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* Mayor John Horhn declared “Jackson is rising” during his first State of the City Address, highlighting his first 100 days in office.
* Horhn emphasized the need for teamwork between residents, city leaders and state partners to move the city forward.
* His administration’s priorities include improving public safety, tackling blight and fixing the city’s infrastructure.
* The mayor announced a comprehensive market analysis to create a “blueprint” for Jackson’s future economic development.
Mayor John Horhn used his first State of the City Address on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to declare that “Jackson is rising,” the theme of his speech and a twist on his campaign slogan, “Jackson is ready.”
The message running through the speech was clear: progress will take teamwork. Horhn urged residents, city leaders and state and federal partners to work together to move Jackson forward — a theme that echoed throughout his address and was central to his campaign.
Speaking in the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art as the sun broke through after a rainy day, Horhn looked back on his first 100 days in office — from July 1 through Oct. 9 — and said he feels a “renewed optimism” taking hold across the city. He thanked what he called his “crackerjack team” of new department heads and said his focus remains on three priorities: improving public safety, tackling blight and fixing the city’s infrastructure.
Horhn, a longtime state senator, was sworn in as Jackson’s mayor on July 1 after defeating former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the April runoff election. His administration has spent its first 100 days focused on what he’s repeatedly called “crisis management” — stabilizing city services, addressing infrastructure failures and rebuilding public trust, a key campaign promise.
Part of his speech focused on rebuilding relationships. He said he has worked to repair ties with the council and other state partners — a shift from the strained dynamic under Lumumba, whose critics often cited his unwillingness to collaborate as one reason for Jackson’s recent struggles.
“This kind of partnership is what progress looks like: city and state working hand in hand to deliver results for the people of Jackson,” Horhn said.
Horhn’s look back at his first 100 days mirrored a Clarion Ledger article that chronicled his initial challenges and milestones, from new hires and housing crises to subpoenas and infrastructure fixes.
Among the accomplishments Horhn highlighted were a new agreement with Hinds County that lets work crews share equipment and repair streets together, road resurfacing across Jackson, 325 blight-removal cases and ongoing work to fix major leaks at the Jackson Zoo that left the facility with a $6.4 million water bill.
He didn’t name the Blossom Apartments, where tenants were displaced this summer, but used the moment to call on landlords to maintain their properties and pay their water bills — an issue that has drawn citywide attention in recent months. The situation also led him to form a housing task force to address those problems directly.
Horhn said the city’s search for a new police chief is still underway and will look inside the department, regionally and nationally. Interim Chief and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones can serve only 90 days under state law, a deadline Horhn essentially said the city will cross when it arrives.
“We’re still evaluating and trying to consider how we’re going to approach that because there is a likelihood that we’ll go past the 90 days,” Horhn told reporters after the address.
The mayor also praised progress at Thalia Mara Hall, which remains on track to reopen by the start of 2026, and the city’s upcoming hosting of the National Folk Festival. He said $1.4 million of a $1.5 million fundraising goal has already been met and credited the previous administration for helping secure the festival.
Horhn said the city is managing 35 active capital projects and highlighted Jackson’s partnership with the Magnolia Mother’s Trust — a program that provides guaranteed income to low-income Black mothers.
He ended the night by announcing a “comprehensive market analysis,” a study he described as a “blueprint” for Jackson’s future that is expected to be completed next year. The analysis is being conducted by the Philadelphia-based Reinvestment Fund, a nonprofit that has produced similar reports for Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia. Horhn said the group has helped attract about $5 billion in those cities through investments in affordable housing and commercial development.
He said a draft of the analysis was presented to city leaders last week and is now being refined. Once finalized, the report will serve as the foundation for a long-term comprehensive plan. Horhn added that, in the meantime, the city is preparing a “light” version of the plan — a shorter document meant for corporations and foundations interested in investing in Jackson — that should be ready in November.
“Jackson’s best days aren’t behind us, they’re in front of us,” Horhn said. “I know the challenges we face, but I also know the potential that lives in every block, every school, every small business and every person who calls Jackson home. Our story is still being written, the work ahead will not be easy, but we are rising.”
As the speech closed, Horhn led the crowd in a chant: “Jackson is rising.” The audience joined in.
Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at [email protected].
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