I must admit, I was a devout Melton supporter. Initially, I was drawn in by Mayor Frank Melton's ideas for this city and its inner-city youth. He mesmerized me. Every time somebody talked low of him, I defended his honor by speaking up for his character (which I used to think was great). I was not old enough to vote in the 2005 mayoral election, but I encouraged my family and friends to vote for Melton. I even drove my grandmother to the polls.
I had confidence in Mayor Melton because of his connections to the street. I figured that he would use those connections to catch more crooks and help more kids.
I started to doubt my mayor in the spring of 2006, as he was transforming himself into an officer of the law. This didn't disturb me until I began to feel targeted. Because it was springtime, young people I know polished their hot cars and headed to Veterans Memorial Stadium's parking lot to hang out. When Melton started making himself visible every weekend, I became annoyed. He never gave "Sunday cruising" a chance.
First, I thought that the idea of heavy traffic, loud music and young people obviously disturbed Frank Melton. I looked at him as an overprotective father who just didn't want anyone to get hurt in a car wreck. However, young people from north and east Jackson hang out in the parking lot of Home Depot in North Jackson, and I can't recall Mayor Melton and the Mobile Command Center setting up road blocks and searching for drugs and guns there.
In an April 2006 interview with Jackson Free Press editor Donna Ladd, Mayor Frank Melton stated, "I love the kids of Jackson Prep and Jackson Academy as much as I do the kids of Lanier and Provine." In that very interview, Donna was on the Mobile Command Center for a Sunday cruise, and the RV never went east of Bailey Avenue. This showed me that he did not view the groups as equals. It seems that he views inner-city youth as potential thugs. This leaves the impression that he might view young people from other neighborhoods as angels.
My support for Melton became almost non-existent when he allowed his key witness (not the prosecution's witness) for a murder trial to say nasty things about District Attorney Faye Peterson during a press conference. The young man accused DA Peterson of being sexually involved with a bail bondsman. As I watched the press conference on TV, I waited for Mayor Melton to slap that guy across the back of his head. I waited for him to make a public apology for the accusations. Mayor Melton never said or did anything. At that moment, I realized that Melton would take the low road to get what he wanted—something a man of his stature should never do. Unfortunately, taking the low road seemed to become a custom for Mayor Melton. By the time he allowed his legal team to attack Judge Tomie Green's professional integrity and accuse her of a crime, I was fed up.
"The 'hood hasn't seen this much love from any other local official besides Kenneth Stokes," stated local rap artist Kamikaze in a recent Jackson Free Press column entitled "Robin Hood to the Rescue." This statement might be true for some, but I find it difficult to accept.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes is known for rallying his entire ward in an effort to provide meaningful activities for his constituents during holiday breaks from school and work. Mayor Melton, however, has not initiated any activities that benefit all his constituents. Additionally, the traditional Robin Hood character steals from the rich to give to the poor. He and his entourage were known for fighting against injustice and tyranny.
Frank Melton's attention is, indeed, on the poor. I am not convinced, however, that his intentions are aimed at helping them. I am not sure what 'hood is getting the love. A few boys from Wood Street got some help from Mayor Melton to start a lawn service crew, and, yes, some of Melton's former mentees got second chances at life when Melton gave them jobs with the city. Otherwise, I can't pinpoint any large-scale attempts by Melton to reach out to all the young people of the inner city.
Why should I support a man who overlooks some young people and focuses on a select few? Why should I support a man who demonstrates—publicly—a lack of respect for successful black women in the Jackson area?
Kamikaze also stated that people critical of Melton "underestimate his support in the streets." No one is underestimating the support that Mayor Melton has in the streets. I think Mayor Melton has underestimated the level of support he should distribute to all young people, and not just to an isolated group of young men with whom he has personal (or previous) relationships.
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