Despite claims of the number of calls to police and crime in Clarksdale going down or being non-existent in some neighborhoods, there are communities who are not seeing that happen.
The Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners were approached by Darron “Gucci” Griffin on Monday who said the house he owns had its front door shot while his daughter was sitting on the front porch.
“I have followed the procedure and I called police, met with the chief and now I am before you,” said Griffin. “This is not a one time thing. It’s happening all over Clarksdale and no neighborhood is immune. I urge you to crack down on this before someone gets seriously hurt.”
Commissioners and the Mayor quickly said they will address the problem, but Griffin said the time for talk is over.
“You’ve got young people who have no respect for others and there is gun violence all over this city every night,” said Griffin. “There is no way the citizens should have to pay the taxes they pay, to live in the conditions they do.”
Griffin said in his neighborhood it’s gangs and juveniles who seem to be committing the crimes and he feels they are at the root of the problem.
“You put up cameras, but they don’t stop crime,” Griffin said after the meeting. “In my situation the young man walked under the camera, shot, picked up his cartridges and walked off like nothing happened.”
Griffin said he realizes masks, caps and hoodies can make it difficult to positively identify people. He asked the city to get cameras that can record car tag numbers.
He also asked that police adopt a ‘get tough’ attitude with gangs and any crime involving a gun. He also asked the court system ‘get tough’ on suspected gang members. He said something has to be done with juveniles in an effort to turn them from a life of crime.
“I’m here to help,” said Griffin. “I know others in my neighborhood and in Clarksdale who are willing to help. I don’t know all the answers, but we need to do something.”
Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk said he has been talking about this problem for the past six months. Plunk has said Sky Cop cameras in neighborhoods are solving crimes and there are up-grades that allow them to see car tags and even record gun shots.
Plunk urged both Griffin and the community to write down the addresses of abandoned and dilapidated homes and the city will go after them.
Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner said people are sometime afraid to call police. He urged police to keep all calls confidential and observe radio security procedures. Turner also said juveniles are being locked up.
“I want kids to know if they commit a crime they will go to detention,” said Turner. “We can’t control all gun violence, but that needs to be a start.”
Ward 4 Commissioner Ed Seals said he was concerned with cars racing up and down Richie Street and he felt additional patrols could take care of that.
“We need a gang task force,” said Seals. “Gangs need to be wiped off the map. If shots are fired we need to seek out who did it, bring them to jail and put them behind bars.”
Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphey said crime in any part of Clarksdale erodes the quality of life in all of Clarksdale.
“You can put enough pressure out there that people think three times before they do something,” said Murphey. “I’ve got a problem with speeding on Friars Point Road.”
Espy said more people need to get involved and he pointed to community forums he is hosting as a way to bring problems to the city.
“COVID stopped a lot of that interaction, but even before then we would host these (forums) and no one would come,” said Espy. “I know people are busy. Maybe you have a base of people we can work with.”
In other business:
The Board of Commissioners and Mayor were approached by former Carnegie Public Library librarian Floyd Council seeking to inform the city about recent events at the library that led to his resignation.
Reading from a prepared statement Council said he was concerned about the library and the community.
“Racial division is an infection that is killing many Delta towns and counties and it is hindering economic development and the ability for Clarksdale to attract and retain progressive talent in our business community, education system and at our library,” said Council. “To this end, the library system needs trustees who can look beyond their personal agendas and see the needs of the community.”
Council outlined four concerns:
1. Racial division, abuse of authority and the lack of equity, diversity and inclusion on the library Board of Trustees.
2. Citizen access to county/city (library) public records per policy
3. Citizen access to open meetings (Library Board Meetings), per state law.
4. The governing ability of the current library board chairperson to limit liability for the County/City and contribute to the retention of a highly qualified Library Director, which will help secure the future of the Clarksdale & Coahoma County Library System.
Council also gave his recommendations for addressing these concerns and presented them in writing to the board.
Commissioner Plunk asked why the library attorney was not counseling board members on their duties and limits. Plunk also said there are 10 people on that board and a 6-4 vote defines the policy, procedure and leadership of that board.
“I have stayed away from this because I appoint people and let them work,” said Plunk. “But if all you are saying is true, they need to sit down with our mayor and city attorney and get to the bottom of this.”
Plunk went on to say the city may not control the library board but they do control funding.
Mayor Espy said he is willing to look at the situation.
“Let’s make sure we don’t get too far over the edge,” Espy cautioned. “Funding will never be cut for the library. That will never be an option.”
Espy said a “robust conversation” on the topic and “training for board members” might be the solution.
Commissioner Ken Murphey said his phone has rung constantly since Council’s resignation was reported in the Clarksdale Press Register.
Murphey said the removal of two librarians in the space of a year is cause for concern and the city could find it difficult to attract and hire a professional librarian.
Murphey said the city does control a portion of the library’s funding, but he hopes board members can solve their problems.
After less than three months in his position, Council announced his resignation as executive director of the Carnegie Public Library of Clarksdale and Coahoma County April 19.
A career librarian with an impressive resume that includes St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville and Dallas, the resignation came as a shock but not a surprise for a community that saw JoAnn Blue resign abruptly after seven years with the library in September.
Council said in April he believes board chair Shelia Winters is the problem.
“I would consider coming back (as executive director) only if she is leaving,” Council said in April.
Council said some issues may prompt litigation, he would not comment on what they might be.
Council said the complaints will continue.
“I wanted to be perfectly clear,” Council said at the time he resigned. “I am planning to file a state ethics complaint against Ms. Winters and the library board and I’m planning to file an EEOC case on discrimination based on hostile work environment and other areas.”
Council said Winters attempted to control things to the point where she did not allow him to talk to any other board member for 45 days.
Not every board member was a problem Council added.
“There are some very good trustees on this board, but they are not getting any support from county supervisors to get unqualified trustees off this board,” Council said.
Winters has been accused of asking for the removal of the balance sheet from public financial statements. The library board has also been accused of not adhering to Mississippi Open Meeting laws and a complaint was submitted and upheld by the Mississippi Ethics Commission.
• The board was also approached by Antonio Abram requesting donation of city lots to Healthy Transitions Development Group. Abrams said his group wants to build affordable single family homes for low to moderate income families
• The city acknowledged the community visit from MEMA on March 23 and noted the report regarding the deficiencies regarding the floodplain areas
• The city voted to prepare a release of lis pendens or removed its lien on 522 Garfield
and 528 E. Tallahatchie since the cleanup bill has been paid
• The board voted to execute the CRRSA Transmittal Letter for the airport board, allowing them to pursue a potential Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program
• The city paid the following miscellaneous claims: Cornerstone $2,250; General Fund $1,858.09; Mississippi Development Authority $1,858.09; Chuck Espy (April miles) $836.64.
• The city acknowledged the 26th order extending the emergency declaration for COVID and related restrictions.
