[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Mississippi, Inc.

Jackson Area - Action and Advocacy

We are truly a grassroots organization...

2011 Priorities.  LWVJA Positions.

Our 2011 Priorities

Each year, the League of Women Voters of the Jackson Area selects public policy priorities and advocates for these positions through an informed membership and a volunteer lobby corps. Action is also taken on long-held League positions or non-priority items when necessary or as time allows.

  • RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PLANNING We support responsible financial planning for the city budget.

  • PUBLIC TRANSIT We support quality public transit systems.

  • LEFLEUR LAKES PROJECT We recognize that the Pearl River can be an asset for development, flood control, recreation and enjoyment of nature in the tri-county area; however, we support the exploration of alternative proposals other than the Lefleur Lakes project. We are interested in alternatives which are less expensive, create less damage to the environment, do not destroy existing habitat and recreational opportunities, are not irreversible and provide more public space.

During the legislative session, LWV-JA may choose to work on additional issues that arise.
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Our Positions

The League of Women Voters of the Jackson Area supports an effective and efficient city government that is responsive to the needs of all its citizens. In order to promote responsible government, we have developed the following positions:

  • CITY-COUNTY COOPERATION We encourage cooperation between county and city governments to eliminate duplicated services and to provide higher quality and more efficient services. Specific areas of county-city cooperation we support are tax collection and related data processing (e.g., the county tax collector could also serve as the city tax collector), planning and zoning with consistent standards when possible, law enforcement, with a specific emphasis on law enforcement communications, construction and repair of roads and streets, and construction/redevelopment of city-county office buildings.

  • PUBLIC RELATIONS We support an active city office of public relations and public information.

  • RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PLANNING We support responsible financial planning for the city budget.

  • ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS We support efficient advisory boards and commissions. Specifically we support rotation of board members, representation from all segments of the community, avoidance of conflicts of interest, provision of professional advisers, publication of all board reports, and the requirement of the city council to consider board and commission reports in their decision-making.

  • MERIT-BASED STAFFING PRACTICES We support basing personnel practices on merit and competence rather than loyalty and length of service.

  • PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES We support the establishment of parks and recreational facilities to accommodate all citizens. We also recommend allotment by developers of land in new housing developments for parks or an equivalent financial contribution and the consideration of using vacant sites for recreational use. Furthermore, we support the continuation of coordination of the city recreation board and the public schools.

  • HOUSING We support a coordinated housing program for the Jackson area with planning input by representatives of all economic levels, owners, and tenants for the goal of improvement of community life.
    - We support the vigorous enforcement of the housing codes and education programs of health, homemaking, and self-help for low-income families.
    - Recognizing that current housing practices are weighted toward owners, we support policies that promote fairness for tenants as well as owners, giving due consideration to both parties.
    - We support resident counselors, adequate space for family size, and availability of public transportation, shopping, services, and recreational areas in all public housing, subsidized multifamily, or elderly housing facilities.

  • PUBLIC TRANSIT We support quality public transit systems.

  • ENERGY CONSERVATION We encourage the development and use of programs to increase energy conservation. We further encourage the use of renewable resources to produce energy as a means of reducing energy growth and dependency on non-renewable resources.

  • LEFLEUR LAKES PROJECT We recognize that the Pearl River can be an asset for development, flood control, recreation and enjoyment of nature in the tri-county area; however, we support the exploration of alternative proposals other than the Lefleur Lakes project. We are interested in alternatives which are less expensive, create less damage to the environment, do not destroy existing habitat and recreational opportunities, are not irreversible and provide more public space.

The LWV-JA may also take action on positions of the State and National Leagues.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: April 12, 2012 23:29 PDT.

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