Jackson Free Press

Mayor Frank Melton held a press conference as his 2 Carter's Grove residence today to announce his return from heart surgery in Texas.

Melton, who was dressed in a suit, came out walking his dog Abby to address reporters just beyond the gate restricting access to his residence. Melton walked slowly but without assistance, though his pallor was gray.

Melton spoke for only one minute and refused to take any questions. He said he had reported to work at 7 a.m. and was back in charge of the city. "I'm doing great," Melton said. "I'm feeling fine. I'm gonna have to slow down a little."

Melton then returned inside the gate.

The mayor, who announced two weeks ago that he would have a pacemaker / defibrillator installed to treat congestive heart failure instead had triple-bypass surgery on Jan. 25. Even patients with "sedentary office jobs" are not supposed to return to work for four to six weeks, according to the American Heart Association.

Melton raised protests from some City Council members when he put Chief Administration Officer Robert Walker and City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans in charge of the executive branch during his surgery. State law requires that the mayor appoint a member of City Council to govern the executive if he is unable to fulfill his duties.

When asked by the Jackson Free Press for a comment on the recent transfer of Parks and Recreation Director Ramie Ford and his proposed replacement by Charles Melvin, city spokesman Eric King said that the mayor would not make any comment on "personnel issues."

Previous Commentsshow

Melton's being back at his home post this type of surgery is usual and customary; however, his claim of being back on the job is reckless, asinine, stupid and without regard for for this City or its citizens. He will do and say anything to keep from having the exposure of one of the Council Members to the Office of Mayor. I'm not talking about the three and the "swing voter" who always protect him. He claims that he is moving his office to his home. What a JOKE! We the citizens of Jackson are victims of meltonabuse and it is time for us to become survivors! If we continue this victim role, this City will were the face of a skeleton.

justjess

Feb 5 2007

If we continue this victim role, this City will were the face of a skeleton. jess True. Just a reminder to the rich folks who will be able to afford to stay in Jackson while the true middle class people move away - you won't be able to put gates up around the grocery stores! I present this video as a tribute to our omnipotent (bulletproof) mayor returning to office: The Triple Bypass Blues! Does anyone else think the Kim Jong-il and Melton would be buddies? ;-)

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

JustJess, it's important to remember that Melton has spent little time in City Hall. His office there, when I interviewed him in April, seemed barely used and very sparse. He did not hide the fact that he likes to stay home most of the day, then go out on "raids" at night. Now, I think it was a problem then that he did not spend enough time in City Hall doing the actual business of being mayor. And now it sounds like he's probably too sick to do his job, and they are trying to hide it by him having a press conference so they don't have to appoint a member of Council as the law requires. To me, there is no question that they are trying to skirt the law. If he were serious about being mayor now, he would have taken questions at that press conference—about the horrible crime rate (and businesses being burglarized twice in a weekend), why they've stopped having ComStat, why he decided from his hospital bed to fire Ramie Ford and Carl Allen, and so on. As it is, it's a charade.

DonnaLadd

Feb 5 2007

I do think there is some truth in the fact that Melton, Redd and Ward do not want anyone besides themselves to have access to the 3rd floor office. Isn't that where he hides all his paperwork and stuff?

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

9 cops... that's how many I counted as his press conference outside his gated abode. I'm thinking, if I had a gated house, I wouldn't need 9 cops there... Why is he taking so many cops away from Jackson? Rome is burning.

LawClerk

Feb 5 2007

Well, nine cops did go walking with him through the Washington St. Addition today! The story is on WAPT. Watch the video. The best part... Melton is in a JSU sweatsuit since he has to walk for his health looking good. But, looking better was his chief of staff, Ward, walking alongside in his dress suit! LOL!

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

He can do that, but he can't question basic questions about controversial decisions?!? It's all about the TV cameras for Melton.

DonnaLadd

Feb 5 2007

Well, Ben says on WAPT that something is getting worked out on Ramey Ford; but, he refused to answer questions about his rant against Melton on the radio. This wouldn't be the first time Melton has casued a stink only to change his mind - remember the radios? Oh BTW: How could Melton have carried a big sledgehammer and tore a house down when he had an enlarged heart? Oh, whoa is Melton... I can hear the defense now!

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

9 cops on a walk?! I am glad he is cutting down!!!!! I was at Hal and Mals when Melton attended a birthday party in the back room. He brought the Mobile Command Center, and a police escourt of 9 police cars with 2 officers each, plus his gaurdsin the Mobile Command Center. Of course all the cars parked in the Middle of the parking lot, lights blazing, while Melton and his escorts attended the party. Then they all blazed off. That was the best gaurded parking lot for 2 hours in the city of jackson that night. What a continuous waste. AGamma627

AGamm627

Feb 5 2007

when is he going to start getting really hammered on hiring Armstrong? The NJamers loved to tear into Armstrong years ago. He was corrupt. He was a dopehead. He was a racist. He is a convict. Etc etc. Yet their boy hires him and then they say absolutely nothing. If Harvey had hired Armstrong, we would hear nothing but screams about how it showed Harvey didn't care about crime, setting good examples, and was in bed with all the wrong people.

Kingfish

Feb 5 2007

I'm not sure there are any "NJammers" left. They probably have seen the light and given up on Jackson.

Ironghost

Feb 5 2007

If Harvey had hired Armstrong, we would hear nothing but screams about how it showed Harvey didn't care about crime, setting good examples, and was in bed with all the wrong people. kingfish Yep, he didn't even need Armstrong for that... You had white Jackson, and the MSM, painting Johnson as more crooked and enept than Mayor Marion Barry, and the Mill St. Posse had black Jacksonians thinking Harvey may as well held the hose for Bull Conner rather than help them. Total hack job all around!

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

WAPT showed Frank shaking hands with schoolchildren on a bus. Isn't that a no-no in relation to his being out on bond?

golden eagle '97

Feb 5 2007

There were six police cruisers parked outside of Melton's residence this morning. That's six cruisers that were not out on the street or even back at the office doing paperwork on arrests. (Experienced cops will tell you that getting convictions means doing paperwork properly, and everyone who complains about the DA should first think about the quality of evidence that comes to her.) Mayors do not usually require a good-sized chunk of every police shift to serve as an honor guard, but Melton seems to regard it as traditional executive privilege. ...

Brian C Johnson

Feb 5 2007

WAPT showed Frank shaking hands with schoolchildren on a bus. Isn't that a no-no in relation to his being out on bond? geb Nah, it's all good! His atty got together with the new judge and worked out the difference between "supervision" and just being around children. He wouldn't be able to get his hugs otherwise! In other words... The fix is in!

pikersam

Feb 5 2007

"WAPT showed Frank shaking hands with schoolchildren on a bus. Isn't that a no-no in relation to his being out on bond?" geb If you had recently had your chest split open, could you even reach up that far to shake hands with children on a school bus?

ChrisCavanaugh

Feb 6 2007

ChrisCavanaught, you raise an excellent point about reaching and shaking hands with a recently split open chest; however, on the evening news, he said that he reported to work at City Hall @ 7:00am. He returned home and went swimming. I participated in a very close relative's recovery with this same type of surgery. One No No was getting emershed in water before having the clamps removed. If he did this, I'm shure that it was AMA (against medical advice). Nine law enforcement officers were walking the community with melton while Rome burns!

justjess

Feb 6 2007

The way he's going, you won't have to wait much past spring for a new mayor. My Dad had a triple bypass, and it hurt for him to merely laugh for five weeks.

Ironghost

Feb 6 2007

Man...those are some tough looking guys he has around him.....With a formidable force like that I don't see why there is not a top grade police department to hammer everything down tight over there........

ATLExile

Feb 6 2007

Ya'll, in a way I hate to be the one to say it (Donna, is this slander?) but is anyone else wondering if this whole fly to texas for surgery thing is another one of Frank's scams? To add credence to his case before the jury? He isn't acting like he just had open heart surgery.

Izzy

Feb 6 2007

Laurel, I thought the exact same thing.....

LawClerk

Feb 6 2007

The more I look at this, and really think about whether a triple-bypass recipient would be walking, swimming, walking a dog.... the more I know something isn't right. The CL has a link up now about him... Look at him. http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/NEWS/702060375/0/NEWS Who's the 23 year old in his house? Mr. Allen, what are your thoughts about 9 cops at Melton's house? Aren't we experiencing a police shortage now? Why are his "bodyguards" still with him? Couldn't they be doing something else contructive and productive? Judge Green, who's watching Melton to make sure he doesn't violate his bond? (Drugs, Alcohol, Guns...?)

LawClerk

Feb 6 2007

Okay, no one wants to just flat come out and say it (Laurel you came close) but FM with his lying butt has not had the kind of surgery he said he had. I had a mere hysterectomy and I couldn't swim, walk a mile for way past six weeks. This man lies about everything. He said he went to three churches on Sunday. Why didn't he mention the name of the churches (names mean you could verify if he went). Also as much as he likes attention don't you think he would have had the media to meet him coming out of at least one of the churches. This is a pitiful excuse for a man---he lies about family, church, and illness is there no shame anywhere around him.

maad

Feb 6 2007

A 23 year old from the bahamas? Who is he? Terri McMillan?

jd

Feb 6 2007

Wow, this thread is really heating up! So, did anyone else get the Chief Anderson cleaning the kitchen vibe from this: He invited the group into the living room, a dark place that smelled as if someone had been smoking -a lot. Folks were on the back patio. One of them, Jackson Police Department Cmdr. Tyrone Lewis, who is Melton's spokesman, ushered the reporters from the room. "How'd you get in the gate?" he asked. It simply opened, he was told. He gave the mayor's Bahamian guest a lecture about letting just anyone into the mayor's home. (emphasis mine) So, I wonder how long the Bahamanian has been staying at Melton's waiting for him to open a restaurant?

pikersam

2007-02-06T12:24:38-06:00

ID

125223

Comment

"Wow, this thread is really heating up!" yea I'm just gonna read......but maybe it's a Miracle!!! or Maybe it's a Miracle ??????

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-02-06T13:06:35-06:00

ID

125224

Comment

I don't believe he's had a double by-pass operation either. He is a notorious liar. And Tyrone stands behind him laughing at the whole show!

Author

Fitz

Date

2007-02-06T13:16:52-06:00

ID

125225

Comment

madd, the reason melton didn't mention the names of the churches he attended was because it didn't happen. This man has caused a lot of shame and grief for this community. frank melton should call a press conference, resign and let the community know that he lied on Johnson and ask forgiveness from everyone he fired simply because they worked in the Johnson Adm. Ramie, Parks and Rec. guy, is part of the risiduals of the Johnson Adm. I'm suprised that it has taken this long for frank to fire him. I just wonder how many more debts does he has to pay by putting unqualified, criminal, addicts, cut-throats, butt-kissers, and just plain no da** good folks in positions of power and control. It's almost as if having screwed up is a prerequisite for being hired by this man. There are a lot of little people (experience) in BIG PLACES (City Hall) doing small things. This City can not go on like this. Something or someone has to give.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-02-06T13:22:51-06:00

ID

125226

Comment

ladd, your point was very well taken on the fact that Melton never spent much time in City Hall.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-02-06T13:24:31-06:00

ID

125227

Comment

I will say that the Ledger news report today is the first I've read there that I've appreciated. Melton would only talk for a minute, and not answer questions, so the Ledger wrote a narrative of the whole visit. A couple of questions, indeed: 1. Who is the Bahamian guy who is going to open a restaurant financed by Melton? 2. Why in the world would the house be filled with cigarette smoke with the mayor recovering from major open-heart surgery? He's a heavy smoker as we've long reported, but goodness, wouldn't he not be smoking now, and wouldn't they at least keep smoke out of the house while he's "working" at home? 3. Again, if he's "working," why didn't he take questions. That's B.S., but typical lack of accountability from this administration. 4. Why is the city paying Recio and Wright's salaries to hang out with the mayor and his young friends? Why aren't they transferred to something more useful now that they can't carry weapons? Anyone remember how much they're paid??? We have it here somewhere, if not. 5. Why are nine police officers on PR duty when crime in this city is going nuts with a useless chief at the helm?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-06T13:39:24-06:00

ID

125228

Comment

Good points ladd. Did you know that this morning Crisler and Allen had a love fest on the radio talking about crime? Which is a good thing. But, I worry that our council members are just going to let Melton continue with his status-quo methods. They gave Anderson the benefit of the doubt because she has finally started to open up about a crime plan after two years! Have you read the plan in the paper? My favorite "no duh" bullet points were: * Continuing crime sweeps and other undercover operations in problem areas. * Keeping a list of called-in complaints from citizens and forwarding them to precinct commanders who would formulate a plan to combat crime in their areas You mean all this time and they don't do these now! WTF!?! They took their jabs a Harvey and Moore; but never stated that crime was going down under them. Nor did they point out that they wouldn't have let Moore get away with the lack of a crime plan for two years much less two months! _____________________________ I see that Melton made good use of his time in the Bahamas on the tax payers dime! This guy has "boy-toy" written all over him!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-02-06T17:56:05-06:00

ID

125229

Comment

You can't make this stuff up!

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-02-06T18:02:53-06:00

ID

125230

Comment

"Somethin' just got to be did..."

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-02-06T18:18:55-06:00

ID

125231

Comment

Yes, Pike, I laughed out loud when I read that part of the chiefs "plan" was to keep a "list" of crimes and give them to precinct commanders. What a joke. They are playing Jackson for fools. Granted, they have a long time, and too many folks have enabled them to—but, hey, it's got to stop somewhere. I honestly do not believe that this administration cares about "fighting crime." It was a sensationalistic way to get into office so that they could, uh, dismantle the city??? Council must do everything in its power to stop this madness. Ben Allen has the power to make change if he will. He's done it before. And, clearly, whatever Melton has promised him to benefit the city—I do believe the councilman has rather naively believed he could get more done by compromising with Melton—is not panning out. Allen *must* do the right thing. (I'm having an "OB1-Kenobi, you're our only hope moment. Sorry.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-06T18:45:37-06:00

ID

125232

Comment

Oh, and it would be patently absurd to screw up the Parks Department by making it part of the same department that is in charge of potholes and demolishing homes. My suspicion is that Melton just wants to put Melvin there to have the ability to populate even more city jobs with his young friends (but not his young enemies, because there is a difference, you know) without them having to have drug tests and the like. Remember that Melvin and Melton told me with certainty that they are all being drug-tested, and we find out later that they're not. I guess they want the city to be one big lawn crew—that goes around sledgehammering the homes of their "enemies" at night. Be afraid. I mean, I don't have to remind anyone here, but remember that they accused Evans Welch of running a "crackhouse" (even though they haven't provided evidence of such a thing), but Chrisopher Walker failed 11 drug tests during the period that he was living in Melton's house. But he got a credit card and a car. I repeat the question asked of me (rhetorically) by someone from Wood Street: How does Melton choose the young people he wants to help and decide who he wants to target???

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-06T18:49:38-06:00

ID

125233

Comment

I think he's faking it. There's NO WAY someone could be doing all the things he's doing so soon after heart surgery. And changing it today from triple-bypass to double-bypass? Who does that? He needs to be removed as soon as possible so we can start putting this city back together. Crime is alive and well while our "leader" swims, smokes, takes heavily escorted walks and helps random Bahamanians open restaurants. Sheesh! I'm ready for things to start turning around. Let the healing begin!

Author

Belhaver

Date

2007-02-06T22:51:20-06:00

ID

125234

Comment

It's great to see someone questioning melton's surgery. No reporter has asked a heart doctor or obviously talked with anyone who has had this surgery. I've talked with three people who says what melton is doing would be impossible. the chlorine in the pool would probably cause an infection, reaching up to a bus, no way, getting fully dressed and going for walks, no way. (not even a limp from cutting his leg open to remove a vein) Anyway, I for one, don't think the Mayor had this surgery. He had something, but not a triple bypass and not a double bypass. He's pulled one over once again.

Author

notme

Date

2007-02-07T09:16:18-06:00

ID

125235

Comment

Thank you, NOTME! I would love to know the truth. However, he has lied so many times before and his followers seem to be unfazed. So, mabe it doesn't really matter. Uh....who is turning off the lights?

Author

Fitz

Date

2007-02-07T16:59:45-06:00

ID

125236

Comment

In further proof that the Melton administration spends too much time reading these blogs - Melton is supposed to show his scar on the news tonight so says Bert Case. It is sweeps month!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-02-09T18:39:41-06:00

ID

125237

Comment

Ladd: Just wanted to let you know that even though I'm having hernia surgery monday morning, our tennis match we have planned for tuesday is still on. As you have an aversion to NE Jackson, we can play over at Battlefield. I figure on playing 3 sets or so so figure on being out there a n hour and a half or so.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-02-09T19:20:44-06:00

ID

125238

Comment

Good luck and get well soon Kingfish.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-02-09T19:28:00-06:00

ID

125239

Comment

let me know if you need some help Tuesday afternoon moving any furniture or anything heavy.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-02-09T20:32:58-06:00

ID

125240

Comment

I am trying to figure out how somebody who is apparently so committed to his job that he'll crawl out of a hospital bed right out of a triple bypass, just to be seen walking his dog on camera, can be so uncommitted to the future of the city that he'll pull the stuff he pulls. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-02-10T15:33:02-06:00