Jackson Free Press

OK, I have an idea. Let's try an experiment. Let's start a list of the various reasons, positive or negative, that people might move out of Jackson proper. You can't post more than one sentence, and you can't repeat something someone else has said. (This is my blog post; thus, my rules. Smile.) Please add anything you can think of to the list and try not to include any kind of judgement in your entries; your reason may be a perception, but perceptions drive people to do things, so include it! When we get a good list, we'll start talking about each other individually to consider the problem and possible list of solutions. Everyone, please join in.

Previous Comments

ID

162761

Comment

I'll start to get it going: 1. Fear of crime. 2. Belief that public officials are inept, etc. 3. Too many black people. 4. Don't like city living (too many people, too noisy, etc.) 5. Belief that public schools are unsuitable. 6. Can't find a fulfilling job. 7. Can't find a job, or one that pays enough.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:13:53-06:00

ID

162762

Comment

8. Better infrastructure already exists in other cities.

Author

judah

Date

2011-03-25T11:26:20-06:00

ID

162763

Comment

9. Too many potholes. 10. City residents not tolerant enough of ___________ (gays, Republicans, crazy artists). 11. Want to live in a more creative, artsy city with those opportunities. 12. City too liberal/Democratic. Come on, y'all. Add more. Nothing is too small, too large, right or wrong. Bring it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:35:36-06:00

ID

162764

Comment

13. Safer property values elsewhere. 14. Property taxes too high.

Author

Mark Geoffriau

Date

2011-03-25T11:38:11-06:00

ID

162765

Comment

Good ones, Mark and Judah. Who's got No. 15 for us? (Remember, it can be anything you've heard people say whether you agree with it or not.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:41:07-06:00

ID

162766

Comment

15. Fear of flooding. 16. Going to school somewhere else. 17?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:44:08-06:00

ID

162768

Comment

17. "I can't deal with going without water for a week, or wondering if I will have to."

Author

Izzy

Date

2011-03-25T11:45:21-06:00

ID

162769

Comment

18. Knowledge that quality of life and school is better elsewhere.

Author

Darryl

Date

2011-03-25T11:51:56-06:00

ID

162770

Comment

Way to go, all. Let's get No. 19 up. All, just turn around and ask someone to give you reasons they don't live in Jackson or that someone has said to them. Again, these are without judgment and whether or not you think they are accurate. We need an extensive list.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:56:02-06:00

ID

162771

Comment

19. "Moved to Oxford to be closer to my boyfriend. 20. Change of scenery. 21. New start in a new town. But I still love Jackson and call it home." (Posted on my FB page.) 22?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T11:58:47-06:00

ID

162772

Comment

22. Corrupt Politicians. Not all, but they know who they are.

Author

DeGuyz

Date

2011-03-25T12:07:15-06:00

ID

162774

Comment

The FEMA conspiracy That was confirmed in 2007 and the effect it will have on the financial future of the state/

Author

DeGuyz

Date

2011-03-25T12:22:44-06:00

ID

162779

Comment

Langstn, teehee on 24 and 25. But what do you mean by 26? "People leave because they believe fearful things aren't different" doesn't quite make sense to me? Edit?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T12:57:06-06:00

ID

162782

Comment

38. A personal experience with crime that has not been experienced elsewhere. 39. Inadequately resourced public education system. 40. More value for tax investments in outlying communities (education, infrastructure, city services, etc.) 41. Lack of quality daycare/aftercare.

Author

Krystal

Date

2011-03-25T13:34:14-06:00

ID

162783

Comment

42. Lacking education system 43. Not enough to do (or not enough opportunities)

Author

Holly Perkins

Date

2011-03-25T13:34:41-06:00

ID

162786

Comment

44. City will not cut back overgrowth around city-owned creek/ditch near house. 45. City will not clear storm drains on street, causing water to pool and cause erosion. 46. Streetlights do not work. 47. Car burglarized 3 times while parked in carport. 48. Wife's car burglarized while parked in carport. 49. Advised by police officer to not walk dog past 9:00 PM. 50. JPD officer refused to take fingerprints on 3 out of 4 auto burglaries. 51. Water bill increased dramatically. 52. Insurance rates are higher in Jackson zip code. 53. Having to pay for private security patrol just to provide minimum protection. 54. Kenneth Stokes. 55. Economic growth being choked by the levee board. 56. Aggressive panhandlers downtown. 57. Stabbing at King Edward bar.

Author

QB

Date

2011-03-25T14:06:31-06:00

ID

162791

Comment

59. To avoid all the urban hipster wannabes.

Author

bill_jackson

Date

2011-03-25T15:09:14-06:00

ID

162792

Comment

52. Kenneth Stokes

Author

golden eagle

Date

2011-03-25T18:08:44-06:00

ID

162793

Comment

All, wow, you've been busy while I've been in meetings and workshops this afternoon. I went back and re-numbered them. I note that some of you are posting different versions of the same one (like fear of crime), but that's fine for now. We'll streamline the list later. Meantime, keep 'em coming! And here's your weekend homework: Start thinking about why people move to/stay in Jackson. But DO NOT post on this thread. I will do that blog post on Monday.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T18:09:01-06:00

ID

162795

Comment

BTW, what's with the time clock? It show's my last post at 5:08, though I just posted it a few minutes ago at 7:08? Pacific time, maybe?

Author

golden eagle

Date

2011-03-25T18:15:44-06:00

ID

162796

Comment

Here are more posted on my Facebook page today: 53. They are afraid and don't give a damn about their neighbor, their neighbors children, their neighbors property, or their neighborhood! Or for anything else! It is all about ME and screw you attitudes" 54. taxes and public schools. 55. Jackson doesn't embrace its identity as a city (it tries to out suburb the suburbs) 56. Jackson falls short of civic projects (The ugly green lights downtown, semi-fixed fortification street, the painted 'sidewalk' on old canton) 57. Jackson doesn't look to other cities for inspiration (other than a trip or two to little rock, we don't need to reinvent the wheel) 58. The car is king 59. "One important thing to add to the discussion - The people leaving Jackson aren't just going to the suburbs - Nashville, New Orleans, Atlanta, and other cities are sucking up young residents looking for an urban lifestyle" 60. "Some people just need more. They should not be ridiculed by those who want less. A good education may be possible here, but you are limited in what you can do with it. And then there is: Madison Square Garden The Astrodome The Riverwalk (Austin) Cape May The view from anywhere in the Shenandoah Valley and anywhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The ability to go out anywhere at anytime and get exactly what you want and not have to order it from somewhere else. Baltimore Harbor Celebration of diversity in taste and texture" Who's got 61? If we're going to tackle this issue, we've got to get granular about the issues.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T18:19:12-06:00

ID

162797

Comment

No idea, golden. Site seems to be wigging out a bit. Got Todd on it. And Langston, I renumbered the reasons before I saw your question about No. 50. Which one were you actually referring to using the new numbers?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T18:19:51-06:00

ID

162798

Comment

61. "Lost my job and had to move in with my parents." (via e-mail)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-25T18:44:19-06:00

ID

162802

Comment

62. Better shopping. I know specifically of a person who recently moved to Madison and cited better shopping as a reason for his move. He moved from Belhaven and also mentioned crime as a reason.

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2011-03-25T19:39:50-06:00

ID

162804

Comment

76. Taxes are a huge problem. Auto tags, alone, are a reason I hear A LOT. I've been contemplating a move for several years. It's not Jackson I want to leave... It's Mississippi.

Author

kaust

Date

2011-03-26T07:46:15-06:00

ID

162805

Comment

Great work, all. Remember that on Monday, I start a new post: Why people move to/stay in Jackson. Be thinking of reasons over the weekend; it's a good chance to talk to others about. Let's make this a cyber-think tank. Cheers! Now, No. 77?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-26T07:56:19-06:00

ID

162810

Comment

77. Because I can sit on my back porch and listen to the birds and water of the reservoir... not police sirens and traffic.

Author

Darryl

Date

2011-03-26T10:11:16-06:00

ID

162883

Comment

83. If I could have studied what I wanted to study (Forest Ecology, Entomology) in Jackson I would have stayed. But i also realize that since I left I have grown a lot. I want to go home to Jackson when I'm done with school and share all I've learned! Also, being away from Jackson has helped me appreciate it even more.

Author

Lizzie

Date

2011-03-29T12:09:18-06:00

ID

162884

Comment

I feel you, Lizzie. I certainly left for education I couldn't get here (institutionally and in life). And I'm glad I did. That's part of the reason I'm conflicted when people are wholesale attacked for leaving. Sometimes you gotta leave to want to be here. I see that constantly from people of all races. Sometimes I think the folks who complain about it here all the time *need* to leave for a while. They would see how expensive, competitive and less tolerant of some of our Mississippi habits the world can be. They would also see that things aren't as bad here as they think -- and how it's wonderful to be among so many people who care about a place so much. Or they wouldn't. Either way, it's educational. Can't wait to get you back. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-29T12:14:00-06:00

ID

163040

Comment

83. Feelings that both sides go right to emotion and pass right over logical thought or facts in any political debate. Everyone seems to have a throwdown card in Jackson whether it be the race card, the "our neighborhoods will be ruined" card, the religion card, or the wild draw four card of socioeconomic discrimination that both sides play.

Author

Jacksonlibertarian

Date

2011-04-07T16:52:19-06:00