The $9 million from the city is just to protect any losses the company takes in the first three years. $16 million is the total amount of the project. The city isn't putting up money for bricks and mortar, outside of, I would imagine, some tax incentives and the land.

Second, to Mr. Priester. Let me start by saying I have a lot of respect for you and the office you hold. The approval of Mr. Lumumba's choice for fire and police chief was on the agenda yesterday, whether it was supposed to be there or not. When Mr. Tillman rescheduled that hearing for July 18, that is 10 days past the original date it was set to be voted on. The next council meeting after that date is July 22, and the next regular meeting is July 30.

If the two men are confirmed at the special meeting, it will have been 14 days exactly. If the council waits until the regular meeting on July 30, it will have been 22 days. If, as Mr. Tillman says, he is waiting on Mrs. Cooper-Stokes and Mr. Whitwell to show up to take a vote, it will be July 30, because, as you know, Mrs. Cooper-Stokes doesn't come to special meetings. I understand that you and your council colleagues have lives outside of this job, but the business of the city has been on hold for some time now because of elections. In the last city council meeting for Mayor Johnson, several of his items were shelved, many involving the consent decree from the EPA. Those issues, even by Mr. Lumumba's own admission, must be addressed, and quickly. Besides that, Ward 7 has been without representation on the school board for over a month, and we have citizens literally swiping city supplies and driving around filling potholes in their spare time. It is my opinion, and the opinion of this newspaper, that if City Council members want to be involved in decisions, they should be there when the decisions are scheduled to be made.

I did not know about Mr. Tillman's grandchild. That is something no one should have to go through, and he's a bigger man than I for not explaining why he has been slow with committee decisions. You'll notice in the blog post does not infer any negativity towards Mr. Tillman, as I understand these things take time. I did note, however, that the two-week (or 10 days, if that is more pleasing to the ears) delay on the confirmation hearing flies in the face of what he said about his excitement over an efficient council.

This was the proverbial "first item on the agenda" so-to-speak, and it was delayed for two councilmen who didn't show up to work. We all have high hopes for this council and mayor, but don't be surprised when we get irritated when developments are slow, especially right out of the gate.

First of all, thanks for reading! First, Justjess, that statement about Mrs. Cooper-Stokes seating arrangement was tongue-in-cheek, not meant to be taken seriously, but to underline the ridiculous nature of that "problem." Second, Mayor Lumumba has made it clear from the start of his campaign that the people would be more involved in the decision-making process, so when he holds public hearings for citizens to voice their opinions, don't be surprised. We have followed up with Mr. Lumumba about Owens checkered past, and I think if it was going to sway his decision to appoint Mr. Owens, it would have by now.

The story is about open-carry, not concealed carry.

Quentin Whitwell on Lumumba, from a May 22 Clarion-Ledger story by Therese Apel:

“He understands the value of the wards and how each ward represents their population, and I think he is more open to communicating between council members,” he said. “Those are some of the things I’m looking for to see what a Mayor Lumumba’s administration is going to do. I’ve been sitting in the council chair next to him for the last three years; these are the things he tells me are important.”

Quick, someone grab the tranq gun!

We have not endorsed either candidate, and both are apparently unhappy with our coverage, so we must be doing something right.

update: None of Chokwe's contributors in this list show up in any of our searches for past political contributions. It is notable that some of Lumumba's donors do not list addresses, with "none given" or "N/A" in the space where the addresses are supposed to be.

On the other hand, Lee's $2,500 donor Guy White of Ridgeland, president of his family business White Construction Company, popped up in a search as having given $7,500 to the Republican Senatorial Committee in 2012 and $4,600 to another Republican, Florida State Senate President Mike Haridopolis, in his bid to unseat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in a Republican primary last year.

The others are mixed. Samuel Lane gave $250 to Mitt Romney in 2012, but Susan McNese gave $1,000 to the Democratic Party of Mississippi and Madison lawyer Deshun Martin gave $1,000 to Barack Obama and $500 to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in 2012.

Yes, he is running again in Ward 2

With all due respect, I think you are misunderstanding what she was saying.