Jackson Free Press

The city is off to a late start with 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 approaching, and if City Council is to add its vote support for 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.

"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."

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.

Crackdown on Crap Cars

Ward 2 Councilman Leslie McLemore is itching to rid the city of abandoned, nonfunctional vehicles. McLemore inserted a discussion item on the Nov. 28 council agenda essentially putting city residents on notice that they need to get rid of that smashed up car collecting rust in their driveway or backyard.

"During December, citizens will have a month to take in their vehicles, or sell them of their own volition," said McLemore. "This will be a kind of grace period, with a blitz in January."

Michele Purvis, special assistant to the city attorney, said: "In December (police) will be going through the neighborhoods and checking to see who is violating the city ordinance (on abandoned vehicles). Even though they will not be taking action at that time, they'll be getting ready to go out and check those areas." Purvis added that the city's public-relations department was getting ready to circulate a warning about the deadline on abandoned vehicles.

Purvis asked that anybody with questions or complaints regarding a vehicle should call the city's Department of Community Improvement at 601-960-1426.

Be Silent or Else

Jackson resident Robert Kenny says he was silenced by Council President Ben Allen while addressing the council last week.

Kenny claims Allen got annoyed at his plea for help on behalf of West Jackson, claiming that portion of the city is getting overrun by crime and is losing business fast. Kenny also claims city and county politicians routinely ignore that area, despite an uptick in prostitution and burglary.

"I think a lot of the crime in Jackson is centered here, and I bet a lot of the crime all over Jackson evolves from here, but we're ignored by the council," Kenny said. "The problem is that if you go to city council, you've got somebody telling you that we're not going to listen to you and you're not asking properly. I wasn't rude to Allen. All I did was say that we haven't had representation for months. We really don't want to battle with these people. We need help, and we're asking for help, and he just shut me off. We're desperate here."

Neither Allen or Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon, whose ward includes the area, returned calls by press time.