Jackson Free Press

We'll be in front of City Hall from 9 AM to 10 AM. If possible, please sit in on the City Council meeting afterwards since A-1 Pallets is on the agenda. I'll have some signs with me if you need one.

Previous Comments

ID

113584

Comment

Well, the protest was a success. I think there was about ten of us this time. Once again, I forgot to count. :-) While we were out there, the mayor came outside with Recio and a security guard to address us. Paraphrasing, he said something like, "How much did Ms. Reeves pay you to do this? You should be ashamed of yourselves standing out here with these signs. I'm very disappointed in you. You know better. That building is in a black neighborhood with black children. You wouldn't want it next to your house. You do what you have to do, and I'll do what I have to do." I just smiled and said nothing. Ironically, another protester addressed him, and the mayor had a normal dialogue with him, yet he tries to scold me like a four-year-old. Hilarious. Kathleen with the C-L did a brief interview with me, but none of the TV stations came by. Besides the mayor, we didn't get any negative feedback from the passersby. One lady commended us and said she would join in if she didn't have to work. LOL After the protest, I went to the council meeting to see what they would say, and A-1 Pallet was never brought up. I thought that was really weird since the mayor did a press release and everything. Maybe it's because the judge didn't come, which I knew he wouldn't. Ms. Reeves had another property that was on their agenda (something about cutting the grass) and that was taken off the agenda. Weird. Well, thanks again to the participants, and I think that we got our point across.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-31T12:39:28-06:00

ID

113585

Comment

So he scolded you, a woman, like a child–and spoke respectfully with a male protester. That says it all. Was today the day Melton had demanded that Judge Thomas come explain himself?! LOL. I guess he'll investigate Thomas for "corruption" next. Or, "cream him," or something.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-31T12:42:38-06:00

ID

113586

Comment

So he scolded you, a woman, like a child–and spoke respectfully with a male protester. That says it all. Yep, that says a lot. I also came to the conclusion that he thinks I shouldn't be speaking against him because we're both black.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-31T12:47:29-06:00

ID

113587

Comment

Right. Funny that he thinks citizens would only criticize him if they're paid to do it. Intriguing world view.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-31T12:49:08-06:00

ID

113588

Comment

Yeah. When he said that, I began to think that he doesn't think I have the brains to organize something like this. Cute.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-31T12:52:11-06:00

ID

113589

Comment

He also said, when he first came out, that we had to get off city property (the sidewalk). Why DOES he continue to tie those two cops up, we are short on police.

Author

Michele

Date

2007-07-31T15:24:11-06:00

ID

113590

Comment

Frank must've skipped social studies classes when they talked about the Constitution.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-07-31T15:50:53-06:00

ID

113591

Comment

He also said, when he first came out, that we had to get off city property (the sidewalk). Why DOES he continue to tie those two cops up, we are short on police. Dang, I didn't even hear that part. I'm glad I didn't.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-31T16:12:00-06:00

ID

113592

Comment

Dang, I didn't even hear that part. You and Dan were down at the corner still. It caused a bit of alarm for me, because of course he had his cops with him and I didn't have time for them to try and arrest me because I had to get back to work.

Author

Michele

Date

2007-08-01T10:40:17-06:00

ID

113593

Comment

You and Dan were down at the corner still. Michele, I wonder why he didn't repeat that when Dan and I got up there. He probably wouldn't have said it at all if he saw Dan first, and I KNOW he wouldn't have said it if Brent was there, too. Oh yeah, the black guy with him wasn't Marcus Wright. That was a security guard. Wright is much shorter. It caused a bit of alarm for me, because of course he had his cops with him and I didn't have time for them to try and arrest me because I had to get back to work. Because you had to get back to work. LOL! I can hear it now: "Could you cuff me later? I'll meet you at the station when I get off." Well, they couldn't arrest you, anyway. The sidewalk is public property, and they know that. We weren't blocking anyone from getting to or from the building, and we weren't making a lot of noise.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-01T11:16:35-06:00

ID

113594

Comment

I think Charlotte Reeves heard that part -- I know they couldn't arrest me really, but they could try I suppose - and it would have made me late to work. "Could you cuff me later? I'll meet you at the station when I get off." You hit the nail on the head there!

Author

Michele

Date

2007-08-01T11:39:47-06:00

ID

113595

Comment

C-L link

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-01T20:13:43-06:00

ID

113596

Comment

L.W., I, for one, really appreciate all you're doing to help save the pallet company. It's such a bizarre battle to have to be fighting, really surreal how Melton has gone after those people just out of the blue. I just wanted you to know that a lot of people are behind you, even if we can't get off work to come out and protest.

Author

DogWalker

Date

2007-08-02T22:05:50-06:00

ID

113597

Comment

Thank you, DogWalker. I understand you situation, and a lot more people would have probably been there if they didn't have to work. Just remember that we'll be there on your behalf. :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-03T07:51:24-06:00

ID

113598

Comment

frank melton does not know that people have the right for "peaceful protest." He probably didn't get this in a Political Science class or 7th grade Civics, so, teach him. L.W., hang in there. I commend you for your tireless effort to mobilize others to fight for such a good cause. I have not personally been a fan of Charlotte Reeves; however, I support her in standing up against this force which is laced with shere meaness and greed. frank is such a strange bird and all I can say is that he is in the gutter and is trying all he knows how to carry Jackson with him.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-08-03T09:02:00-06:00

ID

113599

Comment

Thanks, jess. The way I see it, this is something that could happen to anyone, so it is best to squash it now, regardless of who the victim is. Otherwise, the problem could be on your doorstep or mine one day.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-03T11:03:59-06:00

ID

113600

Comment

Don't know if ya'll saw Eric Stringfellow's commentary today re: the demolitions in Farish St. and particularly A-1. It was ridiculously under-researched, and he didn't even present the historic preservation commission's viewpoint in any way, although he tried to make it seem that he had. Then he said, "how did this industry get into the heart of a residential neighborhood?" neglecting to figure out that the industrial site in question has been there for over a century, and besides that, it's between the neighborhood and the RR, not "in the heart." Haven't noticed a big rush of people wanting to build their houses right on the RR, and besides that there are a number of industrial sites along the RR--that's where they're supposed to be.

Author

DogWalker

Date

2007-08-05T19:59:17-06:00

ID

113601

Comment

Hmmm, didn't see that. I'll look for it.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-05T20:09:07-06:00

ID

113602

Comment

Here's the link: Historic preservation calls for a 'balance' of rights for all Look at this: The A-1 case doesn't appear to be that complicated. The pallet recycling business, once an abandoned cottonseed mill, is in the heart of a residential neighborhood. How did the city allow an industrial zoning next to property zoned residential? It probably should have never happened. Is this structure worth saving, as a group of protesters as well as members of the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission suggest? Probably not. A-1 claims it is a legitimate business with 40 employees and, presumably, one that pays its share of property taxes to the city. Jackson, especially now, cannot afford to run businesses away. If this hasn't been done already, why not help relocate the business to an industrial park, even if it means offering incentives to owners Charlotte and Carl Reeves? This way, everyone can claim victory and A-1 goes to a location that's more appropriate and the old cotton gin can be removed.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-05T20:15:09-06:00

ID

113603

Comment

stringfellow is basically a lazy dumbass.just a little research would reveal that the site was industrial when the city first adopted its zoning ordinance and therefore was zoned that way.also, historically manufacuring plants were located next to neighborhoods and neighborhoods grew around manufacturing plants,which provided jobs. people used to walk to work,just like kids walked to school.people also walked to the stores and offices on farish street. the idea of moving industry to an industrial park and retail stores to a mall didnt occur in jackson until the seventies.

Author

chimneyville

Date

2007-08-05T21:19:23-06:00

ID

113604

Comment

also, historically manufacuring plants were located next to neighborhoods and neighborhoods grew around manufacturing plants,which provided jobs. people used to walk to work,just like kids walked to school.people also walked to the stores and offices on farish street. In other words, mixed-use development - something that is a major trend right now.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-05T21:23:37-06:00

ID

113605

Comment

The Clarion-Ledger should correct this poor research on this. Chimneyville, I'm slapping you for the name-calling–but you are right that Stringfellow has never seemed fond of research. Remember all the Morgan-Quitno madness? Recall that he is one of the people there who said at a gathering I attended after the mayoral election that The Clarion-Ledger didn't do thorough reporting on Melton because it wouldn't have happened, that people already had their minds made up to vote against Johnson. With reporters like those.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-05T21:32:30-06:00

ID

113606

Comment

also the old mill(for which mill street may have gotten its name) was located next to the railroad track and thus provided an efficient means of having agricultural products delivered to a central point.

Author

chimneyville

Date

2007-08-05T22:28:18-06:00

ID

113607

Comment

If they work with the Reeves, and concentrate on the task at hand in getting Farish St. going down at Amite, then one day the old Mill may be a crown jewel in a museum that focuses on that area and manufacturing jobs in our local history. That way it is different from Smith Robertson which is art oriented. You will have a street that could rival those in many other towns. From the Convention Center to the club on the new part of Farish, then you walk on down past the churches, Birdland, the new recording studio (rotflmao), past some trendy shotgun style homes for college students, and the Old Mill Museum! With some of the ideas the City has for some cut through streets that connect Smith Robertson to Farish, they need to really focus on getting that going. As long as Dieon Sanders wants land for nothing, he should be kept at bay until he can offer fair prices for the land he wants.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-08-05T23:02:10-06:00

ID

113608

Comment

If they work with the Reeves, and concentrate on the task at hand in getting Farish St. going down at Amite, then one day the old Mill may be a crown jewel in a museum that focuses on that area and manufacturing jobs in our local history. That way it is different from Smith Robertson which is art oriented. I read about the museum idea on another blog, and I think it's a good one. Another example of multi-use: part A-1 Pallets, part museum. Looks like the place is big enough for both. Also, if the mill goes through a restoration process, they should be careful not to lose the character of the structure. For example, check for severe corrosion and fix those areas, but don't take away all of the oxidation - things like that. If that place wasn't occupied, I'm sure that a bunch of DIY-ers would love to get their hands on some of that rusty metal and make all kinds of furniture and crafts with it. A lot of folks are into the rustic, distressed look. patina (like the Statue of Liberty), verdigris - the whole nine yards. People duplicate oxidation with painting techniques, chemical reactions, etc. to get the look that A-1 Pallets already has.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-06T07:06:49-06:00

ID

113609

Comment

Yesterday, theCL.com reported that City Council would be voting "tonight on whether or not to demolish A1 Pallet". Tonight being last night. Wake up this morning and no mention of it anywhere. Does anyone know what happened? Did the CC take it up? Did they vote?

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2007-08-14T07:49:56-06:00

ID

113610

Comment

Yesterday, theCL.com reported that City Council would be voting "tonight on whether or not to demolish A1 Pallet". Tonight being last night. Wake up this morning and no mention of it anywhere. Does anyone know what happened? Did the CC take it up? Did they vote? I haven't heard anything about this. Please let me know if you find out anything. My guess is that if they did meet, it was closed-door so they decided not to publicize it. On the other hand, they could be waiting for the Ward 1 election to be over before they do anything else. All I can do is guess at this point.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-14T09:17:22-06:00

ID

113611

Comment

As I understand it, they voted to delay the decision until Aug. 20, I think.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-14T09:20:59-06:00

ID

113612

Comment

Thanks, Donna.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-14T09:22:47-06:00