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City leaders approve demoltion of three abandoned houses
Published Wednesday, August 12, 2009
NATCHEZ — Three more Natchez eyesores are on the road to destruction.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to proceed with demolition of abandoned structures at 12 Irving Lane, 1024 Martin Luther King St. and 11 Winston Hill.
But with the demolition funds dwindling, just how the structures would disappear was a point of discussion.
The board first considered having public works employees do the damage, but then realized bids from private contractors were cheaper than city labor and debris removal would be.
The low bids for demolition and debris removal of all three structures total $5,600.
In other business:
• Mayor Jake Middleton gave a report on how political campaign signs are affected by the city’s sign ordinance, saying City Attorney Everett Sanders interprets the law to say that political billboards are acceptable at any time.
But at the end of the meeting, citizen Jeremy Fakes asked to address the board further on the campaign signs. Fakes was not on the agenda, and Middleton originally denied him a chance to speak.
Middleton said he had contacted Fakes in response to his request to be on the agenda.
“I asked and went out of our way to set up a meeting with you, and you chose not to meet with us,” Middleton said.
But Fakes said he wanted to address the mayor in a public forum, not a private meeting.
Alderman Ricky Gray said Fakes had a right to speak, and asked for a vote from the board. The mayor first broke a 3-3 tie with a “no” vote, but then changed his mind and allowed Fakes to speak.
Fakes argued that, according to the sign ordinance, sheriff candidate Cliff Cox has put up campaign billboards too early.
Middleton and Sanders stuck by their initial report, and told Fakes any candidate was welcome to put up billboards now.
• The board approved paying for two days of travel costs for Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis.
Mathis will be attending the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in Tunica next Wednesday through Saturday.
Mathis is paying for her own hotel room two of the nights.
Middleton recommended that Mathis attend the event in order to obtain information about stimulus money that may be available to Natchez.
Comments
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Middleton recommended that Mathis attend the event in order to obtain information about stimulus money that may be available to Natchez."
--> Wonder if they'll be giving out free cartons of Newports again?
or maybe they'll raffle off a trip to Cuba.
Way to bow down to an racist opportunist Jake!! Are there not enough politicians already slithering in and out of this county that can answer these questions?
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Your taxes at work futhering racism!
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Irving Lane, isn't that the drive up to the Briars?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear tell that when Joyce is out of town, half of Jake's daily problems are gone. Maybe he needs a rest?
Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Will it be Bob, Dan or Mark who will accompany Joyce to Tunica?
Remember, the "stink" about the trip to Washington?
Posted by doc (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are wrong jamming1, it would only be racism if it was a Congressional White Caucus Institute.
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder what would be the outcome of a White Caucus??????
Why is it only the White's are racist?????
Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@ Buttercup its not only that white's are racist. You can be a racist no matter what your age, gender, or skin color. A congressional Black Caucus is not a racist organization. Just because it has Black or White in its title does not mean it is a racist organization that promotes a racist ideology. Do your research before you comment on such things.. it will make you look smarter even if you are not. Instead of asking why and waiting for a answer try to find out why and then post your findings.
Posted by DUCKHUNTER (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that's riduculous that an outside contractor can demolish three houses in the city and PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY CAN'T DO IT FOR CHEAPER. SOUNDS LIKE SOME AREN'T WORTH THEIR SALT, AS IT WERE.
sorry, but if there were a Congressional White Caucus Institute, the ACLU and NAACP would immediately send Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson leading the way to it with lawsuits claiming that the name itself promotes racism.
"Mathis is paying for her own hotel room two of the nights," YEAH, AND SHE WILL TURN IN HER RECEIPTS IN ORDER TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE CITY...............................ND don't play coy with the readers by putting in some BS like that.
Posted by trock100500 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 1:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everything a race card no a days? Wait that is the racism in everone. Yes everyone!! If you are not like you are we would not have anything better to talk about. As far as Black(White) Caucus, it is all a political ploy to promote HIDDEN RACISM!! and hide behind the past that will never go away. If you build it they will come!!!
Posted by jaquan32 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hidden racism, whatever. The majority of Congress is a congressional white caucus, so you all need to shut your traps. Natchez, Ms is the most raciallyy divided community in the nation. You know, I moved out of the state for several years, and I did not realize how racist Mississippi was until I moved back. We are going to continue to be behind in Mississippi as long as we continue this stupid racism. And most of this mess is attributable to white people. I know whites cant help it and I feel so sorry for you all. But the city of Natchez nor Mississippi as a whole will never move forward until whites realize the civil war is over. Lets try to work together. I mean please its been 146 years, noone is going back to your cotton fields, to your kitchens. Our women will not be raped by your men anymore, and they definitely will not be there breast feed your little baby's anymore.
"Summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumping and cotton and high. Your daddy's rich and your mothers good looking, so hush little baby dont you cry." Ask some of your black friends what that song really means. A little black irony for you. You will most definitely be offended. Stop crying you white folks. Lets work together and move on into the new millineum.
Posted by DUCKHUNTER (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AND THERE YOU GO, THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK (NO PUN INTENDED)!
jaquan32: Congress is elected by "Blacks" and whites alike, there are more blacks per area than whites in the south and you have the gall and audacity to claim that, "Congress is a congressional white caucus." your kin and your race voted for these peeps too.
YOU STOP THE RACIAL PERPETUATION.
Posted by hellcat (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jaquan, your resentment towards white people wasn't hidden very well in your post. I'm sure no one would like it to return to the way it was but ignorance is not a crime. I'm sure you and many others are grateful. I'm not from Natchez, I went to school where the number of black and white students was nearly equal, I did not grow up racist. I've been in Natchez for 19 years and can easily see why racism is still such a big deal, because BOTH races still allow too much emphasis on racism. It's very evident in the segregation of schools. One excuse I hear regularly about this little setback is if we dissolve the private schools the public schools would be overflowing. If that's the case what about using the private school buildings to house the extra students, and truly integrate the school system instead of just paying it lip service? I'd bet good money our public school system would be up to standards in no time!
Furthermore, the attitudes of both races cause a lot of friction. White people with their egoism and blacks with their entitlement issues. You are absolutely correct ...it's been 146 years, how long are we going to have to keep paying for it? Allow me to reiterate, I'm not from here and was not raised to be racist at all, Natchez just breeds racism. It's been how long since Martin Luther King Jr had a dream, but look around you, how many proud blacks around here are fulfilling that dream? I believe the great Dr King would turn in his grave to see all he worked for and devoted his life for being thrown away because of laziness and the mindset that the white man still owes us for enslaving our people. Dr King fought for equality and won, instead of showing gratitude by using the resources now available thanks to his dedication, everyone still sitting around with their hand out, only now they call it welfare not slavery.
Posted by jaquan32 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I must respectively dissent on your views about blacks looking for handouts and or lazy. That in itself is false characterization of black people. There are no more black people looking for handouts than whites. And by the way, there are a higher percentage of whites on welfare than there are blacks. Yes, I admit the comments that I made earlier were a little off the top. But they were nothing in my opinion compared to the earlier postings. We all know that the Congressional Black Caucus is nothing new, but was developed during a time when there was extreme discrimination across this great nation of ours. Its existence now is not for racist views, but more out of loyalty for those before us more than anything else.
My point is this. We as a nation and as a collective group of people have the oppurtunity to make this nation the greatest form of democracy ever in the history of the world. We know our faults and our hearts. Let there be no doubt about it, "there can be no liberty, where there is no compassion". We as citizens must have compassion for one another, whether they be white or black. And by the way, I think that our people have made great strides since Dr. King. Lets look at this scenario. I am a college graduate. Most of my white college classmates were third and fourth generation college graduates. Most of my classmates were either second or first in their families to graduate from college. Neither of my grandparents even went to high school. So how great of stride do you expect our people as a whole to make. Not making excuses, but we are getting there. These things take time. When measured by history 146 years is no time, and the time since Dr. Kings death is like yesterday. It took centuries for the Roman Empire to develop, and so it will take time to for blacks to get on an equal playing field as whites. Blacks or not asking for a handout, you must understand that it takes time to heal wounds, and also to become on equal standing with other races. Because basially what your are telling me is that after 500 years of slavery, discrimination, and unequal education, that we are supposed to be on equal footing as whites since Dr. King's death, Please!!!!!!!!!!! My parents were first generation after King. The generation to be judged or my mine and my childrens children.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very intelligent posts Jaquan32.
Posted by elvisss (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too many people around here use skin color as an adjective when referring to someone else. Instead of saying “that man…” or “that woman…” many people tend to say “that black (or n-word) man… “ or “that white woman…”, as if skin color is the only defining characteristic. It’s socially acceptable to talk like this around here, and that is embarrassing for us.
Posted by juju (anonymous) on August 14, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jaquan32, you don't sound like you want 'equal,' which you already have, it sounds like spouting "the Roman Empire...." and so forth that you want just that, to 'rule.' Sounds alot like Hitler to me!!! And you might want to be careful going too far back in time, as you might hit on the time Africans held the Hebrew people in slavery in Egypt. Let's just get the color issues out of these forums. It's so tired!
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