This blog is about Mayor Frank Melton of Jackson, Miss. It contains regular blog postings about the mayor, as well as links to all Jackson Free Press stories and columns about Melton.
Mantra
“Help is on the way!"
— Mayor Frank Melton's campaign slogan
In spring 2006, Mayor Frank Melton broke his 14-month silence toward the Jackson Free Press, after refusing to give an interview to the newspaper after critical coverage of his campaign by JFP editor Donna Ladd, who was later joined by Adam Lynch and Brian Johnson. Over several weeks, Ladd spent many hours interviewing Melton, and went on two ride-alongs with him and police officers on the Mobile Command Center. Here are transcripts of those interviews:
The Jackson Free Press has gotten reports over the last week that people high up in the Melton administration are appearing before a federal grand jury this week to testify about his actions. Sources tell us that City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly Evans was scheduled to appear yesterday, and The Clarion-Ledger reported today that Police Chief Shirlene Anderson appeared yesterday. Sources have said for months that the FBI is probing a variety of actions by Melton—from the Ridgeway duplex demolition to possibly illegal searches to reports of influence over the awarding of public contracts.
The administration of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton got its wish from the council in a 3-to-2 vote in favor of raiding $3 million from the city’s $7 million budget reserve fund to fix a lingering hole in the 2007 budget. “I don’t like the idea of taking money out of the fund, but I don’t see any other way to deal with (the shortfall)," Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes said.
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The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that the Melton administration revealed to City Council today that they still need $3 million in order to balance the city's budget—even though Council has already adopted a 2008 budget, which was supposed to balance the budget. The city wants to borrow the $3 million from the city's 7 million reserve fund. Administration officials refused to show up at a 2 p.m. budget meeting to answer questions about the shortfall, the Ledger reported.
More details when Adam Lynch returns from City Hall.
Sources tell the Jackson Free Press that Mayor Frank Melton may have fired police officers who muddled the response to reports on Ludlow Street Monday that Henry Phillips, 50, was brandishing a weapon outside the house of his ex-girlfriend, Doris Shavers, 40.
The Jackson Free Press was at the Ludlow Street home yesterday prior to Melton's arrival on the scene, photographing shell casings that investigators had left in the house. People in the neighborhood were trying to guard the perimeter of the yard because police also left shell casings in the grass, from shots Phillips allegedly fired at other family and neighbors, in case police decided they wanted them. When Melton and his entourage came at 3 p.m., accompanied by WLBT and The Clarion-Ledger, he went in the home, spoke privately with the family and then his police entourage bagged and took the shell casings that had been left behind.
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Amid rumors that he is en route to Las Vegas for a music awards event, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton fell through on his pronouncement to deliver a new budget proposal this morning—and didn't show up himself for city budget meetings. Melton told the council yesterday that he would procure a new budget himself overnight that did not include a tax increase, after enduring accusations from council members that his preferences—such as cuts to JATRAN and the JRA—were not reflected in the current budget proposal.
“With the president’s approval, I’ll have this budget balanced in the morning. You’re not going to like it, but I will balance it in the morning,” Melton told council members yesterday.
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Jackson Mayor Frank Melton told City Council members this morning to toss out the current city budget after some members criticized the discord between the mayor and his own budget. He vowed to produce a new budget by tomorrow morning.
Melton discredited his current budget yesterday, telling a Clarion-Ledger reporter that he did not agree with his own budget proposal’s call for a tax increase.
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At District Attorney-elect Robert Smith’s victory party, Mayor Frank Melton said that Smith is one of his long-time “kids” who will now help him with the young men of Jackson he is trying to save. "I thank God tonight that I have somebody now who will help me with these children ... who will put these drug dealers in jail."
A primary way Melton is trying to save young people is by giving them city jobs ranging from lawn workers to managerial positions in Parks and other departments. The day before the election, Melton announced that the “formerly incarcerated” would be directed by Marlon Warner—a formerly incarcerated man who pled to the lesser charge of manslaughter in 1994 after being charged with the murder of Willie Everett. More recently, Warner, 33, pled to possession of cocaine on Feb. 2, 2005. The private attorney who asked for that plea deal was Robert Smith.
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Citizen bloggers are reporting that a jubilant Mayor Frank Melton introduced Robert Smith, his choice for district attorney, last night at Smith's campaign gathering. In his remarks, made before Smith's, the mayor said that Smith was his choice for the office, but that he had needed to keep his distance during the campaign. Melton remarked to the cameras using first person: "The first thing that we have to do is take care of the staff." In a Clarion-Ledger photo this morning, Melton politicial operative Bob Hickingbottom is grinning over Smith's shoulder.
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Lots of determination, but no details formed the substance of Mayor Frank Melton’s State of the City Address at the Alamo Theatre this morning. An emotional Melton, who is under investigation by the FBI, took the stage after an introduction from his 82-year-old Cuban aunt, apologizing for a myriad of snafus during his two-year term as mayor. “I’ve made some mistakes, but they’ve been mistakes of the heart,” Melton told the audience. “… I cannot and will not do anything that’s designed to hurt another human being. That’s not my nature.”
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Feb 08, 08 | 11:13 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? golden eagle '97: Elmer Melton has been verwy, verwy quiet lately. In fact, a little too quiet. That's a good thing, if you ask me....
Feb 08, 08 | 10:50 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? Ray Carter: Freed at last. Thank God Almighty they didn't find anything, and Frank is free at last. Now he can get back to work at taking Jackson where we haven't been before....
Jan 31, 08 | 9:42 am City's War on Sex Toys Is Back L.W.: I watched that report for about five seconds. Didn't interest me....
Jan 31, 08 | 9:25 am City's War on Sex Toys Is Back golden eagle '97: Anybody watch WLBT's 10pm newscast last night? Reporter Kandiss Krone went undercover to the adult video store on McDowell Rd. and bought a sex toy. Later, she walked into the owner's office and said who she was and told him that selling sex toys in...
Dec 08, 07 | 12:10 am Frank Melton vs. King Edward FriendsofJackson: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071205/BIZ/712050415
Well, it's happening. Reconstruction of the King Edward has begun, according...
Nov 21, 07 | 1:34 pm City's War on Sex Toys Is Back kaust: Love this...
"It's absolutely outrageous an attorney general would squander our tax dollars and barge into our bedrooms and tell us what we can and cannot do in Alabama," Nall says. "We have real crime in Alabama."
So she has organized a...
Oct 15, 07 | 11:02 am BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case? pressthefight: The police officers would have to go through civil service hearing in order to be fired. FM can't fire them just because he wants to. Its not WLBT anymore, just because someone won't do what you want or like you can't get rid of them. ...
Oct 15, 07 | 11:00 am BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case? pressthefight: There’s something screwy with that.
Where was security?
Where was the JPD when a few ticket office workers were putting $200K in an SUV?
How did the folks with guns in the white sedan know JUST when to show up as the workers were putting the...
Oct 11, 07 | 2:37 pm Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? L.W.: Here's a little something to keep Melton's mind off the FBI probe.
Pike, that's one kind of probe that I don't want to deal with any time soon. LOL
Anyway, thanks for the NPR link. I learned a lot from it....
Oct 11, 07 | 1:03 pm Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? Ray Carter: Justjess, my big brothers made me learn this poem when I pledged a fraternity. I still try to live by this creed....
Oct 11, 07 | 12:42 pm Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? justjess: IF you think you are beaten, you are;
IF you think you dare not, you don't.
IF you would like to WIN but, think you can't;
It's almost a cinch, YOU WON'T!
Life's battle's don't always go,
To the wicked or evil man;
And SOONER or LATER the...
Oct 11, 07 | 12:02 pm Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? pikersam: True, chris. The Feds only stepped in to Michael Vick's dog fighting ring because it was a slam dunk. Same thing with Scooter Libby.
Here's a good piece on Federal Grand Juries...
Oct 11, 07 | 11:58 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? Ray Carter: Frank is way ahead of the Federal Government. His boys have been promoted timely and hamdsomely to silence and Frank can hire any lawyers he wants. Frank walks even if indicted. Sarah, Shirlene and other minions don't know enough to hurt Frank....
Oct 11, 07 | 11:48 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? ChrisCavanaugh: I heard the 'rumor' on Monday that a Federal Grand Jury had convened. Now the press and City employees, plus the Mayor, are confirming. So, is it in our favor? I dare not get my hopes up too far, but just the fact that they have convened is...
Oct 11, 07 | 11:46 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? NewJackson: i hope they are in our favor, indict frank please and this time he needs to resign or be forced to....
Oct 11, 07 | 11:45 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? pikersam: I doubt they will tell the truth...
Here's a little something to keep Melton's mind off the FBI probe. ...
Oct 11, 07 | 10:48 am Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton? ladd: Rumors are flying, but the best word I have so far is that the grand jury has been meeting all week, and the chief, O'Reilly-Evans and at least four others have testified so far....
Oct 03, 07 | 10:15 am City's War on Sex Toys Is Back justjess: OK Blogging Buddies, nut melton and his fruit cakes have finally made Jackson a safe City by locking up the dildos. NOW I can sleep at night.
Next on the agenda is for nut melton and his fruit cakes to find the person(s) you stole the $5,000.00...
Oct 03, 07 | 7:57 am City's War on Sex Toys Is Back pikersam: The US Supreme Court gives new meaning to Alabama's backwards a** law banning sex toys.
Word for today: pecuniary
Hero quote: 'My motto has been they are...
Sep 29, 07 | 9:00 pm Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves Joerob: If Melton wouldn't have cancelled the contract the city had with the D.C. marketing firm, the city would have MORE than enough to cover the three million dollar deficit. The DC firm was bringing the city 10 million dollars a year, but for some...
Sep 28, 07 | 9:37 pm Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves BJM: This mayor will never state responsibility for his lack of leadship and understanding. Now its Havey's fault, the crime problem was Faye's problem. He is just incompentent along with his followers. Jackson is sinking and will sink even farther as...
Sep 28, 07 | 1:08 pm Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves justjess: Isn't it interesting that Johnson is so willing to make comments and vicariously give directions to this mayor. Instead of taking notes and getting in gear for the nest storm, he is busy calling a Council Person a God Da$% Idiot.
My Lord, what...
Sep 28, 07 | 12:31 pm Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves lanier77: I tell my children, "don't lecture me on what other kids did or are doing", my only concern is you. As usual, everytime he gets in trouble, Melton wants to point the finger at Harvey Johnson's administration. Frank you claimed you could do more in...
Sep 28, 07 | 11:46 am Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves Cliff Cargill: I moved this comment I made to this thread:
Isn't the city "self insured"? That is, the city of Jackson pays its own lawsuits out of that fund.
So, another year of little frankie and there won't be any of that reserve left. All this while he...
Sep 25, 07 | 10:38 am Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? justjess: frank told the citizens of Jackson that it was easy being a mayor. "All you have to do is sit behind a desk and sign papers all day." He further stated that he did not like sitting behind a desk and that he would be out in the City getting rid of...
Sep 24, 07 | 9:01 pm Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? Cliff Cargill: I can't understand why y'all won't let little frankie do his job.
Little frankie knows what is best for you. Here drink this Kool-Aid and it will be OK........
Sep 24, 07 | 4:50 pm Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? Ray Carter: Hearts, minds and spirits broken, why not the pockets too? Meltonomics is like Bushonomics - without a plan or aim. ...
Sep 24, 07 | 4:45 pm Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? ladd: I'm not sure I've ever seen a more incompetent bunch of yucks in my life.
Melton, Walker, O'Reilly-Evans and Anderson need to go, at the very least....
Sep 24, 07 | 4:43 pm Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? ladd: Understand that this is only Ledger stuff for now, and you know how well we can trust that.
BUT, if it's true, guys ......
Sep 24, 07 | 4:42 pm Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City? pikersam: Q: Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City?
A: YES!
I was wondering about the shortfall for this year. Something didn't seem right from the media reports or what Walker and Co. were telling the Council.
But, it's not Blunston's...
Sep 24, 07 | 3:02 pm BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case? jeff lucas: There’s something screwy with that.
Where was security?
Where was the JPD when a few ticket office workers were putting $200K in an SUV?
How did the folks with guns in the white sedan know JUST when to show up as the workers were putting...
Sep 24, 07 | 2:51 pm BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case? justjess: Thanks Jennifer2. I hope those guys were insured by someone. They should have done something with Lords of London. Just employing the services of a Wells Fargo truck would have saved the day. I wonder if their expenses had been taken from the...
Sep 24, 07 | 2:47 pm BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case? Jennifer2: No liability. The Due Process Clause does not impose a special duty on the State to provide services to the public for protection against private actors if the State did not create those harms. The case law stems from a United States Supreme Court...
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