Jackson Free Press

Ben Allen and other Jackson mover-shakers are hosting a shindig today at 5:15 p.m. to expose what is going on downtown. In Allen's words, he hopes to see the "JFP Nation" there in droves. The JFP's Todd Stauffer will unveil plans for Boom Jackson, a new glossy magazine about the city's progress. The Downtown Jackson Partners Economic Development Briefing is tonight, Jan. 24, at the MS TelCom Center from 5:15-7:30 pm. Cash bar; free hors d'eourves. Click here for more information.

Previous Commentsshow

Kudos to WAPT leading tonight's newscast with the developments going on in downtown, instead of the daily police blotter. Nice to see Kamikaze and Matt Allen on there as well. I wanna hear about this $400M-plus project Ben Allen knows about, but not at liberty to say anything on it at this time. Jackson is like a phoenix--you may think it's dead, but it will rise from its ashes, this time, stronger than it was before.

golden eagle

Jan 24 2008

$400m project? You have me salivating right now....Can't wait to hear more about this one!

tombarnes

Jan 24 2008

I can't wait either, but like I said, Ben's not at liberty to say more about it at this time. BTW, if you're up late enough or want to record it, the newscast re-airs at 1:05am, so you can get more info on that.

golden eagle

Jan 24 2008

I'm in Washington, so I'll have to wait for it to appear on the website.

tombarnes

Jan 24 2008

If you don't mind deciphering it ("All of the new tax breaks with Datrina..."), WLBT has a snippet. The last sentence is awfully confusing to me. Nonetheless, it's taken a while but downtown Jackson is going to absolutely shine in the coming months.

millhouse

Jan 24 2008

I saw that one. You are correct that the last sentence makes no sense whatsoever. In any event, I hope we'll be hearing more about this one soon. Did anyone go to the event? I'd like to know more about the magazine.

tombarnes

Jan 24 2008

Maybe the iTodd will make his grand appearance and tell us more about the "Boom". And the way WLBT placed the sentence on the "Boom" magazine makes it seem as if it's part of the Old Capitol Green project. They need to work on that one.

golden eagle

Jan 25 2008

Maybe it's the Arena.......way down South State.....

ATLExile

Jan 25 2008

Y'all will be hearing a lot more about Boom. Ronni Mott is the editor of it, by the way: ronni (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com Cheers to WAPT for good coverage; Desiree called Todd for an interview about Boom yesterday before the event, but he was too swamped to do it. (Busy week here.) He owes her one, though!

DonnaLadd

Jan 25 2008

The Ledger's version of yesterday's developments. ;-)

DonnaLadd

Jan 25 2008

Last night was the first time I saw all of the downtown development plans in one place at one time. It was impressive, to say the least. I'm jazzed to be able to bring good news about Jackson (and by extension, Mississippi) to a broader audience via Boom Jackson. And none of this "metro" stuff. We love the 'burbs, but that's not what Boom is about. Boom will focus on the city--living, playing and doing business--and the urban experience. Ben Allen talked about how we need to talk about Jackson the way it is--a thriving, energetic, growing city. I couldn't agree more. BTW: Boom is currently scheduled for May, so we're in the planning stages, which means this is the time for story ideas. Let me hear from you, Jacksonians!

Ronni_Mott

Jan 25 2008

Thank God Frank Melton is making Jackson the Atlanta, San Antonio, Austin or other shining place it's capable of becoming. It's not right for the suburbs to outshine Jackson, our capital city, and the only place in Mississippi, in my view, that can singularly move Mississippi from the dark ages the suburbs and backward folks are resisting. Frank is King of Jackson and I support his re-election 100%. Go Frank and take your administration with you!

Ray Carter

Jan 25 2008

Y'all know what, John Lee Hooker, blues great and Mississippians, made a hit record called Boom, Boom, Boom. I'll see if I can find the lyrics and post.

Ray Carter

Jan 25 2008

The most pertinent part of the song i suppose is: Boom Boom Boom Boom. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. How How How How. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. Now Now Now Now. Makes one wonder if he studied writing lyrics at the James Brown Shool of Shortcuts. He preceded James Brown; so Brown likely studied him. The song was a big hit in speakeasies, jukejoints, and clubs all over black America. And yes many daring whites listened to Hooker (and various other blues greats) including Bonnie Raitt who looked to him with hero worship.

Ray Carter

Jan 25 2008

question ray...can you say that horrible song writing preceded rap??? i mean: boom boom boom boom yeah yeah yeah yeah how how how how now now now now this aint exactly inner city blues or thieves in the night

skipp

Jan 25 2008

Skipp the song was mostly about a woman - the way she walks, talks and effects/affects the man. I left out that part as impertinent. Rap started at home in Africa, and came toward America on the slaveships, during the transatlantic voyage form home in Africa. Some of the first rap words spoken were by my great, great great... frandfather who said to other slaves, "master shold is a barbaric and savage piece of inhumanity, and if he unchains me, I'd whup his ass." Other slaves said grabbed themselves and said in unison "sho' you right." Despite slavery, Jim Crow and being a manchild lost in the promise land, we still started the blues, gospel, rythm and blues, reggae, rock and roll and rap, and we gotta keep on pushing.

Ray Carter

Jan 25 2008

Maybe it's the Arena.......way down South State..... Frank Melton's pipe dream? I'd like my chances winning the lottery before an arena. My guess is that it will be a downtown shopping mall/entertainment complex. But stranger things have happened and whenever the developers are ready to talk, we'll listen.

golden eagle

Jan 26 2008

Geez, guys, don't be dissing John Lee Hooker. First off, Hooker preferred singing ballads, but recording companies only wanted to record him doing jump blues; bluesmen haven't been universally known for making a lot of money for themselves (although others have gotten rich off them), and a man's gotta eat. All that considered, John Lee's voice, vocals and picking and just sheer personality make this song. If he did this one just to eat, I hope he's still eating high off the hog in heaven, because I love it. I challenge anyone to listen to it and keep themselves quite and still. :-) I think this little tune is universally recognized - anywhere in the world. For the record, too, y'all didn't get too much right about the verses: Boom boom boom boom I'm gonna shoot you right down, right offa your feet Take you home with me, put you in my house Boom boom boom boom A-haw haw haw haw Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm I love to see you strut, up and down the floor When you talking to me, that baby talk I like it like that Whoa, yeah! Talk that talk, walk that walk When she walk that walk, and talk that talk, and whisper in my ear, tell me that you love me I love that talk When you talk like that, you knocks me out, right off of my feet Hoo hoo hoo Talk that talk, and walk that walk

C.W.

Jan 26 2008

i hope an arena and mall downtown

NewJackson

Jan 27 2008

Ray, I love when you put in the song lyrics. I know that boom boom boom song, when I read the words the voice of JL Hooker in my mind & think of Jackson, well it's a great mental experience! :-) I had dinner in New Mexico last night with a guy from Vicksburg who now lives in Albuquerque. He said when are they ever going to do anything about the old King Edward. I told him they are working on it right now & his eyes lit up. He used to go there as a kid. boom boom boom

Izzy

Jan 27 2008

when will they let the public know about the 400 million dollar project.

NewJackson

Jan 27 2008

Did anyone look at the list of development projects on the DJP Web site?

LatashaWillis

Jan 28 2008