Latest news with #JXNWater
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor Lumumba addresses council's hiring freeze, says recent hires were about serving residents
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba defended two recent hires made during the final weeks of his second term — decisions that prompted the Jackson City Council to pass an ordinance implementing a hiring freeze on most city positions through the end of June. Lumumba recently appointed Tariq Abdul-Tawwab as deputy director of the Public Works Department and former Hinds County Supervisor David Archie as a staff assistant in the mayor's office. Abdul-Tawwab previously served as 'chief experience officer' at JXN Water in 2023 but left later that year. His wife, Candace Abdul-Tawwab, is a director at the People's Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit founded by the mayor's sister, Rukia Lumumba. Archie, who ran against Lumumba in the April 1 primary, endorsed the mayor ahead of the April 22 runoff, according to a Facebook post shared by Lumumba on April 18. Council President and Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay, who introduced the hiring freeze ordinance on May 20, previously confirmed the two appointments influenced her decision to bring the legislation forward. Speaking after the council's Tuesday meeting, Lumumba initially declined to comment, saying, 'I don't have any thoughts,' when asked about the council's hiring freeze. But he later defended the hires, saying both positions were vacant and essential to city operations. "Both of those positions were vacant and they both serve the community and our responsibility is to serve the community until the end," Lumumba said. "One vacancy deals directly with constituent complaints every day, so if people are in need of water at senior centers, if people need somebody to come check out their pothole — I would imagine that the residents don't want me to leave them with 60 days of not responding to those issues." Lumumba also pushed back on criticism that the hires were politically motivated. "It's not a political thing. It's a responding thing. So both of those positions are about responding to residents needs," Lumumba said. Before Lumumba addressed the hiring freeze, the council approved an amendment to the original ordinance during its regular meeting to allow for additional hires. The original ordinance, obtained by the Clarion Ledger, freezes all vacant positions — and those expected to become vacant — within the executive branch, except for roles specifically assigned to the Jackson Police Department and Jackson Fire Department. Lindsay introduced the amendment to allow JPD to hire critical positions, such as 911 dispatchers. It also permits the hiring of seasonal workers in the Department of Parks and Recreation, including an educational specialist and three zookeepers at the Jackson Zoo, two lifeguards and park maintenance staff. The amendment further allows the city to hire CDL drivers for the Division of Solid Waste and two employees in the Department of Finance and Administration, positions Chief Financial Officer Fidelis Malembeka said he is prepared to fill. The council passed the amended ordinance in a 6-0 vote. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes was not in attendance when the vote was called. The hiring freeze remains until June 30. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS mayor Lumumba defends hires as council tweaks city hiring freeze
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public Water Quality Advisory issued for Pearl River
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – JXN Water officials announced untreated sewage was discharged, leading to a Public Water Quality Advisory for the Pearl River. According to officials, JXN Water's West Bank Interceptor failed where it crosses Hanging Moss Creek on the west side of the Pearl River. They said the untreated sewage has been and continues to be discharged into the creek from the pipe crossing to the confluence of Hanging Moss Creek and the Pearl River and southward down the Pearl River. Utica water system affected by well malfunction The public is advised to avoid contact with the water in these areas until further notice. Officials said crews are working to contain the flow and anticipate stopping the overflow by Monday, June 1, 2025. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JXN Water aims for self-sufficiency
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – JXN Water held their first State of the Water System address on Wednesday to provide updates on improvements. While there have been significant improvements, interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin believes that relying on federal funding can only take you so far. Jackson City Council rejects JXN Water's rate hike proposal 'We have to be self-sufficient. You know, we've spent $250 million of federal grant dollars to get to where we are today. Believe it or not, the federal government is going to be continuing to write checks to keep Jackson's water going. And we're one of dozens of cities that would like to see that kind of investment. And so, I don't believe we can rely on federal funds, and really can't rely on the state funds, to make that happen here. Water is a local issue,' he said. While billing and payments are a major part of improving JXN Water, Henifin said the past failures of the system led to the disruption of collections. He said JXN Water is working to overhaul the city's water system by 2029. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Jackson to repair Denver Street sinkhole, work starts this week
Editor's Note: Video above is from a previous story about the sinkhole. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Repairs will soon be made to a sinkhole in the City of Jackson. Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced crews will begin repairing the sinkhole on Denver Street this week. Mississippi's Bear Week aims to educate about black bears Small trees could be seen growing in the hole. Multiple pipes were exposed with water flowing from them. Officials with JXN Water said they received paperwork that verified they had completed the sewer work two years ago. They said the storm drain needs to be repaired, which is the City of Jackson's responsibility. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At forum, mayor candidates agree: Jackson water system should return to city after repairs
Former Hinds County District 2 Supervisor David Archie didn't mince words when he was asked about the Jackson Water Crisis and what steps he would take to ensure clean, reliable water for residents. "Jackson owns Jackson water and no one is coming into Jackson, Mississippi under my leadership and taking anything," Archie said. "We're going to fight, day and night, to send a clear-cut message either to the Republicans of this state or to the federal government of this country, that you don't come to Jackson, Mississippi and take anything." Archie's remarks were among 11 responses from mayoral candidates at a forum held Thursday morning at Forest Hill High School. The candidates — eight Democrats and three independents — answered questions in front of students and teachers from multiple high schools within the Jackson Public School District. While the candidates differed on how to run Jackson, the majority agreed on one point: Jackson's water system should be returned to the city once repairs are complete. Since late 2022, the city's water system has been under federal oversight following the Jackson water crisis, which left about 150,000 residents without drinkable or usable water for weeks. A court order appointed Ted Henifin, seasoned water utility professional, as the third-party water manager to oversee infrastructure repairs until 2027. He created the company JXN Water to help manage the system. Henifin's appointment followed a dispute between city and state leaders, including one between Democratic Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Republican Governor Tate Reeves, over who should control the water system. The future of the water system remains a point of contention. Jackson leaders want the system returned to the city, but state lawmakers have attempted to pass bills that would give state officials control. Those bills, introduced in 2023 and 2024, failed to pass. Henifin threw his support behind the 2024 bill. Following the forum, the Clarion Ledger asked JXN Water if Henifin still supports a state takeover of the water system. In response, JXN Water Spokesperson Aisha Carson sent this statement: 'The governance of Jackson's water system is ultimately a decision that rests with the federal judge and policymakers. Our sole responsibility is to provide safe, reliable water service and to rehabilitate the system, which has seen historic underinvestment for decades. We diligently remain focused on that mission. Any discussions about long-term governance are best directed to the appropriate state and local officials," the statement reads. More forums: Jackson Zoo's future: move, revamp, or close? Jackson mayoral candidates weigh in "He who controls the water controls the economy," Socrates Garrett, a Democratic mayoral candidate, said during the forum. Garrett's statement underscores a central theme of the debate over Jackson's water system: who controls this vital resource holds significant power over the city's future. "It's critically important that Jackson gets control over its water and when Ted Henifin leaves here that the Jackson water plant is run and operated by Jacksonians," Garrett said. James Hopkins, a Democratic candidate and founder of nonprofit Reset Jackson, agreed, but stressed the need for a qualified replacement for Henifin. He didn't specify a name but mentioned a local resident with more than 25 years of experience running water systems similar to Jackson's. Independent Rodney DePriest and Democrat Marcus Wallace said while the water system should return to the city, it will be important in the future for city leaders to cooperate with state and federal officials for the system's long-term success. Bribery scandal: Lumumba, Owens, Banks are headed to trial for alleged role in bribery scandal. See when "I hear the voice of 'what is Jackson's, we have to protect' and I agree 100%," DePriest said. "But I also know that if we are going to have the resources that we need, it's going to be built on relationships." Lumumba presented his plan for returning control of the water system to the city, which he previously unveiled last October. His proposal calls for a two-board solution: a five-member operations board to oversee the system, alongside a 15-member community advisory board to ensure diverse representation. Independent candidate Zach Servis proposed a "public-private" partnership for managing the system. He pointed to Elisabeth, New Jersey, as an example where the city retains ownership while a private entity handles operations under strict contractual terms. "We retain ownership of the water system, but we actually let a private entity do the work, so they're held to the same standard, but we don't have to spend all of our money doing it and if they don't read the contract terms then we can terminate it (the contract)," Servis said. Two candidates, Albert Wilson and Delano Funches, said they don't believe Jackson's water is safe yet — a point Henifin and JXN Water have been working to combat for years now. In December 2022, Henifin declared Jackson's water "the most tested water in America." In response to Wilson and Funches claims, JXN Water sent this statement to the Clarion Ledger on Thursday afternoon: 'JXN Water exists outside of politics and remains solely focused on repairing and improving the water system for the people of Jackson. Water quality is not a matter of opinion — it is based on science and regulatory compliance. Our water is tested for numerous quality standards at nearly 150 points throughout the city's water distribution system bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly and reports submitted to the Mississippi State Department of Health and the EPA confirm that the water leaving our treatment plants meets all federal and state safety standards. Our latest water quality report and monthly dashboard are publicly available online. If customers experience quality issues, we encourage them to report concerns so our field teams can respond accordingly. Misinformation about water quality does a disservice to residents who rely on accurate information to make informed decisions. Any candidate or individual seeking to understand the system's progress is encouraged to review the publicly available reports rather than making statements without full knowledge of the facts.' This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS mayoral candidates discuss future of city's water system
