[Editorial] Jackson: Unite on June 2

May 27, 2009

Division in the city heavily affected both the Democratic mayoral primary and the runoff. It is time to put division aside and turn out June 2 to support the presumptive next mayor of Jackson: Harvey Johnson Jr.

But don’t just show up to vote for Johnson; show up to send a message to the new mayor that (a) you are behind him and (b) you are holding him accountable for his promises during the campaign. Show up to send the message that Jacksonians care about our city, and are willing to put aside our differences to get behind a mayor who told us he has learned from his mistakes.

Then, go home and hold him accountable, as the Jackson Free Press will do for the next four years.

During his first eight years as mayor of Jackson, Johnson did many things very well. He had an overall, long-view development vision instead of going along with every get-rich-quick scheme that came down the pike. He knew how to raise money and balance the budget. He had a relatively drama-free administration. And crime fell dramatically throughout his tenure as mayor. He can’t take full credit for crime dropping, just as a mayor can’t be totally blamed when crime goes up, but he knew that fighting crime is about a whole host of actions, and getting the funds for them—not strapping on a gun and pretending to do it himself.

In many ways, Johnson will find a new city to govern. The election and tenure of Frank Melton taught us many lessons, among them not to listen to media and politicians who take crime statistics out of context, play on our fears and tell us whatever they think we want to hear to maintain their popularity.

When he was mayor before, Johnson faced an extremely unfair, inaccurate and sensationalistic media climate. As a young newspaper then, the Jackson Free Press spent an inordinate amount of time simply correcting the bad information that was put out about crime and his administration—sloppy reporting that hurt the entire city (and gave us Mayor Melton).

We anticipate a very different media climate this time. The corporate media megaphone has shrunk dramatically and, after the Melton debacle, the public is ready for better information, and is willing to fact-check it. The JFP will help create and maintain a climate of transparency about the Johnson administration, as well as challenge bad facts put out by it, or about it.

Still, while Johnson did not create the bad media coverage of him, it is his problem. He must take the lead on creating better communications with all media, as well as critics in the business and political realms, and he must hire top-notch people to make that happen. These people must get us the details we need, and must not hesitate to correct bad information.

The JFP would not have endorsed Johnson had he not pledged to improve communications with the public. We believe he will. Vote June 2 to send him the message that you believe him—and that you will hold him to it.