Jackson Free Press

Operation Shoestring just announced the panelists for its annual "Conversation About Community" luncheon: Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, former Gov. Haley Barbour and Wells Church pastor Rev. Keith Tonkel.

The event, which highlights and raises funds for Operation Shoestring's work with children and families in central Jackson, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St., 601-969-0114), from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The featured panelists "will make public a conversation that’s been happening in living rooms and around kitchen tables across Jackson for a long time now," states a release about the luncheon. "Our capital city faces a declining tax base, a growing urban-suburban divide, struggling schools, crime and poverty. If Jackson, or Mississippi, for that matter, is going to rise, the solution will require our collective buy-in."

This year's "Conversation About Community" will be a frank, open talk about solutions.

“The potential of this event is enormous. Mayor Lumumba and Gov. Barbour bring vastly different perspectives to the task of moving our city and state forward. Providing a safe space for open dialogue between these two, with a faith-based voice of ‘what’s right’ coming from long-time central Jackson pastor Rev. Tonkel, has the potential to impact the trajectory of our city’s future in a profound way,” said Robert Langford, Operation Shoestring's executive director, in the release.

The organization's signature annual fundraiser was created as a way to put into action its mantra that “we all rise together.” The idea is to create a safe space for people and organizations from across the larger Jackson area, from all walks of life, to engage in open discussion about the critical issues that impact the children and families Shoestring serves in central Jackson and, ultimately, the larger Jackson community.

Tickets are $50, and sponsorships start at $125. Call Stacey Jordan for more information at 601-353-6336 ext. 27, or email [email protected]. Find out more at operationshoestring.org.

Job seekers and students will receive a helping hand as Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and the city of Jackson host the Third Annual Jobs for Jacksonians Job Fair: Graduation Matters on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Metrocenter Mall.

Jacksonians who are seeking employment are urged to attend to discuss employment opportunities with business participants and to register with the city's Jobs for Jacksonians Coordinator for future opportunities.

More than 75 vendors, including local, national and international companies, are expected to have booths.

Other service providers will also be on hand to conduct interviews and resume writing seminars, and to share best practice tips to improve college preparedness. Local colleges and junior colleges will be represented to discuss educational opportunities as well.

The job fair is sponsored by the City of Jackson, the Governor's Job Fair Network of Mississippi, Millsaps College, the Department of Veteran's Affairs and Metrocenter Mall.

With this morning's approval of a city budget, Jackson Zoo officials are hoping to reverse the recent decision to deny the park accreditation.

On Sept. 8, an Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) committee denied renewal of the Jackson Zoo's accreditation citing "concerns of the zoo's financial stability at the time of the accreditation review and hearing," a zoo press release states.

The zoo, which asked the Jackson City Council for $1.4 million to cover its approximately $675,000 budget deficit, blames the denial on the timing of the city budgeting process -- the accrediting hearing took place four days before the council voted on the city's budget.

"Although the mayor (Chokwe Lumumba) provided a firm promise to support the Zoo's request for $1.4 (million) prior to city council's approval of the full budget, the guidelines of the AZA Accreditation Commission clearly state that approved funding must be secured and that conditional or promised funds are not considered sustainable operating funds," the zoo release said.

The zoo also recently received $10,000 from Hinds County and was the subject of a letter-writing campaign ahead of the accreditation hearing, which took place in Kansas City.

Now that the city council has approved its budget, the zoo plans to appeal the accreditation. During the appeals process, the zoo will retain its accreditation with the AZA.

A couple of musical tidbits...

One day only special, $9.11.

The city of Jackson has relaunched an updated version of JacksonMS.gov, the city's official web site.

The revamped site is more aesthetically pleasing, and features easy-to-follow links to basic information about the city. Another re-vamped feature is video of the city council meetings, which had been spotty in the past.

The meeting from yesterday (Sept. 10, 2013) is already on the web site, and meetings will be shown live, going forward.

If you get a minute, check it out.

Todd reviews Devil's Harvest Pale Ale, a brew by Southern Prohibition and a staple in the JFP Beer Fridge.

If you're looking for work or you're ready for a change, it's time to polish your resume.

If you hold a boycott and no one notices, did it ever happen?

The chorus of opposition among environmental advocates and downriver residents against a flood-control lake project is growing louder.

Thursday night, the St. Tammany Parish, La., council passed a resolution opposing a plan proffered by groups with ties to petroleum businessman John McGowan. Known locally as "One Lake," the flood-control plan involves damming the Pearl River to keep flooding down in the capital city and would create water-front development opportunities.

St. Tammany Parish officials are concerned about the proposed lake's effects on water levels, salinity, wetlands and wildlife.

In statement, Andrew Whitehurst, director of water policy director with the Gulf Restoration Network, said: “Combined with existing effects to the Pearl from the Ross Barnett Reservoir, a new 1,500 acre lake in the Jackson area is inevitably going to impact the flow and amount of water that reaches downstream communities like Monticello, Columbia and Pearlington in Mississippi, and Pearl River in Louisiana.

Whitehurst added: "Oyster beds and coastal marshes in both states rely on the vital fresh water that the Pearl provides and this proposed dam is a direct threat to that resource.”

The Jackson Free Press emailed Dallas Quinn, spokesman for Pearl River Vision Foundation, which McGowan created in 2011 for the purposes of completing an environmental-impact assessment that will be used as part of a federal application to proceed with flood plan, and will update the story when Quinn responds.

PRVF and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood Control and Drainage District (Levee Board) recently held a scoping meeting in Jackson to address concerns and questions from members of the public.

The meeting was well attended, but conservation-minded attendees were disappointed with the format. Several people who spoke to the Jackson Free Press believe the meeting was designed to suppress any perceived public opposition to the plan.

Keith Turner, the Levee Board's attorney, said he believed the format was better for soliciting feedback and addressing concerns that a traditional public meeting in which individuals speak from a microphone one after the other.

If after working out in the sweltering sun all day today, and you turned on your faucet for a cool drink only to get a glass full of brown of liquid, don't worry.

It's just a little "discoloration."

The city sent out a discolored water alert today after "experiencing a temporary widespread discolored water occurrence in our distribution system."

The water's perfectly imbibable, according to the release: "The discolored water being experienced during this discolored water episode is SAFE TO DRINK" and " Your water continues to meet all State and federal drinking water standards for public health and safety. NO BOIL WATER ALERT IS IN EFFECT."

City crews are "aggressively flushing lines" to make the water the right color again. In the meantime, you probably shouldn't wash your clothes or run your dishwasher, the city cautions. The city is handing out bottles of Red-B-Gone, a rust-stain remover, to citizens who request it.

Here are some helpful numbers:

Action Line 311
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Water Maintenance
601-960-1777 / 601-960-1778
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Water Lab
601-960-2723
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

After 5:00 PM Monday through Friday and on weekends, please call 601-960-1875.

The Jackson City Council will hold a public hearing on the subject of Chokwe Lumumba's proposed budget at 6 p.m. tonight in council chambers at City Hall.

The meeting follows a 4 p.m. meeting of the council's Budget Committee, chaired by former City Council President Tony Yarber (Ward 6).

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend. It will likely by the last public hearing before the council votes on the budget at next week's regular meeting of the city council on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.

It's not that Gov. Phil Bryant has a problem with gay people. In fact, he might tell even tell you that he knows some gay people. He just doesn't want it done on state property.

This week, for the first time same-sex-loving people could apply for federal benefits under a key U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down earlier this summer.

However, Bryant, who is commander-in-chief of the Mississippi Guard when they're not federalized, has said because Mississippi has a state constitutional ban against gays marrying, same-sex couples would not be able to apply for federal benefits on property the state owns, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Mississippi and Texas are the only states that have decided to bar gay couples from accessing for their constitutionally protected rights. (It's unclear whether Bryant will also block gay couples from exercising their constitutional right to bear arms by not letting them apply for concealed-carry permits or hunting licenses).

As a result of the Mississippi decision, gay people would have to travel to a federal facility (e.g. Meridian's Naval Air Station or Keesler Air Force Base on the Coast) to apply for their rights.

Today, the Mississippi American Civil Liberties Union took Bryant to task for the decision, calling the move "a slap in the face to legally married lesbian and gay service members."

"They should not have to travel when similarly situated heterosexual couples don't have to travel," Bear Atwood, the ACLU's legal director, told the Jackson Free Press this afternoon.

Government officials in 13 other states where gay marriage is also banned — including Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan and Georgia — have decided to honor the sacrifices of its service members and process their benefits applications.

Leave your parking and traffic worries behind and let Jackson's JATRAN do the driving.

An email distributed by former mayoral candidate Jonathan Lee and his "Friday Forum" group, which meets every Friday morning at Koinonia Coffee House, is asking for letters of support for the Jackson Zoo.

The Jackson Zoological Park's accreditation is up for review later this month, and the Community Outreach Committee of the Zoo Area Progressive Partnership (ZAPP) is collecting letters of support on behalf ot he zoo "from residents, businesses, churches and friends of West Jackson" in an effort to help the zoo keep its current status.

"If you haven't written a letter," Lee wrote, "please take a minute to write a few words about your Zoo-going, your interest in keeping the Zoo in West Jackson, your commitment to help re-develop the Zoo area and promote memberships and visits."

Letters will be accepted until Thursday, September 5, and can be addressed to Ms. Beth Poff at [email protected].

An unmarked package delivered to Jackson Women's Health Organization Tuesday afternoon caused a few minutes of panic and prompted the Jackson Police Department to respond by sending the bomb squad and several police cars.

JWHO, the only abortion clinic in the state, called police to report the package, according to JPD Commander John McGowan, who was still on the scene at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"It was an unmarked package that was delivered some time early this afternoon," McGowan said. "It was not properly marked, and the people at the clinic did the right thing and called the police. We had the package x-rayed, and it turned out to be some homemade chocolates."

McGowan said the false alarm is the first call they've had in "quite a while" at the clinic.

The City of Jackson will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28. at Anderson United Methodist Church South at 1315 West McDowell Road to give residents a chance to discuss and ask questions about the mayor's proposed rate hikes on water and sewer services.

A press release from the city yesterday said the meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday night, but it was incorrect, according to the mayor's interim-media liason Latrice Westbrooks.

Westbrooks said Mayor Chokwe Lumumba will be on hand, as well as the city's Director of Public Works Dan Gaillet.

Rep. Angela Cockerham, a Democrat from Magnolia, is joining the House Appropriations and Joint Legislative Budget Committees. Speaker Philip Gunn made the announcement this afternoon. Here's the full release:

Jackson, MS—Today, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn announced his appointment of Rep. Angela Cockerham (D-Magnolia) to the House Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Committee. Rep. Cockerham replaces Rep. George Flaggs (D-Vicksburg) who was sworn in as Mayor of Vicksburg on June 30.

“I am pleased to appoint Rep. Cockerham to fill this position on the House Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Committee,” said Speaker Philip Gunn. “Through her work as Chairman of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Cockerham has been invaluable to the House leadership team. I know she will be an effective member of these committees as they address state budget issues.”

As a member of these committees, Rep. Cockerham will play an active role in crafting the state’s budget. The Legislative Budget Committee is a starting point for the budget crafting process. Once a year, members meet with representatives from all the state agencies who present their estimated budget needs for the next fiscal year. For Fiscal Year 2014, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees agreed to adopt $5.779 billion budget.

“I would like to thank Speaker Philip Gunn for having the continuous confidence in me to appoint me as a member of the Appropriations and Legislative Budget committees,” said Rep. Cockerham. “Speaker Gunn has continuously proven that he is a technician when it comes to achieving a balanced budget and a visionary for economic development. My goals, as a member of these two committees, will be to collaborate with my colleagues as we continue work to find solutions to the major issues that face our constituents and the citizens of Mississippi.

“I am mindful of the many cost issues we are faced with like education, healthcare, and corrections to name a few,” she continued. “As House Energy Chair, I am excited about our country and state's energy future and the impact it is having on my district in Southwest Mississippi. I will approach my new assignments with God at the center of my thought process and the humbleness that my parents remind me of daily.”

Last night was a treat.

The football season officially kicked off with No. 1 Brandon defeating No. 6 Madison Central 21-14 in front of an estimated crowd of 9,000 interested onlookers at Madison's Jaguar Field.

The Bulldogs (1-0) broke a 14-14 tie late in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard Devin Wilson touchdown run. Brandon's highly-touted quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 15 of 28 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and completed a 47-yard pass to Chris Ward to set up the final touchdown.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba at today's special meeting of the Jackson City Council put forth a $502.5 million budget proposal, which represents a 43.3 percent increase in spending over last year's budget of $350.8 million, to be funded by rate increases on water and sewer services and a return of "overfunding" for Jackson Public Schools.

"This can has been kicked down the road for years," Lumumba said. "I don't see the point in kicking it any farther."

The "can" Lumumba referred to is an aging sewer system, a consent decree from the Environmental Protection Agency that calls for $400 million to be spent over the next 18 years, drainage issues and street repair needs that far outpace the budget allocated to fix them. Lumumba admits his new plan won't solve those problems either, but the first-term mayor assured the council and crowd of approximately 50 that his plan is "a step in that direction."

The budget increases a handful of departments by a small percentage, but, under the plan, Public Works would grow by a whopping $22 million to a total of $398 million.

So, how's the city going to pay for it?

If the budget is passed as-is, the average rate for water will increase from $15/mo. to around $21/mo. and the average rate for sewer will shoot from $14.50/mo. to just over $31/mo., according to the Lumumba. For people who can't afford that increase, the city will set aside a special fund - the Vulnerable Peoples Fund - that the mayor said will have $175,000 in it to help people with fixed income.

City Finance Department Spokesman Rick Hill said that increase will produce a little more than $30 million in additional revenue for the city. In addition, Lumumba said 5.53 mills that were never supposed to be allocated to Jackson Public Schools will account for an additional $6.4 million to balance the budget.

The city council has a couple of weeks to research and respond to the mayor's proposal, and a public hearing has been set for 6 p.m., Sept. 5, at City Hall for citizens to weigh in.

Stay tuned!