Ellington

The Battlefield Community Association has a new way to fight crime in West Jackson: Members are taking the fight to the Legislature.

"Tonight I think we learned that we've taken this fight as far as we can on the local level," said member Robert Denny. "We've talked to the police, the city government and the county government. It's time to take the fight in a different direction."

"We're going to get with our local legislators, Mr. John Reeves and Sen. Robert White, and we're going to put the heat on. We're going to give them everything they need and keep our voices loud until (the Hinds County delegation) hears us loud and clear," said association President Daisy Mildred Davis.

That statement came after hours of back and forth between association members and Police Chief Shirlene Anderson, Jackson Police Department media spokesman Lee Vance, county Supervisor George Smith and Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler.

The association is one of the more energetic neighborhood coalitions, with members increasingly frustrated—and vocal—about a rising tide of drug trafficking and property crime in the area. More vexing still is that George Elementary, a level 5 school, is surrounded by a veritable legion of prostitutes.

Calls to the police department go unanswered, members say. "When I call communications, they do not answer. The only way I can get them to answer is when I use a cell phone that (identifies me) as Jackson, Mississippi," she said.

Vance, initially defensive, explained to the crowd of about 20 meeting in the metal workers union hall on Guidici Street, that the police department is overwhelmed, with 80,000 calls annually in Precinct 2 alone. He handed out his cell number to the crowd but said that when he comes onto the scene, "the whole precinct will have to be there with me."

"Y'all know who the hookers are. We know who the hookers are. We could pick up every hooker around here, and I guarantee you, they'll be out again in two hours, because we don't have enough space in the jail for misdemeanor violators," Vance said. "We ran an operation four weeks ago."

Members shook their heads. "But once they know you can't hold them for misdemeanors, they'll get out there and do whatever they want to do," Davis argued.

"Well, they know that already," Vance replied, adding that residents should cajole their elected leaders into increasing jail space.

Wayne McDaniels, who does recruitment for the sheriff's department, immediately piped in, saying that the county's hands were just as tightly bound, explaining that it would take more than just complaints to expand the jail or build a new one. "It's not about the sheriff's department, the county or the city. It's the citizens. If you want more jail space, you'll have to pay the taxes for it," McDaniels said.

Supervisor George Smith said the county already pays about $7 million to run the jail at its current capacity. "Basically, you'll tell us, 'No, we're not going to pay more taxes,'" Smith contended, pointing out that building a new jail could cost Hinds County taxpayers between $6 million and $10 million.

Then, Curtis Addison drew ire when he implied that JPD is falling behind police departments in places like Madison and Pearl.

"Let me get you out of the habit of comparing apples to oranges," Crisler responded. "Madison does not compare to Jackson. We've got 184,000 people. They have 15,000. That's half of my ward. I've got 31,000 people in my ward. Why do Jacksonians keep comparing Jackson to Madison? Stop doing it."

Crisler gave the crowd a new target. "Look, you called me, and I'm here tonight. You called Mr. Vance, and he's here. Your supervisor's here. Now where's your state representative?" he asked.

He said 38 percent of the city's property is non-taxable, held by churches, non-profits or the state, while the national average of such property in a state capital is 12 percent.

Crisler praised the city's growing support for the $150 million school bond issue, but he added: "We can't keep taxing ourselves to death. I don't want to keep putting referendums in front of y'all. We should have a payment in lieu of tax from the state. We should have a user fee for city services. At 8 in the morning, you can't get into this city. At 5 in the afternoon you can't get out."

He then scoffed at the idea of running off city businesses by taxing their commuting employees. "Where they gonna go? How do you pay for a $500,000 home in Madison? You work in Jackson, that's how. I could put a toll up there, and they'll still come to Jackson, and they know it. Your state legislator should put a user's fee on their income tax. You're working in the city—pay for it," Crisler demanded.

"Legislators know that we're suffering," Crisler explained. "They know I'm telling the truth. They know they have no defense. The only reason they're keeping quiet is because you're keeping quiet to them." Members vowed to have legislators at the next meeting.

Metrocenter Area Coalition Executive Director Nina Holbrook warned that convincing state legislators to pay taxes on their precious tax-free property is going to be a slog through a swamp, however.

"You have to lobby for all that. You can't just take it to them and get it done," said Holbrook, a legislative veteran who's been battling on this particular issue for nine years.