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Mayor West’s political ad deceiving
Published Monday, April 28, 2008
I have listened to Mayor Phillip West’s ad on cable and am pleased that so may good things have happened in Natchez in the past several years. The ad is deceiving because it infers that Mayor West caused all these good things to happen.
I and the people I have discussed the ad with are convinced that it was Katrina that brought all the new people to town and then they stayed to open a business. West’s contributions over the last years have been to hire questionable people and make great sermons on how great he is. I wonder if he ever took time to look at the weeds growing through the concrete on the roads leading into town. They were so bad last year that if someone just passed through they would have thought the town was dying. If a visitor drove through Natchez, they were quite shaken up and were glad when they hit the highway again.
Virginia Newby
Natchez resident
Comments
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 2:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin,
Boy, just when I thought the Democrat had stooped to an all time low with what one posting described as "the op-ed definitely looked like a not-so-well disguised torpedo intentionally fired at the tax referendum!" We all know Phillip West worked hard to push the legislation needed for the tax. In the same editorial you pushed demolishing substandard housing.
Next you published an article the featured a statement by a candidate on the demolishing of housing and now you publish a letter to the editor that ties it all in.
What happened to unbiased reporting? It is clear you have an agenda.
To Ms. Newby:
You made an excellent point but I disagree with your conclusion. The manner in which Mayor West handled the over 59,000 evacuees of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita that sought refuge in Natchez is one reason they wanted to make Natchez home. Our crime rate when down during the disaster. No other city that responded to the disaster can make such a claim.
Are there things in Natchez that need greater attention? YES! Look back 4 years ago when there were actually bumper stickers that stated “Last one to leave Natchez, please turn the lights out?” Remember those? Things here were bad. West could possibly make all things right in 4 years. But look what has happened, the unemployment rate is cut in half, 4 new hotels, 2 new entertainment projects, almost 200 new businesses and on and on.
I find it strange that you give Mayor West all the credit for bad things and no credit for the good things. Give the Mayor the credit he is due.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bias, bias, bias, thy name is hitormiss
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hitormiss...PW sure is getting his money's worth from you...you never stop regurgitating his talking points...please don't use my words (the ones you put in quotes) to support yours or his positions. Even if we happen to agree on the tax, I do not support him.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sam,
We both support candidates we believe in. I am sure that Graning appreciates your good words, just as I am sure Mayor West appreciates mine.
Posted by natcheznative99 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Katrina brought people to Natchez, what made them decide to stay and open a business?
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Westie had nothing to do with the people that I know staying here in town after Katrina. Natchez did that all on it's own with no help from politicians.
200 new businesses? 2 new entertainment projects? Unemployment cut in half? I do not know of what you speak. Please explain.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What mayor of Natchez has made significant impact on this city? Perhaps I am too young to know of any, but from where I sit, Natchez has not really changed, since I was there. I have found, people will complain no matter who is in office. If Jesus Christ was there, there would be a ton of complaints! Look around, from the Presidential election, to the elections for school boards, hospital boards and city boards, are people EVER going to be satisfied with who's in office? Replublican, Democrat, it's not going to matter. If someone helped to bring one job or two? Is there a candidate that can satisfy the masses? I highly doubt it.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know that Natchez has not changed under the leadership of PW, the lost DemocRAT! And party!
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach you are right that no candidate will make everyone happy.
Phillip's ads state the facts - and he is right they did happen on his watch. Did Katrina have an influence - absolutely, did Phillip help - of course, would it have happened with any Mayor? - maybe, Phillip actually did a great job during Katrina, things went very smoothly here. Did that influence some to move here - yes it did.
A couple of friends staying with me - applied for aid here - all went smoothly and quickly - they were impressed with everything in Natchez. They have now bought a house here.
They also encouraged 6 friends to buy houses here. Some of their friends now live here full time.
HitorMiss also makes a good point on the crime rate - most places that had a large influx of people during Katrina saw a spike in the crime rate - ours fell.
Any politician who has good things happen to his community while he is in office will take credit. Phillip is no exception and he does deserve some.
I did not vote for Phillip last time, but he may get it this time. He has done some stupid things, made some mistakes, and repaid some political favors with a couple of questionable hires.
Middleton could also be tarred with the same brush, he is taking credit for bluff stabilization and road overlays during the last 17 years he was alderman. Yes he voted for it but his role in getting it underway was minimal.
Chick has an advantage with having no political record, but he also can't tout his political connections in Jackson and elsewhere that Phillip has used to good effect.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone with half a brain doubt West to try and brand himself as such a savior.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DemocRATs?! How about ReTHUGlicans?
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4Peace...that's pretty cynical...the way I look at it is...it's kinda like choosing a church...no one every agrees 100% with any religion, but you choose the one closest to your beliefs...same is true of politics.
There have been mayors that have made a major impact, unfortunately, the most recent was bad, and we're still paying for it. He tried to appear to be all things to all people, to be liked, but we found he was simply an egotistical bully who wanted immortality.
The key, as a politician, is to stick to your core beliefs, set goals to help as many people as possible, and build a consensus, persuade and unite towards those goals. All that can be hoped for is the support of the majority. The politician that does so will never get everyone's support, but he will at least gain respect, even of his political adversaries.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stateofnatchez...hitormiss is doing that for him...LOL.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, DemocRAT was no synical? Please.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been here for 30 years and I can admit that things have gotten much better during West's tenure. The fact that outrside causes offered the opportunity is not that big a deal.
During other mayors outside factors -- better schools and better deals elsewhere cause industry to LEAVE. During West PEOPLE STAYED.
You know there is a social movement among us Americans that loves to dis on judges, politicians and taxes, but that just doesn't offer any real insight into ANYTHING.
I say West is doing a better job at mayor than most of his detractors could ever do. But then the qualifications to be a poor-mouth were never very hard to meet.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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