As reported by Jackson Jambalaya, the Occupy Jackson crowd continued their fight to turn Smith Park into their own degenerate 24/7 two-and-a-half month dirty campground. The anti-money protesters appeared before the City Council at the full council meeting on November 21, to appeal the daylight-to-dusk permit granted by the administration. Incredibly, only former Jackson Mayor Kane Ditto spoke against allowing the protesters to turn the park into a campground. After Mr. Ditto spoke, the Council was treated to a veritable loser parade of occupiers, some of whom claimed that the community actually wanted them there on a 24/7 basis.
The troubling part is that no one appeared to speak on behalf of the residents of downtown Jackson. Not a single representative from JDNA appeared to give the residents' perspective of this grime pile. In fact, JDNA hasn't even taken a position at all on the issue. JDNA has been completely AWOL on this issue.
This is no small matter. We have a bunch of Rankin-Madison-Scott County trash trying to set up a camp, complete with porta-jons, fifty (50) feet from where residents live. Yet, JDNA cannot be bothered to think about it. They are far too busy planning the next feel-good mixer to be bothered with such frivolous matters as quality of life.
How hard would it have been to appear at the meeting and speak for two minutes on behalf of downtown residents? Or if you did not want to appear at the meeting, why not write a letter to the Council in opposition of the occupiers? It's not like it would have required that much effort. We've already done the work for you, just print it off and send it to the Council.
By your silence and failure to act, you tacitly approved of the occupiers' appeal. The Council knows that we have a neighborhood association for downtown residents. When JDNA stands mute, it sends a message to the Coouncil that downtown residents don't care how many Occupy fools occupy the park, or for how long.
There is more to being a neighborhood association than planning cocktail parties. It takes more than putting up little flyers telling people where to go hang out and drink. Besides, we already have a little flyer that does that--the Jackson Free Press.
A neighborhood association takes action to protect and advocate on behalf of the residents. The DJT sees no evidence that the JDNA has any interest whatsoever in protecting and advocating on behalf of the residents of downtown Jackson.
Funny, but I wonder if the Overlay District people who are planning a takeover of the Reservoir area are just as concerned as JDNA. I mean, cocktail parties and influence kinda' run together. It is unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteI commend you for calling out those who actually represent you. Their intentions appear in this instance to be nothing more than words on resume.
Perhaps those out at the Rez will get it and understand their "seeking influence" is not unnoticed.
BOOM! This mf don't play.
ReplyDeleteYour so right Curt,
ReplyDeleteWhere were those Champions of "Downtown Jackson" that always
seem to have multiple orgasms about the AMAZING overpriced "fake trolley" rides around Fondren, un-attended festivals, ect: and then rant about the benefits of the outdated concept of Convention Centers & attached Hotels ?
At least the Rez Overlay Group understands that trash will
negatively effect property value . They appear to be well prepared,
legally represented, and ready to take a stand.
Economics 101 .
Paper did say that SKipper and Allen showed up at the committee meeting yesterday. You might want to post that in an update at the top of the post.
ReplyDeleteCurt, you are incorrect. Julie Skipper, president of Jackson's Downtown Neighborhood Association, was the first speaker. Michael Rejebian, also of JDNA, spoke second. Ben Allen followed him, and John Ditto (not Kane) spoke after Allen. I know because I was there. Had I been able to get there in time to sign up to speak, I would have spoken as well.
ReplyDeleteEach of those people I named spoke in opposition to the allowance of a special permit for the Occupy Jackson folks. I would have done the same.
You were not around 4 years ago when we fought tooth and nail to clean Smith Park up.
Sorry to post twice, but iOS 5 apparently doesn't work well with Blogger comments.
ReplyDeleteWe have worked tirelessly over the years to keep Smith Park a safe, clean, enjoyable place. The allowance of a special permit for Occupy Jackson to remain in Smith Park until 11 pm (the council's decision) sets a terrible precedent. Now, when the Klan or NAMBLA shows up asking for the same permit, the City has tied its hands.
JDNA has not taken any position on this, and will not. I know you're a conservative guy, think the Occupy protesters around the country are lazy, shiftless folks who deserve the blunt end of a police baton or worse. I get that. That's ok. But JDNA's not going to
Ugh. Had that bug again.
ReplyDeleteJDNA's not going to get involved in a political debate. We just aren't. If folks want to protest in Smith Park, that's fine. The problem comes when the City starts issuing special permits. As stated before, that sets an awful precedent.
Being part of a Downtown community means that you come into contact, on a daily basis, folks of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, beliefs, interest, etc. You don't have
(glitch again)
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to agree with everyone, and shouldn't. But you'd better enjoy the variety. Otherwise, Madison the City may be calling your name.
By the way, I do appreciate the work you've done exposing the mess at the Locker Room. Felons have no business running a bar anywhere, let alone in our Downtown.
Matt, this post refers to the meeting of the full council that occurred on November 21. At the end of that meeting, the matter was referred to the planning committee.
ReplyDeleteThe planning committee meeting yesterday, Nov. 22. Is that the meeting you are referring to?
It is not taking a position on a political issue to oppose allowing people to turn a public park into a campground. No one should be camping in Smith Park--Occupy, Tea Party, Coalition to Put the Fetus on the Dollar Bill--nobody.
ReplyDeleteThere is no valid reason why JDNA did not take a stand on this issue.
Curt, I was referring to the meeting on Nov. 22. Your post was published that evening, after the meeting at which the President of JDNA spoke to the councilmen and told them exactly what you said in your 4:07 comment.
ReplyDeleteI edited the post to indicate the date of the meeting as Nov. 21. JDNA did not appear at this meeting. This is the meeting where Kane Ditto was then lone speaker in opposition to the 27/7 permit.
ReplyDeleteThis was originally written the same night, but in an effort to be fair, I held off publishing it to get a response from JDNA. That's why it wasn't posted until Nov. 22.
Do you have any idea why JDNA did not appear or otherwise take a stand at the full council meeting on Nov. 21? It seems to me the matter could have been resolved then, and not been referred to the planning committee for a "compromise."
I can't speak for JDNA, but I personally was unaware that the council was going to address that issue at its meeting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, based on the 4-0 vote in the planning committee there was not going to be a favorable resolution to the issue. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but the votes were there to issue the special permit all along.
ReplyDeleteThese goofy protesters simply want attention. Period. Unfortunately, that is EXACTLY what you are giving them. Ignore them. They will go away. There were two there today....TWO.
ReplyDeleteWhat the council does next meeting is totally unpredictable, but the comment about setting a precedent is exactly right.
Matt, we do appreciate your comments. The timing of the post (and lack of a date), did make things confusing. Had you not commented, we most likely would not have noticed this.
ReplyDelete5:08, it is called "taking a STRONG STAND on a weak, 'unwinable' issue". You can't stop the legal protests, as annoying and stupid as they are, but we can voice our concern regarding changing city regulations on a whim.
ReplyDeleteAbout time someone told the truth about Jdna. They think they can talk and ass-kiss downtown's problems away. How's that workin for ya?
ReplyDeleteCC you better not be expecting any of those flyers on your door again anytime soon.
Locker Rm, skybox, saleem, chip, wendy ramage, club volume, the joint, etc. all on JDNA's watch. Auto burglaries, shots fired and fired and fired. JDNA talks.
ReplyDeleteWhat is their purpose again?
5:41 AND 5:46 (SAME PERSON). FUCK YOU.
ReplyDelete549 truth hurts eh? Get off your ass and do something about this stuff. Stroking each others resumes and pretending youre important wont fix the problems.
ReplyDelete5:55. Get off your ass and learn proper English so you don't put posts up that make you appear to be the simple minded redneck trash you obviously are.
ReplyDeleteWhy so sensitive 5:59? Is 5:55 wrong or just hit too close for comfort?
ReplyDeleteJdna is not a community assoc. it is a social club.
ReplyDeleteAll JDNA is missing is Donna Ladd and kaz to have the perfect bullshit casserole.
ReplyDeleteFolks, please note that this post was intended to be legitimate criticism of JDNA's inaction in the Occupy Jackson debacle. That being said, there are good people involved in JDNA, with pure motives.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the story is that JDNA officers did appear before the planning committee the next day to address the issue. We had planned to report this fact earlier today, but got distracted by a pissy email we got from one of JDNA's thin-skinned, snotty little board members.
Curt. Eat shit and die. Asshole.
ReplyDeleteWow 1048. What an insightful, thought-provoking response. You add so much to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteWell it looks like we have heard from the "thin skinned snotty little board member" in question at 1048.
ReplyDeleteJDNA should host a crime summit with the thugs to see if they can talk them into not doing crimes downtown. Might even get Donna Ladd to moderate it. It could be just like those meet your neighbors get togethers they have. Just call it "meet your "real" neighbors". Try it. With chardonnay and a short skirt, all things are possible.
ReplyDelete