A called Selma City Council Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss a sagging pants ordinance was cancelled Tuesday because one of the key participants couldn’t attend.

Councilwoman Dr. Monica Newton of Ward 3 and chair of the committee called off Tuesday’s planned 5 p.m. session at City Hall because Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Jackson said he couldn’t attend.

Jackson was the force behind the consideration of a sagging pants ordinance by the council, Newton said.

Jackson had made the request several weeks ago to Mayor George Evans.

“There’s no need to meet without him,” Newton said of Jackson. “If Michael Jackson can’t make it, it’s not worth the time.”

Jackson had to go out of town for a meeting, which conflicted with the Public Safety Committee’s meeting.

Recently Jackson told the mayor and others he has received many calls as to youths who wear their pants well below the waist, exposing their underwear.

Jackson said his gang task force has seen a trend where gang members wear the colors identifying their association under their clothing. They wear sagging pants to flash those colors. Flashing colors to rival gangs causes conflict.

Because of Jackson’s request, city attorney Jimmy Nunn crafted an ordinance from other passed by municipalities in Alabama, but the council decided to discuss the issue before moving forward on the issue — the reason the Public Safety Committee had scheduled the meeting.

“I suppose we will forward this to the council meeting. I hope Michael Jackson will attend,” Newton said.