It's great to see The Clarion-Ledger follow up our tip from last Friday about Melton and his two bodyguards flying to the Bahamas. This is the way local media should work together to get at the truth. See their story today:
The city paid $1,842 for three round-trip plane tickets, said Administration Department Director Peyton Prospere. That was the only cost the city incurred, he said. Melton said he plans to reimburse the city for the cost of the plane tickets because he wants to save the city money. As of Friday, the city's finance department had not received his check. Melton and his guards stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay, where rooms range from $400 to $800 per night. Melton said he paid for the separate rooms, meals and amenities, such as poolside service, out of his own pocket.
When contacted at the resort on Monday, Melton refused to answer questions about his trip, saying he was there on his own time.
The mayor provided The Clarion-Ledger with a receipt detailing room charges for one of his bodyguards totaling $1,269.14 for the four-night stay. He said the receipt, which bears his signature, shows he paid with his personal credit card.
NO OBLIGATION
It was unclear who the mayor had told about his trip. City Council President Marshand Crisler said Monday he was unaware of the mayor's plans to leave the country. However, he said the mayor is not obligated to inform the council when he goes out of town.
"I can't imagine what city business he would have in the Bahamas," Crisler said. [...]
While the mayor was out of the country, the media were still questioning whether reputed gang member Vidal Sullivan was out on the streets.
Sullivan, who was acquitted of homicide on Feb. 22, turned himself in to the mayor and Police Chief Shirlene Anderson the night of March 2. Since that time, the mayor and police chief have refused to say publicly where Sullivan is staying except to say he was placed in "protective custody."
Virden Addition Community Association President Jimmie Robinson said people in his neighborhood are curious about the timing of the mayor's trip and concerned about whether they are safe.
"How do you say there's a man out there who is so dangerous that he shouldn't be on the streets and then jump up and go to the Bahamas?" Robinson said.
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