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Jackson water crisis: NAACP president, congressman call for accountability from state, feds
Kara Peters
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
Jackson water crisis: NAACP president, congressman call for accountability from state, feds
US LIVE FROM NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH WITH MORE THIS TOWN HALL WAS HOSTED BY THE NAACP WHERE WE HEARD FROM CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON AND DERRICK JOHNSON, CEO AND NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP. THE TAKEAWAYS WERE SIMPLE; WORK TOWARDS CLEAN SAFE DRINKING WATER, KEEP THE WATER SYSTEMS PUBLIC AND RETAIN LOCAL CONTROL. IT WAS A JAM PACKED ROOM AT NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, THAT MEETING LASTING CLOSE TO TWO HOURS ASIDE FROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE NAACP'S DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WHO GAVE A FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF THEIR TITLE 6 COMPLAINT FILED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF JACKSON. THERE WAS ALSO A PORTION WHERE RESIDENTS, CITY LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OFFERED THEIR OWN FEEDBACK, SOLUTIONS, AND PERSONAL IMPACTS TO JACKSON'S WATER CRISIS. WE SPOKE WITH BOTH CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON AND PRESIDENT JOHNSON FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S MEETING ON THE TAKEAWAY, AND THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD. <"ITS SIMPLE. WHEN YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY THAT GOES WITH IT. YOU CANT TAKE IT AND ACT AS IF THERES NO ACCOUNTABILITY."> <"IN THE 25 YEARS THAT STATE OF MS HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR WATER, THE CITY OF JACKSON ONLY RECEIVED FUNDS 3 OF THOSE 25 YEARS. THAT'S AN EQUITY THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION SAID THEY WERE GOING TO ADDRESS."> ON TOP OF THIS CIVIL INVESTIGATION AND TITLE 6 COMPLAINT AS A REMINDER CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON SENDING A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR TO FURTHER ASK HOW THE STATE PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 10 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. THE DEADLINE FOR STATE TO RESPOND TO THOMSPON'S LETTER IS OCTOBER 28TH. NAACP LEADERS URGING RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION TO HELP WITH AN ULTIMATE GOAL WHEN
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Jackson water crisis: NAACP president, congressman call for accountability from state, feds
Kara Peters
Weekend Anchor/Reporter
A town hall hosted by the NAACP had some simple takeaways: work toward clean, safe drinking water and keep Jackson's water system public with local control. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson attended the meeting Monday evening at New Hope Baptist Church.Thompson has called for an investigation into how the state will distribute federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Jackson make repairs to the city's water and sewer systems."It's simple; when you take money from the federal government, there is accountability that goes with it. You can't take it and act as if there's no accountability," Thompson said.There was also a portion of the meeting that allowed residents, Jackson leaders and community members to offer their feedback, solutions and the impacts of the city's water crisis."In the 25 years that the state of Mississippi has received federal funds for water, the city of Jackson only received funds three of those 25 years," Johnson, a Jackson native, said. "That's an equity that this administration said they were going to address."The NAACP has filed a discrimination complaint for mishandling the Jackson water crisis. The Title VI complaint calls for an investigation into the state's "gross mishandling" of the water problems in Jackson. The complaint cited what the NAACP called "a long history of discrimination through years of neglect and the repeated denial of requests for federal funds."
JACKSON, Miss. —

A town hall hosted by the NAACP had some simple takeaways: work toward clean, safe drinking water and keep Jackson's water system public with local control.

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U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson attended the meeting Monday evening at New Hope Baptist Church.

Thompson has called for an investigation into how the state will distribute federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Jackson make repairs to the city's water and sewer systems.

"It's simple; when you take money from the federal government, there is accountability that goes with it. You can't take it and act as if there's no accountability," Thompson said.

There was also a portion of the meeting that allowed residents, Jackson leaders and community members to offer their feedback, solutions and the impacts of the city's water crisis.

"In the 25 years that the state of Mississippi has received federal funds for water, the city of Jackson only received funds three of those 25 years," Johnson, a Jackson native, said. "That's an equity that this administration said they were going to address."

The NAACP has filed a discrimination complaint for mishandling the Jackson water crisis. The Title VI complaint calls for an investigation into the state's "gross mishandling" of the water problems in Jackson. The complaint cited what the NAACP called "a long history of discrimination through years of neglect and the repeated denial of requests for federal funds."