Jackson Free Press

Council President Frank Bluntson claims allegations that he pressured city employees to take off work and campaign for his daughter-in-law, unsuccessful Madison County Justice Court candidate Barbara Ann Bluntson, are a political maneuver to remove him from his position as council president. Bluntson claims Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba is retaliating after Bluntson removed Lumumba as the council's Budget Committee chairman, in part because Lumumba pushes so hard for minority contracts.

"He thinks he can intimidate me and frighten me. He's really mad because I took the budget thing from him and gave it to (Ward 5 Councilman Charles) Tillman," Bluntson said, adding that he appointed Tillman because he wanted someone who "could work with folks."

Bluntson said Lumumba is too adamant about minority participation in city contracts.

"As long as I'm president, I'm not going to let someone be bashing race issues. White and black have to work together, but every time something comes up, he wants to know, 'Did blacks get this or did blacks get that?' When white folks were in charge, (blacks) begged and cried just to be at the table ... and now that blacks are in charge, he wants to go back and do the same thing that whites did to us. If it was wrong when white folks did it, then it's wrong when we're in charge," Bluntson said.

Lumumba champions the inclusion of minorities in city contracts. He also recently questioned the city's decision to sign off on a massive tax increment financing (TIF) proposal to help fund the King Edward Hotel renovation, without assuring enough minority participation in the construction work. The attorney said he has no plan to exclude white contractors from city work, however.

Lumumba is leading an effort to investigate two employees in the city clerk's office who said they took a vacation day on Nov. 2 to help Barbara Ann Bluntson, in her failed effort to win a seat. The ward 2 councilman led a closed-session hearing last week investigating Bluntson's use of city employees because Bluntson initially denied any knowledge of the employees helping his daughter-in-law on Election Day.

"The purpose of the hearing was to find out what (Bluntson) would have to say," Lumumba said, adding that the president needed to clear up inconsistencies between his claims and a letter the assistant city clerk sent to administration confirming that the two employees took off Nov. 2.

"He, at first, had denied to me that they had worked on Tuesday. Then, once it was clear they had worked on Tuesday, he came back and said they'd asked for vacation time," Lumumba said, adding that the assistant city clerk's letter gave no indication of the hours being vacation hours. "At the very least, it appears Frank made an inappropriate action in this case--a cover up."

Bluntson insists Lumumba is "blowing this issue out of proportion."

"People can take off and do what they want to do. Nobody can make clerks do anything for them," Bluntson said. "They had told me they were going to help Barbara on Election Day and I told them, 'If you're going to work, make sure you have permission to be off because that day is council day.'"

Lumumba wasn't willing to say if council members should remove Bluntson from serving as president. The seven-member council needs a voting majority of four members to remove him. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes and Ward 5 Councilman Charles Tillman vote with Bluntson on most issues. Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill said he could not comment on the discussion in the hearing and did not offer an opinion on the merits of the investigation. Remaining council members Tony Yarber of Ward 6 and Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon of Ward 7 did not immediately return calls. State Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Hood was not immediately available for comment.

The council cannot vote during a closed session, and has yet to reach a conclusion regarding Bluntson, Lumumba said. But the issue is far from over, he added.

Previous Comments

ID

161046

Comment

I can't belive what Blunston I was there when he was working on a camppaign for a white candidate, I was there when he would call a white District Attorney and advised him of which blacks were not to be trusted and which people and Pastors should get money in order to support white candidates. Now Blunston is claiming that he is so concern about how the blacks treat the whites now that the blacks are in charge. Bull! Blunston was sitting at Melton House complianing about and I quote "The white folks on the City Council and the white folks you put in position are using you. He also was the one advising Melton who to get rid of all of them where Black includig myself because we where a witness to Blunston playing both side of the Black and white issue. Blunston uses his talk show on the Radio to manipulate and run a con on his own race. Blunston was very upset when he was told by Melton that Ms. Donna Ladd was coming over to his house for a interview and that he wanted Shirlene to be their when she came over. Blunston was upset and used some very nasty racial terms about Ms. Ladd. I am not talking about a rumor or hearsay. I witness this personally and I witness several acts that Blunston did in his position as a City Council Person, including violations of the State and Federal Bid law governing Federal Funds. Blunston is and always has been a fake and he has used City personel on other activities such at the Golf course and his Christmas giveaway including city personel working on his re-election campaign.

Author

Chef Tony

Date

2010-11-22T16:27:21-06:00

ID

161059

Comment

Every time Blunston opens his mouth he show how ill informed and incompetent he is. Lummuba is following exactly what his platform was when he ran for city council. He told the voters of ward 2 that he wanted to see more black Jackson businesses getting city contracts and more black Jackson workers being employed by any contractor doing business with the city. This would have the effect of increasing the incomes of Jackson residents and keeping more of the money the city spends in Jackson. How Blunston can disagree with this philosophy defies credibility unless he just does not understand. Blunston needs to realize this is 2010 not 1970. Black people no longer have to be skinning and grinning around white folks. Black people need to have an equal seat at the table instead of begging for crumbs at the back door. To me this is what it appears Lumumba is trying to do.I applaud him for this. Maybe Blunston is to old to recognize black people no longer have to bow down and do what white folks tell them to do. Maybe it is time for Blunston and Tillman to resign and let some younger, more progessive blood on the council.

Author

wellington

Date

2010-11-23T13:06:23-06:00

ID

161063

Comment

ditto wellington! I don't see anything wrong with asking who the contracts are going out to. Asking that minorities be able to participate in the bidding and city projects is not the same as mandating. We just want a seat at the table.

Author

dd39203

Date

2010-11-23T14:28:10-06:00

ID

161069

Comment

Yes, we want a seat at the table; however, Lumumba, in my opinion, should join the table; not interrupt it. Lamumba represents the Ward I live in. Unfortunately, we did not have a person running for the office that I felt good about. My comment does not have anything to do with how right or wrong Lumumba is: I just know that he seemingly stays racially charged and with some of that fire, ready, aim behavior. PS. According to the article, the two City employees took vacation. Is there a policy against their alleged actions?

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-24T09:54:46-06:00

ID

161071

Comment

People are confused in this city. First, we want to address racial imbalances, but then we don't want to. I don't get it. Why is it the norm around these parts to just not speak about it???? I think it's HIGH TIME someone steps in to look after those of us who populate the majority in this city. So often we are overlooked and unwelcomed. This man, Lumumba, is being judged now because he is focused on ensuring that blacks get work, work that we have been doing for ourselves making chump change, now have an opportunity for lucrative ventures and we're suppose to be hush mouthed because we don't want to bring attention to the fact that we now demand an opportunity. i just simply don't get that attitude. It seems like he is constantly bringing up race because that's what makes the news. I don't see that he's focused on any area that doesn't need our attention. No one is saying just because a person is black he has to be hired for a job. I think it's more of, don't automatically alienate blacks from the positions and don't automatically give it to white people. To be fair, everyone should be given the opportunity. I don't think he is interrupting anything. I think he is calling people out for being completely oblivious to the fact that black folks are simply not given the same opportunities as our caucasian brothern. "I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a two-way street." Malcolm X

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-11-24T10:14:48-06:00

ID

161073

Comment

Great Malcolm quote, Queen.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-24T11:59:30-06:00

ID

161074

Comment

The war is won by HOW we fight. Absolutely nothing will be acomplished with Bluntson and Lumumba fighting at the table about an issue that doesn't have DIP to do with the issue of fairness and inclusion of Black Americans and business contracts awarded by the City. These hot buttoned, racially charged arguments by these two brothers will add nothing to the goal for getting jobs and awarding contracts to African-Americans. Trust me, nothing positive will come out of this fight! I agree with the great Malcolm X quote, "Brotherhood IS a TWO-WAY Street." These two brothers are fighting "back-alley" style and it fits into bullying and other gang-like behavior that we are so eager to label black youth with.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-24T12:53:51-06:00

ID

161075

Comment

Doesn't Jackson already have some sort of minority set-aside policy in place? I'm pretty sure Hinds County does.

Author

bill_jackson

Date

2010-11-24T15:23:34-06:00

ID

161099

Comment

I am still waiting for my response to justjess to post. Guess it didn't make it past the moderator. Sure does make it a little difficult to get a conversation going about a worthy issue. But alas....that's how it goes. (Good grief y'all)

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-11-29T08:45:40-06:00

ID

161100

Comment

Bill_Jackson, Yes Jackson has "minority set-aside". The Johnso Administration was instrumental in getting this done during his first term in office. Johnson also developed a minority businss arm to teach the how-tos of bidding, bonding issues and also how to go about securing sub-contractual work. I continue to say that the argument with Lumumba and Blunson does absolutely nothing to address the issue of blacks getting City contracts. It doesn't mean that blacks should sit quitely and wait their turn: It means that we must work smarter and without putting scare tactics and threats to others who haven't any clue about motives of others. I am not making excuses for Lumumba; however, I,too, am from his generation. We have exprienced a lot of injustices and have been a part of cross burnings, bombing, beatings, firings and having to deal with family/friends/associates who were killed just simply fighting for fairness and equality. I have been accused of being too "racially charged" because in my not too distant past, I would go off like a cannon when I heard or saw anything that had even the slightest appearance of racism. Prehaps an understanding of this point would be to compare Al Sharpton to President Barac Obama. Al Sharpton is smart and he has done so much for civil rights; however, Al could never be President. Life for Black folks is a hugh and complex puzzle: All pieces don't fit in all places. I don't know what Queen101 is expecting me to respond to, but, I will not join a fight about Lumumba and Blunson: I will continue to stay focused on the "real issues" that can lead to more minorities becomming eligible to bid on contracts and gain more economic footage in this community. One thing we can all do: SHOP JACKSON. There would be more jobs to bid on if we did not do so much spending outside of the City.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-29T09:51:17-06:00

ID

161101

Comment

Queen, I'm pretty confident that you're not moderated, FWIW.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T09:52:04-06:00

ID

161102

Comment

Some of the same people who are now posting negatives about Bluntson sat on the side lines when melton was in office and Bluntson was his right-hand man. You could hear a rat pi$$ on cotton in China whenever issues about melton or Bluntson came up. I tried to do everything I could to expose Bluson because I thought he was unfit to serve: Not because of contracts for Blacks, but, because he had violated the communitie's trust when he was over the Youth Detention Center. There, many young girls were sexually abused for a candy bar or the use of a cell phone. So you see, this information would have been helpful when he was running for the office of City Councilman.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-29T10:19:36-06:00

ID

161103

Comment

Some of the same people who are now posting negatives about Bluntson sat on the side lines when melton was in office and Bluntson was his right-hand man. You could hear a rat pi$$ on cotton in China whenever issues about melton or Bluntson came up. So true, Jess. And you know that I wrote about Bluntson, Melton and the Juvenile Detention Center. It was if the rest of the media blacked it out, though. Here's a summary/reader's guide I put together in 2006 to explain references to that controversy. Note that we were writing about old controversies, such as this one, involving Ed Peters before the Scruggs controversy "outed" him, so to speak. Also, Lumumba gets credit for not climbing on the anything-Melton-says train alongside Bluntson, Stokes and the Jackson Advocate.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T10:28:50-06:00

ID

161104

Comment

I remember the 2006 "summary/reader's guide" published by Donna in the JFP. You are soooo right, had it not been for the JFP, this issue would have remained moot. It is always good when an editor can show the proof for their puddin!

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-29T10:58:42-06:00

ID

161105

Comment

And in case anyone is interested, take a look at "Mysteries of Frank Melton"; the detention center controversy and Mr. Bluntson's role in it is under subhead "Direct Contact."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T11:15:25-06:00

ID

161107

Comment

"I don't know what Queen101 is expecting me to respond to, but, I will not join a fight about Lumumba and Blunson: I will continue to stay focused on the "real issues" that can lead to more minorities becomming eligible to bid on contracts and gain more economic footage in this community." A.) It's QUEEN601 - as in the area code for Jackson, MS. B.) I didn't "expect" you to respond to anything. IF, you'd read my post, you would see that it said that MY response to YOUR comment wasn't posted. Not that I wanted YOU to respond to ME. C.) And since my comment never appeared, I would assume that your anger or frustration is aimed at something other than me or my comments since you can't possibly have any idea what I said. D.) Fight? Fight? really? Is that what happens on here? Fights? E.) Donna, I have no idea what FWIW stands for.

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-11-29T14:13:47-06:00

ID

161108

Comment

Queen, your comment never showed up anywhere on the site. As I said, you are not in moderation mode, so we wouldn't have seen it to block it. Moderation is typically reserved for new users and/or those who come here just to start fights. FWIW: means "for what it's worth," in Internet speak. Now that all that is cleared up, ladies, let's talk Bluntson and Lumumba again.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T14:24:34-06:00

ID

161109

Comment

Update: Lumumba is following up with pledge last week to investigate Bluntson and the city clerk employees for allegedly campaigning for his daughter. A Council agenda item today lists an item that, if approved, would authorize a "Council investigation with respect to alleged inappropriate use of Clerk’s Office personnel by Council leadership (Lumumba)."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T14:29:43-06:00

ID

161110

Comment

QUEEN601, Please, My deepest and sincere apology for the error. As you may notice in many of my posts, there are errors. This was not in anyway my being disrespectful of your blog identity. I am legally blind in my right eye. Prehaps my use of the word "fight" was inappropriae and what would have been more professioally and politically correct is the use of the term "ARGUE". I didn't realize that you had another response. I was speaking to your post which began with "People are confused in this city. First, we want to address racial imbalances......" and "Why is the norm around here is just not to speak about it?" My point was simply this: It matters how we fight/argue: It also matters where we fight/argue. It also matters what we say when we speak. Lumumba knows that lesson well. It was only a few words that were, in my opinion, TRUE that caused him to lose his license and it took many contributions and a lot of support to turn this situation around. My father use to say, "When your head is in the lion's mouth, you can't snatch it out." I guess you can, but, it leaves such a bloody mess.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-11-29T14:51:59-06:00

ID

161112

Comment

Jay, I've made you a member; you have earned it! ;-) This account is technically "new" for you because you're coming in through Facebook. You should be able to post now as a member and your comments show up right away.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T15:35:14-06:00

ID

161113

Comment

I really don't know how to feel about this investigation. I mean, I suppose that's why an investigation is necessary. I will say this, what a person does on their own personal time is their business. I don't see how Lumumba will be able to proove that these people were made to do this unless they did not, in fact, request personal leave from their jobs. But from what I read, one did and another did and didn't get approval until the day of. I don't know, this seems a little messy to me. More to come, I suppose.

Author

Queen601

Date

2010-11-29T16:00:21-06:00

ID

161114

Comment

Didn't somebody for the AG's office already tell Lumumba that there was nothing improper or illegal about the people from the city clerk's office working for a candidate if they were on their own time? I seem to remember reading that somewhere else.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2010-11-29T16:59:04-06:00

ID

161115

Comment

No, Bubba, I believe you mean Ethics Commission, which said that city employees can campaign on their own time. From what I know about this, it seems like Lumumba suspects that Bluntson influenced them in some way to do it, or that he suspects they weren't planning to officially take the time off. We don't know the truth about all that, yet, but it's safe to say that that would be problematic if true. Also, for the record, it is widely known that city employees campaigned for Melton's re-election on the city's dime. If this practice is continuing, it needs to be investigated and stopped. Lumumba is right to look closer if there is evidence to back it up. And don't forget: Lumumba scored a lot of points by not becoming a lapdog for Melton as Stokes and Bluntson became. You may agree with everything he does (I sure don't), but he is an intelligent man who has not shown a liking for corruption in the past.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-11-29T17:16:33-06:00