Jackson Free Press

I have been following the news coverage (specifically in the Jackson Free Press and The Clarion-Ledger) about Frank Melton. Though I have seen some honest, in-depth reporting in the Free Press, I think that the editorial staff might be missing the point. Yes, Mr. Melton's tactics seem a little strange sometimes, and he may lack some social grace and/or media savvy to play the press like a fiddle, but generally Mr. Melton cares about the city of Jackson and is willing and ready to take action to bring about his vision of a cleaner, safer capital city.

I see that the Free Press criticizes Mr. Melton's late-night raids with the police chief as being fruitless and a waste of their time. But this is certainly not true. The opinion in Jackson is that most of the city is crime-ridden and that the police don't do anything about it. I know what public opinion is: I've lived here, I've heard it from others, and I've said it myself. I mean, have you tried to tell those people from Rankin or Madison County that you live in Fondren/Belhaven, and no, you are not robbed and/or carjacked every night on your way home?

While it is true that parts of the city are getting better, it is also true that there are parts of the city I don't visit and have never driven through: parts of the city that I read about in Donna Ladd's description of her trip on the midnight raids and people living in conditions that I can't even begin to understand. These parts of the city desperately need action. What Mr. Melton is successfully doing is getting people thinking about how to make Jackson better.

People, whether they admire or despise the mayor's policies, are talking about the problems in Jackson in more than apathetic tones. We are already starting to see some deliberate action by the City Council and the mayor to clean up dilapidated properties in the city—a problem that has until now not really been addressed or dealt with. As far as the midnight raids are concerned, they may not result in any direct reduction of crime and/or major arrests, but Melton is showing that this city will no longer tolerate the sort of violence and drug-related crime that this city has long since been plagued with. Traveling west of Bailey Avenue shows these criminals that they no longer have free rein over chunks of Jackson to murder and create mayhem as they please. The image of Frank Melton enforcing the law with the police chief not only inspires police and is leadership by example, but it can give us hope in a city where we began to believe that inaction was the standard.

We will take this city back, and we will make it great. And I believe Frank Melton is the man who will lead us.
— Oliver James Richards, Jackson

Big Bird Has Had Enough:

The local politicians who practice confrontation politics know what they're doing. They provide cheap entertainment for the media. Once the public accepts this entertainment as government, community corruption and violence increase.

Let's face it: Some local politicians make reality television shows look like PBS. It's up to the taxpayers to cancel their agendas.
— Joe Roberts, Jackson

Previous Comments

ID

72423

Comment

After reading Mr. Richards' letter, his comments reminded me of those who support Melton without having a full understanding of what he is allowed/not allowed to do. I think that if these people had a better understanding of policies in law enforcement and civil rights, he would be able to comprehend why the mayor is getting so much negative press.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-05-20T17:03:55-06:00