Thursday, April 14, 2016

Airport bill passes

The airport takeover bill passed the Senate 31-15 on a motion to concur. It now goes to the Governor's desk for his approval.  Fire up the lawyers.

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber issued this statement:

 “Today, the Mississippi Legislature has voted to take away the voice of Jackson taxpayers by stripping the operation, maintenance, and control of the Jackson Municipal airports. It’s cloaked in the term ‘regionalization,’ but serves to wrest away the investment solely made by the citizens of Jackson over 60 years ago. The City of Jackson implores Gov. Phil Bryant not to sign this legislation into law. Moreover, the City of Jackson vehemently opposes the proposed legislation that hijacks its municipal airports, specifically the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field Airport.  We stand ready to take all measures, in a court of law if necessary, to protect our citizens, their assets and their sacrifices. ”

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lawyers can find a way to make money and sue for anything but the State can legally do this. Matter of fact just did.

Anonymous said...

Damn good analysis 12:08. They just did so therefore they can. Only one problem - you left out the part about can they 'legally' do it, and that is what the third branch of our government is about.

love your logic (or lack thereof), though. Because they did they can. Maybe you ought to start teaching at Kennuf's law school in South Texas - you sound qualified.

Anonymous said...

Getting really tired of this administration's string of stupid decisions.

Anonymous said...

12:49
I'm tired of Feel's and Gunn's stupid decisions also. I'm especially hacked also at Andy Gipson for HB 1523. Thanks Andy, Feel and Phillip. Now we all have to pay the economic price for your demagoguery. And shame on you Tate for having gone along with those idiots. You were supposed to be the fail safe, remember? You guys have just ensured you will all go down in history alongside Barnett, Vardaman and Bilbo. Its the company you keep in historical memory.

Anonymous said...

once again, Jackson exists because of a charter granted by the Legislature. What your mother and daddy give you they can take away or change the rules. That said, I disagree with the airport bill but it is legal. Jackson only has the rights that the law gives, guess who makes the laws in this state.

Anonymous said...

The faa might disagree with the first comment. In fact they will.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, just like everything else this state has done legally since 1960 only to get body slammed by the courts and Feds.

Anonymous said...

Just what part of changing the board make up for the State's only real airport not within the legal right of the legislature? The very law under which the City of Jackson and most cities was created by the State legislature. This is a regional service and this makes the governance more inline with this area.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the Harkins family will get even richer off this legislation.You cannot convince me that his is nothing more than a money grab by a rich developer looking out for their own interests. Yes, the airport board should have more qualified appointees, but this is nothing more than a $ grab. Feel needs to go! I hope Harkins is prevented from profiting from this due to lawsuits that tie up him in court for years to come.

Anonymous said...

So the different BOS's appoint the board members or the governor?

Anonymous said...

Just give Gohmert a call and shut that whole thing down!

Anonymous said...

Jackson can spend the money allocated but not being spent for road repairs on attorneys to fight this. I think the legislature should offer to return the airport when the roads are fixed.(Never)

Anonymous said...

FAA must respect the State control of its political subdivisions.

Anonymous said...

Strange how the politicians in favor of this are the same ones that are so defiant when the Federal government tries to infringe on "States' Rights," but when the State tries to infringe on a municipality it's because "mommy and daddy can take your toys when they want."



Anonymous said...

Yeah baby!!! Bring all that money to Rankin County where it belongs! Way to go Josh, make it rain brother!!!

Be careful what you ask for said...

They were screaming "Free the Land!" Well, they just did!

Anonymous said...

2:21
i watched online, they passed an amended version that says the airport can't sell any land with out approval of the legislature. He agreed with it and stated that it should end the wild speculation that he is waiting for this to take place and then develop the land. Too many eyes on this and he is not stupid.
Even if he did it should be a welcome addition since the current board can't get anything to locate out there.

Keep reaching and whining while this moves forward.

Anonymous said...

2:59....FAA must not do anything other than what Obama tells the FAA to do. Just like every other agency. Wishful thinking on the part of Josh

Anonymous said...

3:10 That amendment just tied the current board's hands and plays into the Rankpublican agenda. Now the existing board can't do anything. I'll bet the legislature wouldn't object to the reconstituted board selling land.

Slick move, Josh.

Anonymous said...

Republicans, champions of local government control until the local government looks democrat and black.

Anonymous said...

the democrats ran this state by themselves from 1875 till now

Anonymous said...

I heard now that Alaskan Airlines bought Virgin they are going to have an offshoot airline to fill in the gaps of smaller places that see little action - Hyman Airlines.

Anonymous said...

3:10 Legislative approval to sell land? Hawkins "let's sell", supermajority "OK"

Anonymous said...

heck yea!!! Southwest is coming back baby!!!

Anonymous said...

A few years back Crazy Horse and some of his "savage" brothers noticed how little interest the White Government had in the land they gave them for a reservation. The treaty said as long as grass grows and water flows the Indians would be secure in what was theirs. But... somebody said there was Gold in them hills so the deals off. Hey Black Jackson, thar's Gold in them hills. Deals off.

Anonymous said...

Southwest is not coming back, but Frontier is coming soon. It's a start.

Anonymous said...

The vote in the Senate shows how much the Legislature would help Jackson EVER. Rankin County did this because Rankin County could do this. It sure does feel racial to this Jacksonian. Guess Tupelo and Greenville and Gulfport are regional also? Other areas better watch out, 'cause if this works for Rankin developers it may work for others. What we really need out of the Legislature is an ability to recall elected officials, even if it is just for municipalities.

Anonymous said...

Madison County will rue the day that it got sucked into this mess. Just wait.

Anonymous said...

All these people that say they drive to New Orleans to fly....you think Rankin County can get a seat on the New Orleans airport board too?

Lets get control of them all and then we can build some state supported resort strip malls near every one of them.

Anonymous said...

I just checked southwest.com and I wasn't able to book flights out of Jackson and other airlines were still expensive I'm so confused help me state government.

Anonymous said...

"Southwest is not coming back, but Frontier is coming soon"

I've driven to NOLA and paid for parking there to fly Frontier even when Southwest was here because they were so much cheaper to get to some cities. Flights were smooth and well-run. Depending where they go from JAN this could be great news.

Johnny Weir said...

Everyone CHECK THIS OUT! Someone has just put up two 15' x 15' signs on East Metro Parkway (East of the Airport) 400 Acres of land for development. Is this just a coincidence or what. Go check it out. Drive down East metro parkway my friends. They Can't even wait for the bill to get signed. Go Phil Go. Your batting 4 for 4.
1. Still have that cotton picking flag.(Sorry folks. Couldn't resist it.
2. Guns in churches now. The preacher better not step on any ones toes.
3. Taken away airport from Jackson. Now the air stripe can get the potholes fixed.
4. Religious Freedom Bill Now Muslims don't have to sell pork to gays.
But they can still blow them up.

Anonymous said...

I live in NE Jackson and I have 2 strip center developments in flowood... as a resident of Jackson I can assure you that many people in NE Jackson that I have spoken to are not opposed to the airport takeover... the news largely reports the small group of race baiters and political phonies on this issue.

Anonymous said...

Will you oppose a state takeover of O.B. Curtis Kingfish should the City of Jackson prove incapable of operating the facility?

Anonymous said...

I also am in favor of the state takeover of the water plant in the city of jackson… I think many residents would be in favor of this at least in NE Jackson area. Of course we get thrown into the racists catagory like those from Madison and rankin counties bc we all mainly use private schools. But hey.. If the city want to manage these things I say agree on a timeline to prove they can and if they fail to meet the deadline then the consequenses are losing control.

Biology 101 said...

As long as Hymen Airlines is intact, Virgin has no worries.

Anonymous said...

Color me confused. How does Jackson lose money on this? They still own the airport, still get to keep the profits, still get their share of sales tax revenue from the state. I understand that control of the board equals control of the adjoining land, but is the land somehow more or less attractive based on who's on the board? I have never failed to better understand something like this by following the money, and in this case it appears that the only change of where the money is going is in legal fees and real estate commissions. Is that the issue with the Jackson leadership? That they're no longer going to be able to push work to their cronies? Racism, indeed...

Anonymous said...

6:58 You've become a wart by posing this hypothetical question to KF numerous times over the last several weeks. It's obvious now that you are posing as a different poster at 8:44 to support your ignorant question. Everyone here already knows the answer. Please stop.

Anonymous said...

10:07, you hit the nail on the head. Also keeping control of the airport means using the money in any way the board decides. If they decide the board is doing such a good job they should receive a bonus they only have to convince the rest of the board, which would be the same people who would benefit.

Legislative watcher said...

3:10 / 3:38 - Don't know how the Senate could have amended and include this or any other language. The Senate concurred in the House bill - which sends it to the Governor. If the Senate was going to amend, they would have to 'not concur and invite conference'. So - I believe you misread / misheard what you thought your lying eyes were telling you. There was no amendment to the bill yesterday.

Legislative watcher said...

What has been in the bill all along, because it is also true today is that JMAA cannot sell the real estate. That is one thing that makes development hard - they can only lease the excess land, not sell it. Makes it unavailable for a lot of the wonderful 'programs' of the state tied to development.

And that provision that is in the bill doesn't say anything about 'with legislative approval'. However, I guess if they think they can take the property away from Jackson and give it to harkins - ugh, sorry - Phil's buddies, then they could come back later and pass a bill to allow them to sell the land.

Herb Irvin said...

I mentioned to John May that I saw in the Clarion-Ledger and in Jackson Jambalaya that The May Law Firm is closely connected to Bennie Thompson.

John responded, "You cannot believe everything you read in the Clarion-Liar, especially when Sam Hall says it. Regina ran for mayor twice and Bennie did not support her either time. And I seriously doubt that Bennie could pick me out of a lineup. Chokwe Lumumba recommended us for this Board, end of story."

Kingfish said...

Mr. Irvin, show where I said y'all were tight with Bennie? I said Walker was.

Anonymous said...

The mayor says this legislation, "serves to wrest away the investment solely made by the citizens of Jackson over 60 years ago." Huh? Is he talking about that solid white city Council and white majority population which made the initial investment 60 years ago?

Or is he talking about the investment that the City has made in the airport over the decades since then? If it's the latter, there's been no significant amounts of money put into the airport by the City of Jackson. It's been overwhelmingly federal and state money.

Anonymous said...

2:11 - There has been zero dollars of state money put into the airport. It of course has gotten plenty of money from the feds, just as EVERY airport gets money from the feds. I realize that Harkins and the other folks lining up to line up their pockets keep up this story about 'state money' but to date they have produced no evidence of any state money - except for the matching of the PERS retirement dollars for the city of Jackson employees at the airport. That is state dollars that are paid into PERS for every state, city or county employee throughout the state - it is not money 'put into' the airport.

That being the only thing that they can point to as 'state dollars' - why don't you try putting up something to substantiate your post? Or are you one of those that love to spout off about shit that you know nothing about except for what you read on blog sites?

Anonymous said...

There has been zero dollars of state money put into the airport. ..... Or are you one of those that love to spout off about shit that you know nothing about except for what you read on blog sites?

Hey Sparky, how about those access roads into and out of the airport. Did Jackson pay for those too? How about all the road signage for tens of miles around guiding travelers to the airport? Did Jackson pick up that tab? Let's do an accounting of all state spending that has directly, and indirectly, benefited JAN since inception.

I don't believe you'll appreciate the result. Or are you one of those that love to spout off about shit?

Anonymous said...

5:04, Sort of hard to say anything about people lining their pocket after watching the elected people in Jackson. Just one look at the money paid out for street work. That money has gone somewhere for many years and it hasn't been spent on the streets. After looking at that for a while take a quick glance at the water dept.
It would seem like the money Jackson was supposed to use to keep the city up has disappeared. Wonder where it went?

Anonymous said...

There's one good thing you can say about Mississippi, and that is at least the racists don't hide themselves like in so many other states. We have proud flag waving, card carrying, holier than thou racists in this state who have no shame in their game. I've never seen so many unChristian-like Christians in my life.



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