Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#1--Everybody on the Forums keeps talking about "The Delta." They mention Vicksburg a lot, but is Jackson Metro area part of the The Delta as well?
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No, the Delta, for the most part, runs north and south along the Mississippi River. Jackson is about 45 minutes to the east of Vicksburg, the Delta's southern limit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#2--How horrible are the mosquitoes during summertime? I hear MONSTER horror stories by people outside Mississippi. They say you can't
enjoy the beauty of summer because of Humid Heat and Ferocious Mosquitoes. HOW BAD IS IT REALLY?
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They are bad, but bearable. If you're near standing water of any kind, it gets worse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#3--Is there any Gambling Casinos or Gambling spots within the city of Jackson itself? How about the towns surrounding Jackson like Madison,
Ridgeland and Brandon? (*I hear Madison is the real "snobby" area, btw).
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No, gambling is only legal on Indian reservations, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#4--My hope is to build a home in Raymond and invest in rebuilding Downtown Jackson. I am Black, but I am upper class (not BORN upper class, but I am assuming I will be considered that).
I would like to open the first "African Pizza" in Jackson (talk about delicious pizza!), a dance club in Jackson and a nighttime bookreader's cafe/country music spot (these latenight book cafes are popular in places like San Francisco, Ca. but without the country music--they don't
carry "porn" of any kind; it's like a Starbucks that opens at 7 pm
with coffee, book readings and guy playing guitar singing Willie Nelson
tunes).
I am part of a group of people who want to "reinvent" the downtown section of Jackson so that it will draw positive media attention, more developement and keep the "younger, more hip" citizens who already live in Jackson Metro from Leaving the state.
MY QUESTION on #4 IS this--are we wasting our time? Is downtown Jackson a lost case?
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As far as the best return on investment, now is the best time to invest in downtown Jackson. As far as downtown business goes, it is slowly picking up, but I would guess that it will be 3-5 years before it starts to really take off. There are already some good pizza options near downtown (Pizza Shak, Sal & Mookie's), but neither of those are in downtown (a few miles to the north). As for positive media attention, most of the local media is focused on negative propaganda. They cater to the appetite of the majority of the viewers/readers, but there are some exceptions. Check out
Jackson Free Press | News, Opinions, Music, Events and Dining | Jackson, Mississippi when you get a chance. I am 25, and I'm not going anywhere. I live in Jackson and work downtown.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#5--Because Jackson is part of the Bible Belt, do you think you would
be resentful about having a Dance club in the city (downtown)? Our plan is to call it "The Alibi" and feature a hiphop side and a techno/dance side divided by a large pond with dancing mermaid girls on platforms placed throughout the pond. How late do you think it should stay open without people of Jackson complaining?
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You won't be the first to put a dance club downtown. Gators opens/closes from time to time and they are a dance club. Electric Cowboy is not in downtown, but it is the dance club right now. There are also some other bars downtown, like Hal & Mal's, Martin's, Fire, Tye's, and a couple more nearby like Fenian's. Bars can stay open until 2 am as it is right now I believe, you may want to check that though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#6--What's your thoughts about the Two Lakes/Pearl River Island plan?
I personally was very disappointed when they chose to build an Airport
Freeway rather than the lake/island casino. BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
Are you happy about the renovation of King Edward and new lofts? Do you think it's going to help change the face of Jackson in a good way?
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Two Lakes was a great idea, but it would take a lot of investors/investment and tons of man hours in both design and construction to make it feasible. The King Edward renovation is amazing, I truly am inspired by David Watkins. There are many new lofts going up and many completed already, and it's exactly what downtown needs. I lived in a loft apartment downtown last year and it was a great experience. If there would have been a purchase option, I would still be there. Jackson is already changing in a good way. I have met many, many new people who are as excited as I am, and the character of the downtown environment is starting to come back. If you think there are no progressives here, do some research on Jackson Progressives.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#7--I notice 99% of our White brothers and sisters on the Forum report that Jackson is INFESTED with crime and that the school system in Jackson is HORRIBLE.
But on t.v. here in California the other day, Forest Hills High in Jackson was named one of the best High schools in the South.
I am wondering if there are any African-American members of the forum who can paint a different picture of Jackson? Is it really so dangerous to live in Jackson and are the public schools really that horrible or is this a slightly paranoid "perception" by those who don't actually live in Jackson?
I have to admit that I'm builidng my house in Raymond "partly" because of the constant claims that Jackson is so dangerous and uncooth. (Also partly because I need acreage and would like to live in a country setting with close access to the city--I found that the acres in Raymond
were much cheaper than the ones in Flowood and Brandon and more
lush and green as well).
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Well, I guess I'm the 1% of the whites who beg to differ. I live in Jackson, and I have friends who have grown up in Jackson. The crime is a problem, but it doesn't affect my everyday life, just the 10 pm news. I have friends who graduated from Jackson public schools, but that was back in the late 90's or so. As much as I am for public schools, Jackson does not have the best education around. I hope that changes in the near future. As for Raymond, if you want acres, that is a good option. You can pretty much throw a rock in any direction from Jackson and find some land though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#8--What is up with this crazy Mayor in Jackson? Is his REP just a
myth or is he really that unconventional and eccentric?
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The current mayor, Frank Melton, is more than unconventional, he is a moron. I think he had good intentions, but his practices set a new low. The city council needs an overhaul all together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claude Wilson
#9--On YOUTUBE they have videos of this year's LINE STORMS hitting
Jackson, MS and (-gulp-) my future town of Raymond. In one video
they had sirens going off!
How often have Tornadoes hit the Jackson area? Is Raymond a major
recepticle for Tornadoes? Are they really big ones or just storms? Is
there anyone on the forum who wants to leave Raymond due to fear
of Tornadoes getting worse????
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You can't predict where a tornado is going to hit, but I have heard that Mississippi is the training ground for tornadoes before they make it to the big show in the plains of Tornado Alley. I wouldn't worry about them that much, as long as you don't live in a trailer.
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