Ellington

Also see Darren Schwindaman's cartoon.

It is time for a reckoning.

The myth that has been Frank Melton is now exposed for all to see. Ever since the JFP's Adam Lynch told the city, on Sept. 1, about what really went on when Melton cut his hand "on a drug raid" on Aug. 27, the busted-up duplex has become a symbol of what happens when an illusion is shattered, when a superhero is dethroned.

The truth is ugly and painful. It's hard to look at it, but we must. The most powerful truth that came out of the events of that night is that every single American has rights, no matter how poor, how disconnected, how abused. As civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph said many years ago: "A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess."

The most significant result of that night, and Adam's reporting of it, is not that Melton may go to prison, or that he may resign the mayor's office. Both of those things need to happen if the accusations are true. Not one or the other, but both.

Most vitally, some of our weakest residents found their voices. They were listened to. They were the focus of media coverage, drawing out reporters and city officials who seldom go west of Bailey Avenue. The very people who have been the most frequent target of Frank Melton's warrantless searches and supposedly "loving" harassment may be about to bring down a very powerful, near-mythological figure who brought lawlessness to Jackson in the name of fighting crime.

This is the way it's supposed to work in America. "Justice is never given; it is exacted," as Randolph warned us.

But regardless of what happens next to Melton, the rest of us have hard work to do. We must join together to heal this city and, along the way, do some soul-searching about why a man like Melton, with a long history of lying, trashing people's characters, sensationalizing crime for political reasons and violating the rights of our weakest citizens, rose to this cult status in the first place.

There will always be people who will try to gain power by any nefarious means necessary; the question is why our community allowed him to get away with it for so long. If we can answer that question honestly, we may well come out better off in the long run and grow into a more united, compassionate city.

It is hard to say whether Melton has targeted poor blacks merely because they are poor or black—or if it's because he knew the power structure wouldn't let him get away with targeting white people in the same way. Regardless, as Councilman Leslie McLemore said so eloquently today, it is hard to argue that a white man or woman, using the exact same tactics, would ever have gotten this far. Allow us to ask ourselves why.

I believe strongly that the Melton Era is a tragic outgrowth of our past—a difficult, hate-filled past where horrendous crimes were committed against black people often based on the thin excuse that they were more prone to commit crimes. That attitude is supposed to be in our past—and who would have thought that our next demagogue playing off the fear of (black) thugs would be a black man?

People, if there is any lesson that we all must face here, it is that unscrupulousness comes in all races. And the most unscrupulous are willing to betray us all in order to gain power. Just because they form uneasy alliances with divisive white folks does not mean we are suddenly living in a peaceful rainbow alliance of a city where all are treated the same.

The Ridgeway Street Demolition Derby is a glowing symbol of this—every single one of us knows that it would never have happened on a "white" street, regardless of how poor or drug-infested.

I challenge every Jacksonian who supported Melton to ask yourself why. Not to beat yourself up, but so that you can be part of the solution. I have talked to progressive-minded leaders in this city who believed many of the worst rumors about Melton could be true—and still voted for him. It seemed they thought that, somehow, he would swoop in and "clean up" Gotham.

Folks, it's time for group therapy, not to mention a bit of flogging the media for not giving us the whole picture about Melton.

Melton is charming in person, most of the time, but beyond fear-based Superman rhetoric—"Help is on the wayyy!"—he never offered the citizens another thing of substance. During the campaign, he was near contemptuous of any kind of positive development. Candidate Melton told rich white ladies at Bravo! that he wanted to put the Convention Center "between Two Lakes" (in Rankin), while he told hip-hop artists repeatedly at Birdland that he was going to build them a recording studio on Farish—even as they were asking him how he was going to redevelop downtown and create jobs for all of Jackson.

His sole platform has long been his "obsession" (his word) with young black men—how many he's "saved," "put through college," "lost," "buried." For many voters, his wink-wink promises to put the "thugs" away—even as his brand of "evidence" is seldom admissible—was enough. They pictured black men being frog-marched to Parchman by Melton, regardless of the reality that he seldom sends anybody away for long.

Helped along by his fact-challenged "Bottom Line" editorials over the years, Melton reached a cult, superhero status. I suspect it's because he presented himself as the single answer to what people believe ails the city. He alone could flex a muscle and save the inner city; thus, we all would be safer. This, of course, was an illusion. One man cannot "cure" crime—in 90 days or 9 million days.

There are no superheroes.

For a moment, this town believed in a cartoon hero who could sweep away our problems. But the answer is never that easy. The answer relies on each of us, doing the hard work of staying informed and demanding democracy and justice. We can dust ourselves off, forgive ourselves for believing in a myth, and then join together to make Jackson better for all our residents. We can come out of this a stronger city—that expects civic journalism, competent leaders and solutions that actually make sense. We can, and we must.

Previous Comments

ID

73493

Comment

Ladd, girl, Amen!! BTW, that 'Superhero' turned out to be 'The Joker'.

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-13T22:31:52-06:00

ID

73494

Comment

Good piece! I'm going to repost what I wrote on another thread today: What is really sad is watching the true colors of some people show up. There are so many people claiming they are going to leave and Jackson will fail. Kim Wade just told some dude to stop reading Beckwith propaganda. Racism is clearly at the root of many vocal supporters of Melton. Some don't even know how stupid and racist they sound. Leave, go away and move out of Jackson. Take your toys and go play in your own sand. People who want a city for all people will step up and take us in the direction we need to go. It will be hard and won't be perfect. But, it sure as hell will be better then the crap going on now!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-13T22:55:34-06:00

ID

73495

Comment

Excellent editorial.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-09-14T08:43:53-06:00

ID

73496

Comment

Good column, Donna. You know I love the super-hero part. My ancestors (grandparents, aunts, and uncles) would say Frank "ain't right-bright, a substitute name or description for a crazy person. And I suppose those of us who still expect anything of substance from Frank can fairly be called not right-brigt too. It's time for Frank to pay the piper. He was duly warned but told everybody to go to hell. When you dance to the music, you eventually have to pay the piper. I hope the piper is on the way to get its money, and we will do what we must do to save Jackson. We were doing alright until this crazy fool showed up LYING and SIGNIFYING.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-14T10:34:11-06:00

ID

73497

Comment

Not trying to overplay the "superhero" angle, but Melton really reminds me of the villian Mystique from the X-Men movies. She's a shapeshifter who could alter her appearance to look like anyone, even a superhero. Only when you paid attention to the details could you tell something was *off*, that she wasn't what she appeared to be. That's Melton, someone who wears the trappings of a sucessful businessman who is passionate about giving back to the community by mentoring young AA males and exposing the underbelly of drugs in the inner city. Only when you look past the facade can you see, as Kim Wade frequently puts it, that there is something really wrong with this picture.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-14T13:04:22-06:00

ID

73498

Comment

Frank has cancelled his 3pm press conference today...Interesting?!?!

Author

seanbp

Date

2006-09-14T13:43:06-06:00

ID

73499

Comment

Ejeff, I know what you mean. I think the scariest folks are the wolves in sheep's clothing. It's the same in many areas - you have to get over wanting to believe the facade.

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-09-14T13:59:28-06:00

ID

73500

Comment

I feel Jackson will progress an any other Urban City. The crime in Jackson is small compared to some other cities across America. Now to comment on the mayor. I feel he felt he was above the law. Something should have been done from the first day he had to have the Command Mobile parked at HIS house. You can not fight crime with crime. He clearly showed early on just how a thug acts. What is most interesting to me is: 1. Why criminals turn themselves in the Melton? 2. Where are the parents of the children he keeps at his house? 3. Why did he always have a side show when he was out doing whatever it was he did? When he was on the Bottom Line he had something to say about everyone and nothing was postitive. No one went after him when he was broadcasting "his opinions" yet he gets the police, guns, camera crews and all to go after a female. What kind of respect is that? 4. My next question is: What is the connection with the mayor and the criminals? Is he trying to keep them from talking too much? 5. Besides Danks, Walker and now Evers, why would Jackson need these many mayors? Our state is always viewed as being a negative place and with the election of Melton for mayor I am truely embrassed for the City of Jackson although I didn't vote for him. Common sense should tell one that when he had the Bottom Line and critized everyone he didn't like should have been a BIG CLUE that this man didn't need to head cows not to mention a city of humans.

Author

Observing

Date

2006-09-15T20:19:11-06:00

ID

73501

Comment

Observing, I agree with you that he should have been reeled in long ago. Many people have turned a blind eye to him for way too long. It's shameful. But at least it's starting to change. And I agree with you: I'm a bit tired of former mayors, and their entourages, myself. I want new blood up in there. This is especially true when we watch the same group that were defending each other during the Youth Detention Center scandal in the '90s back in front of the cameras again, saying the same kind of stuff: Melton, Danks, Bluntson, Ed Peters. Enough is enough.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-15T20:25:38-06:00

ID

73502

Comment

Also, Observing, we cannot learn and move past the dinosaurs of the past without understanding the need for good civic journalism that puts stories in context and is informed by institutional memory, as well as legwork and tireless research. We wouldn't be where we are today had the media done their job all these years. The Clarion-Ledger et al. owe the citizens of Jackson a huge apology. I'm not guessing we'll get it, though.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-15T20:27:06-06:00

ID

73503

Comment

Also, before I really depart for the night, I want to encourage everyone to really start thinking in a forward way, regardless of whether Mr. Melton does the right thing and resigns, or whether he decides to tangle the city in nastiness for years. But, as I say above, this is a time for community reflection, unity and then action. The truth is that this will hurt the community only as much as we allow it to. It's not as if Mr. Melton was spending a lot of time working on development, planning and other issues vital to the community. City officials were trying to keep him out of public, and not even telling him about many deals on the table because they won't him to blow them in some way. That wasn't good then—but now, it means that the work of the city will go on without him; it has to this point. Now, that said, it is vital to try to get the people in there to do their jobs and clean up many of the messes. Some of that is happening already, such as if with open records; must improvement on that front that we've seen. That has to continue. And if Melton's appointees try to grind the work of government to a halt, then Council needs to get their butts out of there. The point, ultimately, is that the city can come out stronger on the other end if we're willing to. It won't do any good to return to the crime senationalism of old (are y'all listening, media?). It's time to have good conversations about all the components that contribute to crime—to the need for a real police chief to youth programs and mentoring to poverty issues. Jim Hood made good comments on this front today; we will be reporting those comments in more detail next week. Chins up, folks. This is a great city. Just as one man can't "save" Jackson, nor can he destroy it. If we don't let him. Onward.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-15T20:36:10-06:00

ID

73504

Comment

still dont see this big "mess" that melton supposedly left. not as if he was the cause anyway. but if we must move forward, fine. Just please do not re-elect Harvey Johnson!!!! that will be a huge mistake!! been there and done that.

Author

goldeneye

Date

2006-09-15T20:49:48-06:00

ID

73505

Comment

Well, there have been some little budgetary messes, some little Fire Department messes, some little Police Department messes, some little public-records messes, some little attacking-development messes ...

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-15T20:52:17-06:00

ID

73506

Comment

Good reminder, Donna, thanks. When Melton was first elected, I told everybody within earshot--you remember--not to get too negative about the future of Jackson. And then I ended up getting very negative myself. It's hard to stay positive sometimes, but there are 180,000 people in this city and most of them are great, sane people we can work with, people we need to go out and meet. Plus the power of the mayor is not unlimited. Even if he stays in office, I have a suspicion the City Council will be keeping a much closer eye on him. We have demonstrated that there is a 4-3 majority that is willing, at least in principle, to keep Frank Melton in check. Whether they ultimately felt that an investigation was warranted or not, they made it clear that they were willing to follow through if necessary. Props to Barrett-Simon, McLemore, Crisler, and Allen. Props to Malcolm McMillan for doing his jobs. Props to Faye Peterson for doing hers. And props to Jim Hood; I should repent in sackcloth and ashes for what I said about him before, but sackcloth chafes and ashes are bad for my complexion, so I hope an apology and my enthusiastic vote in 2007 is good enough. With so many other people willing to step up and do what's right, I think we'll be okay regardless of whether or not Melton himself steps up, does what's right, and resigns. But you know, I think in the final analysis he will. This is the one meaningful gift he can still give the city as a political figure, and in the final analysis I have to believe that his conscience will finally get the best of him and he will step down, unable to make himself put the city through this. Like so many beliefs I've held about Melton, this one is very much based on faith rather than reason. Only time will tell whether my faith is well-placed, but I think we'll know by the end of next week. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-09-15T20:56:20-06:00

ID

73507

Comment

Great editorial Donna. As always you are very to-the-point. Some people cannot handle it when the truth stands there in front of them. I believe that if Melton would read this article, he would have to admit that you called him for who he really is. It will be a difficult healing process, but it is going to be well worth it. Jackson has not lost its tenacity or spirit. We have only gotten rid of the virus that has made us sick for the past fourteen months. I don't mean that in a bad way, but I cannot think of any other way to express myself. Melton, Danks, Stokes, Bluntson, or whomever you can add to this list, should really tak a good look in the mirror and see if they can see the same thing that the rest of us are looking at. It's horrible. Grown men in a position of authority, acting like they cannot accept the fact that Melton is flesh and blood just like the rest of us. He has abused the authority of the mayor's office in a very inexcusable way. He should be punished just as the same people that he bent over backwards to put behind bars would have to be punished by law.

Author

lance

Date

2006-09-15T21:35:42-06:00

ID

73508

Comment

its funny that frank isn't so frank now is he? this poor excuse of a man's lies has finally caught up with him and the funny thing is, he doesn't try to justify it. yeah, he lies but that's become a normal occurrence. he has crossed a boundary and hopefully jackson has the balls to make him pay for it. like ladd said, the people have finally found their collective voice and with that, something has to be done. If these people go unheard, the little faith that jacksonians have left in the city will be nonexistent. the man needs therapy. i wonder if whitfield has any extra rooms...padded ones with the amenity of a stray jacket?

Author

yaya

Date

2006-09-16T00:54:25-06:00

ID

73509

Comment

oh ladd...don't forget the....never shows the "paperwork to justify all the licenses, permits, and allowances that he has" messes....the homestead messes...the harboring juvenile delinquents with warrants and missed school days messes...um...i know i'm missing something else?

Author

yaya

Date

2006-09-16T00:56:58-06:00

ID

73510

Comment

oh ladd...don't forget the....never shows the "paperwork to justify all the licenses, permits, and allowances that he has" messes....the homestead messes...the harboring juvenile delinquents with warrants and missed school days messes...um...i know i'm missing something else?

Author

yaya

Date

2006-09-16T00:56:59-06:00

ID

73511

Comment

This is from a CL blog. I just did a 'cut and paste', but thought it was pretty great. Yaya, I get the feeling that you're also a a night person that's P.O.'d ,and sending messages after the family's gone to bed. BLL389 Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Posts: 21 Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:56 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- stealth wrote: "A black mayor with a reputation for being tough on crime is indicted because he knocked down a drug house and he is accused of racial profiling by the NAACP and the ACLU. This story captured the attention of a worldwide audience within minutes of it hitting the Associated Press wire. Factor in Mayor Melton's previous involvement with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, his personal wealth, and the fact that he has enough money backing him in Madison and Rankin counties to convert most of Jackson to green space, and you have the makings of a great TV movie. I expect the media circus will begin soon and that all charges against the mayor will be dropped. Yeah...a crack house with no drugs in it. A drug dealer (who has been in Whitfield for schizophrenia) with no drugs and only minor drug offenses. And he was SO dangerous that they left him there until they had a little time later that night to come back and do more damage to the house. They arrested him for open container on his own property, so they obviously had to trump up charges to even arrest him. Do you think the city was any safer because Evans Welch, a man with documented mental disorders, was roughed up and thrown in jail? Do you think the neighbors on Ridgeway Road feel safer? Do you think the neighborhood was improved when a habitable home was wrecked by "troubled teens" in the dead of night? Do you think troubled teens improve their lots in life when they are out in the wee hours of the morning with Melton and cops when they bust into nightclubs and "crack houses?" Do you think destroying the rental property of a hard-working lady will improve the economy in Jackson? Do you think before you form these opinions at all?? PLEASE go back and read the long list of all the ridiculous crap that Melton has done since he was elected. I know....some of us can't sit still and read that much. For Pete's sake, have you ever heard of Google?! Why don't you google Melton and MBN and see what you find out? He didn't accomplish anything there either. He can't get out of this one, ya'll. He sent one of his employees over there to that house with a contractor, and tried to get her to let him pay to fix it. After seeing what happened to the last lady who trusted Frank to fix her house, this lady decided to just sue. In these actions, he admits guilt. And quit sayin he is tough on crime! It is all for the cameras...he dresses tough and talks tough, but he is just playing cop. He should be letting the real cops do their jobs. Because one crazy man with a gun, vest, and fake badge cannot stop crime in the city. Anyone who believes that what Melton is doing has made any difference is just delusional. Just a little reading and a little research will show you that the numbers and stastics are not in Melton's favor." Texan, really and truly, check it out, do your own research. Become as informed as you possibly can... then see what you think?

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-16T01:26:16-06:00

ID

73512

Comment

This is a day of jubilation for the rule of law! I wish the city of Jackson to rise above the ashes of Melton's "administration." I wish only that DA Peterson will hire a "special prosecutor" to prosecute Mayor Melton. This will accomplish two things: folks can't say she was involved in a "vendetta," and Hinds County will hire a very accomplished trial lawyer (whom Ms. Peterson is NOT). In addition, the law for removal of a Mayor states that he/she can be removed if a "judge" deems him/her "mentally unsound". I submit that Mayor Melton should submit to a psychiatric evaluation ordered by his judge. I don't know how this is applied. It will be interesting to see which judge is assigned to this case. It should be a "hot potato." I hope Swan Yerger is assigned this case. Kudos to all at the JFP, especially Donna and Adam. I also want to congratulate Ben Allen and Kim Wade. This regime of the "Brown Shirts" could not continue a day longer. Mayor Melton was none other than a Nazi with a JPD ID tag. HDMatthias, MD

Author

HDMatthias, MD

Date

2006-09-16T01:40:43-06:00

ID

73513

Comment

I hate to keep doing this, but another thing from the CL blog that quotes Minnie Rhodes and JFP, and this message's latest Cl blog contributor: mudbug Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Approaching the corner of Ethical & Spectacle St....... O¿O¬ Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:28 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- maladjusted wrote: Had a drug adicted family member that stayed in the area. Yes it was a crackhouse. You really want to stand on this statement? I ask, because another poster on this board and myself sat on the 2nd row beside Mrs. Minnie Rhodes. She's been in close contact with the lady purchasing the house and clearly explained to us - that wasn't a crack house. Here's what Mrs. Rhodes told Donna Ladd and Adam Lynch, at JFP: Quote: The home’s new owner Jennifer Sutton is a single mom who Rhodes describes as “never having missed a payment.” Rhodes says Sutton has regularly paid over the monthly price and was three-quarters of the way through her total payments when Melton allegedly struck. Rhodes says Sutton is working in an industry that is not kind to women. “Being a landlord in her part of town is no job for a woman,” Rhodes says. “Not these days. These days drugs are making the job dangerous, so I have to admire Jennifer’s will.” Sutton, who works full time in the health industry, agreed that it wasn’t easy keeping property up while working full time. “I work most of the time, and I can’t say I’m around to watch things 24 hours a day, but I believe my houses are clean,” she says. “I do what I can to keep them up and keep drugs out of them, but I can’t watch them all the time.” Sutton lives only a few streets away from the Ridgeway property, in a home overhanging the Livingston Road railroad tracks. It is a house inundated with houseplants and buried beneath the shade of large oak trees. The landlord said she went into the real-estate business in the hopes of helping make ends meet, and explains that profits are slim in a high-upkeep neighborhood like Ridgeway. She faces a very unique new setback now: home insurance in her neighborhood does not cover city officials with sledgehammers. Here's how it works - you have any police reports that include this house address, as being a 'crack house'? No, you don't. Secondly - have you researched the police arrest reports for Evans Welch? If so, did you read a single syllable about being charged for crack? No, you couldn't. It didn't say a word about crack. Try again. Maybe we all missed something on this one. Or maybe, you did.

Author

JAR

Date

2006-09-16T02:32:00-06:00

ID

73514

Comment

Someone whose forum name is WillieC posted the following on the CL: "There are no bad people. We don't need the police to arrest people. There are just bad places. Some silly people think criminals need to be gotten of the streets. Those silly people look foolishly to the Mayor, police and courts to clean up the city. It is really all about BAD BAD HOUSES. We all need to go out and beat up those bad houses. Bad house you are so mean. When all the bad houses are gone, we will all stand around holding hands and singing songs of happiness and love."

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-09-16T04:01:58-06:00

ID

73515

Comment

"If I go crazy will you still call me Superman?"

Author

Jesse Johnson

Date

2006-09-16T12:20:17-06:00

ID

73516

Comment

Does anybody know what's up with Melton's health? I was watching the interview with the AG on WAPT and he alluded that Melton was in poor health.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-09-16T13:30:40-06:00

ID

73517

Comment

I thin the AG was trying to allude that he has some mental "issues" not necessarily sick. More from Rick Romero at 10pm! LOL!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-09-16T16:36:23-06:00

ID

73518

Comment

No, Jackson does not need supermen or women: Jackson needs women and men of good character. We have members of all races with these qualities. My appeal is for us, Jacksonians, to keep our eyes on our most prized investment, PEOPLE. If we take care of eachother and just apply the GOLDEN RULE, the hate-filled acts this community experienced under the "MELTON PLANTATION BYLAWS" will never ever happen agaig! By the way, Where is Charles Evers? He didn't attend the Church Service on Sunday with Danks and Melton. There is a meeting scheduled today with Melton's staff and Rev. Polk and Stephanie P. Weaver is suppose to lead a demonstration of support for Frank at City Hall on Tuesday.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-09-18T12:19:57-06:00

ID

73519

Comment

Great article and great comments! I posted this on one of the other pages, and thought I needed to do the same here: GET READY FOR A SHOWDOWN! THE DEMAGOGUES ARE INCITING A RACE RIOT FOR TUESDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING!!! While listening to the radio yesterday afternoon, I turned to 1300 AM to listen to a show called “Straight Talk". One of the hosts of the show is councilman Frank Bluntson. Stephanie Parker Weaver (who is not a host) was also on the show. The demagoguery was so thick it was frightening. It also appeared that they were screening calls to allow only Melton supports to get on the air to spew hate. I actually got chills listening to all the hate Frank Bluntson and Parker Weaver were spewing. They were saying that Frank Melton was indicted because he’s Black, and that Whites don’t want to see Blacks become too powerful. It was also said that those who brought the charges and indictments did so to put him (FM) “back on the plantation” where he belongs. Nothing was said about the “Rule of Law.” It is sad to say, but it appeared that none of the people who called in citing racism understood that Frank Melton allegedly broke laws. Bluntson and Parker-Weaver, aware of this void, took advantage of it and continued to pile it on. Everything was racially charged. It was a feeding frenzy. SCARY! I could not believe what I was hearing. The attacks on the DA, Attorney General, and Sheriff Malcolm McMillan were vicious, vile, and violently racist. During the attacks, Bluntson and Parker-Weaver repeatedly urged ALL Frank Melton supporters to sign up for public comments and to pack City Hall on Tuesday, September 19, at 6:00 p. m. I hope there is extra security at the meeting, because IT’S GOING TO BE UGLY!

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-09-18T16:01:10-06:00

ID

73520

Comment

Yes, it was similar on Charles Tisdale's show Friday night. And all the calls for jury nullification are breathtaking.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-18T16:06:49-06:00

ID

73521

Comment

Faye Peterson should get that gag order in place immediately. These people are trying to taint a potential jury. They know exactly what they're doing.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-09-18T16:19:58-06:00

ID

73522

Comment

They don't even seem to be denying. It even sounds like Mr. Evers is joining that chorus. What a disappointment. He's faced efforts to taint juries in his own family.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-18T16:24:42-06:00

ID

73523

Comment

Great editorial, Donna! It's one of the best ones you've written. While I did support Melton's candidacy and initially supported him when he first took over, I also said that as long as he was doing the right thing and not having a cowboy attitude about it, then I think he'll be fine. Now I feel embarrassed for the city I love, even if I don't live within its borders. The "super-hero" status that Frank portrayed himself to be reminded me of the recall election in California. When Arnold Schwarzeneggar announced to Jay Leno that he was running, I said "Oh God!" My biggest worry was that people would view Arnold as the super-hero that could rescue the state from its problems and that they would be too star-struck into believing anything otherwise. The media did an extremely poor job in covering the election. The media operated as if it was Arnold and nobody else. Three years later, Arnold's popularity has slipped big time and nobody but the people of California have themselves to blame. Same thing with Minnesota and Jesse "The Body" Ventura being their governor. I used to listen to Straight Talk quite a bit, but it started becoming the Frank Melton Love Fest, I listen to it a whole lot less now. I also don't get people who are blinded by Frank. I keep hearing how great of a job he's doing, but I struggle to think what has he done that was great. If someone knows what he's done great as mayor, let me know.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-09-18T16:34:11-06:00

ID

73524

Comment

For those worrying Frank won't plead or take a deal, ask yourself this? How many of you with a few millions in the bank, children, a wife or spouse, or loves freedom would risk separating yourself from your money, family, and further guarnateed freedom when the chance of doing so looms so imminently? Frank's supporters are going to put on a good show tomorrow to express their love, and resolve to fight on, but tomorrow or sometime soon, Frank will come out like Joe Clark and tell us again what he wanted to do. However, he will later say I failed and "It's over," and it's time to heal and move on. This way he can still go down as a valiant hero to his supporters, and a deeply good man to some of us.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-09-18T16:46:29-06:00

ID

73525

Comment

Actually, I'm wasn't finished talking about the people who continue to blindly support this man. They look past all the illegal and borderline illegal things he may've committed and then they wonder why people don't want to support him or why people are trying to tear him down. I guess they think that since he's trying to crack down on crime, it's OK. But I don't see any progress being made there. Crime has been rising since he took office. And what happened to his "90-day plan" on cracking down crime he promised? If you asked a rank-and-file Melton supported as to one specific thing he has done while in office, I bet they'd struggle to name one instance. I did like the fact that he had the Maple Street Apartments shut down and that he wants to shut down the Christian Brotherhood Apartments. After seeing images of conditions there, no one should live in that kind of environment. Other than that, I can't think of anything that he's done that has made a positive contribution to Jackson. Again, if you know what he's done great as mayor, let me. He almost strikes me as a cult leader.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-09-18T16:54:06-06:00

ID

73526

Comment

If you asked a rank-and-file Melton supported as to one specific thing he has done while in office, I bet they'd struggle to name one instance. I did like the fact that he had the Maple Street Apartments shut down and that he wants to shut down the Christian Brotherhood Apartments. After seeing images of conditions there, no one should live in that kind of environment. Other than that, I can't think of anything that he's done that has made a positive contribution to Jackson. Again, if you know what he's done great as mayor, let me. He almost strikes me as a cult leader. GEB, if he had stuck to this line of thought as mayor and let Shirlene do her job as chief, he MIGHT NOT have found himself in the predicament he's in now. There are scores of dilapidated houses and properties in this City that need to be rehabilitated or torn down, and maybe Melton might have found ways to speed up the process of tearing down the smaller eyesores in key neighborhoods and neglected properties while encouraging re-investment in the larger ones like the King Ed or the I-20 LaQuinta Inn.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-18T17:03:52-06:00

ID

73527

Comment

"Other than that, I can't think of anything that he's done that has made a positive contribution to Jackson." I was thinking about that recently, too... I think the recent demolitions of dilapidated houses in west Jackson was good. Plus, he made an executive decision about the flooding situation at Rainbow Co-op, as well, I believe. Other than that, you've got me. And that's a pretty pathetic list for 14 months.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-09-18T17:06:53-06:00

ID

73528

Comment

I've forgot about the Rainbow Co-op situation. Frank does get props for that. And how many days has it been since he promised Mary Johnson a new house and it still hasn't been built?

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-09-18T21:15:30-06:00

ID

73529

Comment

Well, it looks like the Ledge continues to come around to what we've been trying to tell them. Now, where have we recently seen the sentiment in the first sentence of their editorial today, eh? Attorney General Jim Hood is right about what Jackson must do to fight crime - rather than investing hopes in one person alone in solving the city's woes. They're slow as a turtle with a broken leg, but at least they're getting there.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-09-19T10:42:20-06:00

ID

73530

Comment

There are others, mostly Whites, who are working free and raising money to continue the rebuilding of Mrs. Johnson's home. Frank abandoned this project because he said he had problems with the contractor. The Maple Street Apts. were salvageable. The way Frank, bodyguards and police officers landed on that property with automatic weapons and all of that profanity is nothing to give positive strokes for. He was only delivering a legal notice. The owner, who happened to be Black, was devastated! He had a $300,000+ loan with the bank. What happened to the plan to save businesses? If Melton could afford to rebuild one person in the City a whole house, could he have offered a few thousand to help the owner with the plumming and ask the folks who put all of that s$$$ all over the grounds of that property to help with the clean-up?? This mess stinks with Melton and there is not one thing that has been down with any dignity or respect for others.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-09-19T10:47:41-06:00

ID

73531

Comment

Jeff Good writes a an open love/break-up letter to Frank in the Ledge today. Classic! Just a couple of snippets: I remember when I first fell in love with you. You were giving your annual speech at the Southern Christian Youth Services "Bottom Line for Kids" benefit, and you spoke on three character traits which all our children must have in order to succeed as productive citizens of our world: # Faith in God. # Dedication to family. # Service to the community. I watched in awe as you moved a room of 300 adults to tears with your passion and commonsense language. And later: But true love means letting go, especially when letting go will restore health and well-being to the parties in the relationship. Frank, I have to let you go - I just don't see the ideals we agreed to as being those you have chosen to promote as mayor. I have to let you go because I love the city more than I love you. And so, Frank, I ask you that in respect for true love - if you love this city as you say you do - please let us go. Move on with your life and let us move on with ours. It is time, and it is the right thing to do. - Jeff Good

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-09-19T11:34:28-06:00

ID

73532

Comment

Such a beautiful and sad letter. Shakespere could not have written anymore eloquently: however, Just as the City of Jackson residents who elected Frank because of your words and support of him, I have but FOUR words: YOUR HAVE BEEN FRANKED!!!!!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-09-19T12:39:45-06:00

ID

73533

Comment

According to WAPT, a newspaper in Tyler, Texas has done a story on this case.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-09-20T00:06:39-06:00

ID

73534

Comment

Yes L.W,and accoring to the article, they have tried to interview Frank or his Spokesperson. This apparently will not be happening anytime soon.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-09-20T10:56:53-06:00

ID

73535

Comment

*We* have been asking Frank to shut up and chill for the last 12+ months and just act like a mayor and he wouldn't do it. It looks like it took a few lawsuits and a handful of indictments to finally get him to sit down and take a chill pill. Too late to salvage his political career.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-09-20T11:16:46-06:00