Here at the JFP, we are going into the final push of the city election season before the primaries on May 7. We are still finishing mayoral candidates' JFP interviews (with the goal of doing one for each of them!) and we will be doing additional endorsement interviews with the candidates we deem to be the most competitive in upcoming weeks (starting this week).
We want your help, though. Tell us the questions below that you would ask either all of the candidates or a particular one--include the name(s) if so.
Meantime, read our candidate interviews to date here: http://www.jfp.ms/mayorsrace2013">Mayor's Race 2013 http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/citycouncilrace2013/">Jackson City Council Races 2013
We need your input so please take time to weigh in!
Comments
Knowledge06 11 years ago
Considering the large amount of untaxed property owned by non-profits and churches, would you, as Mayor, consider meeting with the non-profit and church community and asking them to voluntarily make PILOT (Payments In Lieu Of Taxes) payments to the City that would go toward infrastructure improvements (particularly street paving)?
donnaladd 11 years ago
Interesting question, Knowledge. We don't know if this has been done, but we can certainly ask.
Duan 11 years ago
I would like to know if any of the candidates had any ideas on lowering car tag cost and what would be an alternative for raising the revenues needed for the city, if they had the ability to lower the ad valoreum taxes on vehicles?
So to sum up it - lower car tags, where do you make up the difference for the lost revenues?
That's my biggest issue with living in Hinds County.
Knowledge06 11 years ago
Donna, I also found the following from a related PILOT article:
"According to a report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, nationwide, the tax exemption for nonprofits could total as much as $32 billion. The report – the most comprehensive account of PILOT programs in use – said that since 2000, 117 cities and 18 states have used PILOT programs to increase their revenues. While PILOTs remain a revenue source worth pursuing, it must be methodical and justifiable, correcting processes that have been haphazard, secretive and ad hoc."
On the Hinds County website, there is an 'Estimated Taxes' link. If non-profits and churches would put in the value of their property, they would see how much that would have had to pay in taxes in they were not tax exempt. Then they should ask whether or not there is more they can be doing in order to help their City move forward. It doesn't hurt to ask!
swalker 11 years ago
With several large scale developments having a hard time securing bonds and private monies what steps as a Mayor would you take to either speed up the process or stop this from happening. This includes the Old Capitol Green, Farish Street Developement, Convention Center Hotel, Ceva Green Developement to name a few
swalker 11 years ago
As a mayor what will you do to make Jackson more pedestrian friendly? Also what will you do to make Jackson more welcoming to visitors and residence such as around the Jackson Zoo area, Jackson State area, I-20 corridor and Medgar Ever Blvd corridor
EDO120406 11 years ago
I would like to know if any of the candidates would REQUIRE and ENFORCE that ALL Jackson Police Department and Jackson Fire Department live within the City of Jackson. Currently many JPD/JFP live outside of the city, which I think is not good for emergency personnel. They make their money from the City and take it to another municipality...Example: property taxes, car tags, sales taxes. Wouldn't this make more sense to help contribute to making things better as well as give them a little more pride in the City that pays them?
justjess 11 years ago
The "Jackson Plan," according to a "Malcolm X Grassroots Movement" was the "brain child of the Jackson People's Assembly". Chokwe Lumumba is the co-founder of that organization and takes credit for his successful election to the Jackson City Council representing Ward 2.
If elected Mayor of the City of Jackson, will he be able to represent the entire City with all of its citizens? What are his duties and responsibilities to the MXGM?
This Organization seems to be sublimated by Mr. Lumumba now that he is a candidate for Mayor: the question is, "Why and what are you hiding?"
therisingsouuth 11 years ago
hey why not make them candidates release their health records my cousin works at the hospital where one goes and tells me one of em comes in for treatment of some serious stuff and everybody there is talkin about it and the liberal media is not. Its the one who's name i cant pronounce, he says the people must decide but how they gonna decide if he dont tell the truth.
therisingsouuth 11 years ago
2nd attempt - on the malcolm x grassroots group website that lumumba co-founded there is a list of black panther convicted cop killers listed that they support. These people are in prison for murdering both black and white cops and that group supports them. Does Lumumba support these people. Check out the page
http://mxgm.org/category/political-pr...">http://mxgm.org/category/political-pr...
robbier 11 years ago
TheRisingSouth obviously is not a fan of HIPAA.