I can tell you this much: I work in Jackson (part-time now) and have for fifteen years. I haven’t been murdered (yet) and am not planning on it. No one (knock on wood) has stolen my stuff. It’s fair to say that I’m not afraid to come downtown. (unlike some of the commenters I’ve read lately who are absolutely terrified.) In fact, I enjoy it.
I can also tell you that I’ve watched the city change (Some good. Some bad.) While murders get the front page, property crimes have been the cancer quietly killing the city. People and businesses, frustrated with being broken into and their cars stolen, have moved out. The tax-base has dwindled and now the city is facing some very serious infrastructure woes with no money to fix them. The schools have suffered, too — causing not just white-flight, but middle-class flight. And for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction: The suburbs have boomed. But now even they are experiencing some “big-city problems” of their own. I’ve watched an interesting dance between the city and the suburbs — both need each other but neither will admit it.
On the bright side, I’ve seen dedicated people who believe in this town do amazing things. I have friends who live here who make this city great. Culturally, it is a fantastic place to be. Yes, Jackson, for its size, is a wonderful place.
I’ve seen two cities I’ve lived in, Atlanta and San Diego, face similar challenges. When the suburbs got too far away and people got tired of spending hours in the car, renewal took place. Jackson isn’t there yet. I wonder if that will happen in the next 15 years? What will happen to the “trunk of the tree” (as Mayor Harvey Jackson once described the city.) Until then, it will take vision from the business community and the city government. Vision like what propelled Chattanooga forward after they built their aquarium and then rebuilt their downtown. I see signs of it. Is it the “One-lake plan?” Is it developing Town Creek? More downtown development? An arena? More hotels? Capitol Green? We’ll see. I hope whatever it is, it is fast enough and in time.
Recently I saw a sticker on a light pole that said, “Pray for Jackson.” I’ll do that. But I won’t be scared when I visit. I’ll be too busy having a good time.
It worked for Chattanooga. I was downtown there today and it is alive and doing well. I ran the glass bridge then ran across the old bridge and back.