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What is this?
What happened to city’s vision?
Published Sunday, October 4, 2009
Good grief. Can anyone out there in readerland explain the City of Natchez’s latest actions? I’m beyond baffled.
The city’s grant writer was fired. Then she’s not fired, but on probation — the reason for which is still not clear.
Then citizens learn that aldermen have opted to wipe out pretty much the entire city planner’s office. Yet, as best we can tell they left the code enforcement officers — who seem spotty at best — and the city’s community development coordinator on the payroll.
Natchez appears to be downsizing itself into oblivion with what seem to be ill-conceived plans to save money, regardless of the effect.
Just a few short years ago Natchez was a city led by a visionary mayor whose projects were so vast that — 10 years after he left City Hall — only now are we beginning to run out of his projects.
Leadership starts at the top and, although many people disagreed with former Mayor Larry L. “Butch” Brown’s style, few can argue that he made things happen.
Although Natchez has for a number of years had what’s called a strong board, weak mayor system of government, perhaps never before has our government seemed weaker and less directed.
Weak isn’t the adjective for what we have. Gelatinous may be more apt.
The city’s past triumphs included awards for preservation and millions and millions of dollars in hard-fought outside funding that did everything from stabilize the bluffs to put laptops in every Natchez Police cruiser.
Today, we’re a city that must borrow to pay the bills and which has little vision for the future — or if the vision exists, we’re doing an awful job of making it public.
In the past few years, aldermen — present and past ones — have emasculated the long-standing volunteer boards which previously oversaw issues of planning, zoning and historic preservation.
No one knows the future of these boards or the laws they struggled to enforce.
Perhaps the city simply plans to scrap its planning and preservation laws and go back to a time when the roads were dirt and horses were tied up along Main Street. Hopefully some master plan exists the details of which simply haven’t been made public yet.
Unfortunately it’s not just locals who see how lost our city’s leadership seems to be. The world sees it, too, only they don’t know the back-story. They simply see the results.
Type in “Natchez” in a search engine and you’ll likely see a link for the city’s former official Web site: natchez.ms.us.
I say former because the city apparently got into a dispute with the company that once hosted the official city Web site a couple of years ago and the company simply turned off the switch.
Today, months and months later, apparently the issue either isn’t resolved or has simply been forgotten. A new Web site has been created — mind you it contains sadly out of date or incomplete information.
But since the old site was around on the Web so long, the old one still shows up a good bit. It was the sixth listing when I searched “Natchez” last week.
And just under the link it reads: Natchez.MS.US. Coming Soon. That’s a sad billboard to have hanging out for the world to see. Of course real billboards in Natchez have been illegal for years, but that’s never stopped us either.
I hope and pray that our leaders will rally together soon, cast aside differences of race and politics and work together toward growing Natchez, not merely holding on to what we once had.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by boardwalk (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ask Dan Dillard. He'll tell you everything's OK. The City of Natchez website doesn't matter. "That troublesome City Planner is gone. My Waycaster projects are OK. God bless my new political career with Joyce."
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "Butch Haters" took Butch out of office and put West in. We wouldn't be in the mess we're in if he were still in office. you may not like his ways ,but he made things happen for Natchez. If I could go to the "Butch" school of politics, Id run for mayor and save this city.................................
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's bad for beggars and people who look for handouts everywhere. One of the problems with this city is the debt that has been put on it and the lack of vision going back to the Brown days. What has grown in Natchez and what has shrunk? Well, the population has shrunk, business has shrunk, tax rolls have shrunk, quality of the public school system has shrunk. But, alas, the city goverment has GROWN, GROWN, GROWN, Thats whats wrong with Natchez. I don't pity any of them. This city needs a lot more cuts in in goverment. Butch was a big goverment mayor. I have said it many times before, what good is a mayor if all he can say he got was a bunch of goverment handouts. Other than that can anybody tell me what he did? He hooked this town on handouts like crack to a crack head. When the handouts ended several things left Natchez. Quality of life, Butch Brown, and his enablers. And I am still waiting on that Casa aircraft company he said was on it's way to Natchez
Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 5:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Butch Brown was the best mayor Natchez has had in my lifetime.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and these are the people you think should go forward with the "recreation plan"??
Posted by whatdoino (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Mistake 08"
"Impeach 09"
Wonder if that is even an option? Not sure.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin, concerning --> "Hopefully some master plan exists the details of which simply haven’t been made public yet"
You don't believe this and I don't either. We're reaping the rewards of our last elections which were merely popularity contests. I still remember when all 3 candidates for mayor had campaign websites that looked like high schoolers running for class president. No goals, plans, or platform of any kind was available for consideration. It was simply "vote for me" garbage.
We're ready for some good strong hard reporting and hard questions next time around (if the town survives). Maybe even give us some good ole "gotcha journalism". Expose the ill prepared for us, please. And don't let them get off with mumbling silly stuff about being pro recreation and pro consolidation. Natchez needs a higher caliber of elected officials and the Democrat is in the perfect position to weed out the lessers. What's the popular term? Vetting? Please go for it. Vet 'em till it hurts 'em.
Best wishes.
:)
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 4, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad, the ND should not wait for the next election to ask questions. The ND could/should start with the boa meetings and do the same for any other meetings with public officials!
JMO
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The mayor should be someone who moved here from somewhere else. Someone that has visions and the where with all to implement them. Education and connections in the outside world, and owes NO ONE IN THIS TOWN ANYTHING! It's very obvious that homegrown mayors are myopic and too concerned with stepping on toes. The BOA should be doing their job NOT FOR THE MONEY OR PRESTIEGE but because they care about this town. Natchez is so wrapped up in conserving their historical history that they overlook the future!
Every elected official should present an outline of their goals and how they plan to produce revenue. Living in a small town presents a lot of problems for those that have grown up here with ties to friends, neighbors, business acquaintances and relatives.
If Natchez has a mayor who is concerned only with the welfare of the city, if he only had 4 years think of the changes that could occur with new eyes, new visions and no political aspirations to further their own agenda or put money in the pockets of those not deserving or will stand up to the obstructionists that are continuing to hold this city back.
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck, all the recent meetings have been private! Who the hell can get in there to ask questions? And if it ain't private, ain't nobody gonna listen anyway. (At least that's the way I've been seeing it lately.)
Posted by hastydecision07 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez Enema
YOU NEED TO GET ONE, YOU ARE FULL OF BAD STUFF
BE SURE TO FLUSH JAKE, JOYCE AND RICKY WITH YOU. THEY ARE NATCHEZ BIGGEST PROBLEM.
JAKE IS SCARED OF THEM, AND THEY KNOW IT.
RICKY SHOULD TAKE A LIE DECTOR TEST. HIS SO CALLED BUSINESS IS IN THE BIGGEST DRUG AREA IN TOWN. HE SHOULD BE IN PRISON FOR LETTING THE THUG'S RULE HIS WARD.
JOYCE, JUST SINGS WITH HER EYES CLOSED. THE THUGS IN THE OVERSIZED WHITE TEE SHIRTS ARE SO BRIGHT IT HAS HURT HER EYES. THEY CANNOT WORK BECAUSE IT TAKES TWO HANDS TO HOLD UP THER PANTS
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I equate Butch with Da Guv, Edwin Edwards. They both did great work for their kingdoms. Along the way they helped themselves but Natchez and the state of LA were better off.
Coop de Ville you are right about the volunteering. I am retired now with very limited physical capabilities but would volunteer downtown if I thought I could make a difference. The "rulers" of the town and county have made it plain that they do not want help.
This is sad. Natchez needs an intervention. Jake and the fat man and Henry and the Whats need to sit back, take their prides out of the equation, and really think about their jobs.
They are narcissistic and self serving. They must realize that they are not all that special. The "eagles"are no better than the sparrows in God's sight. I should be able to respect these who are called to lead but won't and I don't.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Next year will be one of big changes in Natchez. The money will not be coming in from either the state or federal governments. Handouts to those that have been living on them for decades will be gone. Crime will increase and unless judges get it under control no place in Natchez will be safe. I hope we fight crime with punishment and drive the criminals elsewhere. Time to clean up the city, get the welfare to pack up and leave along with the criminals. If you are unwilling to work, obey the laws and contribute to society do us all a favor, leave now.
Posted by NatchezBooster (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I posted this elsewhere today but I think its worth repeating here as support for Kevin's great editorial. It concerns our Mayor and his lack of leadership. And I want to preface this by saying that I do like Jake personally, but what I'm hearing from him about his lack of interest in public opinion and this awful situation makes me very concerned.
I hope that Jake does hear what people are saying about his leadership skills. I hope that Jake does hear that the voters who put him in office are extremely unhappy and angry. I hope that Jake realizes that many people in this city think that he's letting one person on the BOA control what goes on in the city. Because if he doesn't hear all this, he's a one term mayor for sure, and I know for a fact that he doesn't want to be a one term mayor.
I'm not trashing the man, I'm just stating facts. I've spoken to him on many occassions and what concerns me grealty is that he seems completely out of touch with the people who put him in office. That's not good. In fact, it's goes against his oath of office and everything he said he stood for when he was running.
True, he has no vote unless there is a tie. Natchez has what known as a strong-board-weak-mayor system. But that doesn't mean that he's a just a ribbon-cutting figurehead (if that were the case, the mayor's job would be part-time and pay about $18,000 per year).
Instead, it's the mayor's job to build coalitions on the board of aldermen to ensure that he does get to participate in votes. All he has to do is get 3 of them on board. Often, he can avoid voting all together by getting 4 or more on board.
What I'm hearing from Jake and from bloggers on other articles (ones who support him, mind you) is that our Mayor has just thrown his hands in the air and opted out of this latest disaster, along the lines of: "I don't have a vote so it's not my fault".
My question to my friend Jake is this: Why am I NOT hearing you say "I'm opposed to the actions of the board in so-in-so's case and I'm angry and disgusted with the leaks from executive session and I promise the citizens that I will begin an investigation to get to the bottom of this immediately."
That's what I want to hear from my mayor and that would show some leadership that I haven't seen yet. Leadership does not equal ignoring all of this because that's what the majority of the BOA want to do. Leadership is not the stance that it's better just to forget that someone is leaking confidental personnel information all over town like a rusty pipe.
Sweeping things under the carpet while you laugh and joke and make inappropriate comments to the media about it is not leadership, and its not what the citizens of Natchez want in a mayor.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well??? One of you eagles????
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A community that always looks to its past can have no vision for the future.
Posted by hastydecision07 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NatchezBooster
I HAVE TALKED TO JAKE ALSO, HERE IS A QUOTE
HEY JAKE THE GRASS ON CANAL ST SURE LOOKS BAD. HE SAYS, YOU KNOW I NOTICED THAT THE OTHER DAY.
I E-MAIL BUTCH. TREE ON HWY 98 ON ADAMS-FRANKLIN LINE, ABOUT TO FALL ON HWY. NEXT DAY TREE GONE.
WE NEED A MAYOR THAT WILL DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN HIDE. HE IS TOO NICE.
TIME TO START LOOKING FOR NEW HORSE FOR THE NEXT RACE.
Posted by steveholmes (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JACK,, ITS TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE...BASES LOADED,,BOTTOM OF THE 9TH,, SO HELP THE CITY BY TAKING A NICE SIZE PAY CUT FROM YOUR MAYORS SALARY TOO...........YOU AND THE WIFE ARE DOING WELL ENOUGH WITHOUT THE SALARY..DONT YOU THINK?
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to city’s vision?
It went blind from greed, racism, and crime!
Posted by iluvntz2 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great editorial - fabulous Mr. Cooper. Keep up the good work and hold our city and county accountable.
There was a great line in a movie that I think applies to our city and county boards, "I was so busy worrying about keeping my job that I failed to do my job."
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on October 4, 2009 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent piece, Kevin.
I hope you and the DEB will keep shining the harsh light of truth on what is happening in city hall. This is a city government in full cardiac arrest.
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 6:23 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by shoppinglady15 (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The best mayor Natchez had was Mayor John Nosser, I remember growing up in Natchez and how clean the streets were, how safe Natchez was, how everyone seemed to be a neighbor to each other and cared about each other and each others families; now it is all about the almighty dollar and to see who "ups one another first". Natchez had growth back then, now every company has folded and/or moved away because they got tired of the "politics". Remember all of this "back biting" when you go to the polls to vote, and if you don't vote then don't gripe if things don't go the way you think they should.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets also not forget Chief Willie Huff. He was frequently critized for being "too hard" on people. The thing was he went after the problems before they arose, instead of waiting for it to happen.
Very good article Kevin!
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was house-cleaning, not economic down-sizing. Lewis may have been certified, but was doing a crummy job. Natchez does need a planning department, everybody who knows what the department is responsible for knows that. The economy warranted down-sizing, and the Mayor and BOA would have been crazy to trim from the bottom when there were two sorry department heads who needed to go as well. Canning the planning head and the public works head because of poor job performance makes perfect sense. But they aren't lay-offs for budget trimming, these people will be replaced in some form.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
triscuit, the problem is that they weren't fired for poor job performance, they were fired in the name of "layoffs",,,to now go back and insert someone in their position opens the city up to a major EEOC lawsuit....and rightfully so. How would you take it if your company said "gotta lay you off, hard economic times and all" and the next week put someone in your position? Its illegal. If these guys were doing a crummy job (and from what I hear Lewis was only DOING his job, which made him a target of Dillard), there should have been written documentation to that effect. Now what you have left is a community Development Director who is duplicating what the EDA and Chamber does and David Gardner who better have a REAL big head for all the hats they are asking him to wear. How is this making city government more efficient? The whole incident has made the entire BOA and the Mayor in particular look like a bunch of idiots. They ALL need to be removed from office for incompetence!
Posted by getalifenatchez (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shoppinglady15: Back in the good ole days, I guess the streets were paved in gold too, huh? We live in a completely new world from when Mayor Nosser ruled the roost. Some
ways for the better, but, many ways for the worst. Our culture is on the skids, and its not just here in Natchez.
Just by looking at our city's appearance, and lack of attention to detail makes me know that everything else must be a mess... Times are tough, money is tight, but couldn't we get the inmates out to do some extensive cleaning and sprucing up??? I know our mayor has bigger fish to fry, but if I were driving through Natchez, I would be turned off to the poor appearance of many of our major arteries and would just keep on driving to another destination... and for God sake, get the building on Homochitto Street with the hole in the side of it torn down like mayor West did to the Pecan Factory! Coming off the bridge w/ all the high grass, trash, weeds, unkept trees, unlandscaped/ unlit Natchez sign grates my nerves!!! I can point out many more major flaws! If I see them, you know tourist do! Everyone wants to kick a man when he is down, but what has Jake 08 done for Ntz???? We are no better off than we were this time last year.... We do need another mover and shaker like Butch to come in and get the ball rolling once again in this dying little city high above the Mississippi River... but, with the current politcal climate in Washington, even Butch probably would have hit a brick wall sooner or later......
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Inmates (chain gangs) working on the roads and the streets need to be taught how to sing. This will add some drama to our perceived southern lifestyle. The tourists will love it. Instead of being frightened at the sight of convicts swinging potential weapons they will see happy workers singing while they work. Just like in the movies. We'll be back "on the map" in no time.
:)
Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could we agree to have no rap or arias?
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like your idea,OGD. I love your sense of humor. Seriously though, Since so many are commenting on their favorite past mayor, I cast my vote for Tony Byrne. Loved him! Even more seriously, I've noticed some of these bloggers that want to put all these troubled times on the present mayor and none on his predecessor, are the same ones that still blame President Bush for obamas shortcomings. You know this mess we're in is not just about us. These same kind of problems are all over our country. I don't know about ya'll but I think I'll keep"One nation under God" in my pledge to alligence. I think we need Him more than ever.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess page 6B didn't rate today. hmmmmmmmmm
OGD..... Nobody knows da trouble I done seen, nobody knows my sorrow.
Just practicing. :-)
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OGD, you have hit on a perfect job for Mathis. Not even the most hardened criminal would dare defy her. Plus she has the background - as a choir director, I mean.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a good 'un....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmLedW-YY...
Of course, to sound authentic, we'll have to work 'em out of those south-of-the-border accents. But I don't forsee any failures to communicate.
:)
Posted by treeclimber (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NatchezBooster, ntz143 and getalifeNatchez, all of your posts are excellent. NatchezBooster, your post needs to be faxed to Jake's office. I ride through Natchez sometimes pretending that it's my first visit here and I am appalled at how the City looks - so unkempt. I have written the Mayor several times about the building on Homochitto Street - have not received a response from anyone. I have also complained about the litter - no response. I have complained to my alderman and the Inspection Department about Club Pleasures on 61 South - there is a silouette of a woman on it - looks to be nude. NO ONE IN CITY HALL CARES.
Posted by goodoleboyslikeme (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
quote "Natchez was a city led.. "
now it's not, and that is the meat of it right there.
Posted by treeclimber (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gary, excellent post about the ND beginning to ask questions.
Posted by treeclimber (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oops, I meant that the ND needs to begin asking questions.
Posted by chuckydaone (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Politics and personalities aside, decreasing resources and increasing expenses are at the core of the problem. When the schools around the country were initially faced with this problem, physical education and fine arts were cut. I'm sure at the time it seemed the most prudent course of action. Now, however, we are fat with no civility. Vision is the right word. Who knows how the choices we make today will affect us ten or twenty years from now? No one. But wise and informed decisions will go a long way toward the prediction.
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