Jackson Free Press

After many months of stalling, Mayor Frank Melton has finally agreed to put department heads and other appointments in front of the City Council for confirmation. Councilman Ben Allen told the Jackson Free Press today that Melton sent him an e-mail requesting that Allen move ahead with setting up confirmation hearings for the following positions: Rick Hill of the Department of Finance; Fire Chief Todd Chandler; Charles Melvin of Parks and Recreation; Jackson Redevelopment Authority board member Ted Duckworth; Jackson Public Schools Board member Ivory Phillips; Municipal Court Judge Ali ShamsidDeen, and Planning and Development consultant Leland Speed.

Allen would not comment on the likelihood of Melton's appointments, but said he was glad that the mayor was finally moving ahead with the confirmations.

"All I can say this early is that I'm glad it's moving," Allen told the JFP.

The mayor has delayed putting some confirmation appointees before the council, most notably for the Jackson Fire Department, where interim head Todd Chandler is unpopular with council members and unlikely to be confirmed.

ShamsidDeen is currently representing Michael Taylor, one of the young men who allegedly aided Melton in an illegal home destruction on Ridgeway Street last year. Taylor is also facing armed carjacking and robbery charges in two separate incidents.

Melton faces felony charges in the Ridgeway Street case.

Previous Comments

ID

126915

Comment

ShamsidDeen is currently representing Michael Taylor, one of the young men who allegedly aided Melton in an illegal home destruction on Ridgeway Street last year. Taylor is also facing armed carjacking and robbery charges in two separate incidents. The council better reject this one. In the Clarion Ledger's version of this story, that came out 30 minutes after the JFP's, they say: Among those set for confirmation are Todd Chandler, who has acted as fire chief most of Melton’s administration and Charles Melvin, a Melton ally whom the mayor chose to succeed Ramie Ford, former director of Parks and Recreation, who recently accepted a job with the state. Did Melvin "succeed" Ramie Ford or was he "made" Director and Ramie was forced out of Parks and Rec. How about some truth Ledge? BTW: If Melton stands by Michael Taylor and pays for his defense, doesn't this alarm any Meltonite's? Larry, on the radio do you think that other street criminals like Taylor, especially teenagers, can afford private council like Ali Shamsideen?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-29T15:54:35-06:00

ID

126916

Comment

No, he didn't "succeed" him. He replaced him.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-29T16:18:32-06:00

ID

126917

Comment

I hope ZERO of Melton's picks are confirmed. I hope his bodyguards are fired from the city payroll and that we can once and for all stop with this joke. And, it wasn't for the mayor to agree to confirmation hearings. He's required to (if i understand the law correctly). Right? The council should have stepped up WAY earlier and demanded that they all be brought in form confirmation, rather than just now giving the ultimatum to "he who follows no laws."

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-03-29T22:39:57-06:00

ID

126918

Comment

I hope they read all the resumes and contracts, remember S O E?? The council should go over those confirmations with a fine tooth comb. IvoryPhillip for the school board look out mill street mafia are going to really go wild now. He is a brilliant man IMO but he has gotten caught up in to much anti gov. talk for me I hope the council rejects them all also..

Author

jada

Date

2007-03-29T23:14:46-06:00

ID

126919

Comment

and Planning and Development consultant Leland Speed. I nearly choked on my coffee this morning on that one. THE Leland Speed? How did that one get by Tisdale, S Parker-Weaver and the rest of the Mill Street mafia?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-30T09:03:57-06:00

ID

126920

Comment

just shows that the white power structure is really running Jackson

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T09:10:59-06:00

ID

126921

Comment

I'm assuming Tisdale will ignore and keep telling his readers that Leland is a Harvey Johnson man. The facts don't get in the way of rhetoric, you know.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T09:23:10-06:00

ID

126922

Comment

BTW, WAPT erroneously credited The Clarion-Ledger for breaking this story this morning. Adam broke this story yesterday; it looks like the Ledger got it from us, being that their blurb a half hour later didn't even have a quote in it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T09:24:48-06:00

ID

126923

Comment

Leland a Harvey man? Say what? Leland and his family donated several thousand dollars to Melton. Leland couldn't stand Johnson based on things he's said in the press. However, Speed is a great choice anytime you are able to get him on board with a project. But, it's been sad to see that he joined the dark-side by supporting Melton, thus indirectly contributing to the budget, crime, and lack of foresight problems by his administration.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:42:40-06:00

ID

126924

Comment

I was just ranting on your point, I saw the rolling eyes....

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:43:48-06:00

ID

126925

Comment

Piker: I think you will find that some people like Mr Speed who are interested in helping Jackson were pushed away by the Johnson crowd. I don't think they all love Melton so much as disliked harvey.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T09:47:32-06:00

ID

126926

Comment

BTW, WAPT erroneously credited The Clarion-Ledger for breaking this story this morning. Adam broke this story yesterday; it looks like the Ledger got it from us, being that their blurb a half hour later didn't even have a quote in it. I happened to catch that this morning. I thought to myself, Donna's gonna have about seven cows. :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-30T09:47:35-06:00

ID

126927

Comment

Agreed Kingfish! We now have the house that hate built! The vote was pushed by those who despised Johnson but could not stoop to allowing it being said that they were racist. Hence Melton, the rarely-voting-Texan who was basically apolitical and should have never been certified to run by the County Democrat Committee. Alas, those who dismissed the safe guards of law and custom that were put in place to insure prosperity are bringing us perilously close to the edge in Jackson. Ladd thinks we will weather this and come out stronger eventually. I am no longer so sure. And, LawClerk, Crisler has been talking long and loud, though under-reported, about getting people confirmed ASAP. He has often stated the requirements of the law. Melton is such a master of diverting attention to other and immediate fiascoes, that Crisler's pleas cease to be amusing news. Rick Hill should be confirmed by the City Council and probably will be. We need some more depth in that department though. Leland Speed will be an asset to the position he is being placed in. I'm not entirely sure why a volunteer consultant needs confirmation; maybe the JFP could study this further. Ted Duckworth will bring youth, energy, and insight also. The others' qualifications for the positions considered I am not sure about. This makes the voting look somewhat racial although Chandler is white.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-30T10:29:37-06:00

ID

126928

Comment

Ladd thinks we will weather this and come out stronger eventually. I am no longer so sure. Well, I believe we will if we decide we will. I've lived in other cities during very difficult times and seen them get stronger after the adversity. (And, hey, what about our state as an example? We've come a long since Jim Crow, even as we still have a long way to go.) And there is nothing exactly new about the majority culture finding someone they think is a stooge to draw votes and do their bidding. I think that's what certain "white fools" thought they were getting in Melton. The irony is they didn't exactly—unless they were among the select group that wants nothing more than to see Jackson fail, and under a black man. Certainly, not all of Melton's white supporters were in that category. Many of them were simply snookered by a tragic figure who had never gotten accurate media coverage in this city.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T10:34:37-06:00

ID

126929

Comment

Also, to lend a bit of historical perspective, the anti-Johnson battle lines were drawn back during the waning days of the Ditto administration when Melton's friends went so hard after then-Chief Jimmy Wilson, and the NAACP et al supported a black mayor willing to stand up to the white power structure and their black friends. The political tide turned after the way the Juvenile Detention Center was handled (or mishandled), and the battle lines were drawn. It would be foolish to think that much of any of this had to do with Mayor Johnson "planning" too much. The sad part are the people who just repeat Melton's old "Bottom Line" mantras that laid so much of this groundwork without questioning their veracity. Those folks have been played for fools.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T10:40:59-06:00

ID

126930

Comment

... and the really, really sad part is how a lot of what we now call the Mill Street folks have allowed themselves to be played in all this by the old white power structure. It's a mess, no doubt.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T10:43:30-06:00

ID

126931

Comment

I also know quite a few people who didn't mind Jackson having a Black mayor but were totally turned off by Harvey. First of all, He treated Robert Johnson pretty shabbily. In a very petty move, Harvey wouldn't even let his employees throw him a party on his last day on the job. Harvey then hired Bracey, who everyone knows had quite a bit of baggage and was playing footsie with Harvey behind his boss's back so he could get that job. Then when the Bracey hire blew up, he took nearly ONE YEAR to replace him with a police chief. Can you imagine the howls on this site if Melton did the same thing? But since harvey did it, it was perfectly ok because he was PLANNING!!! Harvey also took a very laid back attitude towards crime as evidenced by his comments that crime was rampant all over "this country" and that there wasn't much they could do. So halfway into his adminstration, Harvey had already alienated people because crime fighting was NOT a priority with him, which gave Melton his opening. It also didn't help when Moore whines about firearms laws and how the media wasn't treating him fairly. Finally, he began to implement Linder-Maples, which was discussed and debated for several years under the Johnson administration before it was finally its implementation began. most public officials will complain that the media does not treat them farily. Get over it. You still have ways to get your story out to the public. Use them. THen there was the lack of cooperation Harvey had with neighboring communities, something continued by Melton (sewage.water treatment issue) on projects. County Line Road Expansion, the road that conects Hinds to Rankin, and other projects. All of the communities involved complained about how Harvey dragged his feet and would not deal with them or meet deadlines, mainly because he was scared there was a possibility they might benefit from the project. Harvey is a manager, a planner, but he is not a leader. People are naturally attracted to strong leadership,k which Melton was able to exploit to his advantage. Unfortunately, he has been a disaster and I think he will only get worse. Unlike most newly inaugurated public officials, there doesn't seem to be a learning curve for Melton. YOu can call his white critics racists all you want but some of his white critics had legitimate criticisms of his administration and were left with what they thought was a black fool on one hand, Melton, and a black racist, Harvey on the other. Black Racist? Yes I said it. Malcolm White. WHo is white. Well known Democrat. Promoter of racial harmony. Has done so much to save downtown Jackson and promote it. Organized the friendship ball. So what does harvey do? Give him a public slap in the face by pushing for the Farish Street area to be given resort status and does not include Hal and Mals. Despite what Malcolm White has done for Jackson and to promote racial harmony in Jackson, Harvey instead took actions that would directly injure Mr White's business and livelihood. IF ANYONE in downtown Jackson deserved to benefit from resort status, it was Malcolm White. THAT is Harvey's idea of racial harmony. There are white people who like Jackson. They want to promote it. They want to see everyone benefit from a prosperous Jackson but were so turned off by Harvey that they took a chance on Frank. Many of them, not the loudmouths who call in to radio shows, realize Frank is even worse. However, it is still all the white power structure's fault. Despite the fact that Melton won a majority of the Black vote in a majority Black City.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T11:24:16-06:00

ID

126932

Comment

Kingfish....you are right on target. Amen brother. Saintman

Author

saintman

Date

2007-03-30T12:20:33-06:00

ID

126933

Comment

Well, er, I don't believe Malcom White supported Melton........ "....Many of them, not the loudmouths who call in to radio shows, realize Frank is even worse." Kingfish In an effort to get back to the problems at hand, isn't it time part of the 'white power structure' got more vocal. Are they going to let Ben Allen carry all the water? Wouldn't it help to step up to the plate and make their voices heard loud and clear? I for one believe they owe us all an apology and that they can begin to make amends now for the harm they have done Jackson and its taxpayers. Same goes for the black leaders and voters who now realize they made a mistake. Its fine to admit to friends and family that they picked the wrong man to back. But this is the time for action. Again, the NAACP should not have to carry the full burden. It has actually been stated by Melton supporters that they knew he was crazy but the voted for him anyway. This is irresponsible use of the privilege. Good people are going to have to get into a position of acting now instead of re-acting to adverse behaviors. If we had just reacted to the British instead of going into action against tyranny, we would be recognizing the Queen or someone, not as Americans. Thank God we had the fortitude to go for freedom.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-30T12:50:54-06:00

ID

126934

Comment

I never said for one second that Malcolm supported Melton. I assumed he didn't.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T13:04:49-06:00

ID

126935

Comment

Good people are going to have to get into a position of acting now instead of re-acting to adverse behaviors. If we had just reacted to the British instead of going into action against tyranny, we would be recognizing the Queen or someone, not as Americans. Thank God we had the fortitude to go for freedom. Chris....you are right on target. Amen brother.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T13:07:26-06:00

ID

126936

Comment

I think it will be interesting to see how many Melton supporters, the same ones who would cross party lines to vote for McMillan a few years ago, will now support McMillen or give money to him.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T13:11:46-06:00

ID

126937

Comment

YOu can call his white critics racists all you want but some of his white critics had legitimate criticisms of his administration and were left with what they thought was a black fool on one hand, Melton, and a black racist, Harvey on the other. Who called Johnson's white critics "racists"? Are you suffering from that nasty reading comprehension problem again, 'Fish? You ought to get some help. There is a rainbow coalition of support for the old white power structure these days, if you hadn't noticed. It's not about race; it's about power, and perhaps the ability to get away with some stuff. The battle lines were drawn between the folks who supported the old power structure, and the people willing to stand up to it. There are various races on both sides, even though it is also mighty game of race politics. I guess I don't expect you to understand what I mean, 'Fish. You tend to think in such black and white terms. Never mind.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T13:12:12-06:00

ID

126938

Comment

It is remarkable that the biggest split we have now politically is really McMillin vs. Melton. I wonder how many people have caught onto this, yet. It was predictable, but the folks who thought Melton was simply an N-JAM pawn are likely befuddled by this turn of events. They really, really should have paid more attention to the Jackson Advocate during the campaign.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T13:14:35-06:00

ID

126939

Comment

Black Racist? kingfish Is it corporate racism when the gov't gives a tax break and some land to a new company that is going to locate in that community. Aren't these incentives given with the understanding from the business community that this will help everyone. In time, resort status was going to be given to that area. But, you should do it in steps, if you want to do things the best way for the future. You harp on this one point too much as the example of Johnson being racist. But, you are entitled to your own opinion. If you want to put Harvey and people like him in with the same group as the Mill St. folks, who openly talk against white people on the radio that is your maligned view. That is the view that got us in the mess we are in. It is this kind of thinking that has Speed and Stokes holding hands, as they try to keep together the mess in Melton. And, if you don't think white hypersensitivity didn't play into the knee-jerk reactions of the whites who voted for Melton despite knowing he was half-crazy, then you haven't learned enough from being over here blogging. As far as Robert Johnson... Wasn't he the chief when the Maple Linder study come out? Don't you think anytime you get a negative report like that, a company or in this case the gov't, is going to fire the person in charge of that division? It's all about results. Isn't that what they say to coaches kingfish? Bracey Coleman... All I say is this... Today Larry, on the radio, was talking to a caller about crime and drugs and said, "Have you ever seen a reformed drug dealer!" To which she added, "Or a reformed wife beater." They glowed in their profound zen-ness about these folks. I'll let y'all think about this statement.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T13:22:01-06:00

ID

126940

Comment

so if you are Black and vote with the White power structure you are a stooge or are being played by them. interesting. Last I checked, Jimmy Wilson had problems as chief in Canton. If he was so good, how come no other major cities hired him as police chief and he had to settle for Canton? Perhaps using "racists" in describing white critics of Harvey was a little strong, however you have certainly given that inference when you write about a white power structure opposing Harvey and stating that their stooges (read that to mean House Negroes) help them in bringing him down and propping up Melton.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T13:32:59-06:00

ID

126941

Comment

You're still reading words that aren't there, 'Fish. I'll let you figure out which ones. You wear me out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T13:37:51-06:00

ID

126942

Comment

The Linder-Maple Study came out over a period of time and actually was never completely finished as the funding was withdrawn. Bracey was probably Chief for part of it and French was acting Chief for part. Parts of it were still just being implemented when the Administration changed.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-30T13:39:32-06:00

ID

126943

Comment

BTW: I mean to say "...into the knee-jerk reactions of 'some of' the whites who voted..." Obviously, many people voted him in based on his platform, or lack there of, because both candidates were black. However, the freak out over Johnson being about race is evident in the words and actions of many white voters in town. Kingfish, has given several examples of why some whites claimed Harvey was racist. It's not false to say race played into the vote.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T13:40:43-06:00

ID

126944

Comment

Piker: Explain how when Charlotte Reeves ran for mayor, even the white turnout for her was very low. Chris: You are correct. Another legacy of the Harvey bunch. They discussed Linder Maples for so long that when implementation finally began, it was at the end of his term and Melton junked it. Piker, I'll give you another non racist reason. During Harvey's watch the City Council became a circus until several of them went to jail. A very respected councilman was replaced by a kid who had no business being on the council and then you had the Armstrong/Stokes weekly circus. Harvey was very weak and did almost nothing to try to rein them in or improve the meetings. Like it or not, Harvey's weakness was associated by many people with the Armstrong/Stokes crew. Donna, if you can't see how that can be inferred from what you wrote then I'm sorry. However, it is a reasonable inference.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T13:59:55-06:00

ID

126945

Comment

Well, I don't know about Charlotte; but I wouldn't have voted for her either. About the Council because Harvey was addressed about this in regards to Stokes acting a fool during the election. The council members were elected by the people in their Wards respectively. He wasn't going to get into messes created by the personalities of the Council. It was his job to stay above the fray and represent that despite the council's antics Jackson's leadership was stable. I'm not doing the argument justice; but, the division of Executive and Legislative branch come into play too as how they are represented and the fact that all the people vote for the mayor while only individual Wards vote for the Council. Otherwise, Stokes was voted knowing he'd act like a fool about things. Margaret is voted in year after year because she has continued to be the representative that Belhaven and Fondern wants. Etc... A little help! The other thing I am surprised you are falling for, is that somehow Harvey had some kind of control over the council and what they do. Did Harvey take money from Cable Vision? Did Harvey make any of them do the stupid stuff they do? Funny, Meltonites would say that Melton is allowing the council to become a circus because they are aligning against him now. I think Melton thought he could control the council much like the public thinks a mayor should somehow control the actions of elected men and women - individuals in each their own ways. I'm surprised that people think that somehow the mayor should usurp the rights of the individuals in the Wards for the good of "their" particular vision. Doesn't seem very American to think a mayor or governor or president be given those kinds of power over the will of the people.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T14:53:13-06:00

ID

126946

Comment

"Inferred"? I see. If I wrote it, I would not question it, you yuck. You so are not qualified to put words in my mouth. Please refrain from it in the future. It's making an a$$ out of you and you.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T15:26:59-06:00

ID

126947

Comment

Kingfish, what planet are you on? This whole notion of Johnson being a racist is past being foolish. Because he didn't he couldn't be bought by any group (black or white) does not make him a racist. He wanted things on a equal playing field for everyone in this city. All of his appointed boards had representations from all groups in this city. As for him controlling the council circus. It was a circus before Johnson, during his administration and it still is! He was Mayor, it was not his job to control those clowns. It's not any mayor's responsibility. The way FM contols Bluntson, Stokes and Tillman is probably through having them on his "payroll." As for the Linder Maple study, it was not a matter of debating and prolonging the study. It was a matter of funding. Studies have to be paid for and city had to raise the money. I'm with Ladd, you wear us all out.

Author

maad

Date

2007-03-30T15:39:36-06:00

ID

126948

Comment

THere was nothing Harvey could've done? He could have met with them privately and cajolled them into conducting the meetings in a more appropriate manner. He could've threatened to remove the cameras, which would've deprived those fools of their audience and kept them from degrading the image of Jackson as much. He could've had the police on hand and told them that if any of them engaged in any confrontations on city property right after city council meetings, he would have the council member removed by the police IMMEDIATELY. As for Malcolm WHite and the resort classification, that was nothing but a slap in the face of Mr White and yes, I thought it smacked of racism to award such a designation to his competitors who just happened to be Harveys pals and were Black. Thank you for your friendship balls Malcolm, thank you for leading the fight to change the state flag, now get the hell out of here and take your business with you. No, thats not racist at all. And how many years did they discuss or try to "find funding" for Linder Maples before they implemented it? 3 years? 4 years? 6 years? so you mean to tell me it was going to take Harvey all of 8 years to study crime and change the police department or better yet, since he didn't finish the job, take ten years or so? I'm glad the criminals have decided to wait on Harvey and the city council.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T16:32:11-06:00

ID

126949

Comment

'Fish, you are really spewing crap out of your mouth right now, and you need to frackin' stop it. Everybody's a damn racist but you. Just who are all of Johnson's black "pals" whom he was passing Malcolm over for? And it's really crazy that, after Johnson played the Klan on H&M's butt, that they supported his re-election. And why does Johnson owe Malcolm something because he supported changing the state flag??? Because Johnson is BLACK? Listen to yourself, 'Fish. Y'all have really pulled out the stops today. I'm going to have to go sandblast the site to get y'all's stank off this time. It's putrid. Your last graf is truly absurd. You have no idea what was going on on the crime front, do you? You should go write editorials for the Ledge. (Or were you?)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T17:02:29-06:00

ID

126950

Comment

so are you calling me a racist? Who have I called a racist besides what Harvey did? I don't think because I disagree with what someone does and they are of another race they are racist. I still think it was a slap at Mr White to help his competition like that. It is no different than talking about a white power structure trying to take apart the Johnson administration. I can state my reasons for why I think Johnson took such action. Good point about Mr White supporting Mr Johnson. I assume its because they have similar politics. I damn sure wouldn't support someone who was actively helping my competition.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T17:29:35-06:00

ID

126951

Comment

Well, Guess I have a couple of things to say since Kingfish insists on hashing and rehashing the past. The first portions of Linder-Maple were instituted immediately. The computers for the cars came as funding came. Many other portions of this complicated plan were being instituted up until the last month of the Johnson Administration. Comstat methods were used at staffing for several years of the Johnson Administration. The overall spirit of the plan were wholeheartedly embraced from the beginning by the Administration and the brass at the PD, unlike now. I just don't understand what you could possibly be getting at by harping on this. You must not understand the totality of this plan and the complicated implementation thereof. Now about Charlotte Reeves. She certainly wanted to be Mayor but was underqualified in many areas required of a Mayor. (Or at least what I then believed were required.) The Republicans backed Darryl Neely over her the last time she ran. You are correct, many whites did not vote for her -- that must have been when they were still thinking unlike the most recent election. I truly view you as someone who is trying to dialogue but has too much rigidity of thought to think on a broad spectrum. Try to consider current events and solutions instead of this constant rehashing of times past. It is possible to forge new trails and still maintain your cherished viewpoints of the past without ever mentioning them. Nothing in the past can be changed. Everything in our future can be effected positively by good people working together. Think on these things, that is your assignment for the weekend!

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-30T17:46:47-06:00

ID

126952

Comment

PS: Performa, the Real Estate Development Group for Farish Street, is headed by a white man.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-30T17:50:02-06:00

ID

126953

Comment

No, I'm not calling you a racist. Good Lord, you boyz are so paranoid about being called a "racist" that you can't even have a real conversation with you about these issues. We need to come up with a new word for y'all—that means unreasonable, over-the-top paranoia of being called a racist anytime someone tries to have a conversation about race in your general vincinity. Ideas? And I know better than to even try to return to the point that you're confusing "bigot" and "racist." That one is going to fly right through the roof if I go there. Folks, we can do better than this. This is just a bunch of foolishness. Let me set it up for you: White supremacy has been, and continues to be, a serious issue in this country. Not every white person is an intentional white supremacist, although many of us support (or don't speak up against) policies and actions that contribute to racISM. Talking about that is not racism, and it does mean that every one of you goobs have to take it personally every time it comes up. And when you do, you are giving a bad impression about your own intentions, whether or not you mean to. So it would behoove you to try to calm your paranoia the hell down and be willing to admit that not all white folks have gotten past it, yet, and that racISM is causing us all a lot of problems. That includes giving certain people a way to get cheap votes if they play to certain people's bigoted tendencies. See "thug" hysteria entry. Lord. I am so signing off. I feel like I've climbed Mt. Everest today pulling a rope with a bunch of kicking, screaming and whining boyz on the other end, crying "I am not a racist. You are a racism. Are not. Are, too." Ciao.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T17:55:06-06:00

ID

126954

Comment

You must not understand the totality of this plan and the complicated implementation thereof. Now, there's the understatement of the day. 'Fish doesn't have to understand a damn thing in order to make an a$$ out of himself over it. And if has anything to do with race, make that a triple-a$$. I truly view you as someone who is trying to dialogue but has too much rigidity of thought to think on a broad spectrum. Try to consider current events and solutions instead of this constant rehashing of times past. Nicely said, Chris. You have far more patience for this tedium than I do. Homework, indeed. Simple thinking would suffice. Good point about Performa. Remember all the screaming Tisdale has done about Harvey "Brown Society" Johnson giving Farish to the white folks. 'Fish, you and Mr. Charles cancel each other out. Neither of you could possibly be amiss on the "race question," but everyone of a different race (or friends with the other race) sure is.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T17:58:49-06:00

ID

126955

Comment

Chris: agreed about Linder Maples. I was referring more to the hiring of police officers and the organizational plans. NOW I will say this Chris. You raise some good points. I make a point to stay informed (quit laughing, or rolling your eyes; you know who you are). I've read the Sun and CL for years, listened to the local talk shows. YET some of the stuff I read like in your post Chris I am reading about it for the first time. Keep in mind we didn't have a JFP back then that would post this stuff on a daily basis and give us the raw data, pdf files. We had a CL that would tell us what they THOUGHT such things were, not actually read it for itself. For example, did the CL ever have the Linder Maples Study avaiable on its site? Not that I am aware of. I'm not infallible and I won't mind any factual corrections to what I posted at all. If I'm wrong, I'm not afraid to admit it and apologize. My point about Charlotte was that the NJamer's were not avidly opposed to Harvey. You didn't see a huge increase in voter turnout when Harvey ran for re election the first time which you would expect if the whites really were racists and wanted to see him gone. WHere Harvey would be better suited would be at something like transportation commissioner in my opinion. He has skills for planning, working on infrastructure etc. That might be something he should look at doing one day.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T18:00:00-06:00

ID

126956

Comment

YET some of the stuff I read like in your post Chris I am reading about it for the first time. Keep in mind we didn't have a JFP back then that would post this stuff on a daily basis and give us the raw data, pdf files. We had a CL that would tell us what they THOUGHT such things were, not actually read it for itself. There you go. Buttering up. ;-) Seriously, I know you make a good point there. However, 'Fish, here's the problem: When someone is willing to admit he doesn't have all the information (that would be you) then turns around and makes the kind of proclamations you do—that doesn't make a lick of sense. This is your problem. It's one thing to say that you need more information, and to query people on the sources of theirs (I do that all the time, and learn from it when they actually provide backup). If you would come across less cocky about your unfactual statements, people wouldn't nail you so hard for them. I'm sympathetic with the fact that the media has played a huge role in public ignorance on so many issues (and given cover to men like Melton to spread their propaganda). But you have been on here screaming about Johnson being a RACIST when you can't back it up at all. You got nothin'. The machine has created a whole lot of misinformation, 'Fish. The JFP spends way too much of our time just trying to clear the record on bullsh!t that is so harmful to the city. The funny thing is that I have no particular allegiance to Johnson, Moore, Peterson, McMillin, Allen, Crisler, or anyone else. But I CANNOT stand to see smear campaigns based on misinformation put out there by machine politicians. That's pure injustice, and I will fight it tooth and nail. The problem with the little n-jam boyz is that they are such dumbasses that they buy anything that some of these people say to them without questioning *why*; they are played very easily and don't even know it. I mean: They are so easy that all you have to do is dangle the letters J-F-P in front of them and watch them start to start to turn purple and start spewing about how what we said was wrong. Meantime, they don't see what's going on right outside their peripheral vision. I'd feel sorry for them if they weren't such morons. Hell, I feel sorry for them anyway. Now, there are some folks being played just as easily in other parts of town, mind you. Make no mistake. That's even more tragic. I don't care about political party or affiliation or the race of a rascal. If I find corruption or lies or crimes coming from any public servant, I will expose it to the best of my ability. *That* is why a few folks hate me, and it is just fine by me. With due respect to some of you, incompetence is a big problem in the city right now, but it's not our biggest problem. Right now, the *most* important qualities we need in our leaders is the willingness to stand up to unsavory politicians and their friends. The deck is stacked a bit against us on that—so it makes no sense to demonize folks like Hood, Peterson, Johnson and McMillin for trying to do what is right and legal. (Not just talking to you now.) Finally, 'Fish, your mistake about Johnson is that you're buying Melton's hype about what a "leader" is supposed to be, especially when it comes to mayor. Your misguidance is not Johnson's problem; that's yours, and theirs. We're paying the price mightily for that level of naivete, though. 'Fish, I've had a top-dog N-Jammer (one I can stand to be around; the only one) tell me in very honest terms that the reason that many powerful white men did not like Mayor Johnson is that he refused to bow down to them. Many powerful black men do not like him for the same reason. Frankly, it's a big reason that I'm rather fond of the guy. I want a "leader" who is strong enough to keep an impatient businessman waiting from time to time. We have to send the message to these guys that the old machine is not running things any longer. (Or at least it wasn't.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T18:35:56-06:00

ID

126957

Comment

I damn sure wouldn't support someone who was actively helping my competition. It could be that Malcolm is smart enough to know that having a "Beale Street" in downtown Jackson could actually help his business because a whole lot more people would come downtown. He's smart like that. It's very interesting to watch how you shaped the whole resort-status issue into a black-white issue in order to, er, prove that Mayor Johnson was so racist. Sigh. 'Fish, back away from the monitor and think before you post. My advice on the race issue is to just forget you're white, and then look at issues through that prism. That's what I do. That way, I don't get unreasonably defensive when people talk about "white fools" (not you, but it's a good example), and I have no particular belief that they mean it personally. In fact, I know they don't if I'm not displaying the behavior they're talking about. Not to be cocky, but I'm smart like that. Then, once you've practiced that, try looking at things through the eyes of a black person (the best you can) just to see what they look like. I do that often, too. Truth is, it doesn't mean that I automatically agree, but at least I can get a better sense of where someone is coming from. And so on. In other words, run your thoughts and beliefs through a variety of prisms often. It's very freeing. That's how I got to the point where I can fairly easily discuss race issues, and in a complex way. I can argue with black folks about being too segregationist, just as I will with fellow whites. I can criticize a black man without white guilt because my approach has taught me that holding non-whites to a lower standard is condescending and, well, racist (or, racIST, as it promotes a bigoted culture toward them, ultimately). Does this mean I'm always right? That I never offend people? Hell, no. I screw up, and I'm willing to. But it does mean that I don't always kneejerk the defensive and predictable "white" stance. A big problem we face today, IMHO, is that people hide their bigotry in the seemingly high goal of "never needing to talk about race." Er, yes, you do—until you don't. You just can't mix up making predictable bigoted statements with talking about race in a complex way. Fortunately (until today anyway), this site has been a really safe place to talk about race in complex ways. Most of the people who post here regularly (like Ray, Pike and even Iron, for instance) aren't just hawking the line of their race, even as they are willing to challenge other races. That's good. Very good.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T18:50:20-06:00

ID

126958

Comment

Pike: Ladd thinks we will weather this and come out stronger eventually. I am no longer so sure. Ladd: Well, I believe we will if we decide we will. I've lived in other cities during very difficult times and seen them get stronger after the adversity. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Galatians 6:9

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-30T19:56:54-06:00

ID

126959

Comment

Nice, L.W. Thank you. If we faint not, indeed. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T22:54:38-06:00

ID

126960

Comment

I think both Jimmy Heidel and Leland Speed are the premier economic development people in the State--but why do we need both of them? Neither one is interested in or able to direct the day to day operations of the PLANNING DEPARTMENT! In addition, another consultant has been hired to "help" Jimmy Heidel with economic development. How many economic development people does it take to run one division -- only one small part of the PLANNING DEPARTMENT. Planning includes building codes, development review, zoning,-- all a bunch of technical stuff that big shots like Heidel and Speed are not going to want to get involved in. I think it is wonderful that these quality people are willing to "help" Jackson--but it seems more like a committee trying to run one Department than a real Director who deals less with trying to get development and more with reviewing the development projects.

Author

realtime

Date

2007-03-30T23:37:58-06:00

ID

126961

Comment

Pike: Ladd thinks we will weather this and come out stronger eventually. I am no longer so sure. L.W Actually that Chris dude posted this... good quote though

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T23:39:29-06:00

ID

126962

Comment

Good points realtime. Though, it is really hard to go negative on these guys as I wouldn't ever wish what they are having to do upon anyone. Politics aside, Jackson does have some cool projects coming. Hopefully, this committee will decide to find a Director for the Department and present them to Melton. They are definitely smarter than Melton and have more invested in Jackson. My only complaint is that they don't say to Melton that he's given it a fair go at it; but, it is time to retire my friend. If he is a friend, I understand the support. But, I think they know a Melton-less city would be a better city at heart. I think I even heard Mounger on Kim Wade, when he spoke about his book, express misgivings about supporting Melton?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-31T00:14:32-06:00

ID

126963

Comment

all right, some disclosures from me are in order. Donna does make one point is that things should not be swept under the rug and should be confronted. In that original post about Harvey yesterday, I took the main arguments I've heard against Harvey Johnson over the years. Years of listening to JT and Dave, Gallo, Kim Wade, reading the N Sun, CL, and just plain coffee table talk. Those hosts named didn't necessarily make those points but alot of their callers did. I threw that out there the way I did to get a discussion going about Harvey and to see how some of what has been said about Harvey for years would hold up under scrutiny. I got pretty harsh with it, but what has been said is pretty harsh and I wanted to get it out there and have it dealt with and knew it would motivate some spirited discussion. I like the responses I read and some good points were made. Particularly by Chris. I learned some things I didn't know before, which is always a good thing. My actual criticisms of Johnson were the turmoil in the police department and the image he presented, which was not an aggressive one where crime was concerned. I think he probably learned something about that after his defeat and would do it a little bit differently if he had a chance to do it again. I think he could've made some stronger moves in reining in the city council as I suggested but those aren't strong enough reasons to condemn an entire administration either. As for Malcolm WHite, my personal take on it has been he deserved more than anyone else to be included in that resort area classification. As for the race thing, that is just what was said by more than a few people. I threw it out there and guess what, that myth is now dispelled because the CL at the time never reported the race of the people benefitting from the change in the law. So people around town assumed it was Harvey helping his pals. Now we know differently. By the way, Melton has to pay up. I wonder if he'll be so free wheeling with his money now.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-31T11:30:15-06:00

ID

126964

Comment

just saw your comments about leaders. My thoughts on what defines a leader comes from years in the corporate world and in the military. After awhile, you tend to see the same traits whether it is Jack Welch, Schwarzkopf, or Reagan. They don't blame other people or things for the problems they face. They deal with them. They don't engage in name calling. They also try to educate people and talk to them like they are intelligent, not just throw out the trust me, I know more than you do routine. They don't mind rewarding innovation and encourage risk taking. They aren't afraid of differing opinions and realize that hearing other points of view is a good policy to follow. They also are smart enough to set long term goals and not overload themselves with too many goals at one time. They also tend to hire capable subordinates and trust them to do their jobs. I would say any of that applies to Melton.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-31T11:36:27-06:00

ID

126965

Comment

[quote] I would say any of that applies to Melton.[/quote] I think you meant to say "None of that applies to Frankie-Boy".

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-31T11:44:14-06:00

ID

126966

Comment

oops. should be "would not say".

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-31T11:44:42-06:00

ID

126967

Comment

Thought so. I didn't want to think the pod-people had gotten to you so quickly. :)

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-31T12:56:11-06:00

ID

126968

Comment

WELL LOOKS LIKE ITS PREETY DEEP ONLINE TODAY,THE CONFIRMATIONS ALL NEED TO BE TOSSED. MR CHANDLER HAS NOT PROVEN HIMSELF A LEADER,HE HAS CHOSEN TO KEEP A VERY LOW PROFILE DURING ALL THIS MESS AND HAS NOT TAKEN THE FIRE DEPT HIGHER BUT HAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT DOWN WITH HIS CRAZY POLICYS REGARDING FIREFIGHTING. I DON'T HAVE MUCH FAITH IN THE COUNCIL TO HANDLE MUCH ANYMORE THEY SEEM AS SHOCKED AND PUT AS AS THE CITIZENS OF JACKSON WHO VOTED FOR DA MAYOR.I AM HOPING THE PRESSURE THEY ARE PUTTING ON CHIEF ANDERSON WILL SOMEHOW FORCE HER TO SAY SOMETHING THAT IS ORIGINAL AND LEADS TO SEEING ACTIVITY ON THE STREETS BY OFFICERS. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMER THE NET TEAM THAT REALLY WORKED THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHEN JPD MEANT SOMEONE WAS REALLY GONNA SOLVE AN ISSUE.NOW YOU CANT EVEN GET 911 TO TAKE THE INITIAL CALL. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO SIMPLY SAY HEY WE WANT YOU CITIZENS TO TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR TOWN -HOW ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL INSTEAD OF PAYING FRANKS BOYS TO MOW WHO KNOWS WHO LAWNS HOW ABOUT GIVING GRASS SEEDS FLOWER SEEDS DIRT TO HOMEOWNERS WHO WANTED TO KEEP UP THEIR PROPERTY HOW ABOUT THE OFFICERS JUST STOPPING SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF RIDING BY THE NEIGHBORHOODS.JPD HAS GOT TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IF IT WILL SOLVE ANYTHING.JPD HAS HAD MONEY BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO GET TO THE AREAS IT NEEDS TO. THE COMPUTERS IN THE VEHICLES DONT WORK THE GPS DONT WORK 911 SUPPOSEDLY GOT MILLIONS IN GRANT MONEY BUT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PHONE TO ANSWER.I 'M FOR ANY MAYOR WHITE BLACK BROWN GREEN OR PURPLE WHO CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN TO MAKE JACKSON AT LEAST VIABLE. AGAIN I REMEMBER WHEN DALE DANKS WAS MAYOR,HE HAD A HEAVY AFRICIAN AMERICAN BASE SO IT'S NOT THE COLOR OF THE LEADER ITS CAN THE LEADER INSPIRE THE CITIZENS THAT THE CHOICES HE IS MAKING IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITIZENS,AND THEN SHOW THEM THE RESULTS.

Author

GRNY1

Date

2007-03-31T14:06:49-06:00

ID

126969

Comment

GRNY, let me advise you before Ladd does...TURN THE "ALL CAPS" FUNCTION OFF before you post again. It's the internet equivalent of shouting and is very irritating to read, so if you want your points taken seriously PLEASE turn the caps off.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-03-31T16:10:55-06:00

ID

126970

Comment

Actually that Chris dude posted this... good quote though Oops, my bad. GRNY1, you made some good points, even though I had to squint to read them. :-) I was pretty young when Dale Danks was governor, so I don't know how much he did back then, but I do remember him having a lot of support in the black community. As for Danks' recent actions, I don't get it at all. For him to be a former Jackson mayor, it looks like he did a complete 180. I wonder why.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-31T19:48:54-06:00

ID

126971

Comment

he is a lawyer. He has a client. He is on retainer. He is paid to look out for the interests of his client.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-31T19:52:10-06:00

ID

126972

Comment

he is a lawyer. He has a client. He is on retainer. He is paid to look out for the interests of his client. So, in other words, CHA-CHING! :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-31T19:57:47-06:00

ID

126973

Comment

that is his duty as a lawyer.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-31T20:03:48-06:00

ID

126974

Comment

I know what you meant. I was being facetious. After all, repo men and collections reps have a duty too, right? Oops, I did it again! :-P Seriously, I know he still has to make a living, even if I don't agree with whose side he is on all the time.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-31T20:12:41-06:00

ID

126975

Comment

sorry this e mail stuff is new to me sorry for shouting i will remember

Author

GRNY1

Date

2007-03-31T20:36:40-06:00

ID

126976

Comment

That's okay, GRNY1. I've had my share of goofups too.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-31T20:40:24-06:00

ID

126977

Comment

okay caps off, dale danks was very respected around town and jackson was able to make some ground in some black areas you still hear older people refer to being a dale danks man or a dale danks employee,most remember his crime fighting stance also.as for malcolm white i am always impressed with what he is able to accomplish with so little. i commend him.it is evident what can be done if you just do it. this from a little old lady who has never attended a parade or hal and mals for nothing.i just admire that he gets things done.i'm not pro black or pro white or pro hispanic i just like to see folks do the simple things for the right reasons you do bad you go to jail no excuses you trash your block you clean it up you vote for kenny stokes you end up with what you got a councilman who gives people excuses for not really joining in the party in the decision making just a lot of loud talking to make folks think hes helping them..but we can see now where his loyalty really is i just hope all those crazy folks who continue to blindly vote for him see he will bail on you in a minute. kenny will allow frank to beat your children stamp on your rights tear up your house because he and frank are the same ethnic background at some point we all need to see past the color and see if its right or if its wrong

Author

GRNY1

Date

2007-03-31T20:49:02-06:00

ID

126978

Comment

GRNY1 what do you know about the fire dept? "MR CHANDLER HAS NOT PROVEN HIMSELF A LEADER,HE HAS CHOSEN TO KEEP A VERY LOW PROFILE DURING ALL THIS MESS AND HAS NOT TAKEN THE FIRE DEPT HIGHER BUT HAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT DOWN WITH HIS CRAZY POLICYS REGARDING FIREFIGHTING." Sorry bout the caps but thats how it copied. What policies are you talking about. Chandler is a hard core firefighter and has a proven track record to back it. As far as carrying the department foward It would'nt matter who the Chief is because the budget has been cut to bare bones and there is no room to do anything. Chandler has been pushing hard to get a class started but when it takes personnel 7 months to grade a test and then up till now to get god knows where in the hiring process that is no fault of Chandler. I think there are problems in the whole adminstration that need to be looked at. No matter who is picked as Fire Chief ( hopefully an outsider) with out a better budget then theres not much that can be done.

Author

ready

Date

2007-04-01T15:34:57-06:00

ID

126979

Comment

ready, mr chandler keeping a low profile or no profile-doesnt give us much make further judgements on him. i know pulling equipment from outside the area is a bad firefighting decision i know working 1 man short is a bad firefighting decison i know he has shown the same leadership skills as shirlene. none. i know jfd was moving forward-yes it had some internal issues but they would be solved it pushed its employees to excell and to further their training none of which mr todd seems able to do. i know it was a much more cohesive more of a team now its morale is becoming as low as jpd officiers.

Author

GRNY1

Date

2007-04-01T17:24:49-06:00

ID

126980

Comment

GRNY1, What do u mean pulling equipment? The only equipment that was shut down was the mobile command unit which has nothing at all to do with fire fighting they were mere secretary's to the command staff. If needed that unit can be taken to the scene. Riding short is not something that anyone agrees with but it has been going on for years. Chandler did order that a extra unit be dispatched to fires to cover for this shortage. Or better yet with the budget crunch we could do as other cities do and shut entire units or stations down to stop over time. Maybe you would be the unit in your neighborhood will be the one down. Chandler has worked hard doing things to make it through the Insurance Rating which should have taken place in 2002. I am confident that we will maintain the best rating in the state because of his and the rest of the staff's efforts. It's easy to be on the outside looking in. As far as training that is a sore issue due to problems that have existed in that area for the past 6 years. Each crew has a captain who is responsible for training his/her crew. Each captain has a DC who is to ensure they are doing so. Lets put the blame where it belongs. A couple of the DC's that are complaining like you are are ones that didnt get the job but yet they arent even doing their job as a DC. I can educate you on alot of issues but dont want to take up the space on here doing so.

Author

ready

Date

2007-04-01T18:15:39-06:00

ID

126981

Comment

GRNY1, Better yet since you are so concerned why dont you call the fire chief yourself and see whats been going on. 601-960-1392 i think thats it.

Author

ready

Date

2007-04-01T18:17:48-06:00

ID

126982

Comment

Sweet Moses, things always get volatile when we have a discussion about the fire department. I think one of the main criticisms of Chandler is that he is a polarizing figure inside the department. Perhaps JFD is so polarized that any chief would inspire intense bickering, but not any chief is going to have a long history of being a partisan infighter. (By the way, Adam has done great reporting on this thorny issue, and Goliath's coverage has been a total joke.) I am not qualified to rate Chandler as a firefighter, but as an administrator, I have some serious concerns. For one, he should have demanded that he come up for confirmation. If Melton refused, he should have resigned. That is the unambiguous law, and it should have been a point of honor for Chandler. Second, there were the five firefighters who were fired (and then un-fired) for speaking out about safety concerns in the department. Those terminations were probably illegal. They were certainly heavy-handed and hostile to democratic dialogue. Third, I question the judgment of anyone who hires Tony Davis as assistant fire chief. Those issues aside, I do not have strong feelings about Chandler compared to some other people. Why are six council members apparently opposed to his nomination?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-04-02T09:12:45-06:00