Jackson Free Press

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.

Previous Comments

ID

74750

Comment

You're definitely not the only one. I remember watching Frank on his "Bottom Line" segments and saw him as nothing more than a mere Tuesday night blowhard always complaining about this and that. But then I had a chance to hear him speak on several occasions and he began to leave a lasting impression on me. While I still didn't agree with his tactics of lambasting people the way he did on the air, I did feel like, at times, if that's what it took to get people in high places their attention on taking care of problems in the community, then so be it. He sounded as if he had a passion to see children do well and life and do whatever it took to protect them from the dangers of society. Those speeches made me feel as if he would be a great mayor. I even remember Frank speaking at South Hills library when I was in high school in the early 90s (had no idea he would be there) and a group of elderly women asked if he would run for mayor. He declined. Though I'm not a resident of the city, I was excited about Frank running for mayor. I definitely would've voted for him if I were a resident. While I did think Harvey Johnson was a good mayor, I fell into the trap of thinking that things were moving too slowly under his administration. Though I never was the type to get caught up in the hysteria of crime, I did feel, however, that crime was still too high and that Melton would do a much more effective job at handling crime. The day Frank Melton was inaugurated, I felt like the city would move forward in a hurry. I thought we would see significant progress in the fight against crime. I thought we would see a flurry of economic development projects like we've never seen before. Now, he's like a bottle of Sprite that went flat after the bottle cap was left off. Sure, those things can still happen and that it won't take place overnight, but I expected to see a whole lot more than I've seen the last two years. Also, the level of incompetency in his administration is almost as bad as FEMA after Katrina. To tell you the truth, I thought that if Frank can't save Jackson, then nobody will. That was the negative part of me saying that (and I'm usually quite a positive person). This city will move on with or without him. Downtown is about to be transformed with a number of projects either underway on or the table. New homes are going up on West Capitol. And just today, Office Depot opened their new distribution center at Hawkins Field, adding 100 new jobs. In Frank's defense, I do think he is a good-natured person and that his intentions are generally good. But I don't think he had an idea of how overwhelming the job of mayor is. I sensed that in his interview with Donna last year.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-04-11T22:28:12-06:00

ID

74751

Comment

BTW, all, you should read Melishia's column about losing faith in Melton. This is probably the most powerful thing we've run about him to date.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-14T10:07:04-06:00

ID

74752

Comment

It also challenges stereotypes being put out about how folks in the inner city all think alike.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-14T10:07:49-06:00

ID

74753

Comment

Stokes loves his Ward because they vote for him like Zombies. I doubt he's actually done anything for his ward constructive, outside of throw his followers parties.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-04-14T10:25:53-06:00

ID

74754

Comment

You're wrong and being offensive about the people in Stokes' ward, Iron. Stokes has done a lot for his ward. But I wouldn't expect that you would know that. It's unfortunately now that he has become a Melton zombie. But I suspect there are reasons for that go beyond the needs of his ward, and are more personal. It's too bad. I didn't agree with everything Stokes did before Melton became mayor, but I did respect his passion for his ward. Now, he's selling out his people in order to do Melton's bidding, and that's really sad to watch.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-14T11:45:03-06:00

ID

74755

Comment

Frank has always talked the talked. However, even prior to his mayoral stint, he didn't walk the walk, other than swimming and playing with children. His record with his "adoptees" is not only atrocious, but probably borders on the criminal--was there dope smoking or other drug use in his house (his "kids" failed many drug tests while under his wing), how many "kids" returned to prison, how many broke parole, how many skipped school, how many graduated from high school, how many went to college or got and kept a good job, how many got married, how many did (or did not) father children? No one should have been surprised by the outcome of Frank's policies. His "bottom line" attitude was just that, a noisy bluster. Regarding Mr. Stokes, other than giving parties and taking kids on expensive trips (one, I remember, to New Orleans--who pays for this stuff?), tell me, who lives in Madison, what concrete and future-enhancing things Stokes has done for his ward during his countless years in office. He consistently fails his primary job of representing his ward by his absence at Council meetings. BTW, what is his attendance record? And what "personal" things between Frank and Stokes are you alluding to? HDMatthias, MD

Author

HDMatthias, MD

Date

2007-04-16T15:13:39-06:00

ID

74756

Comment

Also re Melton, it is certainly true that when I was in the house, he and the gang would leave the house full of kids to take care of themselves. The first time, Christopher Walker was there. There seemed to be minimum adult supervision, considering the needs some of the kids had. We've also gotten the impression that the state doesn't give a damn about how he "oversees" his mentees. And he was clearly intoxicated before the raid the first night I was there, so there is certainly alcohol in that house somewhere. I asked Melton about adult supervision, and he talked about a woman who cleans house for him (Jeremy Bibbs' mama, I think). But she only comes during the day, as far as I know. Back then, he and the bodyguards and the two top police chiefs seemed to be in the RV until the wee hours of the morning many nights. That doesn't mean all the kids there are bad. Some are very impressive. But I do think they get minimum supervision. It amazes me that people are surprised when some of them then get in trouble again.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-16T15:26:09-06:00

ID

74757

Comment

Don Taylor was on the radio show the other day, can't remember if Kim or Larry. Wish someone had called him up and asked him about it.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-16T15:31:07-06:00

ID

74758

Comment

Don Taylor would have nothing to do with all that. I think that we have made it pretty clear that when Melton says "fostering" he uses the term very loosely. He means people give him their children to raise. There is no formal "foster agreement". He meets kids in the community that are "trouble" and seems to reach some sort of agreement with their parents that allows the child to live in his home. That's it, period. Its not "real" fostering. Its more like the bartering of adolescents.

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-04-16T15:42:42-06:00

ID

74759

Comment

I think I've seen this happen before. Michael Jackson. I wonder if he has an adult alarm in the place.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-16T15:50:23-06:00

ID

74760

Comment

Actually, Col. Don Taylor is quoted on Kim Wades show, about a year ago, as saying he likes Frank and the Frank is a friend. That is all he would say. But, he didn't answer about the "foster care" except to say Melton is fine man and has done good things for many children. I wasn't impressed!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-16T16:02:03-06:00

ID

74761

Comment

About 5 years ago, Frank did a speech at a high school in another town, and the one teenager who questioned him, was invited to come a spend some time at his house. Frank even called the parents and extended the invitation for their son to come and live with him.

Author

malt

Date

2007-04-16T16:04:30-06:00

ID

74762

Comment

Frank never has any formal arrangements regarding his "kids," and he is NOT a registered foster parent with DHS, therefore, he must answer to no one about their supervision, schooling, drug testing, etc. HDMatthias, MD

Author

HDMatthias, MD

Date

2007-04-16T17:31:48-06:00

ID

74763

Comment

This article is not about Kenneth Stokes and his contributions (or lack thereof). It is about the fact that many people in this city was manipulated and deceived.

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-04-17T14:39:51-06:00

ID

74764

Comment

Regarding Mr. Stokes, other than giving parties and taking kids on expensive trips (one, I remember, to New Orleans--who pays for this stuff?), tell me, who lives in Madison, what concrete and future-enhancing things Stokes has done for his ward during his countless years in office. He consistently fails his primary job of representing his ward by his absence at Council meetings------ HDMathias MD Well, as a long time residence of his Ward, those "little" parties are alot more than we can say for our Mayor. The events that he organizes give people in our community a sense of pride and something to look forward to. I believe that his primary job is to address the needs of the people in the ward. He does that wonderfully. Doesn't seem that council gets much done anyways, whether he's present or not

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-04-17T14:52:29-06:00

ID

74765

Comment

Melishia makes a good point. What may seem insignificant to a rich doctor in the suburbs can mean a whole lot to poor kids in the inner city.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-17T19:56:25-06:00

ID

74766

Comment

Another interesting point to make is that our current City Council waited a long time before they tried to reel in Melton. It was if they were afraid to challenge him politically. And remember them wearing those dumbass cowboy hats for the cameras. (Barrett-Simone refused, I believed, to her credit. She was never fooled by Melton.) That isn't a whole lot better than Stokes being in his back pocket. Except, I suppose, that Stokes is really selling out his own people for whatever gain (or lack of loss) he gets from putting a Melton stooge. I used to think Stokes was his own man, like him or not.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-17T19:58:45-06:00

ID

74767

Comment

um, why was my post zapped? I complimented her column.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-17T20:12:26-06:00

ID

74768

Comment

Probably an accident in the irrelevancy purge. So you've complimented it again. Sleep tight tonight.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-17T20:21:07-06:00

ID

74769

Comment

that actually made me laugh. I think as time goes on, more and more people wiill agree with that column.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-17T20:42:09-06:00