Weill Lone Vote Against New Chiefs

I know that some will disagree with me, but I don't see why there should be any problem with the chiefs meeting with Weill, depending very heavily on the meaning of "private." If this means that Weill should have the time to ask whatever questions he likes, so much the better. If it means "off the public record," such a meeting would likely be illegal.

Regardless, it seems arbitrary and undemocratic to me that questions should be limited to three minutes. Anyone who has ever been to the council knows that they give over endless hours to discussing all manner of topics. How does the tight limit serve democracy?

I am not surprised that Bluntson supports a sort of unitary executive theory of confirmation. How he got elected council president is a mystery to me.

Also, three cheers for Lumumba's effort to create a citizen review board. The Internal Affairs office of the JPD is a black hole. Complaints go in and are never seen or heard from again. There is no real oversight of the police department.

Brian C. Johnson, I understand your point; however, the operative word is "Private." What sounds so disingenuous about Lumumba's efforts is he was setting new rules after the fact. Johnson had already made his appointments and the duty of the Council, under present by laws was to vote the person up or down. There was no provision for a citizen review board.

I'm not saying that this is a bad idea. I'm only saying that Johnson should not be held to standards that are not written and approved. It is also interesting that Weill did not ask for a "Private Confirmation Hearing" when McMillin and Dale Danks drafted an aggrement with melton for McMillin to serve as Jackson's Chief. McMillin publicly said that he would not answer to melton. Remember, McMillin was both Sheriff of Hinds County and Chief of Police for the City of Jackson.

Think about it. It makes some of us go WTF when the elephant in the room is not seen by those sitting next to him.

Maybe Weill's and Lumumba's time will be better spent working on a plan for the Citizens of Jackson to make the Chief of Police's job one to be voted on by the citizenry. That way, each citizen could vote their choice.

First, I think Weill is overdoing the political thing, and it'll backfire on him, covering up his good points.

One good point is that the Council should have gotten to meet with the chiefs. And there is nothing wrong with asking for the bond numbers -- but the way he did is going to put the administration on the defensive. If you're not playing politics, you can do it without making not-so-veiled accusations about wrongdoing.

Now, if what Weill wants is the old status quo where his ward is always attacking this mayor, then maybe that's why he'd do it that way.

But that's so tired, and counter-productive.

As for the administration, I am worried that they are coming across too closed. And I am hearing way too much about putting public-records requests it with the City Clerk for public information that ought to be readily available on demand, on a Web site even.

We are getting information we've asking for, but I am having to push by the kneejerk response from some of going to the city clerk. City managers need to be empowered to hand over clearly public information without rigamorole. After all, it belongs to the public, and they are all public servants.

And justjess, I want to see Johnson lead the way on more citizen input and sunshine, not hide behind laws that say he doesn't have to do certain things. That's what a truly progressive mayor would do; it's why we endorsed him this time.

I really don't want to see status quo -- of political attacks from Republican Jackson and defensive bunker mentality from the Democratic mayor. This is bad for the city.

....but let's have a more logical, rational and reasonable approach to this request of transparancy. The actions by Weill and Lamumba were simple: Lamamba wanted Tyrone Lewis to stay in the position as Chief of Police and Weill has not gotten over Crisler's loss and McMillin's desertion of the job. Lamumba did not hide his feelings and what he would do if he were Mayor. He spoke openly about HIS CHOICE of keeping Lewis as Chief.There are over 100 appointments to be made by the Mayor for City positions. Will there be a public hearing for each of these persons and if the answer is no, the question becomes, "WHY NOT?"

Johnson is a guy who plays by the rules and because Weill and Lumumba want to call them as they see fit is unfair and a bog-down for anyone who is trying to do a good job. If the rules, guidelines and laws are ones that you don't like, work toward the changing of the law not against the person who is governing within the peramaters of what has been approved as the standard for operation.

Remember that Johnson was accused of not "ringing his own bell" and that many of the citizens did not know all of the things that he was doing to improve the City. He took a beaten from the Clarion Ledger and many citizens in influential positions.

A burned child, dreads the FIRE. I'm sure that Johnson is doing those things that are legal and necessary to avoid being smothered (X2)by the smoke.