Jackson Free Press

It is really hard to watch The Clarion-Ledger whine about Frank Melton. He is exactly the person they endorsed. His history showed that he was "rude" and "outrageous" and couldn't "stay on point." Where were they when it could have made a difference??? Sigh.

To effectively serve as mayor, Frank Melton is going to have to resist being rude and outrageous and stay on point about issues that matter: specifically, crime and taxes. Mayor Melton has always had difficulty keeping his mouth zipped - to his own detriment. The growing acrimony with some City Council members is making a strained relationship non-functional, which is a detriment to the entire city. [...]

So, Melton is back to his old tricks, basically saying he doesn't care what the law says, that he will do as he wishes and smarting off at Council members who disagree. With such pressing issues as Jackson among the most dangerous U.S. cities and a $3.9 million deficit, the city needs leadership, not a bully with a loud mouth.

Then why did y'all so wholeheartedly endorse a "bully with a loud mouth," Ledger???

Thanks for nothing.

Previous Comments

ID

113304

Comment

Yea, you'd think they would remember past last week when it comes to what is written in their paper. And, the fact that they are allowing Shirlene Anderson to get away with murder - so to speak. If any other Chief even sneezed wrong, they were on it like white on rice talking about how bad they are, and how they can't fight crime, etc... The Chief carousal began under Ditto, and now we have the worst Chief EVAR, and they don't care.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-27T13:24:34-06:00

ID

113305

Comment

Speaking of the C-L, they used to keep a running total of murders in Jackson. How many have we had this calendar year? The end of June marks the half-year and I would like to know. I do at times blame many, including the C-L, for climbing on Melton's popular wagon but it is far more important to the City to have all the truthseekers we can garner now. Let's hear it for the JFP!!

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-06-27T14:03:57-06:00

ID

113306

Comment

Thanks, Chris. I've said many times that I don't believe every Jacksonian should beat him/herself up for believing Melton's hype (even though it rather astounds me, being that his promises were so incredible and thin. But people crave heroes.). BUT, the media need to learn a lesson from it. The Clarion-Ledger virtually put Melton there by (a) ignoring or reframing many of his "excesses" over the years (where were the editorials lambasting him for "bringing in" wanted young men all those years and tainting the evidence, for instance?); (b) being his mouthpiece for discrediting his critics and those with the power to do something about his excesses and (c) hiding the fact that they were wound up in the Meridian lawsuit with him during the campaign because he had sent a false memo to them and was lying to the judge about it and (d) running glowing, non-questioning campaign coverage (and then endorsement) of him, even as they belittled his opponent (and Johnson's police chief) in the most juvenile and non-supported way I've ever seen a newspaper take. It's an embarrassing paper, and their coverage of Melton and Johnson was unconscionable. Everyone knows it now, and they should be called to task for it. If they're not, they'll just do it again, because they're all about sensationalism over substance.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-06-27T14:21:50-06:00

ID

113307

Comment

I like this line: Mayor Melton has always had difficulty keeping his mouth zipped - to his own detriment. "Always had difficulty" -- meaning, even back when the C-L endorsed him. What the C-L needs to do is start with an editorial that says, baldly, "We were wrong. The C-L Editorial Board hereby publically apologizes for endorsing Frank Melton. We'll never make that mistake again." Seriously...David, Sid, Ronnie, et. al -- stand up and be accountable for your own mistakes. It would start a reconcilation process that would help restore your credibility and enable you to become part of the coalition of truthsayers that Jackson needs right now in local media. "Dear readers: We were wrong and we plan to do something about it." Think what that could do.

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2007-06-27T14:24:43-06:00

ID

113308

Comment

Just saw Todd's post. He is right. The Clarion-Ledger has lost credibility so much on their backing of Melton, and the bad journalism that led to it, that they need to apologize to the public to have even a chance at getting any of it back. And they need to show some major changes on the Metro/State desk, where many of the decisions were apparently made. Ombudsman, edit-boyz, ombudsman. (Good editors would help, too.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-06-27T14:29:03-06:00

ID

113309

Comment

I honestly don't remember anyone saying anything against him when he was running.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-06-27T14:32:51-06:00

ID

113310

Comment

Seeing as how they have three stories and updates regarding Melton meeting the Gov. of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, I'd say they still got a gleam in their eye for the little guy.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-27T16:57:24-06:00

ID

113311

Comment

Is the JFP still supporting Yerger?

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-06-28T12:12:25-06:00

ID

113312

Comment

Which Yerger LawClerk?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-06-28T12:18:31-06:00

ID

113313

Comment

Swan Yerger. District Court Judge... I remember when he ran the JFP endorsed him. Just wondering if they are still behind him.

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-06-28T15:19:58-06:00

ID

113314

Comment

I've said many times that I don't believe every Jacksonian should beat him/herself up for believing Melton's hype (even though it rather astounds me, being that his promises were so incredible and thin. But people crave heroes.). I sure as hell am beating myself up, though I don't actually live in the city and thus couldn't vote. But I would've voted for Melton if I did. I would have so many lumps on my head for that.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-06-29T15:50:33-06:00

ID

113315

Comment

**Melvin, who was made deputy director of Parks and Recreation after being rejected as director, and Todd Chandler, who went back to assistant fire chief after being rejected as chief. **C-L article from link above Apparently they can't even report simple facts! Wasn't Melvin made a Deputy City Administrator and not **Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation**?

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-06-29T16:20:18-06:00

ID

113316

Comment

Or Deputy CAO? In either case, it wasn't Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation...or did I miss something while out of town this week?

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-06-29T16:22:11-06:00

ID

113317

Comment

Yes, you are right Kacy. That doesn't mean he hasn't shifted them since. But, I'm willing to bet you don't see much of either fellow at whatever office they are supposed to be in each day. Now who were the brilliant people who wanted Melton to run?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-29T18:28:54-06:00

ID

113318

Comment

1...2...3... Envy!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-30T12:10:21-06:00

ID

113319

Comment

Wow pike... you aint kidding. Can we draft him?

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-06-30T18:12:13-06:00

ID

113320

Comment

He seems pleasant.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-30T18:21:26-06:00

ID

113321

Comment

You know - Meltons actions reflect an overall cultural attitude by the general population in Jackson: He doesn't recognize the resources already present which could be cultivated in our city and instead applaudes old, tired strategies from both a development and law enforcement standpoint. What we need in a mayor is an ability to facilitate the constructive and intelligent professionals of Jackson (and i'm referring to ALL TYPES of professionals in ALL trades and skills) to utilize the resources we have in an effective way. We don't need someone with a good idea that is all there own. We don't need someone who can single handedly give us our dream back. We need someone who can recognize the valuable knowledge present in the institutions of our city and pull from that the answers to getting things back on track. As for finances - i can think of a few Chief Administrative Officers who can free up some funds...and there are energy consumption measures we do not take with our infrastructure and tools. But it is certainly not about what one person thinks. It is about finding someone who can communicate and connect people for efficiency and innovation. Jackson has the knowledge it needs in it's people. Now find someone who can connect and trust the right people.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-06-30T22:34:48-06:00

ID

113322

Comment

Yeah, I thought the same thing. I'm over in Birmingham this weekend for a conference at UAB, and met some City leaders. They were telling me about things going on in Birmingham despite their high crime ranking. Needless to say, the mayor here is a good man who makes decisions based on the good of the City, not the good of himself and few gangster youths. The people I spoke with didn't know too much about our wonderfully bad mayor; but, they said they'd check it out online.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-07-01T09:02:28-06:00