Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ridgeland & Brandon are the only local cities that post minutes online.

The Clarion-Ledger published a story written by Brian Eason that was rather critical of Jackson's website. Mr. Eason pointed out in a fit of showing contempt for the people of Jackson that the city does not post minutes of city council meetings on its website. Such practice is common in large cities. Jackson used to publish the minutes but stopped doing so within a couple of months after Harvey assumed office in 2009. Hmmm.... now why would a Mayor quit posting minutes right after he assumes office?  Nary a peep out of certain local publications about that change in policy.

JJ decided to take Mr. Eason's missive one step further and see how many cities in the Jackson metro area actually post their minutes online. Ready for this? There are exactly two cities: Brandon and Ridgeland. Here are the cities that do not post their minutes online:

Jackson
Pearl
Clinton
Madison
Flora
Richland
Flowood
Florence
Canton

Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties post their minutes and agendas online although Rankin does not publish the agenda until after the meeting. The following major cities in Mississippi seem to have no problem posting their minutes*:

Meridian
Gulfport (agendas, no minutes)
Biloxi
Greenville
Oxford
Tupelo (Not updated since January)
McComb
Cleveland, yes, Cleve-damn-land
Ocean Springs
Pascagoula

Mr. Eason was right. It is simply inexcusable that Jackson can not post minutes and agendas online. It feeds into the notion that Jackson can't do even the most basic tasks right. Then there is the matter of transparency and open government. The city simply has a duty to the voters to post the agendas, claims dockets, and minutes online. This is 2013, not 1973. If Mayor Lumumba and the new city council want to do something right while they are singing kumbaya together during the honeymoon, they should fix this problem and not make excuses as a previous administration was prone to do.    Jackson and the other local burbs such as owe their citizens nothing less. Of course, when mayors, aldermen, and city councils tend to see their cities as little fiefdoms, they sometimes forget that little concept. 

*Cities reviewed but no minutes posted online: Grenada, Natchez, Brookhaven, Laurel, Hattiesburg (not since 2010)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen to that, although I think you will see more transparency out of Clinton with Fisher at the helm.

Nat Assn of Police Impersonators said...

Hmmm.... now why would a Mayor quit posting minutes right after he assumes office? Nary a peep out of certain local publications about that change in policy.

A decade plus now of lofty transparency and open records rhetoric out of the Fondren Harpy and her "partner" is all the evidence one needs to conclude that the only execution and follow through you can expect from that publication is a commitment to yap, yap, yap about it all some more. Action talks but it doesn't speak a word anywhere at the Jackson Free Press.

I mean, even if the Hinds BOS was majority white Republican and had hired a white shakedown attorney (and long time contributor to conservative causes) can you really see the JFP going to the mat -- and to court -- to pry the Motorola settlement loose and into the public light of day?

Of course not because Donna and Todd are all talk. After all these years and ample opportunity to act there can be NO denying it.

Look at their rubbish from 2009 about how they were going to hold Harvey accountable this time in a 3rd term. Hah!

Now it is 2013 and what do you know -- the JFP is still out on the porch talking aimlessly:

We endorsed Mayor Johnson four years ago and then, like many folks, we took a long breath knowing that the Melton administration was out of office.

Then this gem:

We take full responsibility for this endorsement this time around --and, in so doing, we pledge to watchdog the Johnson administration closely while offering a range of voices, ideas and encouragement for how Jackson can improve.

Hell, even Hampton and the Clarion-Ledger gave you well deserved kudos for your open records Ethics Commission victory back in 2008.

Ladd and Stauffer huff and puff, and flap their gums and shoot off their mouths about open government and accounability and transparency, yada, yada, yada but that is ALL THEY EVER DO.

Da Motion Wure Carry said...

It's rather obvious. Posting minutes requires HAVING comtemporaneous minutes. And HAVING them requires employing someone with the ability to either take notes quickly or type from a recording. And that requires an ability to spell, use acceptable syntax, compose paragraphs and correct the horrible grammar of those being recorded.

Next question?

Best of Jackson Awards said...

"Nary a peep "

That's funny but true .

Not to worry 10:15, I'm sure Donna will mull over the "facts",then have multiple conversations with
herself within the JFP comments, and then she will issue a self proclaimed "best of" award to herself
for so called excellence in journalism.

Tongues hanging out and dripping: Mott,Head, along with the 3 other JFP readers will be trotting and sniffing right behind the alpha female of that litter.

tonylloyd1970 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

With today's technology, this should be part of the required public notice in the state statute.

Anonymous said...

Add one more local city government to the list that is fairly current.

http://www.byram-ms.us/CityOfficials.aspx



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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