Save the Natchez Waterfront - Continued

In November 1999, Natchez adopted a Comprehensive Plan, which is required by state law. And it was done the right way, by professionals utilizing an incredible array of data and research and with ample opportunity for public input. It is very well written and makes interesting reading. There is a copy available at the Library, and I recommend it to you. In the Introduction, there is a wonderful statement, which they bolded for emphasis:

A community desperate for development without regard to the quality of that development will not be able to successfully compete with communities that are more concerned with the quality of development and other quality of life issues.

Does this make you think of our Mayor and Board of Aldermen?

After establishing Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Principles, the Plan then lays out a Land Use Plan, complete with map. By state law, all zoning decisions must be based upon the adopted Land Use Plan, as well as the policies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. So far as I know, the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 1999 has not been amended. Therefore, the proposed Development Code must be based upon the Plan. But is it?

The map of the Land Use Plan is large, and I could not copy it all. However, I did copy one section.

The red line sticking into the river is the bridge, which is the southern boundary of Waterfront District 1 (WD1). The red line that veers off to the right is Canal Street. The street above that is Broadway, which is the eastern boundary of WD1. The river is of course the western boundary. If you follow Canal Street you'll see two small red rectangles. Right on the other side is Madison Street, which is the northern boundary of WD1.

Two interesting things about WD1 on this map.

First, it's a little hard to see, but there are 3 shades of green on the map designated for Parks: the darkest (not in WD1) is for public parks, the light green is the National Historic Park, and the middle shade is for parks and open space. I didn't see any mention of open space in the proposed Development Code.

Secondly, the rest of WD1 is pink, as is most of the downtown area. These are the Preservation Districts. This designation is to protect the architectural and historic integrity of Natchez. Two of these districts are in WD1, and this is what is said about these two districts in the Plan.

1. Natchez on Top of the Hill Historic District. Mixed Use by Right: Single family detached residential with "indoor only" commercial uses. Uses by Exception: farmer's market stalls, single family residential uses upstairs above commercial uses on the first floor, single family residential units on the first floor with street frontage, and multiple family uses. Compare this list of rights and exceptions to the one in the proposed Development Code (see my previous article).
2. Natchez Bluffs and Under the Hill Historic District. "Indoor only" commercial uses only by Right. Uses by Exception: multiple family residential. Single family detached residential use is not permitted by Right or by Exception.

Just to make matters worse, look at the Waterfront District 2 (WD2), which is south of the bridge. This area is red, which is General Commercial. Now compare that to the proposed Development Code, which is more or less like WD1, only more restrictive. (Why in the world is the historic waterfront district less restrictive than the non historic???)

I don't know about you, but I think the 1999 Comprehensive Plan did a very good job, and I only wish our proposed Development Code matched it. I know the law says it has to, but this is Natchez where the law doesn't seem to matter. If the Mayor and Board of Aldermen adopt the proposed Development Code, I predict some lawyers will be very busy.

UPDATE: One of my lovely friends has provided me with a copy of the 1999 Comprehensive Plan and the map that goes with it. Since files cannot be attached to blogs, I have posted them on my website.

UPDATE 2: The Planning Commission met tonight. The good news is that final implementation will be delayed. They will make recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at their first June meeting, with the suggestion that their final approval come during the second meeting in June. The code would then go into effect on August 1. The most interesting news came via Walter Brown, who said the City Charter (basically it's constitution) would have to be amended before the Code could go into effect. This requires at least a 60 day delay. I have a copy of the final draft, and I will write more later. There will be an article in the Natchez Democrat Friday morning detailing some of the discussions.

The Rape and Mutilation of the Natchez Waterfront

Natchez is about to lose her historic waterfront. We might soon see wall to wall development along the Waterfront Historic District, which is from Broadway to the River and from Madison Street south to the bridge. You thought one condo was bad? Try a whole row of 75 foot buildings blocking your access and your view of the river.

If, as expected, the proposed Development Code goes into effect, this is what owners of that property will have the right to build along our waterfront:

• Casinos
• Condominiums
• Planned Unit Developments: a tract of land under single ownership that is planned and developed for commercial, retail, or office use
• Liquor Stores
• Restaurants
• Auditoriums
• Specialty retail stores
• Barber or beauty shops
• Art Galleries or Museums
• Antique Stores

There will be no hearings about whether the citizens of Natchez want the development. There will be no recourse to the courts. The law will say they have the right to build these things.

Owners will still have to abide by building codes and planning & preservation guidelines, but the use of the land is not up for debate or discussion. So we may have historic condos, but we're going to get condos.

To make matters worse, this is what owners can build if they get the so-hard-to-get approval of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen:

• Bars
• Nightclubs
• Brew Pubs
• Offices
• Resource Extractions: Extraction of minerals, ores, soils, and any other solid matter from its original location, including but not limited to quarrying, open pit, mining, drilling, tunneling, strip mining and any other such activities YIKES!

You may be thinking that much of the Bluff is public property and exempt from this. But the City has already sold public property to developers and has plans to sell more. So don't let that soothe you.

There was a hearing about the proposed Development yesterday before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Were you there? Probably not. What most people said was "Why bother to express an opinion before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen when they don't listen anyway." Good point! There were lots of people at the hearing but only two of us mentioned the Waterfront District. I'm sad to say most people have no idea what is about to happen.

What you can do now:

• You could provide a written opinion to the Planning Director Dennis Story in City Hall by 5 pm Friday.
• You can also attend the next meeting of the Planning Commission on Thursday, May 17 at 5 pm in the City Council Chambers. You will likely not be able to speak, but your presence will say a lot.
• Vote in the poll on this site, so we can get an idea how citizens want our Bluffs developed - and ask your friends and neighbors to vote.

At its meeting, the Planning Commission is set to make changes based on the public hearing and send it on to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for final approval on Tuesday, May 22.

If you don't want a 75 foot wall of buildings on the Bluffs, you'd better do something NOW!

Things Are Looking Up!

I don't want to be overly optimistic, but I'm starting to feel good about the demise of the condos on the Bluffs.

The potential developers of the condos, Larry Brown, and Ed Worley, got permission from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History many months ago to tear down the old Pecan Factory PROVIDING they followed certain very reasonable requirements. As we all know, those requirements were totally ignored, and they tore down the building without getting the required permit - and to add insult to injury, they did it while MDAH was meeting in Natchez. It would surprise me if there were not some angry people at MDAH. Most government agencies do not take kindly to having their laws ignored.

You have to hand it to Worley Brown - they definitely have balls. They wait a couple of months and apply for a permit to build the condos. I guess they think MDAH is just a bunch of wimps they can ignore and intimidate. The Permit Committee met a couple of weeks ago and recommended some very restrictive requirements. For details, see this article in the Natchez Democrat. I especially love the quote from Larry Brown.

“I briefly talked to my attorney, and he said it was all right. He said the conditions were pretty standard and nothing out of the ordinary.”

Yeah, right, Larry.

This past Friday, the MDAH Board of Trustees, who has final authority, met to consider the recommendations of their Permit Committee. Gwen Ball and several other Natchezians attended that meeting and made a very professional presentation about their many concerns. (See this article in the Democrat.) The Board said they had to take it under advisement until their next meeting, which is not until July. So we get another three months breathing room. (And don't forget, there's still the lawsuit hanging over their heads.) Of course, Larry Brown is still in a state of denial.

“Based on questions some of the board members asked, they seemed confused. They elected to take some time to get more information and talk at their next meeting."

The Board of Trustees is confused? I don't think so.

Larry, give it up. You're never going to get these condos. They were a stupid idea to begin with, and you're getting stupider by the minute.

Preservation Follies

In addition to the Board of Aldermen meetings, I've also been trying to attend the Planning and Preservation Commissions' meetings. Tonight I went to the Preservation Commission meeting and really got an earful. Judge Al Johnson owns a house on Clifton Avenue on the bluffs above the river, right smack dab in the middle of the Historic District. He apparently decided to build a fence and didn't bother to obtain the appropriate permissions and permits. He could plead ignorance, but he is, after all, a judge. Aren't judges supposed to know the law? A neighbor informed his son that a permit was needed, but the neighbor was ignored and called a name. Someone apparently informed the authorities, and the Judge was before the Planning Commission trying to get after the fact permission.

Not only did he build it without appropriate permission, but the fence didn't even conform to the guidelines. He asked the Commission to approve his application anyway. He said it was similar to a fence at his neighbors. However, his neighbor's fence was built before the guidelines were in place. There were neighbors there testifying about how the fence was nonconforming, but the best testimony was given by Gwen Ball, of condo fame. She said the issue was a matter of enforcement, especially in these times. The guidelines are a part of the law, and the Commission's job is to enforce those guidelines. She said she expected that a judge, whose job it is to enforce the law, would willingly abide by the rules. Hmmm - is this another case where an elected official thinks he is above the law?

It is the Commission's responsibility simply to determine if an application meets the standards of the guidelines. It was obvious this one did not. Although the Commissioners were in agreement about their decision, a motion was made to approve the application, since that's the proper procedure. However, the motion died for lack of a second. Judge Johnson was visibly angry as he stormed out of the room.

I'm wondering if he will appeal the decision to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, which he has the right to do. And I wonder how the Board will vote. Will they vote to uphold the law, or will they vote that the Judge should be treated differently from anyone else? This is the same Judge that ruled in favor of the City on the condo issue - as well as the Fat Mama's zoning decision. But of course, that has nothing to do with anything.

UPDATE: In case you missed it in the Legals section of the paper, there has been a special meeting of the Preservation Commission called to deal with this issue again! It will be Monday, April 23 at 5:15 pm in the City Council Chamber. Should be very interesting!

UPDATE 2: Preservation Commission decisions regarding private property must be appealed to the Circuit Court. Apparently, the Judge was so upset about having to follow the law that he threatened to go to Court - oops, I thought he was the Court. Oh well, this is Natchez.

It seems that the fine print somewhere says if no action is taken on an application by the Preservation Commission within 60 days, the application is deemed approved. Since the Commission failed to approve the Judge's application but did not deny it, this might be considered a lack of action on the application. So the Commission had to have the special meeting to be sure their decision was made properly. This time, they approved the application with conditions - basically that the fence be changed to conform to the guidelines. The Commission also entered into the record a notebook provided by the Historic Natchez Foundation on guidelines for historic fences. (Remember, they have to worry about going to Court.)

No word yet on whether the Judge will abide by the conditions or continue with his appeal to the Court.

To make matters even more interesting, the Judge owns another house on Commerce Street, also in the Historic Distric, where a similar fence has been installed. Wonder if anything will happen with that fence.

Here We Go Again - Mississippi at the Bottom

Mississippi has the highest tax on food in the country (most don't tax it at all), even though we're one of the poorest states. In addition, we have one of the lowest taxes on cigarettes, while we also have one of the highest rates of cigarette related deaths. Does this make sense to you? It sure doesn't to me. So why is this?

For two years in a row, the Mississippi Legislature has tried to change this situation by lowering the tax on food and making up the lost revenue by increasing the tax on cigarettes. Not only does this make logical sense, but it is extremely popular in an election year. Should be a no brainer, right? Not if you're Republican Governor Haley Barbour. He is the ONLY reason the Legislature did not pass this bill. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly and has wide spread bipartisan support in the Senate. However, the Governor promised to veto it, and the Legislature was just shy of enough to override it.

(By the way, all of our local legislators except Republican Representative and Barbour toady Sam Mims, supported the bill.)

Barbour was elected to represent the people of Mississippi, but he seems to have forgotten that. He is much more interested in protecting his friends in Washington. Before becoming Governor, he was a partner in what was the most influential lobbying firm in Washington DC, and he represented all the major tobacco companies. Obviously, they are more important to him than we are.

Does Barbour admit this is why he's against this bill? Of course not. He has two reasons for opposing the bill . Not only are they both ridiculous, but they contradict each other.

1. He'll veto it because he promised in his campaign he would not increase taxes. Of course, he has no problem proposing other taxes, like a tax on hospitals - but he calls that an "assessment", not a tax! Well, how about we have an "assessment" on cigarettes.
2. He'll veto it because we can't afford a tax cut because of the effect of Katrina. Yeah, right.

Sorry Governor, but you can't have it both ways. Is it a tax cut or a tax increase? Actually, it's neither. It's a tax swap. It was specifically designed to be revenue neutral. There is no reason to oppose this legislation - unless, of course, you're in bed with the tobacco companies.

This is such egregious behavior by our Governor, that it's made the New York Times.

"Gov. Haley Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist, has other ideas. Studies, polls, protests at the Capitol, legislative sentiment and America’s highest cardiovascular disease rate notwithstanding, the governor of the poorest state is not budging, for the second year in a row: no cut in the 7 percent grocery tax and no increase in the 18-cents-a-pack third-lowest-in-the-nation, cigarette tax. Mr. Barbour, the former Republican National Committee chairman and big-time Washington lobbyist whose clients included the five major tobacco companies, is a busy man these days, and a powerful governor. . . (The veto), to some, is a true measure of Mr. Barbour’s power. He need not worry about political fallout from rejecting what is, in most reckonings, a popular initiative. "

Do you see that? He doesn't have to worry about us, the citizens of Mississippi. Do you know why? He thinks we're too stupid to figure it out. I guess we'll find out in November if we are.

Appeals Hearings Very Interesting

At last night's marathan session of the Mayor & Board of Aldermen (BOA), there were two appeal hearings based on decisions by the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).

In the first case, the BZA refused to grant a variance to Rev George Marshall who wanted to open a business (funeral parlor) in a residential district. Rev Marshall’s main argument was that there are already businesses in the district. Dennis Story, the new Planning Director, presented the case for the BZA, and he did an excellent job of highlighting the facts of the case. He said it was true there were businesses there now and that previous Boards must have approved those variances. But he argued for abiding by the law, which was clear. He said, at some point, you have to draw the line – and stop granting variances that are not within the confines of the City’s zoning ordinances. Aldermen Grey and Mathis voted in favor of Rev Marshall, Aldermen West recused himself (presumably because he owns a funeral parlor), and Aldermen Pollard, Massey, and Middleton voted to uphold the decision of the Board.

When the Planning Director got ready to present the case for the second hearing, the Mayor asked him to be brief. As instructed, Story was very brief, and therefore the case was not properly made for the BZA's decision, which in this case was to grant a variance to Cliff McCarstle to build a residence in a business district. Eva Dunkley did a good job of presenting a case for overturning the BZA's decision, based on the just completed action of the BOA - you must uphold the law. However, after a lot of discussion, the reasons for the BZA's decision eventually were made clear. Under the new proposed Development Plan, the district will be zoned residential. McCarstle said he could just wait a month. However, the reason he decided to go ahead and ask was that he was just moving an old house to the new location, and Mr Blankenstein, the person owning the land with the house on it, needed to get it moved quickly. Mr Blankenstein needed the property to make up for the space he lost (which I think is the pecan factory). The BOA voted again to uphold the decision of the Zoning Board. It seems to me the Mayor could have saved a lot of time, if he had simply allowed the Planning Director to present his case to begin with.

At some point during these hearings, one of the Aldermen mentioned discussing the issue in the private meeting they had before the public meeting.. (Watch closely when it comes on TV.) Perhaps they had made up their minds about these decisions before they came out – which may be why the Mayor told the Planning Director to be brief. Gee, I thought we had an Open Meetings Law in Mississippi that forbids closed door discussions, except in very limited circumstances. But I guess the law doesn’t apply in Natchez.

Probably the most unbelievable thing the BOA did during this meeting was to pass a motion by Alderwoman Mathis to require minutes of all future meetings be taken down verbatim. There were jokes about hiring new staff and killing trees, but they passed it! What a waste of taxpayor dollars. They may live to regret that vote - for several reasons.

The public hearing for the proposed City Development Plan is Tuesday, April 24 - mark your calendars.

Natchez Comprehensive Plan Is Important!

Last Thursday, I wrote an article about the new Comprehensive Plan being proposed for Natchez, in which I outlined the history of this project. I want to emphasize how important this plan is - because it determines the future of development in Natchez. The Natchez Democrat has an editorial about it today, but for some reason, it's not on their website.

The City Planning Office has set aside today and tomorrow to show the Plan to the public and to answer their questions. If you didn't go today, make a point to go tomorrow between 10 am and 7 pm in the City Council Chambers. The original notice said it was only for today, but that was a mistake. They're available tomorrow as well. The staff was very nice and answered all my questions. They have available for you to take with you a summary of the plan, which lists all the districts and the uses allowed in them. If you want to play around with the districts, you can use my spreadsheet, which I described in the earlier article.

What there are no copies of is the plan itself and the maps. These will not be available until after they're approved. Of course, that's too late for the public to make comments. Believe me, no one is going to sit in that room and read that whole 193 page document - and it's very difficult to do a good job of studying the map also. I think if they really wanted public input, they would have made both the document and the maps available online.

Reasonable people could disagree over the districts and their uses, as well as the drawing of the districts, and they definitely could use a little tweaking. However, in my opinion, there is a fundamental flaw in the implementation.

One of the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan was to provide for predictability, since new businesses and residents rely on that. No one wants to move into a lovely residential neighborhood and then have a loud bar move in next door. Businesses almost always look at zoning codes prior to investing in a new business. Who wants to open an upscale boutique and then have a hog farm appear right next to you?

Our current system allows way too many ways around the zoning to ensure predictability. The new plan was supposed to accomplish two things. One was to eliminate the need for variances for use, which Natchez allows far too often. A use would either be allowed in a certain district or not - no variances allowed. A second was to remove politics from the whole process, because everything would be very clear. However, as I read the Plan, all decisions would be made by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. It looks like the Planning Commission can only "review and recommend." It's almost like the Planning Commission holds the hearing, but the Board makes the decision. I hope I have misunderstood that part, because it's key.

It's your city, and if you care about its future development, you'll make it your business to understand this new code.

Interesting Information About the Cato Casino

According to a 2004 article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa tribe, along with some Chicago investors, bought a floating casino to be called the Dream Catcher. Then according to another article in 2006

"the tribe - which has spent years scouring the country in search of an off-reservation casino deal - found a buyer that was willing to pay $3 million 'in cash or other consideration' for the Dream Catcher. The other consideration appears to have been a chance for the tribe to buy into a casino being developed near Natchez, Miss."

According to the same article, apparently the tribe is trying to get rid of its Chicago investors, who sued the tribe.

Now read Natchez - The Beginning or the End posted today by a tribe blogger, and you'll see some funny things may be happening with this deal.

Rinaldi Brouhaha

Well, Rinaldi has certainly stirred up a hornet's nest. The latest issue of his free publication, the Miss Lou Magazine, contained an inflammatory blurb on the front page under Local News. I can't give you a link, because it is not included on his online version. I am not going to quote it - you'll have to look for yourself. Let me summarize by saying that it is a homophobic attempt to smear someone.

Several people wrote Rinaldi expressing their outrage. However, the brouhaha was really started by someone who calls himself John Natchez, a gay business owner. He sent an email to Rinaldi and sent copies to all Rinaldi's advertisers, as well as lots of other people. This email has been flying around Natchez. I will quote part of his email.

As the gay community in the Miss-Lou continues to grow and prosper, this sort of statement by a paper is both ignorant and disrespectful. From this point forward, I will encourage my friends and contacts to disregard the Miss-Lou Magazine, and inform them to boycott its advertisers as they are being published in an anti-gay magazine.

Here is the list of advertisers in his letter. I can barely wait to see who's still advertising in the next issue. Be sure to vote in the poll at the bottom.

• Audubon Gallery
• Bernie Pyron's
• Bowie Outfitters
• Century 21 River Cities
• Cook Lawn & Tractor
• Davidson's Wine
• Dunleith Plantation
• Great River Chevrolet
• Kentwood Springs
• Lasyone Furniture
• LCR Plumbing Warehouse
• Marketplace Cafe'
• Natchez Heating & Cooling
• Natchez Telephone
• Old South Federal Credit Union
• The Markets
• United Mississippi Bank
• Weeks Wholesale Furniture

New Zoning for City of Natchez

In today's Natchez Democrat is a Public Notice that the City of Natchez is considering the adoption of a development code and new zoning map for the city.

The public will be allowed exactly 9 hours to look at this new proposal: from 10 am - 7 pm on Wednesday, March 21 in the City Council Chambers. The notice goes on to say this is not a public hearing and there will be no presentation, although staff will be available to answer questions.

There is a regular meeting of the Planning Commission today (Thursday, 3/15) at 5:15 pm. After that meeting, I'll post an Update here with any new information.

First, here's some history of this project.

Last year, the City hired a consultant to work on updating our development code, which is desperately needed. A draft proposal was presented at a public hearing in June. However, shortly thereafter, the City Planner was fired, and this project was put on hold. I'm not sure what has transpired since then, but below is what I knew and thought at the time.

The main benefit of the new Development Code is that there will NO Use variances. If a Use is not listed in a particular Zoning District, it will not happen – no matter what. It takes the politics out of Use. No governmental agency can overturn it. The Development Code becomes part of the City Code – ie, the laws of the City. Of course, the Mayor and Board of Alderman can choose to change the law, but that’s the only way around the Development Code. So you can see how very important this Code is.

There are 17 different proposed Zoning Districts, which are defined in the Summary of the Draft Code. For each District, there are Uses that are allowed by Right, which means no approval is necessary. There are also Uses that are allowed by Exception, which have to be approved by the Zoning Commission, with public input. (And I believe the Mayor and Board of Aldermen can overrule the Zoning Commission.) If a Use is not listed by Right or by Exception in a particular District, it is absolutely not allowed. The structure(s) proposed for the Use still has to pass Preservation Guidelines (if it’s in the Historic District), as well as all other required building guidelines and laws. It’s only the Use itself that is addressed in this Development Code – not the structure(s).

The Draft Code Summary included a table of all possible uses, with the zones where they were allowed by Right and by Exception. I didn’t find this very helpful – I wanted to know what Uses were allowed in each District. So I converted their table into a spreadsheet, so I could see that information. The Planning Commission made some changes, but I’m not sure I got them all, so I just used the original table.

Here’s how to use the spreadsheet: The first column lists the 180 different uses. Across the first row are two columns for each of the 17 different Zoning Districts. The first column is blue and has a “r” after the District for Use by Right, and the second column is white and has a “e” after the District for Use by Exception. For example, go to Row 24, for Bed & Breakfast Use. By reading across, you can see, a Bed & Breakfast is a Use by Right in District R-VR, and a Use by Exception in Districts R-E, R-1, R-2, and R-3. To see all Uses allowed in a certain District, you have to sort. To do that, click on the Sort Tab.

If you think this is confusing, this is only the beginning. Because the real battle will be over the maps that will be drawn to go along with the 17 districts.

Mississippi at the Bottom - Again

I always cringe when I see an article about national rankings of states. Whatever the measurement is, I know Mississippi will be at the bottom. I've heard it said that people in Arkansas and Louisiana say "Thanks heavens for Mississippi - it keeps us from being 50th." When I was flying to Austria recently, I was having a conversation with a German woman. She asked where in America I lived. I said Mississippi and asked if she'd heard of it. She said, "Oh, yes! The state that's at the bottom of everything." Ouch! That's pretty bad - our reputation has reached all the way to Europe.

I read a new rankings article today. I decided that whenever I come across one, I'll post the results here. Usually we just ignore this unpleasant news, but maybe we should pay attention to it. Maybe we can learn something.

The headline for this story said "Deadliest, Safest States for Truck Crashes". More than 100 people a week are killed in large truck crashes in this country. Large trucks account for 3 percent of registered vehicles but 12 percent to 13 percent of traffic fatalities. Trying to increase awareness of this problem, the Truck Safety Coalition announced state rankings, based on the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents in 2005, the most recent year with complete statistics.

The good news is Mississippi is not the deadliest. The bad news is that we're fifth behind Wyoming, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. (Guess Arkansas can't thank heavens for Mississippi this time.)

The main objective of the Truck Safety Coalition was to pressure the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which was created by Congress in 1999, and which has "failed miserably" according to the Coalition. It's true that a federal agency could undoubtedly make a difference. However, the more interesting question to me is why some states are so much worse than others.

The answer may be in a quote from the agency issued in its defense. "We have invested millions of dollars working with the state and local law enforcement community to do more safety reviews and roadside inspections of trucks and buses than ever before.” The federal government, while willing to be supportive, is leaving enforcement up to the states. Some states obviously do a better job than others.

Look at the 5 states at the top of the deadliest list. They're all conservative (red) states that believe that the less regulation of business the better - "keep the government off my back". Now look at the safest states: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, New Hampshire. They're all liberal (blue) states that love government regulation.

The question in this and many similar regulation dilemmas is whether the safety factor outweighs the economic cost or vice versa. Interestingly, the safest states are also the wealthiest, and the deadliest states are the poorest.

Okay, I'm trying something new. I'm putting a poll on this site so viewers can vote on an issue. This is a free service that will put an ad on my page somewhere. So we'll see how we like this.


There was a poll here that asked: "What should be done about the high number of deadly truck crashes in Mississippi? "

• "Nothing." 1 vote
• "Let the federal government handle it." 1 vote
• "Mississippi should increase its regulation of the trucking industry." 29 votes

UPDATE: I just received this email: Hey Casey, Check out this site ! You will find a person who, after having a conversation with a youngster about Mississippi while traveling on a plane, came up with this campaign.

Picture of New Convention Hotel

So what do you think?

O.K. - yeah you right

Born and raised as I was in "the land of red beans and slot machines" (New Orleans) I was a genuine cynic. Down there minor corruption was routine and major corruption not unusual. The "system" was broke and nobody bothered to care anymore. You didn't expect anyone in "government" to pay a price for doing wrong. Cynicism was a tonic to prevent anger, frustration, and bitterness.

I was SO happy to come here. Not only is it a beautiful place, but the people were friendly and welcoming. Good food, good folks, affordable living - a great combination. It is a wonderful place to live. A VERY nice added attraction was that the legal system here worked so MUCH better than where I came from (I thought).

So when all this stuff about the bluff - etal - arose I said "no problem the legal system will address it and take care of it". Many of you out there must have laughed out loud at my naivete. Well, shame on me. I'm in the land of catfish and slot machines. The system here is as broken down as elsewhere. Good grief, the fine is low enough - why didn't the AG just proceed and throw us a bone???

Well I'm a cynic again. I don't know if or when this bunch (now the State is in the bunch) will pay a price, but if one more negative karma transmitter makes a difference there's one more (well experienced one) out there.

It's still a place with good food, good folks, and good times (the cost of living has taken off).

What is the World is the Antiquities Law? And Why Should You Care About It?

The Antiquities Law is not a law dealing with old people - or even old furniture. It's a law protecting historic properties in Mississippi. You should care about it, because it's helped to make Natchez what it is today - a historic mecca attracting attention from across the country. You should also care about it, because it can protect the treasure that is Natchez from ignorance and greed.

Protected historic properties are called Mississippi Landmarks. They can be sites, objects, or buildings and must be of historical, archaeological, or architectural significance. They are generally publically owned - that is owned by the state, a county, or a city.

How does a property get to be a Mississippi Landmark? That determination is made by the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, after ample opportunity for public comment.

The law clearly states that once a property has been designated as a Mississippi Landmark, it

"may not be taken, altered, damaged, destroyed, salvaged, restored, renovated or excavated without a permit from the board or in violation of the terms of such permit".

The law also clearly states the penalties for violation of this law:

"Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or by confinement in jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and confinement. Each day of continued violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a distinct and separate offense for which the offender may be punished."

The Mississippi Landmark designation is the highest form of recognition bestowed on properties by the state of Mississippi - and it backs up its committment to preservation with some real money. The state has established a grant program especially for these landmark properties. Approximately half a million dollars in grant funds are available annually through the Mississippi Department of Archives.

I've prepared a list of Mississippi Landmarks in Adams County, if you're interested.

It's an Election Year!

Well, boys and girls, it's an election year. Do you know what that means? It means some of the people who control your life will be chosen this year. The question is whether you will have a say in who those people are.

One of my rules in life is that if you don't vote, then you're not allowed to complain about the politicians who get elected. So if you want to rant and rave in the comments section of this blog, you'd better be sure to vote in the upcoming election. (Of course, I have no way to enforce this, since last time I checked, we still have a secret ballot. However, with those new computer voting machines, I'm not entirely sure!)

This year, we will have a Primary Election on August 7, a Primary Runoff Election on August 28, and a General Election on November 6. To help you keep track of all these dates (and many others), this blog now has its own calendar. To get to it, just look on the right side of this page where it says Links and you'll see a link for the Natchez Calendar. This is not your typical Natchez calendar - it's more like a political calendar. This is where you can come to find out when all those governmental bodies have their meetings, and when all the relevant election deadlines are, etc. I've just started it, and I expect it will get full of goodies soon.

In this election, we'll be selecting all the people who run our county: Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Constables, Coronor, County Attorney, Justice Court Judges, Sheriff, Supervisors, Tax Assessor, and Tax Collector. Quick tell me everybody who's running for all those jobs. You can't? Well, how about who holds those positions now. That's better, but you still missed a few. You'd better check out another new feature to this blog. Look under Links again, and you'll see 2007 Candidates, which is the cheat sheet for the elections. Right now, all I have are the basics, but I'll be updating it as the Election progresses. So keep in touch.

Oh, I'm not finished with this election yet. In addition to all those county folks, you'll be voting for all kinds of state officials as well. There are all the statewide elections: Governor, Lt Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Agriculture & Commerce Commissioner, and Insurance Commissioner. I didn't even bother with them on my list of Candidates - you're on your own there. I just concentrated on those that represent Adams County in some capacity. That includes Public Service Commissioner and Transportation Commissioners for the Southern Region, District Attorney, 2 State Senators, and 4 State Representatives. Are you tired yet? Don't worry, I won't quiz you this time. But your exam is on August 7. I hope you'll be prepared!

Just in case you have no idea what district you live in for any of these candidates, I have just the thing you need - under Links again. Election Maps! Aren't you excited? No? Gee, I thought you would be.

PS To be able to vote, you first have to be registered. Are you registered? The deadline is July 7. (It's in the Natchez Calendar, of course!)

UPDATE: I've added a better map of Adams county to Election Maps. The best way to understand the meaning of the term gerrymandering is to draw election boundaries on a map. It makes you wonder if the lines weren't drawn to include all someone's relatives! Check out the Supervisor's District 4 for a good example.

One post leads to another

In the previous posting a commenter stated:
"Well, the saddest part of the prison idea is the potential location:
THE NATCHEZ AIRPORT.
Too bad we can't turn the airport into an airport......"

The future of the Airport, like the future of so much in Natchez IS tied directly to Tourism. Developing Tourism in Natchez is directly tied to developing Natchez as a DESTINATION rather than a side trip. A substantial part of that issue was addressed by yet another commentator.

In the previous posting a commenter asked:
"Does anyone have any accurate numbers as to how much money is actually spent on marketing?"

I don't know HOW MUCH is spent by the City, CVB, NCPC, or planned for the "new" thing - but I do have a pretty good idea of HOW LITTLE.

To give you an idea I'll republish an article I posted in Natchez Magazine.

"Where'd the Money Go?

No doubt the key to success in any business is getting the word out. In the Tourism business that means advertising. Regional and National advertising is the mother's milk of success. Going to travel shows will get tour companies to put Natchez on their trip itineraries, but if the tour originating in Podunk doesn't sell to the folks there the tour will be canceled, so all the work and expense goes for naught. You have to make Natchez a place people think about going to and you do that with advertising.

More than twenty years ago the legislature recognized the needs of towns like Natchez to enhance tourism and created taxing entities called Convention and Visitors Bureaus and authorized taxes on local food and lodging to generate funds to make it possible to attract visitors through various activities including advertising.

Locally those taxes have produced in excess of $800,000 a year for quite some time. Does that mean that Natchez has $600,000 a year for ads? $400,000 ?, $200,000 ?. NO, not even $100,000 is available. Where did it go?

In 1998 the City (as I've written before) decided to go into the visitor reception business and convinced the CVB (an independent State agency, equal in status to the City) to sign a “Management Agreement” whereby the City gets all but about $70,000 a year of the CVB funds and runs their new business with CVB money.
Has it worked? Has it increased visitation? Are things better in tourism? I don't think so.

The CVB needs to terminate that contract, hire two or three marketing people and spend the greatest portion of their income on getting the word out. Then you'll see things start to happen."

Since then TWO things have happened that even more severly restricts the CVB's ability to market Natchez.

1. The city's $2,000,000 (+?) bond issue will be partially repaid by sending ALL Hamburger 1&2 (that's the special taxes on food and lodging that provides all of the CVB funding) receipts from the new hotel to the bond repayment. This will amount to a DECREASE of $50 - $70 thousand a year effectively reducing the remainder of the total receipts available to advertising to practically nothing.

2. The CVB has voted to EXTEND the contract for 5 years even though the City will effectively shut down the Dept of Tourism Management and turn it over to the new management group (the hotel - well same thing).

Shush, complicated? "You ain't hurd nuthin yet"

The County should have stayed involved.

The County shows the City how AGAIN

The prospect of a Federal prison in Adams County sounds like a good idea. A multi million dollar construction project and hundreds of permanent jobs sounds like a very good thing.

The prison "business" (and it really is a growing business) has become one of the major employers in this part of the country. We've seen them built in Fayette, Woodville, and Concordia Parish and I know people who work not only in these facilities but some who travel to Angola and Jackson (LA.) to their jobs.

The County has insured that the public will have ample opportunities to get information and give feedback. This time the "people" won't be kept in the dark and presented a fait accompli (as has happened so often with the City) before the decision is made. They even remembered to remind us that if a (statutory) percentage of the voters petition it an election will be held to approve or disapprove. I wonder if they and the City will remember that the next time a Bond Issue is proposed.

Good show.

You gotta do the right thing

I received an email from a reader and thought it would be worth sharing:

"(Received) The Democrat should not waste printer ink on this story. Phillip West will not be charged because no jury will convict him. The prosecutor would be wasting his time, and he knows it.

(Reply)If you believe in the "system", as I do, you run the string all the way out regardless of what miscarriage of justice may result. You must follow the rules.
Sometimes the "people's" wisdom amazes you.
The folks in the DA's office are paid by the month not the hour.
The Democrat buys their ink by the barrel.
blogger.com is FREE.
What a wonderful world. "

Wouldn't it be something?

Wouldn't it be something if the Mississippi Gaming Commission, meeting today, approves an application for the Lane Co. to place a casino in Natchez. That could very well mean that the new h(m)otel on Canal Street could have been built without $2,000,000 (that's MILLION) of our money going out of the window.

The final approval for the new h(m)otel came after the negotiations for the new casino had begun and the City could have insisted that the casino developers include a Canal St. Hotel in their plans. RIGHT? Then we'd all be $2,000,000 (that's MILLION) better off.

But NO. They just had to do it their way.

It's working

Not long ago I posted that I had withheld judgement of the "Pecan Factory" issue because I believed that the "system" would resolve the problem. Well like a "stopped clock that's right twice a day" it seems I was right.

The State Attorney General and the MDAH are on the "Pecan Factory" case and I trust that it will be resolved in a fitting and proper way.

The resolution may not be punitive enough for some of you but it will be judiciously correct. I have noticed that it is the posting relative to matters of this kind that get your attention and that's understandable. Take a look at the number of comments and the subject matter of the posting and you'll see a clear trend. Stories about a 'man biting a dog get more attention than stories about a dog biting a man'.

In addition the Democrat has taken up the gauntlet and is giving the matter the attention it deserves. No less than three editors and reporters have recently published stories and editorials. I think I'll be able to follow what's happening just by "reading the papers".

I think the time has come to acknowledge that the "people" have spoken and been heard.

Let's give it a rest and watch it play out as it should.

A Wakening Giant

The recent excellent editorials regarding the problems in our City and County governments by Ben Hillyer and Kevin Cooper are just the latest of a series of ever more probing and insightful observations in the Democrat.

The basic obligation of a town's (only) newspaper is the keep the Community informed about things that impact on its people. We can't know the things we need to know to make rational judgements if we only have an informal "grapevine" to spread the word. We NEED a document of record to sort things out and make the record public and permanent. The Democrat is making giant steps to fulfilling that need.

Our Paper is coming of age and we and they will be better off for it.

What now?

When the issue of the Pecan Factory rose(and heated) up I didn't get mentally involved because it was one of those things covered by:
Procedures
Rules
Regulations
LAWS and
COURTS
My Lord what's the point in ME deciding what's right. I'll just wait for the process to work its way through and live with the results.

WELL - sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

The City (Mayor) has:
1. Snubbed the State Legislature by violating the State Antiquities Act.
2. Snubbed the State Attorney General by directly defying the injunction issued while the Pecan Factory was being demolished
3. Snubbed the Miss. Supreme Court by destroying a property that is at the heart of a legal matter that is currently before the Court!
4. Snubbed the Miss Dept of Archives and History by not even attempting to get a permit and by TEARING THE THING DOWN WHILE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY (HANK HOLMES) was in Natchez for the History Conference.
5. Snubbed the Historic Natchez Foundation by tearing down a official state LANDMARK BUILDING in Natchez during the annual meeting and conference of the Historic Natchez Foundation (attended by preservation professionals from coast to coast). This is a time when the HNF is supposed “shine” and show off Natchez for the world.
Check out the Radio interview with West: WQNZ-FM 95Country - The South's Country Giant http://www.95country.com/custom/webpage.cfm?content=News&id=1207
Mayor Philip West: ”Many people are going into the facility, they are taking things out of the facility, they are playing in the facility, doing all kinds of things because of the nature of where it’s located on the bluff. If somebody gets hurt, then either the city or the developer or a combination of both would be liable. And there was no need to allow that sort of situation to exist. That’s why I issued the executive order yesterday.” As for the landmark status of the site, West says that what is protected as a landmark is the land, not the building, and therefore no law had been broken.
He is wrong: THE BUILDING WAS LANDMARKED. NOT JUST THE LAND.
Why doesn’t he know this?
Did he just “forget?”

I remember

I'm going to bore you with the following because in the midst of thinking about a post re: The Pecan Factory a missive arrived "over the (email) transom" that said it better than I could. I've replied to the sender and asked if I could use it as sent (anon of course). So while waiting I remembered something I think quite apropos.

In the mid 50's most every college had a clever guy who played the piano and sang ribald songs (he wrote). Sometimes they were so good records were released by major companies. I remember one in particular (well part of one anyway). In the middle he stopped singing and broke into a spoken bit (with an affected east European accent) that went something like this:
"I am never forget the day I am fierst meet the great Lofachesky
in one word he is teaching me the secret of success in academics (pause) plagiarize"
Then going back to singing:
"Plagiarize let no one Else's work evade your eyes
remember why the Good Lord made your eyes
but plagiarize - plagiarize - plagiarize"
Back to spoken:
"But remember please always to call it (pause) RESEARCH"

So, I'll be looking for your help. When something good comes in I'll plagiarize (and sanitize for your anon if you wish). I'll call it research.

The second team is in

Let's win one for the Gipper.
I don't have many contacts and don't get around a lot. But, I've put my email address on my Profile so if you've got anything you want to see brought up just let me know.

Oh, just one thing I don't care (in a public way) what folks do with their personal life. I get fired up about what public people do in meeting their public obligations. Outside of that, let're rip.

John

The Blog Is No More

This blog and all my local political activities will cease because of the adverse effect on the Library, where I am employed part time.

UPDATE: Hopefully others will take over the blog. Keep checking.

City Defies Law - Tears Down Pecan Factory!

The Pecan Factory is being torn down as I write this, without any notice to the public. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen obviously decided to do this in their Executive Session Tuesday. (See last paragraph in this article. Also, be sure to check the Natchez Democrat website, as they will undoubtedly cover this story there.

And this is being done as the Department of Archives and History is in town along with hundreds of people for the Historic Natchez Conference. Our hypocritical Mayor spoke to the group last night telling them how important historic preservation is to the city.

You may remember that the Department of Archives and History has to approve demolition of that property because of its landmark status. After a hearing, the Department gave permission IF certain conditions were met and documented. No documentation has been received by the Department that those conditions have not been met. Therefore, I understand that the Department is in contact with the State Attorney General's Office to request an injunction. This action on the part of the City could result in serious fines being levied -and this would be paid by your tax dollars.

This property is also tied up in court because of a lawsuit by courageous citizens objecting to illegal sale of the property. The City is very frustrated that mere citizens would challenge their decisions and even considered suing those citizens.

The City will most likely be sued again by citizens for its illegal actions. Not only that, but the City is demolishing a building owned by private citizens. Why? This could possibly be construed as an illegal gift to the developers.

The City is obviously taking serious legal and financial risks. Why is the City taking these risks to benefit a couple of rich developers? Good question.

I will be updating this article as I learn more information, so check back.

PS Here is an interesting piece of information about the Mayor who is so willing to risk our taxpayer dollars. As you may know, about a year or so ago, the Mayor's house was listed in the Legals in the newspaper as going to foreclosure. However, he somehow bought a new house. A few days ago, there was notice in the Court Records section of the paper saying that the Mayor had obtained a mortgage from United Mississippi Bank. Most people who have homes go to foreclosure cannot get mortgages. Wonder why he's different.

UPDATE I: We are rally at the Pecan Factory at 12 noon today (Thursday) for a protest of the City's outrageous behavior regarding the Pecan Factory. PLEASE come if at all possible. We need all the help we can get. Now is the time for citizens who care about their town to stand up to these arrogant elected officials, who think they can do whatever they want - and the public be damned.

What Can Children Do?

I attended an organizing meeting for the Natchez Council for Arts and Culture this week. One of the major problems we have in Natchez is there is so little for visiting children to do, thus we have trouble attracting tourist families. This is an issue the Council wants to address. I know this is a problem whenever my grandchildren visit, and I imagine you have faced this dilemma as well.

There are several excellent one time events for children in the area: Natchez Little Theater's Summer Workshop, Natchez Festival of Music's Education Program, Conner Burn's Kids Clay Camp, Natchez Needle Arts classes for children, the Armstrong Library's Summer Library Program, etc. But these activities are mainly directed at children who live here. What can we do for visiting tourist children and their families?

We need most regular Natchez events to include a segment for children, like the Balloon Festival does. I know my grandchildren will always be visiting me on the weekend of the Balloon Festival, because there's something fun to do for children and adults. That's undoubtedly one reason why it's such a big success.

However, we are in desparate need of ongoing activities for children. We brainstormed some ideas, but we need your input, too. And let us know of any activities that we might not be aware of.

• Wouldn't it be nice if the antebellum homes that are open all year round would have ongoing programs for children? They could provide storytelling in period costume - or have a interpreted display of how children lived in antebellum days.
• Some venues would be appropriate for a scavenger hunt where children must find certain items to earn a prize.
• What about a cooking demonstration for kids on weekends at a caterer or restaurant?
• Or some of the artists in town could do quickie lessons for children on the weekend.
• Wouldn't it be popular to offer father/son (or mother/daughter) fishing or hunting trips?
• We definitely need boat rides on the river which would attract the whole family.
• Maybe it's time for another putt-putt golf course.

Of course, there's my all time favorite fantasy - a children's museum. However, I realized we don't have to have the whole thing. For example, click on the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California. There are tons of exhibits there, many of which are outside. We could take just one of their exhibits and bring it here, and it would be a huge success. Any entrepreneurs out there interested in this?

Okay, let's have some comments on this. Together we can make Natchez a child friendly town!

City to Citizens: Shut Up!

We all know our Mayor and Board of Aldermen don't like to hear from the citizens - they seem to forget we are also voters. They NEVER ask for our input on any issues. The only way we can express our opinions about anything is in the part of the Agenda for Visitors. Isn't that lovely? No matter how long (or how many generations) we've lived here, we're considered Visitors to our elected officials.

However, they decided a few months ago, that we visitors were talking too much, so they resurrected a rule that was supposedly already on the books. They told us if we wanted to say anything, we had to make a request - in writing, mind you - a week in advance. That is so preposterous!

But this week, they really got carried away with their boredom. Apparently, we talk too long. From now on, we visitors will be limited to only three minutes. There are rarely more than two visitors per meeting, so for a meeting that usually last at least two hours, the public gets six minutes. How generous of them! Oh, by the way, this rule was also supposedly already on the books.

This brilliant new policy was announced right before the two Visitors on the Agenda were scheduled to speak. The first speaker, Mrs Dunkley, made the remark that she wished she could limit their terms to three minutes. (Right on!) She had several concerns she wanted to bring before the Board that she had to rush through. Afterwards, she was furious and walked out. The second speaker, Mr Boxley, had prepared a very comprehensive report that he wished to discuss - the topic had previously been discussed by the Board. Somehow he was supposed to reduce it to three minutes - and he was cut off when that time expired.

The President of the Adams County Board of Supervisors wished to address the Board. However, I guess he was considered a visitor too. Since he had not requested in writing to be on the Agenda, there had to be a motion to suspend the rules to allow him to speak. He was also limited to three minutes. Is this not unbelievable? I can guarantee you that any member of the Board would have been more than welcome to speak before the Board of Supervisors for however long was necessary. However, I somehow doubt any of them would lower themselves to speak to our county government. I wonder how they would treat a representative of the state or federal government, from whom they are always begging for money.

You have to wonder if any of these yahoos are running for reelection. Do they really think no one is going to remember how the public has been treated? Their arrogance never ceases to amaze me.

I'm Back!

I have returned from my DC protests without getting arrested. It was a wonderful experience. Some of the news reports said 100,000, because that's what was expected. However, it was successful far beyond the organizers' hopes - there were half a million people there! In fact, the start of the march was delayed for an hour, because the National Park Police had to change our route as we had too many people for the original route. It was wonderful meeting people from all across the country. They really represented a cross section of America - from babies to geezers, rich and poor, every imaginable ethnic group, all of the states. The mood of the group was very positive and upbeat, but it was very sad to see the families with pictures of their loved ones who had been killed in the war.

And it was a long route! We walked from the national mall all the way around the Capitol building and back. For those of you not familiar with DC, that is lots of walking. Plus, we were standing for quite a while as we lined up. By the time it was over, I was unbelievably exhausted. I keep forgetting I'm not as young as the last time I did this. Next time, I'm bringing a wheelchair! Then I'll be like this guy - "Another Old Hippie against the War".

The Mayor and Aldermen meet tomorrow night, so I'll be back to Natchez politics.

Strange blogfellows

I knew that Casey and I saw things differently, I just didn't realize HOW MUCH. Well that's what makes America great - two folks so diverse in their life view can share a marque. Amazing.

By the way I met another phd last night. Natchez has to have more phd(s) per square foot than Oxford (either one).

John Saleeby
SGM (ret)

I'm off to DC!

I'm off for a quick trip to DC to participate in an anti war rally and march. I know, I know. I can just hear the groans from you conservative Republicans! However, I am a diehard liberal, and I just can't help it. Besides, it will make me feel young. The last time I was in an anti war march, I was in my twenties - or maybe my thirties. (60's radicals don't have very good memories!)

When I get back, I'll tell you all about it. (If you don't want to hear about it, just don't visit the blog that day.) I'll bring pictures - including one of me in my famous vest from the 60's.


Of course, I may not get back, because I might freeze to death. I checked the weather for the time I'm there, and the highs are in the 30's with lows in the 20s! And to think I used to live there. I don't know how my little southern body managed.

By the way, I started keeping statistics on the blog. We had over 250 hits in a week - not bad!

Peace!

Sad News

If you read the article in the Natchez Democrat today, you will see that Alderman Bubber West has been arrested for writing bad checks. - and that is sad news. Why?

First, it is always sad when an elected official is arrested, because the public trust has been betrayed.

Secondly, it is sad for Alderman West. From my viewpoint, he has been a good Alderman. He was smart, knew the issues, and asked good questions. So why would he risk his career and reputation? We know that he has suffered bad health and financial problems, but that does not account for his behavior.

Maybe we can explain (not excuse) his behavior if we look at some reasons people habitually write bad checks. I'm not talking about people who occasionally bounce a check - but those who do it enough to warrant legal action. (As background, let me tell you that before I moved to Natchez, I was a licensed and practicing psychologist.)

Some people write bad checks because they're psychopaths trying to rip off the system, and these people belong in jail for as long as we can keep them there. There is no hope for them.

Some people are suffering financially and just get desperate. Usually, they will stop after getting caught a few times, especially if there are legal repercussions. Unlike the psychopath, they usually feel guilt, remorse, and shame.

Some people lack the skills of survival in today's world. They don't know how to keep an accurate checkbook, and they write bad checks without really knowing it. These people are usually caught early and learn their lesson. They either stop having bank accounts, or if they're lucky and educable, they learn the necessary skills.

Some suffer from serious mental disorders, and the only hope for them is mental health treatment.

Many addicts write bad checks, because the need to feed the addiction overtakes all rational behavior. Unless and until the addiction is treated, they will keep right on. They don't show guilt or remorse, because addicts can rationalize any behavior, although they may have momentary episodes of guilt.

We usually think of addiction to alcohol or drugs, but there is another addiction - gambling. One symptom of gambling addiction is committing illegal acts (e.g., forgery, fraud, theft or embezzlement) in order to finance gambling. Another is jeopardizing or losing a significant relationship, job, or career because of gambling. Hmmm - makes you wonder.

Interesting Happenings in the Community

I went to the Community Alliance meeting today and learned about several interesting happenings. It was a good thing it was interesting, because the meeting was held in the Community Center where there is little or no heat - and I was freezing!

I'll start with my favorite. Regular readers of this blog know I'm a big proponent of cultivating the arts in Natchez. (To see a list of previous articles on this blog, just click on Art in the Labels to the right.) Hedy Boelte and Jennifer Ogden gave a presentation on behalf of the newly created Natchez Council for Arts and got me all excited. They are so energetic and full of ideas, and you definitely get the impression they'll accomplish what they set out to do. They were asking the Community Alliance (which is a 501c3 organization) to serve as a "pass through" for grant funds they're applying for. Once the Council is established, they can apply for their own 501c3 status, but they need help getting started. The Alliance agreed unanimously to provide this assistance.

The Council's emphasis now is on Margaret Martin Hall. They intend to quickly spruce up the auditorium, so that you will notice a big improvement for the Festival of Music this year. But they have big plans for that historic building. There has been talk about the possibility of establishing an art school in Natchez, along the lines of the Savannah College of Art and Design. They think this might be a bit much to accomplish. Instead they have in mind setting up an Institute, where renowned artists and teachers come to teach classes, similar to Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. In fact, they have already lined up some exceptional teachers for these classes, which they hope to start this summer. This is really exciting for Natchez!

Eracism is the slogan of the group ERACE, which was formed in New Orleans in the summer of 1993. Their mission is: We seeks ways, through person to person communication, to show that we are committed to treating fellow human beings of all colors with love and respect. A Natchez chapter is being formed, and they are looking for volunteers to help. Email or call 504.866.1163 if you're interested in being involved.

The Ministerial Alliance is establishing a Disaster Preparedness Network, so that Natchez will be prepared for the next disaster. For more information, contact John Larson at First Presbyterian Church.

God bless Sally Durkin! What would Natchez do without her? She told the Community Alliance about the incentive package that Mississippi is putting together to attract film and movie makers - similar to what Louisiana has done so successfully. She has put together a presentation with video and still photos to demonstrate the attraction of Natchez as a location for films. She is looking for money to go to Hollywood with Jennifer Ogden to make this presentation to the location managers. Knowing Sally, she'll get the money and impress the hell out of Hollywood, and Natchez will be overflowing with film crews soon.

Natchez is getting a 12 passenger van to transport veterans to their medical appointments at the VA Center in Jackson. The van was donated by the Disabled American Veterans, through donations and county appropriations. The VA will provide all operating expenses. However, volunteer drivers are needed to complete the program. If you or your organization are willing to help, contact Erle Drane with the City Veterans Service Office at 601.445.8706. Look for his Top of the Morning column on this topic soon.

Although the purpose of the meeting was to select a community project for 2007, only one project was presented. There were several people who could not attend, so it was decided to put off that decision until the next meeting.

The one project that was presented was to have the Community push to obtain the funds to purchase the third and last piece of property for the Forks of the Road project.

From now on the Community Alliance will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:30 in the Vicksburg Room at the Convention Center - which hopefully is heated. If you want to be added to the email notification list, contact Brett Brinegar.

Unconstitutional Bluff Display?

If you read the Democrat today, you saw a front page article, with pictures, about a display on the Bluffs that might be unconstitutional.

Virginia O'Beirne, on behalf of Pro Life Natchez Adams County, went before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen on November 28 to request permission to arrange a temporary display on the bluffs to commemorate the anniversary of the Supreme Court Decision of Roe v Wade. The Board voted to take the matter under advisement and allow the City Attorney to research the matter.

At its Tuesday meeting, the Board voted to allow the display. When questioned after the meeting, the City Attorney felt the Board could not deny the request because the City did not have an ordinance regarding displays on the bluff. He added that he had been requested to draw up a ordinance for the Board to adopt. (Wouldn't it be nice if the Board asks for public opinion prior to adopting it?)

If the display had been as it was described by Ms O'Beirne, there likely would not have been a problem. She simply said there would be 4000 pink and blue flags. When asked by Alderman Pollard to describe the display, she again said there would be 4000 flags, taking up about 63 square feet, with a small sign explaining the display. I was there, and at no time did Ms O'Beirne mention that words and pictures would be on the flags. In fact, she said her group chose to have the display on public property so no denominational statement would be made. (You can read the Minutes of the Board meeting here.) .

I was pretty shocked to read the paper today and find that the flags were not blank, as I imagined. The blue flags have a cross and say "Jesus Forgives". Now we have a problem! The First Amendment of the US Constitution provides for separation of church and state, and there have been several Supreme Court rulings about religious displays on public property.

The Democrat must think it's a problem also, since their readers' poll today said: "Is the anti-abortion exhibit on the bluff appropriate for public land?" At this time, the No's have a slight lead over the Yes's, with 180 people voting. Since this community is probably predominantly pro life, those results tell me that religious freedom and the First Amendment are more important.

Natchez Values

I received an email after I posted the article about the history of the Bluffs by Stanley Nelson. I thought it was interesting, so I am sharing it with you - with permission from the author who wishes to remain anonymous.

When you look at the history of Natchez, you see that these patterns go all the way back to the birth of the city. Everything was basically laid out for us. When I say us, I mean the elite that ran the city then and continue to run it now. We never needed to develop an ethic based on industry and thrift. There was always an easy way. We extracted everything we could from the soil until it was gone. We extracted everything we could from the black man until he was freed, then recommenced the process for another 100 years until he was freed a second time. We extracted most of the timber. Then just when things looked really bad, we found oil and extracted that. When that ran out we looked around again for the next thing that would save us, even courting the film people, who would make romantic fantasies of “our way of life”. But then, Deus Ex Machina! Up the river came the gambling boats with the promise of easy pickings once again, and off we went. Big time extraction of money itself this time—and from those who had the least of it.

What I'm saying is I think there is in Natchez a culture much more akin to that of Latin America (after all the Spaniards and the French were the first of the colonists), than to the US. Values like hard work, education, openness to change, debate in open town meetings, even democracy--- the TRUE American values-- never got a foothold here. And we're seeing it today. An attitude of "I get mine; you get yours". Everything done by cabal, behind closed doors, for the benefit of the insiders. No vision, no commonweal, no investment in public facilities, except when necessary to serve certain private interests. For god's sake, we can't even commit the money to maintain the trees in our parks.

I've always found that people who inherit money have a very different attitude than people who make money; for the former, there is no more after that so they hoard and fear the future. For the latter, there is always more to come so they can be generous and welcome the future. For a city that lives in its past and relies only on what was handed down to it, it is the same: a mentality that there is only one pie, and you have to get your piece of it before your neighbor gets it. Particularly if he is of the opposite race. How sad.

"All that I know is just what I read in the paper"

"All that I know is just what I read in the paper" (Will Rogers 1879-1935, American humorist and social commentator)

I was born and raised in a city with three daily newspapers (one morning - two evening) and my family had delivered (and read) two a day. Because the competition for circulation was so intense the papers vigorously competed to find, examine, and report as much information of local interest as possible. When you lived in a big (notorious) place like New Orleans there was always something dubious (usually local government related) going on and the papers were constantly digging and reporting on the real story (behind the story).

Not long ago most folks relied on the paper to keep them not only informed about but actively engaged in local events. It kept the city government and all public institutions and organizations on their toes and looking over their shoulders. That's the kind of papers Will was talking about. That was a healthy state of affairs.

Television just doesn't have the time to look deep into most everything going on and in a place like Natchez that has no local news station we get no such help at all from the tube.

In Natchez government and public institutions have been mostly immune from close scrutiny. Almost weekly strange, unusual, and questionable things are going on. We may wonder about it but we just don't have the information and details we'd need to pass judgement and perhaps take action to object.

"I never met a Natchez Democrat staffer I didn't like" (Me 1939-, Natchez curmudgeon and thunker)

The Democrat has good, talented, and hard working folks. It's not the people who are failing to dig, detail, and report, it's the paper's policy objectives that are at fault. (as is usually the case in organizational problems - it's the structure NOT the people) Fluff, human interest, school - club - social events, giant front page photos, appear to be what they think will hold our interest and sell advertising (and sell it they do - the weight of the week's advertising inserts rivals the weight of the newspaper).

Recently I have seen the beginnings of a shift toward a healthy curiosity in the editorials. They should encouraged to continue and increase their level of healthy curiosity.

"If all we know is just what we read in the paper, we don't know much"

Congress Tells Natchez: Preserve Bluff 'Green' Forever

Stanley Nelson, editor of the Concordia Sentinel, has an excellent article in this week's issue about the history of the Natchez Bluffs. With his permission, I am reprinting it here. Obviously, political fights over keeping the Bluffs as public property is nothing new. However, those Bluffs have somehow survived as public property for over 200 years. Let's hope they continue to be so.

More than 200 years ago Congress made a covenant with the City of Natchez over the strip of land that serves as a public park along the bluff today.

On Saturday, March 10, 1804, a Congressional committee reported to the U.S. House of Representatives that it "cannot avoid considering" the "prosperity" of the "infant city" of Natchez "as a matter of some national importance." As one symbol of that importance, Congress decided to insure that a portion of the bluff property be forever maintained as a public green, or commons, for citizens and visitors to enjoy.

LAND DISPUTE

It all began as a land dispute. Congress was caught in the middle, and growing tired of the issue before a resolution was reached. Events leading up to this entanglement began several years earlier. In the late 1700s, Stephen Minor, an American who spent decades in service to Spain, owned 300 beautiful acres along the bluff. He sold this prime real estate to the Spanish government for $2,000.

Spanish commander Carlos de Grand-Pre' saw the need to set aside a portion of this bluff acreage for the citizens. Historian Jack Holmes said Grand-Pre' realized that a "large plaza, which seemed out of proportion to the small nucleus (of the tiny settlement)" would "seem more suitable as the town grew in size."

Manuel Gayoso de Lemos served as governor of the Natchez District during the 1790s and, accorded to Holmes, "He (Gayoso) created a public green or park which remained undivided into residential lots." Holmes said Gayoso "drew a line from Front Street, facing the bluffs, and forbade the granting of lots west of it." The governor saw not only the need for a green, or commons, for Natchez citizens and visitors, but he also wanted a "buffer zone" between the river and the town to prevent the spread of diseases and other illnesses believed to be associated with water in those days, an idea Congress later embraced.

CONGRESS INVOLVED

In 1801, the city was incorporated after the territorial capital of Mississippi was moved from Natchez to the nearby village of Washington. Congress had previously set aside land for the construction of Jefferson College and some wanted the school to be located along the bluffs. Natchez officials thought the land should be preserved as it had been during the Spanish era as a public park. And William Dunbar, a founder and trustee of the proposed college, submitted documentation that some of the property had been deeded to him by the Spanish when they possessed the Natchez District.

During the early 1800s, the issues involving this bluff property landed in the lap of Congress. Two congressmen reported directly to the House of Representatives on the matter -- Thomas Mann Randolph of Virginia, the son-in-law of President Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Gregg of Pennsylvania. Also involved was William Lattimore, a delegate to Congress from the Mississippi Territory. During this time frame, Dunbar -- the explorer, scientist, surveyor and planter -- was involved in a regular correspondence with Jefferson over matters involving the future of the country, science and exploration. Jefferson held Dunbar in high esteem, and the Scotsman was the President's eyes and ears in this section of the country. In fact, following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Dunbar, at the request of Jefferson, led an expedition up the Ouachita in 1804-05 to explore the river from present day Jonesville to the hot springs in present day Arkansas. Dunbar also helped plan the Red River Expedition.

Before the Spanish transferred the Natchez District to the Americans in March 1798, Dunbar had been granted 26 acres of the bluff property by Gayoso in payment for surveying services. But there was a question as to whether the transfer was legal since it was made after the Spanish gave up the Natchez District by treaty but before they actually transferred possession of the city to the U.S.

DUNBAR'S STANCE

As one of the early promoters of Jefferson College, Dunbar addressed the property and college issues in a letter to Jefferson dated Sunday, Jan. 8, 1804. The proposed college had already been named in honor of the President.

Dunbar wrote: "I am concerned to observe that a resolution" that would "deprive Jefferson College of 30 acres of land granted by the late Congress and to give the same to the City of Natchez. The Town of Natchez is not in distress, the Corporation has been empowered by this legislature to levy taxes, more than sufficient for their expences, upon all property within the liberties of the town. The College is in absolute poverty: The Trustees, reckoning upon the thirty acres as an object immediately productive, have passed a resolution, to prepare plans & contract for the erection of the most necessary buildings; if the 30 acres are taken away, the progress of the College must be arrested. Our public treasury has been so poor (& so unreasonable an aversion from paying taxes prevails) that the College has received no aid from the territory: private Contribution has not gone beyond the narrow Circle of a few public Spirited individuals; the Section reserved by Congress will not very Speedily be productive; hence if our newly created town Corporation obtains a victory over the College, the poor Seminary will be absolutely nipped in the bud."

Congress reviewed the matter for three years, from 1803 to 1806, in three successive sessions. Lattimore's committee reported that "when the town of Natchez was laid off by the Spanish government, the land between the front street" of Natchez "and the bluff of the Mississippi river was reserved for the convenience, comfort, and health of the inhabitants; and that two lots, on which a parsonage house is yet standing, were appropriated for the use of the clergy."

Lattimore continued: "It also appears, from an instrument bearing date the 19th (Wednesday) April, 1797, that the aforementioned land in front of the town was granted by the Spanish governor, Gayoso, to...William Dunbar, as compensation for services rendered by the said memorialist...." Further, Lattimore said the governor of Mississippi Territory, based on a Congressional act, claimed the land for use of Jefferson College.

Dunbar presented his case in writing before Congress, snapping that "the legality of your petitioner's (Dunbar) title, has engendered in the mind of the infant corporation of the town of Natchez, a possibility of snatching from your petitioner the well-earned fruits of his labor in the service of the former government..."

JEFFERSON'S SON-IN-LAW

After taking evidence and mulling over the matter, Congress wisely determined that the dispute should be settled locally, but made an important provision, reporting that "said land be neither cultivated nor occupied with buildings, but be planted with trees, and preserved as a common for the use, comfort, and health, of the inhabitants" of Natchez.

But it was the report of Randolph, the son-in-law of Jefferson, that eloquently conveyed the importance of the new city of Natchez to the country. Part of the importance was due to the Mississippi River."The Mississippi must soon become the greatest highway on the earth," reported Randolph. "Its long arms extended in every direction throughout the greatest and most valuable portions of the globe..."

Randolph said the "diffusion of American principles and American arts through all the wide space it embraces; the occupancy of this whole fertile surface by American citizens, is now insured beyond all risk. The immense wealth which will be produced by the industry and ingenuity of those citizens, with the aid of soils superior to all, and climates inferior to none on the earth...(will)...be carried for the purpose of exchange along the highway."

Natchez, Randolph reported, "is an inn established upon it (the Mississippi) in a chosen spot. There, the thousands of American citizens, engaged in the transportation, and the superintendence of the transportation...will stop for refreshment and for rest." In time, Congress felt Natchez would be "constantly fringed with boats, and its banks be covered with American citizens..."

This was part of the importance of this "narrow strip of land" which "extends very nearly along the whole front of the city upon the river, and separates the buildings of it by a convenient distance from the water." If the city's request to keep this land open is granted "it may preserve it as an open space, next (to) the water, for the joint accommodation of the citizens, and those strangers when they land."

Otherwise, "buildings will quickly extend to the water's edge" and a "dreadful insalubrity must be the certain consequence."Randolph said science and experience have taught other "great maritime cities" of the U.S. that the "germ of pestilence...always develops first in the dense and stagnant air of those streets and buildings which lie nearest the water." During certain seasons, this "pestilential contagion" could quickly spread throughout the city.This open space of land on the bluff, said Randolph, would be a buffer to "this tremendous agent of human misery." He said "an occasion offers itself to the Government of the United States to make this important experiment in the city of Natchez at this time...The day cannot be very distance on which, if pestilence arises in Natchez, it may ramify itself with the wide spread arms of the Mississippi, through the vitals of the Union." Thus, a local health problem in Natchez could be become a national problem as disease would be spread by those landing and debarking from the shores of the Mississippi at Natchez.

These were the reasons Randolph and his select committee felt it so important that Congress grant this "strip of land to the city of Natchez, on condition that it shall be preserved forever as a public ground for the health, comfort, and enjoyment of all citizens and strangers indiscriminately; and shall never be built on, or cultivated; but, on the contrary, shall be disposed into public walks and lawns, and planted with trees, at the expense of the corporation, and so maintained by it as long as it exists."

JACKSON IMPRESSED

In the early 1800s, Joseph H. Ingraham noted that Natchez consisted of six streets "at right angles with the river, intersected by seven others of the same length, parallel with the stream. The front, or first parallel street, is laid out about 100 yards back from the verge of the bluff, leaving a noble green esplanade along the front of the city, which not only adds to its beauty, but is highly useful as a promenade and parade ground."

Ingraham said that "shade trees are planted along the border, near the verge of the precipice, beneath which are placed benches, for the comfort of the lounger. From this place the eye commands one of the most extensive prospects to be found on the Mississippi."

It was on these beautiful grounds that a future president once stood. In January of 1813, Gen. Andrew Jackson led 3,000 Tennessee volunteers down the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi rivers en route to New Orleans, a city the British were expected to attack. It was a long, cold journey, and the boats cut through ice along part of the voyage.

When Jackson and his weary men reached Natchez in February they looked atop the bluff and saw people everywhere awaiting their arrival. "On our landing at Natchez," Jackson recalled, "the strand was crowded with spectators welcoming the largest army that ever appeared in view of Natchez." He and his men never forgot the greeting.

SETTLEMENT REACHED

Legal entanglements involving Natchez and Jefferson College continued for years. William Dunbar died six years before the matter was settled.The college, eventually built at nearby Washington, never reached the lofty dreams of its founders by becoming a premiere American university, and that's due primarily to warring political factions. Historian D. Clayton James in his book "Antebellum Natchez," said that initially "the school would be known as a stillborn child with the politicians....serving as muddled midwives."

Not until 1816 did the city gain clear title to the bluff property, and that came with a $6,000 price tag in payment to Jefferson College in settlement.

For a while, Congress's grand prediction that Natchez might become a great national city due to its position on the Mississippi seemed well founded. But the flow of riverboats and the people they deposited at Natchez eventually halted as transportation changed with the advent of the railroads and eventually the automobile. Petty and personal politics doomed the growth of Natchez and the capital of the Mississippi Territory, already relocated to Washington, eventually was removed from Adams County all together in favor of Jackson.

But, my, what a beautiful view the city property along the bluff has provided through the past 200 years for countless local citizens and visitors, who continue to this day to walk along the bluff top and gaze down on the Mississippi and at Concordia across the river.

This ground belongs to the people, Congress said, and this ground shall be "preserved forever."