Jackson Free Press

Straight talk was the theme at a March 27 town hall meeting on Jackson crime at the Board of Education auditorium in downtown Jackson. The meeting, hosted by the Jackson Police Officers Association and the Jackson Free Press, featured Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin, Assistant Chief Lee Vance, former Assistant Chief Edna Drake, Rev. Hosea Hines, and Det. Juan Cloy and David Domino of the police union. Hinds County DA Robert Smith was also slated to be on the panel, but his assistant called just before the event to say he wouldn't attend. City Councilman Margaret Barrett-Simon canceled earlier the day of the event.

McMillin began the meeting, attended by about 75 people, with criticism of the former police leadership and media.

"If we don't have vision or a plan, if we don't have a goal, we're going to flounder. For the past few years, the police department was floundering," McMillin said, explaining that the department needed "a steady hand" after plowing through "12 police chiefs" in "16 years."

"There's been plenty of change. What was needed is stability," McMillin said.

McMillin echoed earlier statements that the media forgoes stories on the steady decrease in most major crime in lieu of attention-grabbing headlines like this year's comparatively high murder rate.

Jackson's 2008 homicide rate is double what it was at this time last year, though the city has seen small but consecutive decreases in crimes such as business burglary since McMillin came on as head of the department.

"Murder is the most serious category, but in 11 of those incidents, people knew each other, and all of them didn't happen out in the street. There's things we can do something about, and there's some things we can't," McMillin said.

Audience members grilled panelists on issues such as slow response time.

Vance vowed to personally deal with individual complaints of slow response and handed out his cell phone and office number. "Call me, and I will make sure that your complaint goes to the right person and that your complaint is followed up on," Vance said.

McMillin explained that some calls had a higher priority than others.

"You may come back and find your house broken into and put a call to the police, but if somebody else has (an invader) literally beating down their door, officers will have to go to that other call first. If the horse is already out of the barn, you'll have to wait until we take care of that call because that takes priority over that," McMillin said.

Audience members expressed concern over the lack of police in the department, prompting McMillin to again explain the issues with JPD overtime. JPD, under former Chief Shirlene Anderson, resorted to filling staff holes by working—and paying—officers overtime. When McMillin arrived last year, however, the department had already spent 64 percent of its overtime budget during a handful of months.

"I can't pay overtime if there's not any money in the budget. So what I had to do was stop overtime, and that meant killing cars," McMillin said. "Didn't want to do that, but we had to It was necessary. We switched our officers to a 12-hour schedule and cut down on absenteeism and sick calls."

McMillin said he supported union members' proposal to entice and retain more officers by funding a police pay raise through a tax increase on hotels and restaurants. Union members urged audience members to attend council and "put their feet to the fire," on adopting the tax increase.

Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler pointed out, however, that the city council has no authority to raise taxes on either hotels or restaurants.

"We of the city council support paying our police officers, but we don't have control over any taxes other than property taxes. The council can't raise the cigarette tax. It can't raise the hotel tax. It can't raise any of the other taxes. Only the legislators can do that," Crisler said. "What you need to do is find your state representative and tell them your problem."

Legislators likely won't be in any position to consider the situation this year with deadline dates on most proposed bills already missed.

Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill, a member of the council legislative committee, said later that the request of the hotel tax increase never made it on the city lobbyists' legislslative packet in time for the ensuing legislative session.

"These things, I guess, need to be submitted around November or earlier," Weill said.

The Legislature has voted against similar tax increases for the city in the past, killing a bill allowing the city to hold a referendum vote on levying a hospitality tax to fund the construction of the impending Jackson Convention Center. Local delegates managed—after a few failed attempts—to coerce their fellows to allow the city a referendum vote in 2004.

Previous Comments

ID

99754

Comment

I missed the incentives to improve morale answer? Anyone catch that?

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-28T19:39:19-06:00

ID

99755

Comment

What about those cards the officers give you when you file a complaint? Did they say what we're supposed to do with those things?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-28T20:31:33-06:00

ID

99756

Comment

L.W., We saw a power point with a break down of how many investigators/officers per department, and they are very understaffed. I've had one of those cards before, and I called and documented. Called and documented.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-29T08:38:54-06:00

ID

99757

Comment

sounds like this was a wste of time and energy!

Author

blkokc

Date

2008-03-29T20:46:13-06:00

ID

99758

Comment

Not at all, Othor. Lots of plans were made, especially during the reception afterward, including for the next forum. You should attend the next one.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-29T21:22:39-06:00

ID

99759

Comment

The PowerPoint was amazing and sobering, Emily. We're going to publish all those numbers. And the exchange between you and Lee Vance about young people was great, really exposing the complexity of the problem of saying that it's the family's responsibility, when in so many cases, the family isn't there, especially the fathers. And Rev. Hines' follow-up on that gave me chills. I'm still deciphering my notes and thinking about all that was said. I want to figure out what to write about it. A lot of people were really touched by the straight-talk component of the evening. It helped to edit out opportunities for posturing and preaching for half an hour by one person, and our rules about people not using it as a forum for personal insults. (Sadly, there are local blogs (like Othor's) that allow police officers to just rip each other apart anonymously, with no boundaries, drawing criticism from the local police union. On Thursday, it really felt like everyone was there not to point fingers, but to take a step toward better understanding. That's something to build on. I kept the huge stack of index cards with audience questions, both that I got to and those I didn't. We're going to type them all up and give packets to the participants, and we're going to use them to figure out how to focus future panels. Several of the panelits suggested that we do them quarterly; the next one is probably in June. The initial thought is to focus it on what citizens can do about specific conditions/problems in their neighborhoods, both through the PD and in other ways. Also, Adam's Web story above was a quick story Friday after he finished two otehrs for the paper. There were other vital things discussed, such as McMillin saying that he plans to bring back the Crime Prevention Unit. Audience comments made it clear how badly that level is needed to help communication between the public and an over-burdened police department. I should also add again: hat's off to Dets. Cloy and Domino, the two remarkable men who came to us about putting this together. Domino was calling the next day with ideas for the next one. Such positive energy is contagious.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-29T21:33:31-06:00

ID

99760

Comment

Othor, I missed the answer because I had run to the bathroom. Not because it was a waste ;) And those Dominoes are good people. It was very timely for me. Hines gives me chills every time he speaks. I also thought McMillin mediated that very well also. (Could you hear the beautiful elderly ladies behind me yelling "BUT WHAT IF THERE IS NO PARENT?" Sorry I got so passionate. I need heavy moderation :P Our young person's funeral was today. Needless to say, I'm also still sorting things out.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-29T22:46:01-06:00

ID

99761

Comment

OH. And going forward, can we PLEASE have an educator (preferably of a middle or high school) on the panel? Many of the things that came up in "education" needed to be addressed. I think JPD might understand that we are more alike than different when facing the challenges. (I kind of told the cop that when he pulled me over today. Also told him I appreciate what he does and I understand he's just doing his job.)

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-29T22:56:40-06:00

ID

99762

Comment

I will continue to allow officers to vent. Sorry you think its sad...what is sad is when we cover up the truth...like we sometimes do here!

Author

blkokc

Date

2008-03-30T06:29:31-06:00

ID

99763

Comment

BTW, it isn't the local blogs that's causing the problems. The problems are deeper than what was discussed.

Author

blkokc

Date

2008-03-30T06:32:18-06:00

ID

99764

Comment

blkokc, were you there? lots was said. it wasn't all roses and sunshine, but it was respectful and productive. you're just not seeing a lot posted here because of time constraints. were you there? i'm really not understanding your relationship here. you didn't post any questions prior to. did you email any? what are your concerns?

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T08:41:41-06:00

ID

99765

Comment

"We" don't cover up the truth here, Othor. But "we" also don't follow your policies of (a) making unsubstantiated statements of fact about people, (b) not running corrections if/when we get something wrong and (b) allowing frustrated public servants to rip themselves apart publicly under fake names in order to, I guess, get page views. I saw where Juan Cloy challenged you on encouraging that kind of vitriol from JPD officers, and allowing it to be posted, and your disrespectful response to the union president. Those kind of public comments, probably by three or four people, hurt the image of the department int he public eye's (thus making it harder to get them pay raises), and it hurts the morale within the department for people to rip each other apart. And all the comments you allow/encourage about the chief being a fat pig or such is really nice. Why not have a policy of people criticizing on the merits without personal attacks, and only posting substantiated accusations? Then if someone brings you evidence that you can prove, do the investigation and present it like a real journalist. That helps your credibility (and that of WJSU), and helps stop the rumor mill. Othor's "concerns," Emily, seem to be that I challenged him on specific unfactual statements he made about a citizen, who happens to be a developer (not that it matters when it comes to defamation), as I do any "journalist," and he has decided that I am a hateful white person in cahoots with the White Power Structure as a result. Thus, if the JFP was connected to a town-hall meeting, then it must have been terrible in some sort of WPS way. Doesn't matter whether he was there or not. Reminds me of obnoxious New Yorkers who always had an opinion on a book whether they'd read it or not. I used to respect Othor's role in the community, but watching him let those JPD officers rip each other apart, his treatment of Det. Cloy so disrespectfully and his refusal to correct/support his own accusations have revealed a new side of him to me. He's playing ugly games with real people as far as I can see for reasons that are beyond comprehension. And that's sad. There are too many people in this community who want to put aside racial differences and work together toward positive outcomes, rather than accuse and rip each other apart under fake names. I'm going to put my energy into giving *those* people forums for real, constructive dialogue. And the policing forum wasn't supposed to be all "sunshine and roses"; it was supposed to be passionate real talk, which it was. If you didn't bother to participate in any way, as Emily points out, then stop trying to agitate some silly fight about it. Be a part of the solution or get out of the way of those who are trying to be.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T09:36:05-06:00

ID

99766

Comment

And yes, Emily, we can have a moderator. I want to focus one of the panels strictly on juvenile justice (and perception), considering how much of the other night kept going that direction. That part was something else, and hard to capture in sound bites. I forgot to take my digital recorder, but I'll check and see what tapes Adam or the union guys made. We'll put whatever we can online. We'll plan better for taping future panels to put on the Web. Our new site is going to be more conducive to that anyway. Also, Othor, in the police threads on your blog, and others, who keep talking about stories that you're "working on," especially when someone challenges you about the anonymous accusations or on being fact-challenged. Where can we look forward to seeing those stories appear? Will they be pieces on WJSU? Or, will they be in the form of long-form journalism in local print media? On your blog? Will they be sourced? We'd loved to know where to watch for them all; you've promised a lot of stories to the public at this point.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T09:47:21-06:00

ID

99767

Comment

Just looked at your site, Othor, figuring it would be on fire with your criticism of an event you did not attend. Lo and behold: I disagree that the police event was good…only about 75 people attended and the same media bull…. was given. Real solutions require dialogue with real people…… Where do you get off, Othor? You weren't there, and you just want to leave some drive-by insult. I'll tell you this: Every person who turned out for that event—the vast majority of them African Americans, many teachers and young people—MATTER, dude. They are REAL. Maybe they don't hang out on the Othor Cain site and whine about the white power structure, and insult and make up stuff about people they don't like, but they turned out for three hours to listen, talk, ask questions and fellowship with police officers over food afterward (thanks to Broad Street, Foodies, Two Sisters and the Mississippi Restaurant Assocation, by the way). They talked about problems and solutions. So trash me all you want if that helps your ego. But don't you dare act like the people of Jackson aren't "real" enough to deserve anything but belittlement from you. How insulting can you be? No, don't answer that. And the event was Thursday, not Friday.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T09:59:31-06:00

ID

99768

Comment

You know what's sad? The blogs have become competition for traffic more than useful dialogue. I could really, really do without that. So could most of the people truly wanting change. Or maybe it's personal disagreements/resentments. I really don't care what the conflict involves, nor am I going to take the time to. This personal stuff between other blogs really turns me off.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T14:37:06-06:00

ID

99769

Comment

Me, too. One of the biggest problems I've seen in our local blogosphere are people not understanding the difference between personal attacks and legitimate criticism. I, and others at the JFP, and all sorts of other people around town, get attacked personally constantly because, presumably, we're trying to pull previously disparate groups together. If you call out the personal attacks, they will turn around and say, "well, you bash The Clarion-Ledger." I have never personally attacked someone at The Clarion-Ledger (even as I've been quoted on other sites saying things I never said). However, it is incumbent on us to call out routine bad reporting, not to mention plagiarism/libel/defamation, in the local media. The media has a real effect on the community, such as withholding information that could have educated the public on just how bad a mayoral choice Frank Melton was, to name one prominent example. They had the information. When I challenged Othor on his statements about Ted Duckworth, I wasn't attacking him personally. I don't care about his personal life choices, or the size of his butt or belly (common personal slights by local bloggers); I simply want to challenge him to be a good role model for our aspiring young journalists by being factual, and then correcting and apologizing when he makes a factual error, as we have to do as well. (And if you won't, it becomes harder to argue that you have no "malice.") The truth is that he is no worse than Alan Lange (whose lead story about Jim Hood right now on his site is patently false and error-laden, and has not been corrected after days of readers complaining about it), but I doubt that many aspiring journalists look up to Lange. I suspect they do to Othor. To me, it would be a greater insult to pretend that, for some reason, Othor should not be held to as high of standards as other journalists when it comes to accuracy and corrections. Why wouldn't he? I don't seem to recall him yelling about me being a WPS sympathizer when I pointed out (thanks to an astute reader of the Ledger) that Courtney-the-food-writer had blatantly plagiarized Mississippi magazine. But the truth is that many people will never even try to distinguish between personal attacks and media criticism; they won't understand that I can criticize and/or disagree with what Sid Salter writes on the merits, and then have a great conversation with him. There are people who will always attack us for daring to (a) be women and/or progressives who are (b) willing to challenge the status quo and, egad, even liberals and men and who (c) do not pander to every man's back and call (and desire to e-mail back and forth all the time). As for caring about what the conflict involves, I don't either, as along as that garbage is kept off my site. But when people come prancing through this site, recklessly accusing people here of "covering up the truth" and talking down efforts by hard-working citizens and police officers (or my staff) in the process, then I'm going to call out their crap for what it is. In other words, boys, keep your personal little vendettas on your own sites. And, yes, I did quote Othor's statement about our forum from his site today, which is not something I do these days with these guys (I try to not look at them, as I don't with car wrecks)—but it was so remarkably offensive that he acted like the people who turned out Thursday weren't "real" that I had to. I just don't get that kind of backward, divisive agitating. But, as you point out, Emily, we've got work to do in these parts, and we're not going to play those kinds of games here. So, Othor, if you don't have something useful to add here, stay on your own site. Garbage is not welcome here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T15:40:20-06:00

ID

99770

Comment

Oh, and I should remind people once again: If you state something as fact about someone that it is not true, the "opinion" exemption does not cover you. In other words: "He is an idiot." Fine, that's clearly opinion. An idiot's in the eye of the beholder. But: "He cheated." Not opinion. If you say that, you have to prove it. Even if you start it with "In my opinion ..." and then state a fact, you're still not in the clear. Of course, every time I try to share this little bit of advice from my pricey journo-law training with a local blog owner, he starts yelping like a dog that got his foot run over by a car that I'm threatening to sue him (nope; would take an untruth that really hurt my business or my loved ones to get me in a stressful mess like that, and silly insults or half-truths don't); or to tell him how to run his site (no, just how to stay out of deep poo); or that I'm trying to speak on behalf of the black community or something equally absurd (no one speaks for all blacks, or all whites, or anyone else; implying that one could is ludicrous and illogical). Bottom line: I want to see a thriving, intelligent local blogosphere where the marketplace of ideas is varied and vast. But, so far, much of what we have out there are blogs set up to tear other people down and do little more. The owners are not self-regulating or even studying the current state of their legal responsibilities as site publishers. They make Mississippi look ignorant in the way they do things. they obsess to the most absurd and laughable degree over people they despise, even setting up false dramas and baiting scenarios. And that's very sad, even as it builds the stature of the people they are so obsessed over. But that's a Pyrrhic victory for those of us it benefits, considering the harm they can do to real people and the community by, say, allowing groups of police officers to just rip each other, and their superiors, to shreds using fake names. That shortsightedness is the part that just cooks my goat.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T16:03:58-06:00

ID

99771

Comment

whatever... glad that you define yourself as garbabge....

Author

blkokc

Date

2008-03-30T16:35:36-06:00

ID

99772

Comment

Our young person's funeral was today. Needless to say, I'm also still sorting things out. Emily, what happened to this young person, or are you at liberty to discuss it here?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-30T16:51:01-06:00

ID

99773

Comment

Eh? I didn't define myself or anyone else here, including you Othor, as garbadge, or even as garbage. I said, "Garbage is not welcome here." And I explained *exactly* what I mean by that if you'd take the time to read and think about it. Sigh. Meantime, Othor, I see that you are now stating, as Ben & Larry of old, etc., used to that crime statistics are cooked—apparently since McMillin came on board. Do you have any evidence to prove it? We've been down *this* very road before, during the last administration, and it was political and aimed at a mayor and chief that the people spreading the unsubstantiated rumor did not like (and many for racial reasons). If you have evidence to back up this accusation, I'm all ears, just as I was then. If not ... oh, never mind.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T18:05:32-06:00

ID

99774

Comment

He was shot on Easter Sunday :( I'll probably be in a better place to discuss at another time. Too much grief to be objective right now. Sad story all around.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T19:35:59-06:00

ID

99775

Comment

I understand, Em. No pressure.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-30T21:10:51-06:00

ID

99776

Comment

Folks, here are the four focus areas that I'd like to see the next four town-hall meetings focus on: 1. Juvenile justice and perception of youth - After the passionate comments last week, many of which disagreed with each other, it is clear this one must be tackled head on. We need a youth advocate (Ellen Reddy), as well as a young person on the panel. 2. What you can do about crime in your neighborhood - this will be about preventive stuff, but will also query the police heavily on why certain regular drug-dealing blocks just stay that way; what to do about a drug house on your block; how to deal with the police; who to deal with, and so on. Very nuts and bolts. 3. Crime Perception v. Reality - It is high time we take on everyone's favorite political meme and talk about this issue, and why crime sensationalism my media and those with an axe to grind is a hindrance to fighting crime. We got into this some the other night, but didn't have time to really dig in. This would also be a good one in which to discuss crime statistics and how they're collected, manipulated, and what they mean and don't mean. Perhaps we could do a COMSTAT presentation. 4. "Broken windows" - This is the talk where we deal with the issues that create crime in the communities, before the police ever get to them, and come up with solutions that groups and individuals can get involved with. We talked about quarterly after the last meeting, but I'd be willing to go once a month or every six weeks if y'all think it's a good idea. We need to figure out a way to really engage the community in the topics in the interim -- maybe focus groups? Not sure. Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for panelits and other ways to get the community involved. Bring it on, folks. It's up to you. And you. And you. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-31T09:31:07-06:00

ID

99777

Comment

By the way, I would think that problems of police profiling would fit into the juvenile justice panel, and issues about non-responsive policing would go in No. 2 well. We could collect stories from people about problems they've had with police and then figure out what questions to ask based on them. Thoughts?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-31T09:32:18-06:00

ID

99778

Comment

Monthly meetings may be a stretch, Donna. Meeting quarterly or every other month may be more realistic. Focus groups could meet more often in-between those times.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-31T12:33:51-06:00

ID

99779

Comment

I hear Othor steals from the collection plate at church. See, unsubstantiated rumors are fun!

Author

QB

Date

2008-03-31T13:16:41-06:00

ID

99780

Comment

Unsubstantiated Rumors are what the mainstream media call "reliable sources". On topic: Who's left in Jackson to shoulder yet another tax increase?

Author

Ironghost

Date

2008-03-31T13:21:25-06:00

ID

99781

Comment

Fat Harry, your example is just that: an example of an offensive, unsubstantiated rumor, clearly designed to hurt someone, but it's a good example. Obviously false, it is no different than Othor going around saying, without providing evidence, that Ted Duckworth took incentives to build low-income housing in the Electric Building and then didn't do it. Or that I am bought off by Downtown Jackson Partners because I won't pass on his so-far-unsubstantiated rumors about McMillin doctoring crime stats (the same one that Harvey Johnson's haters used against him and Chief Moore, also without evidence). I wonder if I would be less part of the "white power structure" if I allowed people to come on here and call him fat like you do on your site? (That does tickle me, though: If there is anyone the WPS is not comfortable with these days, it would be moi.) The Jackson Free Press' views on downtown development or on crime sensationalism (and the need for evidence from people who claim that the police are cooking the statistics) has not changed one iota from our first cover story on the creative class back in 2002. We've devoted thousands of words to the problem that cooked-up accusations were used against the previous administration, and passed along by the media without evidence. *We* have been consistent, but now suddenly it seems that Othor wants the public to think that we've been bribed and that's why we're suddenly supporting downtown development?!? Give me a break. This is simply laughable with our history of smart eco-devo support and our criticism of crime sensationalism and Perception-Gate. The truth is that Othor cannot change the subject by trying to spread garbage about me: Either he can support his factual assertions about people in this community, or he cannot. Which is it? It's a simple question. And saying that he won't support his accusations because I asked him to sounds so second grade, eh? Truth is, I don't think I'm the only one out here who thinks that serious allegations should be supported with evidence. The reason I am pounding this a bit is because Othor has inserted himself, not only above on this thread but on his own site, right into the thick of police drama in Jackson. He is accusing the current chief of cooking the crime statistics. He is telling people not to trust him, and is dogging the police union guys, who from where I sit, seem like some of the smartest things happening at JPD. He is accusing the JFP of cover-ups and of being bought off. There are serious allegations. This is exactly what we don't need at this juncture. We don't need people distrusting each other, and we sure as hell don't need artificial racial divisions being inserted due to someone's personal feelings toward others. Personally, I don't believe that McMillin should be chief and sheriff, as we editorialized about. I also think that the Ledger is a damn hypocrite with the way they suddenly seem to think that perception matters now that their guy is the chief, and thus white North Jackson thinks crime is so much better. Sigh. Two sides of a friggin' coin. All that said, it is time to stop trying to sow division in this community. That's what got us to this place. We need to figure out how to work together, even as we're doing what we can to monitor what is going on at JPD. Othor may not have learned this as a journalist, but I have: You don't pull punches, but you also don't swing just to be swinging. And the way to know what is really going on is by getting as close to the action as you can. You can't do that by throwing unsubstantiated accusations left and right, hoping that people never ask you to back them up.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-31T14:13:37-06:00

ID

99782

Comment

Iron, their tax increase wouldn't really fall on Jacksonians. It would fall on visitors and tourists. Beyond that, the bottom line is that is people want a good police force, they have to be willing to pay for it. Many people, though, just want to whine about it, and use crime for their own personal political game. It's sickening.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-31T14:15:15-06:00

ID

99783

Comment

L, you don't usually respond to all these guys who obssess over you on their blogs? Why so much ink this time?

Author

gipper

Date

2008-03-31T14:28:42-06:00

ID

99784

Comment

The answer is very simple: This wasn't a silly personal attack on me. Those are a dime a dozen in the local boyzosphere. Without even attending the meeting, Othor came on this site and tried to belittle the town-hall meeting last week and the people who turned out for it. He did worse on his site, saying they weren't "real," among other things. I take dissemination of unsubstantiated accusations very seriously. In this case, they have the ability to hurt the city's future financially, injure the police deparment, increase public distrust and further sow racial division. That deserves a response. There are too many people of all races working too hard in this city to have the man who runs a local radio station saying this stuff without response. I suspect this is the way that Melton started his game way back—have a local microphone, talk smack about people who dare criticize you, don't back it up with facts, and don't get called out for it by the public. It truly is time for a new day, and a new way, in Jackson.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-31T15:29:17-06:00

ID

99785

Comment

Ditto Ladd. In regard to juvenile justice, let's create and/or support opportunities to listen and dialogue with our community youth. That includes creating new peer groups and supporting existing groups/activities. We are losing these kids in middle school and very soon, that's going to be the elementary school. There seem to be plenty of mentoring groups for our girls, but I'm not seeing alot of available mentoring for young men.

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-04-02T08:23:01-06:00

ID

99786

Comment

"Iron, their tax increase wouldn't really fall on Jacksonians. It would fall on visitors and tourists." not really Donna. fro hotel/motels, sure, but restaurant taxes are vastly squared on the shoulders of their citizens, aka the customers, and this economic climate is not the one to impose a price increase via more taxes when basic menu prices are raising due to cost of raw materials. My industry supports our police oficers 100%, but should we put an additional tax structure on the hotel industry on the same level as NYC when the immediate competition reamins drastically more affordable? These tourist opportunities are more often than not on a competitive bid basis, and if Jxn hotels are 10% higher than Flowood, Ridgeland, CLinton etc, why would a group choose downtown? We are all trying to REDEVELOP Downton Jackson, not create yet another hurdle for it to be a successful economic player. Tangent, maybe, but "Hospitality Taxes because tourists pay them" must stop.

Author

GradyGriffin

Date

2008-04-02T09:27:32-06:00

ID

99787

Comment

By the way, I attended the town hall meeting, and was VERY dissapointed in the turnout. Although every face I saw was certainly a REAL person with REAL concerns and REAL opinions, it saddened me a little that we couldn't muster more support. Let's work on our marketing efforts for these follow-up discussions. Without Othor, of course, who I've relegated to senseless drivel after reading and hearing his ignorant responses to real concerns.

Author

GradyGriffin

Date

2008-04-02T09:34:03-06:00

ID

99788

Comment

Why would a group choose downtown? We are all trying to REDEVELOP Downton Jackson, not create yet another hurdle for it to be a successful economic player. Because it's downtown, and it's cool. And really will be in a year or two. ;-) In addition, I support the tax incentives that are going to developers to get downtown back in the eco-devo mix. But that doesn't mean that visitors to downtown shouldn't pay taxes to help support it. That said, I don't know if I support this particular proposal or not. I'd need more info first. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense for people to whine about crime all the time and not be willing to help pay for more police officers. And the truth is, if we can talk straight, it was white people who didn't turn out for the town-hall meeting on crime. Plenty of blacks folks did. So, yes, marketing is good. But willingness to show up in a diverse group and have a conversation is also vital. And all the marketing in the world can't change that mentality. The JFP has an extremely diversely readership -- roughly half black and half white according to audits, and more than 64,000 readers according to the Ledger. We've told them about it for weeks, but the truth really is that people in general like to complain more about crime than they want to be bothered to help do anything about it. (Now, that said, as Chief McMillin pointed out afterward, there was a 4th precinct COPS meeting that night. He believes many more white folks would have turned out had there not been. So that's something we'll watch for in the future. In fact, we want to start putting those, and any neighorhood meetings, on the JFP events calendar/planner to help groups know when to schedule their own events, and help people get out for them. So, please, everyone send any and any event/meeting info to Vince Falconi at [email][email protected].[/email])

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-04-02T09:55:24-06:00

ID

99789

Comment

I should also add that I'm never "disappointed" in a turnout for anything. I've always found that the people who do turn out are motivated—we had whole neighborhood association groups including little kids there. The truth is that 75 motivated people are better than 300 disinterested anyday. But I do believe the meetings will grow, as we focus each one on a topic raised at the first one. And I want to figure out how to Webcast them or such so more people can see them. People do have child-care issues, etc. I always find that Jacksonians tend to be too impatient and judgmental. If something doesn't change or work overnight, it's not worth doing. As they say in AA, that's standin'-thankin'. It's like people who believe that they can start a newspaper, and it be a major success overnight. They aren't mentally prepared for the long haul. The JFP had to start out with a few advertisers, then get more, and get more by doing good work week after week after week, as some people knock you and try to tear you down for not doing enough. Community activism works the same way. Change takes hard work and dedication. The people who showed up are dedicated and willing to work hard. And the great food afterward was good karma for future meetings. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-04-02T10:01:00-06:00

ID

99790

Comment

People do have child-care issues, etc. ---Anyone thought of providing this so parents can attend? Or rather, does the meeting place have another room where child care can be provided for people? Just a question. I AM a social worker, so I am about reducing barriers whenever possible. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2008-04-02T10:05:21-06:00

ID

99791

Comment

I agree, lanier77: There is *nothing* more important that we can do as a community than figure out ways to help our kids. This should probably be the next town-hall meeting, probably a Thursday in June.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-04-02T10:06:07-06:00

ID

99792

Comment

Lori, that is a good idea. Any thoughts out there on how to provide child care? Where? We just need a big playroom and some adults to over see them? And snacks, of course. Perhaps we should do this at a centrally located church. Location is always a challenge, though, when you try to do a diverse gathering. In general, white people don't want to go to black people's places, and black people don't want to go to white people's places. And too often, white people don't want to leave North Jackson at night. Sigh. Ideas welcome, though. We've had some well-attended, and reasonably diverse panel discussions at St. Andrews downtown in the past. And we had wonderfully diverse gatherings at Mikhail's when it was open. Eudora Welty library has been decent. Decent at Millsaps, but I don't think it's ideal for this. Too many barriers to finding the place for people not familiar with campus. Frankly, I loved the spot we did it in. Maybe we should try to leave it there.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-04-02T10:11:56-06:00

ID

99793

Comment

Um, I watch around ten mentally ll children during our monthly foster parent meetings for two hours. I think this qualifies me to watch about forty billion regular children. ;) I'm not opposed to watching kids...and you don't really need that much. Snacks are good and cost about ten bucks (Sugar free Kool Aid and sugar free cookies come cheap) and if the meeting only lasts about two hours, you really only need a television, a DVD player and some random colors and coloring paper depending on the age range. I'm also certified in CPR and can probably provide you with two other master's level therapists as "child care providers" if you allow us ten minutes during the meeting to ask for foster parents. :) Its all a bargain. St. RIchard's also has meeting space that would allow for child care as well. That location is kind of "in the middle" being off Northside Drive and right behind Banner Hall....and they usually don't charge. But, you'd have to call and ask.

Author

Lori G

Date

2008-04-02T10:25:04-06:00

ID

99794

Comment

I had just so hoped to see many more faces than I did Thursday night, but it doesn't diminish my interest in continuing the dialogue for the greater good. Also, Donna, Galloway is right around the corner from CHS, and as the Parents Representative to the Board, I would be more than happy to inquire about childcare for the next meeting. Our boys go there and I would reccomend it to anyone.

Author

GradyGriffin

Date

2008-04-02T10:28:47-06:00

ID

99795

Comment

Galloway is a good idea. I've never done a panel there.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-04-02T11:04:44-06:00