Vibe.com, June 2nd, 2006
Listeners who tuned in to Hot 97 on March 22 heard Jones bashing and advocating violence towards the NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents, comments which stemmed from an earlier confrontation Jones had with an agent when she parked her car at a broken meter. She allegedly approached the agent advising him the meter was broken. When the agent replied that she was only allowed an hour at the parking spot, Jones responded, “B*tch, I didn’t ask that…Why they don’t fix the meter? I ought to slap the B*itch!”
Jones later proceeded to bad mouth the Traffic Agent on-air, stating the agents were “Trifling, Lazy B*itches” and that they “don’t even pick up a book.” She then played the Jackson Five hit “ABC” in dragging tempo, further insinuating that traffic agents are uneducated. The song was allegedly played repeatedly for the rest of the week.
James Huntley, The President of CWA 1182, which represents Uniform Traffic & Sanitation Enforcement Agents, led the protest. Huntley voiced his opinions on Jones, alleging that her “vicious, mean-spirited and offensive remarks promote violence and negativity towards our uniformed members.”
He described Jones as “polluting the airwaves and abusing the public trust” and assured onlookers that the radio host is “trying to take the magic of New Yorkers’ good self esteem.” He also stated that “after 9/11 we pulled together as a family and she’s still trying to push us apart. Matter of fact, if she keeps doing this, we’ll have to call her a terrorist.”
“We’re doing our job just as she is and for her to make the statements she made was uncalled for and unnecessary,” an agent in the crowd added. “The station should either fine her, fire her or put a stop to her.”
Huntley later confirmed that all NYPD agents are required to have a high school diploma or G.E.D. and that many are in fact college graduates, who have gone on to become police officers, correctional officers, and court officers.
In closing, Huntley accused Jones of promoting hatred among all New Yorkers and damaging the image of the city.
“Hot 97 is no longer Hot 97, but Cold, C-O-L-D. 97,” Huntley said. “Miss Jones must go!”
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