Jackson Free Press

A March 12 telephone poll of 763 registered Jackson voters conducted by ZATA-3 Consulting in Washington, D.C., found that Jackson Mayor Frank Melton gets an excellent grade from 42 percent of those polled, while almost two-thirds want him to spend more time being mayor and less acting as a policeman.

The first Jackson Free Press/16-WAPT Poll asked voters to grade Melton's first year in office. Beyond the 42 percent top grade, 23 percent of responders handed him a B, 14 percent gave him a C, and 8 percent gave him a D, followed by the final 13 percent that gave him an F.

Only 24 percent agreed with the statement that "Melton should step down temporarily to focus on pursuing drug dealers." Twelve percent said Melton should leave office permanently, and 64 percent said Melton should concentrate more on his job as mayor and let the police do their work.

Additionally, just over a third of respondents—34 percent—agreed with the statement, "Melton is more interested in headlines than solving the city's problems," while 66 percent agreed that "Melton gets things done for the people of Jackson and that's what creates the headlines."

The gender of respondents was 67 percent female, 33 percent male. Melton's highest grades came from Ward 1 (with 47 percent voting excellent in Councilman Ben Allen's district) and Ward 3 (49 percent in Kenneth Stokes' district), while his lowest grade came from Ward 2, the Tougaloo area represented by Councilman Leslie McLemore. In that district, 36 percent gave him excellent, and 21 percent gave the mayor an F. In Ward 2, 18 percent would like the mayor to resign immediately, as opposed to the 5 percent who agree in Ward 1.

Business owner Karen Parker would have fallen in with the crowd of voters giving Melton a D. She said the mayor needed to stop being a cop and focus more on being a mayor. "I think he's trying to make a name for himself in graphic headlines," Parker said. "I don't see him solving a lot of the city's problems, and as a business owner and resident of the city, that's a great concern to me."

Jackson resident Gary Anderson gave Melton high marks, however. "I think he's done a fine job on fighting crime and establishing a presence," Anderson said.

Additional reporting by Nick Judin. More details at jacksonfreepress.com

Previous Comments

ID

65587

Comment

Why did we need a poll from a Washington firm? I think that channel 16 and channel 12 are closer to the truth with their daily reports. Polls are to be taken with a grain of salt. You never see anyone on local tv or read anything locally where people are happy with the mayor's performance. You could selectively call people that have already been polled to give you a positive rating. Why not ask all of the victims of crimes commited in Jackson since Frank took office and see what they think about the job that the mayor is doing?

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-15T17:28:16-06:00

ID

65588

Comment

Yeah, lance, I gotta agree. From the looks of it the questions may have been a bit biased anyway. I agree, this means nothing. And besides, what difference does it make to even do a poll. It's not going to change Frank. He could care less. What Frank needs is support. I know that may be difficult for some of you reading this to even fathom, but the man is our Mayor. We are so quick to say well he didn't do it this way and he should have done this, why didn't he do that. The fact of the matter is no one will ever please everyone. Anyone who takes that mayoral seat will always have as many people hate em as the ones who love em. I think Frank deals with what he needs to deal with. However irratic it may seem, he's working. He's in the trenches and he's got his eye on the prize. The prize being getting some control back in the city. Some organization. Now his methods may not seem to be organized to us, but I am hoping that one day we will see his plan. And datz the BOTTOM LINE....

Author

Queen601

Date

2006-03-15T18:00:17-06:00

ID

65589

Comment

Hey guys, on polls, you're damned if you and damned if you don't. The people who like the outcome will think it's the best thing ever, and the folks you don't will say it's biased or unnecessary. Why did you use a Washington poll -- or why didn't you use a more reputable firm (if you use a smaller, local outfit). We believe it is important to start gauging public opinion on the city's performance. After all, public officials do this and often don't share the results, yet make decisions based on them. So we all need the same information. And it forces people out of their own echo chambers -- if all you're hearing are people, for instance, who believe the mayor isn't doing a great job, yet the majority think he is, that is good information to have. It might even encourage citizens to talk more about what they think are vital issues -- ways the mayor is succeeding and ways he's not -- and not just assume that the public is tuned in. I agree that polls are not overly useful, but I do think there is some pretty interesting results in this poll -- particularly the two-thirds who want to see Mr. Melton focus on being being mayor rather than running the police department. That is probably a statement we hear more than any other from people, and this poll reflects that. We'll be posting some more of the results by tomorrow, so you can see more of it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-15T18:28:36-06:00

ID

65590

Comment

BTW, WAPT has a Web poll on their site asking how folks would grade the mayor should y'all be itching to vote yourself. It's a bit less scientific than our real one, but it could prove catharctic. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-15T18:41:53-06:00

ID

65591

Comment

Both of you are right. I STILL have hope that things will turn around. I just cannot figure out why we must travel through China just to get to Memphis. When Frank did all of his pep rally type speeches, the people are still on a high from it. From my understanding, this is the month to start preparations for the upcoming fiscal year's budget. This is where we really can get a picture of the things that are not being talked about in the media. We all have a vested interest in our city's finances and the direction that we are headed. Even though I am quick to scrutinize his actions, I still keep in the back of my mind that he did not get where he is by being a total imbecile. (I checked the spelling, I think that I got it right).

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-15T20:00:22-06:00

ID

65592

Comment

Polls aren't perfect, but they're not all that bad, either. I think it was a good idea, and I was excited to hear about the poll on the news today. Folks may start saying that WAPT and the JFP are in cahoots, but maybe y'all should do like Melton and not give a #@%& what they think. Someone told me that the 64% percent that wants Melton to let JPD do their job are probably people who don't want to get caught with drugs themselves. I said nothing. She also said Melton should get an A and that JPD isn't doing their job. I still said nothing. I just thought to myself, "I'l let you see it for yourself." As the saying goes, time will tell.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-15T20:05:27-06:00

ID

65593

Comment

In spite of some of my criticisms of this mayor both on style and substance, I still have hope that he will turn this city around and keep it movin' forward. I certainly think the Mayor is capable of leading this city, but he really needs to back off of the cowboy leading the charge image on his pet issues, and allow his police chief to be more than just a hood ornament and actually take the lead on police/crimefighting issues. Most of us knew that he would play cops and robbers as mayor, but it's gotten old and I really want him to focus on the economic revitalization issues in the city, getting behind private developments like Capitol Green and LeFleur Lakes and continuing to lobby for new investments and stimulate the city's economy.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-03-15T20:24:39-06:00

ID

65594

Comment

ejeff, I think you're nailing the result of this poll. I think people really *want* Mr. Melton to do a good job and believe he can -- however, they're concerned about him leading manhunts and such while the budget goes into the toilet. (Not that most people have really gotten the extent of this one yet, unless they read the JFP.) Folks may start saying that WAPT and the JFP are in cahoots, but maybe y'all should do like Melton and not give a #@%& what they think. Well, I think we are in cahoots, at least to the point that we want the truth and real information out there. I don't think either end of this poll partnership minds people believing that we are willing to publish the truth -- and, I will remind, that we just commissioned and published the results of a poll that finds that 42 percent of those polled believe Mr. Melton is doing an "excellent" job. So let them say what they will. ;-) But before you jump to the conclusion that WAPT is the only one that cares about the city's accountability, I should tell you that WLBT is interviewing me tomorrow about sunshine laws and open records. I wish I knew what time it will air -- I forget to ask -- but I know I've got to be there with the damn chickens. Lord knows what I will say that early in the a.m. BTW, be sure to watch WAPT at 10 p.m. tonight; that's when they are reporting on the "grade" part of the poll, which is where Mr. Melton has his best showing.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-15T21:44:31-06:00

ID

65595

Comment

I am very impressed that JFP publishes poll results adverse to its oft stated political position. Yet another indication that this paper's detractors should probably read it from time to time.

Author

Niles Hooper

Date

2006-03-15T22:31:17-06:00

ID

65596

Comment

But before you jump to the conclusion that WAPT is the only one that cares about the city's accountability, I should tell you that WLBT is interviewing me tomorrow about sunshine laws and open records. I hope that since you are doing the interview tomorrow, maybe it will air no later than Friday. I don't watch WLBT very much, so I hope I can catch it somehow. I am very impressed that JFP publishes poll results adverse to its oft stated political position. Yet another indication that this paper's detractors should probably read it from time to time. I couldn't agree more. Lots of folks think the JFP is biased because they say stuff that they don't want to hear. Well, the truth hurts sometimes. :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-15T23:12:52-06:00

ID

65597

Comment

This polling stuff doesn't mean a thing if we are not allowed to see the crime stats how do we know that crime is down. People think crime is down because they don't know what the stats are. We can't leave anything of value in our cars nor our homes. How can one feel safe when you have to stay locked in your home and car always. Don't even try walking around your neighborhood while you're walking thieves are robbing. I feel FM has put all of us in danger because the criminals want to show him they are not afraid. That is why no stats to the public.

Author

jada

Date

2006-03-15T23:14:50-06:00

ID

65598

Comment

Okay, Ready, Aim, and FIRE! 1. The WAPT survey is depressing, Citizens of Jackson is in the dark, but the light will eventually come on. 2. Crime is not down, once you get a chance look at the crime stats! If you could find them. Look at the news, several car jackings in the past week. A bank robbery, and many more crimes not mentioned. 3. Let's stick to the issue, FM wants to be a police for a reason. -FM has a history being the *Father Figure* for inner city under privilege kids. -Not to say FM is great mentor, but several kids now (young men only) are still tied up in criminal litigation. At what point, do you let go and let god? - After the MBN stunt, why did FM choose Jefferson Davis County to be a Deputy Sheriff? Didn't he file homestead in Houston, Tx. oops, I mean Jackson, Ms. -What connections do FM have in Jefferson Davis County? -In case you didn't know that is one of the major hubs in Mississippi for Drug Traffic. - If Jackson has so many problems, why not be a reserve deputy for Hinds Co. S.O.? - Ladies & Gentlemen don't be fooled; this man wants particular drug dealers arrested. 4.Can you say Monopoly? 5. Believe it or not, it's your home to! 6. "My Friends that's the Bottom Line!" (Then I put my pen in my shirt pocket)

Author

Lspd2

Date

2006-03-16T00:46:30-06:00

ID

65599

Comment

I'm not a Melton fan, but we aren't doing any favors to the discussion if we don't insert some critical thinking here. So let's forget who I am for a moment and look at where the points are vulnerable: 1. The WAPT survey may show a substantial drop in support versus his 88% in the general election, depending on how well that can be trusted as a measure of public opinion. When 66 percent of Jacksonians say "Melton gets things done for the people of Jackson and that’s what creates the headlines," that tells us that he's still in his honeymoon period. I wouldn't expect him to poll badly for at least another six months, unless he does something really infamous. 2. Anecdotal evidence isn't a compelling argument for anything, because crime migrates from community to community. An anecdotal increase in Fondren could simply reflect that criminals who had been causing trouble in the Mill Street area or in south Jackson are responding to shifts in police patrols and moving to new neighborhoods, or that crime happens to be taking place where the victims are people you know rather than people you don't know. If we could know citywide crime was up or down without looking at the stats, we wouldn't need the stats. Consider also that the criticism of Johnson's handling of the crime problem was also based on this kind of argument; "Look at that carjacking last week," "Look at that drug-related shooting yesterday," and so forth. We need the stats. To suggest that we can judge crime in Jackson without them validates the very similar unscientific criticism that was directed against Johnson's crime record. 3-4. As you said yourself, Jefferson Davis County is a hub of drug activity. Melton was MBN director before he got the deputy sheriff gig. So the most logical explanation is that his lack of success as MBN director got him interested in a crimefighting job in Jefferson County, and that his frustration there might have been what led him to decide that the only way he'd have as much power as he felt he needed over law enforcement in Jackson would be to run for mayor. I am less inclined to believe (without proof) that Melton wants to see a drug "monopoly" as I am to believe that he's living a supercop fantasy and doesn't realize the limitations of his office. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-16T01:02:15-06:00

ID

65600

Comment

I thought that he was fired by Governor Barbour. He had the same attitude in Jefferson Davis County as he has here in Jackson. He made numerous arrests, but had very few convictions. It's no secret that he has an overwhelming passion for crime, I just wonder when he is going to realize that he is not good at it as he thinks? I love skating, but for some reason I keep winding up on my a$$ on the ice. Melton built a legacy in the private industry. He is trying to do the same here which is okay except for the fact he thinks that he already knows how to make thinks work. The reality is he has a lot to learn and it's costing us dearly.

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-16T03:49:49-06:00

ID

65601

Comment

Melton was fired by Governor Barbour (which is common when gubernatorial administrations switch party, though I don't think anyone can claim with a straight face that he was an effective MBN director), but after he was fired he moved on to Jefferson County. I agree with pretty much every word of the rest of your post. The "arrest 'em all and let the judge sort it out" approach has been a hallmark of his tenure at the MBN and in Jefferson Davis County, and seems to be his approach to Jackson crime a well. It strikes me as a mighty expensive, and ineffective, way to do things. I'm not sure that Melton is incurably inept when it comes to crime, but he does seem to be incurably stubborn and incurably arrogant. Whether or not that's a "perception" problem remains to be seen, I guess, but he isn't rocking my world right now either. I think we all agree that he's doing a lousy job. I just don't think he has a hidden agenda that requires him to do a lousy job on purpose. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-16T05:36:07-06:00

ID

65602

Comment

Thanks for putting it all in a nutshell. A lot of my comments come from memory (I'm too old for that) and I don't remember specifics. I am not a Melton fan but I also hope that we as a city can put that part aside and try to make this thing jell. One thing that I will give Melton credit for.......he has gotten a majority of the city on the same page of agreeing that it either time for him to shape up or ship out. BTW, I would have enjoyed blogging more last night, but I got sleepy.

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-16T07:55:38-06:00

ID

65603

Comment

I am very impressed that JFP publishes poll results adverse to its oft stated political position. Yet another indication that this paper's detractors should probably read it from time to time. Thanks, Niles. Anyone who actually reads the JFP without some sort of amorphous bias against anyone who doesn't espouse their view no matter what knows that our policy is to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. I believe in the power of facts, without rhetoric or sound bites, and that's how I form my own beliefs. That's why my views aren't partisan—I will compliment or criticize someone of any party based on their actions and words. (This is way I probably make the Democratic Party crazier than I do the Republicans!) Everything I/the JFP have ever said about Mr. Melton or his performance has been based on what he himself has done. As I've said before, I went into last year's campaign personally impressed with Mr. Johnson's accomplishments, but ready to be impressed that Mr. Melton could/would do an even better job. I did not bring baggage in one way or the other about Mr. Melton. I did not know his history here, and that can help alleviate bias for or against someone, especially someone with such a public persona (and public personas are not always fact-based). I was a blank slate. However, I have not hidden that, from the very beginning of us trying to cover his campaign, Mr. Melton revealed things about himself that were very disturbing to me and paper, leading to our strong belief that he was not the best choice for mayor. Unfortunately, he has not done anything to alleviate those concerns now as our mayor. That is the biggest disappointment. We had hoped he simply ran a lousy campaign and made poor choices in the people to run it for him and would make much better choices as mayor. However, the idea that we would not commission and publish the results of a public-opinion poll that shows that the majority of voters still think he is doing at least a good job is absurd. We are simply not that kind of media, and never will be. Therefore, we will continue to confound the true partisans out there who don't ever want anything negative reported about their guy. But those people do not concern me. They're not the majority. Most people want solid information and then will make their minds up based on it. We will continue giving people of all political backgrounds what they have grown to expect and respect about the Jackson Free Press: The truth. And there will always be people who don't dig that at all. C'est la vie.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T09:59:23-06:00

ID

65604

Comment

Here's a link to one of WAPT's stories about our joint poll: A Jackson Free Press-WAPT Poll finds that Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's leadership style is still very popular with voters in the capital city. However, most residents still want him to leave the crime fighting to the police department. The Jackson Free Press teamed up with WAPT to find out what Jackson voters think about Melton’s crime fighting strategy. Last week, Melton said he might step down temporarily so that he could focus on arresting drug dealers. More than 60 percent of those polled said Melton should concentrate on being mayor and let the police force do its job. “There are other matters in Jackson that need to be focused on. Not just necessarily drug dealers,” said Patrick Bowen, a Jackson voter.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T10:42:18-06:00

ID

65605

Comment

i took part in this poll. i was a little surprised. it wasn't heavy handed, but the wording was actually somewhat negative towards the mayor...enough to make me wonder if the sponsor of the poll was clearly no friend of the mayor.

Author

jp!

Date

2006-03-16T11:25:52-06:00

ID

65606

Comment

I'm new at this whole commissioning poll thing, but I thought the variety of questions ran the gamut, and the whole A-F rating system seemed extremely fair. As I said, though, we're going to post the whole thing today, so people can see for themselves. There are no secrets here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T11:27:34-06:00

ID

65607

Comment

This letter is on behalf of me and my family as we continue to plead and beg of you to help us find the murderer of our beloved, Michael L. Washington. ‘Mike-Mike’ as we called him, was the backbone of our family and now that he is gone, our family continues walk in hurt, harm, danger, and perhaps even fear. He was one of the strongest members of our family and on June 20, 2004, someone took his life as if he was nothing, as if he was a dog in the street. This person continues to lurk the streets of Jackson as if nothing happens, and city officials state that they have not filed this as a cold case but we know better. When we speak with Sergeants, Detectives, and other city officials they act as if we are a nuisance to them, when they are suppose to protect and serve the citizens of Jackson. We are made to feel as if we should just let it go, but we will not!!!!! We are going to fight and continue to do what we have to do to find the person who murdered him. You know it’s sad, it’s like the system was designed to protect the criminal and to hurt those abiding the law. We are taxpayers of Jackson and have been for all of our lives, and the treatment that we get is just unheard of. When we ask officials of the detectives, we are brushed away as if; who is Michael Washington and who cares, WE DO!!!!! But, take the time and put yourselves in our shoes, you have sons, nephews, fathers, and brothers, what if it was them. Then, how would you respond. Would you sit behind a desk waiting on the tip line or running Crime stoppers, and letting that be all you do in respects for your loved one. Don’t think so!!!!! I had the opportunity on March 3, 2006 to speak with two of the Sergeants, that I will not mention their names at this time, but they told me that they know how I felt and that they’ve had situations in their life where they suddenly lost family members to illness and things of that nature. How can you say that? That was so absurd and sub-consciously, I screamed in disgust and anger that they we would be so off base. The funny thing here is how one could say that they can sympathize with his given scenario and our situation is totally differently. They had closure when they lost their family member and we still don’t, do you know how that feels, oh no, sit back and think about it!!! Then the man went on to say and he was sorry and that he had to go on and that’s basically that’s what we should do. That’s ludicrous. How could you even fix your mouth to say something of the sort? We won’t justice, just as you would if you were confronted with the situation like so. Once again, this was cold-hearted offering false compassion.

Author

whywhy

Date

2006-03-16T11:30:35-06:00

ID

65608

Comment

It is really sad that the jobs of those to protect (i.e., the detective) and serve responsibilities are just to up behind a desk and ride around in an unmark car and wait on the tip line to ring and hope that someone go to jail and lessen their sentence by snitching on the murderer of Mike-Mike, but she needs to know that she is going to have to get out in the streets and do her job. You cannot resolve crime sitting behind a desk and waiting on a call and running a clip on television. As I continue to re-iterate, if it was a loved one of yours, would you sit back and depend on the tip line, please advise to yourself. These folk who committed this crime have been on the run for two years, so what makes you think that they are going to turn themselves in now. Think about it, if their conscious haven’t whooped them this far, come on. They probably think that they have gotten away with it, which they have not and continue to lurk the streets of Jackson as if nothing has happened. Also, the murderer will not prosper in anything that they set out to do, this will not rest in their spirit, and when they are called to hell, nor in their souls. I would hate for the City of Jackson to be added to the list for being unjust and committing wrongdoing along with the criminal. The hearts of these folk is cold-hearted and cruel, I hope and pray that yours are not the same, please help us!

Author

whywhy

Date

2006-03-16T11:31:16-06:00

ID

65609

Comment

OK, my PDF expert isn't here, yet, but here's the script of the poll. I'll put up more later: Survey Script This is InstaPoll calling with a quick survey of voters in Jackson about the performance of Mayor Frank Melton. Please use your telephone keypad to give Mayor Melton a grade for his first year in office. Press 1 if he deserves an A for excellence Press 2 if he deserves a B Press3 if he deserves a C Press 4 if he deserves a D And press 5 if Mayor Melton deservers a failing grade of F. Thanks. Last week Frank Melton said that he might step down temporarily so that he could focus on arresting drug dealers. Some people think Melton should leave these matters to the police. Please use your telephone keypad to tell us your opinion. Press 1 if you think Melton should step down temporarily to focus on pursuing drug dealers Press 2 if Melton should just resign and leave office permanently Press 3 if Melton should concentrate on being Mayor and let the police force do its job. Thanks. Here are two statements about Mayor Melton’s performance. Please use you telephone keypad to give us your opinion. Statement 1: Frank Melton is more interested in headlines than solving the City’s problems. Statement 2: Frank Melton gets things done for the people of Jackson and that’s what creates the headlines. Press 1 for Statement 1 and Press 2 for Statement 2. Thanks, for statistical purposes, please, please use the telephone keypad to identify your gender. Press 1 if female Press 2 if male Thanks Goodbye

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T11:42:24-06:00

ID

65610

Comment

Thanks for the info, Donna. To me, the poll questions are unbiased. What does anyone else think?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-16T12:14:29-06:00

ID

65611

Comment

i didn't care for the "Some people think Melton should leave these matters to the police. " line. it was un-necessary and somewhat leading.

Author

jp!

Date

2006-03-16T12:37:39-06:00

ID

65612

Comment

I can see that. However, without that sentence, it almost seemed biased the other direction. A lot of these sentences, read alone, could seem biased. But, in context, I thought they seemed pretty fair. But the feedback is great going forward, as we prepare to do follow-ups. BTW, to get back to Lance's comment from Wednesday, I just located the bio on the firm. They have Jackson offices, so there is a serious local component: Zata - 3 is a direct voter contact company based in Washington, DC with offices in Sacramento, California, Carrolton, Kentucky and Jackson, Mississippi. The firm offers a complete menu of telephone voter contact services for candidate campaigns and ballot measures. Additionally Zata- 3 occasionally conducts voter opinion surveys. Zata-3 was founded in December 2005 by Chad Gosselink, Brad Chism and Ilro Lee. The partners had worked together for three election cycles at a leading Washington, DC telephone voter contact firm. In the last ninety days the firm has done work in AL, AR, CA, FL, KY, LA, MS, MO, TN, TX and WA. Clients include statewide candidates, national interest groups, statewide candidates, state legislative candidates and public affairs consultants. I'll get the PDFs up when I can.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T12:44:22-06:00

ID

65613

Comment

Our first foray into polling is really cool, so far. Right now, WAPT is leading their Web site with the results as their "lead story." Love it. ;-) Oh, and they're still doing their online poll on his grade, should anyone who didn't get called feel left out. Go on over and cast your vote!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T13:28:45-06:00

ID

65614

Comment

I'm confused! What exactly are we judging FM on? His whole life here has been one big lie and promises without results. At Channel 3, he got rid of the Union and spent his whole career dogging African-American Males on his famous "Bottom Line." Am I the only person who remembers these comments?? What score in the poles does he get for this? When he worked as head of the MBN, he participated in stories about veteran employees who are now suing him for slander. The Governor was smart enough to fire him. His act as "cops and robbers" is centered around African - American Males-those who serve as foot-soldiers. Where does the money and access come from to promote drug activity in this community? Is it any talk of an investigation into "drug sources?" Every city has some element of crime; however, you can't shut down community development for the entire city waiting to become crime free. A Mayor must be multi-task proficient. So, my friends, other than beating other blacks and whites whom he feels are powerless, down to the canvass - WHAT HAS HE DONE????? Nightmayor

Author

justjess

Date

2006-03-16T13:35:09-06:00

ID

65615

Comment

I just saw that WAPT has put up a PDF of the results with our colorful graphs and such. Now, this is teamwork! Check it out, peeps.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T14:01:18-06:00

ID

65616

Comment

I am hating to beat a dead horse but this morning I discovered that my car was stolen sometimes during the early morning. Well is crime down or what? I took a vacation to rejuvenate myself and try to help my city only to become a victim again. 2 house burglaries, 3 car break-ins. I am suppose to be living in a rather "safe" neighborhood. "HELP FRANK"

Author

jada

Date

2006-03-16T14:28:45-06:00

ID

65617

Comment

Oh, Jada, I'm sorry. Where do you live? OK, my take on this is that I don't know whether crime is up -- who can know? The damn city WILL NOT tell us where crime is happening or when. It's absurd. Did you see the story WLBT did about Belhaven (Heights) crime? This was Mr. Melton's response: Mayor Frank Melton says he is concentrating on this problem, but is leaving most of the work to individual police precincts. He says one way to catch the criminals may be better response time.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T14:36:53-06:00

ID

65618

Comment

Sorry to hear about your car Jada. Even I don't know you, I wish that I could help. I think that a big problem here also is that people don't want to get involved and help each other. If we all pull together as we do to help other cities and communities, we could get almost anything accomplished. Ladd...I read the graph. You're right. This is a good start. Even though we all speak differing opinions about our current mayoral administration, we still have the same focus......... Make Jackson Better.

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-16T15:00:36-06:00

ID

65619

Comment

Thanks Lance and Ladd. I live in the Queens. We look out for each other and try to watch out for each others property but so do the criminals. If we knew what was happening in our neighborhood we would beef up our virgil. We thought things were good on our street and assumed on the others. When i talk to people from the other streets they say the same thing I do. We are not going to give up but it is harder without those reports. the Crime Prevention Unit use to help us a lot. They let us know where the activities were going on and we beefed up our watch and things got better. Well FM shot that to hell. We are not giving up under no circumstances.

Author

jada

Date

2006-03-16T16:53:04-06:00

ID

65620

Comment

I gave him an F at WAPT. He's trying to write the male version to the female anthem "I'm Every Woman. His will be called, I'm Frank, and I'm Super Bad." WATCH ME! I GOT IT. And I'm Superbad! James Brown is backiing him with the music.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-03-16T17:30:17-06:00

ID

65621

Comment

I do see two limitations to the poll: (1) There is no "stay the course" answer for question #2. The three options are: Resign temporarily, resign permanently, and stay in office and let the police do their jobs. Now, this is all well and good, but where's the option for folks who agree with the way Melton is doing things? All three options suggest a change of strategy. I think that as long as we bear this in mind, the results are still useful--we now have, for instance, numbers on how many people think Melton should resign, and 14% tells us that there is some sentiment in that direction. But I don't think it makes sense to report that 64 percent of Jacksonians think Melton should "let the police do their jobs"; it would be more accurate to say that 64 percent of Jacksonians don't want Melton to leave office, either temporarily or permanently. (2) The gender split is a mild concern to me because I know that the supercop rhetoric is an appeal to male virility; "law and order" rhetoric has historically been more popular with men for the same reasons action/adventure movies are more popular with men. So if the poll reflected something closer to Jackson's demographic--say, 58:42 instead of 67:33--then I think it would probably be a better gauge of the "law and order" vote. I know this is hard to do in telephone polls, so one option might be to calculate what the numbers would be if the 33% of respondents who were male reflected 42% of the poll data. But both of these facts are really only limitations that deal with how the poll should be reported. I don't see any bias here. Much hay has been made of the fact that the person who conducted the poll has ties to a predominantly Democratic polling firm (which has also worked for AOL/Time Warner, Cingular Wireless, and the American Cancer Society), but Frank Melton is a Democrat. It would be more realistic to expect bias from a polling firm that had been associated with Republican candidates. Personally, I'm just glad somebody's polling. I don't like being in the dark, and when we don't know Melton's numbers and we don't know the crime data, we're really kind of sunk in terms of figuring out just how much of the Melton message the city is buying. Right now it still seems to be buying said message, but then Bush was doing pretty well 10 months after 9/11, too. The supercop rhetoric has male advantages, but it also has a very common male problem. Namely (apologies in advance): How long can Mr. Melton keep it up? Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-16T19:30:46-06:00

ID

65622

Comment

Now, this is all well and good, but where's the option for folks who agree with the way Melton is doing things? All three options suggest a change of strategy. I can see your point, Tom. However, the first one is in effect a stay-the-course option, being that it was Mr. Melton's idea as a matter of course to step aside and pursue a criminal. That option would be very different had that option been someone else's idea, but it wasn't. So I think that is a very fair option, and one Mr. Melton presented himself, and pretty well represents the way he has conducted himself so far -- i.e. with an almost singleminded devotion to the Wood Street Players. (And strippers, but they told me that wouldn't fit in this one.) Also, the grade system also rather functions as a "stay the course" question. That is, it seems that 42 percent believes he should do exactly what he's doing, being that they chose "excellent." Of course, there is another 58 percent who wants some sort of change, perhaps, and the fourth option would have perhaps been good for them. But I definitely agree that a fourth option would have made sense, and have duly noted that for future polls. h hay has been made of the fact that the person who conducted the poll has ties to a predominantly Democratic polling firm Someone is really making hay about this being a "Democratic" polling firm? That's just weird and kinda dumb. I assume it must be someone who doesn't like Mr. Melton who is complaining that Democratic pollsters are skewing his numbers too favorably. And that is absurd. I assume his supporters are thrilled with this poll, and I expect to hear them quote these numbers widely in upcoming weeks. As they should. As a paper that skewers both parties—and being that Mr. Melton is really neither party, by his own statement—we actually don't care whether the polling firm is considered Democratic or Republican. What is important is that they are reputable. And these pollsters are certainly that. I liked them because they are local, yet respected nationally, and nationally connected, as we like to say. This came about because I ran into Mr. Chism at an event -- at Millsaps, I think -- and we start talking, and it dawned on me suddenly that it would be great for us to do a poll. Then I asked WAPT if they wanted to join, and when they heard that it was Chism's firm I was talking to, they agreed that the firm would be a good choice. We never even discussed "party." I'm just so not partisan that it never crossed my mind in this case, especially being that Melton isn't, either. I'm with you on your last graf. The response to this is remarkable so far, and positive across the board from what I've heard. People are glad we're doing it and can see that the results indicate that WAPT and the JFP are not in this in a biased way. We just want real information out there as a vital piece of the puzzle. One one piece, but an important piece. I plan to continue to poll, and the feedback y'all have given here has been excellent for future polls. Thanks, gang! I'm new at this, but one thing is for sure. The process will be open, and full of sunshine, the whole way. I hope the city decides to follow suit.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T19:47:48-06:00

ID

65623

Comment

What I find most interesting is that it's close enough to be "neck and neck" on the current WAPT poll between an A grade and an F grade. 30% give him an "A" and 26% give him an F. What does this say? Netizens (tech-savvy individuals and internet users) find Melton's tactics to be less than stellar. Factor in the other grades less than average and you are dealing with a majority of participants (non-voters and voters alike) that have a disdain for his tactics and give him a C or lower. Polls aside. I don't feel safer. To be honest, I've never felt this level of risk in my life. My street alone seems to be a haven for crime based solely on the experiences of individuals and businesses over the last few weeks. Fuck Vidal... Deal with the non-gang, middle-aged white men robbing my neighbors... Deal with the idiots running all the businesses out of North Fondren while robbing banks and businesses. I'm raving mad and even more pissed at the NJAM crowd that lives blocks away from me acting like they aren't worried about their wives and children when they leave the house nowadays. Things aren't better folks... At least in my 'hood they aren't.

Author

kaust

Date

2006-03-16T19:53:18-06:00

ID

65624

Comment

Well, it is the truth that phone polls have limitations these days, as younger people, and some older ones, don't even bother with home phones, and the most educated folks, at least under a certain age, tend to be on the Internet way too much. ;-) So factor that is as you will. As for feeling safer ... I don't think anyone will argue that Jackson is "getting safer." And the perception issue may soon be a problem for Melton and Anderson with their de-emphasis on community policing and providing information to the publilc. If I have to say the one thing that has shocked me the most about Mr. Melton's behavior, it's his acting like crime -- except for his particular obsessions -- isn't an issue any longer. This. Makes. No. Sense. I wouldn't argue like the yucks did during the Johnson administration that all the crime is Mr. Melton's fault -- but he certainly is sending out the message that his attention is elsewhere (Wood Street and strippers). And it is completely disingenious of *anyone* who was worried about the "perception-gate" hysteria during the last mayor's tenure to not be outraged now at how Mr. Melton is thumbing his nose at the public's right to know about crimes going on around them. This administration doesn't seem to give a damn about the public's right to know anything. Especially about crime. Oh, where are all those folks who claimed that the last administration was cooking crime numbers now that Mr. Melton is openly saying that he plans to filter crime states through SafeCity Watch, which has always been a political group -- with Mr. Melton as their candidate of choice? Their silence is very telling.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-16T20:05:53-06:00

ID

65625

Comment

Sarcasm alert - looking at how successful Frank's war on strippers has been maybe he should use the same tactic on other criminals. Make them get a liscense ! Car jacker, dope dealer, house burgler, bank robber etal fpr $100 a year then nail them for lying on the application and *POOF* they go away!

Author

JLYerg

Date

2006-03-17T02:31:10-06:00

ID

65626

Comment

BTW, WAPT had a *great* response to this poll as well, and are thrilled. They asked me to come on the show and talk about the poll, as well as our reportage about Melton to date. I can't do it until Wednesday, but I'll be live on WAPT newscast at 5 p.m. I know everyone will forget this by then, but we'll remind you in the LoungeBlog between now and then. Thanks, again, for all the great analysis and thoughts y'all provided it. We're very excited to be leading the charge, with WAPT, to gauge public opinion in Jackson moving forward. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-17T12:33:09-06:00

ID

65627

Comment

BTW, WAPT had a *great* response to this poll as well, and are thrilled. They asked me to come on the show and talk about the poll, as well as our reportage about Melton to date. I can't do it until Wednesday, but I'll be live on WAPT newscast at 5 p.m. I know everyone will forget this by then, but we'll remind you in the LoungeBlog between now and then. Thanks, again, for all the great analysis and thoughts y'all provided it. We're very excited to be leading the charge, with WAPT, to gauge public opinion in Jackson moving forward. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-17T12:33:09-06:00

ID

65628

Comment

Be carerful. Frank might show up to spook you. Take our buddy Todd for protection. This would be a good opportunity for him to face his most vocal critic. He's a nut.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-03-17T13:06:02-06:00

ID

65629

Comment

Frank is gonna show up with the Whip Cream & "Cream you Personally". :-D dat frank is a trip.

Author

JAC

Date

2006-03-17T13:31:58-06:00

ID

65630

Comment

There is so much talk about the poll. In any other statistical situations these numbers would have been thrown out. 700 + is not a good gauge on a city of 180,000 and 6200 pollers involved and only 700 + responded. As for Ward 1 response of thinking FM is so wonderful. I wonder if they would think he was so wonderful if he crossed I55 and started doing all the antics he's doing in West Jackson/South Jackson and started doing it in Northeast Jackson. Makes you want to say, ummmmmmm????

Author

maad

Date

2006-03-18T15:25:55-06:00

ID

65631

Comment

I just told a critic of the poll yesterday that it had 16,000 respondents, so obviously I need to read a little more carefully before I go around spouting numbers. But I think 763 respondents is a pretty good sample for a city of this size, considering that many of the national opinion poll have 2,000 or fewer respondents. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-18T17:45:49-06:00

ID

65632

Comment

maad... Ward 1's favorable rating at 47% was second to Ward 3's 49% favorable rating. If Ward 1 were to be the war zone that West Jackson is, I would probably welcome any help that it could get, no matter how drastic.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-03-18T19:25:54-06:00

ID

65633

Comment

Well not ALL of West Jackson, but the problem areas. We all know where I mean.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-03-18T19:27:08-06:00

ID

65634

Comment

It would be nice if the city remembered that the Queens is in Jackson. Big drive by last night. Shotgun blast could be heard all over the neighbirhood. No one was killed or hurt just their home.

Author

jada

Date

2006-03-18T22:31:34-06:00

ID

65635

Comment

Newsflash: Urban capital of nation's poorest state has crime. Film at 11. jada, no offense, and crime is certainly a problem in this city, but what, is this how we're going to do it? Jackson is perfectly safe and throwing around fear of crime hurts the community and discourages businesses when we've got a good mayor, but give us a bargain-brand one and suddenly we're in the Bed Stuy? Should I move to the suburbs until July 2009, then come back? Maybe I should at least stop crossing Gallatin, find a nice bingo club in someone's Eastover dining room, and spend the rest of my time knitting? If it was your neighborhood that had the drive-by shotgun blast, I'm terribly sorry, and I know that must be horrible. One of my friends' fathers was murdered in 1993. But if we're going to suggest that crime rates rapidly fluctuated sometime between July and now, wouldn't the more rational explanation be to blame poverty and migration resulting from Hurricane Katrina? It's always the boring socioeconomic stuff that creates and perpetuates crime. It's never so sexy as gaining or losing a supercop. The fact that Melton doesn't get this is the main reason he shouldn't be mayor. Good municipal law enforcement policies can have a solid long-term effect on crime, decreased patrols and longer response times will increase crime, increased patrols and shorter response times will decrease crime, but most of the crime problem is simply out of our hands--which is why I look with a jaundiced eye on mayoral candidates who claim they can "solve the crime problem" in a city that still has people who need money and drugs. I don't look forward to having some moron of a mayor undoing the wonderful policies Johnson spent 8 years building up, but even Frank Melton wouldn't be able to turn us from the Best of the New South to the Seventh Circle of Hell in nine months. So if crime really is so much worse, I think we need to realistically look at things that might affect the root causes of crime--here again, the hurricane could have been a factor--rather than blaming it all on the change of the municipal guard. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-18T22:53:28-06:00

ID

65636

Comment

What I see is that the chief of polie is not the chief of police. End result is we have no person solely dedicated to JPD's operation on a day to day basis. JPD seems to be a prop for FM's agrandisement with no long term plan. I feel for the good men and women ( I know quite a few) of JPD and I believe Chief Anderson could do a fine job if she was allowed.

Author

JLYerg

Date

2006-03-18T23:55:27-06:00

ID

65637

Comment

Ben.... what help has Ward 3 received???? Antics and help are not synonymous. By the way this is the same ward that continues to elect Stokes!!! Did someone say something about antics---ummmmmm???

Author

maad

Date

2006-03-19T00:02:55-06:00

ID

65638

Comment

Well not ALL of West Jackson, but the problem areas. We all know where I mean. I think every part of town has at least one problem area, or should I say problem people? When I lived with some friends in west Jackson, the neighborhood was quiet, the neighborhood association was active, and they even had matching lighted trees in the yards during the holidays. I moved to my first apartment in northeast Jackson, and near the end of my lease, I was burglarized twice after two people were murdered in the building next to mine. I did not sleep there the second time, and only returned to move my things out. At my second apartment in south Jackson, wich is supposed to be low-income, it was always quiet, I was never harassed, and I even went to the duck pond there to relax. I'm at my mom's now in the Prez, and the only trouble we usually have are a few unruly kids and an occasional blasting car stereo. To me, it's not about a good or bad neighborhood. It's about if you have good or bad neighbors.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-19T01:07:41-06:00

ID

65639

Comment

L.W. you are so correct. It takes good neighbors to help keep a neighborhood safer and better.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-03-19T07:27:35-06:00

ID

65640

Comment

Hopefully, this will get moved.... Here is today's Stingfellow article. Typical feel good story about another ex-con that Melton has hired. That's great! BUT... HOW in the hell can you tell a story like this without telling the story of how Melton wouldn't even sit with James Covington, a representative for Mayor Johnson, because he was "a former drug dealer and felon" at a forum? For all we know Vidal Sullivan is on the city payroll now! Can you say Hypocrite!?! Another fine editorial from the staff at the daily rag.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-03-19T07:48:33-06:00

ID

65641

Comment

-- From the CL ** “Melton, after his election as mayor, again took a sharp interest in Quinn, not as a drug dealer but as a staff member. He hired Quinn to work in the city's Youth Division. "Yes, he was one of the people that I targeted as a private citizen, but he's got a lot of good things going with those young people," Melton said.”** This is unbelievable. Someone should check on Quinn’s background. At one time, Quinn was the most notorious drug dealer that the City of Jackson ever saw. He has a history of violence that makes Sullivan look like a saint. Now he is working for the city? Also, when you look at things like JPD. They have no leader. Anderson is just a puppet. There is no overtime now with JPD or JFD. The overall moral of JPD officers is very bad. They are either afraid to do ANYTHING to draw attention to them in fear of loosing their job, or they simply don’t care anymore since the current administration is what it is. JPD has lost approximately 70 officers since the new administration and more are leaving. I don’t know what the answer is, but I don’t think hiring convicted felons and throwing out dedicated personnel is the way to go. (Can you say crime prevention?) The crime prevention unit was eliminated, (fired right before Christmas) but the city is paying convicted felons to work for the city???

Author

Missy

Date

2006-03-19T11:27:49-06:00

ID

65642

Comment

The first problem with Mr. Stringfellow's column is that the following statement is inaccurate: Melton, after his election as mayor, again took a sharp interest in Quinn, not as a drug dealer but as a staff member. He hired Quinn to work in the city's Youth Division. "Yes, he was one of the people that I targeted as a private citizen, but he's got a lot of good things going with those young people," Melton said. (Emphasis added) In truth, Mr. Melton took an interest in Quinn -- now called Donnie Money -- before the election -- when he was courting the MAP Coalition, which Donnie co-founded, for support and votes, which he got. I'm sure Erik saw in the JFP's recent gangs story that Mr. Melton has hired Donnie and followed up with his own version of the story. I have no reason to believe that Donnie is not sincere about the change in himself and helping the young people around him. I know him and believe that he is sincere, at least until I see an indication otherwise. The JFP has featured Donnie several times now, including before the recent gang story, and he talks openly about his troubles of the past and what he has learned. Other young people should hear that. The problem here, of course, is that Mr. Stringfellow is using the story in a puff way when, in fact, it could be also be wondered if Mr. Melton is simply rewarding the people who brought him votes with jobs and such. And the concerns brought up about Mr. Melton's hypocrisy about Mr. Covington are right on. That should have been mentioned here as well, and would have made this column seem more grounded in unbiased reality.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T13:08:20-06:00

ID

65643

Comment

whywhy, I will be deleting any of your comments that accuse individuals in direct ways. You can e-mail that material to me directly if you like, but we cannot allow you to post it with independent verification. I'm sorry.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T13:09:34-06:00

ID

65644

Comment

I don't have a problem with you; I am sympathetic to your loss. But, regardless of that, what neither you nor anyone can do is post accuations about another person without us having the opportunity to independently verify them. That is simply basic journalistic ethics. And you should know that, just because we are not blogging back with you about your case much, does not mean that we are not interested in it. There is a reason that both law enforcement and journalists do not tend to have comments during "ongoing investigations." There are periods when you cannot talk about things you are looking into. And complicated cases/stories are not done overnight: they can take months and, sometimes, years. And the prime reason for that is that we cannot publish unsubstantiated allegations of individuals without (a) knowing where those allegations come from and (b) giving the person accused the chance to defend themselves. So you cannot use my site to do that. And saying that you know something is true is not good enough. It is the *publisher* and/or *editor* of a publication or Web site who must know the specifics of allegations, which makes sense when you stop to think about it. If not, anyone could come on here anonymously and post an allegation about anyone else, or just make up stuff about people they don't like (which, indeed, happens regularly on some other local sites and is the reason they have no credibility). Again, if you have specifics, e-mail them to us directly. But *no* specific allegations here. "Freedom of speech" does not mean the "freedom" to post or say anything you want anywhere you want it. It means that the government cannot stop you from saying anything you want -- within certain limitations. What you have here is the privilege I, and my partners, allow you to have to publish on our site, following our User Agreement.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T13:37:07-06:00

ID

65645

Comment

There is so much talk about the poll. This thrills me, maad. And I'm glad to hear that it's coming from all directions. That is my biggest goal in doing a poll -- to get people to talk -- and if that is happening, we nailed it. With any poll, as anyone who has studied statistical analysis knows, there are many interpretations. As Tom pointed out above, I think, one could read this poll as bad news for Mr. Melton -- at least those who have rather mindlessly bandied about the idea that he won with an overwhelming "mandate" — as his campaign lapdogs at the Ledge did. However, the facts temper that a bit, considering that the turnout was very low. But if one believed that 80+ percent of Jackson believed that Mr. Melton was some sort of gift from heaven, then a poll finding that only 42 percent find his job as "excellent" after a few months would be a letdown (even adding in the 23 percent giving him a "B" wouldn't make them feel better). But if you look at it from the standpoint that the vast majority of Jacksonians didn't care enough about either candidate to get out and vote, you can see the idiocy of the 80+ percent "mandate" hyperbole—but, in that case, these numbers indicate that he isn't doing as poorly as some would have imagined, considering all the controversies of late. For me personally, the poll results hit about where I would have thought—he's not knocking it off the charts overall (compared to the "mandate" hyperbole), and people want him to stop playing head cop. You hear that from just about everyone, at least who actually lives in the city, regardless of whether they voted for him. People think his idea to take days off from being mayor and chase down some criminal he's obsessed with is absurd. The numbers show that. Otherwise, the decent-sized"excellent" rating and the fact that the majority thinks his good efforts are making the headlines is a continuation of what sent him to office in the first place. And, as much as his critics might want to think that attitudes about him will change overnight, that's absurd, too. Look at Bush. The man got re-elected, even saddled with all the baggage, and limited successes, he'd had. People want to keep believing in who they voted for -- until the public servant shows them to be completely wrong. That's the way these things work. What I hope comes out of this poll, and future ones, are some real, hard conversation among people out there about Mr. Meltons—and the city's—performance, and what we need to demand different, and what accountability measures must be put into place. A lot of people will simply respond to rhetoric -- I mean, look at Mr. Melton's campaign; nothing but rhetoric -- until hard facts are put in front of them. Other media—especially WAPT and, increasingly WLBT and the Ledge—are starting to deal in more facts about Mr. Melton, which will either make him do a better job, or wise people up over time. But I believe strongly it is up to the people who care the most about Jackson to have hard, cold conversations about how things in the city are going, and force Mr. Melton's strongest supporters to talk as well—not simply clam up about it as they seem to be doing now that things aren't going as they predicted. Everyone can talk as much as they want about the poll itself, and we will put up legitimate ideas and incorporate them as we go forward. But they don't get lost in that and understand that all polls are open to interpretation. What is vital here is to allow this poll to launch you into substantive discussions with your friends and neighbors. To that end, perhaps we should consider holding a public forum after the next poll to discuss the results. Thoughts?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T13:52:36-06:00

ID

65646

Comment

The fact that Melton doesn't get this is the main reason he shouldn't be mayor. Responding to Tom and Jada's recent exchange, I must say that I think both are right. Here's why. I agree with Tom that critics of Mr. Melton, who defended the last administrations' crime policies overall, should not kneejerk the other direction, and now try to say that crime is spiking under Melton just because it's Melton, or because they don't like him -- basically do the same anti-intellectual thing that Mr. Melton's staunchest supporters did last time. That would mean we're as dumb as they are. However, and where I agree with Jada, is that Mr. Melton is creating this problem for himself. That is, he is showing the public is no uncertain terms that it is certain crimes he cares about -- which, right now, seems to come down to strippers and anyone related to the Wood Street Players. This is the "perception" he is giving off, whether or not it is true. In fact, he seems to be thumbing his nose at complaints such as Jada's—and what about that woman in South Jackson who says her child was raped at a church and police didn't seem to do anything until she went on television days later? In fact, Mr. Melton is creating the "perception"—at least—that he is gutting the programs that neighborhoods believe have worked for them. Like the Crime Prevention Unit. He is demoting police officers that people trust, and many believe based on past personal vendettas, rather than anything to do with job performance. In the Ledge story about the rash of burglaries in Belhaven Heights, he seemed to shrug his shoulders and say we need better response time -- and head straight back to a strip club. And then announce defiantly that the media cannot have crime statistics. The part that the "local" media missed about the whole "perception" issue with the last administration is that the police chief — who had much more real "police" experience oveall than Ms. Anderson — was trying to have a conversation with the media about crime perceptions and how they could be really harmful to a community's ability to decrease crime. They would not listen to him and, instead, creating this Perception-Gate™ monster that helped get Mr. Johnson pushed out of office by a man spouting empty rhetoric about crime. And now we're seeing them chickens come home to roost. That is, Mr. Melton has a much bigger "perception" problem on his hands than Mr. Johnson ever did, and it will grow astronomically if he doesn't address it — but he doesn't even know it. Or care. This is an interesting place to be just a few months after the crime hysteria during the last administration.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T14:06:15-06:00

ID

65647

Comment

Last time on this subject. All I am saying is that we could do more to secure our neighborhood if we knew where crime had increased. We could help the police more. When the neighborhood is more virgil it seems that crime do goes down.

Author

jada

Date

2006-03-19T17:18:01-06:00

ID

65648

Comment

I agree completely, jada, regardless of who the mayor and police chief are.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T17:49:47-06:00

ID

65649

Comment

jada writes: Last time on this subject. All I am saying is that we could do more to secure our neighborhood if we knew where crime had increased. We could help the police more. When the neighborhood is more virgil it seems that crime do goes down. Agreed 100%. We need reliable, vetted crime stats, and we need them yesterday. Donna, the next time there's a summit at Camp David, remind me to recommend you as a moderator. Clearly I saw a position in jada's email that she doesn't actually hold, and in a lesser forum one or both of us would have been castigated for saying what we said when in fact we said almost the same thing, with different emphasis. BTW- I've been standing by your poll, and FWIW, I haven't heard any criticism about it from anyone outside of the usual suspects, who lack credibility on this point due to their tendency to criticize everything else you do--and who held the poll to lofty standards that most media polls would fail. I shouldn't have taken their criticisms seriously, because today it's the poll and tomorrow it might be your lipstick or the way you pronounce your soft "e" or the sharpness of your left middle toenail or whatever. I think most people who know anything about polls realize that no poll is perfect, and that this is an excellent multi-issue municipal poll. Would it be better if there had been a fourth option on question #2? Yes. Would it have been better if the gender divergence were closer to the city demographics? Yes. (Kudos to you for even ASKING this control question, by the way--as you know, many polls do not.) But I'm sure I can find at least two things to criticize about any poll. Hell, CUNY did the largest-scale study ever conducted of American religious beliefs back in 2001. Determined that 14% of the U.S. population is not religious. This is great, but other mainstream polls conducted at the same time came up with a figure of 6% to 8%. Does that make the other polls "fraudulent"? No. It makes them fallible. And extrapolation is always a fallible process, even if conducted through a scientific poll. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-19T20:19:10-06:00

ID

65650

Comment

I'm sure I can find at least two things to criticize about any poll. Me, too. And usually do. ;-) BTW, someone told me yesterday with great amusement that some Melton supporters are actually saying that the poll isn't "valid" because it was done by folks who had been contracted by Democrats in the past. That is hilarious to me, and the dumbest argument anyone could come up with. I assume that came out of the usual suspects you mention. Do they truly not understand that Mr. Melton is a Democrat, at least according to the promises he made to the Democratic Party!?! The only conclusion to deduce from such an argument is that he shouldn't have done as well as our findings showed. But, as you say, the usual suspects attack anything I'm associated with. It's quite creepy to be (cyber)stalked by such types. I have to tell you that, with everywhere I've lived and all the bizarre folks I've covered over the years, I'd never started looking over my shoulder until these uptown freaks started making stuff up about me, and trashing where I live, my family, my body, and my friends, staff and business associates because, uh, they don't like my paper!? Fine, criticize on the merits, but this creepy stuff is really showing these guys for who/what they are, I'm afraid. The obsessed are weird creatures. I guess I now know how the two Hodding Carters felt in the day. Same folks, different era.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T20:31:04-06:00

ID

65651

Comment

Of course, I should add that the uptown freaks didn't stop either of the Hoddings; if anything, they inspired them. Even freaks can learn from history, if they'd bother. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T20:39:44-06:00

ID

65652

Comment

"This is unbelievable. Someone should check on Quinn’s background. At one time, Quinn was the most notorious drug dealer that the City of Jackson ever saw. He has a history of violence that makes Sullivan look like a saint. Now he is working for the city?" This is exactly what I said would piss me off!!!!!!! First of all, you're not that man's biographer. so unless you ran with him personally you can't speak for any particular exploits, only what you've heard. To say that he has a "history of violence that makes Sullivan look like a saint" is merely YOUR opinion. I was out on these streets when Donny was in them. I was privvy to the reputation. Sure it is well documented what he went to jail for, the mayor's campaign against him will go down in history. Yep he was a well-respected and much feared man on the streets THEN!!! Where is it written that a man can't change and mature huh? I DO know him personally and am honored to call him a friend and colleague. He is the vice-president of the organization that I helped to create an am now the president. Those 12 years he spent were enough to help him realize that he needed to change and become a man. since you're so knowledgeable Missy, you do know that he was convicted at 19 right? He was barely grown. He's a damn good father, record compnay CEO, and someone that is a shining example to these kids of what NOT to do and how to turn your life around. I support him 100% and MAP supports him and those like him 100%. we don't throw away our folks because they made some bad choices. No matter how violent or criminal he/anyone was THEN we all fall short. We all have the opportunity to change. He has as much right to work for the city as you or I do. Just because you go to jail, that means you shouldnt be allowed to get out and better yourself? that's the kind of thinking that keeps this vicious cycle going. If Sullivan changes his life and wants to go straight, as long as he meets the qualifications put forth HE has a right to work at the same places your or I do. Point Blank!!!! The piece was a good one. Not a fluff piece at all. In fact, had it been written any other way, I would have gotten out my pen and handed dude's ass to him. And that's for anyone who has something to say about it in the wrong fashion. However, he kept the tone positive. It is an article that kids can learn from. Donny is a man that kids can learn from. We send em to prison to REHABILITATE them right. Or are we supposed to flush them away? That man's past is his past and now that he's spoke on it, it should be a dead issue. At least with him. Yep. the mayor did say he wouldnt speak with Covington, why, dunno. and don't care. That's was his preference. But with Covington, Donny, and Robert Williams the theme is clear, the past is the past. You are alotted second chances, and you do have the right to be employed just like any of us with clean records. period. Finally, Donny has nothing to do with Covington or Williams(no matter how you want to spin it) and he shouldnt be grouped in that. They are all individuals. Niether one of them would have had a place in an article on Donny and vice versa. Yes, he works for Youth Services and yes, he's one of the VP's of the MAP Coaliton, WHUT!?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2006-03-20T12:14:40-06:00

ID

65653

Comment

I agree with much of what Kamikaze said. I do think prison should rehabilitate, and that those leaving prison should have the chance to use their stories to help young people. However, one can wish Donnie well, and still question the mayor's motives and consistency here. The part that I'm not with you on is this: Yep. the mayor did say he wouldnt speak with Covington, why, dunno. and don't care. That's was his preference. But with Covington, Donny, and Robert Williams the theme is clear, the past is the past. You are alotted second chances, and you do have the right to be employed just like any of us with clean records. period. As a public servant, the mayor should not employ double standards—and he has with Mr. Covington. He called him out and publicly embarrassed him during the campaign, saying he is a "convicted felon"—which he isn't—and then refusing to sit next to him due to that reason. After that, to then hire "convicted felons," during the same time that he is trying to hurt Mr. Covington's livelihood (presumably because he voted for someone else), is hypocritical and is certainly apropos to the discussion of the mayor's judgment. To me, this discussion should be about the mayor, not so much Donnie. However, Kamikaze, it is a legitimate one for citizens to have, regardless of your feelings about Donnie. Mr. Williams was in a class to himself in this mix, as far as I'm concerned. He was not only a felon, but was sent to prison for activities while he was part of the city government. Saying he gets a second chance does not amount to saying he should be put back where he committed the crime in the first place. Of course, he's no longer there, so I guess it didn't work out after all. As for Sullivan, if Mr. Melton really wants to "help" him, perhaps he should lay off the "most dangerous man in Jackson" rhetoric. How in hell can he expect to say that kind of stuff and then have citizens not be worried about Mr. Sullivan??? Again, Mr. Melton is creating his own reality here, and people are responding. They/we get to.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-20T13:11:49-06:00

ID

65654

Comment

Kamikaze, your position on this is predictable and figured you would chime in on this. However, you are not being objective to my point. You even admit you don't know what happened between Covington and the mayor's campaign staff. The JFP was there! With this mayor’s history and patterns, you have to take everything into context - not just a blind position for a friend. The facts are that Melton favors certain "criminals" over others. Especially over those who supported the former Mayor. Certainly we should learn to accept reformed criminals better. But, that doesn't mean I can't point out the hypocrisy of Melton and his manic ways. So, if Mr. Quinn is a CEO of a record company did he really need a job with the city? Who did he replace? What are his qualifications to be in "youth services?" What exactly does he do for "youth services?" The story didn't even mention that. Many of us don't know what that department does, so a little more in depth explanation from Stringfellow would have been nice. Therefore to call it a fluff piece makes perfect sense to me.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-03-20T13:21:59-06:00

ID

65655

Comment

Also, I don't yet have the old news articles about Melton v. Quinn. It would be very interesting to see what kind of rhetoric he used about him then. I'll have to find those and share. A primary problem of Mr. Melton's is that he uses such extreme rhetoric against the "thugs" (presumably to get elected/get attention) and then turns around and says they need jobs with the city and such. There's no wonder people are puzzled by his words and actions (like telling the Wood Street "thugs" to "get out of town" in his inaugural speech). You can have a problem with the "manhunt" rhetoric, but still believe in rehabilitation and second chances, Kamikaze—as long as it is applied evenly across the board. There is also an issue here of the rights of the "thugs" who don't get special treatment from Mr. Melton. And the public has to be worried about all this. I'm also curious about a side note. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Melton said that any young person who wants one can get jobs with the city—but they have to go to church every Sunday. Anyone know how well this is being enforced? I assume his lawyers told him it's not constitutional, but I wonder if they've tried to do this anyway. Or, conversely, if they never tried.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-20T13:22:05-06:00

ID

65656

Comment

It was a puff piece, pike. Hell, puff pieces are fine sometimes; we run some, too. However, there are important questions here as you point out that citizens get to ask. It's kind of like when Mr. Melton got mad at Councilman Allen when he asked how the boot-camps idea was going to be paid for and accused him of a "personal attack." That's absurd, being that Allen supported the boot camps. But the public, and the City Council, get to know how much Mr. Melton is paying people, their qualifications, the hiring process, and so on. That's just simple government accountability. Takes nothing away from Donnie's effort and apparent reform.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-20T13:24:52-06:00

ID

65657

Comment

I like puff pieces too! Like Dr. S and his stories on the Carolina Panther cheerleader! ;-) Lord knows if we only wanted puff, then we would all read the Clarion Ledger! I'm on a roll.... I agree with Kamikaze too on giving reformed folks a chance. Quinn sounds really cool! How many folks with the city get a quote in the paper about riding on 22's? And, I'm glad to see my points supported too! A little more disclosure from the city council/mayor's office would be great. I won't count on the in depth articles from the Ledge though!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-03-20T13:56:18-06:00

ID

65658

Comment

I'm also curious about a side note. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Melton said that any young person who wants one can get jobs with the city—but they have to go to church every Sunday. Anyone know how well this is being enforced? I assume his lawyers told him it's not constitutional, but I wonder if they've tried to do this anyway. Or, conversely, if they never tried. - ladd I'm sure there are quite a few SkyTel employees that'd be willing to go to church to get a job right about now... Melton, for those that were laid off, name the time of the church service and the place!

Author

kaust

Date

2006-03-20T16:59:44-06:00

ID

65659

Comment

I'm not the comedic type but I see trying to force grown people to go to church for any reason like trying to force a bear not to s*** in the woods. What's the chance of suceeding at this. Only a moron would endeavor.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-03-20T17:16:36-06:00

ID

65660

Comment

What's the chance of suceeding at this. Only a moron would endeavor. Agreed, Ray. It's kind of like saying that someone cannot pray at school or work without a particular prayer piped in over a loudspeaker. Or, maybe it's about trying to score cheap political points -- in both cases.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-20T17:22:56-06:00

ID

65661

Comment

I'm sure there are quite a few SkyTel employees that'd be willing to go to church to get a job right about now... Melton, for those that were laid off, name the time of the church service and the place! I don't know about that, Knol. To me, SkyTel and Melton run neck and neck in working your nerves unless they changed since I left. Phew! Anyway, I think Melton's hoping that everyone forgot what he said. He must know by now that he can't enforce such a rule.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-20T19:50:45-06:00

ID

65662

Comment

L.W., I was referring to the huge layoff (probably half the Clinton staff). I'm sure quite a few would be willing to take a church pew for a job rather than fighting with each other over the handful of support and management jobs out there.

Author

kaust

Date

2006-03-20T20:29:17-06:00

ID

65663

Comment

I wonder what REALLY happened to the program for giving our youth jobs? Isn't there money supposed to be put aside for these type of jobs or better still, didn't Johnson's administration have this in place already? I see a mixed message in this. You tell the youth to try and be the best that they can be by going to church, get an education, stay out of trouble, and work hard. The mayor has hired ex-felons on his staff and says that everyone deserves a second chance and I fully agree. My question is; how are the youth going to interpret this? If you stay out of trouble, we will hire you (if we have the money), if you get into trouble, we are going to hire you. How does this make our youth and adults feel? What about the qualified people that have never been in any type of trouble? They never got the first chance. It's a hard issue to deal with, but I am more concerned with the people that have done the right thing and still are not working. I agree that we should be more concerned about the people such as the ones at SkyTel who lost their jobs through no fault or wrongdoing of their own. We, at the same time MUST make provisions in our society for giving people a second chance but are we really getting the right message out there to people.....stay out of trouble but if you don't it really dosen't matter.

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-21T07:06:41-06:00

ID

65664

Comment

Lance, your view expressed here was certainty my theory for making sure I didn't fail. I always felt my chances were enhanced by staying out of trouble. My view might have been pure fantasy but I thought it nevertheless. I would handsomely reward those who stayed out of trouble completely and those who made a real and remarkable turnaround. Both cases are compelling. But we can never forget that we have to keep giving as many people from all walks and conditions of life a chance if we care about saving people. We shouldn't be surprised when a person with no hope or chance to succeed becomes a parasite, criminal or predator.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-03-21T09:40:31-06:00

ID

65665

Comment

Well spoken Ray. I have worked with and been around people from all walks of life. I believe that the true measure of a person's character is how they come back from adversity. I taught my kids to pray, study hard, work diligently, and stay out of trouble. This usually covers most of the things that lead to sucess. I also taught them to never condemn a person because it is not our place to do so, but when you see someone that had been in some sort of past trouble do not write them off. There are sometimes circumstances beyond our control. Our mayor has a delicate task of distinguishing between the two. How he handles it for the remainder of his tenure will determine his legacy. Hopefully he will think more before he speaks.

Author

lance

Date

2006-03-21T20:04:31-06:00

ID

65666

Comment

Vidal sullivan killed people...Quinn never killed anybody, he went to jail for selling drugs, a non-violent crime. these two individuals should never be compared. Quinn certainly deserves a second chane to be a productive cititzen. He's a true Jacksonian.

Author

JSU

Date

2006-03-27T11:25:06-06:00

ID

65667

Comment

Quinn certainly deserves a second chane to be a productive cititzen. He's a true Jacksonian. Agreed, JSU. That's why we've featured him several times.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-27T12:38:06-06:00

ID

65668

Comment

I'm curious, all: What are the burning Jackson issues you would like to see the local public polled on? Due to the success of the first poll—and effects I hadn't anticipated—we've very anxious to move on our next one. Your input is appreciated. Hit me here, or in e-mail, with your ideas. Thanks, gang.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-28T19:15:33-06:00

ID

65669

Comment

FYI- I know he's been quiet lately but ... Cowboy Frank passed me in his Mobile Command Unit, in full ROBOCOP gear tonight, while I was coming home from a late board meeting. He was on Northside and used the sirens to go thru the light on State St. Didn't seem like they were headed to a SWAT emergency but you never know. Wonder what kinda gas mileage that thing gets?

Author

urbangypsy

Date

2006-03-28T23:05:35-06:00

ID

65670

Comment

I'm curious, all: What are the burning Jackson issues you would like to see the local public polled on? How about: 1) Pubic opinion on how Melton is handling adult entertainment in Jackson 2) Whether enough focus is being placed on maintaining the city (potholes, lighting, etc.) 3) If they want the weekly COMSTAT reports back 4) How they feel the police chief is doing 5) View of the "Buy Jackson" campaign

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-28T23:33:31-06:00

ID

65671

Comment

First JFP-WAPT Poll featured on MSNBC site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11856674

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-04-10T01:32:12-06:00

ID

65672

Comment

Rockin', Donna. Great work! Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-04-10T03:21:42-06:00

ID

65673

Comment

HOT DOG! That is great to see! Go 'head, go 'head, go 'head...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-04-10T22:11:30-06:00

ID

65674

Comment

Thanks, all. The poll has been great for us on many levels, and working closely with WAPT is a good partnership. Good peeps over there, determined to do good journalism. And, hey, Hearst ain't Gannett, thank the good Lord. ;-) Stay tuned for more.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-04-10T22:15:20-06:00