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
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Saturday, September 6, 2008
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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Letter to the Free Times (9-1-08)
Since I was part of the last mayoral election, I feel the need to respond to Coble’s article ( http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064033858&ShowArticle_ID=11012708084021605) last week. Kevin is still making the same “rants” as he did during the election, and they are still valid, even more so now that the city still has not balanced its books, hired a finance director, does not know what money it has available, finds itself with a $10-20 million employee insurance liability it had no idea it had, has crumbling water and sewer lines (Huger St caved in last week due to a faulty pipe), has no money for Christmas lights this year and is asking the Main St. and 5 Points merchants to contribute, the bus system is coming to an end, and… and…Need I say more? So Kevin has every right to point out the obvious, and the hidden.
As for the Pee Wee Gaskins memorial, I find that a stretch. I found the destruction of the old CCI facility a travesty as it was a very historic facility and architecturally significant. According to what I have read, it was built by black slave inmates in the 1800’s. This facility should have been kept as a museum, and could have been frequently used by the movie industry, as promoted by Temple Ligon. It would have been as monumental as Alcatraz, the impact enormous. I believe Kevin was pointing out the lack of vision of city leaders and how Charleston would never have destroyed such a significant structure, along with the benefits of preservation.
The bus system is another issue. Yes, the system was very poorly run. SCE&G wanted it that way as an out. But they were obligated to run it as long as they had the Columbia electric franchise, as ruled by the US Supreme Court many decades ago. Coble’s statement that the SC Legislature could dissolve that ruling is questionable at best, and more an excuse for his and council’s mistake. Any mayor worth his salt would take legal action against any state attempt to overturn a federal ruling, but why would the legislators even attempt such? It could be political suicide. The $71 million was also not all cash but real estate and other considerations, meaning there was not enough cash to invest to return even $3 million yearly at 5% interest. The point is, the system did not have to be taken over by the city. SCE&G was required to operate it, and the city could have taken it back to court to force an adequate system. it may have been poorly run, but at least it was running, not like the death it faces over the next few months. (As a side note, someone politically connected told me that council voted to release SCE&G as they were threatened with well funded election opposition if they did not, which reinforces my instinct that someone/s benefited at the expense of many.)
As for the renaissance Coble keeps touting, it isn’t happening, unless you call rebuilding what you destroyed a renaissance. Not only has Coble presided over the greatest financial disasters in Columbia’s history, he also presided over the greatest destruction of Columbia since Sherman. In 1990, downtown was still the activity center of Columbia. Then we lost Macy’s, Belk’s, Penny’s, many glorious movie theaters and homes, most small retailers, and wide streets. Now we are losing SCANA, the VA, Lourie’s, the Capital Newsstand, the Capital Café, and more. Projects such as Vision have been scrapped, the Main St revitalization (is this the 6th over 30 years?) is going to cause more to be lost, as it did in 5 Points, and it is not certain that enough money is available complete it anytime soon. The Eau Claire revitalization will not happen soon due to lack of money, Innovista has not yet become the cash cow city planned, yet spent millions building parking garages for USC Innovista that will not be filled anytime soon (shouldn’t USC have built the garages with its own funds?). Adesso and other condo projects are still sitting unfilled, neighborhoods (especially north Columbia) are living in fear of real, not perceived crime, the water and sewer lines are crumbling, causing sink holes all over town and requiring water boils due to ingress of contaminants, multi-millions of dollars lost on projects such as Airsouth, trolleys, Canalside, and on and on. If renaissance is trying to rebuild what you destroyed, yes, we are in one.
As for constructive advice Coble is right. Kevin could offer more. I know I have over many campaigns, and Coble and council have taken personal credit for all of it: council meetings on channel 2, evening council meetings, city/educational institution cooperation, summer concerts, all city information online, a functional transportation system, regional cooperation, timely accurate financial information and more.
Of course, if Kevin offered more, council would probably adopt it and claim the ideas as their own.
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