The Regina Quinn campaign sent this response to Mayor Johnson's repaving strategy:

*"I see a Jackson with complete streets and a modern and effective water and wastewater system. In order to address our crumbling roads, and our water and wastewater issues, we must take advantage of the resources that are available to us. We must strengthen our federal, state, and local relationships, and use innovative approaches to pay for infrastructure improvements. I am not opposed to using bond financing and will look at our general funds to see what possibilities there are to better address our infrastructure needs. Bonds are often used for infrastructure and capital improvement projects; however, these tools have never been a panacea in that several of the last few administrations have all levied bonds to attempt to address our infrastructure problems. Nevertheless, in any case, we will pay for infrastructure by comprehensively and aggressively pursuing all options available to us."

"The citizens are tired of Harvey Johnson's election-man plans. I was pleased when the council originally said no to his reactive political plan to levy a $10M bond for paving roads just to bolster his re-election bid. Ultimately his gimmick passed, but I see only four members of the council were present to pass this election tactic by a vote of 3-1. Harvey's timing seems very politically convenient. Moreover, Johnson's paving record is significantly misleading. Several of the paving efforts that have occurred in the last 3 ½ years have been due to other individuals or entities stepping up to the plate and getting the job done, not due to any initiative of Johnson.
"When this administration began in 2009, he was the beneficiary of a bond issuance of over $20M that was levied under the Melton administration. The MS Department of Transportation performed a paving project in West Jackson by saving ARRA funds (stimulus) that the City otherwise would have lost due to the city's mismanagement of the funds and inability to draw the funds down for implementation. Hinds County put over $1M into paving and median improvement efforts that were done on Highway 80. The roadwork done in South Jackson by the Timber Falls project was done by private developers who used improved paving methods to ensure more durability for those roads. We should use long term debt to finance durable investments. The current paving program simply lacks vision. There are many workable solutions, but its going to take an aggressive and innovative approach that capitalizes on relationships and better use of resources.

"If you really want to know about Johnson's re-paving record, ask the citizens of Jackson who drive these roads everyday how their cars are doing. We are convinced its time for a new direction."*

(This statement has not been factchecked; we welcome other candidate and citizen comments on roads and repaving under this thread.)

. *Yet, they have offered no strategy to deal with the constant increase in violent crimes in our capital city. What does it say about the quality of life in Jackson when the city boasts a decrease in property crime, and offers no solution to loss of 66 lives?*

OK, this is an odd statement. Ms. Quinn is starting to sound a bit like Mr. Melton on this point--who promised to "solve crime" in 90 days. The 66 murders are awful, but how is she suggesting that the mayor or police department stop murders--most of which are either domestic or between people involved in the illegal drug trade (which is very lucrative thanks to the drug war).

This is the kind of crime rhetoric, especially when fashioned around statistics, that just gives me a headache. I believe Ms. Quinn can do better than this, even if this is the campaign advice she is getting. Jacksonians have heard enough campaign statistic-twisting to last a lifetime.

I wonder if she also blames the sheriff's department for not doing more to stop the murders?

The troops don't need as to rally them on this one, robbier. Our job is to report the facts -- and it very disturbing that Herring seemingly didn't bother to register as a lobbyist all those years. Sounds like that might cost her a chunk of change -- if state officials are willing to apply the law to her.

Sarahmina, please don't quote me out of context. I didn't say that roads have been repaved "all along." I said there has been repaving before now during this administration -- as a factual correction to a lot of unfactual statements made.

You must understand that the pipes underneath the roads are a huge problem -- and paying to replace them. We had many roads paved in 2009 that had to be ripped up due to those issues. I'm nervous about spending all this money for repaving without fixing the infrastructure adequately. And I'm nervous that all the whining about repaving might get the mayor to go ahead and spend money before he should on repaving streets. This isn't about me defending him; it's about me wanting you and others to get the dang facts straight and not spread lies.

You're welcome, justjess. The mayor is not a perfect man, but he has maintained his independence and stood firm on this kind of power play by the state. It is vital that whomever serves the next term have the courage to do the same thing. This is a bright-line point for us over here.

Mscbo, the city should take offense that the state, and its power structure, are trying to tell Jackson what to do and how to spend our taxpayers' money. We cannot go along with that. The mayor is correct to stand firm, and anyone who would give up the Jackson farm to people without our best interests at heart should not be elected to hold public office in our city.

Yes, it's Grant Nooe's new place. (As in Grant's Kitchen and, previously, Pan-Asia.) It's in the old Fatsumo spot on Duling. I hear it opens soon but not sure when.

I agree, kdavis. This looks like a clear boondoggle; the taxpayers should be furious about it. We wrote our editorial about it for tomorrow.

I'd like to see diverse segments of the community come together to launch a campaign to get sunshine on the proposals and plans.

One thing certainly seems to be true: "paving" is the "crime perception" meme of the 2013 campaign. Likewise, it is important to get our facts straight on it so we have a good foundation to discuss on top of. I told someone the other day that I'm really a glorified factchecker: I can't stand all the falsehoods people throw out to try get a vote or convince someone of something.

Take "crime perception" eight years ago. The meme went around (thanks to The Clarion-Ledger and TV stations) that the mayor and/or the police chief (depending on who you asked) said that "crime was just a perception." Neither never said that. (I was actually there for the original press conference when Chief Moore tried to warn a dumbed-down media that the perception that crime is out of control actually hurts in the quest to fight it -- which was quickly taken out of context). We reported over and over ahead about this falsehood -- but that didn't stop politicians from picking it up and running with it, building their campaigns on a lie.

Fortunately, candidates don't seem dumb enough this time around to trot the "perception" saw out there (although I saw a tweet or two from one that tested the water). If you hear this, recognize what you're seeing and hearing: a candidate willing to be dishonest to get the fearful vote. We'll hope that trick stays in the vault.

Likewise, though, we have to watch the meme that the mayor has done nothing on the paving front. That's just not true on its face. Discuss what he's done and what he hasn't on the merits and honestly. But let's try our best to have a smarter dialogue this time around, whether or not the candidates choose to do the same. And if candidates choose to be dishonest, pay close attention. That not bode well.

Sarahmina, "truth," as in basic facts, doesn't really belong to anyone. Some things either happened or they didn't. During campaigns, a lot of rhetoric passes as fact. That doesn't mean there's nothing good up in there (including in your posts), but it gets clouded when people try to support their candidates using unfactual statements. It is common, but that doesn't doesn't make it effective, or right.