Jackson Free Press

This probably isn't the best time for "I told ya so's." But … I told ya so.

A few columns back, I predicted that the mayor would emerge from the Ridgeway trial unscathed. I was doubtful then, just as I was the week of the trial, that 12 jurors from this city would convict him of anything. Just as I suspected, the mayor's detractors severely underestimated his grass-roots support. Sure, there are those who voted for him who have since changed their minds, but the numbers of those who support the mayor are probably right up there (if not more than) the numbers of those who don't.

Go into any church, barbershop or fast food restaurant, and you will find folks who are fed up with drugs ravaging our city. They're so fed up, in fact, that they are willing to back anyone who appears to tackle the problem. Have things gotten so bad in our hoods that citizens are cool with "by any means necessary" tactics? It seems so, and that's the real issue.

Look, folks. In a perfect world where laws are followed to the letter, sure, the mayor infringed on someone's rights. He broke the law, and the evidence shows that. Theoretically. But this isn't an ideal world. It's the real world, and in this real world, the mayor has become a celebrity, of sorts, whose actions are almost fictional.

It's like something out of a movie. A hard-nosed politician takes his big stick and destroys a crack house. You simply can't beat that drama in the court of public opinion. The fact of the matter is that folks no longer feel protected by those who are "supposed" to protect and serve. The law hadn't saved those folks on Ridgeway Street … or many other streets. That makes it easy to see why these same people have no confidence in or respect for the law. That's another issue.

When I returned to town last Thursday from weeks on the road, I saw many dejected citizens who were surprised by the verdict. It was neither a surprise, nor was it a sad day for me. It shouldn't have been for Jackson, either. Jacksonians shouldn't have lost a moment's sleep because of the verdict. What bothers me is that it took a debacle of this magnitude to motivate folks into finally doing what they should have been doing all along: working to help the city of Jackson be a better place.

The mayor is going to be here. Get over it. His popularity has helped him escape, so far. And barring any new screw-ups, he's going to be here for two more years, possibly more.

What we should do now is plot our city's course—regardless of who the mayor is. We need to wake up. Our eyes should have been opened eight to 10 years ago when our inner city started to decay from drugs and hopelessness. That's when someone dropped the ball, and the city's poor and the young fell through the cracks.

City Hall is not the problem. We voted those folks in to represent us. We have been the problem, and we should have never waited for the excuse of this mayor's trial to do something. And that's the truth … sho-nuff!

Previous Comments

ID

74836

Comment

"Go into any church, barbershop or fast food restaurant, and you will find folks who are fed up with drugs ravaging our city. They’re so fed up, in fact, that they are willing to back anyone who appears to tackle the problem. Have things gotten so bad in our hoods that citizens are cool with “by any means necessary” tactics? It seems so, and that’s the real issue." Appears seems to be the keyword in this piece. As reported in the same issue, crime soared in 2006. Truth is, he's not doing anything his supporters think he's doing. I can easily envision Melton standing outside the Mobile Command Center with a huge banner.... It will read "Mission Accomplished" and all his sheeple will clap and think Jackson is glorious and without fault. Of course, within the same hour, a shooting will happen a block away while panhandlers and drug dealers make a quick buck since all the police and Melton's step-wife will be in attendance. "What we should do now is plot our city’s course—regardless of who the mayor is. " Isn't this why we elect a mayor and a Council in the first place?

Author

kaust

Date

2007-05-03T07:48:44-06:00

ID

74837

Comment

When people feel that laws and government don't work, enter the tyrant.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-03T08:23:16-06:00

ID

74838

Comment

Interesting!?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-05-04T09:42:38-06:00

ID

74839

Comment

Not an ideal world: not even the real world. It's Jackson.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-05-04T10:58:42-06:00

ID

74840

Comment

Im going to paste my post from another thread: Has anyone ever thought what would happen if the "drug trade" in Jackson was actually shut down or even slightly curtailed by law enforcement? According to figures recently confirmed by the Feds, marijuana is the number 1 cash crop in both Mississippi and the USA as a whole, far surpassing grain, cotton, and corn. I would expect that the largest employer in the city of Jackson outside of government employment is the "drug trade." Money earned from drugs (all tax free) supports a great deal of the economy in the metro area. Look at the growth businesses in the city: pawn shops, check-cashing places, auto accessories, etc. These businesses are largely supplemented by drug money or people seeking money to buy drugs. Without the "drug-trade" there would be much less need for the law enforcement apparatus that provides the incomes for hundreds of officers, attorneys, social workers, medical professionals, rehab facilities, etc. Without illegal drugs the Jackson economy would collapse. Besides the fact that the drug trade, especially in powder cocaine, serves as a type of income redistribution from Madison and Rankin counties back into the inner city. No one is going to do anything that will seriously affect the drug trade because so many jobs and power structures depend upon its continuence.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2007-05-04T11:41:37-06:00

ID

74841

Comment

Wille, there is a new illegal drug on the market that surpasses pot or crack: cheese. It's $2 a hit (0.1 g) and very popular among tweenagers. It's crushed nighttime medicine like Tylenol PM laced with 2-8% black tar heroin, and it is ingested by snorting it. Cheese is a huge problem in Dallas, and the problem is spreading quickly. I would be surprised if the stuff isn't already in Jackson because it's gotten so popular.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-04T12:00:52-06:00

ID

74842

Comment

I would love to see a world with little or no illegal drugs. I would gladly give up my job or profession, if need be, to witness such a world. I would take away alcohol too but that would create real mass fallouts, protests and gunfire in the streets. And we would be shocked at the people who would no longer have a steady hand, recognizably or sober walk or gait, and pretended sanity or tranquility. Before very long, people would start falling dead in the streets from lack of alcohol-related sustenance to live by. There would be mass internal killings at our nation's Capital Buildings that would trickle down to state houses and offices like a mighty flowing river. I would soon lose or not recognize most of my friends. There wouldn't be any more accidental births, orgies, or sexcapdes; divorces would sky-rocket, and people of all sexes would finally ask "who are you and why am I with you." There would be even more car wrecks, plane crashes, and collisons of various natures. Finally, large percentages of Americans would defect back to Europe and the many other places they also call home. And I, a rare non-alcohol consuming citizen, would finally have to admit this county is far more dependent on white lightening than oil and gas.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-05-04T12:12:25-06:00

ID

74843

Comment

Indeed, people are very innovative when it comes to intoxicants. Now, this is an interesting fact. Not long ago I had two errands: I needed some sinus medicine and I wanted to purchase a shotgun. Guess which took longer to buy? For Sudafed I had to give a large amount of info, and wait while it all went into the computer. Same with the gun. Including the instant FBI background check I had the gun in 10 minutes and about 12 minutes for the sudafed. Obviously, the chance that I might make a batch of meth out of my 30 tablets of sudafed is much worse than the chance I might arm up and kill everyone in my path. The kicker: I can only buy sudafed once a day and a limit of 9 grams for the month. Guns? As many as I want. Alcohol? No problem- and its all sold by the state! Tobacco? Great tax revenues. This is the type of hypocritical stupidity that makes a mockery of the whole system.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2007-05-04T12:16:38-06:00

ID

74844

Comment

Ray- they got rid of alcohol once and it didn't work too well. But the short time it was banned sure created a lot of jobs for G-men and a lot of tax-free money for bootleggers. All the violence in the big cities related to prohabition was a major reason for its repeal. A parallel? Perhaps.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2007-05-04T12:20:19-06:00

ID

74845

Comment

Ray, have you heard about this? Daughters make tape of drunk Hasselhoff I really hope he's able to beat this.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-04T12:21:34-06:00

ID

74846

Comment

Kamikaze we certainly don’t need “I told you so’s”, but rather Jackson is in need of more people, people unlike yourself given your having now authored two such columns, who are willing to outwardly criticize Melton and anyone else who’s of a detriment to this city. Your column amounts to nothing more than a call for those of us that are willing to criticize Melton and stand for his being held accountable to seize and desists in doing so, and rather join you in your seeming resolve that we cant beat them (i.e. Melton & his loyalists) so we might as well get to joining them….to that I say when hell freezes over or Melton conducts himself as a competent mayor should, whichever happens first!

Author

K RHODES

Date

2007-05-06T00:48:37-06:00

ID

74847

Comment

"I would love to see a world with little or no illegal drugs. I would gladly give up my job or profession, if need be, to witness such a world. " - Ray Fastest way to do that is support the legalization of drugs... ;-)

Author

kaust

Date

2007-05-06T06:58:48-06:00

ID

74848

Comment

[quote]Fastest way to do that is support the legalization of drugs... ;-)[/quote] Oh yeah, I'm sure a nation that can't handle alcohol being legal can suddenly handle the harsher effects of drug use on it's citizens. It's not the answer.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-05-06T12:07:23-06:00

ID

74849

Comment

Make marijuana legal. The tax revenue that could be generated from taxing weed smokers could pay for 10 Iraq invasions! Just kidding...maybe.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-05-06T12:14:18-06:00

ID

74850

Comment

K. Rhodes, your statement is as ridiculous as it is flat-out wrong! My column says no where for anyone to STOP criticizing the mayor. Do what you wish that's your right. But what my column IS calling for is for citizens to do now what they should have been doing DESPITE the mayor and that's helping Jxn move forward. You can continue to wish for the mayor to go away, or follow the laws, or act a certain way if you wish. Fact is, he was found not guilty, he's still that mayor and will be for 2 more years barring any mishaps. So I prefer to not waste my time trying to oust him from office but in trying to do my parrt for the city to keep it moving. Because whether you agree or not, the city won't die, business is still conducted everyday at city hall, and Jackson can grow and prosper REGARDLESS of who's the mayor. I choose to put my focus on proactive exploits. that's all. Not knocking you. ..And as far as the "if ya can't beat em, join em" statement. He pled to misdemeanor in the first trial. Got probation, no jail time...still in office. 2nd trial, found not guilty, no jail time, still in office. the feds arent going to bring charges and he has no new ones looming over his head. So what do you propose to do. This is not a contest where anyone can "beat" anyone else. He's still the mayor. so are ya gonna sulk? or... if you're like me and want to see JAckson succeed, are ya gonna join in and help?

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-06T12:19:44-06:00

ID

74851

Comment

No Jeff, I think you're Dead On!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-05-06T12:30:00-06:00

ID

74852

Comment

Great Column Kamikaze. I think it was right on. We as Jacksonians can and should work towards a prospering Jackson despite who the mayor is. The man is currently invincible so we should just work around him until such a time where he leaves. Jackson is failing because of its citizens ultimately. We elect our government officials, and we are supposed to hold them accountable. If we aren't smart enough to educate ourselves on the individuals that we vote for instead of voting for the party then we deserve what we get, and when they as politicians fail if we don't hold demonstrations or hold them accountable then we have nothing to say. The only way Jackson is going to get cleaned up is if each of us begin in our own neighborhoods. We have to do this from the ground up because so far it ain't working at the top.

Author

optimisticaboutNewJackCity

Date

2007-05-06T13:59:40-06:00

ID

74853

Comment

"Oh yeah, I'm sure a nation that can't handle alcohol being legal can suddenly handle the harsher effects of drug use on it's citizens. It's not the answer." - Ironghost We are handling the harsher effects of drug use... You seen the news lately? If it were legalized, the government would be able to mediate, as well as tax. As it is, the government does neither and only spends; its citizens pay through crime, policing crime, and treatment. I'm not sure of the stats, but I'm sure we'd all be shocked to see how much US citizens spend "policing" marijuana, imprisoning users, treating users, and the overall war on drugs. We haven't won "the war on drugs" because it's not a war.... It's a racket and the citizens are funding it. Legalizing marijuana alone would leave huge vacancies in our prison system and generate a new income for our government... Plus, there wouldn't be any bizarro voodoo hoodoo attached to hemp products which are incredibly healthy alternatives to cotton and even milk. Tax it and use the income to treat the users... Seems far more efficient and even profitable. I'm guessing there will still be left over taxes since most drug users - especially marijuana users -do not have serious problems that need treating. Otherwise, tax the citizens to arrest 18yo black men for having a sack or even brick of "the marijuana" (since that's the primary target in the "War on Drugs"). Of course, this thread was about Melton... So, I digress before he's outside my place tearing tearing it down for discussing the pro v con of legalized substances (many of which are completely natural and been used for centuries).

Author

kaust

Date

2007-05-06T14:48:08-06:00

ID

74854

Comment

actually, I do favor legalization because most behaviors that you worry about where drugs are concerned can be covered by existing laws. Do drugs in public? No one has suggested that. You can't drink in public in a lot of places so you keep the laws in place saying you can't do so either. Then there are public intoxication laws currently on the books that address that problem. "I don't want it around my kids". Good point. There is a thing called contributing to delniquency of minors. Enforce that law and make sure there are no exceptions even for parents. If your kid even has possession of it and it came from your private stash, too bad, you get charged with it. "I don't want some stoner driving behind the wheel." Covered by DUI laws. You could legalize something like marijuana, which has a relatively benign effect on people (v a stimulant) and is non addictive while addressing most of the concerns you have with its availability.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-06T17:06:37-06:00

ID

74855

Comment

I think it should be legalized regulated and taxed as if it were cigarettes on a sliding scale along with all other illegal drugs. The worser the side effects the higher the tax by dollar. New jobs, new tax revenue, less money spent to fight it. It makes perfect sense to me.

Author

optimisticaboutNewJackCity

Date

2007-05-06T18:14:34-06:00

ID

74856

Comment

It's very unlikely this would pass with the current mentality in Mississippi. No matter how many positive effects it would have.... I don't even see a negative in this but some people would see it as being soft on crime. It needs to be done though.

Author

optimisticaboutNewJackCity

Date

2007-05-06T18:15:50-06:00

ID

74857

Comment

"It's very unlikely this would pass with the current mentality in Mississippi." They used to say the same thing about civil rights in the 50's. Things finally get so bad that things have to change. The feds cant afford the "war on drugs" anymore, the "war on terror" is too expensive. So more gets dumped on the states and local government, who cant afford it either. It is just a matter of time. Wait a few years until medicare and social security are consuming 80% of the federal budget- lots of things are going to change.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2007-05-09T09:01:33-06:00