Disagreements between Mississippi’s Governor and City of Jackson officials have grown this week following two contradictory statements on if the city would participate in efforts to hire long-term emergency contractors for water system upkeep. In a statement by Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the city will not agree to a contract without first having an opportunity to contribute, revise or approve language. But during a press conference yesterday, Governor Tate Reeves said the city does have the opportunity to provide feedback.
“It was a joint effort to put out the RFP on Friday, it was strongly suggested and recommended by the Biden Administration's EPA. The State acting in good faith did exactly what the feds wanted, and what we thought was right.”
A letter was also sent to the governor’s office this week by two congressional chairs with questions on how the state legislature had allocated federal aid for water system maintenance. Co-author and Mississippi 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson says more funding should have been sent to the city. But Governor Reeves disagrees.
“You would have a difficult time finding me in agreement with the congressman on virtually anything, except when the congressman said the city is not capable of running the water system I had to take a step back and be surprised that the congressman said that.”
The City of Jackson released its own proposal request for a one-year emergency contract yesterday after discussions with both the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency. City officials say this new document has made several changes that differ from the one issued by the state last week.
