Jackson Free Press

The city is off to a late start regarding its lobbying efforts, according to Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon, who chided the executive branch Monday for not having its legislative package together by the Nov. 27 legislative committee meeting.

Barrett-Simon, who chairs the committee, worried that the 2007 legislative session is rapidly creeping up on the city and that if City Council was to put its vote behind any requests to state legislators then time was running out.

"As it stands, we have nothing from the administration, and we didn't even know that we weren't going to have anything from the administration," Barrett-Simon snapped, adding that council approval was helpful in pushing the city's lobbying agenda, but impossible if the council didn't first see it.

"Again, it is Nov. 27. We're going to be gone for Christmas, New Year's holiday, and then we have the legislative session. We really need this agenda," Barrett-Simon said. "I just wish you could have told us, and we would not have had this meeting today and wasted folks' time. You know?"

Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker assured the committee that the executive branch would have its act together by Wednesday, and Ward 2 Councilman Leslie McLemore suggested the committee meet immediately upon receiving the package.

Previous Comments

ID

124700

Comment

This is one more piece of evidence that Melton simply doesn't give a damn about this city.

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-11-27T19:43:29-06:00

ID

124701

Comment

I disagree, TH... I think he cares. He just cares about himself a LOT more.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-11-27T20:19:45-06:00

ID

124702

Comment

here is a great idea:request that the legislature pass an act empowering the citizens of any mississippi municipality with a population exceeding 150,000 to petition for a recall election of any of their elected officers.such a law already exists for county officers.

Author

chimneyville

Date

2006-11-28T00:07:47-06:00

ID

124703

Comment

Millhouse, that may well be true. But I think we can all agree that is a distinction without a relevant difference. Chimneyville, why restrict it to "municipalit[ies] with a population exceeding 150,000"? That sounds pretty arbitrary to me. Why not allow it for ANY municipality or local government - or in addition, state government elected posts too for that matter? Democracy is for the benefit of those of smaller government units as it is for the larger ones.

Author

Philip

Date

2006-11-28T09:47:22-06:00

ID

124704

Comment

well phillip this is my thinking and it is purely practical:if you extended the legisaltion to include every municipality in Mississippi then every mayor and councilman from midnight to shubuta would in all likelihood weigh in in opposition and likely would have enough collective throw weight to kill the bill. however, if you make the bill jackson specific(i.e. cities with populations exceeding 150,000)then the only folks with stroke who could be opposed to it are the eight incumbents at jackson city hall ---and not 800 plus officeholders statewide. otherwise, i say call your legislator(mine is cecil brown in the house and richard white in the senate) and ask him or her to introduce a bill as encompassing as you want it to be.

Author

chimneyville

Date

2006-11-28T10:09:55-06:00

ID

124705

Comment

And, while the council's legislative committee is at it they should recommend something bold,like creating a metropolitan government for hinds, madison and rankin counties, or at least one government for hinds county

Author

chimneyville

Date

2006-11-28T10:14:18-06:00

ID

124706

Comment

I think that we are giving melton too much credit. It is not, in my opinion, about his caring about himself more than he cares about the City. He is a man who has gone too far, too fast with too little. You can't manage what you don't understand. melton pulls from his dark side to cover his ignorance. Remember, ignorance is not a bad word: It simply means that we don't know. The problem is with the electorate. We must become better stewards for our City. melton did not have any type of background check. This city does not know who this stranger is among us and who is trying to lead us. So far, we have been led down the gutters of failure, deception, incompetence, regret, embarrassment and financial ruin. Tommie Green had the opportunity to end this horror story. I am convinced that melton was not stupid enough to go before a jury and run the risk of being found guilty. That felonious charge should have stayed on the table and the plea would be a get out of CITY Hall FREE. I think Judge Green blew that one. It is the nature of that beast to use scare tactics and threats. It is unfortunate that the "Legislative Ball" has been dropped; however, the real pain will come when the trunk falls on our heads individually as it relates to tax increases, no city services and a City in receivership.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-11-28T10:58:33-06:00

ID

124707

Comment

chimneyville: otherwise, i say call your legislator(mine is cecil brown in the house and richard white in the senate) and ask him or her to introduce a bill as encompassing as you want it to be. (Emphasis Mine) Philip: Unfortunately, chimney, that is GUARANTEED not to work, as my Legislator is Will Hartnett, who represents District 114 of theTexas state House of Representatives.

Author

Philip

Date

2006-11-28T12:12:52-06:00