Jackson, Miss - JFP Frank Melton Blog

The Melton Tapes: Donna Ladd's Interviews with Frank Melton

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:22:54 GMT

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...

Federal Grand Jury Probing Frank Melton?

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:22:56 GMT

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...

Melton Pulls $3 Million From City's Reserves

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:03:00 GMT

by Adam Lynch September 28, 2007 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.

Is the Melton Administration Breaking the City?

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:17:40 GMT

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...

BREAKING: Did Mayor Fire Cops for Muddling Domestic Case?

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:34:51 GMT

by Candy Hagwood and Donna Ladd Sept. 20, 2007 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...

Melton Doesn't Show, Fails to Deliver on Promise

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:50:41 GMT

by Adam Lynch September 7, 2007 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...

Melton to Devise New Budget

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:27:04 GMT

by Adam Lynch September 6, 2007 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.

Melton Asks Warner to Oversee Ex-Con Staff

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:33:23 GMT

by Donna Ladd August 30, 2007 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...

Melton Presents New D.A., Kept Distance During Campaign

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:36:13 GMT

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,...

State of the City: 'Mistakes of the Heart'

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:11:57 GMT

by Adam Lynch August 24, 2007 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...