Jackson Free Press

I'm mad. And I'm getting madder by the day at the joke that Mayor Frank Melton is making out of the city of Jackson, a city I love, a city so many are working to make into a world-class home and destination.

The mayor is making our people look like fools, the city like a war zone and his administration like incompetent zombies who can't think for themselves. Still worse, Melton is trying to dismantle the efforts so many Jacksonians have bled, sweated and cried over for so long to make this a city of which we all, regardless of race, can be proud.

Enough already, Mayor. Citizens who care about the city and its people are tired of your destructive games.

In the last seven days, Melton has flown to Texas to hang out with "a billionaire," accused of some pretty bad stuff in the past, in order to try to "find a back door" to stop the current renovation of the King Edward Hotel. In the process, he has criticized dedicated Jacksonians like David Watkins and condescended to New Orleans Saints running back, and now businessman, Deuce McAllister. "I think he's being used, and I told Deuce that," Melton said on June 14.

OK, let me get this straight: Frank Melton, who talks out of every orifice in his body with scant concern for the truth, is now anointing himself the business guardian of one of our area's most successful men? Simply astonishing. I'm just guessing here, but I suspect Mr. McAllister doesn't give a damn what the mayor thinks about his decisions. Why would he? He's a positive role model in his own right, a man who is trying to build up Jackson, not tear it down. He is becoming a respected businessman—and precisely because he is trying to do good with his fortune.

There is a long-fought deal for renovation of the King Edward—one that has had to avoid landmines set by this mayor every step of the way. This is a remarkable development, and the people of Jackson have no need for a Texan—whether Gene Phillips or Frank Melton—to try to ruin it. Melton is trying to take credit for much of the development that other men and women have attracted to Jackson—but our biggest concern is whether his actions are going to run off investment in Jackson, purposefully or not.

That brings us to the "state of emergency" that is Mayor Melton.

Everyone with half a brain knows that Melton is now kicking and screaming about crime precisely because it has gone up dramatically on his watch. He gutted the Crime Prevention Unit, backed off on community policing, hired a chief who doesn't seem to know what community policing is, lowered morale in the police department with cuts and arrogance, and now he surrounds himself with officers who enable him to play cop even though he doesn't know how, carries weapons into dangerous situations and wastes time obsessing over neighborhoods where his enemies live, rather than fighting day-to-day crime.

Worse yet, Melton himself thumbs his nose at the rule of law—believing he is above any law that will not allow him to do what he wants to do. Why wouldn't crime be going back up after falling steadily for several years? An atmosphere of lawlessness is spreading in the city, from the top down. Young people see the mayor breaking the law; why wouldn't they mimic such a powerful man who obeys laws only if they are convenient to his lifestyle?

This is tragic.

Now, depending on which state of mind you catch him in, Melton proclaims that he is going to declare a "state of emergency," bring in the National Guard, make minors be in by 8 p.m., even declare curfews for adults. Meantime, he continues illegally carrying weapons into places where Attorney General Jim Hood warned him specifically he could not carry them, or he "will be prosecuted."

In response, Melton seems to be double-dog-daring the attorney general to stop him. Last week, at the Arts Forum sponsored by the Jackson Arts Council and the Jackson Free Press to discuss the city's recent cuts to its budget, Melton showed up with sirens blaring, blocking traffic on Capitol Street, and then stalked up to the pulpit to speak—yes, while wearing his gun(s). (One was visible on his waist; he usually has one strapped to his leg as well, but the attendees in the near-packed church couldn't see that one.)

Mere weeks before, Jim Hood had warned him that state law prohibits him from carrying weapons into a church. Melton, however, says he is exempt from Mississippi state law because some sheriff made him a reserve deputy 22 years ago in some Texas hamlet. Hood says that's hogwash (my word, not his).

Then, adding insult to young people's injury, Melton came out Tuesday declaring that the recent spike in crime is the fault of the city's youth. Of course, there is no actual evidence that this is true. Some of the most memorable crimes of late around here have been committed by adults—police officers, in fact, whether it was raping minors or beating them while they were in handcuffs. Melton declares that he wants young people in by 8 p.m.—while not providing evidence that that will change anything.

I could go on—after all, how many ridiculous, illegal, false, absurd, unconscionable statements and actions has this mayor made in his near year of being in office? He has pulled over schoolbuses on interstates in front of NBC, made a fool out of himself with evacuees in front of a Business Week reporter and searched and seized without warrants in front of me and other local reporters. We could list until the cows come home all the silly ways that the mayor is wasting the city's time, our resources, our trust.

But it's what Mr. Melton is not doing that is the most disheartening for the citizens of Jackson. He is not running the city. He is not balancing the budget. He is not keeping up morale. He is not being accountable. He is not promoting good economic development. And he is not respecting the hard work of Jacksonians and Mississippians who want this city to be a great place to live and to visit.

Frank Melton is turning our city into a joke, and that is not acceptable.

The games must stop.

Previous Comments

ID

72746

Comment

But it’s what Mr. Melton is not doing that is the most disheartening for the citizens of Jackson. He is not running the city. He is not balancing the budget. He is not keeping up morale. He is not being accountable. He is not promoting good economic development. And he is not respecting the hard work of Jacksonians and Mississippians who want this city to be a great place to live and to visit. Frank Melton is turning our city into a joke, and that is not acceptable. Well said and something that needs to be repeated routinely until something changes!

Author

kaust

Date

2006-06-21T13:45:27-06:00

ID

72747

Comment

This artical hits the nail on the head. What happened to the "Best of the New South" Harvey had us all thinking that we were in the process of becoming just that. Citizens had begun to take pride in the city. Businesses were beginning to invest and grow. Now look at us. making all kind of ugly headlines. we are fast becoming the "Joke of the South" I wish the Council would step up and put a halt to all this craziness.

Author

jada

Date

2006-06-21T14:25:18-06:00

ID

72748

Comment

Excellent commentary, Donna. It brilliantly captures so much of how many of us feel about the the death of our beloved city at the hands of one whose only concern is himself. And as Knol said, we all need to keep the heat on before it's too damned late!

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-21T14:31:33-06:00

ID

72749

Comment

I agree wholeheartly. I wasn't a huge fan of Harvey Johnson, but I at least had confidence that he understood how to run a city, how to keep budgets balanced, and how to manage people. And he always sought to project a positive image of Jackson in spite of his critics. He may have understated the crime problem to his detriment, but I think he was focused on trying to solve it without resorting to blind promises and wild ideas. And I rarely thought about leaving the City while he was mayor. After a year of Melton, frankly (no pun intended) I've started to lose hope that this city will improve much in the next 3 years. If anything, I fear that we will fall even further behind the burbs in infrastructure, land development, revenues, and prestige. Every time I see Melton running around in his personal MCU with a full police entourage, wasting gas and taxpayer money with borderline illegal roadblocks and drive-by hugs that aren't cutting a dent in crime, I get even more sickened that so many people fell for his crap last year. I don't mind admitting that he is the reason I'm considering moving out of Jackson, because he doesn't have the solution to Jackson's problems, and the longer he stays in office he is becoming the problem.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T14:34:53-06:00

ID

72750

Comment

Great editorial! Best one in a long time.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-06-21T14:37:10-06:00

ID

72751

Comment

**I wish the Council would step up and put a halt to all this crazi-ness.** <-- jada Amen, Jada! I have a telephone call in to my councilman, Les McLemore, to let him know that, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "...It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest." To an ego maniac like Melton, the Council's silence signals tacit support, and they [the Council] must bear the responsibility for allowing this man to make a mockery of his office, the public trust, the law... We need to get off this runaway train!

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-21T14:40:04-06:00

ID

72752

Comment

**I agree wholeheartly. I wasn't a huge fan of Harvey Johnson, but I at least had confidence that he understood how to run a city, how to keep budgets balanced, and how to manage people. And he always sought to project a positive image of Jackson in spite of his critics. He may have understated the crime problem to his detriment, but I think he was focused on trying to solve it without resorting to blind promises and wild ideas.** <-- ejeff1970 I totally agree with most of what you said, ejeff, but I have to take issue with your inference that Harvey Johnson *may have understated the crime problem to his detriment*. Instead, I submit that the media OVERSTATED IT repeatedly to the extent that it became the public's perception, irrespective of the crime stats that were beginning to show otherwise. What I believe Harvey did understate were his achievements while in office, including a steady reduction in crime, among many others, and that indeed proved to be to his detriment.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-21T14:50:55-06:00

ID

72753

Comment

i know that the following is not central to you article but i want to say it any way.thanks for sticking up for deuce mcallister. he is a savvy businessman who has a contract with the saints worth north of $60 million. he knows that a career in professional sports cannot last forever. heck he was out for half of the last season due to injury and he played for a team that didnt have a home field. he has said that he wants to make jackson home and plan for a life after football as a local businessman. now he owns two car dealerships in the city--not brandon not ridgeland--selling nissans made just up the road.he is committed to investing in the town he calls home. he just had a fundraiser for his foundation at the telcom center downtown. he had it there in part to show off the best of our capital city. he operates a sports camp in the city for local kids.although it hasnt been said one reason the saints will have their campat millsaps is because all of up here love deuce. he may only be 28 but he has been able to focus on a career for 10 years. and has had the benefit of his association with welthy ole miss alums.another ole miss and saints star named manning followed a similar business path,in the crescent city,and nobody accused him of ever being used .

Author

chimneyville

Date

2006-06-21T14:52:55-06:00

ID

72754

Comment

ladd, ladd, ladd ----what a wonderful post!!!!!!!! You nailed that one. I am going to copy and mail it to members of the Shi$$y Council. It is time for them to step up to the plate and stop acting as if there is rhyme and reason for this crazy, costly, embarrassing behavior from FM. Kacy, the train is a "runaway" and only the citizens can derail it. All we have seen so far is circling. It's time to pull the engine since the engineer won't stop!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-06-21T15:26:19-06:00

ID

72755

Comment

Ladd, what a brilliant, insightful, bareknuckled commentary... I'm going to join justjess in mailing out copies also.

Author

tomac

Date

2006-06-21T15:42:42-06:00

ID

72756

Comment

Kacy - I totally agree with most of what you said, ejeff, but I have to take issue with your inference that Harvey Johnson *may have understated the crime problem to his detriment*. Instead, I submit that the media OVERSTATED IT repeatedly to the extent that it became the public's perception, irrespective of the crime stats that were beginning to show otherwise. What I believe Harvey did understate were his achievements while in office, including a steady reduction in crime, among many others, and that indeed proved to be to his detriment. I can respect your agrument, Kacy, and I agree with you to an extent. Without trying to turn this into yet another Harvey Johnson discussion thread, I will say that I don't think he understood how to convince people that he was passionate about fighting crime. Yes he had a plan, and good ideas, and the numbers were bearing out that he was working from a good blueprint, but it would have helped if he had presented a little more fire or righteous anger about the crime that was being reported in the media. What people liked about Melton, in spite of the empty soundbites, was the fact that he appeared to be visibly angry about the crime in Jackson and vocal about having a laserbeam focus on solving it. Harv was probably a bit too cerebral in that respect...he couldn't stoop to stupid soundbites and emotional rhetoric to get his message across, but on a very basic level that is what works in politics.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T15:57:20-06:00

ID

72757

Comment

I will take issue with one point that DL made... Then, adding insult to young people’s injury, Melton came out Tuesday declaring that the recent spike in crime is the fault of the city’s youth. Of course, there is no actual evidence that this is true. Some of the most memorable crimes of late around here have been committed by adults—police officers, in fact, whether it was raping minors or beating them while they were in handcuffs. Melton declares that he wants young people in by 8 p.m.—while not providing evidence that that will change anything. It is no secret that a significant amount (I'll stop short of saying the majority) of crime in Jackson is committed by kids. There is no getting around or whitewashing that fact. I don't think a curfew is the answer, but something needs to be done to address the fact that an increasing number of juveniles are turning to crime as a way of life. Something needs to be done to intervene in these children's lives before they give in to the call of the streets. Why do you think 100 Black Men is so concerned about mentoring black youth? Having summer camps and afterschool mentoring programs? Because they realize that without active role models, without healthly examples of black men who aren't out robbing, stealing, or killing each other as a way of life, too many of these kids will be lost and end up becoming a part of the criminal underbelly of this society.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T16:05:27-06:00

ID

72758

Comment

If Frankie would spend more time on the economy, there'd be less incentive to commit crimes.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-06-21T16:24:17-06:00

ID

72759

Comment

Ejeff, the fact is only a very small percentage of serious crimes are committed by juveniles. Unfortunately, Jackson's youths are now being demonized for the sake of placating people that are fed up with an ineffctual response to crime. It is shameful for Melton or anyone else to use such a ploy and engage in such demonization. Simplifying the intractable naure of crime by grandeloquent pronouncements and the threat of enacting an "emergency" curfew order is the height of silliness. Many of our kids are out of control and I don't think anyone would disagree with your assesment of the need for mentoring and other programs that promote healthier lifestyles for our youths. However, I'm not prepared let that obscure my disdain for Melton's simplistic bombast.

Author

tomac

Date

2006-06-21T16:49:26-06:00

ID

72760

Comment

**What people liked about Melton, in spite of the empty soundbites, was the fact that he appeared to be visibly angry about the crime in Jackson and vocal about having a laserbeam focus on solving it. Harv was probably a bit too cerebral in that respect...he couldn't stoop to stupid soundbites and emotional rhetoric to get his message across, but on a very basic level that is what works in politics.** <--ejeff1970 We're on the same wavelength, ejeff. What you said sorta mirrors my comment that Harvey *understated* his achievements. Your're right: Melton exploited the crime issue and rode *tough guy* soundbites into office. His *stupid soundbites and emotional rhetoric* have become commonplace in politicking, and Harvey tried to point out that Melton's campaign was, in so many words, simply a non-ending stream of catchy one-liners and evocative soundbites.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-21T17:15:19-06:00

ID

72761

Comment

That's probably accurate, tomac. In fact, I think it's accurate to say that statistically juveniles are more likely than adults to be caught, particularly for non-violent crimes. I would love to see how many crimes in Jackson and Hinds County are committed by persons under the age of 25. Juveniles are not the majority of criminals as Melton implies, but something needs to be done to address the issue of youthful offenders. Again, it goes back to the fact that too many kids are seeing a lack of positive role models growing up, and are drawn into criminal activity by low-life adults and become criminals themselves. Melton doesn't have clue how to fix that issue, and he continues to throw out these ill-concieved ideas trying to fool people into thinking he has the solution to the crime problem. I'm just getting more and more fed up with him and this nonsense.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T17:22:54-06:00

ID

72762

Comment

Kacy, we may be on the same wavelength, but I still think it wouldn't have killed Harvey should have used a little more fiery rhetoric in responding to some of the City's high-profile crimes. Even if it's only to make people feel a little more assured that someone cares about the situation and is determined to develop a zero-tolerance for criminal activity. It sounds fake, I know, but again that is how the political game is played, to play on people's emotions over their intelligence. How else can you explain Bush's re-election?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T17:34:31-06:00

ID

72763

Comment

As far as solving crime, stimulating a few jobs in the inner city would also help, along with improving the educational system and beefing up the police presence throughout the city. Anything else?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-21T17:38:27-06:00

ID

72764

Comment

You're always going to have a certain group that won't trust anyone. I'd say a lot less fire during election time and more cooperation and actual ideas. After all, if you look at Jackson now, all you have to thank is resentment and hate for how far we haven't come. It's held Jackson back, and diluted its strength among competing factions.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-06-21T20:05:08-06:00

ID

72765

Comment

"After all, if you look at Jackson now, all you have to thank is resentment and hate for how far we haven't come. It's held Jackson back, and diluted its strength among competing factions. Ironghost Great statement! This is so true and the core of Jackson's problems. Instead of moving forward, our current leadership keeps trotting out relics of the past who foster that hatred.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-21T22:03:26-06:00

ID

72766

Comment

**Kacy, we may be on the same wavelength, but I still think it wouldn't have killed Harvey should have used a little more fiery rhetoric in responding to some of the City's high-profile crimes. Even if it's only to make people feel a little more assured that someone cares about the situation and is determined to develop a zero-tolerance for criminal activity. It sounds fake, I know, but again that is how the political game is played, to play on people's emotions over their intelligence. How else can you explain Bush's re-election?** <--ejeff1970 The fact that Harvey Johnson did not use *fiery rhetoric* to mislead voters with false claims and empty promises like Melton did--irrespective of the political fallout--was laudable. I'd much prefer a Mayor who is intelligent, thoughtful, methodical and deliberate in addressing the issues, particularly crime in this case, than one who plays to the media and suckers the uninformed. You see where that got us. Harvey ran on his record and, as I said before, the media persuaded many, many voters that his crime reduction efforts were plagued by inertia. Too many of us tend to believe what we hear in a 15-second sound bite or what we are told by others without taking the time to study the facts. Sure, I wish Harvey had been more animated and forceful in highlighting his record. But, the deck was stacked against him with the CL (and other media too) constantly misrepresenting crime rate, even when they had evidence that it was dropping. But they counted on a misinformed/uninformed electorate to believe their gloom and doom characterization of the crime issue. To *play on people's emotions over their intelligence* is to elect the George W. Bushes and Frank Meltons of this world. I admire the fact that Harvey did not compromise his principles, prostitute his integrity, or sell his soul simply to win. He could have. But he didn't, even though I'm fairly certain that he knew the polls were saying crime was the number one issue and that Frank held a commanding lead. He could have triangulated. He could have pandered. He could have lied. But he didn't, and to me, that is the mark of a man of honor and character. He put his record out there; the majority didn't buy it, and we ended up with a psychotic, obsessive, ignorant, lying, wannabe-cop charlatan doing a piss poor job masquerading as the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi while presiding over its demise. It is time for the public at large to become more intelligent voters. Otherwise, they will continue to be used and taken for granted by propaganda merchants like Melton.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-21T23:23:32-06:00

ID

72767

Comment

Kacy makes good points. It might not have been Johnson who needed to change, but the public's perceptions—fueled by the media—that kicking and screaming and acting a fool was going to do a damn thing about crime. We kept trying to tell people this. And now the proof is in the rising crime numbers.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-21T23:26:14-06:00

ID

72768

Comment

Did anyone notice the absence of 3 council persons? Are they ashame to show their faces or what? FM was there. What's up with them?

Author

jada

Date

2006-06-21T23:30:37-06:00

ID

72769

Comment

Did the other 4 council pesons show up? I think they are all running for cover on this one, but for different reasons. Can someone from JFP get an interview with one of the Three Meltoneers to get their thoughts on Melton's actions? Admittedly, one of them is a parrot who won't give you anything but Melton talking points, but maybe the other two have enough independant thought to have an opinion that differs from the Mayor's office.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-22T06:13:31-06:00

ID

72770

Comment

Amen, Kacy. Good column, Donna. Now he's going to be mad at you too for telling it like it is. Frank's stunts are hurting him too. But he has no eyes or ears.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-22T10:40:17-06:00

ID

72771

Comment

Kacy also think you made some good points, and I appreciate and share your preference for substance over spin. It's too bad that is not how politics works in the real world.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-22T10:41:39-06:00

ID

72772

Comment

Melton's been mad at me before. I don't make a single decision based on whether it's going to anger a public official. I would be a shame to to my profession, not to mention my conscience, if I did that.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-22T11:02:38-06:00

ID

72773

Comment

Thank you Kacy for putting the "right" perspective on Harvey Johnson. I'm sure during the campaign people were telling him to do and say this and that. He is a man of principles, and politics, media and nothing else was going to make him comprimise his integrity. It is unfortunate the majority of citizens were turned on by "sound bites". Now those bites or biting us in our a##! A lot of us knew to stick with Harvey but not enough saw through the smoke. Now this smoke has caused lung cancer (FM). Bring on the radiation and chemotherapy!!!

Author

maad

Date

2006-06-22T14:33:17-06:00

ID

72774

Comment

Maad, the satirical "cancer" (FM), is causing our city to erode. He keeps digging this hole - deeper, deeper, and deeper. The first thing to do, when you find that you are going deeper and deeper into the dirt, is to STOP DIGGING! I know that the beauty of being human is that we are capable of changing. I have found no evidence of this since meeting Melton. So, since he won't change - we must change and 3 more years are far too many.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-06-22T16:02:14-06:00

ID

72775

Comment

I found yet another Jacksonian at the grocery store today who thinks Melton is on the right track. They bought hook-line-and-sinker into this notion that kids are doing ALL of the petty crime in Jackson. It is amazing to me that there is anyone left in this city who thinks Melton is leading this City anywhere but into darkness.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-06-22T16:07:16-06:00

ID

72776

Comment

MELTON IS A MAGNET FOR CRIME: He is a poor example for our young. He breaks the law in front of them and then imposes punishment for things that are being done by adults. Where is the logic in all of this? We are having a few too many "strange crimes" that seem to be politically motivated. Also, aren't there just a few too many fires, almost daily, in these boarded up homes? These are things that make you go, uuuummmmmmmmm!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-06-22T17:20:29-06:00

ID

72777

Comment

Donna Donna Donna..... the best writing comes always when the emotions flow and are red-hot............ not bad at all rookie. ;-) in fact, pretty damn good writing.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-06-22T19:34:23-06:00

ID

72778

Comment

BTW: That is a really powerful editorial cartoon in this weeks JFP. I wish you would post it online.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-23T10:36:01-06:00

ID

72779

Comment

Thanks, Pike. We will figure out how to get Darren's cartoons online TODAY.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-23T10:55:33-06:00

ID

72780

Comment

Ledger editorial today about the mayor they so lovingly endorsed for the precise reasons that they are now criticizing him: Since last November, under Mayor Melton, the Police Department stopped releasing crime statistics. Rather than dealing with the problem of crime, the mayor and department tried to deal with the perception of crime: flashy displays, media events, roadblocks, etc. Real crime fighting is done through less dramatic means: through crafting a budget that hires, trains and puts more officers on the street; that gives police the resources they need; that involves deliberation, planning - cool, calm, calculated action - not hysterical, headline-grabbing reactions that only instill fear in law-abiding citizens and give the city a black eye. Effective crime-fighting shows up slowly, steadily. It includes working with county and state officials to ensure there is enough jail space, judges, prosecutors. Effective crime fighting is, well, effective. Melton's approach is pathetic.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-23T11:04:06-06:00

ID

72781

Comment

Funny, we had a Mayor and Chief who did just those things. But, the Ledge, other TV media outlets, and radio talk shows wanted to make sure we understood that this method was KILLING Jackson!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-23T11:15:25-06:00

ID

72782

Comment

I HATE the Clarion Ledger for saying all this stuff now. What utter & painful crap!!! Where were they when Johnson was actually taking care of this? Where were they when Frank started pulling the community policing dept. off? They were kissing Frank's a$$. They are playing media games once again -- it's just like the effing tabloidds. First you build someone up, then you tear them down. I am not in the mood to find it funny today. All I see is a pathetically sad system of media games. Meanwhile the bombs keep going off in Bagdhad.

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-06-23T11:48:36-06:00

ID

72783

Comment

whups my mind is on a rant today. sorry. maybe the Ledge will begin supporting this kind of policing and maybe I should give them credit for doing so. It is truly what we need, I believe, if we are going to beat crime back and keep it down.

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-06-23T11:50:15-06:00

ID

72784

Comment

**Funny, we had a Mayor and Chief who did just those things. But, the Ledge, other TV media outlets, and radio talk shows wanted to make sure we understood that this method was KILLING Jackson!** <--pikersam My sentiments exactly, pikersam. How they're now saying Melton and Anderson should approach the crime issue is exactly the approach Johnson and Moore were employing! And excuse me, people: (1) didn't the C-L say that Johnson was too deliberate and spent too much time planning? (2) Hadn't Johnson put more officers on the street, and hasn't Melton disbanded JPD's Crime Prevention Unit? (3) didn't the C-L help *instill fear in law abiding citizens* by blowing the crime *problem* under Johnson way out of proportion? (4) wasn't the effectiveness of Johnson-Moore's crime-fighting plan (the implementation of the Linder-Maple study and Moore's Five-Point Plan) beginning to be *slowly, steadily* manifested? (5) isn't the Clarion-Ledger hypocritical and *pathetic*? This editorial really chaps my a$$!

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-23T12:20:43-06:00

ID

72785

Comment

Great article Ladd. This article speaks loud and clear for a great majority of us. I see a problem with the way that Melton is just now releasing the crime figures. The records show a tremendous increase in crime since Melton took over. I hope that if crime starts a downward turn that we will not get caught up with Melton's rhetoric and believe that he is doing a good job. I believe that crime has gone up at least sixteen percent since he took office. By my math, crime will have to go down at least SEVENTEEN percent before he will actually have accomplished something. If crime dosen't go up at all anymore, we STILL need to go down at least 17% for him to say that things are starting to look up.

Author

lance

Date

2006-06-23T19:45:41-06:00

ID

72786

Comment

Does anyone know how many homicides we have this year to date?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-06-23T20:45:20-06:00

ID

72787

Comment

Wow! Very Powerful Donna... Wow! Also, right on!

Author

BKS

Date

2006-06-26T07:16:56-06:00

ID

72788

Comment

BTW, all, by popular demand, we are starting a Darren blog with all his cartoons. Here's the one that goes with my column above. His blog will be fully loaded up shortly—and don't miss his FULL PAGE cartoon on TDN/Gannett out today! ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-28T12:47:19-06:00

ID

72789

Comment

There is a long-fought deal for renovation of the King Edward—one that has had to avoid landmines set by this mayor every step of the way. This is a remarkable development, and the people of Jackson have no need for a Texan—whether Gene Phillips or Frank Melton—to try to ruin it. THANK YOU, Donna, for reminding us all what Frank Melton is: Not. A. Mississippian. Now I'm not one to blindly reject outside influences, but the man has been carrying on in Jackson for I-don't-know-how-long, and I still can't count him as a Mississippian. He's still some kind of weird outsider cowboy. And seems hell-bent on keeping it that way. He doesn't seem to understand that before you can responsibly govern a place, you have to get inside its skin. and now he surrounds himself with officers who enable him to play cop even though he doesn’t know how, Oh, I think he knows how to PLAY cop just fine. *rolls eyes* Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2006-06-28T20:12:26-06:00

ID

72790

Comment

It appears from reading this site, the mayor is taking a beating. However, I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer for me. Where are the parents of these minors that are committing these crimes? Maybe, the parents need to be arrested and or fined for their child(ren)s' actions. Why are there so few cases handled in the court system? Where is the police chief and what is her plans to handle this matter? Where are the churches and the organizations that work with youth? Maybe, the mayor needs to have meetings with those that are interested in working together to eradicate the problems with crime in Jackson and create workable positive long-term solutions. I do not live in the state of Mississippi and this situation has not been good publicity for the city of Jackson. What effect has this matter had on college recruitment? Also, where is Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? I can imagine parents and students are having second thoughts about choosing Jackson Mississippi as a place for their higher education. This is the kind of information that Dr. Bill Cosby has been speaking about across this country. It will take a "whole village" to handle this. I look forward to some comments. This is a great site... Posted by: pm on Jun 29, 06 | 2:53 am

Author

pm

Date

2006-06-30T02:26:47-06:00