Greta Kemp Martin

The Words They Don’t Want Us to Say Anymore How equity, access, and disability became liabilities instead of commitments

Equity. Inclusion. Accessibility. They’re not radical. They’re not dirty words. But in Mississippi & beyond, saying them out loud can get you defunded or fired. My latest on the backlash to DEIA and what it means for people with disabilities.

gretakmartin.substack.com/p/the-words-...

The Magnolia Dispatch | Greta Kemp Martin | Substack Your front‑porch briefing from the Magnolia State—hard‑hitting policy & disability‑rights dispatches, spiked with Swiftie deep cuts, book recs and perfect loaves. Click to read The Magnolia Dispatch, ...

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In Cypress County, Mississippi - every family’s got a prayer list and a paper trail.
A new Southern gothic saga, told through found files and whispered sin, starts Saturday.

We’re Back. But We’re Not Out of the Woods. DRMS received its remaining funding for FY25. The fight for FY26 starts now.

An update on DRMS (from my perspective).

The Good News: FY25 funds were delivered & we're back to business with new cases, monitoring, investigations, etc.

The Not-So-Good News: The FY26 Budget & HHS cuts still loom

gretakmartin.substack.com/p/were-back-...

I don’t know what was said & I don’t care. But Lynn Fitch defending a woman? The woman who gutted Roe now wants to play protector? Spare me.

This “bright, dedicated, powerful young woman” must come from donor money. Fitch doesn’t lift a finger unless it helps her politics or her pocketbook.

When Progress Looks Like Standing Still When you ain’t moving forward, but you sure ain’t backing down.

This one’s personal.

gretakmartin.substack.com/p/when-progr...

RFK: my budget doesn’t cut SAMSHA.

SIR - I LITERALLY READ YOUR ACTUAL BUDGET THAT CUTS SAMSHA.

Just another day of being gaslit by this administration.

Moderator doubles down on federal connections.

Horhn, again, wins this with congressional delegation and past Fed work. Servis just incorrectly stated that Bennie Thompson isn’t in Fed govt (?); DeP states no Fed connect

Another sweet, but non-answer from Robinson. #jxnmayor

Moderator makes candidates state WHO they have state and federal connections with. Time to name drop.

Horhn wins this hand down on state level. DeP names some names. Servis played a good pivot re: his newcomer status. Robinson quotes the Bible and her relationship with God.

#jxnmayor

Horhn definitely has an upper hand with the legislative connections as it relates to JXN IMO- DeP says JXN has to prove its to win #msleg trust. Servis echoes distrust issues as well; we should turn in audits and pay bills. Robinson continues w/ fluff answers without any actionable steps

#jxnmayor

Actions to transparency - Horhn wants an office of ethics & accountability in mayor office; Servis outlines a real time tracking system for govt & makes claims that JXN isn’t following law; DePriest leans on better constituent services as well as online services. Robinson gave a non answer.

Servis: already has open line of communication- published number, town halls, has spoken to city employees and residents; wants to make city more accessible through tech

#jxnmayor

Horhn: have to look at data to form a comprehensive plan to better JXN; each ward/section has to determine how we fit together.

#jxnmayor

DePriest: looking at everything through a “contractor’s lens” - doesn’t fit every situation but he’s trying.

#jxnmayor

Horhn: JXN public works is an embarrassment. Have to utilize federal dollars available.

Good, solid answers from Senator Horhn.

#jxnmayor

#JacksonMayoralForum - such a great set-up and so well managed.

The Magnolia Dispatch | Greta Kemp Martin | Substack Your front‑porch briefing from the Magnolia State—hard‑hitting policy & disability‑rights dispatches, spiked with Swiftie deep cuts, book recs and perfect loaves. Click to read The Magnolia Dispatch, ...

Writing from Mississippi, for anyone who appreciates the following:

✹ Feminist.
✹ Southern.
✹ Loud.

The Magnolia Dispatch is my Substack. New posts drop weekly as long as the coffee holds out.

Subscribe here: gretakmartin.substack.com
#SubstackWriters

The Magnolia Dispatch | Greta Kemp Martin | Substack Your front‑porch briefing from the Magnolia State—hard‑hitting policy & disability‑rights dispatches, spiked with Swiftie deep cuts, book recs and perfect loaves. Click to read The Magnolia Dispatch, ...

I needed an outlet to vent other than screaming at my husband about the state of the world.

So, here we go.

open.substack.com/pub/gretakma...

This might turn into a soapbox. It might turn into a breakdown. Let's find out, shall we?

What We Miss When We Talk About Prison Reform Why reform that ignores disabled and incarcerated people isn't reform at all.

I’ve made a Substack. Not bc I think the world needs more takes. I don’t. But against my better judgment (and probably yours), here we are. I’m a child of the '90s who grew up writing dramatic diary entries and burning mix CDs to process my feelings, so this was bound to happen.

Report linked here: www.drms.ms/pchreport?fb...

DRMS submitted a report to the legislature about this issue; however, all bills mentioning personal care homes have died, & no response has been received.

DRMS will continue to do its part - just curious when our MS Legislature will do their part?

mississippitoday.org/2025/02/21/f...

My boss just walked in to me sobbing hysterically to old videos of Barack Obama during his presidency.

She just pulled the door closed and quietly walked out.

“Liberty is always at stake when one or more branches seek to transgress the separation of powers.” Justice Anthony Kennedy

[Clinton v. City of New York, 524 US 417, 449–50 (1998)(Kennedy, J. concurring)]

Leaders show you who they are in the immediate aftermath of tragedy & crisis.

WATCH: Auditor Shad White calls Senate chairman 'liar,' threatens to sue during budget hearing - Mississippi Today One major argument came when Polk questioned a $2 million contract White executed with a Boston consultant to find wasteful spending.

The [auditor] doth protest too much, methinks….

mississippitoday.org/2025/01/22/w...

Recidivism, y’all.