Jackson Free Press

There is a certain despair spreading among many Jacksonians. Some devoted citizens are even saying they might leave the city because of Mayor Melton's antics and poor leadership. One JFP blogger, "justjess," posted under Adam's last cover story about the administration's apparent lack of a plan for fighting crime: "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.'"

Certainly I share the concerns of "madd" and "justjess," as I've expressed already. Melton needs to decide to be mayor, then figure out how to go about doing it. At the least, he needs to decide to do no harm along the way if he is not going to be a strong mayor.

That is, dump the sidearms and stop crying "wolf" by declaring "states of emergency" to sub for a solid plan for fighting crime (thereby weakening the whole idea of a "state of emergency"). Stop the "raids" and searches that are going to get us sued, and stop carting minors around on the Mobile Command Center to be in the line of fire through its thin walls, should those demons who constantly threaten him ever decide to start shooting in the direction of the big-ass camper.

All that said, I've been thinking a lot about the future, especially since Adam wrote in such detail about the mayor's propensity to spread untruths two weeks ago and then last week about the city's ineffective (or non-existent) crime strategy. Certainly, as "justjess" says, it would be easy to sink into despair.

But that would be foolish—and the jerks who want Jackson to fail would win.

After pondering this in the shower, while driving around retrieving my trashed distribution racks (thanks, Ledger), while blogging, while on the Y treadmill, I've come to a simple conclusion: We must stop enabling the mayor to hurt the city. We must stop coddling ol' Frank. We must stop using him as a source of amusement around the water cooler. We must admit our own role in this mess, and then take steps to repair the problem.

Folks, the mayor only has as much power to hurt the city as we give him—at least in the long run. In the short term, he can make life, liberty and the pursuit of economic development tough. He can disparage efforts to renovate the King Edward, he can jet around looking for alternatives he can take credit for, he can jettison attempts to get federal grants, he can waste resources by staging "searches" at intersections and backing up traffic during rush hour. Certainly, that is the price we as a citizenry pay for believing in his hype about fixing crime in 90 days, for choosing the wild hare over the determined-and-steady road to progress.

But he can't kill our spirit. And the spirit of progress is strong in Jackson. There is enough talent, dedication, business savvy, creativity and determination here to make Jackson into the crowning jewel she's never been. We're sidetracked by the antics of a showman, but it would be silly for us to give up because voters believed too many sound bites in one election. Each of us just has to work a little bit harder to overcome some obstacles that have cropped up between us and progress.

But we can, we will, we must.

Personally, I gain strength from our recent battle with The Clarion-Ledger to maintain our distribution channels. It's been hard work, and we've been burning the candle on both ends. That's why a lot of you haven't seen Todd and me around as much; we are spending our time meeting with other publishers, looking for our trashed racks and talking to other small business owners to explain to them that a huge power is trying to dampen our spirit, to keep us from reaching as many people.
But the David v. Goliath experience is actually invigorating—it is rekindling my belief in this city and its people and its business community. We are getting calls, e-mails, petitions and prayers from people we've never met who believe that the JFP—and the other free publications we've joined forces with—are vital to a strong, resilient Jackson. Regardless of political views, these people are joining together to help small publications weather the Gannett storm—in a grassroots, stubborn way that is attracting national media attention.

Furthermore, the challenge is bringing out our business best. We are expanding distribution, solving problems, getting to know our distribution points, offering them choices they're not getting from a newspaper conglomerate obsessed with control.

It's that kind of local, can-do spirit that cannot be squelched by a mayor who shies from the truth, respecting the law and doing his job well. There is a fire in the belly of Jacksonians of all races and backgrounds—one that reminds us every day that, together, we are greater than what all sorts of people think we are, whether urban-bashers, narrow-minded outsiders who think we're dumbasses, a corporate newspaper company that thought none of us hicks would understand what they were doing, or a mayor who treats all young black men like criminals only he can save.

People, we have come so far in the last five years. We are a city that young people want to stay in, a place that fuels creativity, instead of driving it off. We are a city with a maturing media that is winning impressive awards (like WAPT's recent Emmys). We are a city where people of all beliefs are joining forces to rejuvenate our downtown. We are a city on our way up—and of that we must be proud.

I want each of you reading this to take a second and silently pledge to do your part to help our city and our people be everything we can be. It can be as simple as showing up to one or two more events a month, volunteering as a mentor to change one young person's life, or just correcting someone who tries to misrepresent what life in Jackson is like.

Together, we can overcome the obstacles now in our path. Throughout our ordeal with The Clarion-Ledger, I've been bolstered daily by Alice Walker's words taped over my desk: "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."

Keep the faith, folks.

Previous Commentsshow

Jackson did come back from the Civil War, after all. If it can survive an Easter Flood, it can survive Frank.

Ironghost

Jul 12 2006

Very good, Donna. It sure would help too if we could get more people who have contact with the mayor such as city councilpersons, business associates, and people organizations, to continue to confront and remind the mayor that he has to produce something more substantial than bullcrap. He has proven he's a master at that. It's high time to move on mastering things that matter like figting crime and bringing home the beef or bacon. He's been promising, but neither cooking or serving any of it.

Ray Carter

Jul 13 2006

Personally, I'm just sick of giving someone who acts like a child all this attention. My focus is turning elsewhere. There are too many importants stories to tell to waste much more time on Mr. Melton—unless and until he decides to grow up and be the mayor. We'll cover him as we need to, but I feel like we're repeating the same stuff over and over again. He said himself that he's been "playing" with the media; well, we're not his toy.

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006

One of our first re-focuses will be squarely on the police chief. That woman needs to start doing her job and being accountable. I'm tired of the withering violent act from the police chief. If she's there to be Mr. Melton's handmaid and enabler, she needs to be fired.

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006

There are some other media places winning Emmy's. I'm just saying.... What?!? You mean you didn't mention Mississippi's emmys! You must not love MPB. Okay. I'm joking. Poking fun at other accusations.... We do have too much to offer this city. Too many good things. And I loved the cover story being about art this week :) I've been missing that a little.

emilyb

Jul 13 2006

You're right. I should have put it in there. But, I will say, WAPT send me a press release. Did y'all? ;-P (Maybe you did. Eek.)

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006

We've got some great cover packages coming up that don't involve Hurricane Melton. I'm a bit tired of carrying the water for media on Melton—and now that they're on board, I feel like we're free to get back to the other stories the media don't get around to here. And I'm sure tired of all the power this attention gives someone with Center of Attention Deficit Disorder (as Todd calls it). There will be Melton stories, don't worry, and y'all can blog all you want. But the success of this city does not, and cannot, rise and fall on the whims of that man.

DonnaLadd

Jul 13 2006

Re: Center of Attention Deficit Disorder (as Todd calls it). Philip: If I recall a certain poster's words, it's more like Narcisstic Personality Disorder (though I have no clue how a certified psychiatrist would diagnose this phenomenon). See DSM-IV for more

Philip

Jul 13 2006

Thanks for moving away from FM. i to am tired of hearing about him. I am interested in what else is going on in jackson. I think we all could use a dose of positive Jackson. I am for helping make this city the best of the New South. I think we can reach that goal if all of us just do one of things you suggested. i am increasing my volunteer effort as i mentor to a neighborhood teen. i let him wash my car and help keep our yard clean so he can have a little money in his pocket. All teens need some spending money for their movies, candy sodas or clothes. Everyone chose one and let them help around the house for a fee you would be suprised how they begin to look out for your property and you.

jada

Jul 13 2006

Way to go, Donna. As usual, you've laid out the facts like the crossties on a well-maintained railroad track. I'm thinking that in the long run, smart Jacksonians will realize how FM duped them and pay much more attention to the next mayoral race and its candidates. Those candidates had better have their platforms nailed down tightly. What's that saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I believe that Jacksonians, those responsible enough to be informed voters, shall not be fooled again.

Lynette Hanson

Jul 14 2006

You know, we all get tired of bratty kids and others who imitate them. But, you are doing so much more than 'carrying water'. You are gaining a reputation for FEARLESS AND TRUTHFUL REPORTING of facts that effect every one of us every day. Many noxious things can grow in dank corners and sunlight benefits all. Please don't stop shining your light. Art is very important and we love our culture here, BUT, for art and other wonderful things to thrive best, we must maintain civilization in Mississippi's capital city. Why is it either/or? Why must reporting politically supercede art?

ChrisCavanaugh

Jul 14 2006

I think we're going to benefit from this in the long run as well. I loved getting the newsletter from the Chamber yesterday—now they should have done that when the media was sensationalizing crime during the last election, but better late than never. And, no, Chris, I don't mean at all that we are going to stop the fearless and truthful reporting about this administration of which you speak. But we are not going to allow Mr. Melton to lead us around like little puppets like he tried to do with the media (the other media following the Command Center, for instance. We're not going to follow it hoping for a sound bite or image; we are going to be on the bus seeing everything, or not there at all.) I guess what I mean is that we aren't going to spend time making mountains out of Melton molehills. You'll see some shorter pieces about the statements he makes that are untrue -- or maybe we'll start a print Truthwatch and just debunk them and move on. You'll still get the big analysis pieces as needed with the stuff gathered in one place, in context, like Adam's piece about all Melton's lies stacked on top of each other (which was followed by The Clarion-Ledger doing a watered-down version two weeks later). But we're not going to allow Mr. Melton just to shift our efforts because he needs more attention one day. We have many other stories to do about our positives and our challenges, and we're going to focus on those. We are also going to focus strongly on stopping the buck where it needs to stop -- for instance, Shirlene Anderson, the so-called police chief. The media give Mr. Melton too much power by focusing only on him, in other words. They didn't do that with Johnson; they focused hard on Chief Moore. Well, now it's time for some equal time. Let's see how this chief stands up under fierce scrutiny. It's her turn in the spotlight. And if she shines, then we know that Melton has been in her way. If she doesn't, she needs to go.

DonnaLadd

Jul 14 2006

Very well put, Donna. I understand--and appreciate--your position. In fact, I recall asking a rhetorical question in one of these blogs just a couple of weeks ago: what would happen if Melton called a press conference and nobody showed up? The majority of the local press will not ask the tough, substantive questions like the JFP; they simply print as fact anything Melton says and, even when they are later proved dead wrong, do they do a retraction or set the record straight? No. They just *water it down*, as you say, and proceed to get suckered into bugling Melton's next set of lies and propaganda, and the cycle continues.

Kacy

Jul 14 2006

Thanks Donna! You turned the light on for me in this period of so much political darkness. Thanks also for reminding me of Alice Walkers' position on power. It brought back MEMORIES of something my father said to me as a very young child: If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don't. If you would like to win but, think you can't; It's almost a cinch you won't. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man; And sooner or later the one who wins, IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN.

justjess

Jul 17 2006

Yes. We are all sick of Melton's meltdowns. However, in order to focus on the "positive," we must think of the city's ambassadors. Who are they, besides Ms. Ladd? Most of the business leaders in Jackson supported Melton in his election. I'd love to hear from the business, and especially the restaurant folks, about Melton's latest wet-dream of a tax/toll to enter Jackson. Go to Bravo!, Nick's or Char and pay a toll? Bet not. Go to Ridgeland and Madison. Look for leadership from the JPD....? Forget it! Ms. Anderson is a non-entity. Melton has emasculated all the departments in Jackson, including the JPD, the JFD, and the mayor's office. Who on earth can we look to as leaders in Jackson (with any authority) other than Ben Allen on the city council? Those who believe that Jackson can survive and grow must work for a legitimate administration that will understand the task at hand. Melton is not that person. We know now, sadly, that Mr. Melton is not that person. HDMatthias, MD

HDMatthias, MD

Jul 19 2006

HD, the city has many ambassadors--including no small number of folks who previously supported Melton. This will not be an easy three years, but I'm sure we'll do fine. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Jul 19 2006

Good quote to go under this column? "I believe that one of the characteristics of the human race - possibly the one that is primarily responsible for its course of evolution - is that it has grown by creatively responding to failure." - Glenn Seaborg

DonnaLadd

Jul 20 2006

And no, Doc, I am surely not the only ambassador for Jackson—although there aren't many in the media, that's for sure. Also, just because someone made a mistake and believe Mr. Melton's sound bite doesn't mean they're lost as a city ambassador. There are many fine people and business owners out there who will be at the center of us digging out of this mess that Mr. Melton has created for us. We will be better for it—and likely a bit less naive as a city.

DonnaLadd

Jul 20 2006

Beautiful Piece of Journalism and just what the Doctor Ordered. A shot in the arm of "Positivism"....to coin a word! Ya'll...go back and read David Watkins very last Post....The David Watkins Article. He gives a very good update on Eddy......it's gonna be a majoe jewel in the Jackson Sky.....

ATLExile

Jul 20 2006