Residents urge action on environmental health and labor protections and express election-related concerns during public comment
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Summary
During the Dec. 10 Jackson City Council public comment period, residents raised concerns about the recent presidential election and federal policy changes, local environmental issues including lead service lines and PFAS, and labor protections. Speakers also congratulated the newly sworn council member and referenced a city landlord program.
Several residents used the Dec. 10 public comment period to raise concerns about national politics, local environmental health and labor protections, and to offer congratulations to the newly sworn council member.
Joel Smith, introduced on the record as a Jackson community member living on South Grinnell Street, said he is "scared for the rights of both myself and those I care for," and expressed concern for transgender and queer residents if federal or state policy were to permit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Smith also cited possible cutbacks to programs and funding he described as supporting local public health and safety, naming lead service-line replacement and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as specific local environmental concerns. In his remarks, Smith said: "I'm scared for my trans and queer friends who may be may face increased discrimination . . ." and asked council, "what are you going to do to protect us? What is your goal in keeping Jackson safe?"
Another speaker, John King, discussed national political topics and raised procedural questions about the meeting's time change and the availability of meeting information on the city's website and social media. King's remarks included criticisms of the city's legal staff and references to prior meetings; he also directed personal remarks that were recorded on the transcript.
Laura Schlecky (recorded as a landlord on West Michigan Avenue) offered congratulations to Council member Christy Mae Davis on her election and said she hopes to participate in a city landlord program referenced in the meeting. Schlecky also praised the recent Fifth Ward meeting hosted by Vice Mayor Freddie Dancy.
Council members did not debate or respond to the substance of the public comments during the comment period; council rules read aloud before public remarks stated that council members will not debate or answer questions during the citizen comment portion of the meeting. The public comments recorded in the transcript did not result in a stated follow-up action on the record.