AUGUSTA, GA - Representatives of Augusta's neighborhoods renewed their commitment to keep pushing the peoples's agenda during the meeting of the Richmond County Neighborhood Associations Alliance, Inc. The need of a reliable mass transportation system as a mean to put people to work and keep accountable elected officials was prominently pointed out at the gathering.
One of the main preoccupation for the attendees is the lack of priorities set by Mayor Deke Copenhaver and the block of 6 votes in the Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mass transportation is not one of the priorities of the city administration therefore the fight must continue, according not only to Denice Traina, who ran for the District 1 seat finishing third, but by many neighbor's representatives.
It was brought to the attention of the audience that taxpayers are paying for the service regularly but the Augusta Public Transit (APT) has being successively threw under the bus by the Augusta government. Commissioner Alvin Mason reminded the group that millions of dollars are being sent back to the Feds just because the Mayor and some commissioners are not willing to improve APT.
Traina said that jobs are not going to come to town if people have no means to access to them and company won't come either if they have to provide transportation to their potential workers.
Mason did not agree with the idea proposed by Traina in creating a Transportation Authority. Makes no sense to create another bureaucracy to do what we can do or tells us what we know already about the problems. Until we put the right people in office willing to work for the needs of the taxpayers and not the interests of the powerful we are not going to solve the problems of the people, said Mason. Some commented to that: So we have to wait another two years until we have another election to put another like Matt Aitken and the thing just go on and on.
Commissioner Lockett said: It is up to you to put the right person as you commissioner. He also stated the biggest problem ahead for the 4 commissioners fighting for the peoples's agenda in Richmond County is the possibility of having a lot of elected officials with good intentions but they could end up short in money.
Richmond County just elected the first black Sheriff in the history of the county, but before even Richard Roundtree takes office there are already rumors that the powers that be are going to do whatever it takes for him to fail. Roundtree could have the best intentions and the best team but with commissioners voting not giving the budget needed will put him in a miserably position.
The gridlock happening at the federal level is exactly the same book fallowed in Augusta, that is why the RCNAA is not taking lightly the possibility of another two more years of Aitken. President Obama could put the best bill for American workers in the hand of Congress, but with budget cuts for the needy struggling economy and not passing the right bills the country fails.
If Roundtree do not receive the proper attention from the Augusta Commission during his next 4 years as Sheriff he could just say good bye to his reelection campaign, if he survives the first term.
There is always tax money and the willingness for buildings like the TEE Center but not to serve the taxpayers of Richmond County. Representatives of the RCNAA announced more meetings and community actions are being planned in the future.
One of the main preoccupation for the attendees is the lack of priorities set by Mayor Deke Copenhaver and the block of 6 votes in the Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mass transportation is not one of the priorities of the city administration therefore the fight must continue, according not only to Denice Traina, who ran for the District 1 seat finishing third, but by many neighbor's representatives.
It was brought to the attention of the audience that taxpayers are paying for the service regularly but the Augusta Public Transit (APT) has being successively threw under the bus by the Augusta government. Commissioner Alvin Mason reminded the group that millions of dollars are being sent back to the Feds just because the Mayor and some commissioners are not willing to improve APT.
Traina said that jobs are not going to come to town if people have no means to access to them and company won't come either if they have to provide transportation to their potential workers.
Mason did not agree with the idea proposed by Traina in creating a Transportation Authority. Makes no sense to create another bureaucracy to do what we can do or tells us what we know already about the problems. Until we put the right people in office willing to work for the needs of the taxpayers and not the interests of the powerful we are not going to solve the problems of the people, said Mason. Some commented to that: So we have to wait another two years until we have another election to put another like Matt Aitken and the thing just go on and on.
Commissioner Lockett said: It is up to you to put the right person as you commissioner. He also stated the biggest problem ahead for the 4 commissioners fighting for the peoples's agenda in Richmond County is the possibility of having a lot of elected officials with good intentions but they could end up short in money.
Richmond County just elected the first black Sheriff in the history of the county, but before even Richard Roundtree takes office there are already rumors that the powers that be are going to do whatever it takes for him to fail. Roundtree could have the best intentions and the best team but with commissioners voting not giving the budget needed will put him in a miserably position.
The gridlock happening at the federal level is exactly the same book fallowed in Augusta, that is why the RCNAA is not taking lightly the possibility of another two more years of Aitken. President Obama could put the best bill for American workers in the hand of Congress, but with budget cuts for the needy struggling economy and not passing the right bills the country fails.
If Roundtree do not receive the proper attention from the Augusta Commission during his next 4 years as Sheriff he could just say good bye to his reelection campaign, if he survives the first term.
There is always tax money and the willingness for buildings like the TEE Center but not to serve the taxpayers of Richmond County. Representatives of the RCNAA announced more meetings and community actions are being planned in the future.
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