Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can we look for the Democrat to sponsor a debate?

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 12:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder who wrote the above? I agree with it with reservations. The "Nail" was hit "Solid"! Thanks!

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe many would opt to change choice (A) to read: POT in every chicken.

For starters, I would like for us to have a mayor who doesn't speak just to hear himself talk. We need a mayor who will work to better our community by helping to bring everyone in as "ONE". In order to start doing that, he/she must be willing to set a high self personal standard of morality and leadership and think of all of the citizens as one people and not people of 2 separate races.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NtzMom55,
Your postings continue to have racial overtones. Give us some “first hand” examples of what has brought you to such belief about our Mayor.

Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hitormiss...the racial overtones come from buck west.ntzmom is rite on with her comment.can you tell us what good he has done for natchez.just look at the good job he has done with the school system when he was a rep.

Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WELL KEVIN NOTHING IS WHAT I WANT.THATS WHAT WE GET ALREADY.WHY CHANGE WHAT CANT BE CHANGED?

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shedevil, I ask for “first hand” experiences, not just hear say. As for what West has done since he has been Mayor, just look around. When my wife and I moved back to Natchez the unemployment rate was almost twice the national average (it has been cut in half), downtown looked like a ghost town (revitalization is happening in every block) and there were absolutely no prospects of new business (we have 4 new hotels, 2 huge gaming projects, several hundred new businesses, etc.) Not to mention the prison and Rentech. I was not a huge West person until we worked with him on some community projects and I noticed negative posting that I felt were untrue and I began researching. There are good things happening here.
What do you feel he has done to the school system?

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"What do you want out of city gov’t?"

Competence and Integrity

Posted by natchezaristocrat (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OldGrandDad: your choice for mayor should be Chick Graning!

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

natchezaristocrat, I was actually thinking in much broader terms than just the mayor's office. But I'm sure Graning will get my vote simply because (I assume) he's warm and breathing. The alternative choices simply leave us with continued incompetence and dishonesty. It's time for change all across the board.

Posted by silly_willy_24_7 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

what do i want OUT of city government?

ALL OF THE INS!!

it is time for some fresh blood to show how incompetent (or not) they can become after election time.

Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would expect them to do the job they were elected to do. To consider the citizens before making rash decissions. For them to be honest competent and respect the position in which they were elected. To find better ways to do things in the community that is GREENER and more economical for everyone. Crime should be lowered and police should be visible at all times not just when something happens. They should be accountable for their actions and time. Judges should follow the law and set a sentence according the fullest extent of the law. Lawyers should not be plea bargaining with criminals for reduced scentences. Crime is crime if you break the law then you should be held accountable. All watse should be eliminated to save money for a rainy day and get rid of things no longer needed or that cost way too much to operate. Schools need to be repaired and brought up to code and books should be in the rooms for the students. There needs to be security at every school. Taxes need to be looked at more closely and an itemized statement should be placed for every citizen to see just where the tax money is bing spent. It is high time our elected officals become responisble for their actions and do what they were hired to do. There needs to be change in all areas of public service and now is the time for that to happen. I think there could be some better ways to do things that would save the town and the citizens some money and would be better to the enviroment. Every town has the chance to set the goal for the rest for the nation if only one would step up and do it.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

B, C, F, and G

But was public education left out? I guess because that is a county system, but it is very important for our city that the county produces good citizens, and a well trained work force.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe it!!

NtzMom55 didn't say a thing race related!!

But I agree with her, I'm so tired of West blabbering and saying nothing. He certainly loves to hear himself yack.

What good things going on in Natchez are due to the work of our Aldermen and Co Supervisors. West has done nothing except hire a pack of rude and unprofessional fools who all need to be fired by the next Mayor (with some exception of course). I'm speaking of Anita the community develop specialist specifically, and others that abuse their city employment to double dip by using city vehicles for their personal business and pleasure, I could go on and on.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hitormiss - just watch the video of the last joint meeting of the School Board, Supervisors, Alderman, Mayor, and the Comm for Better Public Schools. Listen to the NONSENSE the Mayor utters, then leads the meeting into executive session when Alderman Gray starts really getting down to the bottom line and asking some solid questions about the schools ratings for the past 4 years.

Total coverup by West!

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

csguidry---

I like the way you think man!!! Well said! I especially took note of security and books at school. And a published budget, itemized is necessary.

I agree the police need to be more visible - such as get out of those cars every now and then and walk!! Take a walk around a block or two. Walk through the shopping areas, especially at opening and closing times.

GREEN is good, in fact in certain ways I'm glad IP is gone, I hated smelling that foul stench every day of my life growing up. A lot of people died in that place too. But we do need more jobs.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I want positive action and leadership and I want it yesterday

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hitormiss, I doubt you could ever find racial overtones in any of my posts. If you think you have, it is only because of your narrowpathmindedness which chooses to interpret what I say as being rasist. I doubt you can guess my race and be 100%, beyond a reasonable doubt, that your guess is correct. I made a comment to reflect my thoughts about the issues in the article and you interpreted it as being racially biased. Those who think like you are the ones that are holding our community back from progress. Mayor West is not responsible for the positive things that have materialized in our community, it is the result of the work done by many others. He just enjoys getting the credit from some people.

csguidry, I agree with most of what you are saying. I would like to add that I think it would be beneficial to our community if we were to see the two law enforcement agencies consolidate and raise their pay to a resonable level...especially if we expect more from them. Having an increase in salary would make it more easy to replace any who do not pull their own weight. You get what you pay for, so if you want better crime control/prevention, it is going to be more expensive than what we have been willing to settle for in the past (and present). Law enforcement officers are always in harms way and should be appropriately compensated for it.

Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jake Middleton should, without a doubt, be our next mayor. He's been there consistantly while other mayors have been voted in and out for the last 17-18 years. If you want honesty, integrity and love for our city, vote Jake 08.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Krogers, csguidry, what you really want to see is called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The city should have one, and the county, and the school district. It contains both the budget and things that don't show up on the budget, it is the total picture.

If they are preparing these reports, and I believe that any government body that accepts federal funds has to prepare them, they should be in the public library. Or, the finance officer for the city, county, and school district should be able to tell you where to find them.

It would be nice if the Democrat would announce each year when these reports come out and where copies can be picked up from.

These reports show all revenue from all sources and expenditures to all sources, and disposition of any surpluses.

Some reporting bodies run continual surpluses that don't show up on the budget, but get stored in investments of different sorts. There are municipalities in the US who own large shares in the companies that issue bonds for them....think about that for a minute.

Anybody really interested in the real financial picture of their local government should ask about these reports.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vote Graning or Middleton!

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is an example of a CAFR for another Mississippi town, Biloxi.

http://www.biloxi.ms.us/Publications/Doc...

It is 113 pages long, but well worth the reading if you are a resident of Biloxi and want to know how your money is spent.

One thing I want of city government, county and parish government, and the local school boards is for these reports to be published on those bodies' websites. Then we could all go over them with a fine toothed comb and ask relevant questions about this or that.

For instance, suppose you were to discover that the city had several million dollars in some fund that has no expenses, and your mayor and aldermen want to raise property or sales taxes. If you knew there was already extra money, you would have more ammunition in your fight against the greedy hand of government. Such funds actually do exist in the CAFR's of many reporting bodies, and usually have names like (I'm joking a little, but not much) the Crippled Children and Starving Senior Citizen's Fund; funds of this type receive revenue and earn interest but don't pay out anything.

Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

krogers, Thanks I just think we have damaged our planet enough and need to start making better choices. By the way I am a lady ... I just really need to change that screen name I suppose LOL

NTzmom55, I agree that it would be beneficial to merge the two departments. however I hesitate at the... you get what you pay for thing... maybe sometimes but not always and that could go either way. We should not have to tempt police officers to work by offering more money they took the job full well knowing what to expect and sometimes they do drop the ball. I think if they want a raise then they need to prove they deserve it. Many times offering more money does not guarantee a better job will be done. I am sure many would like a pay raise but I doubt they get it. If we knew they would in fact do a better job that may be ok but I am not one take someones word I say they need to prove they deserve the raise first.Right now everyone is hurting financially and if it means more taxes for them to get the raise then I am definitely against it!

EnKikur, I guess the real question is how reliable are the reports? are they in fact honest about this or is it a smoke screen to hide the truth. Frankly regardless of how bad something is I always want to know the true facts not a polished version that way I know what and how I need to do. I am affraid that many people have lost any kind of faith, trust and respect in any and all government officals. I simply do not trust them anymore. They should all be held accountable for their actions.

Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

C - New Roads! We can do anything without a solid foundation. A town simply works together better with a solid clean direction, we needs new roads and stripping.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

csguidry, those CAFR's are very accurate. Lying on those things will likely get you a trip straight to prison.

My theory about these reports is that government in the US is being operated as a business, with the intent of making a profit, the reports bear out the profit making aspect. I think the United States government is a corporation, and the States are incorporated under it, and the Cities and School Districts under the States. The Cities and Schools and States are business units reporting to home office in Washington, DC.

It should be fairly easy for the Treasury Department to spot idiosyncracies in reporting, because along with the Commerce Department they measure every thing they possibly can, and are always looking for more things to measure and track. They know how many people there are, how many are actually working, and how much those workers make through the benefit of Social Security; the money and the securities issued are numbered so they know much of that there is and likely how it flows through the economy.

In addition, Mississippi State law requires the CAFR's to be tested by independent auditors.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The CAFR's are the truth, csguidry, though most people have never heard of them. The smoke screen is getting people to focus on the budget, which is only one of the four areas the CAFR's cover. Surpluses in revenue from one year are not put toward the budget of the next year, but held out in those funds. In this way governments can claim budget deficits and ask for more taxes. This is where the subterfuge comes in, and this is why people should be aware that the CAFR's exist; I am willing to bet most people have never heard of the CAFR's, though every alderman has. Why is that, do you think? Why always focus on the budget when it is only a part of a reporting entity's financial picture. That is where your distrust comes from.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(En) it is very obvious as to why that our so-called politicians do not want the electorate to be aware of the CAFR's. I really feel sorry for some of the elected officials that we have in our City Administration and in the County Government! You have brought out some good points and I hope that everyone will read and understand your writings! Thanks for your time and attention!

Posted by Whisper (anonymous) on March 20, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I want a swimming pool, skating rink, walking paths and a picnic area. For people of ALL ages. I think this would help get people together in our community. And anyone that visits these areas. Should help keep it all clean and well kept. Something to be proud of. This by no means solves any great big problems. But it's a start. Laughter and Joy can always bring people together to deal with the larger issues.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kroger, how could you possibly not give credit to the Mayor? The Board of Alderman, except for Bob Pollard, were all seated long before West became Mayor and absolutely nothing was happening in our city.
Having acquaintances who work at City Hall, I checked and there is no Anita.
I may want to re-watch the meeting regarding the schools. There was no executive session. The Mayor suggested that if a personal matter was going to be discussed with an employee the Boards needed to meet in an executive session. It is the Law, not his rule.
If you are incorrect about the three things you choose to showcase, what else are you misinformed about?
NtzMom55, yes, it is all of us working together. Like it or not, West has pulled us together and led. If you think West wasn’t leading, please tell us who was? And on what projects?

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 21, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The things that are happening in the City of Natchez would have happened anyway, without the Mayor?

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another item missed in the initial DEB editorial is the most important one, I feel, is Leadership! I think I understand why the subject item was not mentioned and or left out. Please see related postings earlier.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

rushinghjr,
If these projects would have happened without the Mayor then why didn't they happen before he took office. Natchez is moving away from attitudes like yours. West has the contacts and the skills to make things happen. The proof is in the pudding.

Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In too many posts I see someone whining about someone else pulling the "race" card. Here's what I see in that.

Mostly that accusation against pulling the race card is what a white racist says because he is tired of giving stuff, offering stuff, or otherwise government helping black folks. He doesn't want to listen to it any more. He was generally not one of those folks who minded pre-integration segregation, but he feels that enough is enough, since he was forced by the federal government to participate.

I mostly don't mind if black folks do pull the race card. I figure if they were supposed to tolerate what white folks did to them for 200 years they have a right to try to pull whatever card they want to for quite a while.

Now let me say I am white and was raised a bit redneck myself, and I don't think rednecks would have held up quite so gracefully as black folks did if we were in their shoes.

Just a thought or two.

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeahuhuh,
You have said what, I as a white male, have been feeling for the past several months. I don’t know exactly how it came about with me defending West. I am retired and have time now to research issues that interest me. The more postings that I found filled with statements that I know to be false and the more I researched them, I began to feel West pain. There are some who just refuse to give this man credit for what he has done to turn our city around.
It has led me to ask myself the question, “Would I ever choose to be a black man”? No, we don’t need to cut him any slack because he is black but surely we can give him credit for his accomplishments.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 22, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It just takes time for business ventures to happen and opportunities to come about! If you have ever been in BUSINESS before, you can understand this! Ask the new businesses coming into Natchez "Why" they came and if they tell you the truth, it was not because of the current mayor?

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 23, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

rushinghjr,
Your last posting speaks volumes on your lack of credibility. I left this area to attend college, receiving multi degrees in business and then international law.
Rushinghjr, please let us all know, be specific, which corporate executives you have spoken with regarding the location of their business’ and the involvement or lack thereof with West.
People who state fiction as fact hurt our city. I look forward to seeing the corporations in your list.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(Miss or Miss)Your first sentence does not make any sense. I've had several phone calls and they feel the same? What has your attendance at college got to do with the subject posting NOTHING AT ALL! I have spoken with three business entities and one flatly told me not no, but XXXX no !!!!!!! Also, I own stock in one of the businesses. All three (3) wished to remain confidential! If you want to call that fiction, you and your "buddy" can call it anything you wish! But I must honor my promise to these individuals who have come to Natchez and Adams County! I must also respect their wishes just like the news media on stories such as the Natchez Democrat! Stand with your real name also? The mayor does!

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hitormiss you do know that the population has also dropped since West tok office right?? That is why unemployment has dropped...

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fire39212,No, the rate is the number living in the community minus the citizens who are employed=the unemployment rate.

rushinghjr, are you aware that 200 new businesses have located to our city in the past 3 years plus 4 new hotels, 2 major entertainment projects and on and on...

These projects didn't just fall out of the sky as you would have us believe. It is very hard to justify your negativity with these numbers. Whine, whine, whine but West is making a difference.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 25, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I stand by my statement, you should have named the 200 new businesses within the City Limits, and I still feel as many people of Natchez that West is not making a difference! Also, that's your opinion! You have to live "with him" not me? I am not whining, it is you who is continually whining that takes up for him! I stand by all of my postings! I do not have to justify myself to yourself or West!

Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What do I want from local government?

Level 5 schools.

With a great public school system in place you will be amazed at the opportunities that present themselves.

Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on April 2, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

a new police chief and fire willie b jones

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder where the 200 new businesses in Natchez in the last 3 years are? 4 new hotels int the last 3 years? 2 new entertainment centers in the last 3 years? What are their names? West brought "nothing"!

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rushinghjr
If you lived here you would know where these businesses' are located. You and Mayor West have something in common, Boys and Girls Club. West was instrumental in bringing the Boys and Girls Club here. He is a founding member and past chairman. You posted that you’re the President in St. Mary’s Parish.