Melton to address dropout rate, crime

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/18/8

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton plans to talk off the cuff Thursday when he delivers the final State of the City address of his first term.

“This could perhaps be my last speech and I understand that and I acknowledge that,” said Melton, who is seeking re-election. “I feel the need to be very candid about all the good things that are going on but also the mistakes.”

Melton said he wants to highlight the need to improve the city’s infrastructure and to keep teenagers from dropping out of school. He wants to let people know about economic development downtown and elsewhere in the city.

He stated other, more general goals, such as ” to tell the people the truth, big time.”