Jackson mayor Chokwe Lumumba has issued a new Request For Proposal (RFP) on the city garbage contract, but city councilman Ashby Foote, who represents the Northside, says the RFP is flawed in two big ways.
First, the RFP requires garbage trucks to be no more than two years old. Second, the RFP requires that any contract will be canceled if the city loses its current legal action against Richard's Disposal.
Foote says it makes no sense to prohibit garbage trucks no more than two years old. Garbage trucks can last far longer than that. The purpose of this clause is just to limit the number of companies that can compete for the city's garbage business.
Second, Foote says giving the current Richard's lawsuit priority will discourage companies from bidding. Who would go to the expense and risk of bidding for the city contract if a court decision can preempt any new contract? Making this worse, Foote says, is that the mayor seems to be rooting for Richard's in the legal action instead of defending the city. Lumumba has failed to even ask the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
All and all, just more actions by Lumumba to favor Richard's Disposal, which he has been doing from day one, Foote says.
Talking over sushi at Sakura Bana, Foote goes into more details in the attached video.
