Jackson Free Press

"He is like a prodigal son, pondering whether he should return to his native soil." So wrote now-freelance Clarion-Ledger columnist Eric Stringfellow this week in a hand-wringing column about the future of Jackson.

Stringfellow is speaking of an unnamed 31-year-old graduate of Callaway, who lives in Mobile, Ala., whom he ran into at a car wash and chatted up about what's wrong with Jackson. "Where would I live in Jackson? ... Where would I work?" the young man—identified only as "he" and "him"—apparently asked in wonderment. "What's next for Jackson?"

There is no indication that Stringfellow then told "him" about the Renaissance that Jackson is undergoing, one that is happening despite The Clarion-Ledger's naive proclamations of doom, Jackson's "non-existent" nightlife downtown, of the need for crime to be cured before economic development. (Or at least, this is what they said incessantly during the last administration.)

Stringfellow may not be fully aware that many young people are choosing to stay in Jackson, or moving back, to participate in this progressive and creative movement. I mean, Stringfellow does live in Madison, even if he washes his car in Midtown now and then.

He just might not know how many young, influential Jacksonians there are who would jump at the chance to tell him exactly what Jackson needs to do next—or, better yet, roll up their sleeves and hop to it.

But, alas, The Clarion-Ledger is at it again. Suddenly, now that their enthusiastic choice for mayor isn't delivering on breathless promises of solving crime in 90 days—and, in fact, is an utter embarrassment—the daily paper is pulling together "leaders" to supposedly come up with solutions for Jackson's future. (Remember the useless "Changing Faces of Jackson" series? More of the same.)

Here's an example of one thing we need to do, per Stringfellow: "Everyone concerned about Jackson must make conscious efforts to fight its colonization, a system where people who live elsewhere control most of the property and businesses." Well, yeah, but isn't that simply a restatement of his initial premise?

When does Stringfellow really face the leadership crisis hanging over our city—the one that could hurt our efforts to build a creative class devoted to the city's core? This is about as close as he gets: "There is no question that Jackson's current chief executive is more than capable but his focus has to broaden and the personal distractions must be eliminated."

Does The Clarion-Ledger really give a damn about our future? If so, why does it continue to throw bones to a mayor presiding over a budgetary crisis, a fire crisis, a police crisis, a morale crisis, and on and on?

More importantly, does he understand that Mayor Frank Melton has given us no indication that he is "more than capable" of running the city? All indications are that he was a figurehead at WLBT. Gov. Haley Barbour fired him from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics—probably because drug arrests were falling sharply as Melton was running around obsessing over Wood Street folks and thumbing his nose at the Constitution.

Why do Stringfellow and his paper still sugarcoat the Melton problem when they should examine their own role in enabling it?

It would be one thing if the newspaper had thrown the same softballs to previous administrations, mayors, police chiefs. But they scoffed at actual leaders in the past, both buying into and creating political mythologies that got us to this point.

Being mayor is a hard job. You have to keep the budget in shape, maintain the sewers, fill the potholes. You have to dodge political barbs by people who want your job, and folks who call you "arrogant" if you're confident enough to keep them waiting when you need to. Most importantly, you have to give a dern about how the city runs, and whether it succeeds, fails, develops economically. You cannot view it simply as your playground with toys at your disposal.

But the Ledger, historically, has ignored those kinds of realities, playing sensationalism and perception-mongering for all that it's worth to them (which is ironic now, considering their fight to keep their readers). Their home office in Virginia warned them to stop sensationalizing crime, but the paper didn't listen, concocting a ridiculous narrative that the last police chief and mayor—both qualified leaders—somehow thought that crime was a "perception." (Actually, the chief was scolding the Ledger for spreading the "perception" that crime was out of control when he said that, and he was right.)

Meantime, our corporate daily has played games since the beginning of the Melton campaign—games that kept the public from knowing how bad a leader they were about to elect, games based on meaningless sound bites. The Clarion-Ledger did not tell the public that it was being sued along with Melton in the Meridian defamation lawsuit during his campaign—or that their editors knew (or should have known) that he was lying under oath. (We told you that.)

During the campaign, The Clarion-Ledger didn't breathe a word about the Youth Detention Center scandal of the '90s involving candidates Frank Bluntson and Frank Melton—even though the current editorial director was then metro editor, and the metro editor's byline appeared then on some of those articles. Its readers didn't even get to hear about the deal Bluntson made with then District Attorney Ed Peters to resign from the Youth Detention Center rather than be prosecuted, or that Bluntson then went to work for said DA.

After Melton was elected, the daily did not report about the Ridgeway Street demolition until days after we broke the story—even though sources say they told the metro editor there about it.

Now, Executive Editor (and Madison resident) Ronnie Agnew is gathering leaders—and not many young ones—to brainstorm about the "future" of the city. Meantime, columnist Stringfellow has to go to a car wash—ignoring the recording and art studios, clubs and local businesses filled with young, influential, determined Jacksonians—to find an unnamed "prodigal son" to talk about what's wrong with our city.

Thanks, Ledger. Thanks a lot.

Previous Comments

ID

74770

Comment

Well, Donna, that's why we need the JFP. You're one of the few organizations that actually care.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-04-11T21:16:14-06:00

ID

74771

Comment

You expect deep thought from Stringfellow?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-11T21:24:01-06:00

ID

74772

Comment

Donna, This is an excellent and thoughtful article. I truly believe that we have been failed by the Clarion-Ledger and I have never understood why. I guess its sort of like water displacement -- they will sell the same number of papers whether the subscribers live in Jackson or the suburbs. Perhaps the new man in charge will make some changes. I seem to see a few occasionally. Jackson does have a critical lack of good market priced houses. Many are trying to rectify this situation. The rent-to-own house with a de facto 50 yr. payment is not the answer. These market priced ($130,000 to $210,000) houses must be stylish and have covered or enclosed parking and sidewalks. They must have higher ceilings and rooms large enough to grow in. Schools are also critical as are roadways and safety. You are absolutely correct in saying how varied and comprehensive the job of Mayor is. In addition to all the attributes you mentioned needed by a Mayor, he/she must also know where to look for money and who to beg for money.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-04-12T12:29:50-06:00

ID

74773

Comment

part of the problem is Jackson is completely built up. There is just not much vacant land if you want to build a new subdivision. I agree with most of her article. The CL has been somewhat lame in promoting progress in this area. As for its coverage of arts and culture, its so bad its not even a joke.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-12T12:40:59-06:00

ID

74774

Comment

BTW, for the record, "dern" is one of Melton's favorite words.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-13T17:41:56-06:00

ID

74775

Comment

Kingish-that comment just gave me the best idea.... "Deep Thoughts By Stringfellow" Week One: "I wore a tie today." Week Two: "I write for a paper. Cool." Week Three: "I like bread."

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-04-14T08:59:32-06:00