"I tried to tell them that I wanted to work with some of these kids, but nothing's happened," Addison said.

The mayor has also raised eyebrows because he is employing convicted felons—such as Donald Ray Quinn—to work in Youth Services because, he says, they are better able to communicate with at-risk youth.

Community Involvement

The community involvement aspect of Moore's five-point plan demanded that police interact more readily with the community by approaching community members and leaders and listening to complaints. Moore recalls the community meetings with fondness.

"That's where we set up all those committees, and each one of those was an entire piece into itself," Moore recalled. "That was wonderful. That was how we were able to drop that crime rate down. We felt that the community was the key and the police had to work with the community."

Precincts still engage in monthly COPS meetings, hosted by a moderator and featuring a crew of city workers dealing with housing standards and crime prevention. Precinct 4 has a well-organized, relatively brief monthly COPS meeting that accurately touches on crime trends and housing violations in the area, while Precinct 2 has a bustling, energetic program filled with angry, determined people and a schedule that can last three hours or more.

Moore also encouraged city residents to take advantage of the Citizens' Police Academy, which showed participants how the police worked, how the law worked, and what law enforcement was regularly up against by allowing citizens to ride along with police on their daily or nightly duties. Moore said the first step in encouraging true community policing involved trust, however, which at the time came in short supply.

"You can't have community policing without trust. That was the first step in everything. The citizens had alienated the police department, and morale was at an all-time low," Moore said.

"If there's good interaction between the police department and Jackson residents, I'm just not seeing it," Jackson resident Robert Denny said. "Look, I know these guys are working their butts off here. The police are real busy these days, but there's not enough of a police presence to make a difference."

Denny has an automobile refurbishing and detail shop on the Hwy. 80 frontage road near the corner of Hwy. 80 and Gallatin Street. Until recently, Denny has been an impromptu guardian of his property and other property in the area, including the neighboring Luvel milk distribution center (which Jackson should be coddling like a baby to keep inside the city limits) and a few other businesses in the ancient Hwy. 80 industrial district.

Lately, though, Denny has suffered from hip surgery that has largely incapacitated him at night, and he is getting regular visits from wandering burglars.

"They stole $15,000 worth of stuff from me last night, including a custom-made car frame," Denny said, after admitting that at least $20,000 in merchandise was stolen from him the week before. "Man, none of this is insured. I don't have a way to replace this stuff and these (thieves) have probably put me out of business already. I just don't know what to do. The cops haven't got the time to sit out here all night. What the hell do you do?"

Zero Tolerance, Baby!

SafeCity Watch Chairman Mark McCreery says strict adherence to the broken-windows theory and zero tolerance on property crime is a good start.

"Incarceration is prevention," McCreery said. "To prosecute crimes aggressively and quickly, get the police out there gathering information so they can prosecute those crimes. They've got to be in the street talking to property owners, neighbors, business owners and shopkeepers, and by doing that they hear about things going on and you stop crimes from happening before they happen. The community then sees when that thug down the street get caught, prosecuted and adjudicated within three months of a crime, and the community feels that they can trust the police department."

McCreery acknowledges, as Moore did, that zero tolerance on property crimes means having a place to put the "thugs," however.

"Yeah, we'll need more jail space, but whether we like it or not, it's a lot cheaper to keep a felon who's been robbing cars and businesses and homes in jail than let him back out on the streets," McCreery says, adding that he is leery of raising county or city taxes to finance that jail space.

"I can't say, as a representative of Safe-City, that I would support a tax increase because it is a broken-down system that I think needs to redirect its resources more effectively. I think we need to take what we do spend and spend it a lot wiser," McCreery said, adding, perhaps sarcastically, that he "would rather lay off the water and sewer department than live with the high level of crime like we are."

McCreery says the city has a comparatively high number of city employees compared to its dropping population, which now sits beneath 180,000, and suggests cutting positions where it can.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon says the city has already been closing down positions through attrition for years, and warns that a drop in city services is becoming obvious as a result.

"We've cleared out a lot of critical staff in the city," Barrett-Simon said. "We don't have as many city architects anymore. I don't think our traffic engineer is certified as a traffic engineer—though I don't mean to speak badly on the young man we have."

The city has also virtually closed down its grants division. What was once a team of four grants writers bringing money into the system is now only one very overworked individual, and the city's budgetary shortfalls are not getting any better.

The Hinds County D.A.'s office is already making the expense of growing the justice system obvious, having requested more than $500,000 from county supervisors to open new support jobs for two temporary judges looking to help carry the county docket until December. Supervisors are blanching at the prospect of handing over that money, citing extreme shortfalls in the county bankbook, with rising fuel costs shooting significant holes in the budget.

It's All About Your Neighbors, Pal

Though expanding the county farm, increasing staff of the court system or building another jail are expensive possibilities, a much less costly method for dealing with crime is already available to concerned citizens.

"Just get out there and meet your neighbors," said Jackson resident Diana Barnes-Pate, who is also a chairwoman of ACORN, a community activist group pressing to improve the living quality of city residents. "That's probably the major downfall of any Jackson neighborhood that I've lived in. Everybody wants to remain separated from others. There're just not a lot of opportunities here for people to gather together and discuss their own community."

Barnes-Pate, a Barr Elementary school teacher, says there is a disconnect between Jackson residents because residents have become "migratory."

"There are more renters now than there used to be on my block and all over Jackson. On my block alone, we have 18 rental properties, and this has gone up from nine years ago when there were possibly only four renters. They're always moving around too much to make connections with others or have a desire to. I mean, why make connections with people because you're going to move. Renters' investment in that block or community, a lot of times, ends with the monthly paying of that rent, and that's unfortunate."

Jackson, Barnes-Pate points out, is also a city where local planners have been cutting corners in street construction for decades.

"It's crazy, but although Jackson is urban, you don't see a lot of sidewalks. You don't see people walking up and down the blocks and just meeting their neighbors, and when you do, because walking is so inconvenient, you're very suspicious of people walking. But it shouldn't be that way because this is an urban city," she says.

Recent COPS meetings in both Precinct 2 and 4, as well as last week's meeting of the Battlefield Community Association, revealed another disconnect that goes beyond the values gap between renters and home owners. Precinct 4 COPS moderator Bob Oertel might be the youngest person attending his monthly meet, and while the Precinct 2 meeting contained the mouthy fury of personalities such as state Sen. Alice Harden and former Ward 5 Councilwoman Bettye Dagner-Cook, no noise erupted from any attendee under 35. Likewise, fewer than three attendees of the June 29 Battlefield Community Association meeting were under 30.

"I think a problem could be that most property owners are over 30 in Jackson," Jackson resident Yvonne Lumley said. "All my neighbors who own property are 40 or older, and I know I didn't buy a house myself until I was 39, so I can see why there might be less of a sense of community among young people."

Jackson resident and Battlefield Community Association President Daisy Mildred Davis, said concerned residents should look for the closest neighborhood association and take part in it, no matter how inconvenient. Concerned citizens around Battlefield Park, in West Jackson, for instance, can call Davis at 601-353-4705 to begin the process.

City of Jackson Quality of Life Director Goldia Revies says interested parties can get contact numbers for other neighborhood associations by calling constituent services at 601-960-6434. The JFP made a call to that number at constituent services and was told by the person answering the phone that Revies, herself, would have to supply that information.

If there is no neighborhood association working in your area, you can start your own. Davis said the city's now-defunct Crime Prevention Unit was essential in helping her assemble the Battlefield association four years ago.

"We had two girls, Sharon Sims and Angela Goodman, and they showed us the ropes. They showed us how to do things. They said instead of blaming the police, (we should) help the neighborhood ourselves to be the neighborhood's eyes and ears. Sharon was double good, and I hate they did what they did to them, but they gave us the guidelines to get us together," Davis said. Melton disbanded the Crime Prevention Unit last year, despite council outrage, and Davis has a lower opinion of the Quality of Life unit that has since replaced them.

"They came in one time and got offended, and they haven't been back," Davis said of the all-volunteer unit.

COPS meetings at Precincts 4 and 2 report better working relationships with the new unit, however.

Look To The Chief

Though Melton has lately proved more efficient at hogging the press than submitting a plan, according to critics, the media-shy Chief Shirlene Anderson may be making more progress in formulating a plan than some might realize.

Unlike the mayor, Anderson shuns cameras and gets visibly nervous when microphones are shoved in her face. She has been working off stage, though, according to JSU criminology professor Jimmy Bell, who says he and the chief have been hammering out a plan heavily committed to community policing.

"I won't comment on the mayor's plan, but Chief Anderson is actually putting together a plan, and this has been going on now for over a month. The mayor can say whatever, but the plan actually has to come from the police chief," Bell said.

Bell was stingy when it came to releasing details about the plan, but he said it's looking like it adheres more closely to the theory of community policing than anything the last police chief did—and Moore claims he clung to the idea of community policing with passion.

"She's very open and very sharp when it comes to strategic planning. She knows exactly what needs to be done in the city of Jackson, and I think that, if given the opportunity, she would put some very effective strategies in place. Community policing is going to actually be implemented, as opposed to something on paper," Bell said.

Anderson said she would get the JFP excerpts of her plan last week but did not follow through by press time. Bell assured that the plan does not require any extra money from the city budget.

"It does require the citizens, however, and that's really the key," says Bell. "It'll take real community-centered policing. You've never had real community-centered policing before, at least not in Jackson. It's unlike anything you've ever seen in Jackson."

It needs to be, with public confidence in the new administration's ability to prevent and fight crime seeming to drop by the day among citizens.

Even SafeCity Watch, a group made up of many people who supported Melton's campaign (many holdovers from the Metro Crime Commission), is concerned that the city, so far, has been on the wrong crime path. And the group worries about the city's ability to do business under a constant "state of emergency" instead of a solid plan of action. "If I were thinking about opening a business in Jackson, that wouldn't get me warm and fuzzy," McCreery told The Clarion-Ledger.

Previous Comments

ID

80141

Comment

Ther is no real plan. I hope she's truly working on one, but I'd have to see it before I believe it. When councilpersons tell the Mayor they have no idea what he's doing with the curfew or anything else, he nastily tell them he's not jeopardizing the crime fighting plan just to keep them informed. The crime plan all along was to let Frank play Eastwood, Wayne, and Bronson. Once they (Melton and Shirlene) found out this crap works only on televison, they didn't know what else to do. I guess the plan now is to go around hugging youngsters, inviting the same to live in your house, riding the mobile command all over town to conspiciuosly show off, and fronting to anybody who will listen and is still gullible enough to believe you have talent, merit and substance. At least Melton and Shirlene have learned to be quiter. They know that if they stay quite some people would never know just how dumb and inept they are. They also know that if they talk or write something for us to read, the cat will immediately fly out the bag. It has damn near jumped out many times before. I suppose Frank does deserve some credit for staying the course and not giving up before his term ends. He deserves credit for being a good actor too. How many of us could have the script changed on us and yet act like nothing happened? I guess giving up is so hard to do. Many Texans are crazy as hell. Excepting you Todd. Too bad Frank is practicing his craft over here.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-07T09:51:59-06:00

ID

80142

Comment

Ray Carter, I think that you are on target about melton and anderson being quiter. frank was on the scene last night after the murder but, made no comment. The old statement holds true that: It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool; Than to speak up and remove all doubt. frank said that he could run the City with only one other person. He actually tried to do this, evidenced by the dismantling of the Crime Prevention Unit, Constituent Services (a person for each of the Wards), and hiring people with absolutely no clue as to how govennment works. franks whole campaign was built around things and people he could tear up or tear down. We, the people, definitely errored in electing frank melton and he has turned this City into one big CLOWN SHOW! The participants are not just merely actors: These people are for REAL and their behavior comes out of arrogance and ignorance. I supported former Mayor Johnson and take absolutely no responsibility for the MESS we are in; however, I'm willing to do my part as a citizen to help save this City that I love.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-07T11:21:22-06:00

ID

80143

Comment

By the way, GREAT ARTICLE, ADAM.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-07T11:23:59-06:00

ID

80144

Comment

And since there is no plan in effect right now, how about trying some of these: 1. Community mobilization against crime: gang violence prevention, community based mentoring, and after school programs. 2. Family based prevention: home visitations without the guns and mobile command, pre-school education involving parents, parent training for handling troublesome children, and programs for preventing family violence. 3. School based prevention: peer group counseling, gang resistance education, anti-bullying campaigns, law-related education, and programs to improve school discipline and problem solving skills. 4. Preventing crime at certain place: camera, guards, alarms, lighting. 5. Policing for crime prevention instead of just reacting: rapid response foot patrol, neighborhood watch, drug raids, dometic violence crackdowns. 6. Criminal justice and crime prevention: mandatory drug rehab, boot camps, shock incarcerations, home confinement and strich supervison of parolees and probationers. 7. Labor market training: vocational training, job corp, diversion from court or prison to employment placement, and transpotation to jobs. I realize the police department can't do all or hardly any of this without money and much help from lots of people.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-07T13:20:46-06:00

ID

80145

Comment

Ray, you ought to apply for the chief's job.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-07T13:58:06-06:00

ID

80146

Comment

I will Donna. Just as soon as I learn to check my posts for errors. Smile.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-07T14:02:35-06:00

ID

80147

Comment

From the Clarion Ledger today: If I were Police Chief the first issue I would address is the inadequate number of officers on JPD-- "Jackson has about 450 officers to serve a population of 184,000. Richmond, Va., considered a sister city and development model for Jackson, has 197,000 residents and 700 officers. Richmond Police Public Information Officer Karla Peters said her department is doing enforcement right. Crime in Richmond is down 18 percent year-to-date compared with the same months of 2005, she said. Violent crime dropped 14 percent." From the Clarion Ledger. A certain number of these officers would do community policing and work on crime prevention issues. I would also go back to the Linder Maple study and actually initiate the other recommendations that have worked in so many other cities. Also wanted to comment that Moore's "plan" were really more broad goals and objectives. Which is fine but we need someone who can get the day to day operations "nuts and bolts" stuff implemented.

Author

realtime

Date

2006-07-08T00:56:15-06:00

ID

80148

Comment

Jackson, MS was a dilapidated wasteland when Melton arrived and unless they begin to bulldoze a lot more, it probably will be when he leaves. The thugs in Jackson know there time has come and as long as there are people selling drugs on the streets in every corner of Jackson, then there should always be a state of emergency. Johnson was no more effective in enforcing laws than Melton. I believe the JFP wants Melton to fail. I believe the JFP wants the U.S.A. to fail in Iraq. I can't remember the last issue that I have picked up where these two issues have not dominated from cover to cover. This issue is almost an exact replica of several issues. I guess my frustration is that any city needs alternative news and if it is the same old story over and over, the only assistance the JFP is offering is a longer whip to beat the dead horse with. It is real easy to be a social critic to get people to pick up your publication, but when was the last time you saw any social critics actually out on the streets in Jackson volunteering to help. VIP Jackson doesn't take pictures in that part of town. Please find another story to be negatively critical about because nothing you print is going to make Melton go anywhere!

Author

Skinnyp

Date

2006-07-08T07:01:17-06:00

ID

80149

Comment

The fact still remains that crime was decreasing under the Johnson administration. It has skyrocketed under the Melton administration. Crime prevention and the mounted units were disbanded. A puppet police chief was hired. Officers who had worked at JPD for 20-30 years were demoted in order to run them off (example: Darryl Smith, demoted from assistant chief, to commander, then to planning and research... resulting in Smith taking retirement and going to work someplace else.) Anyone who was not a Melton supporter was moved to a positon where they wouldn't interfere with the current administration. The police department is now mostly being run by sgts and officers. Some of the commanders or acting commanders are only sgts. There are only a few who have actully passed the test for Lt left. The fire department is in the same shape. The mayor's job is to oversee the entire city, not to play dressup and ride around in the MCC. I hate to say it, but I too am considering leaving the city of Jackson and going elsewhere.

Author

Missy

Date

2006-07-08T10:20:32-06:00

ID

80150

Comment

I disagree with most of Skinnyp's post, but I have to agree here: "This issue is almost an exact replica of several issues." Nobody that loves Jackson wants to see Melton fail. But, points have been made repeatedly and I'd much rather read about other things in the JFP. From this WLBT link: "Melton says he plans to shift his focus off crime in the coming months. Melton says, "We're going to spend a lot of energy and a lot of time on economic development in the next year. We have one point six billion dollars worth of business on the books."" Dunno about the 1.6 billion, but I do hope that this statement is true. Economic development hasn't seemed to be on this man's radar.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-07-08T15:33:02-06:00

ID

80151

Comment

I believe the JFP wants Melton to fail. I believe the JFP wants the U.S.A. to fail in Iraq. I can't remember the last issue that I have picked up where these two issues have not dominated from cover to cover. That's funny, skinnyp, the JFP seldom writes about the Iraqi War in the print edition, or many national issues for that matter. Most national issues on the Web site are introduced by bloggers on their blogs or in their own forums. So clearly you are not familiar with which you speak. And you just can't blame the messenger on this one, at least with any degree of credibility: If either the Melton or Bush administrations fail, that buck stops at their door. If you want to be angry with us because we saw through the promises of both those candidates, so be it. But it's not going to change anything. We're not trying to make Melton go somewhere. My hope is that he will decide to do what it takes to be a good mayor in his second year. We are doing our jobs as the weekly newspaper of Jackson, a city we love and will work diligently to help succeed. And we will succeed. There are too many dedicated, hard-working, positive people in this city for us not to succeed, despite the wishes of some who would like to see nothing more. It would be irresponsible of us not to report on Mr. Melton's administration, as much as we also would prefer that there was less negative news on that front to report. Let's pray that that will be true in his second year. But that's not up to us.

Author

casey

Date

2006-07-08T16:01:34-06:00

ID

80152

Comment

BTW, that post was by Donna Ladd on casey's old machine.

Author

casey

Date

2006-07-08T16:01:55-06:00

ID

80153

Comment

skinnyp, Don't cut the throat of the MESSENGER: Do your research on the MESSAGE. I felt a sharp pain in my belly when I read that you believe that the JFP wants Melton to fail in Jackson and the U.S.A. to fail in Iraq. Just ask yourself this simply question: IF THE JFP WANTS MELTON AND THE USA TO FAIL, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? Note: The answer can't be that these two issues have "dominated from cover to cover."

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-10T10:31:38-06:00

ID

80154

Comment

The only thing that can be said about JFP is "thank goodness we have it". Other than the Mississippi Link, JFP is where we can get accurate reports about what's going on in this city. No one else has the gutts or maybe they're too scared of FM to tell the real story. As for the truth, FM has not told the truth since he's been in office. I have finally decided he doesn't know what the truth is. He is the biggest liar I have ever seen and I've seen some big ones. I know everyone wants the best for Jackson, I know I do, but lets get real. This city is not going to prosper under this administration, it's unfortunate but it's the truth.

Author

maad

Date

2006-07-10T16:02:07-06:00

ID

80155

Comment

Maad, it's important to remember, though, that this city can and will prosper despite this administration. It would give Mr. Melton more power if we stopped all the hard work to make this city great because of his obsessions. Consider that carefully, all, going forward. He only has the power to hurt the city if we allow him to.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-10T16:09:12-06:00

ID

80156

Comment

I try very hard to keep the optimism of ladd that "the city can and will prosper despite this administration;" however, I have the concern of madd that "this city is not going to prosper under this administration." Jackson is not a prototype for this type of political maneuvering. It is not a far leap to understand the intent of those who are obsessed with personal power and financial gains which only benefit a small sector of the community. Frank Melton is the captain of the "Slave Ship" and when it sinks, he will surface as the iINDIVIDUALl who made it - not the CAPTAIN who saved it. These are games and are politically contrived. In order to rise above the game, you must first accept the fact that you are in one and began initiating a strategy to make the persons known who continue to grow the problems we are facing here in Jackson. The thing that keep fueling this fire is the fact that we do not take people to task and the electorate wants a quick fix and a crime-free city. This was the ticket that elected Frank Melton. Any voter doing his/her homework would have know that his whole campaign was about nothing but fast talk and BS. The ingredients that would have continued to see crime on the decrease and economic development moving in a positive direction was already in place. This City tried to beat Johnson down to the canvass inspite of all of the hard work and time spent trying to promote Jackson: "The Best of the New South!" This was true for the Johnson Administration. Anyone wanting to take issue with this should do what is now being done with FM, put it under the microscope. For some, even when the evidence is known and seen, you will hear, "Go get EM' Frank! "Let him do his job." How much more evidence do we need to know that FM is on a collision course with this city and the CRASH is eminent!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-11T10:39:17-06:00

ID

80157

Comment

I try very hard to keep the optimism of ladd that "the city can and will prosper despite this administration;" justjess, I'm writing my editor's note, and it is dedicated to you, and others who have expressed these concerns. Keep the faith.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-11T10:45:07-06:00

ID

80158

Comment

A bit of JFP deja vu all over again from The Clarion-Ledger edit-boys again today: Citing recent acts of vandalism as his reason, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has again extended the "state of emergency" he proclaimed for the city last month. Melton proclaimed the "emergency" June 22, imposing a 9 p.m. curfew for minors on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends, not that there's been any noticeable difference in crime - at least, that the public can see or can know about. Melton has refused to release any details of what the city is doing about crime. No plans, no accounting to the City Council or the public what changes have been made, or arrests, or crime prevention actions have been taken. My question is: Why aren't they putting the heat on the police chief here? It's her job to direct crime-fighting efforts, even though I realize that the Clarion-Ledger endorsed Melton as police chief last year. Remember all the heat they put on Chief Moore—who, in fact, had a plan that was, in fact, working?!? WTF, Ledge? If y'all would realize that Melton is not the police chief, maybe it would help him read that conclusion.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-13T10:06:37-06:00

ID

80159

Comment

This is funny. A TV station in Little Rock did a story on Melton's "crime-fighting" techniques. In the story, they enter a Victor Washington. Surely to God, he's not the one arrested for the murder of Aaron Crockett, and given immunity to testify about Donelson, et al, right? That would be intriguing to say the least. Here are Mr. Washington's comments: While the Mayor's tough tactics may be questioned by some in Jackson, there are those here who genuinely support his hands on approach. Like 30-year-old Victor Washington who previously had a scrape with the law. But says since his encounter with the Mayor, he's been a better person. (Victor Washington, Melton Supporter)"In every state, if the mayor or governor took time out of their busy schedule, which probably not be that busy in the first place, to come out into the community where crime is happening, showing your face, let people see how passionate you are about what you're trying to do, it makes it better. You can't teach a person how to swim unless you get in the water with them."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-13T11:04:41-06:00

ID

80160

Comment

Chamber of Commerce call for an end to Melton's "State of Emergency".... Check it out! http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060713/NEWS/60713016 First Safe City, now this? Whoops! There goes the house of cards!

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2006-07-13T19:36:31-06:00

ID

80161

Comment

ladd, I think that the TV station in Little Rock needs a resource to evidence the stories before they air/print them. They need the best "Alternative News Paper" in the world so that their information won't go totally unchecked: The Jackson Free Press. The reporter just doesn't understand FMs "hands on approach." I wonder what he thinks about the hugs and hand shakes of the little ones on the JPS school bus that was stopped on the highway. They just don't know what this community is dealing with. What started out to be a black man seemingly on a mission to destroy other blacks has reached critical mass and is permeating the community at large. The domino effect effect has taken place and as Jackson goes down the tube, so does the State.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-17T11:43:03-06:00

ID

80162

Comment

Nope, we're not going down the tubes. We just have sh!tty leadership. That means that the people have to do it for ourselves and not let a an ineffective mayor and police chief hold us back. (Not to mention daily newspaper.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-07-17T11:58:16-06:00

ID

80163

Comment

Melton’s still getting the bugs out of that project. The county arrested two of the young people in Melton’s lawn-mowing team, Fredrica Jermaine Brunson and Michael Taylor, for ducking court in armed-robbery charges. District Attorney Faye Peterson said a caller identified the two from news footage of a Father’s Day barbecue at Melton’s North Jackson home. Looks like Brunson was arrested again! And we should support his choices for Sheriff and DA because...?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-18T15:13:32-06:00