Jackson Free Press

Momentum can be described as the impetus of a non-physical process, a process that could be either an idea or a course of events. Any time you have momentum, there has to be energy, some force behind that momentum. Energy can either be positive or negative, thus making your "momentum" either productive or not-so productive.

This is not an impromptu science lesson as much as it is an affirmation of where we are as a city. Jackson is moving forward. I, like many others, am feeling the positive vibes at work all around us. We're picking up steam, and soon this ball of energy will grow into an unstoppable force.

You can look around you and see successes like the King Edward Hotel. Once a testament of our failures, it will now be a monument to our growth. You can see the scaffolding on the Standard Life Building as that transformation begins. You can drive up Gallatin Street and see the work beginning on the new Sleep Inn. Then travel but a few miles further and work is in progress along the JSU Parkway that will connect Jackson State and its students quickly to downtown. Any Wednesday you can lunch with the Progressives at Peaches Café.

You can come down Farish Street on any Friday and Saturday night and see the street packed with folks of all creeds and colors at F. Jones Corner enjoying a safe time and some good music. And as an investor in the Farish Street Project, I can proudly say that next year there will be even more new venues on Farish.

If you were around this past weekend, you could have enjoyed the Street Jam that accompanied Mississippi Greek Weekend. And soon a commissioned study will show how we must move forward to revitalize the Highway 80 corridor. I'm excited as we all should be. The buzz on Jackson is loud!

The most exciting thing about it, though, is the new-found attitude that is washing over Jacksonians. A city that once adopted a "loser's mentality" is now thinking like a winner. Thinking big. I revel in the fact that naysayers are being drowned out by a chorus of "projacks." Blogs that used to overflow with negative comments are now being challenged, refuted and ignored by those who are tired of settling for second best.

Message to the naysayers: No one is listening to you. We have sat back long enough and let you down our city. Don't speak ill of our city and mask it as "concern." Sure, we've got issues. Sure, there are some things we could be doing better. But big cities have big-city problems, no? Everybody's on board with this Renaissance. You should be, too.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Commentsshow

Couldn't agree more! I like it when you write columns like this. I was in downtown Jackson on Monday night to drop off a relative at the bus station and as I came out of the station, I decided to walk down to the King Edward. The lights were on the bottom floor and from the outside, looks like most of the exterior work is done. I couldn't believe my eyes how what was a four-decades old eyesore not even five years ago is about to enjoy a shiny new beginning and is just weeks away from opening its doors. While I was in downtown, I heard some loud blues music. It piqued my curiosity so I jumped in my car after walking from the King Edward, followed the music and found myself at F. Jones Corner. While not a large crowd (about slightly more than a dozen in the 20 or so minutes I was there), everyone seemed to have a good time. I wish that everything that's going to happen in downtown could be happening right now. It takes time and there is a long way to go, but once it kicks into high gear, there's no stopping it. In fact, like an octopus's tentacles, it's going to spread around to other places in the city, like JSU, Belhaven, Fondren, the old MS School for the Deaf. Heck, even south Jackson is getting in on the action with a brand new subdivision that's opened up off of Raymond Road (and a new school under construction, to boot). Who knows what else might follow down there. And to the naysayers who might be reading this: no one was robbed or shot that night in downtown. Can you imagine that?

golden eagle

Oct 1 2009

I KNOW imagine. No one getting shot or mugged RIGHT in front of you. LMAO. Incidentally F. Jones does Blue Mondays on Monday nights where folks can stop by and hear some blues. But on Friday and Saturday nights you cant get on the street. There are droves of folks in and out of the building. As I drive into downtown early every morning to hit Courthouse Gym(another great amenity in downtown) you should see KE lit up. Its awesome. This column is just my regular middle-finger to those who expend SO much energy finding negative things to say about my city. We will succeed.

Kamikaze

Oct 2 2009

..And for the record no one is saying this city or its government are above criticism. So dont let my words be misconstrued. But there is a decided difference between constructive criticism or criticism period and outright attacks on persons or entities, downright hating, gossip, and giving a platform for innuendo and unsubstantiated gobbledy goop. ...in other words, a stuck pig will squeal.

Kamikaze

Oct 2 2009

keep writing columns Kaze. Keep writing. thanks

atlntaexile

Oct 2 2009