www.mississippilink.com Vol. 19, No. 44 August 22 - 28, 2013 50¢ The Mississippi Link Newswire versary of the historic March on will join King family members, Presidents Obama, Clinton and Carter WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington and Dr. Martin Lu- along with coalition members 50th Anniversary March on ther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” and dignitaries, to honor Dr. Washington Coalition has an- speech. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to to commemorate the 50th Anniversary nounced that August 28, 2013 Obama, Clinton and Carter “Let Freedom Ring” by ring- former Presidents Bill Clin- will deliver remarks at the Let ing bells at 3 p.m. EST, a half- ton and Jimmy Carter will join Freedom Ring Commemora- of the March on Washington President Barack Obama to tion and Call to Action event March commemorate the 50th Anni- at the Lincoln Memorial. They Continued on page A6 Gov. Bryant officially Lumumba presents 2013-14 city budget: launched Mississippi Healthcare Economy “We can no longer kick the can down the road” By Ayesha K. Mustafaa rate would go from $14.50 to needs to be taken Editor $31 per month. care of. And you Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, He said there are 1,200 don’t really have on Monday, August 19, intro- miles of streets and roads that the money to do duced his 2013-14 city budget need $20 million to maintain. it, but you’ve got by saying, “We can no long Some streets, the mayor said, to do it anyway.” keep kicking the can down are not only too bad to drive The mayor said the road. We must grow, not down but also are in such bad $6.4 million in shrink.” Then he took on the shape they are too bad to walk funding can come arduous task of explaining down. And he said mainte- from school mill- Governor Phil Bryant and Holly Springs Mayor Kelvin Buck at the Gover- why he needs a 43.3 percent nance will get worse if he age decrease, nor’s Healthcare Economic Development Summit. PHOTOS BY BEN MINNIFELD increase over last year, pro- does not act now. stating that the posing a $502.5 million bud- He discussed rebuilding a Jackson Public By Ben Minnifield trepreneurs of diverse back- get. Former Mayor Harvey new Jatran system with the Schools are over Special to The Mississippi Link grounds and cultures that can Johnson’s last budget was expectation of a 20 percent funded. Capital It’s official. The Mississippi meet the growing needs of the $267 million and for 2012 increase in ridership. projects would Lumumba Healthcare Economy has been state. represented a 3.9 percent in- Lumumba referred to the increase by 155 launched with the Governor’s This kind of focus ensures crease over 2011. “state of our beloved city” percent, from $75 million to the unpopular budget needs. Health Care Economic Devel- that jobs are created, wealth is Pointing to the dire needs which he said he discussed $192 million. The general op- It’s still early in the budget opment Summit held August accumulated and that students to address Jackson’s infra- with staff and directors to ad- erating budget would increase discussions, but all signs point 15. Governor Phil Bryant and migrate toward health careers. structure problems, the mayor dress Jackson’s needs. Being from $276 million to $311 toward council approval. the Mississippi Economic Dr. Tanya Scott, chief health addressed the EPA’s consent mayor has caused these dire million. Lumumba acknowledged Council brought together a officer for the LeMont Scott decree that mandates $400 realities to set in, as he said, Some department budgets that the increase in water and collective group of hospitals, Group, summed up the confer- million to be spent on water “We have to take a budget will see small percentage in- sewer fees would hit some educators, elected officials and ence, saying, “The Healthcare and sewer upgrades and re- which faces off the challenges creases, with Public Works residents hard, particularly private enterprises positioned industry zone act is an oppor- pairs over 18 years. If the EPA which we have before us, not getting the huge climb to the elderly and those who to impact the new economy of tunity for both the public and requirements are not met, the a budget which would simply $398 to meet the aforemen- are low-income recipients. health care in Mississippi. private sectors to connect in city faces possibly being hit be politically acceptable.” tioned needed. He said the city would work To establish the importance very innovative ways. Each with $800 million in EPA Lumumba said, “I don’t The mayor said most other to create a grant program for of a “summit on healthcare,” it community has its own per- penalties. want to be known as the per- departments will have rela- nonprofits, called the Vulner- was first declared that the state sonality. Clearly, the Delta’s The mayor proposed an son who raised rates. But I tively flat budgets, although able People’s Fund, to pro- of Mississippi is positioned to needs are different from Jack- increase in water and sewer promised to put the city first there is a required increase vide utility bill assistance to be a comprehensive player in son’s. But there will always rates and a one-time tax in- when I was elected… It’s kin- in Public Employees’ Retire- these residents. the world of healthcare eco- be needs that this health care crease that together could da like you know you’ve got ment System payments. The hike would be offset by nomics. This stated position raise more $36 million in new something that you’ve got to Councilman Tony Yarber is not only provides better access revenue. The average water buy for your house - the roof chairman of the city’s budget Healthcare Economy City budget to quality health resources but bill would go from $15 to $21 is falling down; the sidewalk committee. Yarber praised the Continued on page A5 Continued on page A3 also creates health based en- per month; average sewerage needs to be fixed; the grass mayor for coming forth with Peryn Reeves-Darby presented Hinds Ivy League students Justin Porter County Supervisors Resolution as 2014 and Travis Reginal are not ‘defined Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi by limitations perceived or real’ By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Editor Hinds County Supervisor Peggy H. Calhoun (District 3) presented to the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi a resolution detailing the many accomplishments made by 17-year-old Peryn Reeves- Darby. Reeves-Darby was accompanied by Sid Wilkinson, state chairman of Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi. She won over 33 Missis- Reeves-Darby (2nd from left) with other contestants sippi high school seniors, competing for $44,500 in college scholarships. Reginal Porter She was selected July 18, 2013 in a ceremony in Meridian, Miss. By Ayesha K. Mustafaa nal at Yale in New Haven, stood out. He applied to four Editor She also received the Overall Conn., and Porter at Har- schools Vanderbilt, Dart- Scholastic Award and Overall Self- Travis Reginal and Jus- vard, in Cambridge, Mass. mouth, Columbia and Yale. Expression Award. Peryn is the tin Porter were home this Both took time to speak “Upon the recommendation daughter of Vonda Reeves-Darby summer; both graduated about their educational jour- of my 10th grade teacher, I and Alvin Darby of Jackson and at- from Murrah High School neys before leaving Jackson, applied and got into all four. tends St. Andrews Episcopal School. in Jackson, both are attend- setting out for their falls ses- But I picked Yale because it ing Ivy League universities sions. Reeves-Darby of their choice and entering Reginal said he did his Reginal and Porter Sid Wilkerson, Reeves-Darby and Hinds County Supervisor Peggy Continued on page A6 their second year - Regi- research and for him Yale Continued on page A2 Calhoun New lyme disease Dr. King’s unfinished High school Share this issue with a friend estimate: 300,000 ‘Symphony or football has by mailing it to: cases a year Freedom’ started Inside Page A10 Page A11 Page A16 A2 • the mississippi link August 22 - 28, 2013 www.mississippilink.com Reginal and porter Continued from page 1 had a good environment and skills.” was people-friendly.” Reginal wants to major in Reginal lived in Jackson sociology and further down his whole life with the ma- the road work with urban jority of the time being in youth. After completing col- South Jackson. He came lege, he can see himself com- from a single family home, ing back to Mississippi and raised by his mother, Nickie teaching here. He wants to Reginal, who also raised his make a difference. He wants two younger brothers, age 16 to continue until he earns a and 10. His mother is taking Ph.D. in sociology. classes now to complete her To get through the chal- GED. lenges, Reginal said, “I rely From his own environment, on God. I’m not some super he said his greatest inspira- kid; I’m an ordinary guy.” tion has been his mother, “I In Jackson, he attends “We wanted to make my mother Care Church.” Reginal said proud and that has been the the biggest culture shock for inspiration. Education was him was to meet students always important. She went who called themselves ag- Reginal hitting the books Porter immersing himself in a book out of her way to make sure nostics or who did not be- I did well in school.