Jackson Free Press

The Clarion-Ledger had a good story yesterday about Mary Johnson, to whom Frank Melton promised a new house if she would tear down her old one. The problem, of course, was in follow-through. She lost her house—and now the city's too busy with other things to get her new house built.

Sometimes Mary Johnson wishes she never had let contractor Dennis Warren and Jackson Mayor Frank Melton persuade her to tear down the dilapidated Rose Street house she had lived in all 68 years of her life. Melton and Warren vowed to rebuild Johnson's house, and it was demolished in January.

Warren and former city liaison Robert Williams estimated a new home could be built by Feb. 14. But because of delays by the city, Johnson is still in a cramped apartment, little has been done toward her new home, and she's facing a financial crisis.

And since the demolition, Johnson said one of her six cats died while being boarded at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League, and others have turned up missing for days at a time. "I've had so many meltdowns," Johnson said. "Everyday something stresses you out."

Living in an apartment, Mary Johnson has waited about nine weeks for city assistance to prepare her lot.

After the demolition, work at the site came to a standstill and the usually accessible mayor was not as accessible, Johnson said.

Melton said weather and other major projects, such as tearing down the Town Creek Apartments, contributed to the construction delay. "I told her we'd be wrapping up Town Creek with our heavy equipment," Melton said. "The biggest problem is most of the equipment is tied up."

Previous Commentsshow

Of all of the broken promises and bad ideas by Frank, this has got to rank near the top of his worst . I recall him saying that he would pay for Ms Johnson to have a new house even if he had to pay for it out of his own ocket. This is the same man that said that he paid for one of his bodyguards to go with him on his trip to the Bahamas with a credit card. (why not pay for both of them) This is an example of a poor leader. Why did he not pay for the house up front and then seek reimbursement? You have to wonder if he is as financially sound as he brags to be, or is he just blowing smoke (again). If his money is as tight as everyone else's, why not move her in with him? Remember after we had an influx of displaced people from the coast after the hurricane, he came on tv and stated that he would personally house 25 families. Surly he could spare room for one more. I am glad to see that there is a website dedicated to helping this woman. I ask everyone to contribute in some way to assist her. She did not ask to be lied to or put on the back burner. I pray that she will soon have a place to call her own again.

lance

Mar 19 2006

You know, Lance, I'm a bit concerned about that Web site -- which isn't exactly linking to the articles questioning this project. Just the good stuff. It feels political to me. And get this, the domain is registered to "Domains by Proxy"—which is the favored way of local hate-pushers to mask who is doing their sites (I've learned this from personal experience). The question is: Why wouldn't someone claim this site, and go to extra trouble to hide their identity??? Something's fishy here. Let us delve a bit more into this before people start donating money through that site en masse. I want to help her, too, but let's take a breath and so some homework. We don't want to throw money at people whose first interest isn't helping her. Anyone have any more inside knowledge on this?

DonnaLadd

Mar 19 2006

Thanks for the heads up Ladd. I never looked at it that way, but you are absolutely right. I really would like to help her, but at the same time not get caught up into a bad situation. I will also try and see if I can find out some other way to offer help. Ms Johnson, we are going to help you, we will not leave you out in the cold like the mayor did.

lance

Mar 19 2006

Lance & Ladd - I hope you will keep the public informed as to your findings. I know from personal experience with my own grandparents that is extremely hard to function when on a fixed income and even the necessities require the majority of our seniors liquid assets. FM knew at the onset of this situation, that Ms. Johnson resided in the home, that I am sure she had the presence of mind to acknowledge was not in good repair, and that she was on a fixed income. I doubt that she would have choosen to remain in the home had she had the finances to leave! How can he even sleep at night, knowing that Ms. Johnson is probably going without some of her basic needs being met due to lack of financial assistance? I have followed this story and have been sickened by the lack of care and respect being given to one of our cities senior citizens. In addition to being uprooted (with promises) and moved out of her area where she has resided for the majority of her life, she has now lost a pet. Many times our elderly are 'forgotten' so to speak by their family members due to busy schedules and dealing with their own lives. Ultimately, often times pets become our elderly's family. I feel such sorrow and empathy for Ms. Johnson for all the trials that are being placed upon her by an uncaring mayor! I will gladly offer my assistance in any method possible to assist this lady. If not for our elderly, where would we all be? It is our right and responsibility to see after those who have given so much to this nation, in their 'golden years'.

Katie D

Mar 19 2006

I find it really sad that one of her cats died and she wasn't able to be there as she normally would! Also, I would normally donate money for a project like this; but, because of the way Melton "used" her and her situation to "better" his image, I more then likely won't. He did promise to build it with "his" money. So, instead he blames the slow going on "funding" and getting the workers to shape the foundation. Even after Melton does the little bit he claims will happen, a whole crew of private individuals will finish it. And when it is done, and WLBT is doing a story, Melton will be tooting his tiny horn again!

pikersam

Mar 19 2006

BTW, I want to report back that we confirmed who is doing the http://www.helpmary.org Web site, and it seems very legit. We'll have a story about it this week.

DonnaLadd

Mar 27 2006

Did you see that in today CL that Ms. Mary Johnson, was served with an eviction notice. "Johnson, 68, said she has until Friday to come up with two months' rent, totalling $1,060." What is going to happen to this poor lady.

malt

Apr 11 2006

Yes, just saw it. This is where the follow-through question is so vital. What's the plan?

DonnaLadd

Apr 11 2006

Maybe Frank, Mr. Allen or one of our other counsel members would like to share the plan with the readers of JFP

malt

Apr 11 2006

They all should be deathly ashamed of themselves. If I was Mrs. Johson, I would give both Melton and Williams a good cussin' out... Let me rethink that statement.... After the house was rebuilt...I would thank them and then give them a good cussin' out!!

jan2006

Apr 11 2006

I hope melton doesn't renege on paying her rent.

jan2006

Apr 11 2006

Frank has held up the city council meeting (4/11/06) by making sure that the cameraman was unavailable for the second week in a row. The council will not convene if they are not taped live. If the council dosen't approve the payroll for the city employees, then they don't get paid. If Frank is causing these type of problems for the city workers, can we really believe that he is going to pay Ms Johnson's rent? If he were sincere why hasn't he been paying it the whole time that she has been living in an apartment or better still why does he not reimburse her for her additional expenses? I'll bet that all of his time and money is going toward chasing people that he calle "a danger to society".

lance

Apr 11 2006

Maybe because he has been paying Christopher Walkers rent.

malt

Apr 11 2006

I have a problem with the council not convening unless they are taped. Regardless of if they are on video or not, shouldn't they continue? If FM is making sure the cmaeraman is not available, wouldn't it be in their best interest to show they can do their jobs no matter what? I could be wrong but I'm just wondering.

jan2006

Apr 12 2006

He just keeps on going, and going, and going..... Poor Mary.

pikersam

May 26 2006

Whoever decides to run for mayor against Melton should be able to win without even opening their mouth. All they need to do is have Mary Johnson present, the disbanned Crimewatch people present, most of the city employees fired under his administration, a picture of the King Edward Hotel, a list of the businesses that have moved, a picture of Vidal Sullivan Batman the Greyhead gang,..............get my point? Hurry up DA Peterson, let's get this liar out of office. You may have to step over AG Hood, but as low as he appears to have sunk, it shouldn't be hard get past him.

lance

May 27 2006

In today's Clarion Ledger it is reported that Mayor Melton said that he had paid a contractor to do the foundation on Mary Johnson's home. I know for a fact that is not the truth. There are 4 men that are responsible for that foundation and not one of them is named Frank Melton. My husband, an instructor from HCC, a man from her neighborhood, and Dennis Warren are the 4 people that are responsible for that foundation as evidenced by the pictures on the helpmary.org website. My husband, who has worked construction his entire adult life, called the people he has done business with in the past and begged for donation either in material or money. If they were unable to donate, he negatiated a better price on the material they needed. He also payed for some of the material himself. If Mr Melton paid some one to do the foundation he needs to find out what they did with his money because it surely didn't go to build Ms Johnson's foundation. It makes me so angry for Mr Melton to take credit for something those 4 men worked relentlessly to do and that he has completely turned his back on. If he wanted to take the credit for rebuilding Ms Johnson's house he should have stepped up to the plate in January like he promised. I just wish Mr Melton and Mr Warren would stopped all the childish finger pointing and name calling and get on with the business of rebuilding Ms Johnson's home that they so willingly tore down.

kellh36

May 27 2006

It appears to me that Mary Johnson has inadvertently gotten caught up in the middle of a power struggle. The larger question that citizens should be concerned about is why one of the non-profit housing providers that receive money every year from the City can’t help this poor lady. The City is an entitlement community which means it receives several million dollars in Community Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Much of this grant money is disbursed to non-profit housing providers such as Habitat, West Jackson CDC and Voice of Calvary. These organizations are there to help with housing needs of low income people. Where is the justice in this? Perhaps the City should ask more in-depth questions of these housing providers and determine if they can’t allocate some of their funds on this project.

realtime

May 27 2006

I've been asking the same question, realtime. Habitat just got finished with their 1,000th renovation this past week and had a big celebration about it; can they or VOC get involved here?

Jeff Lucas

May 27 2006

Will the Free Press be doing an update regarding the 'pulling' of the $384.00 Building Permit by the City of Jackson for Mary's house? This story will eventually bring tremendous shame upon the City of Jackson. Can the City reap any benefit from trying to assignate the character of her builder and then destroying the only chance this lady has for a home? If the City truly cares for its elderly, then a helping hand is needed, not an assault and insults directly from the Mayor's office. What does Dr. Sargent's Department have to say about all this? Where have they been during these six months?

ChrisCavanaugh

Jun 13 2006

I'll have to say this is really bad and will cause more backlash then he realizes. A Frank supporter I know said today that he is a joke and what is happening to Mary really touched a nerve in him. Of course Ben Allen this morning was more worried about a friend of his who wants speed bumps on Pear Orchard so he doesn't have to move back to Madison - as if they don't speed in neighborhoods out there. Yet, our mayor is yanking permits from the hands of a little old lady without a home. I'm tired of hearing about the "weak Council strong Mayor" gov't we have in Jackson. If you are an elected leader and bitch loud enough then you can make things change. It is a weak argument when you can see that public outcry can work as in the case of the radios. Remember the radios!?!

pikersam

Jun 13 2006