Residents press Jackson council to prioritize parks, public safety and services over DEI expansion during budget hearing

Several Jackson residents used the city’s May 5 public hearing on the proposed FY2026–27 budget to press elected officials to prioritize basic services and maintenance over what they described as expansions of DEI programming.

John C. King, who gave his address for the record, said the city should put more money into Department of Public Works services and questioned proposals to expand DEI and certain cultural programs. “That’s where I wanna see the money budgeted towards is maybe DPW and providing services to the residents,” King said. He criticized language in the draft plan that mentioned growing DEI staffing and expanding observances such as Juneteenth into year‑round activities, calling those priorities “propaganda” and arguing funds should instead support core services.

Other public commenters disagreed about priorities; a parks concerns speaker, Joseph Feller, told the council that park upgrades have come at the expense of day‑to‑day maintenance. “We don’t clean them up…I fill trash bags all the time,” Feller told the council, citing litter, damaged equipment and stray-animal response problems in his neighborhood.

City officials responded by pointing to specific investments and operational steps. A city official and the parks representative framed investments along Martin Luther King Drive, grant-backed corridor work and targeted neighborhood projects as part of broader equity and economic development efforts. Mayor Mahoney acknowledged residents’ safety concerns and encouraged use of the city’s report-of-concern process so staff can log, track and respond to issues.

Council members also noted that statistical crime trends and residents’ perceptions can differ. In response to a caller who said crime seemed higher, the mayor noted that city statistics show overall declines in some crime categories in recent years while acknowledging residents’ sense of safety is important.

The mayor opened and closed the public hearing by recorded motions and voice votes; no formal budget adoption occurred during the hearing. Council members said staff would continue line‑item work in subsequent meetings and invited residents to follow upcoming discussions, including a community police oversight commission meeting scheduled for May 14 at the Carnegie branch of the Jackson District Library.

Ending: Residents will have additional opportunities to comment as council proceeds through the formal budget adoption process; the transcript shows the council did not adopt the budget at this meeting.