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NAACP asks Natchez leaders to fund assessments, join youth task force to curb violence
Summary
The Natchez NAACP asked the city to fund property-condition assessments of the Natchez Youth Center and parts of the closed Robert Lewis Middle School, and urged the mayor and board to appoint representatives to a new youth task force to address rising youth crime.
The Natchez branch of the NAACP on Tuesday urged the mayor and board of aldermen to help tackle youth crime by joining a new task force and funding property-condition assessments for local recreation sites.
"We could do a little grant for $25,000 to address something we felt was needed in our area," Thelma Newsome, who said she worked on the NAACP—ill Grant, told the board, summarizing a grant-backed program of stakeholder meetings and youth engagement activities. The group asked the city to identify officials who will serve on the task force and to provide an initial response by Friday, Aug. 24.
Arsenault Mathis, identified in the presentation as the local NAACP president, asked the board to authorize a property‑condition assessment for the Natchez Youth Center at 12 Triumph Lane, the adjacent basketball court and sprayground, and portions of the closed Robert Lewis Middle School, including the gym. Mathis said the branch expects the assessment to include photographs, system‑by‑system condition notes, prioritization and cost estimates to inform capital planning for inclusion in the 2026–27 budget process.
Members of the board discussed jurisdictional and partnership questions: some school property (Robert Lewis) remains under the school district, but the board and staff said prior collaboration and memoranda of understanding suggested possible joint work with the county and school district. "We actually did meet with the school board officials last year on collaboration ideas between the city and the school board on this very topic," the mayor said.
The board voted to pursue the NAACP's recommendations, with staff and consultants asked to return with a scope and estimated costs for the requested assessments. The vote was by voice; council members present said they wanted the analysis to guide future budget decisions and potential requests for outside funding.
Next steps: staff will draft a scope for the property‑condition assessments and return with cost estimates and partner‑agency recommendations. The NAACP requested the board identify task‑force representatives by Aug. 24.
