Long-time Jacksonian Dorothy Triplett sent us this letter earlier today. It is reprinted verbtim:
I supported Mayor Johnson in the primary, and was disappointed that the voters (only 30 percent of the eligible voters) chose not to send him into the runoff. Once I pushed that disappointment down and asked myself for whom I would vote in the runoff, I began my ongoing struggle.
I know and respect both candidates. Both have distinct strengths and weaknesses, as do we all. I have talked with both, attended numerous forums/debates/political accountability sessions and found myself wavering back and forth between them. I've seen/heard the nastiness and the subtle advertising, and my stomach has turned with dismay at the way they (the ads and phone calls, not the individual candidates) played on the fears of citizens, and divided them racially and economically and by neighborhood. I listened to dear friends in both camps tell me why I should vote for one and not the other. I respect their views, and honor their commitment to their candidates.
When I cast my ballot—and I do believe each vote counts—I will do so prayerfully and without fear, and with the knowledge that, ultimately, it's not up to whomever we elect as mayor, but up to US—each and every one of us—to lead this great city into the future.
We will have to give our new mayor our support and put aside our angst and anger, our fear and foreboding, and have the faith that we can do great things, and continue the already-begun journey of changing the negatives of old, crumbling neighborhoods, absentee landlords, long-neglected infrastructure, results of our recent economic downturn (now thankfully moving upward), etc., etc., etc.
We will be better served by focusing on the positives and building on the vision of what CAN be. We will have to band together across this city with people we know and those we have yet to meet and work TOGETHER to make our city shine. And perhaps, if we do that with genuine purpose and resolve, with honesty and intentionality, and with the knowledge that we ALL have value, good ideas and skills, and richness of experience, we will find out more about ourselves and each other.
Dorothy Triplett Jackson
Comments
Capitolinsider 10 years, 11 months ago
That is a nice narrative with a positive spin and I appreciate your optimism. However after reading the Jack-kush plan that Mr. Lumumba wants to implement, I am now fearful for the first time of what will happen to this city if he is elected mayor. Please read for yourself. At the link below.
http://mxgm.org/the-jackson-plan-a-st...">http://mxgm.org/the-jackson-plan-a-st...
If you think any business will want to locate to Jackson with this man's business positions you are sadly mistaken. Businesses seek an environment where the governments will work with them and not against. And from what I read in the Jack-kush plan, this will not occur. If the will of the people is to vote this man into office(and that is their right) that is fine, but do not look toward moderate democrats like myself and ask what happened to your city. You reap what you sow.
patjackson 10 years, 11 months ago
I also truly appreciate the optimism and Faith in this article and strongly believe the race is not over yet. Mr. Francis Smith who is one of the three Independent candidates running for Mayor of the City of Jackson wants to openly challenge Councilman Lumumba...
blkjazz 10 years, 11 months ago
Amen
Knowledge06 10 years, 11 months ago
Isn't it amazing that people like you capitolinsider are always fearful of a black man who advocates for those who don't have a voice. You reference his plan but look how long we've been living on YOUR plan and YOUR candidate's plans. At some point, people like you will have to realize that empowered African Americans, Hispanics and Poor whites benefit everyone. Moderate Democrats in Mississippi are the reason a Democrat can't win a statewide office. They are weak and don't stand for anything. The leadership of Mississippi has aided in preventing the City of Jackson from realizing more of its potential and it's been moderate Democrats like you who have been absent in the City's defense where it matters. You're exactly right about reaping what you sow. Mississippi languishes at the bottom of everything bad and it has reaped what it has sown. The decisions made by leaders of this state in the past and present have guaranteed that this state won't sow any good seeds as a whole until those leaders are changed. Republican and Democrat. The City of Jackson has endured despite the foot that has been on it's neck. The City of Jackson doesn't need people like you who cling to your party and your privileged ideals. You're no better than those who live outside of the City and throw rocks every day trying to break something else. Just as YOU say that 'you reap what you sow', I say that God is not mocked. YOU nor any of the City's detractors can stop God's will. Finally, the people have spoken. You should respect that!
Capitolinsider 10 years, 11 months ago
In an attempt to break down your post here are some bullet points
We have been living my candidates plan??? Look at the city's governance and show me where we have been.
"People like you"....you don't know me and your assumptions of me show your inherent bigotry
Moderate democrats are the only hope of obtaining statewide office
Everyone should be empowered and the suggestion that you think that i think they shouldn't be also shows your assumed bigotry.
Moderate democrats are weak - that is bs - we don't stick to party lines and take ";*+ from both sides. We vote issues not party
Any man who won't speak to me because my business partner standing next to me is white should be called what he is...a racist and is wrong
My privileged ideals..... I grew up in south Jackson from a wonderful mother on food stamps so check yourself and stop assuming. it makes you look ignorant.
PS those who love outside the city(do you mean the people whose towns are flourishing because of lower estate taxes and better schools??)
Gods will never lies within politics. To believe so is for the foolish and those with foolish intentions
In closing, quit assuming who I am and what I stand for. You are the equivalent of a crazy tea partier
tstauffer 10 years, 11 months ago
Folks, I understand it's an emotional night, but please avoid name calling. Disagree agreeably. Thanks!
darryl 10 years, 11 months ago
There goes the last cent that I spend in the "Bold New City." Congratulations, Jack-Kush. It aggrieves me to learn that a racist, seditious human will now lead the city of my birth. Will Jack-Kush follow the same path of Detroit into insolvency and state management in these troubled economic times? Methinks likely. Too bad EBT cards and car-jackings and black-on-black crime aren't the way to build business and a strong tax base. Secede from Mississippi and take the entire second Congressional district with you. Let's see how y'all do on your own. Good riddance.
Knowledge06 10 years, 11 months ago
Who really cares if you take your ball and go home darryl. You make an old saying from the country very true based on your post. And i'll be clean with it. To paraphrase the saying: 'There's one thing that a person like you darryl with a penny hates is someone like me with a nickel'. Keep your penny and your ignorance!
Knowledge06 10 years, 11 months ago
capitolinsider, your issues are obviously personal. Consequently, that's your problem. You too will be fine in whatever misery you have. You're a big boy, whining is for children. I choose to move onward and upward. Where you go is on you!
Capitolinsider 10 years, 11 months ago
No, my issues are of governance and an upwardly mobile populous. While I do not like the man due to him hating my white business partner based on the color of his skin.(which is wrong in case people forgot). I appreciate your views, however I live in the real world. And the fact that 5 different companies called me tonight and stated that they will not be locating to Jackson because of the election. Ideals do not overcome facts.
darryl 10 years, 11 months ago
Please believe me when I say that Capitolinsider and myself are not whining. And to think that misery is what Capitolinsider is pointing out above is blindly insulting. Move on with your bad self "onward and upward." With Obama and Lumumba, your trajectory is greater dependency on a capricious and fettered government that will ensnare MILLIONS upon MILLIONS.
darryl 10 years, 11 months ago
A thousand apologies. I should have said, "unfettered government."
darryl 10 years, 11 months ago
Well, you do apparently. And, thank you, I will. From my vantage point outside the Jack-Kush limits, I will greedily enjoy observing your de-evolution. Let's just see if your nickel (devalued as it will certainly be) will match my cent. Since I have millions of them, party on.
Knowledge06 10 years, 11 months ago
Everybody has a 'story' about the 'so-called' businesses that are going to leave Jackson or not come here. You guys are a joke. Really you are. Cowards make statements like you've made. Name the businesses. I thought so. Fear and ignorance lost this election for you. You obviously didn't learn anything. Further, if the businesses aren't here now, they won't be missed. Additionally, if they're here and are leaving because of this election then good riddance. How's that reality for you. Your privilege is whining now. Your fake millions (yeah right) are fading now. Your reality is also your fantasy. You have NOTHING that I don't. You can't go anywhere that I can't. So spare me and others that foolishness.
dorothyt 10 years, 11 months ago
It seems the persons responding to my letter in this venue are missing my point entirely....perhaps I was not clear in my purpose? My purpose was to suggest that it was time to set aside all of the divisive rhetoric and for each of us to make an individual decision that we join with other citizens who also will make that decision, and then make a corporate decision that we would all work TOGETHER to support whomever is our new mayor, because in the end, it is up to US to make good things happen - "us" meaning the elected officials and the citizens. Please take a deep breath, exhale slowly and get over your angst - and begin to think about, write about and share what you are willing to do to make it better - not attacking people who may not agree with your politics. Our Democratic candidate is Chokwe Lumumba. If/when he wins the general election he will be our mayor, and will need all of us to be willing to give him a chance to do his job, and to do whatever we can to help Jackson to prosper. I hope this is possible for us? Anyone out there willing to change the tone of these responses to say what you are willing to do to help? Thanks! Dorothy Triplett
js1976 10 years, 11 months ago
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js1976 10 years, 11 months ago
Knowledge, fear and ignorance is exactly why Lumumba won! Fear that the small minority in NE Jackson is taking away from the rest of the city, and ignorance for believing this guy isn't still a racist just because he is running for mayor. It's amazing how quickly you deviate from your past when running for public office.
Seems as if you share the same "good riddance" attitude that the majority of leaders in Jackson have. That is until they leave!
justjess 10 years, 11 months ago
@ Dorothy Triplett's Open Letter to Jacksonians
Thanks Dorothy. Your letter was well thoughout and certainy, well written. I, too, as you know was a Johnson supporter and have experienced a deep sense of sadness and loss.
There are issues here that need to be resolved. People usually say bad things out of their fears, real or imagined. Some say things based on past experiences that they fear repeating. There are also issues that will require political postmortem: How did we lose Johnson as a candidate - not even making the run-off? Was Lee really a Republican plant brought in three years ago and with participatory thoughts, behaviors of Republican ideology to defeat Johnson? Who is Lumumba and are the fears of whites and some blacks with/without merit? ....and the list goes on and on.
I think that I know many of the problems. The solution will eventually be those things referenced in Dorthy Triplett's open letter if Jackson is to continue to survive and acheive its goal of becomming a "Destination City".
Positive thoughts can lead to positive behaviors. Positive thoughts and behaviors will lead to a successful Jackson: On our way up and not down the tube.
Scott1962 10 years, 11 months ago
Perception is reality to this country. Therefore, in the eyes of this country Jackson Mississippi is a racist city that just elected a racist mayor and once again insured it's isolation from American business and industry. Lumumba may be the sweetest, most tolerant human being on Earth but to anyone who knows his name his reputation is one of a man whose obsession with advancing the black cause is equaled only by his passion for destroying the white cause. Whether that statement is fact or fiction makes no difference to those who would make the decisions that matter to the city. All that matters is the reputation he made for himself during his life that will follow him into office and cement Jackson's on going reputation as just this side of a joke to the rest of the country. Way to go Jackson. In you never ending desire to "show them" you have managed to elect a man who I doubt seriously you'll find even one person with the qualifications to make the call that will say Jackson will be better off in four years.