Operation Keep Jackson Beautiful, a citywide project that launched Monday, June 1, includes several initiatives, including trash removal, an anti-litter campaign and the seeding of vacant lots with flowers and shrubs. But acting Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Leslie Burl McLemore says outdoor salvage yards in older parts of the city are “a particular spur in my craw” and “a blight on the landscape of the city of Jackson.”
“Just think about the exposed cars that have been there for years, and the rain water has accumulated, (and) mosquitoes. So many of these cars have oil that has not been withdrawn … and some of these places have oil containers that are exposed. They just have a series of violations,” McLemore said.
McLemore pointed out that offending businesses can hurt Jackson both aesthetically and in terms of health and safety if they don’t start following city ordinances. The city has sent letters to the owners of such salvage yards so they can take steps to follow city ordinances. If the owners don’t comply, however, they will face legal repercussions.
“We need to be more pro-active (and) haul these owners into environmental court,” McLemore said. “And if that doesn’t work, we just need to take legal action to shut them down.”
McLemore said many of these salvage yards were established when the city government was lax about enforcing zoning laws, or, in some cases, before Jackson even had zoning laws. Thus, it is common to see outdoor salvage yards next to homes in areas such as West Jackson.
The same is true of many outdoor auto-repair shops, which McLemore calls “companions” to the outdoor salvage yards. The main problem lies with “wild-cat auto-mechanic shops” that mechanics operate without permits on the streets in front of their homes, McLemore said. City crews began tagging illegally parked cars in selected communities Monday. Some residents of older neighborhoods, however, say they have no other parking options.
“We clearly need to work around the exceptions,” McLemore said. “But primarily we don’t have exceptions throughout the city of Jackson.”
McLemore said Operation Keep Jackson Beautiful has been his top priority as acting mayor because no other administration has taken “systematic action” to clean up and beautify the city.
McLemore said he also wants the project to be successful because people are visiting Jackson from all over the country for the Medgar Evers/B.B. King Homecoming, which will culminate in a keynote address by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Friday night at the Regency Hotel.
“In the words of my mother, we have company coming,” McLemore said.
McLemore said he is hopeful that Harvey Johnson, who will take office as mayor July 6, will continue the beautification of Jackson.
“I will be having conversations with Mayor-elect Johnson this week, and obviously this is going to be one of the items on my agenda.”
Previous Comments
I think this is wonderful. This project can really help change the face or Jackson if the new administration takes it seriously and follows through.
#148630 | Author: Tell it! | Date: Jun 11 2009
This is great that Mayor McLemore reached back to one of the Johnson projects left unattended during the melton years, and decided to blow life back into it. Both Johnson and his wife, Kathy have been seen on weekends picking up trash in areas of Jackson so I don’t think that this will be a hard sale. What is so amazing is that more of Johnson’s initiatives were not continued.
#148633 | Author: justjess | Date: Jun 11 2009
^^ And we’ve suffered for it every since. Sometimes, you gotta be careful with what you wish for.
#148645 | Author: golden eagle | Date: Jun 11 2009
Any word yet on the outcome of the arena feasibility study for downtown jackson.
#148651 | Author: NewJackson | Date: Jun 11 2009
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.