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City to host mayors conference
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008
NATCHEZ — A Mississippi mayoral think tank will storm Natchez, using the city as a model to brainstorm on their own city projects.
Mayor Jake Middleton will host the first Preserve America Mayors Conference on Heritage Tourism Aug. 21-23.
The conference, which will bring between eight and 10 mayors from across the state, is hosted by the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center, the Historic Natchez Foundation and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
And it will be funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Grover Mouton, director of the urban design center, said Natchez is the perfect setting to discuss development and tourism.
“We’re using Natchez as the example of how cultural tourism is the base of economic development,” he said.
One mayor may want to discuss the possibility of building a visitors center whereas another may want to talk about building an interpretive center. All ideas are welcomed at the conference.
“Each mayor comes alone and each comes with his project,” Mouton said.
Essentially, putting all these minds together will help put these projects on the fast track.
Middleton said being able to meet with other mayors is a good opportunity, something the City of Natchez has capitalized on before.
He said in 1993, he and other city officials traveled to Charleston, S.C., to see how the visitors center there was built to get ideas for one in Natchez.
Mouton said there will also be several people attending the event who can help with these projects to be.
“We’re having the super dog people,” he said.
This includes Lynn Scarlett, the deputy secretary from the Department of the Interior, John Nau, the chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Bob Young, the assistant deputy secretary for the field of police of management of HUD.
Also in attendance will be Ken P’Pool, the director of historic preservation division for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Janet Matthews with the National Park Service and Kenneth Schwartz, the dean of the Tulane School of Architecture.
Mouton said as each mayor discusses what they want to accomplish, “we’ll pick out special people to help them.”
Middleton said the project he’ll be discussing is recreation.
Mouton said this is a great chance for Middleton to bring up this project.
“This is a serious initiative,” he said. “Basically we will help him put a program together, we’ll show him his options.”
Mouton said this will be Middleton’s show.
“This is his institute,” he said. “It’s mayor to mayor.”
Since this is the first of its kind, being a part of Preserve America and funded through HUD, it is a pilot program and Mouton said he hopes it will be a prototype for the rest of the country.
Comments
Posted by deltoids (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
YEAH RON AND MIMI. Their dedicated work has allowed Natchez to become the model for the rest of the nation. Preserve America and the Mayors' Conference have come here to continue the Millers' fine work and to encourage Mayor Middelton to move forward with projects such as recreation and an interpretive center. We 'little doggies' are so lucky to have this happening.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ron and Mimi have nothing to do with this. This is going on worldwide. The only reason heritage and culture are being preserved is because the UN is getting ready to do away with the affect of heritage on the present.
Heritage and tourism are mentioned as adjuncts to every UN water control partner. Middleton helped bring water control to Adams County under the EDA so it is only natural he continue with the destruction of civil rights.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The thing that is totally puzzling about the tie between tourism and New Urbanism and UNESCO cultural tourism initiatives and using heritage tourism as the base of economic development is the worldwide energy crisis and impending doom of civilization due to carbon dioxide emissions. How can tourists get from one spot to another without aggravating the very problems SD seeks to solve?
This is a mystery.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe tourists won't be free to go where they want, when the want. Maybe it will only be through guided tours, sanctioned by the water control systems?
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ron & Mimi have a great deal to do with the preservation of Natchez. One may not agree with how it has been handled at times but there are fruits of their sometimes "unappreciated" efforts. You have to give them some credit.
The preservation of the downtown area and historic buildings has nothing to do with why other industries besides tourism haven't heavily developed in Natchez. It's not the fictional "blue-haired mafia" in action.
The area is known for not being cost effcient in which to do business, it is not located close to the Interstate and the last data I saw eludes that the population provides a poorly educated workforce for the most part. And I didn't say everyone was uneducated so don't take offense if you know you are not included in that category!
The officials work hard but spin their wheels sometimes trying to get over these humps. That is why they have to offer tax incentives and enticements to try and convince businesses to locate in the area. But then everybody gripes about that too.
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on July 16, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Only Enki could deduce from the article a massive UN sponsored preservationist conspiracy, with our mayor as one of the linchpins. Fine work, sir!
I kid.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SayItRight, my dad attended many city council meetings during the seventies when all this was getting cranked up. He tells me Tony Byrne said many times that "Natchez does not want and does not need smokestack industries".
Darryl Grennel reiterated that postion about two years ago when he said "we don't want another Johns-Manville".
There is in fact a segment of Natchez society that is anti-union and anti-industry and it is that segment that is being referred to when people speak of the blue haired mafia, etc. It is just a metaphor with a basis in truth.
Ron and Mimi have nothing to do with the Preserve American campaign organized under UNESCO intiatives, though as you say they do have something to do with the preservation of some buildings in Natchez.
Since the surrender at Appamatox Mississippi and the south have been inundated by federalists occupying our land with various programs of reconstruction and revision, aided by natives known as scalawags.
Natchez of course surrendered long before the rest of the south; traditions are intact spearheaded by many like Ron and Mimi Miller and their native counterparts.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why would you want a polluter like Johns Manville in Natchez? Grennel is absolutely correct. If you want to work for them go where they are currently polluting--and killing people with carcinogens.
As for why industry won't come to Natchez? Look around you. There are morons coming out of the public school system who can't read and write, and their parent's couldn't give a rat's patoot.
The state and Feds will just keep handing out freebies to all who stretch out their hands. Parents today don't care if thier chirrens get a ejbucation.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sayit and natchezsouth, the ignornce of our children is based solely on the school system we now have in place. AND it will continue to stay this way, if not worse, if the higher ups don't do something about it. The kids are not at fault. The adults are. I'm beginning to believe there is a conspiracy to keep the poor children from getting an education here in Natchez. +
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's true Tom. I wouldn't say it if it weren't.
http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships...
The above is a partnership list of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development. Go through there and you can find several US Govt. Agencies listed as partners. Read and you will see that whatever primary mission each partner has, it has as a secondary mission heritage tourism.
And, this page links to:
http://www.csdwand.net/
WAND is the Water Action Network Database. That is the database entities like the St. Catherine Creek Utility Authority will be sending their hydrologic date to once it is collected. Natchez will be happy, as this project will create more government jobs.
I'm not blowing smoke when I talk about this stuff. Maybe I get frustrated because I can't get people to pay serious attention, but I assure you all this is very real.
They are even getting kids into it. As a matter of fact, the vision is to use children and women as an army of environmental police:
http://hdr.undp.org/water/docs/water_rig...
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/kid...
This environmental education is having a profound effect on kids because of the way it is presented. The first case of climate change delusion has been reported in Australia:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul...
Heritage tourism is another name for sustainable tourism. We have Earth Day, everyone knows that one, but there is also a Water Day, the first day of spring. Expect your kids to be celebrating that soon, and you can also expect to hear an Air Day and an Energy Day (Fire) announced as well.
Why? Because as monotheistic religion is degraded through UN policies traditional religions (or what they are calling traditional religions) are promoted. Religions dealing with the five elements: earth, wind, fire, water and ether or spirit. (the Goddess) Don't believe me? Check out the architecture of Astana Kazakstan. The explanation of the name Astana, the UN World City of Peace and Accord, is that Astana means simply capital. In fact, it is another name of the Goddess. The esoteric architecture in Astana are really temples to the Goddess in her Sun aspect.
As wierd as it sounds, I do know what I am talking about.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Destiny, WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?????????
It is the parents' job to make sure their children are learning. Are the children going to school? Are they doing the homework? Are they participating? Are they attentive?
A teacher can't teach if the class is full of hoolagans who couldn't give a damn about learning and parents who don't MAKE THEIR CHILDREN LEARN.
Stop heaping all the blame on the school. Parents are to blame FIRST.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to see an in depth report about:
1. the behavior of children in class
2. the involvement of parents in the school
3. the absentee rate
4. the number of homework assignments given vs. not done
5. the number of students failing or almost failing due to incomplete class work
Let's see what is REALLY happening in school from the perspective of the students' participation--or lack thereof.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well stated Southside, the parents need to make sure these children are at home doing their homework, not out on the street being groomed for gang membership or a life of crime. The responsibility of these childrens behavior lies solely with the parents.
As for the school system, it's difficult to remain motivated in a school full of thugs with no willingness to learn or behave.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can tell you exactly where to go get that in depth report natchezsouthside, a full explanation of it:
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/pag...
Start there if you are really interested in knowing what is wrong.
Or you can read Undgerground History of American Education for free at:
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/...
Without some reading and research it's not possible to know what the problem is.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
“We’re using Natchez as the example of how cultural tourism is the base of economic development,” he said.
Scary indeed.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree teach4peace
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Play the UN Water Game! See how much money you can collect to solve the world's water problems! (And, see if you can guess how to beat the game)
http://youth.tearfund.org/campaigning/wa...
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Enki - I went to the education links. What an eye-opener! It echos everything I felt when I made the decision to home-school. I didn't know what was wrong, but I knew I didn't want my kids involved in it, gut instinct I guess. EVERYONE on here should read them.
It will be a cold day you know where, before I worship the creation rather than the creator. I may have to go underground and off the grid - but we have been making some preparations for that anyway.
Posted by WalterLynn (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And you know, if you read it on the internet, it HAS to be true.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
a couple of you have mentioned thugs, hoodlums, and gang issues preventing learning in the public school system, does anyone know an excuse for childrens behavioral and attitude problems in the private school system, cause to me this also is from lack of having decent values taught at home
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pbrj the answer is very simple. Private schools as well as public schools teach a curriculum designed around the concept of moral relativism as opposed to moral absolutes.
We've had several decades of that. Now absolute values with regard to the environment are being taught to take the place of absolute values with regard to mankind.
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe we will learn from others
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
they aren't mutually exclusive.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your government thinks they are:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i believe all that is on the internet.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
En - No matter what the UN has done (which has nothing to do with this article) Ron and Mimi have done more than you will ever know for this city. You have no reason to blast them.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also glad to see this conference is coming to town, will be a good boost for the city with hotels & restraunts taxes. I didnt read but assume it will be at one of the conference facilities in town. This is all good for the city, more money coming in. Now time to get roads fixed with that money!
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are dead wrong mike. Preserve America, the walking trails, heritage sites, etc. are all global UN initiatives:
http://www.preserveamerica.gov/docs/Glob...
Sorry, but I can't support any organization or any persons helping in this farce. These persons are not productive members of our society, they and their organizations live off the productivity of others. In my mind that makes them economic parasites. They feed off of tax money while claiming tax exempt status for themselves. That is my opinion.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mike,
They have no plans of using that money to fix the roads. It goes to "advertise" Natchez... They should include that ppl should have on their vehicles a suspension built for rock climbing and rough terrain! LOL.. Sorry, I had to throw that in there!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fire, the "occupancy" tax does go to advertsing, I was referring to the general sales tax that will be generated from all the sales during this visit, restraunts, gas, etc.
En - I think you are putting a spin on things, the UN has not been directing any work here in Natchez. There are some in this town that want to preserve the local heritage, I am one of those people, and I am not taking any direction from the UN.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mike, the UN is very involved, The Preserve America link I posted above is a report from the 2006 meeting of Preserve America entitled 'Participating in the Global Preservation Community'. The US and Great Britain are the founders of the UN. You simply don't have the curiosity, like many other people in Natchez, to learn about these programs and where they are coming from. From the report:
Community-building
1. Promote mutual understanding across borders, and so empower US communities to make heritage preservation an integral aspect of sustainable development.
2. Support a national effort to attract foreign tourism to cultural heritage destinations within the United States.
3. Facilitate the participation of US cities, historic districts, and cultural/natural landscapes in the World Heritage program through amendments to existing legislation [Preservation ActAmendments of 1980, provision 16 USC 470a-1(c)].
4. Allow replacement applications to the U.S. World Heritage Tentative List as sites are nominated and forwarded to UNESCO for World Heritage consideration.
5. Increase funding for and facilitate the participation of foreign professionals, academics, and policymakers in American preservation discourse and practice, and conversely the participation of Americans in international discourse and practice.
6. Promote public awareness of and enhance education about the significance of historic cultural sites, landscapes, and shared heritage in nations histories and development."
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Even Goals 2000, our current education program was designed according to UNESCO guidelines.
The same programs going on in Natchez are going on all over the world under UN supervision and guidelines and all come under the term 'Sustainable Development'.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
2007 Report showing progress made: http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/PTT-Board/Board...
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Preservation America in the classroom:
http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/PTT-Board/Board...
These programs are always for more extensive and intrusive than they appear on the surface. Fact is fact.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I fail to see how items 1 - 6 are bad things?
You folks who think the UN is taking over the world have a very poor view of reality. Are you even aware of the vast limitations of the UN?
Perhaps you should actually leave small town America for a while and see what is going on in the real big world out there.
Paranoia is not healthy.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That wasn't offered as a good or bad thing nss. It was offered as proof that Preservation America is a UNESCO initiated program.
No, those aren't bad things if the lessons of socialism learned from the last century were pleasing to you. 18 million murdered in Europe, 65 million in Russia, 30 million in China, plus the assorted dozens of hundred thousands spread around smaller areas. No, socialism has a beautiful history of protecting the people under its care. Total estimates of deaths due to socialism in the last century, according to the World Party for Socialist Revolution, come to 500 million. That's why they have decided to go Green, all the Red was too much for even them.
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