Politics shadows attempt at annexation

[daisy]

Well, I shouldn't be surprised. Oak Grove Residents--have no fear Mayor Johnny Dupree says we can annex commercial development but not residential. The commercial annexation increases the tax base but residential annexation requires city services.

Bennie Sellers, Hattiesburg Public Services Director, said this annexation would incur minimal costs and the new streets would not be require city upkeep for several years.

All of this is about 215 acres of raw undeveloped land in northwest Hattiesburg. This issue is proceeding into Chancery Court and on to the U.S. Justice Court for final approval.

Charles Davis, a resident of Ward 2 said he plans to challenge the annexation because it could potentially dilute the voting strength of blacks in Hattiesburg.

The voter's right act is mentioned. (Daisy wants to know what is that? it runs out in 2007)

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com click on gray hattiesburg american in left hand side and scroll down below the picture. right hand side or you can go to 2 posts after me: fuzzis and hit here

[Kitty]

The city might as well hang out a "Whites Not Welcome" sign. :(

And to think annexation was one of the "fear appeals" used by the OG incorporation proponents. Have no fear.

[fuzzis]

Daisy, to create a link to a story, copy the address in the navigation bar. Then in the body of your post, highlight the words you want to be linked (for example the title of the news story) and click on the little globe with a chain link in front of it. Past the web address into that box and click OK.

So, the story you're referencing can be found here (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/NEWS01/607230318/1002).

fuzzis

[wilebill]

Nobody even lives there yet and Davis is worried it will dilute black voting strength. How does he justify a statement like that? :smt102 Is he now a prophet or something that can peer into the future?

Has anyone hung out a sign that says "future home of white residents"? I'm sure that blacks could move in there if they wanted.

[daisy]

Wilebill, blacks or anyone can move into the subdivision. According to the article and the contractors past developments according to Davis he fears it is geared to whites---sounds like a conspiracy to me. I feel like there's a conspiracy not to have any white voters annexed--just businesses. Well the mayor said just commercial development.

[IGID]

That damn whitey. The blacks will move in.........in 20 years.

[lamarrebel]

Charles Davis is being a moron, as usual. As several of you have noted, no one has moved there yet -- the land is undeveloped. Having said that, I know of no precedent of the U.S. Department shooting down a proposed annexation on the grounds that in the future it might be developed into a neighboorhood in the future in which whites might predominantly reside under the VRA. By the way, the VRA renewal has been sent to the President's desk to his signature, which he has already said he will sign.

If this area is going to be an elite neighborhood for mostly whites, the developer might have made a foolish call requesting annexation. Given the divisive antics of the black leadership (from DuPree down to his hacks like Fairley, Davis, et al), he may have a hard time attracting people to move in, which will lower the property values.

As I said last year, and was widely castigated for saying it, if you aren't very African-American or very liberal, in Johnny DuPree's Hattiesburg you are valued for your ability to pay property taxes and spend money in its stores. And in another ten or fifteen years, I almost guarantee there will be another Wal-Mart built on 589 or west of it on 98. But, because no one has foresight, the people of Northeast Lamar County apparently will continue to wave the white flag to these tyrants. God help us. :(

[OGRepub]

what' interesting is references to utilities. Arnold Line Water association holds the potable water franchise on that area meaning they would service water to the residents. The area continues to lie within the county fire jurisdiction and with a fire station that close I'm sure they would not give that up. I happen to know that Arnold Line services the new developments along Hwy 98 (Target, etc) but the City made the developer pay extra to have fire lines installed by the city. From what I understand Logan's refused to pay the high amount requested by the city and work a deal with Arnold Line to place a fire plug at his back door. Read between the lines and what Sellers said was we'll take what we can when we don't have to pay for it.

[dalo knight]

When you apply for a job at city Hall or already have one the Whites Not Welcome Sign has been up for several years. Ms Commodore does her best to root out White employees.

[Booshay]

Well said Dalo....it seems that whenever someone white puts in an application, it always comes up lost or misplaced. Seems strange to me. Its also strange that black employees are able to transfer into other city positions BEFORE the job opening is posted and made available to everyone. Favoritism and nepotism...the standards to live by at the City Of Hattiesburg.

[williamblithe]

Hello. I am a student at USM and a new member to this site. I am totally disgusted by the antics of DuPree & Co., and have decided to try and spend my money in Petal so as to make sure that my sales taxes do not go to support such an incompetent administration. It really is a shame that Hattiesburg has come to this - it used to be such a nice city (and still could be) - but with DuPree (Fairley) in control, I only see it becoming a kind of mini-Jackson. For a place with so much potential, this fact is both sad and disgraceful.

[wilebill]

Hello. I am a student at USM and a new member to this site. I am totally disgusted by the antics of DuPree & Co., and have decided to try and spend my money in Petal so as to make sure that my sales taxes do not go to support such an incompetent administration.
So you don't mind boycotting an honest hard-working business owner in Hattiesburg just to make a political statement that no one but the business owner will notice? Who's really the loser here? :smt102

[fuzzis]

Hello. I am a student at USM and a new member to this site. I am totally disgusted by the antics of DuPree & Co., and have decided to try and spend my money in Petal so as to make sure that my sales taxes do not go to support such an incompetent administration. It really is a shame that Hattiesburg has come to this - it used to be such a nice city (and still could be) - but with DuPree (Fairley) in control, I only see it becoming a kind of mini-Jackson. For a place with so much potential, this fact is both sad and disgraceful.

While I understand perfectly that everyone has the right to decide where they're going to spend their money, I'm not sure I understand the whole I-don't-agree-with-the-politics-of-a-place-so-I'm-going-to-take-my-business-elsewhere. It's not like Hattiesburg is a movie star or a musician who will feel the impact if you decide not to watch their films or buy their music. What you are doing is in effect contributing to the "mini-Jackson" effect...by abandoning the people and businesses who need your support in order to make a difference.

It doesn't make sense to me, but get after it. :smt102

fuzzis

[daisy]

Williamblithe, I admire your motives to hit Dupree where it hurts. But innocent people --the merchants get hurt also and you in the extra gas and time. Have you experienced Petal train delays or the Petal traffic jams? I sometimes like to go over there to see something different or if a store here doesn't have something but I shop here. Have you thought about writing to the Hattiesburg American with your concerns? Also, I've found Hattiesburg merchants support the university and employ many students. Please don't abandon us also as we feel the mayor and co. has. We need you now.

[LAGNAF01]

I would rather go threw Petal traffic jams and train delays thatn go threw GANG TERROR in hattiesburg

[fuzzis]

I would rather go threw Petal traffic jams and train delays thatn go threw GANG TERROR in hattiesburg

Interesting. I haven't had to go "threw" (sic) GANG TERROR in Hattiesburg. :confused: Things could be better most certainly and now is the time to take the situation in hand, but I'm not sure what good the hyperbole does. Reminds me a lot of the boy who cried wolf.

:smt102

fuzzis

[Conveyor Belt]

Also, I've found Hattiesburg merchants support the university and employ many students.


Every single year, though, the university is doing things to keep students ON campus rather than have them venturing off. First, it was quizno's, now the Powerhouse, soon, they'll be selling home furnishings, etc at the Hub to keep the kids from going to Target or Walmart, etc.

I don't mind having some competition, but when they don't have to play by the same rules as businesses off campus, it's not really a fair trade. Plus, they can link into that bottomless pool of government grants and student loans in the student account via the student ID.

Granted, I love having the students back in session, cause it equals $$$, but every year it seems USM is doing more to keep the students at USM.

[fuzzis]

Granted, I love having the students back in session, cause it equals $$$, but every year it seems USM is doing more to keep the students at USM.

In an era of decreased governmental funding, can you blame them?

fuzzis

[Conveyor Belt]

In an era of decreased governmental funding, can you blame them?

fuzzis

I'm not sure exatly where the funding comes from, but, isn't that one reason why they have tuition?

$2600 X 15,000 = $3,900,000 a semester, yes?

[fuzzis]

I'm not sure exatly where the funding comes from, but, isn't that one reason why they have tuition?

$2600 X 15,000 = $3,900,000 a semester, yes?

Tuition is only one piece of the collegiate funding pie, and a very small piece at that. In order to keep higher education accessible to many, there is a resistance to raising tuition rates, but at the same time, that is inevitable. Raise tuition, place the experience out of the realm of possibility for some, which means that you in effect lose those tuition dollars. Kind of a viscious circle.

In higher ed, there is an increased emphasis for faculty to secure "external funding" or to engage in "economic development", which means basically...find grants that bring money into the university. That's part of the reason why there's such a debate about outsourcing at the university. Cutting costs is a piece of the picture, but if you can keep students on campus, you keep their dollars on campus as well...which benefits the university.

fuzzis

[daisy]

I can see how all this relates but back to POLITICS AND ANNEXATION

Reading the above article at the top you know the mayor's stand is no more residential annexation but ok for commercial development. Just thinking here. Would it be possible to annex strips like along 98 west and live in a house in Lamar County but all around you is Hattiesburg.? pr anywhere else in the county?

Also, the mayor mentioned businesses don't require city services. Since when do they not need police, water ,sewage, poweR? Does it seem like I'll take your businesses-tax base but not residences --unknown voting variables that could mess up my votes for being mayor? Keep the status quo so I can be mayor.