Jackson Free Press

Instead of pushing for an investigation of Council President Frank Bluntson's use of city employees during last night's Jackson City Council meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Chowke Lumumba defended his push for minority contracts.

"We live in a city that is 80 to 85 percent black, and less than 15 percent of businesses owned in this city are black. Less than 1 percent of the income from those businesses are in black hands," he said. "I think it is important that we do something about that. This isn't about (pushing) out other people. This is making sure that we are fair to everyone living in these borders. That is the reason I ask these questions."

Lumumba addressed the council with his minority businesses concerns before the council voted on and approved an initial resolution providing tax exemptions for Entergy Services Inc., Hesselbein Tire Company, Eaton Aerospace and Metal Processors Inc. The businesses received a five-year tax exemption on the expansion of their facilities. Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson said the city did not currently have data on the business's use of minority contracts, but would provide that information at a later date.

Lumumba said he pulled a vote for the council to investigate Bluntson's use of city employees because Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett Simon and Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes were absent from the meeting. He also pulled the vote during the council's Nov. 30 meeting because Kenneth Stokes was absent. "We have less people here tonight than we did at the last meeting," Lumumba said, adding that he still planned to bring up the vote at a later date.

Lumumba has questioned whether Bluntson improperly asked two employees from the City Clerk's office to campaign for Barbara Ann Bluntson, his daughter-in-law, who lost a bid for Madison County Court judge Nov. 2. The two employees who worked on her campaign have maintained that they took a vacation day Nov. 2 to do the campaign work. Bluntson told the Jackson Free Press Nov. 22 that he did not instruct the employees to work on his daughter-in-law's campaign.

Bluntson claimed Lumumba was retaliating because he removed Lumumba as the council's Budget Committee chairman, in part because Lumumba pushes so hard for minority contracts. He said he appointed Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman because he could "work with folks."

Read the JFP's previous coverage, "Bluntson and Lumumba Square Off," for more on the Bluntson issue.

Previous Comments

ID

161291

Comment

I don't get the feeling Chowke is a free market kind of guy.

Author

RobbieR

Date

2010-12-15T14:23:03-06:00

ID

161302

Comment

I'm thinking the entire City Councel needs to be voted out. It's a complete mess and frankly, they are embarrassment to those of us who have not fled for the surrounding towns and cities. Lumamba is a nightmare and apparently, Stokes still has issues with showing up to meetings (even though this is his ONLY job!). The rest of the members have accomplished nothing. We need POSITIVE change in this city and this crew is not going to get us there.

Author

Dave Coleman

Date

2010-12-16T14:11:25-06:00

ID

161313

Comment

Councilman Lumumba is right on target in pushing for more city contracts to go to black vendors, more black workers to be employed by anyone doing business with the city and all contractors doing business with the city to have blacks involved in the company's ownership. Jackson is 72 % black. It is insulting to have any contractors come before the city and not have minority involvement in their ownership and operation. Without a Councilman Lumumba we would have the same old way of doing business. Contractors who do not live in Jackson coming in and enjoying the benifits of the taxes paid by Jacksonians but leaving nothing behind as they make their way back to their suburban homes. Without getting a fair share of the city contracts and employment by the city's contractors the black citizens of Jackson will continue to suffer. As we head into 2011 it is long time for a new way of doing business with the city of Jackson. Thankfully, Councilman Lumumba is spearheading the establishment of this new way. The real sorrow is Bluntson and Tillman can not move away from their subsurvent way of thinking and join with Lumumba.

Author

wellington

Date

2010-12-17T10:18:00-06:00