Bruce Springsteen wrote and recorded the song “Glory Days.” It is about old friends and older acquaintances recalling the good old days. Yes, when things were calmer, more gentle and simpler. Things were less complicated. A good song was about the beat and a simple and understandable story. That was before the internet, social media and 24 hours of news and misinformation.
While having morning coffee with my son, he ever so bluntly reminded me that I lived the “Glory Days.” I had to admit to doing exactly what the song says. I am very guilty of sitting with a group of acquaintances and talking about life in the Hamlet of Harrisburg when I was growing up.
A group of us who grew up together and attended Martha Lester Grammar School still gather monthly and reminisce about our glory days. Now, I have to admit that I have not attended our monthly lunch for a couple of months because of other personal and business commitments. Sadly, we have had to bid a very fond farewell to many of our brethren. Seems that the longer a person lives, the more they have to say a tearful goodbye to the people and pets they have loved. But long live our glory days.
As I walked into the commission chambers this past week at the tail end of the budget session. I was in time to hear Administrator Tameka Allen explaining that there were be some hard choices to be made. Seems that the ever so free wheeling spending has caught up to those financial geniuses on the commission.
The fact is that you can’t always afford what you want. For example, more jobs that cost more money and really give nothing substantial in return. Remember when the rescue funds were mostly used for pay raises and bonuses? Those little items have to be paid for continuously.
The sheriff, fire chief, district attorney, public defender’s office, judges and the city engineer all need more money.
When no answers were forth coming on how to solve this dilemma, commissioners mostly agreed to bring it back in a couple of weeks. Then I heard a commissioner ask a question that showed exactly how little he actually knows about finances. The question was whether the commission could take a short recess and have the administrator correct the budget and bring in back to the commission? Yes indeed, what took months should now only take a few minutes to tweak.
Last week, the commission approved the hiring of a Parks and Recreation director while the Gang of Five was able to block the approval of having a P&R audit performed. A real serious question that has to be answered is, why is 95% of the Augusta government so afraid of and against a forensic audit?
Another huge issue is the one concerning the Augusta garbage collection providers. Dr. Hameed Malik states the contracts for the two major providers absolutely need to go up. The annual increase looks to be around $100 to $120. Less service and more cost. Yes, indeed, sounds like a true Augusta special negotiated contract.
There will still be only once-a-week pickup with no illusion of a recycling pickup. If a customer wants recycling, then the customer can pay the contractor for a separate can and pickup. Now the question that needs to be answered is, what will the contractor do with the recycled material?
While I seldom agree with Moses Todd, he is square on that the Georgia Attorney General needs to investigate some of what’s happening with the garbage fees, as well as the stormwater fees. However, a forensic audit would certainly answer those questions.
Monies being used for street sweeping, vacant lot maintenance, mosquito control, litter pickup and blighted properties seems to be coming from improper funds. There was money designated for blighted property demolition. The Landbank also had funds marked for blighted properties. True answers need to be given.
Another remarkable question was asked, I believe by the same financially expert commissioner, was whether the contracts for the garbage haulers could be approved first and then the fees be negotiated. Remember that the voters in his district voted him into office.
I wonder what Commissioner Jordon Johnson and the Homeless Task Force has been accomplishing. There have been no public updates on the issue. The reason I ask is a very sad and neglected situation occurring on Washington Road at the Augusta Transit stop shelter in front on the Red Roof Inn.
An older lady that has made the bus stop shelter her living area. This has been the issue for a few weeks now. Rarely do you see other people waiting on the bus sit at the shelter. They stand on the outside. People have tried to approach her and have been rejected. A couple of people have told me that they have alerted the authorities to the situation.
This lady seems never to move from the shelter. She is sitting there with her belongings in bags on either side of her. She is using one end of the shelter as her restroom. This is in full view of the traffic and the people stopped for the red light. This lady seems to need help that most of us are not trained to handle.
There are several areas of Augusta that have attracted homeless people. This makes those areas very unsafe for the residents of those areas. It seems that these the issues are a very low priority for the officials of Augusta. Maybe the new sheriff in town will attempt to do something about this issue.
Let me take just a line or two to wish each and every one of you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. May all of the families be blessed with togetherness and love.
I remember when I was just a lad . . . oh wait, never mind, I was about to relive some Glory Days.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
