Homeless
Joe:
I do remember Rick Baty! Did he intoduce the slogan "Think Globally, Act Locally?" Also, didn't Ligon want to develop the riverfront area with "the bridge" before "the vista" came along?
……………..
Dear Joe,
Rick Baty was a creative genius whose talents and perpetual-motion presence will be forever missed in Columbia. Thanks for reminding us about Rick, may he rest in peace.
In the summers of 2005 and 2006 I had a unique opportunity to work at the United Nations and observe life in Manhattan up close. What amazed me was the greenery. Every square inch of available soil -- nearly every crack in the concrete jungle -- has something planted and growing. After a rain, the air smells wonderfully fresh because there are trees and flowers everywhere. I think the planting program is called The Urban Forest -- something like that.
If that kind of tangible enchantment can be found in New York, there is no reason it cannot be duplicated and exponentially improved upon here in Columbia, a city whose potential is still mostly a blank canvas.
Thanks for your always interesting and informative newsletter.
…………….
Joseph,
I certainly plan to be at the city council meeting in which the Homeless situation is discussed.I am disgusted with the way the city is handeling it. The more they sweep it under the rug, the worst the problem gets, and the more the business owners complain. yet City concil is either too arrogant, too stupid, or too insensitive to realize this fact. In my opinion, it a a combination of the the three.
I also remember Rick Batey. His studio was net to hairemhair cut place in Five points where I used to get m haircut. I was also a volunteer on his campaign, and do recall him coming up with the curb side recycling idea. I also recall that prior tot he run offs between Coble and Adams, there was a debate at at Lonhstreet theatre (if memory serves my correctly). I also seem to recall that at the time of this debate Coble said it was ecomomically not practicle, as did Adams. Coble also scolded Adamds for what at the time he said was a waste of money on Sidney (Now Finley) Park. It amazes me how many things coble has put down to a waste of time only totake credit for it when it works.
Parking Issues and Parking Meters at County Administration Building
jsa-Below was my note to David Adams about the meter issue. Sometime soon after the media called to find out who the doctor was as they wanted to interview him. Unfortunately, though the bad taste still lingered and he has never gone back, he politely declined any comment, though he still had nothing nice to say about the Coble response or the mayor’s lack of help. The patients he saw could not always afford a $10 prescription, yet they got hit with fines and towing fees higher than that. He felt if the city had that callous a heart, his time was worthless, so he left.
********
Way to go David! You are the hero of the common man! But this is not the first time this has come up. I know a doctor who volunteered his time at the free clinic in your building. The indigent patients who came to the clinic often had to pay for meters and get tickets because they had to be in longer than they expected. Going to feed meters could mean missing your call. Worse yet, when they had to park along the railroad track side because of lack of spaces, they would not only get a ticket, but if memory serves me correctly, they got towed.
Imagine. These are people who cannot afford prescriptions for themselves or their children, and we are ticketing and towing them. So we spend tax money for welfare, then steal it back by tickets and towing. Then they need more, and we have to give them more.
The doctor wrote mayor Coble a letter asking for relief for these patients, but nothing happened. He explained that he is giving his time free to help people, so he is saving taxpayers money from doctors fees. In turn, couldn’t the city help by not penalizing people who have very meager, if no, means to help themselves? I cannot remember if he got a bland “we will look into the matter” letter from Coble, or no response at all. I just remember this doctor’s frustration and anger with the city and mayor over seeing his patients being robbed of money they so desperately needed, especially since he was giving his time for free, even paying his gas and other expenses out of his pocket. He eventually quit volunteering, angered at the situation.
David is absolutely right. Citizens are being penalized to do business with their own government, which is not following the letter of the law they make any business follow. Whenever anyone builds, he has to have a minimum number of free parking spaces based on square footage of the building and business classification. That is the law, zoning law. Yet city hall does not have that. Try finding a space on a Wednesday when council is having a meeting, starting at 10a. At least county council meets in the evening when there are no meter violations.
David is right. The meters need to come out!
Joseph Azar
********
jsa-This was part of the correspondence I had with the doctor and the news person.
I sent him an email and asked him if he would talk with you. He is not eager to, though still angry about the situation, He said: “Joseph, I'm going to pass on this.
Bob Coble doesn't give a damn about the poor, but for various reasons I'm not going to weigh in on this.”
I asked him if he would speak anon to you and have not gotten an answer yet. You might want to interview past and present workers at the clinic. Some may talk about this issue. It needs to be brought to light and I am sure someone will be bold and unafraid enough to speak out.
Let me know how more I can help.
jsa-It is unfortunate this issue never made the news.
…………………..
Re parking meters and the problems they cause: I was talking with a middle manager who works for the state. She mentioned the time & money it costs the state when the employees
a) stop work to run outside & feed the meters
b) stop thinking about their work and start worrying about feeding the meters
Speaking of the problems the city (and state) causes itself, why doesn't it stop wallowing in self pity & resentment about something that happened almost 150 years ago, and get on with its life?? If they would try to think of something positive they could say about Columbia. . . instead of Columbia's HOT (which not a surprise in July & Aug). . .they might start making some progress and rely less on being a vassal of USC.
PS: If you doubt my correctness re self pity & resentment, Joe, just look at the mural on the building adjacent to the Flying Saucer. Is that all Columbia can claim as a heritage??
…………………
Joe,
Re: "Recently, the county has added dozens of new parking meters to compliment the dozens of city meters around our building."
Joe, Joe, Joe you're going about this all wrong! You and the Hari Kari Grill are sitting on a 'gold mine.' Get yourselves some custom made meters that take Visa and debit cards and sink them in your parking area. Maybe they could play a tune or have cool flashing lights or a 'double or nothing' option. Or maybe golden tanned bikini clad 'Valet Parking Attendants' after dark sponsored by Island Tan and you could just park cars up Lee St. and all around the park! Look at this as an alternate income opportunity and not an obstacle. Set up a pair of those D T Bipolar SuperTowers and Tower Loudspeakers and play Bluegrass music with wailing hammer dulcimer solos and mandolin jam bands all night. You know that the 'Don of 5 Points' Freewheelin' Frank Barco wouldn't let an opportunity like this pass him by!! Use the proceeds to by books!! So, what do ya think?
Yours truly,
(Omit my name so I can remain a ‘Secret Partner!’)
jsa-Hmmm. You want to be the first to park here? Only $5/hour, and free music!
……………….
Joseph,
You and everyone else do NOT understand! The city has to have the meters to help pay the TREMENDOUS NUMBER of out of kilter salaries, studies, law suits, etc. that they incur because of "sneaky", corrupt leaders.
……………….
Not to mention the ridiculous amount of people we 'employ' to play hall monitor on the meters. This is especially galling during the 'extended' hours or weekends or other times when the amount of revenue surely doesn't cover their cost. I'd much rather see them providing security and safety services in more areas of the city.
Meters are a major business prevention mechanism. At a time we need to encourage people to visit businesses and engage in the city, we instead make it a pain to go anywhere downtown or in 5 Points during the day (and the day extends way too far into the night!).
………………….
Do you know if employees at that building have to pay for their parking in the garage?
………………..
another commitee and another expensive consultant no one listens to....hmmm.. way to go belinda. those are some really fresh ideas. great leadership.
Other Comments
jsa-Those of you that read this column will know the issues behind these comments. Those of you who don’t, start reading. The archives may be found at http://groups.google.com/group/theazarnewsletter/topics.
…………………….
Joe, with regards to the person wanting to see a light rail line run from Irmo to downtown, I beg to differ. Mass Transit, even in places like New York and D.C. does not pay for itself and Columbia's limited (does CMRTA even have enough funding to qualify as limited?) transportation funds should go to the buses. BTW, I'm not sure how much CMRTA's ridership would increase if they had understandable routes and maps available for the public to see. My parents live in the Harbison area and I see buses all the time running down Harbison Blvd/St. Andrews and Bush River Roads. Has this person ridden a bus? Let's get acountablility with CMRTA, find out what its potential ridership is and give it the funding needed to get people around Richland and Lexington Counties (and other places with the Shuttles) before spending tons of money on pie-in-the sky proposals like rail.
Also, Joe although many of us can certainly understand why businessmen like Mr. Ligon and yourself may not want to serve as mayor, I think I speak for many of us who want a mayor who understands what it takes to make a business run tackling issues like audits, budgets and city ordinances instead of a cheerleader who doesn't grasp why the city shouldn't do somethings regardless of how good they sound.
……………………..
You can pay your parking tickets in the alley behind the Marriot downtown. That is where you can go to argue the tickets also.
………………………..
Add Boozer Lumber Company to your list of small businesses going down.
It is no wonder! A Federal Government that caters to big business and pays lip service to small business is the reason we have so many oligopolies. There is no real pursuit of antitrust anymore. I have a friend who has started at least three small banks during his career solely for the purpose of being bought up by the big ones. He's made a fortune! Wonder if this is a contributory factor to our banking crisis today. Some heads need to roll in the financial community; and George W. Bush should be indicted for treason. A war (another one) going no where; an economy going down the toilet; and a country that is taking back seat to banana republics who hold oil over our heads and sap the cash out of our wallets. Harry Truman, are you still there? FDR, can you once again bail out this country with a program that puts Americans back to work? Bailing out Wall Street and the financial community is only a band aid that the wealthy want so they can save their asses (excuse me, I mean assets) at the tax payers' expense. Democrats tax and spend; Republicans borrow and spend. It's time to tax the people who have the money. Take the cap off of Social Security earnings; apply it to unearned income as well as earned. Apply a declining rate of tax to capital gains making short-term gains taxable at the highest rates and long-term taxable rates at the lowest rates; this will separate speculators from investors. Federal taxes on non-essentials, like entertainment, football tickets and sports revenues, concerts. A huge recycling tax on paper products, bottles, cigarette butts, plastics, and take-out foods. A graduated income tax based on gross earnings (earned and unearned) so that people making more than $300,000 a year pay taxes. Scrap regressive tax plans like the flat tax and the national sales tax, as they unfairly tax those with lower incomes. Get rid of WIC, Section 8, Title Nine and all other plans that are discriminatory against the majority. Our economic crisis may be an omen of the need for a fire sale.... get rid of everything and start over.
And let's begin with Congress and the White House!
………………
Do you know anyone that has a house for rent?
Robby and I got caught in the middle of a property owner vs. HOA fight and now we have to get out.
Looking for a 3 Bd/1.5 Bth for under $600.00 or a 3/2 for under $750.00 a month.
Let me know if you or your readers have anything.
………………….
Hey Joe,
'
I forgot to mention that the city is spending at present tens of thousands of dollars to get the books balanced by a CPA firm. Where is that money coming from???? They have people in the finance dept. that are supposed to be able to do that without calling in the accountants from the outside world.
……………….
Thought you might be interested in this article from Education Week. The Richland 1 board has clearly been looking for a leader in the super hero model.
The Turnstile Superintendency?
August 27, 2008 by Larry Cuban
Despite problems in their districts, the more successful urban school leaders stick around and make steady progress
http://lnk.edweek.org/edweek/index.html?url=/ew/articles/2008/08/27/01cuban_ep.h28.html&tkn=7%2BaVyyRHh%2BGjxxw1VDryqRx4HlR%2FR2ys
© 2007 Editorial Projects in Education
…………………………………………………….
I fel the Hospitality Tax is a Rip-Off and the money is not being spent as it should. When you pay tax on top of tax it gets into greed.
………………………….
We've got to be kidding ourselves if we believe the "Brain Drain" can be reversed anytime soon in Columbia. Maybe if you were in Charlotte or Atlanta things would be different. Even Charleston and the upstate are ahead of us when it comes to retaining young precious talent. Why ? Look first at our leaders and those groups that are even compensated for bringing industry here. Columbia is a nest of old world thinking in a modern fast moving world. We the citizens can blame ourselves whether we've moved here recently or been raised here. It's our vote that consistently puts these people in office. The University and it's growth are responsible for the greater percentage of job opportunity. As one elder friend put it; it has got to be in the water because no other city in the south with this much future potential could consistently do the same things over and over again and expect something different. The "New Columbia" of the future will not only draw people here to be educated, but settle down and stay here because of job opportunity and progressive leadership.
…………………………..
Usually I just read your comments without making a comment but the one about Paxil got my attention. I went into a deep depression about 10 years ago after a relationship breakup. I found that the breakup triggered some other "depression" related cycles I was experiencing. So, my doctor recommended Paxil. I admit it wasn't the greatest solution. I had to change dosages several times until they came out with Paxil CR. Everything leveled out on the Paxil CR. At one time they pulled it from the shelf for a short period of time and I had to take Zoloft. Now, that MADE me crazy!!!! I got back on Paxil CR ASAP. It works for me. It doesn't work for everyone. My depression is cyclical and doesn't consume my life. I've chosen to continue taking the medication to prevent depression. After that last one, I don't want to risk a bad bout that I might not recover from. So, medication helps some while it hinders others. Each person must take the course of action that is best for them.
……………………….
Thank you for including me on your newsletter email list.
The information I am forwarding to you is of vital interest to me.
Our national deby is not a result of the NIH or science grants; I believe
a science debate will be necessary to us to evaluate our candidates'
ability to lead our country through the economic and technological
challenges in the future.
is pleased to announce
Innovation 2008
Dear Marion,
Today we released Innovation 2008: 14 Questions the candidates for President should answer about Science & America's Future.
We started with more than 3,300 questions submitted by our 38,000 signers. We worked with 11 other organizations representing millions of voters to winnow them into the top 14 questions the candidates should answer. While there are many others, these 14 had the most common representation. They are broad enough to allow for wide variations in response, but they are specific enough to help guide the discussion toward many of the largest and most important unresolved challenges currently facing the United States.
We have submitted them to the campaigns and asked for written responses and for them to consider a broader, nationally televised forum for the general public.
We also made certain these 14 questions aligned with and contained as a subset the 7 congressional questions we codeveloped with our friends at Scientists and Engineers for America and 14 other organizations. This cooperative strategy has helped define the science agenda American voters need to hear about from their elected leaders.
To support the Presidential questions, Scientists and Engineers for America commissioned a poll on science and the election. It is published on our site, and it shows that voters are much more likely to vote for a candidate for President that will tackle America's major science issues.
Now we need your help to propel this major effort forward. Please tell 5 people you know about this initiative and ask them to sign on. Blog about it, write about it, and call or write to your local paper and ask them to cover the 14 Questions of Innovation 2008. And of course, call, email, and write the campaigns. These questions are critical to the future of the United States. Politicians pay attention to voters and the press. By working together we can continue to make science and technology a more prominent part of the 2008 elections.
Please also contribute to support our ongoing citizens' initiative to turn this country around.
-The Team at ScienceDebate2008.com
Subject: Earn it!!
A social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School
in Little Rock did something not to be forgotten.
On the first day of school, with the permission of the
school superintendent, the principal and the building
supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her
classroom.
When the first period kids entered the room they
discovered that there were no desks.
'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?'. She replied, 'You
can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done
to earn the right to sit at a desk.'
They thought, 'well, maybe it's our grades.' No,' she
said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No,
it's not even your behavior.'
And so, they came and went, the first period, second
period, third period. Still no desks in the
classroom.
By early afternoon television news crews had started
gathering in
Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy
teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.
The final period of the day came and as the puzzled
students found seats on the floor of the deskless
classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no
one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done
to earn the right to sit at the desks that are
ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to
tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to
the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven
(27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that
classroom, each one carrying a school desk.
The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and
then they would walk over and stand alongside the
wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final
desk in place those kids started to understand,
perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how
the right to sit at those desks had been earned.
Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at
these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed
the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in
them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good
students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so
that you could have the freedom to get an education.
Don't ever forget it.
By the way, this is a true story. Please consider
passing this along so others won't forget that the
freedoms we have in this great country were earned by
U. S. Veterans.
AMERICA - THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Homeless Shelter-Again (9-22-08)
Take a look at the notice below. I wonder who in city government came up with this idea? I am sure one of the council will take credit for it, lots of credit if it goes through, as council members always do. Never will you find them giving credit to anyone else, unless of course, it buys them votes or money. Too many good ideas have I seen come from the general public, and far too often selfishly co-opted and claimed by someone on council. So let me give you history behind this.
Many years ago, when Coble first ran for mayor, he faced 3 opponents: incumbent Adams, Ligon, and a fellow named Rick Baty. Rick was quite an unusual fellow, ahead of his time in many ways. Besides being a graphic artist, he was a roller skater, a musician, and an environmentalist, among others. He pushed for recycling, his big issue. When it came to a runoff between Coble & Adams, Coble told Rick that he would institute city recycling if Rick would swing his supporters behind him, which Rick did. That is how Coble got elected, and the only real blemish on Rick’s record.
But Rick had many other good ideas, which he shared with me over the times I ran. One I really found quite interesting and doable was his agriculture in the city idea. Take bare city land and let the homeless and poor use it to plant fruits and vegetables for their own use. Or flowers for sale. Use any property, whether right of ways that had barren areas, around city buildings, in parks, anywhere land could be found and used for agriculture. I liked it so much that I promised Rick I would promote it every time I ran, and institute it when I won. Rick passed away many years ago, and I promised him before he did I would keep after it, which I have.
In thinking about it over many years, I came up with embellishments, the primary one being to do this by a river in the government area, meaning the areas not allowed for any construction due to potential flooding. Areas I promoted were either by Elmwood Cemetery, or in the Bluff Road area. I was told, repeatedly, that in town was totally unacceptable as that area was to be developed and the rich that would occupy the area would never allow it. Nor would the people on Governor’s Hill, or the neighborhoods near by. When I promoted the Bluff Rd. area, I was told that was insensitive as A) the people out there were burdened enough with low socio-economic issues, B) as the homeless needed to be close to services that were available only in town, and C) the homeless should not be shuttled away from town and out of sight, as out of sight, out of mind.
My proposal, which grew out of Rick’s idea, grew into fields for agriculture, fields for recreation, a day shelter with showers, telephone, laundromat, lockers, mail stop, and other needs of the homeless. I also promoted building facilities so the helping agencies could all locate satellite services there, along with job training of all sorts. I strongly suggested the city give the land to Oliver Gospel and provide economic assistance for night shelters. Doing all of these would help to keep the homeless off Main St., where there was much anguish, and anger, over many of the homeless that panhandled customers and merchants, along with using the street and store fronts for restroom facilities. It also gave the homeless somewhere else to spend the day rather than the library during intolerable weather. My proposal was to give more help to the homeless and their needs, helping them to find ways to get help more easily, and to help themselves, building a sense of worth rather than resentment and anger. It also was designed to help with the development of Main St. business, especially retail, as downtown people were complaining of the homeless and how they ran off customers, especially ladies who were intimidated, and even more so if they had small children in tow.
This concept I have promoted for nearly 20 years, adding to it as I discovered more embellishments, and as many of you have given me more ideas. There is plenty of available land by the cemetery, the railroad tracks, in the industrial area to the right of I-126 as you exit to Huger, and under the Elmwood overpass (I have seen buildings under highway bridges elsewhere). This area is on the bus line (until it goes bankrupt shortly), is close to agencies, has suitable land and plenty of space, is not desirable for housing due to the road noise and dirt (OK, in California it would be suitable, or Manhattan, but we do not have their problems that require that, either), and gives the homeless an opportunity to create and develop. It also allows the homeless to stay out of sight if they want. Some who are homeless DO NOT want to be seen as homeless as they are afraid of losing a job if discovered. Besides, they want to maintain some dignity, and being branded as homeless does not.
There is more, but this is the nutshell history of it. It has taken almost 2 decades of promoting this concept to see this happen. I am not sure who and where else this is coming from, but I am sure it will have some “study” behind it, or some “focus group” or some politician claiming it.
The political egotists as they are, never give due credit to the average citizen for good ideas, but steal them instead and claim them as their own, trying to show “vision” on their part in order to gain votes. If they only understood people, especially the ones they represent, and gave them public credit, imagine how many more good ideas we would get, and how much more cooperation and energy there would be to accomplish them. Ego, greed, selfishness. So damaging, and so dangerous. It holds Columbia back.
Just remember where the good idea came from-Rick Baty.
________________________________________
From: RhettAnders@aol.com [mailto:RhettAnders@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 9:37 PM
To: theazarnewsletter+owner@googlegroups.com
Subject: Joe..please post.
Hello Everyone!
Columbia City Council will take up the homeless issue this Wednesday. The City is looking for alternatives to the Salvation Army Site in Downtown. The front runner to this is to build a permanent facility near the Water/Hydro Plant in the Vista.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to come to this very important meeting and express your thoughts for this or any other idea as to how we finally solve this problem in Columbia. Please forward this to anyone who works or lives downtown. Everyone's opinion matters and we must have resolution to this. Please come be heard.
Wednesday September 24th @ 2:00 PM in City Council Chambers in City Hall.
Thanks!
Rhett Anders
President
Windemere Spring N.A.
Many years ago, when Coble first ran for mayor, he faced 3 opponents: incumbent Adams, Ligon, and a fellow named Rick Baty. Rick was quite an unusual fellow, ahead of his time in many ways. Besides being a graphic artist, he was a roller skater, a musician, and an environmentalist, among others. He pushed for recycling, his big issue. When it came to a runoff between Coble & Adams, Coble told Rick that he would institute city recycling if Rick would swing his supporters behind him, which Rick did. That is how Coble got elected, and the only real blemish on Rick’s record.
But Rick had many other good ideas, which he shared with me over the times I ran. One I really found quite interesting and doable was his agriculture in the city idea. Take bare city land and let the homeless and poor use it to plant fruits and vegetables for their own use. Or flowers for sale. Use any property, whether right of ways that had barren areas, around city buildings, in parks, anywhere land could be found and used for agriculture. I liked it so much that I promised Rick I would promote it every time I ran, and institute it when I won. Rick passed away many years ago, and I promised him before he did I would keep after it, which I have.
In thinking about it over many years, I came up with embellishments, the primary one being to do this by a river in the government area, meaning the areas not allowed for any construction due to potential flooding. Areas I promoted were either by Elmwood Cemetery, or in the Bluff Road area. I was told, repeatedly, that in town was totally unacceptable as that area was to be developed and the rich that would occupy the area would never allow it. Nor would the people on Governor’s Hill, or the neighborhoods near by. When I promoted the Bluff Rd. area, I was told that was insensitive as A) the people out there were burdened enough with low socio-economic issues, B) as the homeless needed to be close to services that were available only in town, and C) the homeless should not be shuttled away from town and out of sight, as out of sight, out of mind.
My proposal, which grew out of Rick’s idea, grew into fields for agriculture, fields for recreation, a day shelter with showers, telephone, laundromat, lockers, mail stop, and other needs of the homeless. I also promoted building facilities so the helping agencies could all locate satellite services there, along with job training of all sorts. I strongly suggested the city give the land to Oliver Gospel and provide economic assistance for night shelters. Doing all of these would help to keep the homeless off Main St., where there was much anguish, and anger, over many of the homeless that panhandled customers and merchants, along with using the street and store fronts for restroom facilities. It also gave the homeless somewhere else to spend the day rather than the library during intolerable weather. My proposal was to give more help to the homeless and their needs, helping them to find ways to get help more easily, and to help themselves, building a sense of worth rather than resentment and anger. It also was designed to help with the development of Main St. business, especially retail, as downtown people were complaining of the homeless and how they ran off customers, especially ladies who were intimidated, and even more so if they had small children in tow.
This concept I have promoted for nearly 20 years, adding to it as I discovered more embellishments, and as many of you have given me more ideas. There is plenty of available land by the cemetery, the railroad tracks, in the industrial area to the right of I-126 as you exit to Huger, and under the Elmwood overpass (I have seen buildings under highway bridges elsewhere). This area is on the bus line (until it goes bankrupt shortly), is close to agencies, has suitable land and plenty of space, is not desirable for housing due to the road noise and dirt (OK, in California it would be suitable, or Manhattan, but we do not have their problems that require that, either), and gives the homeless an opportunity to create and develop. It also allows the homeless to stay out of sight if they want. Some who are homeless DO NOT want to be seen as homeless as they are afraid of losing a job if discovered. Besides, they want to maintain some dignity, and being branded as homeless does not.
There is more, but this is the nutshell history of it. It has taken almost 2 decades of promoting this concept to see this happen. I am not sure who and where else this is coming from, but I am sure it will have some “study” behind it, or some “focus group” or some politician claiming it.
The political egotists as they are, never give due credit to the average citizen for good ideas, but steal them instead and claim them as their own, trying to show “vision” on their part in order to gain votes. If they only understood people, especially the ones they represent, and gave them public credit, imagine how many more good ideas we would get, and how much more cooperation and energy there would be to accomplish them. Ego, greed, selfishness. So damaging, and so dangerous. It holds Columbia back.
Just remember where the good idea came from-Rick Baty.
________________________________________
From: RhettAnders@aol.com [mailto:RhettAnders@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 9:37 PM
To: theazarnewsletter+owner@googlegroups.com
Subject: Joe..please post.
Hello Everyone!
Columbia City Council will take up the homeless issue this Wednesday. The City is looking for alternatives to the Salvation Army Site in Downtown. The front runner to this is to build a permanent facility near the Water/Hydro Plant in the Vista.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to come to this very important meeting and express your thoughts for this or any other idea as to how we finally solve this problem in Columbia. Please forward this to anyone who works or lives downtown. Everyone's opinion matters and we must have resolution to this. Please come be heard.
Wednesday September 24th @ 2:00 PM in City Council Chambers in City Hall.
Thanks!
Rhett Anders
President
Windemere Spring N.A.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Odds & Ends (9-22-08)
The Greek festival was a HUGE success! We ran out of souvlaki and gyro on Saturday before close. Ran out of pastries Sunday early, along with doughnuts and food from the kitchen. Yet more was ordered this year. I did not get any salad or pasta, a favorite of mine, but I did carry many buckets of salad to be served (how did I let it run out before I got any?).
Gotta say, Lady Chablis is better than RuPaul, if you ask me.
The bicycle race was fun to watch. Unfortunately, not as big a crowd as I expected.
OK, onward….
The City
I cannot begin to tell you how many times I was asked to run again for mayor this weekend. I had generally decided not to run again for public office, instead supporting others I feel will be clean, honest, and effective in our city. Yet the public dissatisfaction with all of city government, from Coble to council to Austin, is past comprehension. Not only citizens, but those employed by the city as well. I cannot believe the anger city employees have for council and administration. So much so they are almost willing to risk job just to speak about what is wrong. Coble has always been a source of dissatisfaction, but the hostility towards Austin really has taken me by surprise. This I am going to have to write about in the future, but the anger comes from employees across the board, not any one demographic.
People feel that the city is in a financial bind, that the truth has not come out. The lack of balanced books, the very high salaries of some, the demand that the merchants pay for Christmas lights as the city has no money for them now, and on and on, just leads everyone to the same conclusions: that council and manager are incompetent, do not take the jobs seriously, and that there are things being hidden. One person last week made a very telling comment. He said the city will not bring the books up to date for a very long time, keeping them at least 6 months behind. Because if they do bring them up to date, it will show that the city is truly out of money.
Someone a few weeks ago emailed me asking that I call for a grand jury investigation into the city, that is how bad it is. Supposedly, a citizen can call for one, the writer stated. I do not know if it is true, but like the state supreme court, it should be handled by the feds.
SC State Supreme Court
Ok, they say that bad stuff comes in threes. Here is the second, so what is the third.
This past week I had the opportunity to hear about some lawyers and their trials with the supreme court, eventually talking to some close to them about the situations. I am not sure what is going on, but some have told me that it is a kangaroo court, the way attorney investigations are handled. A complaint against the court is handled by the court and its subservient agencies, not by independent agents. An article in The State this past week made reference to the court and that it should not be the one investigating itself. That is quite obvious, it should not. Yet it is, for itself and for complaints lodged against it.
FITS News, Will Folks, put out this article ( http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/09/04/sc-supreme-court-faces-multiple-investigations/) that states that the court is under investigation. I have been told that SLED and the US Justice Dept. are in the information gathering stage. It would seem difficult for a state agency such as SLED or the attorney general to investigate impartially, but that the feds could less partially.
Lets see what happens here.
Temple Ligon
Temple, one of Columbia’s great assets, hits it again!
www.ecsc.org/index.php?Itemid=161&id=108&option=com_content&task=view
Our state's electric co-ops magazine Living in South Carolina published my article on Jasper Johns and sent about 450,000 copies across the state. Last May in Portland, Oregon, without telling me, the Council of Rural Electric Communicators declared my Johns article as their Best Feature Story among all of the statewide co-ops publications in the country for 2007.
I found out last week when I Googled myself, "John Temple Ligon."
Sometimes you should check yourself out and see how you're doing. I hadn't, apparently, since before last May. Anyway, I'm tickled pink to win a national journalism award, and I'm happy to tell my friends about it.
Thanks for reading such shameless self-promotion. Hell, if I don't, who will?
John Temple Ligon
Paying Parking Tickets
Joe,
I was just wondering if you knew of any easy way to pay for parking tickets in Columbia. As a generation X'er, I admit that I don't even have a check book anymore to mail in my payments. Even when I did, they usually got there a day or two late which added penalties to my bill. I have tried to go by the city's office on Main Street to pay my parking tickets, but I can NEVER find a parking place on or around Main Street during the day when they are open. I've even gone down to the Washington Street building, but their drive up window is never open... usually b/c there is a line out the door which I don't have time to wait that long when I have a job to do. I haven't been able to find an online payment solution on the city's Web site, so do you or anyone else know the best way to pay these blasted things?
KS
P.S. For the love of God, don't underestimate the time you will need to park b/c I just got another ticket today and was only 11 minutes over.
jsa-No, I only know of the drive up window at the police department.
Vista Concerts
what happened to the vista concert series on thursday nites?
jsa-I was told that the sponsor felt there was a large liability with people drinking and decided to withdraw. Below is the official statement.
No Fall Concert series
Vista After 5 - Where Columbia Comes Alive!
Fall 2008 season postponed
The Fall season of Vista After 5 has been postponed to next Spring due to reasons beyond our control. We truly appreciate your support, and the help of all the volunteers in the past seasons. We look forward to continuing, and building upon, our relationships with all of you when we return in April 2009.
Our gracious Sponsor at Jillians will be hosting the bands inside Jillians each Thursday from 6PM - 9PM each Thursday afternoon. You can view the band schedule by clicking here.
11 Years of Music, Fun, Dancing for a great cause!
For the past eleven years, the Vista After 5 concerts have been fantastic social and business networking events. There is never an admission fee, and beverage proceeds and your generous donations support very worthy local charitable organizations.
If you would like to be a part of our exciting 2009 season, either as a Sponsor or a Volunteer, please send us an email @vistalife@aol.com. We would love to hear from you! We currently have Sponsorship and Volunteer positions available.
History of Vista After 5
The Vista After 5 series was created by a group of dedicated volunteers and began in September of 1997. These free concerts have become "the place to be" every Thursday afternoon in Columbia, S.C. They feature the very best variety and show bands from throughout the Southeast and have generated many thousands of dollars in contributions to worthy charities. Your help and support for the future is greatly appreciated! Vista After 5
email: vistalife@aol.com
phone: (803) 239-9303
vistalife@aol.com
Quick Links...
• Visit our Website
More Odds & Ends
Joe,
I received word that the Happy Bookseller is closing in October. This news is sad for lovers of independent bookstores. Maybe you should put the news out in your newsletter.
Thanks,
jsa-Ace Hardware too. We are losing small business to large corporate boxes, who do not have the knowledge, service, and, believe it or not, the selection. I have noticed that the big hardware stores do not have the selection and variety of smaller stores such as Hiller Hardware. I can usually find one bolt or washer I need at Hiller, but at the big stores, if I can find it, I am required to buy a package of 5 or 10.
If all the specialists disappear, where will we find the knowledge and service?
………………..
Hi all.
I have a friend here in Columbia that is the Director of Programs for a non-profit agency called Communities In Schools of the Midlands. The sole purpose of this agency is to help children who are at risk of dropping out of school. In this technological age that we live in today, one of the required items on the school supply list of area students is a "jump" or flash" drive for them to safely backup their computer lab work. Many of the students that my friend fosters do not have the means to provide these for themselves. I have located a vendor that will sell me 100 256mb Memorex flash drives for $350 shipping included. That's only $3.50 per unit... that's less than a cup of Starbucks coffee!
I will be collecting donations to help acquire this item for as many Columbia area students as possible. If anyone is interested in helping out monetarily please let me know.
Best.
Jay Ellington
Art Director
Constantnow
[ellington@constantnow.com]
…………………..
Dear Joe,
Please explain why the 5 pts merchant's association is so adamant about having a garage built on the Kenny site?? What is behind it?? My husband and I attended the Five Pts Citizens Parking Advisory Committee meeing last evening but I cannot get at the economic basis of the merchants' demands as they are so contradictory. The owner of the creaive toy shop pleaded for the garage even though she has been in business on Saluda Ave for 20 yrs. ( She even maintained that if a garage were built behind Clausen's mothers with children in tow wouldn't walk to her shop and that she wouldn't do so as a customer either!!! Oh how the automobile and construction industry loves to hear such assertions regardless of the energy constraints facing the mobile world devoted to the 30-second waddle.) The same is true for the owner of the liquor store (Dennis??). If business has been so bad for the last twenty years sans garage why haven't they departed for better locations?? They all talked about the need for employee parking and in fact that was the main thrust of their argument for a parking garage. Two other merchants (the owner of an art gallery and another Dennis) asserted that there were plenty of parking spots. Evidently, employees cannot walk a couple of blocks to work and I assume from the the merchants' point of view that employees do not arrive on time for work and excuse their tardiness because of their search for a parking spot.
Five Pts businesses or rather their customers contribute to the hospitality tax. Since the businesses are the conduit, owners feel that they should receive benefits from such a tax in the form of garages, for example. Why can't they benefit from this tax in another way?? They have a wonderful opportunity to find a creative and I might add a much cheaper and more environmentally friendly solution to their putatvie problems.
The owner of the liquor store argued that the Kenny site as the gateway to Five Pts. would very soon be home to a Walgreens sorrounded by asphalt. Scare tactics?? That Walgreens would open another store so close to the one they have recently built on Garner's Ferry is another story and I suppose from the point of view of the investors who bought Kenny's site a moot point.
You may have written about the above in some detail. Please refer me to that scribble.
jsa-Look in the archives: http://groups.google.com/group/theazarnewsletter/topics. I have written much about it. The push for Kenny’s comes primarily from the Saluda Ave. merchants as it is close to them. They have given much faulty rationalization about how it is the center of 5 Points, closer to everyone, etc. At this point, either it will not be built in any fashion, or there are closed door meetings going on, just as in the beginning.
……………………
Hi Joe,
You seem to have enough contacts in town to get some answers on "missing link" questions. If you recall, shortly before school was back in session a decomposed body was found in the Maxcy Gregg stream off of Pickens and Blossom Streets adjacent to the ROTC building . The State covered it for a few days - maybe even a week - and the last I read was that they couldn't identify the body. Was this issue ever resolved? or was it put to sleep so as not to alarm the incoming students and the parents that were leaving their children in Columbia to go to school. Maybe I just missed the follow-up on it! Do you know how the story ended?
jsa-No, I do not.
……………………
On the CCI property issue and bridges to somewhere:
I don't know why the city let CCI be developed that way. They should have built another bridge over the Congaree River there. Tayor Street at the river could have been straightened and a new bridge could have been added. Now this can never happen because of the developement on that section of CCI. This is a mistake that will haunt Columbia when it grows 10-20 years down the road. Someday they will have to build another bridge over the Saluda River too. There is no way to cross from Columbia all the way to I 26. I predict they will have either a 9th Street or 12th Street Bridge someday (Maybe hooking up with Greystone Blvd.). Any comments?
jsa-I overheard a group at the Greek Festival discussing that, and everyone thought the project looked cheap and junky. The State ran letters from people who felt it is very poor architecture. The city, meaning council, has no real interest in good design or architecture. Maybe they just do not know what good design and construction is.
……………………
Why won't the city consider a light rail train from Irmo to the city center?
jsa-Ask the city that. I am sure you will get: “We are looking into that”, “The Midlands regional Planning Commission is in charge of that”, “The other towns and governments won’t work with us”, or some other similar comment. Attorney Joe Roof has promoted this idea for years, a great one involving a bus that is fitted with rail wheels and can run on track and street alike.
No vision, no will, no understanding, no money, and no money to be made under the table, yet.
…………………………..
Enough for tonight; plenty more where that came from. I will look for your comments.
Gotta say, Lady Chablis is better than RuPaul, if you ask me.
The bicycle race was fun to watch. Unfortunately, not as big a crowd as I expected.
OK, onward….
The City
I cannot begin to tell you how many times I was asked to run again for mayor this weekend. I had generally decided not to run again for public office, instead supporting others I feel will be clean, honest, and effective in our city. Yet the public dissatisfaction with all of city government, from Coble to council to Austin, is past comprehension. Not only citizens, but those employed by the city as well. I cannot believe the anger city employees have for council and administration. So much so they are almost willing to risk job just to speak about what is wrong. Coble has always been a source of dissatisfaction, but the hostility towards Austin really has taken me by surprise. This I am going to have to write about in the future, but the anger comes from employees across the board, not any one demographic.
People feel that the city is in a financial bind, that the truth has not come out. The lack of balanced books, the very high salaries of some, the demand that the merchants pay for Christmas lights as the city has no money for them now, and on and on, just leads everyone to the same conclusions: that council and manager are incompetent, do not take the jobs seriously, and that there are things being hidden. One person last week made a very telling comment. He said the city will not bring the books up to date for a very long time, keeping them at least 6 months behind. Because if they do bring them up to date, it will show that the city is truly out of money.
Someone a few weeks ago emailed me asking that I call for a grand jury investigation into the city, that is how bad it is. Supposedly, a citizen can call for one, the writer stated. I do not know if it is true, but like the state supreme court, it should be handled by the feds.
SC State Supreme Court
Ok, they say that bad stuff comes in threes. Here is the second, so what is the third.
This past week I had the opportunity to hear about some lawyers and their trials with the supreme court, eventually talking to some close to them about the situations. I am not sure what is going on, but some have told me that it is a kangaroo court, the way attorney investigations are handled. A complaint against the court is handled by the court and its subservient agencies, not by independent agents. An article in The State this past week made reference to the court and that it should not be the one investigating itself. That is quite obvious, it should not. Yet it is, for itself and for complaints lodged against it.
FITS News, Will Folks, put out this article ( http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/09/04/sc-supreme-court-faces-multiple-investigations/) that states that the court is under investigation. I have been told that SLED and the US Justice Dept. are in the information gathering stage. It would seem difficult for a state agency such as SLED or the attorney general to investigate impartially, but that the feds could less partially.
Lets see what happens here.
Temple Ligon
Temple, one of Columbia’s great assets, hits it again!
www.ecsc.org/index.php?Itemid=161&id=108&option=com_content&task=view
Our state's electric co-ops magazine Living in South Carolina published my article on Jasper Johns and sent about 450,000 copies across the state. Last May in Portland, Oregon, without telling me, the Council of Rural Electric Communicators declared my Johns article as their Best Feature Story among all of the statewide co-ops publications in the country for 2007.
I found out last week when I Googled myself, "John Temple Ligon."
Sometimes you should check yourself out and see how you're doing. I hadn't, apparently, since before last May. Anyway, I'm tickled pink to win a national journalism award, and I'm happy to tell my friends about it.
Thanks for reading such shameless self-promotion. Hell, if I don't, who will?
John Temple Ligon
Paying Parking Tickets
Joe,
I was just wondering if you knew of any easy way to pay for parking tickets in Columbia. As a generation X'er, I admit that I don't even have a check book anymore to mail in my payments. Even when I did, they usually got there a day or two late which added penalties to my bill. I have tried to go by the city's office on Main Street to pay my parking tickets, but I can NEVER find a parking place on or around Main Street during the day when they are open. I've even gone down to the Washington Street building, but their drive up window is never open... usually b/c there is a line out the door which I don't have time to wait that long when I have a job to do. I haven't been able to find an online payment solution on the city's Web site, so do you or anyone else know the best way to pay these blasted things?
KS
P.S. For the love of God, don't underestimate the time you will need to park b/c I just got another ticket today and was only 11 minutes over.
jsa-No, I only know of the drive up window at the police department.
Vista Concerts
what happened to the vista concert series on thursday nites?
jsa-I was told that the sponsor felt there was a large liability with people drinking and decided to withdraw. Below is the official statement.
No Fall Concert series
Vista After 5 - Where Columbia Comes Alive!
Fall 2008 season postponed
The Fall season of Vista After 5 has been postponed to next Spring due to reasons beyond our control. We truly appreciate your support, and the help of all the volunteers in the past seasons. We look forward to continuing, and building upon, our relationships with all of you when we return in April 2009.
Our gracious Sponsor at Jillians will be hosting the bands inside Jillians each Thursday from 6PM - 9PM each Thursday afternoon. You can view the band schedule by clicking here.
11 Years of Music, Fun, Dancing for a great cause!
For the past eleven years, the Vista After 5 concerts have been fantastic social and business networking events. There is never an admission fee, and beverage proceeds and your generous donations support very worthy local charitable organizations.
If you would like to be a part of our exciting 2009 season, either as a Sponsor or a Volunteer, please send us an email @vistalife@aol.com. We would love to hear from you! We currently have Sponsorship and Volunteer positions available.
History of Vista After 5
The Vista After 5 series was created by a group of dedicated volunteers and began in September of 1997. These free concerts have become "the place to be" every Thursday afternoon in Columbia, S.C. They feature the very best variety and show bands from throughout the Southeast and have generated many thousands of dollars in contributions to worthy charities. Your help and support for the future is greatly appreciated! Vista After 5
email: vistalife@aol.com
phone: (803) 239-9303
vistalife@aol.com
Quick Links...
• Visit our Website
More Odds & Ends
Joe,
I received word that the Happy Bookseller is closing in October. This news is sad for lovers of independent bookstores. Maybe you should put the news out in your newsletter.
Thanks,
jsa-Ace Hardware too. We are losing small business to large corporate boxes, who do not have the knowledge, service, and, believe it or not, the selection. I have noticed that the big hardware stores do not have the selection and variety of smaller stores such as Hiller Hardware. I can usually find one bolt or washer I need at Hiller, but at the big stores, if I can find it, I am required to buy a package of 5 or 10.
If all the specialists disappear, where will we find the knowledge and service?
………………..
Hi all.
I have a friend here in Columbia that is the Director of Programs for a non-profit agency called Communities In Schools of the Midlands. The sole purpose of this agency is to help children who are at risk of dropping out of school. In this technological age that we live in today, one of the required items on the school supply list of area students is a "jump" or flash" drive for them to safely backup their computer lab work. Many of the students that my friend fosters do not have the means to provide these for themselves. I have located a vendor that will sell me 100 256mb Memorex flash drives for $350 shipping included. That's only $3.50 per unit... that's less than a cup of Starbucks coffee!
I will be collecting donations to help acquire this item for as many Columbia area students as possible. If anyone is interested in helping out monetarily please let me know.
Best.
Jay Ellington
Art Director
Constantnow
[ellington@constantnow.com]
…………………..
Dear Joe,
Please explain why the 5 pts merchant's association is so adamant about having a garage built on the Kenny site?? What is behind it?? My husband and I attended the Five Pts Citizens Parking Advisory Committee meeing last evening but I cannot get at the economic basis of the merchants' demands as they are so contradictory. The owner of the creaive toy shop pleaded for the garage even though she has been in business on Saluda Ave for 20 yrs. ( She even maintained that if a garage were built behind Clausen's mothers with children in tow wouldn't walk to her shop and that she wouldn't do so as a customer either!!! Oh how the automobile and construction industry loves to hear such assertions regardless of the energy constraints facing the mobile world devoted to the 30-second waddle.) The same is true for the owner of the liquor store (Dennis??). If business has been so bad for the last twenty years sans garage why haven't they departed for better locations?? They all talked about the need for employee parking and in fact that was the main thrust of their argument for a parking garage. Two other merchants (the owner of an art gallery and another Dennis) asserted that there were plenty of parking spots. Evidently, employees cannot walk a couple of blocks to work and I assume from the the merchants' point of view that employees do not arrive on time for work and excuse their tardiness because of their search for a parking spot.
Five Pts businesses or rather their customers contribute to the hospitality tax. Since the businesses are the conduit, owners feel that they should receive benefits from such a tax in the form of garages, for example. Why can't they benefit from this tax in another way?? They have a wonderful opportunity to find a creative and I might add a much cheaper and more environmentally friendly solution to their putatvie problems.
The owner of the liquor store argued that the Kenny site as the gateway to Five Pts. would very soon be home to a Walgreens sorrounded by asphalt. Scare tactics?? That Walgreens would open another store so close to the one they have recently built on Garner's Ferry is another story and I suppose from the point of view of the investors who bought Kenny's site a moot point.
You may have written about the above in some detail. Please refer me to that scribble.
jsa-Look in the archives: http://groups.google.com/group/theazarnewsletter/topics. I have written much about it. The push for Kenny’s comes primarily from the Saluda Ave. merchants as it is close to them. They have given much faulty rationalization about how it is the center of 5 Points, closer to everyone, etc. At this point, either it will not be built in any fashion, or there are closed door meetings going on, just as in the beginning.
……………………
Hi Joe,
You seem to have enough contacts in town to get some answers on "missing link" questions. If you recall, shortly before school was back in session a decomposed body was found in the Maxcy Gregg stream off of Pickens and Blossom Streets adjacent to the ROTC building . The State covered it for a few days - maybe even a week - and the last I read was that they couldn't identify the body. Was this issue ever resolved? or was it put to sleep so as not to alarm the incoming students and the parents that were leaving their children in Columbia to go to school. Maybe I just missed the follow-up on it! Do you know how the story ended?
jsa-No, I do not.
……………………
On the CCI property issue and bridges to somewhere:
I don't know why the city let CCI be developed that way. They should have built another bridge over the Congaree River there. Tayor Street at the river could have been straightened and a new bridge could have been added. Now this can never happen because of the developement on that section of CCI. This is a mistake that will haunt Columbia when it grows 10-20 years down the road. Someday they will have to build another bridge over the Saluda River too. There is no way to cross from Columbia all the way to I 26. I predict they will have either a 9th Street or 12th Street Bridge someday (Maybe hooking up with Greystone Blvd.). Any comments?
jsa-I overheard a group at the Greek Festival discussing that, and everyone thought the project looked cheap and junky. The State ran letters from people who felt it is very poor architecture. The city, meaning council, has no real interest in good design or architecture. Maybe they just do not know what good design and construction is.
……………………
Why won't the city consider a light rail train from Irmo to the city center?
jsa-Ask the city that. I am sure you will get: “We are looking into that”, “The Midlands regional Planning Commission is in charge of that”, “The other towns and governments won’t work with us”, or some other similar comment. Attorney Joe Roof has promoted this idea for years, a great one involving a bus that is fitted with rail wheels and can run on track and street alike.
No vision, no will, no understanding, no money, and no money to be made under the table, yet.
…………………………..
Enough for tonight; plenty more where that came from. I will look for your comments.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Events (9-18-08)
Big weekend in town. First, the Greek festival started today and goes through Sunday. A “Don’t Miss” event. Next, the big 5 Points concert starting at 6p Friday on Greene St. Then Saturday, it is Wofford and USC at the stadium (tickets available if you need them, and parking too). Of course, RuPaul is in town on Saturday at Finlay Park in a free show. Sunday, it is the bicycle races in the Vista starting at 1p.
Too much, but tons of fun all weekend. Enjoy!
T Mobile Boulevard
September 19, 2008 6:00pm - 10:00pm
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Five Points Association | PO Box 5283 | Columbia | SC | 29250
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Sunday Morning
October 5th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
(803) 754-8600
10:00 A.M. Driving Range – (Free Balls)
11:00 A.M. Practice Round - Cost: $40.00
Monday
October 6th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
9:00 A.M - 10:00 A.M. Driving Range
(Free Balls)
10:00 A.M. Shotgun Start
3:00 P.M. – 5:00 Afternoon Meal
Prize Drawings
Awards Presentation
Tournament Fee: $75.00 per player
Fee includes Golf Cart, Morning Snack on
Cart, Gift Bag, Prize Drawing Ticket,
Water, Beer, Soft Drinks on cart,
½ Baked Chicken Afternoon Meal provided
by Zorba’s
Awards for Gross & Net: 1st - $100 and 2nd - $50
Directions to Golf Course
I-77 from Charlotte – Take Left on Exit 27
I-77 from Columbia – Take Right on Exit 27
Next Traffic light take left
Go 50 yds at next light take right
Go 5 miles on Langford road
Golf course on the right
1084 Langford Road * (803) 754-8600
Thirteenth Annual
AHEPA MidSouthern
National Regional Golf Tournament
Player Registration Forum
Please complete the following information
Name:_____________________________
Address:____________________________
City/State/Zip:_______________________
Phone #: ___________________________
I would like to play with: ___________________________________
and return with your
$75.00
Entry Check to:
Likie Beleos
P.O. Box 87
Camden, SC 29021
803-432-3428 (W) or 803-799-3575 (H)
likieb@aol.com
Make all Checks payable to
AHEPA Columbia Foundation
Tournament Hole Sponsorship
to support
AHEPA Scholarship Fund
Please complete the following information and enclose a check for $50.00. Checks should be made out to
Columbia AHEPA 284 Inc.
Name:_____________________________
Address:____________________________
City/State/Zip:_______________________
Phone #: ___________________________
Name as you would like it to appear on the sign
____________________________________
Mail Checks to Joe Azar ,
746 Harden Street, Columbia, S.C. 29205
PURPOSE OF THE EVENT
Your participation in this event is vital to the
AHEPA Educational Foundation. The
Foundation, sponsored by AHEPA Palmetto
Chapter 284 of Columbia South Carolina,
provides assistance to numerous young adults
each year in the form of the George Boukedes
and the Dr. Daniel Kavadas Educational
Scholarships. Awards ranging from $500 to
$1000 dollars are distributed each year. In
2007, 12 scholarships were awarded and this
December we will award 16 additional
scholarships for 2008. The Committee thanks
you for supporting these scholarships by
participating in this tournament and/or
sponsoring a Golf Hole.
National AHEPA Rules:
The Low Gross and Low Net winners will
qualify for the AHEPA tournament at
Wild Dunes, Charleston, SC. A $400.00 will
be paid by AHEPA toward Expenses.
Format:
USGA Rules apply. Play your ball, bump
your ball only on fairways, otherwise
adhere to all US Golf Association Rules.
No Mulligans, No Gimmees – Putt all balls.
Golfers must provide their own clubs and
soft spike shoes.
Handicaps
You do not have to be an AHEPAN
to play in this Tournament
Handicap
Blue Tees 1 - 12
White Tees 13 - 24
Yellow Tees Senior (70 + yrs)
Red Tees Ladies
Accommodations:
A special rate of $90/night is available for all
players at the Holiday Inn Express on
Clemson Road. Exit #80 from I-20 located
near the golf course.
(803) 419-3558
Use the name AHEPA
Thirteenth Annual
AHEPA MidSouthern
National Regional Golf Tournament
Monday October 6th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
1084 Langford Road
Columbia, SC
(803) 754-8600
Sponsored by
Columbia AHEPA 284 Inc.
Hello Columbia friends,
Just a note, and a bit late notice, since apparently some didn't get the note sent earlier.
I'm playing tonight, and EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT in September in Northeast Columbia at
THE PUDDLIN' DUCK
(formerly K-Tees Irish pub) in the 9300 block of Two Notch Road right behind DUNKIN' DOUGHNUTS. Its tucked away a bit, but easy to locate @ 108 Columbia Northeast Drive....between I-77 @ Two Notch & the entrance to Spring Valley Country Club.......on your left heading away from downtown.
New owner David has maintained the neighborhood Irish pub atmosphere and already gone non-smoking (ahead of his time). The food is great and it's a small fun place.
I'll be playing each Wednesday @ 7:00pm, so come on out from work and dust off the day's work. I'll see you there......cb
Puddlin' Duck (803) 865-2859
108 Columbia Northeast Drive
British Car Club Midlands Centre Annual Car Show
October 5th 2008
Greetings!
The British Car Club Midlands Centre is proud to present their annual car show to support Camp Kemo and Columbia Parks & Recreation. Come join us for all the fun, interesting automobiles, music & food! Finley Park downtown in Columbia , SC. Sunday October 5, 2008 at 10:00am-3:00pm. All British Marques are welcome! Event is FREE to the public!
To enter your British auto into the show, get your registration forms online at www.BritishCarClubMidlandsCentre.com
For more information on the event, you can contact Todd Smith @ 803-397-5556 or Brad Wik @ 803-600-6243.
Thank you for your help in spreading the word for a great time & a great cause!
Sincerely,
Roe D. Young
British Car Club Member-Marketing Director
(803)730-5338
Or
(803)957-8585
The British Car Club Midland Centre's Annual Fundraiser
To support Camp Kemo and Columbia Parks & Recreation
A great event for family and friends alike! Spend an afternoon perusing antique models, listening to great music, and eating amazing food; all for a good cause!
Event Info
October 5, 2008
10 am to 3 pm
Finley Park, Downtown Columbia
Forward email
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The British Car Club Midlands Centre | Downtown | Columbia | SC | 29201
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Too much, but tons of fun all weekend. Enjoy!
T Mobile Boulevard
September 19, 2008 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Forward email
This email was sent to josephazar@upstairsaudio.com by merritt@fivepointscolumbia.com.
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Email Marketing by
Five Points Association | PO Box 5283 | Columbia | SC | 29250
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Morning
October 5th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
(803) 754-8600
10:00 A.M. Driving Range – (Free Balls)
11:00 A.M. Practice Round - Cost: $40.00
Monday
October 6th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
9:00 A.M - 10:00 A.M. Driving Range
(Free Balls)
10:00 A.M. Shotgun Start
3:00 P.M. – 5:00 Afternoon Meal
Prize Drawings
Awards Presentation
Tournament Fee: $75.00 per player
Fee includes Golf Cart, Morning Snack on
Cart, Gift Bag, Prize Drawing Ticket,
Water, Beer, Soft Drinks on cart,
½ Baked Chicken Afternoon Meal provided
by Zorba’s
Awards for Gross & Net: 1st - $100 and 2nd - $50
Directions to Golf Course
I-77 from Charlotte – Take Left on Exit 27
I-77 from Columbia – Take Right on Exit 27
Next Traffic light take left
Go 50 yds at next light take right
Go 5 miles on Langford road
Golf course on the right
1084 Langford Road * (803) 754-8600
Thirteenth Annual
AHEPA MidSouthern
National Regional Golf Tournament
Player Registration Forum
Please complete the following information
Name:_____________________________
Address:____________________________
City/State/Zip:_______________________
Phone #: ___________________________
I would like to play with: ___________________________________
and return with your
$75.00
Entry Check to:
Likie Beleos
P.O. Box 87
Camden, SC 29021
803-432-3428 (W) or 803-799-3575 (H)
likieb@aol.com
Make all Checks payable to
AHEPA Columbia Foundation
Tournament Hole Sponsorship
to support
AHEPA Scholarship Fund
Please complete the following information and enclose a check for $50.00. Checks should be made out to
Columbia AHEPA 284 Inc.
Name:_____________________________
Address:____________________________
City/State/Zip:_______________________
Phone #: ___________________________
Name as you would like it to appear on the sign
____________________________________
Mail Checks to Joe Azar ,
746 Harden Street, Columbia, S.C. 29205
PURPOSE OF THE EVENT
Your participation in this event is vital to the
AHEPA Educational Foundation. The
Foundation, sponsored by AHEPA Palmetto
Chapter 284 of Columbia South Carolina,
provides assistance to numerous young adults
each year in the form of the George Boukedes
and the Dr. Daniel Kavadas Educational
Scholarships. Awards ranging from $500 to
$1000 dollars are distributed each year. In
2007, 12 scholarships were awarded and this
December we will award 16 additional
scholarships for 2008. The Committee thanks
you for supporting these scholarships by
participating in this tournament and/or
sponsoring a Golf Hole.
National AHEPA Rules:
The Low Gross and Low Net winners will
qualify for the AHEPA tournament at
Wild Dunes, Charleston, SC. A $400.00 will
be paid by AHEPA toward Expenses.
Format:
USGA Rules apply. Play your ball, bump
your ball only on fairways, otherwise
adhere to all US Golf Association Rules.
No Mulligans, No Gimmees – Putt all balls.
Golfers must provide their own clubs and
soft spike shoes.
Handicaps
You do not have to be an AHEPAN
to play in this Tournament
Handicap
Blue Tees 1 - 12
White Tees 13 - 24
Yellow Tees Senior (70 + yrs)
Red Tees Ladies
Accommodations:
A special rate of $90/night is available for all
players at the Holiday Inn Express on
Clemson Road. Exit #80 from I-20 located
near the golf course.
(803) 419-3558
Use the name AHEPA
Thirteenth Annual
AHEPA MidSouthern
National Regional Golf Tournament
Monday October 6th, 2008
Crickentree Country Club
1084 Langford Road
Columbia, SC
(803) 754-8600
Sponsored by
Columbia AHEPA 284 Inc.
Hello Columbia friends,
Just a note, and a bit late notice, since apparently some didn't get the note sent earlier.
I'm playing tonight, and EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT in September in Northeast Columbia at
THE PUDDLIN' DUCK
(formerly K-Tees Irish pub) in the 9300 block of Two Notch Road right behind DUNKIN' DOUGHNUTS. Its tucked away a bit, but easy to locate @ 108 Columbia Northeast Drive....between I-77 @ Two Notch & the entrance to Spring Valley Country Club.......on your left heading away from downtown.
New owner David has maintained the neighborhood Irish pub atmosphere and already gone non-smoking (ahead of his time). The food is great and it's a small fun place.
I'll be playing each Wednesday @ 7:00pm, so come on out from work and dust off the day's work. I'll see you there......cb
Puddlin' Duck (803) 865-2859
108 Columbia Northeast Drive
British Car Club Midlands Centre Annual Car Show
October 5th 2008
Greetings!
The British Car Club Midlands Centre is proud to present their annual car show to support Camp Kemo and Columbia Parks & Recreation. Come join us for all the fun, interesting automobiles, music & food! Finley Park downtown in Columbia , SC. Sunday October 5, 2008 at 10:00am-3:00pm. All British Marques are welcome! Event is FREE to the public!
To enter your British auto into the show, get your registration forms online at www.BritishCarClubMidlandsCentre.com
For more information on the event, you can contact Todd Smith @ 803-397-5556 or Brad Wik @ 803-600-6243.
Thank you for your help in spreading the word for a great time & a great cause!
Sincerely,
Roe D. Young
British Car Club Member-Marketing Director
(803)730-5338
Or
(803)957-8585
The British Car Club Midland Centre's Annual Fundraiser
To support Camp Kemo and Columbia Parks & Recreation
A great event for family and friends alike! Spend an afternoon perusing antique models, listening to great music, and eating amazing food; all for a good cause!
Event Info
October 5, 2008
10 am to 3 pm
Finley Park, Downtown Columbia
Forward email
This email was sent to josephazar@upstairsaudio.com by interncolumbiasc@sunbeltnetwork.com.
Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Email Marketing by
The British Car Club Midlands Centre | Downtown | Columbia | SC | 29201
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 8, 2008
William Wilson (9-8-08)
I came home to find a life was cut far too short. Yesterday, William Wilson, son of Jeremy Wilson of Wilson-Kibler, passed away, as I found out later today.
While I was in Denver, I received an email telling me a cyclist was hit and in serious condition, teetering on the edge. I asked that my prayers be expressed to his parents, my hope being that he would make it. This morning I left a message for his father expressing my hope, not knowing he had passed away late yesterday. It was a hit and run, both very unnecessary. A young man riding his bike at 7p to a friend’s house, and he was hit at the corner by where I live, already an unsafe corner. From what I understand, there was too much head trauma and he could not pull through.
Though I did not know him, as a cyclist, and as one that knows his parents, my heartfelt sympathies go out to them, and all his family and friends. Burying a child is something no parent ever wants to do. It was a needless loss of life of a young man just beginning his career in life, and he never had a chance.
I understand that the funeral is Wednesday, noon, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Do honor his life by expressing your sympathies to his parents ( jwilson@wilsonkibler.com ), and by being courteous and protective of others that ride bicycles, just as he chose to do.
You may learn more at http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=65893&catid=2.
While I was in Denver, I received an email telling me a cyclist was hit and in serious condition, teetering on the edge. I asked that my prayers be expressed to his parents, my hope being that he would make it. This morning I left a message for his father expressing my hope, not knowing he had passed away late yesterday. It was a hit and run, both very unnecessary. A young man riding his bike at 7p to a friend’s house, and he was hit at the corner by where I live, already an unsafe corner. From what I understand, there was too much head trauma and he could not pull through.
Though I did not know him, as a cyclist, and as one that knows his parents, my heartfelt sympathies go out to them, and all his family and friends. Burying a child is something no parent ever wants to do. It was a needless loss of life of a young man just beginning his career in life, and he never had a chance.
I understand that the funeral is Wednesday, noon, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Do honor his life by expressing your sympathies to his parents ( jwilson@wilsonkibler.com ), and by being courteous and protective of others that ride bicycles, just as he chose to do.
You may learn more at http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=65893&catid=2.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
REMEMBER - FUN RAISING, POUR IT NOW SILENT AUCTION (9-6-08)
For a good cause. Young people need something to do, and many of them skateboard, just as I did when I was younger. Unfortunately, there are no official places to do so, and many young people do wherever they can find places, some of which happen to be the street. I see this in 5 Points and am quite afraid that they are going to get hurt or cause a motorist to swerve and wreck. The police could give them citations, and eventually lock them up for repeat behavior, but 13, 14 year olds in jail is not a remedy. These young people are willing to do whatever fundraising they can, and to help the city parks dpt. In any way to make a skate park a reality.
I hope you will attend, just as I would if I were back in town from Denver tomorrow.
Thank you,
Joseph
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Join us tomorrow Sunday September 7, 2008.
FUN RAISING, POUR IT NOW SILENT AUCTION
WHAT:
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend! Enjoy a live Jazz Ensemble made up completely of local skateboarders, hor d'oeuvres, open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to fashion! This family friendly event is fun for everyone! Tickets are only $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com
WHEN:
Sunday, September 7, 2008
6:00pm to 9:00pm
WHERE:
MoMo's Bistro
2930 Devine Street
Columbia, SC
WHY:
With no public skate parks in Columbia, Fun Raising, POUR IT NOW's silent auction helps raise the funds needed to build a park that will prevent potential injury to children forced to look for places to skateboard that may place them in harm's way.
About Fun Raising:
(Columbia, SC) On Sunday, September 7 skateboarders and community members will raise money to help build a much needed skatepark in Columbia. POUR IT NOW, in conjunction with MoMo's Bistro and The Half & Half present Fun Raising, a silent auction at MoMo's Bistro.
The Fun Raising Silent Auction will help POUR IT NOW continue their effort to raise awareness and funds to replace the park at Owens Field. Fun Raising provides the skateboarders of Columbia the support they need for a free, fun, safe place to roll around.
Enjoy a live Jazz Ensemble made up completely of local skateboaders, hor d'oeuvres, open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to fashion! This family friendly event is fun for everyone. Tickets are only $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com .
For more information:
Ryan Cockrell: ryan.cockrell@gmail.com
POUR IT NOW: www.pouritnow.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
I hope you will attend, just as I would if I were back in town from Denver tomorrow.
Thank you,
Joseph
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Join us tomorrow Sunday September 7, 2008.
FUN RAISING, POUR IT NOW SILENT AUCTION
WHAT:
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend! Enjoy a live Jazz Ensemble made up completely of local skateboarders, hor d'oeuvres, open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to fashion! This family friendly event is fun for everyone! Tickets are only $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com
WHEN:
Sunday, September 7, 2008
6:00pm to 9:00pm
WHERE:
MoMo's Bistro
2930 Devine Street
Columbia, SC
WHY:
With no public skate parks in Columbia, Fun Raising, POUR IT NOW's silent auction helps raise the funds needed to build a park that will prevent potential injury to children forced to look for places to skateboard that may place them in harm's way.
About Fun Raising:
(Columbia, SC) On Sunday, September 7 skateboarders and community members will raise money to help build a much needed skatepark in Columbia. POUR IT NOW, in conjunction with MoMo's Bistro and The Half & Half present Fun Raising, a silent auction at MoMo's Bistro.
The Fun Raising Silent Auction will help POUR IT NOW continue their effort to raise awareness and funds to replace the park at Owens Field. Fun Raising provides the skateboarders of Columbia the support they need for a free, fun, safe place to roll around.
Enjoy a live Jazz Ensemble made up completely of local skateboaders, hor d'oeuvres, open bar and great auction items, ranging from art to fashion! This family friendly event is fun for everyone. Tickets are only $25 per person and can be purchased online at www.pouritnow.com .
For more information:
Ryan Cockrell: ryan.cockrell@gmail.com
POUR IT NOW: www.pouritnow.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Your Comments (9-9-08)
Just looking to see if the latest Free Times had hit the internet and I kept seeing this headline: Austin Says City Too Broke to Fund X-Mas Street Lights (http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=11010712073616103&ShowArticle_ID=11462711072021489). I really should get Warren Bolton a gift subscription to the Free Times. Maybe then he would understand what everyone else knows: the city is broke.
On to your comments.
Bus System
About my letter to The State, which (Warthen Bolton will never print and I never expect), one reader said: This certainly feasible..
……………………
Hi joe,
Well I agree with you 100%. It would be a complete joke if Columbia doesn't fix the bus system budget issues. The city shouldn't have to borrow funds from other places to make it work. Come up with several solutions and have the people vote on the best one. What planet are we living on that this cannot be communicated logically from anyone besides you. Atleast you're, as Glenn Beck would say, a thinker.
on top of that maybe if the system was improved then the city could actually transform itself as far as transportation goes. Examples: new stops, clean stops where people don't have to drag a log from the woods to sit on, and maybe even some new eco-friendly buses. I know these things will cost money but then maybe people will use it and generate some revenue for the city. I know I would!!!!!
…………………….
Joseph,
I am so sorry to take so long in getting back to you on this issue, since as you know this is an issue that I am very passionate about. Not nly because I use the bus system, because I have been able to drive, and proabaly will again. I feel this is an important issue because the people in this town, especially the "so called" political and business leadership need to to stop seeing the bus ssytem as a way to get poor and lederly people from thier homes/neighborhoods to the neighborhoods and homes of the hotlesl and homes that they clean, and begin to see it more as a tool for economic advancement. I even know one professor at Benedict who told me that she ahs a student who must wheel herself across the bridge to the transit station, to get to Benedict College.
the fact is the better the bus system=more people are able to get work= more taxes paid to the city+ more discretionary spending monye (movies, plays, shopping etc)= more businesses taxes paid to the governement becasue these busineesse are growing and earning more.
Now, ahving said that I happen to agree with your coments about Mr Fisher's observations. I should also point out that I called Councilman Rickenman on the bus system topic and he promptly called me back. I was on my cell phone with him from the timwe thatI got on theb bus at the transit station unti just before i got off in st Andrews. (about 20-30 minutes)
As i recall one thing that we did agree on is that businesses, individuals, and the municiplaities need to work together on this issue. I even went so far as to say that what needs to happen is instead of various local governments pointing fingers at each other (i.e.Richaland County Council vs City council), we need to have a joint meeting between the various local governments. (City of Columbia, Richaland Couty, Lexington County, west columbi, sringdale etc) and various businesses and citizen to ppoint out he benefits of putting into the bus system. As councilman Rickenman pointed out during in our phone conversatin part of the problem is that we have four or five bus systems that repeat one another in many cases, U.SC. CMRT, Newberry express, wateree expreess, Chapin express) which should pool their resources and join inot one system.
Will any of these things ever happen? i dount it? Too many of the people involved just wante to play power games.
I also e-mailed mayor Coble on this issue and he did e-mail me back and responded that the city had been unsuccessful in getting people/businesses ot advertise on the inside of the bus. i e-mailed him back that he and the city should consisder doing commercial on the enefits of advertsing on the inside of the bus similar to how they advertise the smart/parkingmeter card. I also suggested tat a portion of the money generated from the sale of the parkingmeter cards be used towards the bus system. At least on a temporary basis. he e-mailed m back with a two woord response. "Good Ideas!"
Now I was not able to make the meeting, but I doubt nay of thos "good ideas" (to use Mayor Coble's own words) were put forth, or will be put forth. Simply because our leaders see in an outdated classist way rather than a tool for economicdevelopment.
However. in al fairness to our politicians, I must state her what I tell people who ride the bus everytime they ask me to give them an update on what is goingoon or what I think about the situation: "Go to the meetings!" Joe until this happens, things are not going to change. As much as people like you and I speak out on issues such as this, it is also important that busriders and busdrivers also attend these meetings.
please feel free to sign my name.
Keith h. Seymour
Tipping
Tipping on to go orders…
It depends. The food usually costs the same for the restaurant and you whether it’s dine in or to go. Some may charge more for to go, but most don’t. However, the service for to go orders varies. Obviously with dine in, you have a poor little server (or bartender) running her butt off for $2.13 an hour (or $3.75 for bar), unless it went up with the recent minimum wage increase (but it usually doesn’t). However, that hourly wage is barely enough to cover that server’s tax on all over credit card charges, which the restaurant makes her pay. So if you’re sitting down drinking beer while you wait on your to go food, and you have a server taking care of you, then YES, you should tip. And don’t forget that in that situation, you took up a table in her section where a family of four could have sat while dining in, and therefore would have hopefully tipped 20% - and yes, that’s the starting rate! People think it’s 15%, but it’s not. Servers can work up or down, but that’s the standard starting point – 20%.
Now, if you order to go food at say, Yesterday’s, they probably have a hostess putting it together in a bag for you with all the condiments, fork set, etc. If that’s the case, they’re making at least minimum wage, and this duty is usually part of their job. In this case, tips are really great and certainly appreciated b/c $7 an hour doesn’t go very far, but they’re not as necessary as when a server brings the food.
Regardless, food and beverage employees are paid almost nothing in Columbia, unlike Charleston, Hilton Head and other tourist areas, so if you have the extra dollars, spread the love!
On the City
Joe - you frequently have some valid points regarding the operation of the City of Columbia but you also fall short occasionally in your diatribes....
I have been involved in and been a part of the Vista revitalization. It has truly been a remarkable effort since Mayor Findlay focused the City on that area in the early 80's. The joint effort of USC and the city has been nothing short of amazing. There are countless success stories, i.e. increased residential development, the Publix, the new baseball stadium, the Convention Center, the Colonial Center, the new Hilton - the list goes on and on.
The City got the best deal it could out of the bus system - I'm told by people who understand the negotiations. SCE&G was determined to opt out and the court had ruled it could not be forced to operate the transit system at a loss. Coble is correct, on a net basis we did better than Charleston with SCE&G. The future of an acceptable transit system in the midlands will involve increased taxes (and maybe fares) of some kind.
Coble and the Council have made their share of mistakes, the lack of credible accounting procedure probably the most serious.
Personally I don't share your view of CCI. It was an eyesore with absolutely no redeeming features. As a movie set? Come on Joe, that is so far removed from reality, it's absurd!!
jsa-I assume Group Therapy is more significant? That’s why it has been used in movies? Who would need an old jail as a set anyhow?
SCE&G has been determined for years to opt out. What court ruled that and when? Maybe those that told you we got the best deal also had circuitous economic interests. You know this town well and how it works. I believe I heard a story maybe you could substantiate about someone in the Vista area, a “community leader”, who is getting a nice break on a house and rent. Something to do with the old CDC. I never did take time to investigate the minutes as someone told me to.
The Vista is much better now than when I was a child. It was a run down warehouse district. It has come a long way. You have done a good job.
…………..
Joe, I know it predates Chucky being city manager (and to be fair I was critical of his performance as police chief as well), but why the bleep have ALL city council members and Mr. Coble not been concerned about the lack of accounting of city finances? I'm sure Mr. Bolton is a nice guy, but what was he smoking when he wrote this? A cigarette left in an ashtray by a video poker machine? BTW, any comments on a good bike to get for someone who wishes say to ride 10 miles a day that would handle both street and light trail (i.e. Riverfront park)
Thanks for your time,
p.s. You are 100% correct about the Colonial Life Arena debacle, something that as a stagehand I have to make sure I'm correct on.
…………..
RE: CCI:
It need to be destroyed because it was not safe when the Dept. Of Corrections moved. I worked in and out for 21 months and people signed a statement to sleep in the single cells because they were unsafe. Fortunately there was not an accident. It was my understanding that CCI was the first state facility in SC. A marker to CCI should be sufficient. I too wanted something left, but when it was checked out, none of bldgs were in shape to remain.
jsa-So was the Publix-unsafe. Remember the boards used to hold it up? It is not nearly as architecturally or historically significant as the old CCI. Yet the Publix is now used by thousands a day and condos are going into that building also. Any building can be brought up to spec, just look at 701 in Olympia.
……………
Spelling Error:
For Future Reference:
"Penney's" Should Always Be Properly Spelled With An "e"
Not
"Penny's".
Also:
J.C.Penney''s
J.C.Penney
i.e.:
Stands For:
James "Cash" Penney*
Middle Name "Cash"; Often Used As An Inquiry For A Popular Trivia Question
In French:
Pronounced
J.C.Pen~A
jsa-OK, OK. I take my lashings.
……………….
asked what the results of the two test holes at the old Kenny's site in five points. In less than a week after they were dug, the reduced the height of the proposed building. The location was originally a swamp.
jsa-Hmmmm……
ABC Denver
Even though I intend to vote for Obama/Biden, you are right about the money talking..
The only real reason the two party system is sacrosanct in the US is that it is easier for the big-monied corporate interests to buy off two parties than more than two. Over half of the former members of the US House and Senate are now lobbying the US House and Senate, mostly for the big money boys.
……………………
Joe,
Unfortunately this little clip shows only the arrest and puts its own spin on why the arrest was made (it could have been for harassing an old lady for all I know).
It would be more believable, if it had been filmed as completely as the arrest threat of Ralph Nader at the presidential debates a few years ago, where he had a ticket but the cops had been given orders not to let him in by the debate commission!
………………..
I’ll bet celebrities wish they could have Denver police handle the paparazzi.
…………………..
I smell a massive lawsuit against the Denver Police. Its a public sidewalk so the hotel had nothing to complain about. This demonstrates that the Democrats are as corrupt as they say Republicans are.
………………….
That's heavy and not just the weight on that Denver cop(lol) but in all fairness to Brett he was on public property but secret service agents said he was in a protest free zone and ironically it was they who determined the parameters of the zone.
On to your comments.
Bus System
About my letter to The State, which (Warthen Bolton will never print and I never expect), one reader said: This certainly feasible..
……………………
Hi joe,
Well I agree with you 100%. It would be a complete joke if Columbia doesn't fix the bus system budget issues. The city shouldn't have to borrow funds from other places to make it work. Come up with several solutions and have the people vote on the best one. What planet are we living on that this cannot be communicated logically from anyone besides you. Atleast you're, as Glenn Beck would say, a thinker.
on top of that maybe if the system was improved then the city could actually transform itself as far as transportation goes. Examples: new stops, clean stops where people don't have to drag a log from the woods to sit on, and maybe even some new eco-friendly buses. I know these things will cost money but then maybe people will use it and generate some revenue for the city. I know I would!!!!!
…………………….
Joseph,
I am so sorry to take so long in getting back to you on this issue, since as you know this is an issue that I am very passionate about. Not nly because I use the bus system, because I have been able to drive, and proabaly will again. I feel this is an important issue because the people in this town, especially the "so called" political and business leadership need to to stop seeing the bus ssytem as a way to get poor and lederly people from thier homes/neighborhoods to the neighborhoods and homes of the hotlesl and homes that they clean, and begin to see it more as a tool for economic advancement. I even know one professor at Benedict who told me that she ahs a student who must wheel herself across the bridge to the transit station, to get to Benedict College.
the fact is the better the bus system=more people are able to get work= more taxes paid to the city+ more discretionary spending monye (movies, plays, shopping etc)= more businesses taxes paid to the governement becasue these busineesse are growing and earning more.
Now, ahving said that I happen to agree with your coments about Mr Fisher's observations. I should also point out that I called Councilman Rickenman on the bus system topic and he promptly called me back. I was on my cell phone with him from the timwe thatI got on theb bus at the transit station unti just before i got off in st Andrews. (about 20-30 minutes)
As i recall one thing that we did agree on is that businesses, individuals, and the municiplaities need to work together on this issue. I even went so far as to say that what needs to happen is instead of various local governments pointing fingers at each other (i.e.Richaland County Council vs City council), we need to have a joint meeting between the various local governments. (City of Columbia, Richaland Couty, Lexington County, west columbi, sringdale etc) and various businesses and citizen to ppoint out he benefits of putting into the bus system. As councilman Rickenman pointed out during in our phone conversatin part of the problem is that we have four or five bus systems that repeat one another in many cases, U.SC. CMRT, Newberry express, wateree expreess, Chapin express) which should pool their resources and join inot one system.
Will any of these things ever happen? i dount it? Too many of the people involved just wante to play power games.
I also e-mailed mayor Coble on this issue and he did e-mail me back and responded that the city had been unsuccessful in getting people/businesses ot advertise on the inside of the bus. i e-mailed him back that he and the city should consisder doing commercial on the enefits of advertsing on the inside of the bus similar to how they advertise the smart/parkingmeter card. I also suggested tat a portion of the money generated from the sale of the parkingmeter cards be used towards the bus system. At least on a temporary basis. he e-mailed m back with a two woord response. "Good Ideas!"
Now I was not able to make the meeting, but I doubt nay of thos "good ideas" (to use Mayor Coble's own words) were put forth, or will be put forth. Simply because our leaders see in an outdated classist way rather than a tool for economicdevelopment.
However. in al fairness to our politicians, I must state her what I tell people who ride the bus everytime they ask me to give them an update on what is goingoon or what I think about the situation: "Go to the meetings!" Joe until this happens, things are not going to change. As much as people like you and I speak out on issues such as this, it is also important that busriders and busdrivers also attend these meetings.
please feel free to sign my name.
Keith h. Seymour
Tipping
Tipping on to go orders…
It depends. The food usually costs the same for the restaurant and you whether it’s dine in or to go. Some may charge more for to go, but most don’t. However, the service for to go orders varies. Obviously with dine in, you have a poor little server (or bartender) running her butt off for $2.13 an hour (or $3.75 for bar), unless it went up with the recent minimum wage increase (but it usually doesn’t). However, that hourly wage is barely enough to cover that server’s tax on all over credit card charges, which the restaurant makes her pay. So if you’re sitting down drinking beer while you wait on your to go food, and you have a server taking care of you, then YES, you should tip. And don’t forget that in that situation, you took up a table in her section where a family of four could have sat while dining in, and therefore would have hopefully tipped 20% - and yes, that’s the starting rate! People think it’s 15%, but it’s not. Servers can work up or down, but that’s the standard starting point – 20%.
Now, if you order to go food at say, Yesterday’s, they probably have a hostess putting it together in a bag for you with all the condiments, fork set, etc. If that’s the case, they’re making at least minimum wage, and this duty is usually part of their job. In this case, tips are really great and certainly appreciated b/c $7 an hour doesn’t go very far, but they’re not as necessary as when a server brings the food.
Regardless, food and beverage employees are paid almost nothing in Columbia, unlike Charleston, Hilton Head and other tourist areas, so if you have the extra dollars, spread the love!
On the City
Joe - you frequently have some valid points regarding the operation of the City of Columbia but you also fall short occasionally in your diatribes....
I have been involved in and been a part of the Vista revitalization. It has truly been a remarkable effort since Mayor Findlay focused the City on that area in the early 80's. The joint effort of USC and the city has been nothing short of amazing. There are countless success stories, i.e. increased residential development, the Publix, the new baseball stadium, the Convention Center, the Colonial Center, the new Hilton - the list goes on and on.
The City got the best deal it could out of the bus system - I'm told by people who understand the negotiations. SCE&G was determined to opt out and the court had ruled it could not be forced to operate the transit system at a loss. Coble is correct, on a net basis we did better than Charleston with SCE&G. The future of an acceptable transit system in the midlands will involve increased taxes (and maybe fares) of some kind.
Coble and the Council have made their share of mistakes, the lack of credible accounting procedure probably the most serious.
Personally I don't share your view of CCI. It was an eyesore with absolutely no redeeming features. As a movie set? Come on Joe, that is so far removed from reality, it's absurd!!
jsa-I assume Group Therapy is more significant? That’s why it has been used in movies? Who would need an old jail as a set anyhow?
SCE&G has been determined for years to opt out. What court ruled that and when? Maybe those that told you we got the best deal also had circuitous economic interests. You know this town well and how it works. I believe I heard a story maybe you could substantiate about someone in the Vista area, a “community leader”, who is getting a nice break on a house and rent. Something to do with the old CDC. I never did take time to investigate the minutes as someone told me to.
The Vista is much better now than when I was a child. It was a run down warehouse district. It has come a long way. You have done a good job.
…………..
Joe, I know it predates Chucky being city manager (and to be fair I was critical of his performance as police chief as well), but why the bleep have ALL city council members and Mr. Coble not been concerned about the lack of accounting of city finances? I'm sure Mr. Bolton is a nice guy, but what was he smoking when he wrote this? A cigarette left in an ashtray by a video poker machine? BTW, any comments on a good bike to get for someone who wishes say to ride 10 miles a day that would handle both street and light trail (i.e. Riverfront park)
Thanks for your time,
p.s. You are 100% correct about the Colonial Life Arena debacle, something that as a stagehand I have to make sure I'm correct on.
…………..
RE: CCI:
It need to be destroyed because it was not safe when the Dept. Of Corrections moved. I worked in and out for 21 months and people signed a statement to sleep in the single cells because they were unsafe. Fortunately there was not an accident. It was my understanding that CCI was the first state facility in SC. A marker to CCI should be sufficient. I too wanted something left, but when it was checked out, none of bldgs were in shape to remain.
jsa-So was the Publix-unsafe. Remember the boards used to hold it up? It is not nearly as architecturally or historically significant as the old CCI. Yet the Publix is now used by thousands a day and condos are going into that building also. Any building can be brought up to spec, just look at 701 in Olympia.
……………
Spelling Error:
For Future Reference:
"Penney's" Should Always Be Properly Spelled With An "e"
Not
"Penny's".
Also:
J.C.Penney''s
J.C.Penney
i.e.:
Stands For:
James "Cash" Penney*
Middle Name "Cash"; Often Used As An Inquiry For A Popular Trivia Question
In French:
Pronounced
J.C.Pen~A
jsa-OK, OK. I take my lashings.
……………….
asked what the results of the two test holes at the old Kenny's site in five points. In less than a week after they were dug, the reduced the height of the proposed building. The location was originally a swamp.
jsa-Hmmmm……
ABC Denver
Even though I intend to vote for Obama/Biden, you are right about the money talking..
The only real reason the two party system is sacrosanct in the US is that it is easier for the big-monied corporate interests to buy off two parties than more than two. Over half of the former members of the US House and Senate are now lobbying the US House and Senate, mostly for the big money boys.
……………………
Joe,
Unfortunately this little clip shows only the arrest and puts its own spin on why the arrest was made (it could have been for harassing an old lady for all I know).
It would be more believable, if it had been filmed as completely as the arrest threat of Ralph Nader at the presidential debates a few years ago, where he had a ticket but the cops had been given orders not to let him in by the debate commission!
………………..
I’ll bet celebrities wish they could have Denver police handle the paparazzi.
…………………..
I smell a massive lawsuit against the Denver Police. Its a public sidewalk so the hotel had nothing to complain about. This demonstrates that the Democrats are as corrupt as they say Republicans are.
………………….
That's heavy and not just the weight on that Denver cop(lol) but in all fairness to Brett he was on public property but secret service agents said he was in a protest free zone and ironically it was they who determined the parameters of the zone.
Update: Five Points Parking Issues (9-3-08)
Here is an update from Caroline Watson who very competently led the drive to defeat the 6 story project. Though I am scheduled to be out of town, I may just be able to delay the trip for this meeting, if necessary. I do urge everyone interested in 5 Points to attend. What happens here also sets precedent for the rest of the city, just as the past fight has.
Joseph Azar
________________________________________
From: Caroline Watson [mailto:wats6861@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:40 PM
To: cwatson@industrytransitions.com
Subject: Update: Five Points Parking Issues
Neighbors and Friends –
This email is to update you on the issues remaining after the cancellation of the project on the former Kenny’s site in Five Points.
Critical next steps to ensure Five Points success:
As noted in the last update, we believe that the steps defined as critical to Five Points success are the following:
• parking needs in Five Points must be evaluated to determine exactly what the parking demands are and if new surface parking or a parking structure is justified;
• if additional parking demands are justified, any commitment by the City for parking should be made only after a fair and open process; and,
• a project on the former Kenny’s site must be completed successfully in a way that adds to the village feel.
Does Five Points need additional parking?
After the plan for the 6-story project on the former Kenny’s site, which included a parking garage, was cancelled, the question remained as to whether the village needed a parking garage or other parking relief. (As has been previously noted, we are unaware of any data supporting the need for a parking garage despite a 2007 filing of a Freedom of Information Request.)
Belinda Gergel, the new District 3 representative on Columbia City Council, has been working to resolve the long-standing Five Points parking issue. In the City Council meeting on July 9, 2008, Belinda raised the idea of retaining an outside parking consultant to provide independent expertise on quantifying parking demands and options but the idea was not embraced by the rest of Council. However, Council did pass her motion to form a citizens advisory committee to make recommendations regarding Five Points parking.
Five Points Citizen’s Advisory Committee
The members of the Five Points Citizen’s Advisory Committee and its Mission Statement are set out below. As a committee member, I will make every effort to keep those of you that have indicated interest informed as the Committee’s work progresses.
The first meeting was held last Wednesday, August 27, 2008, and, after much discussion, the Committee determined that it did not have the data or the expertise to fulfill its mission without an independent consultant. Therefore, the Committee voted to ask Belinda to present a recommendation to Council for its approval of an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for such a consultant. An RFQ does not commit any public money at this time; rather, it asks that interested qualified consultants present credentials, rates, and other designated information to Council. (See http://www.wach.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=181912)
Since over 950 citizens were concerned about the procurement process used by the City in its dealings related to the parking garage at the former Kenny’s site, I am happy to report that much emphasis has been placed on the work of the Advisory Committee being “fair and open.” As a large group of public citizens, we have also been concerned about the City’s fiscal responsibility. That issue is also being addressed; “costs and other financial considerations” is a basic tenet of the Committee’s Mission Statement (see below).
The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 3 at 5:15 in the Capital Senior Center. Although the discussion is limited to Committee members, anyone who attends will have an opportunity to speak at the end of each meeting.
Plans for the Kenny’s site
On August 6, 2008, the State newspaper reported that the developers of the Kenny’s Auto Supply site in Five Points said they are going to build a free-standing bank, drugstore, small shop and surface parking lot instead of a six-story, mixed-use development. The developers have applied for the new 5 Points zoning that limits the height to four stories and provides for DDRC review on design. According to posted notices, a hearing is scheduled to review their request to allow an exemption for a drive-through on September 9 and to allow the change in zoning on September 17.
Although the developers have announced that the $5.3 million of publicly funded parking (a total of 200 metered parking spaces) is no longer part of their plan, they have also said they are still open to discussing some form of public parking. (see http://www.thestate.com/local/story/481437.html)
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to forward suggestions or feedback to me or get involved by attending any of the meetings. I will continue to send periodic updates.
Caroline Watson
516 Congaree Avenue
Five Points Citizens Parking Advisory Committee--- Approved By City Council on August 6, 2008
Committee Chair - Susan Lake, Attorney, Past President of the Shandon Neighborhood Council ; Home telephone-771-6926; Email: slake@sc.rr.com
Mary Bryan, Attorney; Director of Conflict Resolution Program at Columbia College
Durham Carter, Retired Administrator; Martin Luther King Neighborhood President
Ree’Jeena Fletcher, Garibaldi’s server and employee in 5 Points; Office Manager
Dennis Hiltner, Owner of Gourmet Shop
Mark Manos, Attorney, University Hills Neighborhood President
James D. “Don” McCallister, Owner, Loose Lucy’s
Jack Van Loan, Executive Director St. Pat’s Day
Patrick Mason, Publisher of Carolina Living
J.P. Scurry, Leasing Agent, Colliers Keenan
Suzi Sheffield, Owner, El Burrito
Ted Speth, Attorney; President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Howard Stravitz, Professor, University of South Carolina Law School
Bessie Watson, Administrator, SC Budget and Control Board; President-elect, Columbia Council of Neighborhoods
Caroline Watson, Attorney and Business Consultant
Mission Statement for the Five Points Parking Citizens Advisory Committee
The Five Points Parking Citizens Advisory Committee has as its principle mission to work collaboratively and with an open mind to address the parking needs of Five Points with the goal of reaching by consensus a ranked set of options for consideration by City Council. The Committee is tasked to do the following:
1. Evaluate the present and future needs of parking in Five Points;
2. Identify the best strategy/ strategies for addressing the parking needs of Five Points;
3. To the extent that additional parking is determined to be needed in Five Points, identify all potential locations for additional parking and evaluate and contrast each location on the basis of appropriate criteria, including suitability of location, maintenance and enhancement on the historic village atmosphere of Five Points and the surrounding neighborhoods, and cost and other financial considerations;
4. Rank the various parking options and provide an analysis articulating the basis for each ranking, including in that analysis the balancing of the issues of suitability of location, maintenance and enhancement of the historic village atmosphere of Five Points and the surrounding neighborhoods, and cost and other financial considerations.
Caroline N. Watson
Industry Transitions Consulting
516 Congaree Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
USA
803.252.6507 (tel)
775.535.3645 (fax)
Joseph Azar
________________________________________
From: Caroline Watson [mailto:wats6861@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:40 PM
To: cwatson@industrytransitions.com
Subject: Update: Five Points Parking Issues
Neighbors and Friends –
This email is to update you on the issues remaining after the cancellation of the project on the former Kenny’s site in Five Points.
Critical next steps to ensure Five Points success:
As noted in the last update, we believe that the steps defined as critical to Five Points success are the following:
• parking needs in Five Points must be evaluated to determine exactly what the parking demands are and if new surface parking or a parking structure is justified;
• if additional parking demands are justified, any commitment by the City for parking should be made only after a fair and open process; and,
• a project on the former Kenny’s site must be completed successfully in a way that adds to the village feel.
Does Five Points need additional parking?
After the plan for the 6-story project on the former Kenny’s site, which included a parking garage, was cancelled, the question remained as to whether the village needed a parking garage or other parking relief. (As has been previously noted, we are unaware of any data supporting the need for a parking garage despite a 2007 filing of a Freedom of Information Request.)
Belinda Gergel, the new District 3 representative on Columbia City Council, has been working to resolve the long-standing Five Points parking issue. In the City Council meeting on July 9, 2008, Belinda raised the idea of retaining an outside parking consultant to provide independent expertise on quantifying parking demands and options but the idea was not embraced by the rest of Council. However, Council did pass her motion to form a citizens advisory committee to make recommendations regarding Five Points parking.
Five Points Citizen’s Advisory Committee
The members of the Five Points Citizen’s Advisory Committee and its Mission Statement are set out below. As a committee member, I will make every effort to keep those of you that have indicated interest informed as the Committee’s work progresses.
The first meeting was held last Wednesday, August 27, 2008, and, after much discussion, the Committee determined that it did not have the data or the expertise to fulfill its mission without an independent consultant. Therefore, the Committee voted to ask Belinda to present a recommendation to Council for its approval of an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for such a consultant. An RFQ does not commit any public money at this time; rather, it asks that interested qualified consultants present credentials, rates, and other designated information to Council. (See http://www.wach.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=181912)
Since over 950 citizens were concerned about the procurement process used by the City in its dealings related to the parking garage at the former Kenny’s site, I am happy to report that much emphasis has been placed on the work of the Advisory Committee being “fair and open.” As a large group of public citizens, we have also been concerned about the City’s fiscal responsibility. That issue is also being addressed; “costs and other financial considerations” is a basic tenet of the Committee’s Mission Statement (see below).
The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 3 at 5:15 in the Capital Senior Center. Although the discussion is limited to Committee members, anyone who attends will have an opportunity to speak at the end of each meeting.
Plans for the Kenny’s site
On August 6, 2008, the State newspaper reported that the developers of the Kenny’s Auto Supply site in Five Points said they are going to build a free-standing bank, drugstore, small shop and surface parking lot instead of a six-story, mixed-use development. The developers have applied for the new 5 Points zoning that limits the height to four stories and provides for DDRC review on design. According to posted notices, a hearing is scheduled to review their request to allow an exemption for a drive-through on September 9 and to allow the change in zoning on September 17.
Although the developers have announced that the $5.3 million of publicly funded parking (a total of 200 metered parking spaces) is no longer part of their plan, they have also said they are still open to discussing some form of public parking. (see http://www.thestate.com/local/story/481437.html)
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to forward suggestions or feedback to me or get involved by attending any of the meetings. I will continue to send periodic updates.
Caroline Watson
516 Congaree Avenue
Five Points Citizens Parking Advisory Committee--- Approved By City Council on August 6, 2008
Committee Chair - Susan Lake, Attorney, Past President of the Shandon Neighborhood Council ; Home telephone-771-6926; Email: slake@sc.rr.com
Mary Bryan, Attorney; Director of Conflict Resolution Program at Columbia College
Durham Carter, Retired Administrator; Martin Luther King Neighborhood President
Ree’Jeena Fletcher, Garibaldi’s server and employee in 5 Points; Office Manager
Dennis Hiltner, Owner of Gourmet Shop
Mark Manos, Attorney, University Hills Neighborhood President
James D. “Don” McCallister, Owner, Loose Lucy’s
Jack Van Loan, Executive Director St. Pat’s Day
Patrick Mason, Publisher of Carolina Living
J.P. Scurry, Leasing Agent, Colliers Keenan
Suzi Sheffield, Owner, El Burrito
Ted Speth, Attorney; President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Howard Stravitz, Professor, University of South Carolina Law School
Bessie Watson, Administrator, SC Budget and Control Board; President-elect, Columbia Council of Neighborhoods
Caroline Watson, Attorney and Business Consultant
Mission Statement for the Five Points Parking Citizens Advisory Committee
The Five Points Parking Citizens Advisory Committee has as its principle mission to work collaboratively and with an open mind to address the parking needs of Five Points with the goal of reaching by consensus a ranked set of options for consideration by City Council. The Committee is tasked to do the following:
1. Evaluate the present and future needs of parking in Five Points;
2. Identify the best strategy/ strategies for addressing the parking needs of Five Points;
3. To the extent that additional parking is determined to be needed in Five Points, identify all potential locations for additional parking and evaluate and contrast each location on the basis of appropriate criteria, including suitability of location, maintenance and enhancement on the historic village atmosphere of Five Points and the surrounding neighborhoods, and cost and other financial considerations;
4. Rank the various parking options and provide an analysis articulating the basis for each ranking, including in that analysis the balancing of the issues of suitability of location, maintenance and enhancement of the historic village atmosphere of Five Points and the surrounding neighborhoods, and cost and other financial considerations.
Caroline N. Watson
Industry Transitions Consulting
516 Congaree Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
USA
803.252.6507 (tel)
775.535.3645 (fax)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Azar Newsletter ALL COMERS TRACK MEET (9-2-08)
Great Idea! Kudos to the sheriff's department. This is a program I have wanted to see in town for years in the form of a summer track program held weekly at night. Also a summer music program and a summer drama program that would involve children and adults alike weekly. Ironically, though I have promoted this during many campaigns and no politician has taken the idea yet, someone 2 weeks ago discussed with me trying to get grants for these programs for next summer.
The sheriff's department is already on the right track. Maybe they will be willing to adopt these ideas, all of which are extremely cheap to implement, maybe $18,000 for all three. We will see what we can do, but do spread the word about this and go support it.
Unfortunately, the flyer will not print to this blog. Registration starts a 5p.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richland County Sheriff's Department
LEON LOTT
Sheriff
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the details of the annual Sheriff's Department "All Comers Track Meet".
Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the event will be held September 19, 2008 at Region 1 Headquarters at Lower Richland High School -- the "All Comers Track Meet" is held by the Sheriff's Department and Community Leaders each year to benefit the youth in Richland County. Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the "All Comers Track Meet" is an event created to bring the Sheriff's Department and citizens together to build unity between the citizens and department and to benefit the youth by bringing awareness to crime prevention and education.
Attached is a flier giving details of the upcoming event - please post to community calendars and share with family and friends.
Lt. Chris Cowan
Richland County Sheriff's Department,
Senior Public Information Coordinator
5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
803-576-3036 (office) 803-576-3190 (fax)
PIO Pager 988-6018
ccowan@rcsd.net
The sheriff's department is already on the right track. Maybe they will be willing to adopt these ideas, all of which are extremely cheap to implement, maybe $18,000 for all three. We will see what we can do, but do spread the word about this and go support it.
Unfortunately, the flyer will not print to this blog. Registration starts a 5p.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richland County Sheriff's Department
LEON LOTT
Sheriff
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the details of the annual Sheriff's Department "All Comers Track Meet".
Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the event will be held September 19, 2008 at Region 1 Headquarters at Lower Richland High School -- the "All Comers Track Meet" is held by the Sheriff's Department and Community Leaders each year to benefit the youth in Richland County. Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the "All Comers Track Meet" is an event created to bring the Sheriff's Department and citizens together to build unity between the citizens and department and to benefit the youth by bringing awareness to crime prevention and education.
Attached is a flier giving details of the upcoming event - please post to community calendars and share with family and friends.
Lt. Chris Cowan
Richland County Sheriff's Department,
Senior Public Information Coordinator
5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
803-576-3036 (office) 803-576-3190 (fax)
PIO Pager 988-6018
ccowan@rcsd.net
Monday, September 1, 2008
5 Points Parking Committee Meeting Correction (9-1-08)
The committee will meet Wednesday, Sept. 3 in the Capital Senior Center at 5:15p, not 6p as I reported earlier. Anyone wishing to speak has 3 minutes before the committee.
Your Comments (9-1-08)
My gosh, now that I am back on a bicycle, riding 25-40 miles, I have way too much energy. It keeps me up working and writing. It has been 8 years that I have been off the bike, and it was my life before that, including my old shop, The Cyclist. Great times.
…………..
Columbia Bankrupt
It is quite a compliment when someone like editorial writer Warren Bolton of The State feels the need to counter my article on the city being bankrupt (http://www.thestate.com/editorial-columns/story/505493.html). He sounded as if was making apologies for the city while defending Coble & Co. with a denial of the facts. Warren’s logic was quite fuzzy and contradictory. Use his numbers (if you can) and see what it comes to be. Then add in for the sewer and water system (a city official stated $100 million, according to a Columbia Star report), the $5 million+ we owe county, the potential liability for the hotel suit, another million for a water tank that needs immediate attention, more money for police, money for Christmas lights, money to add electrical on Main St for the lights (this was overlooked in the Main St revitalization, according to a The State article), COLAs, etc. Then tell Warren what you get. The city does not know what it has. Austin cannot give council current financials, so it is all speculative as to the city’s finances. But when Austin has to ask the merchants for Christmas money, you know it is bad, real bad.
Warren needs to reread Adam Beam’s article, then his own. His math needs a refresher course.
……………
Joe,
how are you? It has been a while.
So I read this and it really makes me wonder.....how some of our officials get appointed in the first place. Is nobody out to look after the Citys health anymore. Maybe when they were first elected but then everyone gets lost in the web of beaurocracies, responsibility, and solving their own problems. I agree with others. When they audit the City funds they should know who was responsible for which losses. That is the purpose of an audit....to provide accountability. It would be incomplete if done any other way. The the people can decide what to do.....we do live in a democracy still, so maybe the voice of the people can decide....if we ever get that far.
Unfortunately, I don't see nor expect much to happen or even change in the future. I would love to be proven wrong. Columbia has has been led by a bad example, our national budget. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
……………….
Hey Joe,
Bet you didn't know that the city just hired a NEW Deputy Assistant to the Finance Director. This is a NEW position at $85,000 per year. That does NOT include the salary of the NEW Finance Director that they still have to hire since the surmise of Lisa (incompetent) Roland. That salary is over $100,000 more. They are also paying a CPA firm thousands weekly to try to get the books audited. Something screwy here! Don't you think?
……………………..
Joe,
A. The City is "managementally" bankrupt.
b. Can the Mayor be impeached/recalled?
jsa- A. Yes, that too.
B. I just got a new basket of peaches at the market today. Lets go for it! (That is an interesting question. Here you can find the code of laws: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=13167&sid=40. It may be covered under state law as my quick search did not show any recall. Maybe more in depth search will reveal something.)
………………..
But we have money to hire consultants for ad phrases and retail studies and hire more employees in the hysterical preservation department, etc. Then there’s the airline, the prison redevelopment, oh, it hurts to even go on…
……………………..
Another financial issue that needs to be examined is how much money the City takes from the water revenues. As a non city resident who pays Columbia for water, I have become very concerned with how City Council constantly spends water revenues for general City expenses. In essence, Columbia is taxing non-residents to pay for all kind of crap. I have written every member of the Lexington County Delegation with my concerns and have gotten great support in seeking a solution for keeping the City from conducting this practice. As corrupt and inept as Columbia City Government is and as mismanaged as Columbia's finances are, at least City residents can vote on those that spend their money. Non-residents have no say yet Columbia spends tens upon tens of millions of non-resident water revenue for general expense. How much worse will City finances get when Columbia has to stop diverting this money?
jsa-Robbing the water revenues over the years has made council lazy. It also has shortchanged the maintenance of the system. The water rates should be illegal, and would be if a private company was supplying water as state law prevents a water utility from profits of 35-50%. I have said for years that budgeting should be set up on a knowledge basis of deterioration of the system. If it is known certain pipes last 50 years and then need replacing, 2% should be put away yearly to cover that need. The interest from that money can be used for more maintenance, and most especially for greatly unexpected contingencies.
……………………
Well,
Sadly, does anybody care, will there be screaming and demands for a better shake for the folks living here. I couldn't understand why everybody wasn't screaming; first at the salaries being paid by the city for some employees; second by the planned increase in property taxes and water. Unfortunately unless there is a miracle I will never be out there fighting again. For years people talked about an oversight committee for the Police Department, maybe it is time to talk about a financial oversight committee for the city. Or maybe we need to insist the council go back to school and take courses in financial responsibility.
jsa-Or maybe we just need to replace them all.
To go orders...should you tip?
Hi Joe,
I need your expertise in helping figure something out for me, if you don’t mind.
I was eating out with the Lake Murray Jaycees last night and an interesting topic of discussion came up. One side of the table said that tipping should be done for to go orders because whatever the total amount of sales for the night whether it is to-go orders or dine-in orders is taxed. It was also stated that
jsa-You already saw me and got my opinion, so let’s see what readers think.
jsa-How appropriate an article sent from an astute reader on the possible eve of another New Orleans hurricane.
Better buffer than levees
Water management and retreat from flood plains make more sense and cost less.
| By Steffen Schmidt from the July 9, 2008 edition | | | | | |
One immediate response to the horrible
Urbanization has reduced the ability of land to absorb rainfall that in past centuries remained stored "locally." Today that water has no place to go but into storm sewers, creeks, and then heavily levied rivers.
Climate change experts predict new weather patterns that include droughts in some places, heavier rainfall in other areas, and decades of much more severe tropical storm patterns along the Gulf and East Coast. We know that the levees in
Those bigger and "better" levees come with financial and social costs – someone downstream will inevitably suffer the consequences. We can't control nature, and when we try, we selectively benefit certain parcels of land and communities.
Like squeezing a balloon, though, the floods will pop out from levees – no matter how big they are – through the next weak spot. Sandbags are just not a policy.
So, what to do?
As a compassionate society, we need to help communities and affected citizens get back on their feet. But after that, managing the collection of water is the only fiscally sound policy to pursue going forward.
We don't have the budgets to continually increase levee heights. The billions of dollars spent on some levees would be much better invested buying out landowners whose property is worth less than the cost of the defenses it would take to save their land.
American communities and policymakers at all levels can prohibit new construction in flood plains. Let's discontinue flood insurance. Let's discontinue federal and state bailouts that make it worth taking the risk of building in dubious places.
We should concentrate greater resources on protecting assets that cannot realistically be purchased or moved. This would strengthen areas that we have no choice but to protect from flooding.
We need to integrate levee protection so that it is not a "patchwork" of uncoordinated structures built by different agencies and jurisdictions. The 272-page report prepared after the 1993 floods in
Local, federal, and state governments should develop an integrated strategic flooding plan that deliberately designates "safety valves" along US rivers and tributaries prone to extreme flooding. By creating places where water can flow all the way up and down waterways and coastal areas with minimal damage, it relieves flood pressure downstream from densely populated communities. Just like a valve on pressure cookers, built in safety valves would be a place where rivers could blow out with less damage.
Resistance to this "managed retreat" approach will be fierce from landowners, developers, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Because, without clear compensation, they will see a threat to their interests.
However, evidence points to this new management system as sound, doable, and realistic.
With rising healthcare costs, rusting bridges, faltering schools, and other needs, local, state, and federal governments will not have the tax revenue to undertake an huge overhaul of man-made armor such as dams and superlevees throughout the country.
Instead, total coordination is our best chance at preventing the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Steffen Schmidt is a professor of political science at
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