BMA comes out against takeover of airport

The Rev. Dwayne Picket and members of the Business Ministerial Alliance of Mississippi held a press conference last week in opposition to the state taking control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Photo by Shanderia K. Posey

By Shanderia K. Posey

Editor

The Rev. Dwayne Picket and members of the Business Ministerial Alliance of Mississippi held a press conference last week in opposition to the state taking control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Photo by Shanderia K. Posey
The Rev. Dwayne Picket and members of the Business Ministerial Alliance of Mississippi held a press conference last week in opposition to the state taking control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Photo by Shanderia K. Posey

The Business Ministerial Alliance of Mississippi has added its voice against the state’s attempt to takeover the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.

BMA held a press conference in front of the state Capitol Jan. 15, and the Rev. Dwayne Pickett, pastor of New Jerusalem Church in Jackson, spoke on behalf of the organization.

“The Business Ministerial Alliance of Mississippi is deeply concerned when it comes to the conflict between our state and city government surrounding the Jackson Evers International Airport. Officials from the state of Mississippi and the city of Jackson must work together to create a path … where both entities gain economically and respect each other’s right to survive, to exist, to prosper and grow for the well being of all of its citizens,” Pickett said.

“Now we do recognize that the state has the authority to do what can be looked at as a hostile takeover of the airport’s governing authority. We are also aware that certain leaders desire to exercise legislative muscle to pass a bill that changes the Jackson Municipal Airport governing in our capital city and for that and for us that’s a problem.”

From several media reports the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, Jackson City Council, Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber and legislators Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-27 in Hinds County and Rep. Earle Banks, D-67 in Hinds County have also come out against the legislation proposed by Sen. Josh Harkins, D-20 of Rankin County.

The legislation would change the makeup of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority’s Board of Commissioners by allowing the governor to appoint two people from Hinds County, two people from Rankin County, and two people from Madison County, and an at-large member.

“That’s too much representation by one person,” said Ward 4 City Councilman DeKeither Stamps, who attended the press conference.

Currently, JMAA’s board consists of five people appointed by Jackson’s mayor and confirmed by the Jackson City Council.  The airport’s land and buildings have belonged to the city of Jackson since the 1960s.

“The citizens in this city are tired of being controlled by those that do not have their best interest at heart,” Pickett said. “We are very concerned. This is a very serious moment for us. As BMA, we are willing to come together with both sides to make sure that all that is happening benefits all those that are concerned. Jackson will not be forsaken. These citizens will have a voice in this city. BMA will be out front in this fight. We want both sides to come together and cooperate.”

Some of those against the legislation have suggested race may be a factor since Dirk Vanderleest, the former long-time CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority who is white, retired in 2014. The current CEO is Carl D. Newman, a black man, who started in the position in January 2015.

History often causes African Americans to consider racial factors, according to Bishop Ronnie Crudup of New Horizon Church International and BMA member. As for the state’s attempt to take over the airport Crudup says, “It certainly has some racial overtones.” He describes the legislation as “bad policy.”

“I think that this is the first of many opportunities that will come from the state or other surrounding counties to take something that is a jewel from Jackson. The airport is a jewel,” Crudup said.

“The Jackson Evers Airport is a very important economic engine for this city, for the citizens of this city, so to take away that economic engine would hurt us now and also hurt future generations,” Pickett said. “We have decided that we are not going to stand idly by and allow that to take place.”

Crudup and Stamps noted that in other parts of the country – Charlotte, N.C. in particular – states have tried to take control of a city’s airport and failed.

Stamps suggests that Mississippi attorneys are possibly reviewing the Charlotte, N.C., legislation to understand how the state failed there in order to be successful with the legislation in Mississippi.

“We have to do the same thing in reverse. What did Charlotte do to be successful and strategize here,” Stamps said.

One point Stamps emphasized about the legislation is that the city of Jackson has not received a phone call or meeting request to discuss representation of other entities.

“I think its disingenuous to the people to just say we are going to change it versus we haven’t even talked to the city leaders about this. No one is saying what the airport is doing wrong. If you can’t point to a specific problem, OK now it’s some other interests,” he said.

In Stamps’ opinion, the state could be looking at developing a statewide airport system since there are more than 100 state and public-run airports in Mississippi. Such a system would prevent local people from being the decision makers at other airports in the state such as in Greenville, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Stamps has spoken with the Mississippi Municipal League Board of Directors and he says several of them shared the same concern that they would lose control of their airports.

“Once the state sets a precedence and makes it law, now they can come and go forward. This is not a black or white issue, a Democrat or Republican issue. This is a money-power issue, so we must address it as such,” said Stamps, who hopes the issue will bring Jacksonians together for a common cause.

“This is just a big chess game, and if there’s ever been a time where Jackson needs to unify, this is the time. We need black Jackson, white Jackson, Democrat and Republican Jackson, poor and rich Jackson to stand up for Jackson’s interests because even the Republicans in Jackson should make an outcry that you’re taking an asset from my tax base.”

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