Pastor Protection Bill Advances in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - We got back to work for the fifth week of session on Monday, February 8, and by Thursday, February 11, we reached the half-way mark of the 2016 legislative session, legislative day 20. With only 20 working days to complete our business, and “cross-over day,” legislative day 30, looming, we quickly got to work.  Committees were in full-swing, and many pieces of legislation started making their way over from the Senate to be heard in House committees. This week the House saw bipartisan support and passage of several important bills that will affect all Georgians.

Mayor Davis Strategic Investments

Augustans want their Mayor to have an ambitious agenda to do the hard work and make an impact on Augusta that is lasting and transformative.  They aren’t expecting it to happen overnight, but they are expecting me to make decisions to invest in Augusta’s future, in their future, in their children’s future. 

Augustans Responded First Telephone Town Hall

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. hosted his first Telephone Town Hall Meeting last evening with nearly 2,000 Augustans.  Mayor Davis gave a brief update about the work he is doing as Mayor of the City and informed residents about what to expect in the days ahead. 

One Year of Cherry Tree Crossing Demolition

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - First their homes were demolished and today they were evicted from the list of registered voters. The Richmond County Board of Elections (RCBOE) voted to take 496 names from the official list of electors. None of them took part of the last attempt made by the board to avoid the action during a public hearing. They must register to vote again with their new addresses. CLICK HERE TO CHECK YOUR VOTING STATUS

Stormwater Fee Substituted by SPLOST VII

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Discussion about the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is catching the attention of the Richmond County Commission this time. The amount to be charged as stormwater fee was washed away from the agenda after several attempts to vote on the matter without success. 

The evil is in the details and one in the package proposed for the SPLOST VII, like the last year defeat, promise to be a “hell” one if the $100 million request for a new civic center is suggested. Voters of the county are going to decide if the package is approved or not on November 3. Over $80,000 is estimated the cost of the election with the referendum being the only item.

Millions to Renovate Former Library

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - The Augusta Richmond County Commission approved to provide to RW Allen, LLC with $1,394,174.00 for the renovation of the former Augusta Library to be used by the Utilities Department. Also the local legislative body authorized the payment to Georgia Power for the Facility Relocation Costs on the Berckmans Road Widening & Realignment estimated in $372,650.00. The approval of the stormwater fee was delayed, once more time, and Augusta Public Transit has 30 days to improve the Fort Gordon route, failing by design, after 6 months of the pilot program.

Construction Cost of Nuclear Proportions

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Georgia WAND will be attending the hearing for the 12th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report and sharing public comments. Since just the last Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report, projected project construction costs have increased by $246 million. It is currently 39 months behind schedule. These costs, like the aforementioned $246 million, are paid by us, the ratepayers. Could you think of a better use of $246 million dollars?

2015, the Year of Taxes and Costly Elections

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - UPDATE: Sean Frantom won the runoff election against Louis Harris in a historic election.

Unprecedented Actions by Minorities in Augusta

"Kangaroo Court" and Impeachment for the Mayor 

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - UPDATE 3/25/2015: The Asian American woman entrepreneur after the third request finally was allowed the coveted permit to open her business. Six commissioners gave the OK to Mrs. Kartye while Commissioner Sammie Saias called "Kangaroo Court" the vote procedure and some in the audience yelled "impeach the Mayor". A request to comply with federal laws regarding interpreters for non-native speakers residents was taken as "information."

Prison and Fine for Drone Owners

AUGUSTA, GA - An ordinance to regulate the operation of drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems passed unanimously in one session of the Augusta Richmond County Commission. There was no input from the public and the second reading was waved also. Violators to the new local law could face a misdemeanor, prison up to sixty days and subject to a fine of not more than $1000.

$6.40 Pago Extra por Alcantarillado

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - El pago extra por la red de alcantarillado sanitario, estimado en $6.40 mensuales, que deberán abonar los propietarios de inmuebles en el condado de Richmond ya fue aprobado en el presupuesto del 2015. Sin embargo, la comuna de Augusta sigue dilatando el tema y una serie de 10 audiencias públicas serán realizadas por un mes. 

License to Harm in the Name of Religion?

UPDATE: The bill died at the last day of session April 2. It could come back for the 2016 Georgia General Assembly session, though. 

Stormwater Fee Suspension and Tax Pardons

The stormwater fee was already approved in the budget
for FY2015. What is the point delaying the implementation?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - The Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance (RCNAA) is calling to its members to oppose a retail package liquor, beer & wine license to be used in connection with OK Wine & Spirits located at 2811 Tobacco Rd. The item will be discussed at the Commission session. Waiving tax fees for business and non-profit, giving more power to the administrator and suspending stormwater fee, for now, also are in the agenda.

GRU Launches Cyber, Health Sciences Summer Academies

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Georgia Regents University (GRU) will kick off two pilot programs this summer for current sophomore and junior high school students. Both the Health Sciences Summer Academy (HSSA) and the Cyber Sciences Summer Academy (CSSA), a residential educational experience, will be offered in two sessions, June 21-25 and June 28-July 2. Each program’s tuition is $500.

Should Hybrid and Electric Car Owners be Punished?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Charge usage fees to those who own alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids and electric vehicles -item 8- or “wean the state and local governments from use of sales taxes on gasoline for non-transportation purposes,” are among a dozen of proposals made by the The Joint Study Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Funding. Since Richmond County approved the T-SPLOST, implementing a one-cent statewide sales tax could hurt even more to its residents.

¿Violadores de escolares protegidos?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Cuando un chico estadounidense es violado sexualmente en la escuela la pregunta de un extranjero es: ¿Qué garantías tienen mis niños en la escuela de no ser víctimas? En un foro comunitario organizado por I Breathe I Rise, se hizo un llamado a los maestros honrados y valientes y a los padres a denunciar sospechas de acoso sexual. Los escolares en el condado de Richmond deben ser protegidos, coincidieron, aunque hasta ahora pareciera que los violadores gozan de impunidad.

Transit Advisory Board Kick-off

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - It has been over a year since Mayor Deke Copenhaver signed off on and Augusta Commissioners approved the proposal to form a citizens advisory committee for public transit. Known as the Transit Citizens Advisory Committee, the TCAC held its first official meeting this week.

It has formally begun its work by electing its first Chair, Terence Dicks a public transit consumer for more than 20 years (District 2) and Vice Chair, Denice Traina, a public transit advocate and 2012 candidate for Commissioner in District 1.

Mega Gathering of Democrats in Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (RD) - The Democratic Party of Georgia (State Party) is holding a regional multi county meeting on Tuesday July 8 at 6:30 PM at the IBEW HALL, 1250 Reynolds Street, Augusta. The Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) has been chosen to host the meeting. Ten county parties have been invited.

A Week Before the Primaries May 20th No Changes on Date

May 20th Primary Election in Augusta

UPDATE: U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall on May 13, 2014, ruled in favor of the city in a lawsuit filed over the election date for local, nonpartisan races. Georgia can no longer be forced to seek the U.S. Department of Justice’s pre-clearance to any change in the election process.

Tiroteo en Paine College: Ofrecen recompensa por informes

Paine College Shootings

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Las autoridades policiales del condado de Richmond ofrecen la recompensa de $2.000, por cualquier información que pueda aclarar la balacera del fin de semana, que afectó a Paine College y sus alrededores, como la universidad GRU, escuelas, negocios y vecindario. El comisario del condado de Richmond, Richard Roundtree, dijo en rueda de prensa que los cuatro tiroteos estarían vinculados y que los dos estudiantes involucrados por el momento estaban lidiando con drogas.