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TRANSPARENT AND PROGRESSIVE CITY GOVERNANCE
- Recognized Police and Firefighters unions
- Jackson’s budgeting practices recognized with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada
- Started an Annual Service Award Program, honoring employees who have more than 10 years of service to the City
- Instituted a Performance Pay Plan and a Performance Appraisal System for City employees
- Increased the number of Municipal Court Judges to five through legislative action from state law makers
- Established Office of Public Affairs and Communications
- Authorized the City of Jackson Imaging System that allows Police, Fire, City Council and other Departments to instantly retrieve records and reduce the need for filing room space
- Recognized as one of America’s Most Livable Cities by Partners for Livable Communities
- Recognized as the 7th best city for entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine and Dun and Bradstreet
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT/QUALITY OF LIFE
- Initiated “Pride Ride” tours for citizens that focused on Jackson’s progress
- Offered Youth Spring Break Tennis Clinics at Grove Park, Lake Hico and Battlefield Park
- Partnered with residents to form “Building a Better Bridges” Campaign to improve Parham Bridges Tennis Center
- Established a City-wide citizens group –FABRIC (For A Better Revitalized, Inclusive Community) – to plan for the future of Jackson . . . The City’s first Comprehensive Plan since 1989
- Conducted Parenting Sessions at City operated daycare centers
- Established monthly Ward Meetings to give residents an opportunity to have fact-to face meetings with the Mayor and City administrators
- Formed the Jackson Human Relations Council
- Provided support for a number of cultural, artistic and entertainment events throughout the City including:
- Artists Workshops at the Municipal Art Gallery
- Special exhibitions at the Smith-Robertson Museum
- Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Easter Egg Hunt at Battlefield Park
- Collaboration with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
- Dance Classes and Recital offered through the Department of Human and Cultural Services
- International Ballet Competitions
- Guide for a Civil Rights Movement Driving Tour
- Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
- Annual Prayer Breakfast
- Mississippi Singers Children’s Shows
- The Glory of Baroque Dresden Exhibition
- Majesty of Spain Exhibition
- Palaces of Versailles Exhibition
- Declaration of Independence Tour
- Mississippi Black Rodeo
NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT
- Initiated comprehensive revitalization of the Bon Air Housing Project in West Jackson to include new homes for working families
- Initiated Employer Assisted Housing Program with JPS to assist with teacher recruitment and retention
- Secured over $200 million to improve public facilities, streets, drainage, water and sewer, and housing
- Established Land Bank policy to address blighted tax-forfeited properties
- Designation of Belhaven Heights Historic District
- Completed in-depth housing inventory and strategy for improving City’s housing stock
- Established Roll-Off Dumpster Day Program to help keep neighborhoods free of debris
- Aggressively either demolished or brought into code compliance dilapidated and deteriorating houses
- Started curbside recycling in City of Jackson
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Spearheaded the planning and construction of the Jackson Convention Center Complex
- Led the effort to locate the $17.5 million Telecommunications Training and Conference Center in Downtown Jackson
- Secured a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help pay for new water and sewer lines, sidewalk installation and new infrastructure upgrades to the Historic Farish Street District
- Oversaw a 200% increase in the number of companies located in the City-owned Northwest Industrial Park resulting in over 250 new jobs
- More than doubled the overall percentage of minority contractors doing business with the City
- Created Store Front Improvement Grant Program to provide matching funds for businesses to visually upgrade their facilities; projects included Westland Plaza and Meadowbrook Shopping Center in addition to numerous “Mom & Pop” businesses
- Value of building permits in City exceeded $100 million each year Johnson served as Mayor; $140 million during last 36 months in office
- Secured funding from the EPA to transform the Pearl River front/LeFluer’s Landing site into a recreational area for special events
- Put together a partnership of federal, state and local government that resulted in the construction of the I-220 Industrial Drive Interchange
- Demolished Tanglewood, Metro Manor and Royal Manor Apartment Complexes to make way for future residential development
- Signed development agreement with Jackson Redevelopment Authority for King Edward Hotel
- Initiated discussions with the U.S. General Administration Office for the construction of a $90 million Federal Courthouse Project
- Awarded Urban Main Street Program grants for the Fondren and Belhaven Neighborhoods
- Established Office of Housing and Community Development to provide leadership in stabilizing and revitalizing low and moderate income neighborhoods
- Developed the Downtown Strategic Plan to provide a guide for the redevelopment of downtown, and started implementation of the plan
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
- Union Station multi-modal transportation center completed
- Drainage improvements for Hanging Moss Creek, Town Creek, Lynch Creek, Caney Creek and other tributaries throughout Jackson
- Re-striped Old Canton Road between Duling Street and Meadowbrook Road, to integrate pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic
- Created the Pothole Hotline with a commitment to make repairs within 72 hours
- Implementation of a $35 million revenue bond issue for water and sewer improvements to replace outdated treatment plants and lines
- Secured funding from EPA to improve the Savannah Street Wastewater Treatment Nitrification and Optimization Project
- Used a rating system to ensure that streets in the most severe need are paved first; sometimes in neighborhoods that had been left out in the past
- Secured funds from the Federal Transit Administration to increase number of JATRAN buses
- Major road improvement projects included the Metro Jackson Parkway, West County Line Road near Tougaloo College; Siwell Road; and Brown Street
- Congress Street revitalization resulted in historic brick streets, benches, and period lighting to beautify Downtown Jackson
- A record number of public works projects to improve neighborhoods across the City and to renovate City facilities including:
- Grove Park Golf Course
- Sonny Guy Golf Course
- Police Department Building
- Smith-Robertson Museum and Cultural Center
- Thalia Mara Hall
- Grove Park
- Willie Morris Branch Library Construction
- R.G. Bolden/Anna Bell Moore Branch Library Construction
- Upgrades to Eudora Welty Main Library
- Municipal Libraries Upgrade (8)
- Tennis Center South
- Jackson Zoo
- New Animal Shelter (10,000 sq feet $1.2 million project)
- Westside Community Center
- Kurt's Gymnasium
- Medgar Evers Community Center
- Champion Community Center
- City Hall
- Parham Bridges
- Arts Center I Russell Davis Planetarium (Mega HD equipment)
- Mynelle Gardens
- Tougaloo Community Center
- BMX Bike Trail at Buddy Butts Park
- Soccer Field at Callaway High School
- Various City Parks - New Playground Equipment
YOUTH AND EDUCATION
- Support for Jackson Public School District by maintaining athletic fields through the Parks and Recreation Department on a year-round basis
- Made personal visits to every public school in Jackson to encourage children to refrain from using violence and drugs
- Obtained signatures of over 15,000 students in a written pledge to not participate in gun violence
- Developed the Mayor’s Youth Initiative
- Established a Mayor’s Youth Council comprised of high school leaders
- Instituted a Youth Entrepreneurship Program to give students hands-on training in establishing and managing business
- Started Mayor’s Youth Credit Union Program
- Conducted Conflict Resolution Sessions for local high schools
- Formalized the City’s Internship Program for local university and college students giving them work experience while educating them about municipal government
- After-School Programs offered in community centers providing tutorial assistance and recreational opportunities
- Utilized up to 9 public schools for the City-sponsored Summer Camp Program
SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
- Secured alarm units for the Tougaloo Multi-Purpose Center and the Presidential Hills Center
- Enhanced safety by installing home security devices for seniors and the disabled with the Fire Department Explorer Post 2815
- Instituted Annual Senior Expo and Senior Health Fair
- Installed smoke detectors for seniors and low income families to safeguard against house fires
- Worked with My Brother’s Keeper to provide groceries for senior citizens
- Created an additional Home Delivered Meals route
- Sponsored dances held at Golden Key Senior Center
CRIME PREVENTION AND PUBLIC SAFETY
- Jackson’s murder rate cut by nearly 40%
- Put over 500 police officers on the streets for the 1st time in the City’s history
- Established a separate location for the Internal Affairs Division and increased the number of officers assigned to it, to restore public confidence in law enforcement
- Established a new drug hotline for citizens to tip off the police of illegal activity
- Utilized a nationally recognized system of accountability to oversee all police department operations
- Initiated a Cold Case Unit to keep old, unsolved homicides under constant investigation
- Operation Ceasefire instituted cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to make certain that felons found with weapons are tried and convicted
- Created Park Rangers to patrol the park system and provide security at all parks, ball fields and recreational facilities
- Expanded community policing
- Purchased fire fighting equipment including seven new pumper trucks, one mobile air supply unit and one 100-foot ladder truck
- Maintained a Class 3 Fire Rating from the Mississippi Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, the best rating in the State of Mississippi
- Renovated Fire Stations 5 (North State and Riverside Drive) and 23 (Raymond Road)
- Constructed new Fire Stations No. 28 (Terry Road) and No. 12 (McFadden Road)
- Added an Engine Company to the Fire Stations at Number 5 (North State at Riverside) and Number 19 (Ridgewood Road)
- Allocated $10 million to replace 2” and 4” water lines city wide with larger lines to provide equal fire protection
- Revitalized the Emergency Medical Technician program in the Fire Department maintaining the certification of over 100 EMTs
 
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