After a $26 million renovation, the Jackson YMCA introduced a basketball-gym bag rule and lockers…read morethat are too shallow for a full-size gym bag. I'd used the same type of bag for years. Until June 23, 2026, that rule had never been enforced on me--not in the months after the remodel, not on prior visits. When staff pressed it that day, it felt arbitrary and set up a conflict that didn't need to happen. Day to day, it's an all-around poorly managed operation. They held the grand reopening after the renovation with a backboard pad already torn off and jagged metal exposed--it took well over a month to get it repaired after I kept asking. The gym floor is consistently filthy. That wasn't an isolated bad day with one employee. Over the past year I had multiple run-ins with other staff who were rude or dismissive. One involved a staff member who moved to shut the whole basketball gym down over kids misbehaving. Another involved two basketball players I coach and mentor who needed a ride home: while I finished a quick workout (about 15 minutes) in the 24/7 workout area after regular hours, staff wanted them to wait outside in the winter instead of letting them sit in the workout center seating area. My one-year suspension letter cited a pattern of my conduct--not just one incident. On June 23, 2026, the bag dispute in the basketball gym escalated badly. A staff member followed me, used profanity, made deeply offensive comments about my deceased mother, and said he wanted to meet me in the parking lot after his shift in about 45 minutes. He then took off his work shirt, handed over his walkie-talkie, and attempted to physically assault me in the basketball gym. Police were called; staff and other members physically restrained him until police arrived so I could safely leave the building. I filed a formal complaint to the CEO the same night. The next day, when leadership called to hear my side, I was asked not to post about the incident on social media. That left me feeling they were more focused on controlling the story than on member safety. Leadership said an investigation was underway and that security footage was preserved. I was told to avoid that staff member while he remained working in the same gym area. I bought a compliant backpack and used the locker. I tried to resolve things in writing. When the investigation concluded, I received the one-year suspension--not a clear outcome on staff accountability or whether members are actually safe when things go that far. I'm a long-time member. This is my experience: inconsistent enforcement, neglected maintenance, staff attitudes that added unnecessary tension, and a suspension that landed on me after the worst incident. Decide for yourself whether that matches "safe and welcoming for all."

The maintenance man who works in the locker room (an older black gentleman) is one of the kindest…read morepeople and best workers that I have ever met. He was such a great hire for the Y. I have never not seen him in there, cleaning and being so helpful to anyone who