During the kickoff of today’s Juneteeth celebration at the Northside Library, 807 East Northside Drive, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton told The Mississippi Link (ML) he has found the money, and he will be starting the summer youth jobs’ program Monday.
After talking about the importance of the Juneteenth observance, the Mayor said this about the Summer Youth Employment Initiative:
MAYOR: “And also I do want to announce to you that we will be starting our jobs’ program on Monday for our youth in Jackson. I have found the money. I do not need City Council approval, and I’m going to do what I told these kids that we’re going to do.”
ML: Will you be able to fund all the jobs you had originally planned?
MAYOR: “Yes, ma’am. I have found $1.8 million. I initially needed $1.2 million, but I’ve found $1.8 million, and to be very candid with you, the City of Ridgeland owes the City of Jackson $1.8. I was just on the phone with the attorney from Ridgeland. They are willing to pay up like immediately. We just need to sign the documents, and I’m going to use that money to hire our young people who have applied for jobs, and I’m very excited about that, very excited!
ML: There have been questions or concerns about whether that money can be use for the summer jobs. Has that issue been cleared?
MAYOR: “Yes, ma’am. I’m going to use it for that, and they can question all they want to, but I’m going to do what I have to do. The money is not earmarked. It’s two million dollars we didn’t expect. We can use it in whatever way we deem possible.
The other thing is I’m going to reduce taxes with this next budget cycle, and that’s not something that came up over night. Jeff Weill and I have been talking about that for the last seven months.”
ML: Thank you, sir. Enjoy the celebration.
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