Ellington

This morning, a diverse coalition of Jacksonians is celebrating the apparent victory of the referendum to support a small hospitality tax for a Jackson Convention Center. There are still some absentee and provisional ballots to be counted, but the measure is leading by some 68 percent, and needs 60 percent to pass. This victory is significant because of the fierce opposition mounted by both people who are genuinely concerned about the long-term viability of the convention center, as well as a fiercely anti-Jackson contingent, which seems determined to stymie any progress in the city.

Previous Comments

ID

168361

Comment

Well, thank God that won (at least it seems so thus far). I guess everyone hates Bush so bad they are blinded to see at least we won a battle for downtown Jackson. We really needed this. Now Deuce and the gang can go ahead with the renovation of the King Edward, too. I seriously think Kerry was almost as bad as Bush anyway. Bush is crazy, Kerry is completely and totally spineless.

Author

jlp

Date

2004-11-03T14:54:40-06:00

ID

168362

Comment

He would have appointed better Supreme Court justices, though, without a doubt. The Convention Center win is exciting -- and shows what can be done locally. I believe I mentioned that elsewhere today, but maybe I just thought it. And, it's not about "hate," jlp, as much you might want it to be. I'm trying to understand the people who voted for Bush this time; why not try to do the same about the people who voted against him?

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-03T14:59:42-06:00

ID

168363

Comment

I have lived in Jackson almost all of my life, and my wife and I are planning on living here for the duration. I'm all for anything that will revitalize the downtown area specifically, and Jackson in general. However, I have some concerns about the convention center. If I see a return on my tax dollars spent, that's great, but I wonder if the taxes will actually come back down once it's paid for, and I wonder if enough groups will use it to make it successful. I hear folks say we're losing potential revenue because we don't have a convention center, and yet I don't hear the names of the various organizations that won't come to Jackson because we don't have one. I feel like the philosophy behind building it is akin to Kevin Costner's in Field of Dreams, if we build it, they will come. I just don't feel that's necessarily true.

Author

CodeCutter

Date

2004-11-08T20:03:25-06:00

ID

168364

Comment

Code, If you haven't seen it already, check out the story and discussion we've done already on the Convention Center. It addresses some of your concerns. The key, we believe, is keeping an eye out to make sure it's done correctly.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-08T21:29:59-06:00

ID

168365

Comment

Thank you! Sorry about posting something that's already been covered. There's so much to read, and so little time. :-)

Author

CodeCutter

Date

2004-11-08T21:34:52-06:00

ID

168366

Comment

No prob, Code; just didn't want you to miss something useful!

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-08T22:03:19-06:00