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photo by Ben Hillyer
Natchez native and New York Times best selling author Greg Iles threw out more than confetti during the keynote speech for this year’s gala. He threw out a few challenges to the membership as he spoke about his concerns and vision for the community. Iles opened with the confetti as a business demonstration to show what happens to his paperback books after they stay on the shelf for four weeks and then are pulped.
Iles throws out challenge to chamber, community
Published Wednesday, October 14, 2009
NATCHEZ — Greg Iles wasn’t weaving a fictional story about Natchez Tuesday night, and he wasn’t pulling any punches either.
The New York Times bestselling author — the featured speaker at the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce gala — asked serious questions about the past, present and future leadership of his hometown, called for the business community to take the wheel, the medical community to straighten up and challenged the city to embrace tourism as the only major industry.
“Anybody who is waiting for a heavy industry to save Natchez, Miss., will be waiting a very long time,” Iles said to a crowd of more than 400 business and community leaders. “Let’s write off heavy industry and talk about what we do have.”
Video
For a video of Greg Iles' entire speech click on the following link Greg Iles speech
Natchez should be taking advantage of its rare history, Iles said. As one of only three cities that survived the Civil War intact, Natchez is special, he said.
“Since tourism is, or ought to be, the primary business of this city, who is responsible for coming up with a comprehensive vision of Natchez as a tourist destination?” Iles asked.
Natchez Under-the-Hill, casino potential and the neglect of Arlington are all tourism failures, Iles said, that the city has done nothing about.
Under-the-Hill, historically, was the home of riverboat gamblers, bars and iniquities. The riverfront property is home now only to private parking and housing, one restaurant, one bar and the Isle of Capri. Other businesses on the street are closed or have been converted to condos.
“Why isn’t Natchez Under-the-Hill the major commercial development district in the City of Natchez? Look across the river at what Vidalia has done, and they only had a mat field to work with. The day we’ll know we’re doing it right is when we have the citizens of Vidalia calling 911 to complain that they can’t sleep because of the racket blasting across the river from all the bars and restaurants and casinos Under-the-Hill.”
The historic house Arlington was badly damaged in a fire in 2002. Since that point it has been left to crumble, despite criminal charges for demolition by neglect against the owner.
“The aldermen could raise the fine to $500 per day,” Iles said. “This city can’t be afraid to exercise its power when the survival of its precious resources is at stake.”
Historic preservation isn’t just for history buffs, Iles said. It means money for the community.
And the city has only one group to thank for the tourism efforts that have held the community together up to this point, Iles said — the garden clubs.
“Whatever you think about the garden clubs, everybody in this room owes them a great debt,” he said. “Without them, those great houses that still draw tourists from around the world would not be standing and contributing to our economy.”
But the garden clubs haven’t moved fast enough in revisions of the Historic Natchez Pageant, he said.
“Once upon a time, there were many blue-haired ladies across America whose favorite book was ‘Gone with the Wind.’ Well, that’s just not how it is anymore. Too many of those fans have passed away.
“The tourists we are trying to attract now have a different psychology.”
Iles called for major changes to pageant, including telling the white and black story of Natchez, writing in drama, dialogue, filmed images and more.
But in order to make changes to the pageant, tourism plans, Under-the-Hill and historic preservation, the city has to have strong, confident leadership, Iles said. The city has had good mayors and weak mayors, he said, but the current mayor must start taking a stand soon.
“The verdict on the current mayor is still out, but he needs to get after it hard if he wants to make a good showing,” Iles said.
And the current board of aldermen needs to step up as well, he said.
“In the last two or three weeks, those guys have been bouncing back and forth like rubber-nosed woodpeckers in the Petrified Forest,” Iles said. “If you’re not familiar with that expression, that means ‘them boys is confused.’ And we can’t afford confusion. We need professionalism and good horse-sense.”
Iles also pointed the finger for Natchez’s current economic woes at the medical community.
“Why do we have two hospitals providing redundant services, only 45 doctors and one general surgeon?”
Iles urged the medical community to eliminate the divisiveness, infighting and turf battles and unite for the cause.
“Medicine is not just big business,” he said. “It’s not just a profession, it’s a calling. Natchez needs its medical community to set its house in order.”
But ultimately, it’s not just the doctors, tourism officials, mayor or aldermen who have to be held responsible, Iles said.
“As far as Natchez is concerned, everybody in this room has a dog in the hunt,” he said. “Everybody in this room wants to build a city that their kids or grandkids can come back to someday and make a living, if they so choose.
“And right now, we don’t have that. And if you don’t have that, you’ve got nothing.”
Iles challenged the chamber of commerce to become the major promoter of business in the region. And he reminded everyone that there is hope.
“For the past six years, I’ve been coaching youth football, basketball and or baseball. I’ve seen something I never thought I would. I’ve coached white kids, black kids and Indian kids all on the same team, and they don’t give a flip what color their teammate is.
“Those kids are the future of Natchez, people. And we owe them more than we’re giving them right now.”
Comments
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen about the pageant. When you don't have children in it anymore and you aren't serving as a volunteer at it, honestly it's boring and at times campy to the point of embarrassing. Not dissing the volunteers because it is a big production but it is time to bring it up to date and make it more realistic. If not, it will die away too.
Posted by watcher (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a (Mayor's) Campaign kick-off to me
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck I'll vote for him as Mayor! He truly gives a flip about Natchez and not about "lining his own pocket"! His are more lined than you and I will ever know yet he continues to stay and live here and raise his children here.
With Greg Iles as Mayor and Chuck Mayfield as Sheriff I would feel FABULOUS about my safety in this town and the direction it was headed.
Posted by Nativeson (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So many stories that haven't been told about a place that had "the Forks in the Road" on one side of town and the "Barber of Natchez" on the other. A place where Jefferson Davis thrived but the people, for the most part, thought that leaving the Union was a bad idea. A place stained with the blood of French and Indians, that danced its way through the War Between the States. A place the Spanish Governor thought should be the Spanish capitol of its territories in America. So many stories and so much drama........................
Posted by ConstantComment (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Prodigal son as precious resource.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good job Greg.... but all that is old news....it's easy to point your finger .. put your money where your mouth is and buy Arlington and renovate it....or buy one of those old falling-down restaurants under the hill and open them back up......put somebody to work with a business that contributes to the local economy
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All are good ideas, Greg. Folks that have seen pageants in other towns want to cry when they come back and see own own. Our riverfront and delapidated buildings are our shame. And the misguided tourism-hating folks that think heavy industry will return are our dinosaurs.
Posted by fraidoclowns (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Greg's right. Period.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers, I think he has already bought an old house and is renovating it. He has done alot for Ntz, wish we could get others to do the same. This is one of the good guys, be careful throwing stones in a glass house.
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers I think maybe you should check out even attempting to buy Arlington! The dude won't sell! Easy ain't it to try and sell somebody something that simply ain't for sale!!
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I,ll remember the garden club when they raise my property taxes this year with their new scheme , Why don,t they have to pay? They are the ones that made all the money off the pagents,tourism,etc.
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most folks in the USA have very little money to spend and won,t have any for many years. The influx of tourism and having it good are gone. I doubt anything is going to bring us out of this economic slump.it,ll probably get worse.
Posted by tenzing (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. I don't think I've ever seen so much stone-cold truth on the pages of the Democrat.
Posted by John (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There will never be industry here. Look at Vicksburg, it is losing most of its industry except for LeTournneau and the Corp of Engineers. Greg is right only he wasn't harsh enough. Another thing that has happened recently is that every white pastor of a major Natchez church has moved away/been replaced in the past 6 or so years. WHY? The climate for the future stymied by the climate of the past!!!
Posted by chickinqueen (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Greg!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers - always wanting the other guy to BUY or do. Start a cooperative and see about purchasing it yourself before you tell someone else to do it. Iles has come up with some good suggestions -- and that is what it is -- suggestions. It is not the responsibility of one man or one woman to get all this action started but to be a part of the solution. How many on here, including me, volunteer to help out on anything or even suggest ideas. Sure, some ideas are never going to come to fruition, but at least the juices are flowing. We have new generations and these people can start to change. Let's change the pageant as a 1st step and make it more exciting and current. The pageant couldn't compete with GWTW at anytime but at least make it more entertaining. The Cemetery stories are more interesting that the pageant. Thanks Greg for stepping up and making your ideas public and maybe it will encourage others to step outside the box and get moving.
Posted by snowgarden (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. I wonder how many ppl are ticked off this morning.
Posted by FamilyofGod (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are casinos behind every sand dune and wherever some Las Vegas shyster can get a dozen Indians gathered up. Yet, a place unique to Natchez, easily identifiable with Natchez and only Natchez, a defining kind of place, has been whored out of existence for the sake of sawdust floor level casino barges that benefit only a few well placed and manuevered folks who had the property and stroke to begin with to bend things to their advantage. And who didn't mind getting in bed with these people and pimping everyone else out. Hows the rent on that parking lot piling up, anyone remember how much it is and who gets it? It should be paved in gold.
The remaking of Silver Street so that it could only serve tha boat, the parking squeeze, one thing after another, it has all served to reduce any possible competition there for the last penney.
Some may not be old enough to remember what a vibrant place Under the Hill used to be, talk about Gone With The Wind, it should be Gone With The Boat.
And while I am on my rant, if they are going to be there, why could these blood suckers have been made to festoon their barge in "Mississippi River Boat Gambler" motiff, instead of the standard Las Vegas Tacky? A tamale vender can be given the business about bushes and grass, but "little vegas" is fine?
Sheesh.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares how many people are ticked off. There should be a hefty fine for delapitated buildings and weed filled yards of empty houses. Under the Hill is a disgrace to this town.
Posted by trueblue (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
natashakubelikov.......the last account i heard was that the pageant barely broke even for the last few years. tours have been down and if you go to the pageant you would see that the large bus tours that used to come are not coming. they are also struggling.
Posted by ktfiola (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Greg. I moved out for all of the reasons that he pointed out. And until Natchez improves we won't be back we won't incourage our children to return. I won't even go back to visit because to see my childhood home in ruins brings me to tears. Standing together as a community instead of pointing fingers at everyone else, and saying "that's not my job" will never pick Natchez up off the ground, dust it off, and put it back on the map. I am not saying that Natchez is the only community to do that, but since it pains me to see it, it affects me. I love Natchez, I love everything, but the politics that run the community, but is once was an awesome place to live and raise a family, I want to see it like that again.
Posted by dixiecrat (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ILES FOR MAYOR! Everything he said was spot on target. What about this idea -- Natchez will be celebrating its 300 YEAR ANNIVERSARY in five years or so (As a side note, it seems funny to me that we always say "Founded 1716" -- the year the French built Fort Rosalie. But why did they build it -- for what strategic purpose? Could it be to protect the large number of French citizens who had already settled here in conjunction with the opening of a permanent trading post in 1714?). This should be the biggest thing that ever happened to Natchez (well, aside from that War Between the States thing... and the Yellow Fever epidemic... OK, the biggest thing RECENTLY). When we remembered the sesquicentennial of the Civil War all across the South in 1961 that was a big deal, when AMERICA had its bicentennial in 1976 it was also big news. Recently (in 2007) the Commonwealth of Virgina celebrated its 400th anniversary with much fanfare and events all over their state. We're one of only a handful of cities in this whole part of the world that can claim 300 years of unbroken history as a town (a few hundred more if you add the Native Americans in there). And what are we doing about it? I've heard nary a word as of yet. But this is the kind of thing that takes special steering committees and state-level involvement and coordination with entities like the National Park Service and possibly even foreign governments (remember when the Spanish Consul came a few years ago -- might as well get the French and British back here, too; and even though they were practically wiped out as a tribe, the Natchez were absorbed by several others -- somebody needs to be calling Oklahoma, as well). A five year plan is completely in order, just to get it all done, and someone needs to get it started. Maybe by then we can have a revitalized pageant ready for the Tricentennial, a revitalized Under-the-Hill (remember how it was back in the 80s down there?), another grand old home open for tours (Arlington was one of the Pilgrimage Originals), and a revitalized town that embraces its identity as a tourist mecca (or a tourist mecca-that-could-be) and gives up on the 1950s pipe dream of heavy industry. Heck, maybe we'll even have GREG ILES for Mayor!
Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MR. ILES I APPLAUD YOU! YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SPOKE OF TOURISM.
I have complained in the past about the horrible and hateful manager of the visitor center. She also has a couple of employees that know nothing about the word hospitality. We all need to take Mr. Iles serisouly and react. Let's clean house in this city of those nasty and unpleasant city employees. We are paying their salaries and having them represent us to our visitors. Some of them, like the manager of the visitor center, are pee poor emissaries!
I have called the Mayor's office about this problem 25 times and he won't call me back. Our mayor, Jake, is spineless or just lazy. Do your job mayor. I voted for you and my taxes pay for you and your hateful employees!
Posted by dixiecrat (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Check it out -- excerpt of Time Magazine article (ca. 1941)! Some things never change (or do they?)...
Mayor William Joseph Byrne of sleepy Natchez, Miss. (pop. 15.296) is a man who likes a fine grimy factory smoking up Southern skies, freight trains bumping and clattering musically on jasmine-scented nights, all the noise, payrolls and progress that come with industrialization. Last week Mayor Byrne was an unhappy man, for commerce was dislocated. The struggle that Natchez has dreaded for four years had begun in earnest: the two garden clubs of the town were in open battle.Natchez citizens heard the sinister sound that is produced only by the flouncing of hoop skirts to the accompaniment of a sniff of disdain.
Ten years ago the famed Natchez Pilgrimages began. There are 40-odd fine old homes in varied stages of repair and restoration within six miles of Natchez, and at the low point of the Depression, Southern homeowners discovered that visitors were still willing to pay a fee to inspect them. In no time the Pilgrimage was an institution. Each spring pretty girls in hoop skirts and pantalettes flounced over the pavements, rode about in carriages that quaintly messed up traffic. (By unwritten law, males who dressed up one year were let off the next.) For $2 a visitor could get a conducted tour through five stately old mansions. The Pilgrimages became big business. (This year Natchez expects 30,000 visitors, who will spend an average $10 apiece.) Four years ago homeowners found themselves outvoted by non-home-owning garden clubbers, split off to form the Pilgrimage Garden Club in opposition to the Natchez Garden Club. Year in and year out, in a period known as the Great Compromise, the ladies divided the houses, the tourists, the money and the spring, while all Natchez wondered whether a Pilgrimage so constituted could long endure.
This year one Pilgrimage began before the other ended... . Last week the Natchez Club secured a temporary injunction against its rival, alleging that the Pilgrimage Club's extension of time was an unfair attempt to capitalize on the Natchez Club's enterprise and publicity.
The sheriff edged up to Pilgrimage Club headquarters, ordered the furious clubwomen to strike their banners, silence their band, close up their mansions. Next day the Pilgrimage Club ladies asked that the injunction be rescinded; the judge acquiesced, gave the rivals five days to plead their cases.
Mayor Byrne, who likes to talk about Natchez' new tire factory, her ski-manufacturing plant, and her romantic sawmills, was out of town. On business.
Posted by diamonds (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I commend you on a job well done. Very good truth in all you have said. Until this community get color out their eyes we will be slow in getting what we need. Again, you gave an awesome speech.
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with Mike8427, ya'll...no mater what Greg Iles says about the old houses and the pageant, his books have been the major drawing card for Natchez tourism in the past decade.
He can do the same thing for Natchez Jimmy Buffett did for Key West............and I was living in Florida when that really took off. Even as late as '87-'89, Key West was a sleepy little village, a cheap escape with the same touristy crap you find up and down the coast of Florida. Ten years later, you couldn't rent a room without an agent and a month's notice. Now, Duval St is a legend, so crowded it's more like a walking mall....and they made it "one-way", and some friends who've lived there for 30 years say they are fast doing away with street parking...there are more 5-Star hotels and restaurants than the little island can hold up. Whe I first starting going down there, 30 years ago, there wasn't even a beach...bicycles were all you could rent, and Sloppy Joe's had no A/C...Green St was a dead-end, the only hotels were Holiday Inn, and the local Mom and Pop's...and every evening 10-20 people showed up at Mallory Square to watch the sun go down with a slow toast, and high hopes of seeing a green flash...now it's a circus. Key West no longer starts where the Overseas Hwy ends, but way back up at Big Pine. And all the people down there, white, black, and brown are a community that bit into the idea that together they could make a better life for themselves, instead of being a pirate town with a rep for the end of the line, where AIDs patients come to die. What they have created, together, is a monster of an economy even in a time when the rest of the country is taking a step back.
I may sound sad about what Key West has become, and for me, maybe I am, but for the people of Key West, the people who own the town, live and work there...they can't find pick-up trucks in Miami large enough to haul away all the money.
Given enough time and community support Greg Iles' book can do the same for Natchez. But we have to make an effort to become what his books say about us. He paints a beautiful picture of Natchez and it's historic past, and weaves these, "can't put the book down," page turners that give our town a face. And people want to come see it...they want to go to the Eola Hotel and find the old self-operated Otis elevator that stops on the mezzanine level. They can't wait to see the view from Jewish Hill, or look for the mysteries on Catholic Hill, and now I have friends from Ohio wanting to know about the Devil's Punchbowl....Randy Wayne White has done the same in the past 10 years for Sanibel and Captiva Islands off the Ft Myers, Fl coast...people will come up to you at the marina in Bokelia and offer to pay for a trip to Cabbage Key. Randy Wayne eats for free all over the Emerald Coast.
Posted by jogdencombs (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG! (as my daughter says - rather "texts") .... you are so right, dixiecrat...what a great - GREAT - opportunity for Natchez!! With the right vision, a combined, cooperative effort from every aspect of our community, and a lot of planning, that anniversary celebration could be spectacular...and, as you say, could revitalize Natchez! I was living and working in New York in 1976 and talk about an amazing time...it was really incredible. And you are also very right about starting on it now! Thanks for putting this out there - let's make it happen!
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think Mr Iles is crazy enough to run for such a thankless job as mayor of this town. Especially, since he's already lived the futility of it through Penn Cage's first term, but that doesn't mean he is not worth a listen. He has some really good ideas. He does have vision and imagination...and he's not going anywhere. This is home, and anyone who knew Greg before he became a New York Times best-selling author, knows he's basically the same boy scout (Troop 168, right?) he used to be.
And Krogers, he has put his money where his mouth is, over and over again. And he has so much more to offer our community than simply throwing his money at us.
Thanks, Greg Iles....maybe you and Jennifer Ogden can get together and do something about updating the pageant...isn't it nice ... we not only have some of the most beautiful homes, and wealthiest people in the country living here, we have all kinds of celebrities, philanthropists, artist, poets, and muscians living right here in a place the lovingly call HOME!!
--mojo
Posted by adamscountygirl (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Grag Iles has some wonderful points! I agree completely. Natchez needs to open its eyes and look around and fix what is here and improve what already works---He is a Trinity grad and proud of it, Greg Iles for Mayor and another proud Trinity grad, Cliff Cox for Sheriff and we know the town would be headed in the right direction!!! Vote for Cliff Cox and Greg Iles!!!
Posted by hastydecision07 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GREG TALKS A GOOD GAME. BUT LOW PAYING TOURISM JOBS DO NOT GET IT!!
MOST ARE PART TIME.
HEAVY JOBS PAY HEAVY WAGES.
WE NEED BOTH
GREG WOULD BE A GREAT MAYOR. HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO HAVE HIS MEETINGS A NIGHT.
Posted by observing (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Greg is a great writer, but he should leave economic development to others. Anyone who advocates abandoning any segment of the local economy is selling the area short. What if Tupelo had said in the 1940s that industry wasn't for them and they should exploit travelers on the Trace and Elvis buffs and open some bars? Then they would have no Cooper Tire, no Norboard, no Cole Equipment, no furniture industry, and now they are building an automotive industry there. The lesson is that they learned to compete on a global level. Tourism is great for the area, but use the proceeds to boost all areas of the economy through focused leadership. Remember, if you don't learn how to compete in this economy, you will lose every time.
Posted by jogdencombs (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PS - I hadn't read mrmojo's post yet - have to add onto his too. Several friends in NY & LA who came for my wedding last year specifically wanted to see the sites they had read about in Greg's books! We took them on a little "Greg tour"! I'm laughing as I remember how much fun they had. I love Natchez, have loved it for all the years I lived away, and love being home now. But honestly, we have to come together as a community - all of us working together to the same end - to build a future that will allow our kids and grandkids the chance to thrive here. We won't do that as long as we stay stuck in old, worn-out ideas or the past. Let's use our past to take us into the future. It takes not just vision or words, but actions.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Greg is spot on.
Thank you for saying what needs to be said, and said out LOUD, Greg.
All you whiners--what are you doing to promote Natchez?
Posted by dovechase (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Another thing that has happened recently is that every white pastor of a major Natchez church has moved away/been replaced in the past 6 or so years. WHY? The climate for the future stymied by the climate of the past!!!"
John, don't blame this one on someone else. Had you not been a control freak who alienated a large portion of your members, you would not have been replaced.
This is a major part of the problem with this area. No one is responsible for his/her actions.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those of you who read Greg's books know that his main character in the books about Natchez becomes mayor at one point. Truth in fiction?
Posted by dixiecrat (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Observing" -- have you never heard the quotation "Those who do not know their past are doomed to repeat it?" How many times does Natchez have to bang its head against a brick wall before it figures out the obvious? Did you even read the 1941 Time Magazine article I posted? The gist was that the Mayor was bragging about all this "Commerce" and "Business" and acting like "tourism" and the "Garden Clubs" were nothing but a sideshow. So where is all that great industry the article talks about now? A ski-manufacturing plant, a tire factory, sawmills, bustling trains and smoke stacks (read the once and future IP -- the "Holy Grail" of Natchez heavy industry) -- how much of that is still here? None. Nada. Zilch. But guess what? The Garden Clubs are still here -- and the Tourists. For some unknown reason they keep coming -- Yankees, Texans, Fellow Mississippians, Southerners of all Stripes, Foreigners -- literally from the Ends of the Earth. I met a Dutch couple in Louisiana last week and where were they headed? Straight to Natchez! All the way from Europe. And is there a single entity that caters to foreign tourists in this town -- a single placard that says "Welcome -- we're glad you're here"? No. As the Riches of Monmouth famously opined tourism exists in Natchez in spite of Natchez. I've never seen such an anti-tourist "TOURIST TOWN" in my life (it's like we're even ashamed to be called that). We didn't even have a "Welcome to Natchez" sign to let tourists know they were here until two years ago and then it took a private entity (the Rotary Club) to even do that. No leadership. No civic pride. A neurotic schizophrenic sense of self-loathing (NO, No... we don't want to be a charming Southern tourist town... we want to be Pittsburgh or Detroit!!! [since you see how well those iconic industrial giants are doing these days]). Constant political in-fighting and self-promotion by individuals at the expense of community. That's what Natchez is known for in and around "these parts." Thank goodness the tourists haven't found out yet!
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No matter how much things change, they somehow seem to stay the same http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuPVjLiKQ...
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love me some Mammy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjOZcRbZp...
Notice how Mammy knows how to behave, but the spoiled Scarlett needs lessons in southern ettiquite.
Posted by kooncat (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lambchop I agree with you!
Congratulations Pat Biglane..
Thanks for expressing your vision Greg..
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dixiecrat, don't stop now. That was excellent. Take a breath and then give us some more.
:)
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
observing....you know what else Tupelo doesn't have that Natchez has? Unions!
It's not so much as they decided to say "yes" to heavy industry as they said "no" to unions. That they said "no" to a foolish reparation's based school system, punctuated with expensive private schools, and "yes" to a progressive public school system that is now one of the best in Mississippi.
There is a lot to think about, a lot to discuss, even more to do, but it is never going to happen until we have the leadership to make the hard decisions, the support from the community to back them up, and the will of the people to want to change...
--mojo
Posted by justmyopinion (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
adams county gal, just so that you know, Greg Iles is supporting Chuck Mayfield.
Posted by veryniceperson (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Greg, for being so completely honest and having the courage to speak so frankly. I totally agree with you. We have so many wonderful resources and potential that we are not utilizing to the best advantage. And I, too, agree that major obsticles are color and maybe just a little too much pride in something that is no longer.
We do not have a hi-tech work force here and to constantly put all our economic eggs in that basket just doesn't seem to make too much sense.
Congratulations to last night's winners.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We ask for someone with vision then immediately start poking out their eyes with an ice pick. As the dollar falls foreign tourists, you know the other countries besides America, can afford wht we can not, to take vacations. In times past these travelers wanted to re-live the old west. Now they want to experience another part of our history they read about in school. Other countries actually study history besides their own. If Natchez would take some of Greg's ideas and bring back more of the riverboat theme then it is possible we could bring in these tourists.
Posted by observing (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dixie and mrmojo: I do not disagree with anything you have written, I also don't mean to attempt to compare any other town with Natchez, as I believe each situation is unique. I only advocate a balanced approach to building an economy.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did neither article mention the number of people attending? My guess is, it was far less than the 500 plus they were expecting. Anyone out there go to this gala that can make a guess on attendance.
Posted by BHillyer (Ben Hillyer) on October 14, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to let everyone know there now is a video of the entire speech from last night. Here is the link to the video:
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/weblogs/t...
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mojo, you are dead right concerning the schools and the death-strangle that the private schools have done to our economy. But I can't see how this multi-generational debacle will ever change. Why not ask Greg his opinion on that one?
:)
Posted by jfinley (Julie Cooper) on October 14, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Beammeupscotty,
The third paragraph of this story mentions the number of people. It's not exact, but an approximation.
Thanks
Julie
Posted by PDaggett (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Concerning the education issue, just for the record, Cathedral School was started in 1847.
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on October 14, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Greg, for laying it out like it is.
In addition to the many excellent points Greg made in his comments, he is especially right on about one thing--manufacturing and the jobs that accompany it are gone forever around here--UNLESS--we citizens of Natchez become willing to reenroll our children in our public schools, and doggedly persist until our public schools are nothing short of excellent. I can promise you that NO corporation will remotely consider us with our de facto system of segregated schools. We pay taxes to support our public school system--why not enroll our kids in them and initiate the change ourselves. There it is--bifurcated school system = no hope of attracting new companies and industries--couldn't be simpler.
I can't help but feel that change might finally be in the air. To read the text of Greg's remarks, and to hear the rising chorus of dissent in Natchez from citizens who have reached the limits of their patience with the cronyism, racism, and ineptitude of our current city government--is it possible that we could finally be finding a unified voice?
It is time, friends, to dig deep within ourselves and find the courage to change. Alderman Gray was absolutely correct yesterday in the BOA meeting when he stated that we are a divided community. How much longer can we afford to remain divided? We live in the poorest corner of the poorest state in the union. So how's that division thing working out for us? The answer is all around us--not so well. Black and white citizens of Natchez, we will either soar together, or we will crash together. Whichever destiny we choose for our community, we will all share it. We've tried cronyism, classism, and racism for a long time now. The results are in--it ain't working. Have we finally had enough of beating our heads against a wall of our own construction?
I've been walking around for the past year or so being mad at my town--mad because Natchez is a pig. You can clean it up, oil it till it's nice and shiny, and tie a red ribbon around its tail, but the minute you turn your back on it, it heads straight for the nearest wallow and covers itself all over again in mud and excrement. When I read Greg's comments this morning, I felt something for Natchez I haven't felt for some time--I felt hope. We CAN change. I truly believe this. This town is worth fighting for.
Greg, I hope you will seriously consider running for mayor, and when you do I hope others who share your clear-eyed vision of Natchez will join you in a new and progressive administration. I hope an irresistible tide of talented residents will decide that enough is enough, and that the time has come to break the backs of the entrenched and the reactionary--white and black--who have kept this town where it is because they benefit from our ongoing division.
Posted by msfixit (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Penny. Cathedral is parochial, not private, and its existance predates the public schools in Natchez. As long as there is a Catholic community in Natchez, Cathedral, in some form, will survive.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Julie, somehow I over looked that approx. 400 number. I guess this means the Chamber brought in between $30,000 and $40,000 dollars. After expenses my guess is they cleared somewhere around $7,000 dollars. I hope this helps with keeping the first friday going. This is something everyone needs to experience, there is so much to offer downtown and this event is for all of us locals.
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Posted by mrmojorisin-
observing....you know what else Tupelo doesn't have that Natchez has? Unions!
It's not so much as they decided to say "yes" to heavy industry as they said "no" to unions. That they said "no" to a foolish reparation's based school system, punctuated with expensive private schools, and "yes" to a progressive public school system that is now one of the best in Mississippi."
They also have Republican leadership. Just sayin'. ;)
Posted by ktfiola (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Mojo, the unions will strangle an industry. I see it everyday here in Massachusetts (a non right to work state), read the articles in the Providence Journal about how the mayor of Providence and the governor of Rhode Island struggle everyday with Unions. Some unions are good, I will not down every Union, but the majority of Unions are only out to pad their own pockets. At one time the Union was a good idea, but with all of the laws out to protect employees and employers it is time to move away from that.
My neighbor and I were having a discussion this morning at the bus stop, until people want to do better they will not. If the community wants to bring in industry, tourism, or big businesses the community must learn how to do that.
Encouraging the future of Natchez, the children, to get an education, to stay in school and out of trouble is the way to get the community out of the hole it has dug. It takes a village to raise a child, and until the community "wipes the color out of its eyes" as Diamonds says, the community will never rise above. The future of Natchez is in the hands of its youth, so standing behind them is the way that the residents should look at it. I miss home.
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@msfixit--you took the words right out of my mouth.......
@Tom--I'm with you, buddy.......we just keep praying.
@OGD--I did my job...my children don't have any racial prejudice, and my grandchildren won't have any...that is the way things change, through teaching, with time, and by example a new generational behavior will take hold.
Anyone ever think we may need to change our way of city/county government? Maybe go to some type of council of unpaid, concerned citizens randomly chosen by computer from the pool of actual voters in the preceding election, kind of like being called to jury duty, and a city/county manager? We have scheduled meetings and participate in a true type of Democracy where anyone can speak his mind, the council votes openly, majority rules, and the manager carries out the decision......naw, that would take too much effort, and tolerance, and commitment, and co-operation...we're not mature enough for that...it would just turn into one of those screaming match town hall meeting we all witnessed last August.
But then that leaves us with what we have now... come on, we may not be that mature, but there are some really intelligent people living in Natchez, too smart for the mess we have now, right?
Any ideas out there?
--mojo
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In defense of unions they are good if they are used to protect employees from attacks by employers. Unions don't provide the cheapest labor so in order to negotiate they have to provide the best trained employee. Unfortunately unions have become tools to protect employees that benefit neither the employer or the union. Unions need to go back to the old days when their main concern was wages and benefits for those willing to do a days work for a days wages.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Greg for saying what needed to be said and to the audience it needed to be said to. I wish I could say it will make a difference. In order to really develop tourism in this community to be able to compete with the Savannah's and other cities we need visionaries. Connie Taunton is not a visionary. Jake is not a visionary. Walter Tipton is not a visionary. That's not to say that they don't perform their job duties....the do. But what made Butch and Brad Chism and others so unique is that they were visionaries. The sad thing is that Natchez is chock full of of visionaries...some of them the Chamber recognized..that are ready, able and willing to start changing Natchez. Margaret Perkins, Jennifer Ogden-Combs, Teresa Busby, Greg and many others are ready, able, and willing to step up. We need to tap what we have. Greg spoke the truth...none of our children or grandchildren will return to Natchez if something doesn'r change.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought someone ran for mayor on a pro-tourist platform?
It did not work out too well.
Good comments Dixiecrat and others
Nice to have something to add comments too - thanks Greg!
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope yal watched the video of Iles' 30 minute speech last night...it was riviting!! He can say what he wants to, to whomever he wants to in this town and they can do NOTHING to hurt him and he knows this and knows the power that brings him and I say GO GREG ILES!!
If we only had more citizens like him---- the possibilities.........
Posted by joe_the_plumber (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. This is the first time I have seen the majority of the comments reflect a positive attitude!!! This is awesome! We all here are out for the same goal, whether it be better schools, more doctors, streamlined city government, better roads, or recreation. Now, its time we step up and become active in our city. No city is successful only because it has good leadership. It comes from the citizens, the private sector, the volunteers. I truly felt empowered when I left the Gala last night. Here we are on the eve of one of the greatest weekends in Natchez. The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race. Take a minute this weekend and look around. Ask yourself what you can do to make it better. Ask yourself are you supporting your town. Volunteers are needed. We have great things happening. We have an opportunity to vote for recreation on Nov 3rd. We also have a new campaign this Christmas to put our city in lights. Do what you can. No amount of contribution is too small. GO NATCHEZ!!! GO NATCHEZ!!!
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on October 14, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW --- Very Happy for Dianne and Kent - they really work hard and deserve their success
really nice people too ---
Posted by readingthepaper (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Havent we been trying to put this city in Christmas lights for the past several years!
Posted by reerod (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kudos to you Greg Iles!!!! I have got much love for you and your word is gold!!!!
Posted by dave07deuce07 (anonymous) on October 15, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NATCHEZ SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS CITY IN ; AT LEAST MS. WE HAVE, 4- LANES PASSING THREW FROM EVERY DIRECTION . 2-BRIDGES , CROSSING THE MIGHTY MS. RIVER , A UP-TODAY AIRPORT , A PORT SETTING ON THE MIGHTY MS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE STILL HAVE RAIL SERVICE OR NOT . THERE ARE A HAND FULL OF PEOPLE THAT STILL HAVE A CHOKE- HOLD ON NATCHEZ ; I APPLAUDED VADALIA FOR USING THERE RESOURCES FOR GROWTH .
Posted by getalifenatchez (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dixiecrat--- AMEN, whoever you are! I could not have said it any better! It has always bugged me that we never had nice entrances into our community.... The Rotary Club is to be commended---but nice lighting and landscaping would also enhance these signs.... I think a nice addition would be welcome to Natchez in various languages (German, French, Spanish, etc...).. that would really send out a message that we are embracing all of those who come from throughout the world to visit the oldest city on the MS River... How about a low frequency AM station giving a driving tour of our city/ tourist info, etc... The sky is the limit, but we just have to have vision and go for it!!! Too many here don't have that, and are totally not civic minded==expecting someone else to "do it", but are the first to point fingers.... Hell, we can't even come together in making property owners accountable for neglect---the building on Homochitto Street with the gaping hole in the side of it that bus tourist walk past (safety hazard/ eye sore!
Our restaurants employ incompetent waiters/waitresses that have never been trained and don't have a clue what a fork is..... Our public schools are deplorable---so hang that idea up on heavy industry locating here (pipe dream!)... Everything is either headed to China or Mexico--Natchez is not on the radar..... Our historic under the hill district is an EMBARRASSMENT!!!! Go visit Savanah, Charleston, etc... Look what happens when you try to get a bunch of rednecks running the show..... This town has SO much potential, but we hold ourselves back, get complacent, and let the world pass us by, while we continue to have a brain drain, with our brightest never returning after completing college... There was an art movement going at one time, trying to get artist to relocate here===that seems to have died out.... There is no ENERGY here, and it stiffles my soul..... Where do we start??? We start with ourselves, elect officials who can do something for Natchez and don't just sell us a bill of goods.... Our schools need a complete overhaul, and the black/white community needs to unite and interact more together... Yes, we certainly have our obstacles, but do we just throw up our hands and not try??? I've got wealthy, retired family members who would be a true asset to our community, but are used to condo living on golf courses, and tip top medical care, and good service in restaurants---- I can't offer them that, and they would move here in a heart beat if we had the ammenities to provide them..... Our loss....... Mr. Iles, if anything, you have jump started this dialogue, and have people talking about our weaknesses---- LET just act on them!
Posted by lostNatcheznative (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if Mr. Iles would consider using his writing talents and visionary ideas to author a re-write of the pageant? It could be a big hit!
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With thousands of jobs going away and small business struggling all over the USA,where will the money come from tourists or otherwise can spend it. Will it fall from the sky? When the Federal propups stop,then what? They keep giving away trillions,but that is just making a larger debt that countries like China are holding. The average worker has very little money to spend with food prices soaring and health insurance eating up the rest.
Posted by gjones (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Greg for saying what I have believed for a long time but could not express it....thanks!
Posted by dixiecrat (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get a Life -- the building with the gaping hole on Homochitto belongs to one Robert Johnson, Esq. -- yes, that's right -- the elected official Rob't Johnson who has represented our fair city in both the State House and Senate (even though he lives full time in Jackson). Hhhmmm... funny no one ever talks about that or cites him for "demolition by neglect," eh?
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