Ellington

Both The Clarion-Ledger and the Associated Press have now reported on the Aug. 9 letter Assistant Fire Chief Charles Anthony Davis wrote Firefighter Sidney Johnson demanding documentation substatianting "allegations" Johnson made to the media regarding the city's ISO rating. What both stories omitted was that the "media" in question was the Jackson Free Press. In fact, Davis' letter mentions the Jackson Free Press in its very first sentence, and the entire matter refers to a JFP feature, "Melton Withdraws Chandler...Again" published on July 19, 2006.

Once more, The Clarion-Ledger seems downright allergic to mentioning this publication's name, even when the news itself demands it.

The letter itself makes for interesting reading. Keep your eyes peeled for the full story here in coming days.

Previous Comments

ID

122841

Comment

It's very interesting to read this threatening letter. Note the litany of things that the firefighter is being asked to "prove," based on one single statement of opinion stated to the JFP about the public's potential safety: Chandler's three-person rule also puts the city's ISO rating at risk, raising the possibility of higher homeowners insurance within city limits ...

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-14T17:17:00-06:00

ID

122842

Comment

Yeah, I was wondering about that this morning. I was like "media?"

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-08-14T18:23:18-06:00

ID

122843

Comment

Yeah. Well, you know that would say it if it had been them reporting the firefighters' concerns. AT this point, you can pretty much assume that when other media here say something vague about "the media," or say something they are publishing "was obtained," that it somehow involves the JFP. It's truly remarkable how bad their attribution habits are. Of course, if that food plagiarism only qualified as an "attribution" problem, maybe they have no idea that reporting something another outlet broke without "attribution" is also considered plagiarism. In this case, it's just a really goofy, and transparent, sin of omission.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-14T18:34:09-06:00

ID

122844

Comment

Reminds me of another publication, now defunct, that went through my Chief Moore interview a couple years back and simply lifted quotes he had said only to me, sitting in his office alone, and then ran them as the basis of a story. That, too, was plagiarism.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-14T18:36:17-06:00

ID

122845

Comment

The CL now has an update on the firefighters, some have been suspended with pay. This is odd stuff. Again here is another example of FM with foot in mouth disease. Will he ever stop.

Author

jada

Date

2006-08-14T21:33:43-06:00

ID

122846

Comment

We don't have a firedepartment, we have Days of Our Lives.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-08-14T21:52:33-06:00

ID

122847

Comment

Isn't Davis that same loudmouth that has been complaining about the fire department for so long? You mean that they actually made him a chief? Why won't he return calls to the media? I'll bet that the ACLU is going to have a field day with this one.

Author

rufus

Date

2006-08-14T22:21:51-06:00

ID

122848

Comment

Am I the only one who recalls that the Clarion Ledger did a story the other day also regarding this threatening letter where Mayor Frank Melton is quoted stating that there would be NO disciplinary action taken AND that the firefighters had the RIGHT to speak to the media? I bring that up only in regards to the fact that I just watched the news and I also saw that these idiots have now suspended five firemen. How can it be over anything else? Does Melton not stand by what he is quoted as saying? Duh - that was a stupid question wasn't it? I personally hope that these firemen that have been suspended sue the hell out of all parties involved. This problem in the fire dept has been on-going and present in the media now for more than a year. Prior to the Melton Administration you rarely heard anything about the fire dept. except the normal reports of their being called to fire's etc. It is obvious that this dept has NO LEADERSHIP, and apparently is being run by a bunch of idiots. Does this person, Davis not have a grasp of 1st Amendment Rights which are given freely to EVERYONE? Also, is this the same Davis that the fire dept. has had so many problems with in the past?

Author

Katie D

Date

2006-08-14T22:25:18-06:00

ID

122849

Comment

Actually, I think Davis hired Dale Danks and sued the City several years back. Not only that, he was not supposed to be re-hired by JFD. That part the C-L mentions in the story. Of course today's money quote about the suspensions is: Melton said he did not know why the firefighters were suspended but said they had "shown me great disrespect" by talking to the media before talking to him. ROTFLMAO!!!!!! Oh yeah, there's that pesky "media" again in today's story! ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-08-15T08:06:31-06:00

ID

122850

Comment

Pikersam, I am also hearing that regarding Davis "....he was not supposed to be re-hired by JFD." Sooooo, why is he back? And I would love to understand why someone who has sued the city is now in a position of authority IF he was not to be re-hired within that dept? Do you know what the purpose of that suit was? I still stand by my statement however, that these firemen should sue! Melton is quoted as saying no disciplinary action will be taken, and then today in the 'pesky' media, stated that he supported the chiefs decision because they didn't follow the chain of command by talking to HIM! According to a comment by the president of the union, Brandon (don't recall his last name) he stated that calls to the mayor's office went un-returned many times. You can't tell people to contact you and then refuse to speak with them! How stupid is that? I'm afraid Melton has 'royally screwed himself once again' because it is now in black - n - white that 1) no disciplinary action will be taken against these individuals for speaking to the media; 2) he supports the disciplinary action by the Chandler. Maybe I'm the one who is confused here (don't think I am) but Melton just set himself, the city, fire dept. and the fire dept. administration up for a huge law suit, and that does not even include what Davis has done himself to facilitate lawsuits! I am slightly confused however by the quote of Ben Allen as stating he, "is sick of it". Referencing the problems within the fire dept. If fire dept. problems have been on-going for as many years as he claims then it appears that it has NEVER been handled! If you've been on the city council for 9 years, would it not be safe to say that this current situation is an accumulation of lack of resolve within that time frame? Granted I have not lived in Jackson for an entire 9 years, but in the years that I have resided in what once was a progressive and enjoyable city, it has only been over the last 12-14 months that I have heard publicly about the 'problems' within the fire dept. Unfortunantly, it appears they have become intense since the 'Melton Admin.' has taken office, and put Chandler into the Chief's position. As a home owner within the city of Jackson, the point made by one of the fireman that was suspended in the Clarion Ledger this morning, that you already have too few firemen working, then you place 5 on suspension, DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR THE CITIZENS OF JACKSON! From the information I have obtained simply by reading news media reports and reports on television, apparently ALL or MAJORITY of these individuals were officer's! My Gawd, who is leading their teams now? I foresee many legal battles erupting if for no reason other than violation of the 1st Ammendment Rights! Speaking of which....where is the ACLU or NAACP on this issue?

Author

Katie D

Date

2006-08-15T09:04:32-06:00

ID

122851

Comment

A blogger was angered by the reference of FM being a "Little Hitler" and I tried hard not to buy into this association; however, the deck is being stacked with maneuvers that are definitely "Hitler-like." I keep asking, "are these things happening out of arrogance. ignorance, meaness or a combination of the three?" This city is being torn apart limb by limb. Everday it is a different crop of crap but, set up by the same person, FM. It is evident that they read the JFP but, they don't want the public to read it. This is a travesty! The CL is also participating in some "Hitler-Like" behavior. They are attempting to kill the informed voices of this community. If you take away a person's right to speak, there are many unintentional consequences. In this case, it is the financial death of this city. The Jackson Free Press is viewed as an "underground" newspaper by the CL (evidenced by their "media control boxes" and their "media control pills" ) that they try to give citizens daily in their newspapers.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-08-15T10:01:28-06:00

ID

122852

Comment

I believe the Tony Davis case was settled during the last year of the Johnson Administration. Does this make it public information? Any hope of obtaining what the City agreed to do? If Danks brokered the settlement, can he comment regarding this man's being on the City's payroll?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-08-15T10:44:35-06:00

ID

122853

Comment

Yes, this thing is getting more bizarre by the day. The Clarion-Ledger story today contains all sorts of interesting twists and turns—beyond the fact that they simply refuse to mention the name of the "Jackson Free Press" in print. That's just goofy, and speaks to their paranoia. But the bigger issue, of course, is the First Amendment right of these public public-safety employees to speak up when they believe the public's safety is at risk. And Melton, despite his flipflopping on supporting the firefighters, doesn't even deny that public safety is a factor. Look at the end of the article: Before Chandler's nomination hearing, several firefighters told the media that 5-percent budget cuts mandated by Melton earlier in the year had resulted in cuts in overtime in an already shorthanded department. The result has been more crews responding to blazes without the requisite number of firefighters, they said. In addition, the firefighters said the budget cuts also had left fire stations short of basic supplies like toilet paper and dish soap. Melton said it appears firefighters' claims of being short staffed are correct. He said he wants the city to pay for a new class of fire recruits to ease the manpower shortage. I guess the best part of this mess is that it will bring needed attention to problems in the Fire Department (being that the other media weren't paying much attention). The worst part is, yet again, Jackson is going to get negative media coverage for being run by people who have no clue about the Constitution.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-15T11:17:09-06:00

ID

122854

Comment

BTW, here are the media's—er, Adam Lynch's—stories that opened this can of worms: November 23, 2005 - Firefighters Griping Over New Chief January 18, 2006 - Is Fire Department Up to Par? February 22, 2006 - Mayor Axing Police, Fire Budgets March 8, 2006 - Fireman Goes Federal April 19, 2006 - Up In Smoke July 19, 2006 - Melton Withdraws Chandler ... Again

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-15T11:24:14-06:00

ID

122855

Comment

It seems that an online Clarion-Ledger story about the suspensions dated Aug. 14 actually mentioned the Jackson Free Press, albeit it in a misleading fashion: Johnson told The Clarion-Ledger and the Jackson Free Press last month that budget cuts imposed by interim Fire Chief Todd Chandler had resulted in serious manpower shortages. At the time, Chandler was up for confirmation by the Jackson City Council, but Mayor Frank Melton pulled the nomination for lack of support. Actually, the Jackson Free Press first quoted Mr. Johnson in March. So far, I have not found the article in The Clarion-Ledger quoting Mr. Johnson, from "last month" or any other time. Anyone else find it? I'm starting to feel a bit like the Ledge, and Mr. Joyner, are trying to hitch a ride on Adam's long-time reporting on this issue. And that would not be ethical. Oh, and the threatening letter to Mr. Johnson did not mention The Clarion-Ledger, either. What the hell is that paper up to now?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-15T11:47:15-06:00

ID

122856

Comment

As I understand it, Asst. Fire Chief Davis came back to work because the terms of his settlement have not been met. The agreement called for an unspecified amount of money to be paid by the City to Davis and his part of the agreement was that he would leave. Guess what - the City has not paid and Davis has returned.

Author

JenniferGriffin

Date

2006-08-15T12:24:03-06:00

ID

122857

Comment

It's also intriguing that The Clarion-Ledger—which has discovered the power of PDFs of late—is not posting PDFs on this story. Wonder why that would be. I'm not sure I've ever seen a story where links to one's own coverage, and that of other media, would be more relevant to the news than in this one. But, nothin'.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-15T12:35:03-06:00

ID

122858

Comment

I agree with the Days of Our Lives theme - another exciting day in life of Jackson. When will it stop? The Fire Department is just like every other city office - it's being run by people who don't have a clue. Chandler and Davis were put into office - huh - still trying to figue that one out. Neither have the training or the competency to run the largest department in the state - duh Frank- let's quit doing favors to friends and put some people in place that know how to protect the citizens of Jackson. Homeowners - be scared - look who's running the department. Davis DID settle with the City - WAS paid and signed off - he WOULD NOT be allowed to work for the fire department - see anything wrong with this picture? Chandler has a forestry degree. . .what next - daycare techer in charge?

Author

wisher

Date

2006-08-15T15:42:59-06:00