Jackson Free Press

Council President Ben Allen said at a press conference this afternoon that Mayor Frank Melton had put the city through an "18-month sideshow," but added that the council was prepared to address the issue of city leadership with the mayor facing arrest.

"The tragic part of this 18-month episode is that when he got elected by 88 percent of the people, an incredible coalition … of people were all in support because everybody wanted a change. What's so sad … was that with all the great things going on in this city, we've been consumed by this 18-month sideshow. There's no other way to put it than that," Allen told reporters. "… between 2000 and 2005, we're losing between 2,000 and 4,000 (people from Jackson), depending on which census you believe. That's 11 people a day. These are problems that the city needs to be addressing, but we've been focusing on other things."

Allen said the city was probably headed for another power struggle if the mayor goes to jail for his violation of probation.

"It's going to get very ugly over the next few weeks. There are remedies for everything. Our attorneys will have to define the word 'incapacitated.' Personally, I think if someone is in jail for six months, then he's incapacitated," Allen said.

The council president explained that city legal might determine that the mayor is not incapacitated, which he suggested could lead the council to seek an opinion from the attorney general's office. He also expressed concern that the city attorney's office would not provide impartial advice to City Council on that matter and other related issues. City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans recently walked out on the council on Melton's orders during an executive session concerning the mayor's decision to create a new city division without council input.

The Jackson Free Press has acquired a Feb. 28 memo (PDF, 224 KB) marked "confidential" from Allen to Chief Administration Officer Robert Walker and O'Reilly-Evans. Today, Allen confirmed that he wrote the memo. He said it was not intended for public release, but he later acknowledged that it was a public record.

The memo, which was written before Judge Tomie Green ordered Melton's arrest, strikes a conciliatory tone after a chaotic, confrontational City Council meeting Feb. 27. "I sincerely apologize for the rude, embarrassing, inappropriate and disturbing behavior displayed by the Council at last night's Council meeting," Allen wrote.

Allen then informs Walker and O'Reilly-Evans that he would "greatly appreciate" written responses to questions posed by council members at the Feb. 27 meeting. "As a matter of courtesy, I would like to make you both aware that one of the items on the agenda for Tuesday's Special Council meeting will be the ongoing discussion regarding the relationship between City Legal and the City Council. If possible, I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide the City Council with written responses to the questions that were posed to you at last night's meeting. … After we have received your responses, we will be informing both of you of the course of action that the majority of the Council would like to take regarding these issues," Allen wrote.

Today, Allen expressed little faith in the city attorney's office. "Where we'll get our legal help, I don't know. Every department in this city is dysfunctional. The one department that worked, Parks and Recreation—somehow the administration managed to find a way to turn that inside out as well," Allen said, referring to Melton's replacement of Parks and Rec Director Ramie Ford with Melton's "driver," as he described Charles Melvin.

Allen said the council had prepared a plan months ago should the mayor be unable to serve, after a grand jury indicted Melton on multiple felony counts.

"When this all first blew up, when the indictments first came down, we had a plan--we weren't going to talk about it because there wasn't a reason to talk about it--but I do feel like that will now be addressed," Allen said. He warned that "this could get to be a very contentious issue if we've got a legal staff that is interpreting the word 'incapacitated,' and we've got three council members who are very strong in one way, three councilmen who are strong in another and the guy that can't debate in the middle."

Allen would not say whether he felt the mayor should resign, but he did say that he had little confidence in the mayor after the Ford "debacle."

"There were some gross, grave misrepresentations made to me, and I saw some things, some character issues that really bothered me. I haven't tried to reach out to him in the last day or two, no," Allen said when asked when he had last talked to the mayor. "I haven't spoken to him personally since the Ramie Ford debacle. I don't put much faith in what he tells me, to be frank."

About an hour later, 18 Frank Melton supporters gathered at City Hall to show their support for the Mayor. Rev. William Edwards of Pilgrim M.B. Church in Ward 5 organized the event. Melton supporter and city employee Bob Hickingbottom also attended the event but refused to comment. Edwards said that he and the other supporters were there to show that there were people who are still standing behind the Mayor.

Edwards said it was "a sad day in Jackson" and that the arrest warrant for Melton was a "political assassination of the mayor."

"I believe that an outside panel should be brought in to investigate the people behind the charges against the mayor," Edwards said. He was highly critical of the City Council and said that in the event that Melton goes to jail, no one on the council was worthy of the mayor's office. Edwards, who was mentored by Melton, offered words of encouragement to young men who might be discouraged by the mayor's arrest. "These young people have the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. The lack of leadership on the City Council shows how far we've come."

Previous Comments

ID

125864

Comment

I wish the jfp folks weren't so worried about credit that you blast your logo on the memo so it can't be read...ridiculous. report the news. if you are really as good as you say you are credit does not matter.

Author

guywithanidea

Date

2007-03-02T22:20:17-06:00

ID

125865

Comment

You can read it, guy. Zoom in. The problem is that other media outlets have *stolen* so much credit from us in the past, and other local yucks have actually pilfered through our Web sites and taken PDFs and claimed them as their own. As long as we have so many dishonest people out there, waiting for us to do the work for them, we will continue to do watermarks on our documents that our staff works so hard to get. We are pretty damn good at what we do, and we want credit where it's due. Sorry if that rankles.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T23:11:52-06:00

ID

125866

Comment

Hasn't anyone started going up to old Bob and merely saying "Hello" each time he's at one of the so-called spontaneous events? I bet he'd get the idea after the third or fifth time. :D

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-02T23:34:52-06:00

ID

125867

Comment

The above should probably say "city contractor Bob Hickingbottom," by the way, being that he's paid by a temp agency for his Public Works duties.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-02T23:46:38-06:00

ID

125868

Comment

The above should probably say "city contractor Bob Hickingbottom," by the way, being that he's paid by a temp agency for his Public Works duties. None of which apparently include getting more streets paved.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-03T01:16:53-06:00

ID

125869

Comment

I zoomed in all the way until all I saw was red... from my perspective it's no watermark. There is no transparency to about it. It's just plastered on top.

Author

guywithanidea

Date

2007-03-03T10:46:06-06:00

ID

125870

Comment

Now suppose Allen does become mayor or interim mayor, is that a bad thing? In Baton Rouge, which is majority white, they have a Black Mayor. The previous mayor was a Republican who made so many people mad that they elected Kip Holden, who has governed in a bipartisan and biracial manner for the most part (sorry for poor use of words, don't crucify me). If someone is in the minority in the area in which they hold office, they will probably be more likely to pay attention to the needs of people of the opposite race since he can not take their votes for granted as opposed to someone who assumes that in a race with a candidate of another race or ethnic group, he can assume a solid backing of his own group. Having said that, if Allen were to be mayor because of anything involving Melton, that might necessarily be a bad thing. He is qualified. He is not a turbulent type or attention seeker, which is not a bad thing. He was going to step down from the city council and his constituents had to strongly urge him to run at one time to get him to do so. So he is not governed by some ambition to seek public office and feed from the public trough for life or define his life that way. His mild mannered ways might be what the city needs. As for Harvey, I'm not a fan of officials keeping jobs for more than 2 or 3 terms. NYC has done just fine after Rudy had to leave office and will do fine after Bloomberg leaves as well. If NYC can flourish with a change of mayors, we can as well.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T11:19:51-06:00

ID

125871

Comment

Bob is only one of many overpaid "consultants" who have been hired who are (illegally) making personnel decisions. My personal observation is that some of these "consultants" are responsible for getting civil service employees fired without justification.

Author

realtime

Date

2007-03-03T11:38:55-06:00

ID

125872

Comment

Some of the consultants I didn't mind. Jimmy Heidel is a very good choice but some talent you can't really afford. If the consultant deal allows us to retain someone really helpful, I'm all for it.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T11:40:28-06:00

ID

125873

Comment

Ben Allen does an excellent job in his interview with JFP. He has stated that for the past 18 months we have had to deal with a side show. Ben Allen is right! The major side show has been Ben Allen's leadership as the President of the City Council. One day he support the Mayor the next day he has issues with the Mayor and now he has planted the seed to the citizens of Jackson that there will be major problems if the Mayor goes to jail between him and members of the City Council. Ben, its time to tell the truth, you are as much responsible as the mayor for the problems that are occuring in the City of Jackson? Ben how long has it been since you were pulled over by JPD for DUI and you used you position to keep from going to jail? Who was in the car with you? your secretary right? and now you want to attack someone else creating a side show. What would have been you explanation if you were arrested as you should have been, I know, I was on medication and had a reaction, yeah right! I had an opportunity to vist with a friend of mine that was a fireman and review some of the documentation he had on your attempts to get him fied from the City of Jackson. I was shocked when he produce a letter that you and members of the City Council submitted to the Mayor calling for his immediated termination. I also read statements were you accused this fireman of being violent and was dangerous. You even went to the extent of advising the Fire Chief that he did not have your vote for confirmation because this fireman was rehired by the City of Jackson. The Mississippi Code of 1972, clearly states that the City Council has no authority over the hiring and termination of muncipal employees. Ben Allen you violated State Law and you have the nerve to pass judgement on someone else. Be Real!!! I have heard so many people state that it's time to put race behind us so that we can work together to achive our goals but not you Mr. Allen!!! The facts are out there anytime an African American stands up to you and the old establishment you defend, listen too, meet with and conspire with only your race and it's is so obvious. Mr. Allen it's time to realize that there are peoploe out there who skin may be a different color from your or an indivduals out there that's a different gender from you that can and would do an excellent job to help the City of Jackson grow, they only need a chance. Your radio show and your commentaries have riddle with attacks on everyone but your race and that's wrong and is creating more problems than we already have. Frank Melton might be the black side show that you have stated in your interview but then you Ben Allen are the white side show, which one is right? I must agreed with you that the City of Jackson Legal Department is a joke but you voted for the contract that was signed allowing the Attorney to recieve additional income for bonds, why didn't you read the contract? You voted for the firefighters contract and now you are saying it's a bad contract, did you read it before you voted? The point that I am trying to make is very simple its time for you and the City Council to show some leadership and quit trying to point the blame to someone else. It's not one person on this earth that has not made mistakes, quit crying about the mistakes and focus your attention on resolving issues and be a leader that you were elected to be. If you can't do this then resign as you have tried to get the Mayor to do, lead by example instead alot of lip service. The Citizens of Jackson deserves as much.

Author

tango

Date

2007-03-03T11:56:35-06:00

ID

125874

Comment

Tango: SO far all I am seeing posted by you is a bunch of crap, inuendo's, and potential slander. You didn't even ask if Allen was justified in his actions towards the fireman. Suppose the fireman was violent and there was good cause to get rid of him. Did you ever think of that reason? I know a hack job when I see one. I guess you have some secret inside scoop that none of us are privy to or your own deep throat. This sounds like barroom garbage to me.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T12:02:21-06:00

ID

125875

Comment

KingFish: Some time the truth hurts but there is an easy way to prove if the statement made are truth or lies by allowing JFP to investigate the statement made. Let JFP interview the Police Chief and see if this event did or did not happen, "DUI" and you can go an review the tapes of the weekly City of Jackson Council Meeting for May 2005 and July 2005 to verify the facts. It's time for you to put up or shut up. If you would like I would more than be happy to introduce you to the fireman for you to review the documentation and let you decide if the statements I have made or false. What about it? are you game or are you just so one sided you don't want to find out the truth. By the way I don't drink!!!!

Author

tango

Date

2007-03-03T12:21:28-06:00

ID

125876

Comment

Tango, I drink and I suggest you start. Perhaps it will let you relax just a bit and quit using race as an excuse for everything.

Author

rpr

Date

2007-03-03T12:23:20-06:00

ID

125877

Comment

As an elected public offcial, being the brunt of baseless rumors and innuendo are a part of the "deal". I will not respond to the credibility of most of "tango's" tirade. I will let it and the author exercise their right to free speech, no matter how outrageous and stand on its own merit. However, the part about me being pulled over, arrested, assumed , charged with, or any other adjective to describe me, a DUI or any other "crime" charge of ANY nature at all, is patently absurd and untrue. The time I was carjacked, those who dislke me or my politics said I wasn't carjacked, I was "robbed by a drug dealer" while trying to pick up a "black male prostitute". This is the type of rumor and slime we as elected officials endure. Tango has attacked my personal life, my wife, children and character by posting this under an assumed name and having absolutely no basis at all for this except a "personal grudge" in an attempt to embarrass me. It didn't work. We think we know who "tango" is. I will need your help in verifying his identity.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2007-03-03T12:37:56-06:00

ID

125878

Comment

Does seem like tango is a bit unhinged? You shouldn't just spout off stuff in hopes it sticks. Like yesterday, tango said there should be an FBI investigation in one post. Then later, they start saying there is an FBI investigation into City affairs. That pretty much clued me in that tango may be not quite so fandango!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-03T13:06:44-06:00

ID

125879

Comment

Ben the truth hurts are you ready to face me? It's my personal opinion and I have the right to exercise my rights to FREEDOM of SPEECH. By the way You already know who I am!!! You attacked my personal life, my wife, my children and my character by convening a secret council meeting and writing the letter for my termination. The truth of the matter is that you just don't have the guts to face a man that you can't intimidate, you rather throw a rock and hid your hand. The difference between me and you Ben is that I am willing to face my accuser when will you do so? If the statements I have made are false then it's was due to the information I recieved from your fellow concil members, "In Front of Wittneses".

Author

tango

Date

2007-03-03T13:21:57-06:00

ID

125880

Comment

Tango: you've proved nothing. You are just like the kooks who are guests on Art Bell. You make any outrageous claim and then when challenged state that the burden is on the challenger to prove the claims are not true. How convenient for you. Yesterday you made a claim about the FBI and threw in a comment about the FBI searching a home in Madison. Yet when we read the CL we find out that it is related to an investigation on the coast. As for the documentation why don't you put it here? He is represented by a union. Why isn't he filing a grievance with the union? Or making any claims in public if he has documentation of your claims. Of course, Councilman Allen might have had evidence of misconduct by your friend which is why we haven't heard a peep out of him. If he even exists. As for your little tirade against Councilman Allen, that is nothing but a smear. What you deserve is to have your azz whipped, preferrably publicly. What should happen is that if your identity is discovered, Councilman Allen should sue your sorry azz for slander. I hope the moderator bans your azz from this site.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T13:26:55-06:00

ID

125881

Comment

so tango, why don't you tell US who you are? You want to throw out the challenge, be a man and tell us who you are you little loser hiding behind a damn screen in your underwear. oh, there is nothing better than a forum circus, whether Roman or JFP.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T13:28:42-06:00

ID

125882

Comment

As a private citizen, i have been appalled at the actions of the mayor since the commencement of his tenure as he kicked in hotel doors and set up targeted roadblocks. In America, our law enforcement is bound by the code of honor established in our Rights system eloquently summed up as, "Innocent until proven, guilty." The mayor has never exhibited this honorable trait but instead exercised harsh judgement on bogeymen at the expense of real people. Even when he manages to knick the misdirected criminals in his chaotic spin of crime-fighting, not only does the possible criminal go free due to rights violations but they are left with a probably lawsuit toward the City. That said. As a member of City Council and as the City Council President i was always impressed with Ben's ability to maintain some sense of civil discourse with our Mayor. Frank is an elected official and not being able to work with him would do no one any good. I think Ben has made good decisions and his current decision to confirm a strong stance against the Mayor and his destructive policies is a positive step. The only issues here are the political, economic, and law enforcement failure in our City. This bears no markings of a powergrab. As an addendum i have also appreciated Dr. Leslie McLemore, Marschand Chrisler and Margaret Barrett-Simon in their various degrees of opposition to the Mayor of the previous year and a half. Hopefully they can form a strong coalition to lead our City toward peaceful governing at all levels for the good of all our people. We are experiencing a tremendous surge of cultural and economic activity in Jackson and we deserve to be united as a people through our government's and media's words and actions.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-03T13:34:10-06:00

ID

125883

Comment

good post Daniel.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T13:35:39-06:00

ID

125884

Comment

OK, y'all, time to step in here. Our general policy has been to take down unsubstantiated allegations in comments, particular those being made by someone who has elected to be anonymous. In this case, Ben is a public figure, and Donna has spoken with him this afternoon. He said he's OK with them remaining up. I'm not going to let this thing devolve further, however, so Tango has been suspended until further notice, although he will be invited (I'm sending an e-mail to his registered account) to present evidence to the JFP if he would like his allegations investigated. Until then, now is as good a time as any to Reread the User Agreement (if just for kicks and grins) and to continue a productive conversation. Thanks! - Todd

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2007-03-03T13:35:51-06:00

ID

125885

Comment

How true Daniel. It was always bizaar to see Councilman Allen side with the likes of Stokes over the classy likes of Barrett-Simon, Crisler and McLemore when you trying to move a City forward for everyone. I think you can safely say Stokes, Blunston, and Tillman are not out for "Jackson's" interests. BTW: Anyone remember a vidoe phone incident? "There goes the highway patrol! Whoosh!"

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-03T13:42:26-06:00

ID

125886

Comment

hey todd, what is your email?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T13:45:59-06:00

ID

125887

Comment

I think Councilman Allen, Pike, is just of a mindset to give alot of deference to the mayor. Not because he is lazy or agrees, but because he thinks the mayor is given alot of room by law to operate. I think he thinks that the city council passes laws and the mayor handles the operation of the city. I'm being somewhat simplistic but you know what I mean. I think even he is tired of this crap however which is why you are seeing him become more candid.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T13:49:25-06:00

ID

125888

Comment

Kingfish... I realize that about Ben. He wanted to afford the mayor every chance to try and be "mayor." And, predictably, it backfired. However, Ben has been in Jackson a long time; and, how he and others just ignored the past and the rumors of Melton and Blunston during election time is in part why we are here today. To many North Jackson type's have protected Melton over the years. Why is not always clear?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-03T14:07:54-06:00

ID

125889

Comment

Keep in mind he had to sit through years of Harvey's weak leadership and the Armstrong-Stokes circus on the city council. I think he was willing to give a stronger personality a chance as mayor when he was elected with such a large majority.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T14:12:06-06:00

ID

125890

Comment

Please understand that ridiculous rumors are a part of life in politics. I welcome any investigation onto this matter by anyone anytime. Doing just that will save me time and resourses in the event that civil remedies (a lawsiut for slander) are initiated. Please bring forward any tapes you have, witnesses, minutes of meetings or other evidece from anyone, including the police chief, director of personnel, God or whomever you wish pertaining to any of the "personal issues" you referenced. The "Jackson Free Press" will be glad, I am sure, to accomodate and evaluate your materials.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2007-03-03T14:22:25-06:00

ID

125891

Comment

I should know better then to think you wouldn't buy into the "Harvey Myths" that exist. At some point many people will have to stop looking at the surface of running this City, and see that there is so much more that goes unnoticed. Yet, it is the "unnoticed" that makes up so much of what it takes to run a City. Melton runs the City like a monopoly. Whether many of you want to believe it or not, Harvey didn't. He brought more people into his fold of running (working with) the City than Melton has gotten former felons jobs with the City. Now, you can either be selfish with the job of bettering the City or you can work with everyone. I'll take the latter thank you. It's like there is this "feeling" that by taking digs at Harvey, many will feel better about bashing Melton. Harvey is two years removed and has pretty much stayed out of this mess the whole time. That speaks volumes for his character and class. If Melton was even doing a minimally good job as Mayor we wouldn't even have a need to mention Harvey would we?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-03T15:16:00-06:00

ID

125892

Comment

Harvey Johnson seems to have been a strong facilitator of the talent Jackson has to offer. While i may not have had exaclty the same vision, his vision was beneficial enough to the greater good to warrant my backing. Melton seems obsessed with taking credit for positive developments in Jackson. Harvey seemed insistent to place people in positions of power who would make positive developments in Jackson. Credit fall where it may.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-03T16:24:08-06:00

ID

125893

Comment

A couple interesting tidbits in The Ledger's story today (beyond Green saying that he's going to stay in jail a couple weeks before the hearing: Although the mayor's midnight curfew was cited in a letter from his probation officer, Danks said he has seen no legal document that imposes a curfew on the mayor as part of his suspended sentence. Uh, Mr. Melton was told by his probation officer in no uncertain terms that he has a midnight curfew. What—is Danks going to try to disempower probation officers to do their jobs in order to keep his guy outta jail? Melton cannot get special treatment. He's an adult; he makes his choices, and needs to be responsible for his actions instead of play the victim. With Melton's freedom hanging in the balance, city officials attempted to organize a rally Friday afternoon at City Hall in support of the embattled mayor. Fewer than 20 supporters milled about while Bob Hickingbottom, a city contractor and self-styled "spin doctor" for the mayor, worked his cell phone in an attempt to rally more people to the cause. Interesting that the Ledger has gotten better about revealing Mr. Hickingbottom's role in these vote-Melton-free rallies. Our tax dollars pay his city contract. Maybe he considers Melton a "public work." On Friday, Allen released a copy of an e-mail he said Melton sent him on Jan. 12, a couple of weeks before Melton's heart surgery, asking Allen to be mayor in case anything went wrong with the procedure. Allen earlier had denied an open records request for the document. You're welcome, Ledger. "We have armed robbers, we have murderers. We have people with violent tendencies out here walking the street," he said during a news conference. "And yet the mayor has pled guilty on a misdemeanor and we can find room in the jail. It makes people in these inner-city neighborhoods and probably throughout the city of Jackson wonder whether or not the truth is being told." So what do you call cruising neighborhood with a "Walking Tall" stick and busting up private property, using minor(s) with criminal records to help you if not "violent tendences"??? No, Mr. Stokes, Melton is sending the message that the law doesn't matter. He is above it, and therefore so are the young people he tries to "help." This has to stop. "They got him wearing (electronic) leg bands. They act like he's a hardened criminal. Where the hell is he going? He's the mayor of Jackson, he's got a half million-dollar home," Bluntson said. "They got his phone tapped. They come right in while we're talking and tell him, 'hang the phone up now.' This man is going through all of this and nobody seems to want to talk about this." OK, this is intriguing. They are now talking about the ankle bracelet to try to get him sympathy; before they didn't want anyone to know, we're told, because it would make him look bad. As for where the hell is he going? How about home to Texas? Or, to the Bahamas? Part of the probation violation is that he left the state without proper documentation. This argument is really flimsy. Now, who has his phone tapped? The county? The state? The feds? Probation Services? Jackson, we have a big-ass problem here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T16:55:48-06:00

ID

125894

Comment

You know, I just have to pause here and send a cyber-kick-in-the-groin to the jackasses in this town who laughed and giggled during the campaign about how ole Frank is a "loose cannon" and "would never be dull." A lot of those dumb goobers are white and run media outlets. You know who you are, and you owe this city an apology for your complicity in this disaster we're facing. Idiots. (Sorry, needed to vent.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T16:58:42-06:00

ID

125895

Comment

Ladd, the secret is no one cares about Jackson. It's all about power.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-03T17:02:33-06:00

ID

125896

Comment

Well, there are people who care about Jackson, Ironghost. However, I don't believe they are currently running city government, or some of our largest media outlets. That's tragic. Speaking of, here's the Ledger's editorial today bemoaning the mess they helped create by painting such a lowing portrait of Melton, and endorsing him even as they knew he had lied to a judge under oath in Meridian (or should have under their Code of Ethics). I love this part: And these are his personal issues. No one put the mayor in this embarrassing position, but himself. He has to follow the law or face the consequences. Bullshit, Ledger. Y'all played a huge role in putting him there by not doing real coverage of this man for all these years, by demonizing his opponent with rhetoric and questionable facts, and by your silly endorsement of him. Every editor and editorial-board member over there should be ashamed. It is also intriguing to see that, now, Ben Allen is getting the Faye Peterson treatment because he is speaking out against the mayor. That was inevitable.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T17:16:00-06:00

ID

125897

Comment

Also, Iron, the lesson of the last few years is horrifying: Stomp and scream and yell about young black "thugs" with your fingers crossed behind your back, pretending you're going to arrest them and run them out of town—while "saving" some of them by moving them into your house and police RV—and people will let you get away with anything you want to. A teachable moment, folks. A teachable moment. Melton is Melton and always has been. The record is clear; the consistency is there. What he is doing now was perfectly predictable. The hard lesson for our times is for everybody who supported him to ask yourself "why?" when the evidence was so strong that he was a disaster waiting to happen. I don't say that to chide Melton supporters—most of whom I think are good people—I say it to suggest that the good that can happen here will be in other people exploring their hearts for why such empty "thug" promises made them support such a ridiculous choice for mayor. And, then, don't let it happen again. Please. Melton is not going to change. However, the city can and must grow from this horrendous experience. And if the mainstream media don't take a long, hard look in the mirror at how they faciliated Melton's ascent, they should pack up and get out of this city and go on back to wherever their owners live.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T17:22:00-06:00

ID

125898

Comment

One other factual pet peeve: Above, Allen falls into the spin-trap of saying that Melton was "elected by 88 percent." The problem with that is not only low turnout, but that number is from the general election when he had a hand-picked black Republican to run against him, whom he immediately hired. (Who is no longer there, to his credit.) He defeated Harvey Johson by 60-something percent, which is the real number that matters. It also shows that, of the people who turned out, that at least a third didn't buy the empty hype about Melton. That's a lot better than 12 percent (I was one of those, having voted for Whitlow as a protest vote). There is really no reason to spin this any longer. The truer number is the one that makes the city look a bit less gullible. Let's make sure we give credit where it's due.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T17:36:45-06:00

ID

125899

Comment

Agreed, agreed, agreed! And, the part about the phone tap. Who is "they" that came in and told "whom" to quit talking? Talk about crazy, crazy... I heard Jack Bauer is coming!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-03T17:42:10-06:00

ID

125900

Comment

Lest anyone forget, the King Edward would now be a big hole in the ground if Mr. Melton had had his way. It's time for the city to have a real leader, not one who does little more than shouting from the rooftops. I hope that the city can be rid of him son.

Author

tombarnes

Date

2007-03-03T17:42:53-06:00

ID

125901

Comment

You're right, Tom. It came very, very close. I can't even share that whole story, but hopefully can at some point. I have seen no evidence that Mr. Melton cares about Jackson.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T17:45:12-06:00

ID

125902

Comment

There is some type of requirement when one has a 'bracelet' that there be a dedicated phone line in the home for monitering. When that dedicated line is used for other perposes, the monitering people are probably telling them to get off the line. Someone help explain this as I am hazy on the details not having ever been in this position.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-03T18:16:57-06:00

ID

125903

Comment

Ah, that makes sense. I look forward to hearing more. So where was the bracelet when he went to the Upper Level? Upside down in a fish tank?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-03T18:21:28-06:00

ID

125904

Comment

"I have seen no evidence that Mr. Melton cares about Jackson." I used to believe that the man was just incompetent. Nothing more, nothing less. And, while he clearly IS incompetent, it gets clearer each day that the man cares about NOTHING but his own hide. Not the city that he was elected to work for, not its citizens and not for ANYBODY that speaks out against him (no matter how much he faked allegiance to them in the past). I've yet to see a more fitting word for the man than this one: psy·cho·path (sī'kə-pāth') n. A person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse. Hell. I challenge ANYBODY to come up with a more fitting description of the man.

Author

millhouse

Date

2007-03-03T18:47:55-06:00

ID

125905

Comment

I don't know about you guys, but I am disgusted by Tango's comments about Mr. Allen. I'm sorry he had to read that crap.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T19:12:00-06:00

ID

125906

Comment

I've really enjoyed reading the Mr. Melton blog. Some of you have made valid points. I'm a little disturbed over Tango's "lashing out" at Ben Allen. If Tango has a case then a good attorney maybe the appropriate avenue for him to "seek justice" but more likely some weird sort of revenge. I respect Mr. Allen's responses to Tango's rants. I doubt Melton is the target of any title III intercept (wire-tap) state and/or federal. The Department of Probation and Parole and Pre-Trail Services cannot in their NORMAL everyday monitoring of their clients (felons or individuals on bond pending trial or sentencing) monitor the clients’ phone conversations (cell, fax, beeper and land line). Now the FBI, the DEA or some state agency could monitor a person in the pre-trial system or on probation but that individual would be a target or suspect of an active investigation. Pre-Trail Services and the Department of Probation and Parole wouldn't be involved in the monitoring. One last thing..........."I like the Art Bell show." Regards, Larry

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-03T19:25:57-06:00

ID

125907

Comment

I like the Art Bell show too Larry. I even have a subscription to it so I can listen to it during normal hours. But we both like that show because of the kooky nature of the guests. Like one Dr. Richard C Hoagland who makes all kinds of wild claims that can not be verified. LIke I said, where was the union grievance filed? Where was the lawsuit? Where was the documentation. He wasn't just fired. There has to be due process and a hearing. What was the outcome of said due process? Then if he does have the documentation he claims, why is he hiding behind a fake name? It don't pass the smell test.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T19:30:54-06:00

ID

125908

Comment

It smells a little fishy...pardon the pun! Regards, Larry

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-03T19:33:01-06:00

ID

125909

Comment

Just gimme a Ramos Gin Fizz and shaddup.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-03T19:36:57-06:00

ID

125910

Comment

After listening to stokes's comments I wondered why the reporter did not ask him who these murderers are who are walking among us. I bet Adam would not have let him get away with those comments without asking the hard questions. I think I know tango also he is a loose cannon. Ben needs to watch out for him.

Author

jada

Date

2007-03-03T20:47:12-06:00

ID

125911

Comment

Stokes is in the running for "Mouth of the South", and thus wouldn't back any comments up with actual facts. Kicks you out of the race, ya know.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-03T21:24:47-06:00

ID

125912

Comment

This should make everyone feel a little more angry at Melton. Riverwood Dr. leading to "The Carter" is getting repaved! Riverwood is in great condition as compared to many roads in Jackson! If I didn't know better, I thought I saw the Mobile Command Center past his gate too!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-04T00:08:15-06:00

ID

125913

Comment

Omigod. Art Bell. The best thing about Art Bell's show is that no matter how outlandish and ridiculous the claim, Art and all the callers fall right in line. There's never any argument and hardly even a question. It's a loony love fest. The worst thing about Art Bell--and his week-day cohort, George Something-That-Starts- with-an-N-- is that when you fall asleep with the radio on, you wake up to What's-His- Name Gallows. Now that's whats called getting up on the wrong side of the bed.

Author

jasp

Date

2007-03-04T01:53:31-06:00

ID

125914

Comment

Art is alot more critical than Noory is. Hoagland will avoid his show and appear on Noory because Noory will give him oral sex while Bell will tell him his photos of machinery on mars looks like a bunch of rocks, which they are.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-04T02:25:43-06:00

ID

125915

Comment

Tango man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are way off base for being critical of Ben Allen. I have known Ben since the late 1970s. He has been a freind of our family since that time. His morals, values and ethics have always been quite exceptional. There is NO doubt in my mind that he would ever be caught with the possibility of a DUI and/or using his polictical office to persuade an officer to "let him off". Since you won't reveal your TRUE identity, you must not have a high opinion of yourself. Janice Kilby Indianola, MS

Author

JanMarKil

Date

2007-03-05T09:11:54-06:00

ID

125916

Comment

He's a coward. Hopefully he is not another Kenneth Tornes although it makes you wonder if he is that unhinged.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-05T09:45:09-06:00

ID

125917

Comment

As usual, Goliath managed to slip a screwup into one of their pointless editorials. They said, in the editorial linked above, that Melton was in trouble for "parole violations." He has not been paroled from prison, geniuses. As for Mr. Melton's e-mail being "released" by Mr. Allen, screw you very much, Clarion-Ledger. What a bunch of slinking thieves, that they won't give credit even when it's very, very obvious what they're doing. I think the reporters over there are better than this--more honest, more generous--which means that this falls squarely on the shoulders of people like Grace Simmons. What a pathetic excuse for a journalist.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-05T11:35:09-06:00

ID

125918

Comment

Well, Brian, it is a P-word. You heard one, you heard them all. What's remarkable is how many errors—not to mention crimes against language—they make in their *editorials.* The "top" editors are on the editorial board. It's not like they can blame their young reporters fresh out of college in other states for the editorial fact issues, passives, cliches, rhetoric and so on. The editorials are the worst pieces in The Clarion-Ledger. Routinely. They're middle-school quality at best, and I don't mean to insult good middle-school writers. By the way, does everyone know that Eric Stringfellow is no longer on the staff of the Ledger. He's freelancing columns there now. And he's off the editorial board. (Not replaced, I might add, with a woman to balance out all those cliche-boyz. At least not that I know of.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T11:42:24-06:00

ID

125919

Comment

Sounds like Melton is making last second bid to stay out of jail by appealing to the Supreme Court. Can you way "wimp?" That's what Melton is for not facing the music. He can't even walk the walk of the talk he talks!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T12:11:43-06:00

ID

125920

Comment

Sounds like Melton is making last second bid to stay out of jail by appealing to the Supreme Court. Can you say "wimp?" That's what Melton is for not facing the music. He can't even walk the walk of the talk he talks!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T12:11:50-06:00

ID

125921

Comment

Ladd, I noticed that he was no longer an editor when i read his by line a week ago and it read Eric Stringfellow of Madison is a contributing columnist. I remember reading a few stories and columns in the ledge about them having a black metro-editor when Stringfellow took the position. Why did he leave? And they run his column as if he is still an editor.

Author

jd

Date

2007-03-05T12:21:56-06:00

ID

125922

Comment

so, then I guess his heart is fine. They should release him from the hospital. I am really upset that St. D's would be willing to participate in this charade should Melton continue to keep it up. I'll bet if the Supreme Court comes back and agrees with Danks, thus keeping Melton out of jail, then he would be out of the hospital lickedy split!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T12:23:03-06:00

ID

125923

Comment

I can't say for sure, jay, but word from the inside is that they are doing all sorts of revamping in order to be an online "information center." This is what all Gannett papers are doing -- de-emphasizing their newspapers and trying to be "information centers" online. Google it. Yes, Pike, it would be odd if St. Dominic's were playing along with Melton's attempt to hide from the sheriff. I'm not saying that is true, but I am assuming that Probations Services and the judge will be privy to detailed hospital records during his stay there. If anyone from St. D's is reading this and has inside knowledge of what's been going on inside there, please call us and update us: 601.362.6121 ext. 8.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T12:34:35-06:00

ID

125924

Comment

I guess in the defense of St. D's, if a patient says they are sick then they wouldn't just kick you out if tests came back negative. Would they?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T12:40:00-06:00

ID

125925

Comment

WLBT is reporting that Melton has a history of Alcohol Abuse in the past. From my own observation, he has abused alcohol as recently as last August. Actually, I believe it will be revealed that either alcohol or drugs played a part in the Ridgeway Street incident.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-05T19:19:49-06:00

ID

125926

Comment

Yes, they are quoting the exhibits to Danks' motion this a.m. There's a huge stack of stuff there; we've been going through it. We'll be putting PDFs up. The medical records, which we have now so all you conspiracy theorists can give that one up, say he currently abuses tobacco and has a history of alcohol abuse. This is an open secret, of course. I mean, I've been around him when he was drinking. And he is a heavy smoker from what I saw.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-05T19:46:46-06:00

ID

125927

Comment

So, do they think that "now" if they come clean with everything about Melton that we should somehow forgive him? Also, all of these "releases" are related to the Ridgeway incident too. So, isn't Danks using this as a way to circumvent the gag order on discussing the case. Now he is able to have Melton's case played out in the press with a sympathetic WLBT, WJTV, Clarion Ledger, and Advocate vs. WAPT, JFP, and MS Link.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-05T20:31:22-06:00

ID

125928

Comment

Pickersam, I was just at the St. Ds Hospital on yesterday. A very close relative had back surgery around 2pm. The pt. was told by her MD that she could be discharged on yesterday or she could spend the night and discharge this am. Hospitals don't play these extended stays anymore unless there is physical evidence or you are suicidal/homicidal. The minute you are stabilized, your butt is out of here. You can have your neck removed and you will be told to tuck your head under you arm and "we will see you again in 6weeks. (smile).

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-06T10:53:02-06:00

ID

125929

Comment

Maybe, Pike, but I don't think this debacle is building sympathy. And the attachments don't, either. They show that he has expensive attorneys trying to get him out of trouble, but they prove that he is constantly getting himself into trouble.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-06T11:06:44-06:00