Sunday, December 30, 2012

WWJD With Christianity in the USA?


At Christmas time we focus on the birth of Jesus Christ, and our nation claims to be influenced primarily by the words and example of Christ--WWJD (not too long ago the slogan “what would Jesus do” was popular among Christians in America), so I would like to ask our people and especially our leaders who claim Christianity as their inspiration, to consider once again, “What would Jesus do or have us do”:

Friday, December 28, 2012

Sales Tax Up in 46 Counties


AUGUSTA, GA – Effective January 1, 2013, the tax rate for Richmond County will increase by 1 cent from 7% to 8% due to the passage of the Special District Transportation Sales and Use Tax 2013 (TSPLOST).The voters in our district passed the tax on July 31, 2012.  

CCA and Georgia Power: People of the Year

Who’s the most important person of the year? Time magazine says Barack Obama, but it is the American corporation. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reminded us of the legal fiction of corporate personhood during the past summer’s presidential campaign—“corporations are people, my friend!”— and the winners in 2012 are Corrections Corporations of America (CCA) and Georgia Power.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sheriff Roundtree Historic Sworn In


AUGUSTA, GA - On the steps of the Judge John Ruffin Courthouse, in front of dozens of people, Chief Judge Calisle Overstreet administered the Oath of Office to Richard Roundtree. As the transition of law enforcement power changes in Augusta, history is being made in the city. Roundtree is now the city's first African-American Sheriff. But he, along with other city leaders, say that color has nothing to do with this.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Augusta DDA Loses CADI and Confidence

AUGUSTA, GA - In the last marathon session of the Richmond County Commission the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) not only was defunded to keep the Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative (CADI), but at the same time open the pandora box on how the DDA operates, and probably the other more of a dozen entities known as authorities and boards. The lack of six votes to pass the extension of the program certainly was a vote of no confidence to the DDA. (VIDEO)

Monday, December 17, 2012

Immigration Reform in 2013: Keep Dreaming


WASHINGTON, D.C. (By Seth Freed Wessler) - The federal government conducted more than 200,000 deportations of parents who said their children are U.S. citizens in a timespan of just over two years, according to new data obtained by Colorlines.com. The figures represent the longest view to date of the scale of parental deportation.

School Employees Should Be Armed


NEWTOWN, CONN. (By Steve Gunn) – Former U.S. Education Secretary Bill Bennett thinks American schools might be wise to train and arm certain employees, so they can react quickly in the event of an attack like the one that claimed the lives of 26 people Friday at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

"Show me your paper" in Georgia


ATLANTA, GA (Rich Pellegrino) - The interviews below with the Cobb and Marietta Police Chiefs show that some progress has been made In their positions and actions in regards to immigrants and the laws targeting them. This is due in no small part to your persistent exertions, support and prayers in this regard. Though there is still much work to do, especially in relation to racial profiling of all people of color, and the disparities in the overall justice system, thank you for working together for this success and progress.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

GPB Hiring Chip Rogers Criticized


"One of the most anti-immigrant Senators is purportedly resigning from his Georgia State Senate position. Once a man who was 'inline' for a possible US Senate position is now quitting. This could effectively shut him out of future possible leadership as quitting is never a good approach for future office. Yet another blow for the hardliners of extreme intolerant right in Georgia loosing a very powerful and influential supporter."- Erik Voss posted in GIRRC - Georgia Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Will Voters Stop Being Thrown Under the Bus?

The Voter ID Act as a way of suppressing minorities votes, fighting vote fraud and keeping "illegals" out of the polls. None of the above. In Augusta, Georgia, the way of perpetuating poverty, the power of a few and keeping a majority of voters out of the polling stations is through a public transportation operating under intensive care.