Jackson airport board control finally going to federal trial.......

[OG Goat Holder]

Jackson airport control fight goes to federal trial as city alleges state takeover motive

After nearly a decade of legal disputes, state and city leaders will argue in federal court over who should govern Jackson-Evers International Airport, a decision that could shape the facility's future developments and operations.

www.wapt.com

Thanks again to our resident state law expert @Shmuley for the reference to the law where the state created all these board/authorities and retains control. Same thing is actually happening in Tennessee, except they appear to be doing it at all the major airports that have boards. Not sure why.

I always wondered why the airport had a 'board' when the city was the only owner. Now I suppose we know. Smart people back in the old days, or, this was a total unintended consequence type thing that will now benefit the state.

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

When you see that the city of Jackson is suing to keep control due to racial discrimination, you know that it has absolutely nothing to do with racial discrimination. The city of jackson is incompetent, and that is being nice. The city of jackson attorney citing segregated parking and a parking for 'slave" is pure comedy. I moved out of the city of Jackson 11 years ago an my only regret was not doing it sooner.

 

[vhdawg]

 

[jethreauxdawg]

When you see that the city of Jackson is suing to keep control due to racial discrimination, you know that it has absolutely nothing to do with racial discrimination. The city of jackson is incompetent, and that is being nice. The city of jackson attorney citing segregated parking and a parking for 'slave" is pure comedy. I moved out of the city of Jackson 11 years ago an my only regret was not doing it sooner.

Do what? They want segregation?

 

[GloryDawg]

Why is it Jackson Airport? Why doesn't Flowood or Pearl control it?

 

[o_Hot Rock]

When you see that the city of Jackson is suing to keep control due to racial discrimination, you know that it has absolutely nothing to do with racial discrimination. The city of jackson is incompetent, and that is being nice. The city of jackson attorney citing segregated parking and a parking for 'slave" is pure comedy. I moved out of the city of Jackson 11 years ago an my only regret was not doing it sooner.

There was a sign put up in one of the parking lots saying slave parking and you think that's comedy? WOW!!

 

[RocketDawg]

Jackson airport control fight goes to federal trial as city alleges state takeover motive

After nearly a decade of legal disputes, state and city leaders will argue in federal court over who should govern Jackson-Evers International Airport, a decision that could shape the facility's future developments and operations.

www.wapt.com

Thanks again to our resident state law expert @Shmuley for the reference to the law where the state created all these board/authorities and retains control. Same thing is actually happening in Tennessee, except they appear to be doing it at all the major airports that have boards. Not sure why.

I always wondered why the airport had a 'board' when the city was the only owner. Now I suppose we know. Smart people back in the old days, or, this was a total unintended consequence type thing that will now benefit the state.

Based on the Channel 16 article, it sounds like a political mess.

 

[She Mate Me]

Children getting their cookie jar taken off the counter and put in the cabinet and they ain’t happy. Rinse, repeat all over this country.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Why is it Jackson Airport? Why doesn't Flowood or Pearl control it?

City owns and operates it.

As far as the land and taxation, etc., they recently settled a separate lawsuit over who gets that. I think they split that 3 ways, there's an article out there somewhere.

 

[Xenomorph]

There was a sign put up in one of the parking lots saying slave parking and you think that's comedy? WOW!!

Who put the sign up?

 

[johnson86-1]

There was a sign put up in one of the parking lots saying slave parking and you think that's comedy? WOW!!

Was there though? People do stupid things all the time, but that was made by the same person claiming there was racially segregated parking, which I'm just a wee bit skeptical was a thing.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Was there though? People do stupid things all the time, but that was made by the same person claiming there was racially segregated parking, which I'm just a wee bit skeptical was a thing.

I have no idea if it happened or not but neither do you. Of course, all kinds of people lie about all kinds of stuff and it could be a lie but how would it be funny? What it is a messed up either way, a lie or not but certainly not funny.

 

[RotorHead]

The city was upset that criteria for the board of JMAA was a background in finance and aviation, both of which are apparently underrepresented in the target population. Both of those requirements make complete 17n sense in the circumstance of leading an airport regardless of the desired color of skin required by the city of Jackson.

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

The city was upset that criteria for the board of JMAA was a background in finance and aviation, both of which are apparently underrepresented in the target population. Both of those requirements make complete 17n sense in the circumstance of leading an airport regardless of the desired color of skin required by the city of Jackson.

Bingo

 

[Xenomorph]

I have no idea if it happened or not but neither do you. Of course, all kinds of people lie about all kinds of stuff and it could be a lie but how would it be funny? What it is a messed up either way, a lie or not but certainly not funny.

Earlier in this thread you said it happened.. now you say you have no idea if it did?

 

[RotorHead]

They’re upset because standards and expectations were established and took away the mayoral nomination being the only requirement. God forbid those looking out for the interest of infrastructure seek merit rather than DEI ratio(s)

 

[OG Goat Holder]

They’re upset because standards and expectations were established and took away the mayoral nomination being the only requirement. God forbid those looking out for the interest of infrastructure seek merit rather than DEI ratio(s)

It’s really beyond that. The state controls all the ‘boards’. Why are they coming down on Jackson? Up for debate. And basis of the lawsuit.

 

[TroyMcClure2025]

I have no idea if it happened or not but neither do you. Of course, all kinds of people lie about all kinds of stuff and it could be a lie but how would it be funny? What it is a messed up either way, a lie or not but certainly not funny.

Lighten up, Francis.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Why is it Jackson Airport? Why doesn't Flowood or Pearl control it?

Story goes that Rankin gave up (sold?) the land for Jxn to build the airport with the agreement that Jxn would never attempt to annex any part of Rankin County.

 

[BreckyBratt]

@Dawgstudnet
Gotta build a safe space board for those like hot rock

 

[skip dog]

in the 50's, 60's, 70's....somewhat into the 80's, and early 90's.....the city of Jackson was a big deal, and we had alot of business leaders and industry and the such.......correct on the city owning the land and never annexing in Rankin county......but as the city of Jackson transitioned to mayoral admin's giving out "coat tail" contracts and hires (I guess this preceded DEI), things went south fast at a airport that used to be a very busy hub......and, the Jackson airport was very busy and efficient at one time..............

Where I fault all involved, and mainly "leadership" in the city of Jackson (or lack there of), is that they did not have the insight to build a board of "regional" business leaders and those w/ "flight" experience, instead, sitting pastors and grifters on the board, and the decline showed.

We would not be here if real leadership had been elected, and subsequently, that leadership building relationships by proper board members from other counties........but, this is what happens when you embrace decline and play to a voting publics emotions and not best interests.

Life long Jackson resident, an the best thing for the city and the airport is to form a partnership and relationship with the state and surrounding counties, and let all have skin in the game and move forward.

There is no racism involved in what is happening now, simply, the city destroyed what was once a good thing

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Where I fault all involved, and mainly "leadership" in the city of Jackson (or lack there of), is that they did not have the insight to build a board of "regional" business leaders and those w/ "flight" experience, instead, sitting pastors and grifters on the board, and the decline showed.

We would not be here if real leadership had been elected, and subsequently, that leadership building relationships by proper board members from other counties........but, this is what happens when you embrace decline and play to a voting publics emotions and not best interests.

Bingo. Even better (for them) would have been to willingly allow the counties to buy into ownership, bring some representation, and thus allowing Jackson to still have the vote. But like you said, they weren't interested in running an airport, they just wanted control.

Life long Jackson resident, an the best thing for the city and the airport is to form a partnership and relationship with the state and surrounding counties, and let all have skin in the game and move forward.

Well, that's ultimately gonna end up happening, albeit by force. What sucks is that in true Mississippi fashion, even though we get the right ending, it happened through the most contentious process possible and will leave long-lasting scars.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Earlier in this thread you said it happened.. now you say you have no idea if it did?

I read the sign thing in an article. After his comment of I didn't know I read the article again and realized even if it was there a sign, it could have been put there by anyone without evidence. Smart people can admit being wrong when presented with evidence. In this case just the question made me think about it. So, I didn't know. I just know what was said happened and agree that I was wrong.

Lighten up, Francis.

We have people defending trying to take over the airport right after the first ever all Black board was put in place. That sounds fishy as 17. Was that takeover racially motivated? Maybe or maybe not but you can bet your *** they are prepared to say it's not and many will be believe it's not and others will think it is no matter the truth. That's the problem, people make up their minds without evidence based on what they think instead of what is but:

When people say things like that slave sign was comical or say Michelle Obama looks like a man and laugh at it. As a Christian man I don't think we should not allow that behavior to continue without being called out. Deal with it.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

We have people defending trying to take over the airport right after the first ever all Black board was put in place. That sounds fishy as 17.

Don't you think that the City kinda started that by putting that board in place? That sounds pretty race-motivated to me. Even the City Council has two white people. Sounds like maybe, just maybe, they had at minimum, matched that, none of this would have happened. OR.....if they'd brought in some regional partners like I said before.

All the while, during all this fighting, other airports in peer cities are just kicking Jackson's asss. Heck I'd say many people in the direct catchment area opt for Memphis, Birmingham or New Orleans on a regular basis.

 

[TroyMcClure2025]

I read the sign thing in an article. After his comment of I didn't know I read the article again and realized even if it was there a sign, it could have been put there by anyone without evidence. Smart people can admit being wrong when presented with evidence. In this case just the question made me think about it. So, I didn't know. I just know what was said happened and agree that I was wrong.

We have people defending trying to take over the airport right after the first ever all Black board was put in place. That sounds fishy as 17. Was that takeover racially motivated? Maybe or maybe not but you can bet your *** they are prepared to say it's not and many will be believe it's not and others will think it is no matter the truth. That's the problem, people make up their minds without evidence based on what they think instead of what is but:

When people say things like that slave sign was comical or say Michelle Obama looks like a man and laugh at it. As a Christian man I don't think we should not allow that behavior to continue without being called out. Deal with it.

Generally speaking, if a sign (or flag) offends you, you should probably relax. The world is full of instigators. If you think any Jackson or Hinds County led board has made something better in the last 40 years, you should probably refer to history.

For whatever reason, there are groups of people who can’t function in a modern society. The sooner we address the obvious as a nation, the better off our children will be.

 

[Right_Field_Heckler]

My understanding is that the primary motivation for pursuing control of the airport is to gain jurisdiction over adjacent parcels that could support future commercial development opportunities.

That said, there are likely legitimate operational and governance considerations related to airport management that also factor into the discussion.

As for the allegations of racism, they strike me as a predictable rhetorical tactic rather than a substantive critique. In my view, such claims are largely unsupported by the available facts and are employed to mobilize support from audiences that are more responsive to emotional appeals than to the underlying merits of the issue.

 

[paindonthurt]

I have no idea if it happened or not but neither do you. Of course, all kinds of people lie about all kinds of stuff and it could be a lie but how would it be funny? What it is a messed up either way, a lie or not but certainly not funny.

Yes that’s why it’s funny bc we know people
Do dumb stuff all the time including faking crazy racial events.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

My understanding is that the primary motivation for pursuing control of the airport is to gain jurisdiction over adjacent parcels that could support future commercial development opportunities.

They settled all that.

At this point it's about actually running the airport.

 

[ll Martain ll]

All the while, during all this fighting, other airports in peer cities are just kicking Jackson's asss. Heck I'd say many people in the direct catchment area opt for Memphis, Birmingham or New Orleans on a regular basis.

This has gotten really noticeable too, particularly in facility quality. The last time I was in that airport it didn't look like anything had been touched since I was a teenager in the early 2000s. Gave strong greyhound bus station vibes.

I wish Jackson would understand that the airport is their visitors' first experience with the city, and it would behoove the entire state to make the first impression as nice as possible. Its unfortunate the city doesn't see it as the state trying to help, but instead as a power grab. Even GPT blows Jackson's airport out of the water, where they should really be peers.

 

[patdog]

This has gotten really noticeable too, particularly in facility quality. The last time I was in that airport it didn't look like anything had been touched since I was a teenager in the early 2000s. Gave strong greyhound bus station vibes.

I wish Jackson would understand that the airport is their visitors' first experience with the city, and it would behoove the entire state to make the first impression as nice as possible. Its unfortunate the city doesn't see it as the state trying to help, but instead as a power grab. Even GPT blows Jackson's airport out of the water, where they should really be peers.

JAN should be noticeably better than GPT in every way.

 

[ronpolk]

I read the sign thing in an article. After his comment of I didn't know I read the article again and realized even if it was there a sign, it could have been put there by anyone without evidence. Smart people can admit being wrong when presented with evidence. In this case just the question made me think about it. So, I didn't know. I just know what was said happened and agree that I was wrong.

We have people defending trying to take over the airport right after the first ever all Black board was put in place. That sounds fishy as 17. Was that takeover racially motivated? Maybe or maybe not but you can bet your *** they are prepared to say it's not and many will be believe it's not and others will think it is no matter the truth. That's the problem, people make up their minds without evidence based on what they think instead of what is but:

When people say things like that slave sign was comical or say Michelle Obama looks like a man and laugh at it. As a Christian man I don't think we should not allow that behavior to continue without being called out. Deal with it.

I don’t think anyone was laughing at a “slave parking” sign. I think the original post was saying it’s a joke at how outlandish of a claim that was. Do you really think someone put a sign up at the airport saying slave parking?

 

[patdog]

I don’t think anyone was laughing at a “slave parking” sign. I think the original post was saying it’s a joke at how outlandish of a claim that was. Do you really think someone put a sign up at the airport saying slave parking?

My take on Henley's testimony. He's a friend of mine and one of the smartest men I know. And he's ethical. I have little doubt the time he was talking about was back in the 1960s. I can easily see the airport having separate black and white parking lots back then, and I can easily see some idiot putting a slave parking sign at the entrance of the black parking lot. I would be shocked if James Henley lied under oath.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

This has gotten really noticeable too, particularly in facility quality. The last time I was in that airport it didn't look like anything had been touched since I was a teenager in the early 2000s. Gave strong greyhound bus station vibes.

I wish Jackson would understand that the airport is their visitors' first experience with the city, and it would behoove the entire state to make the first impression as nice as possible. Its unfortunate the city doesn't see it as the state trying to help, but instead as a power grab. Even GPT blows Jackson's airport out of the water, where they should really be peers.

There's really just not a lot of pride in the Jackson Metro, period. It's almost like the people just treat it as a necessary evil and that it will always be there for everyone to exploit. I do think there are some people waking up to just how far behind it is, TateR is one of them. He's done a good job overall but I just don't know how much of a dent he can make.

Jackson folks complain and try to mooch, suburbanites think as long as they are in Madison or Brandon, life will go on and be merry. And maybe it is, because for the foreseeable future, rural folks will continue to move there for jobs and sustain it. It just could be so much better.

 

[ronpolk]

My take on Henley's testimony. He's a friend of mine and one of the smartest men I know. And he's ethical. I have little doubt the time he was talking about was back in the 1960s. I can easily see the airport having separate black and white parking lots back then, and I can easily see some idiot putting a slave parking sign at the entrance of the black parking lot. I would be shocked if James Henley lied under oath.

Yeah I could see it back in the 60’s. Just not sure that is relevant to now….

 

[Awwhellnaw]

I don’t think anyone was laughing at a “slave parking” sign. I think the original post was saying it’s a joke at how outlandish of a claim that was. Do you really think someone put a sign up at the airport saying slave parking?

SPLC paid the Klan to do it*

 

[patdog]

Yeah I could see it back in the 60’s. Just not sure that is relevant to now….

It’s not. And I don’t know that’s he’s saying it is.

 

[johnson86-1]

My understanding is that the primary motivation for pursuing control of the airport is to gain jurisdiction over adjacent parcels that could support future commercial development opportunities.

That said, there are likely legitimate operational and governance considerations related to airport management that also factor into the discussion.

As for the allegations of racism, they strike me as a predictable rhetorical tactic rather than a substantive critique. In my view, such claims are largely unsupported by the available facts and are employed to mobilize support from audiences that are more responsive to emotional appeals than to the underlying merits of the issue.

This is a particularly ridiculous claim, but one thing I have seen happen a few times when the race or sometimes just political party of this or that government entity flips, is that what was accepted practice on this or that perk gets pushed to the max, and then they act like it's a race thing (or sometimes just based on political party flipping) when it gets called out. It's pretty standard for these basically non-paying government appointments (I think they typically get per diems of less than $50 for days they meet) to get "compensated" in the form of trips. Go to whatever national trade association type group's annual meeting, get to spend a little bit of time each day in meetings and otherwise get a decent paid trip, and eat either convention food or go to a nice meal that vendors are sponsoring. Not enough to really compensate for the time it takes to do a good job, but it's something. But it's probably $2,000 per board member for a trip like that for a flight and hotel in Chicago or DC or Orlando or wherever, and then the Jackson Airport Board drops over $50k taking members to Paris and are surprised people complain.

 

[patdog]

This is a particularly ridiculous claim, but one thing I have seen happen a few times when the race or sometimes just political party of this or that government entity flips, is that what was accepted practice on this or that perk gets pushed to the max, and then they act like it's a race thing (or sometimes just based on political party flipping) when it gets called out. It's pretty standard for these basically non-paying government appointments (I think they typically get per diems of less than $50 for days they meet) to get "compensated" in the form of trips. Go to whatever national trade association type group's annual meeting, get to spend a little bit of time each day in meetings and otherwise get a decent paid trip, and eat either convention food or go to a nice meal that vendors are sponsoring. Not enough to really compensate for the time it takes to do a good job, but it's something. But it's probably $2,000 per board member for a trip like that for a flight and hotel in Chicago or DC or Orlando or wherever, and then the Jackson Airport Board drops over $50k taking members to Paris and are surprised people complain.

My only comment on the Paris trips: The Paris Airshow is the largest industry trade show in the world.

 

[basedawg]

All I know is Jackson Airport sucks and has for a long time. Regardless of the outcome, it needs get better.

 

[johnson86-1]

My only comment on the Paris trips: The Paris Airshow is the largest industry trade show in the world.

And it's perfectly reasonable for JAN and MDA to send some employees there. Sending any commissioners, much less all of them, is questionable at best. But spending more than than $10k per attendee at a trade show is just not reasonable, especially before the inflation in 2020 onward. Neither is tacking taxpayer funded hotel rooms before and after the tradeshow is also not normal (nor in my admittedly limited experience is going to all 7 days of the air show to begin with). Again, they took a perk that was pretty much accepted, and then when they spent three or four times more on it, acted like they were being treated differently for some reason other than they acted very differently.