We have a lot to address.
I’ll to try to put it all in this confined space to include a response to my question about events downtown. We will get to that toward the end of the column.
Let me first talk about a few local things.
My column was complete before I spoke with Chief Clayton last week. If you missed that, go check out the WGAC webpage and the Austin rewind.
Let’s be clear—my intent was not to sound harsh toward the chief. I simply wanted an explanation to why we see him and not the sheriff speaking, especially when the entire community wants to hear from the sheriff. We elected the sheriff, and that’s who we are wanting to hear from, especially when there seems to be a violent crime spree taking over our city.
I believe we are now up to 28 murders in Augusta, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up. That’s unacceptable, and I’m sure the sheriff and chief would agree.
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The chief’s response to my inquiry was that he and the sheriff are in sync. The chief making a statement is just like the sheriff making the statement. They are one in the same. Well, you get the gist of what I am saying, or maybe you get the gist of what he is saying.
Either way, the chief said he is basically the spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. Needless to say, this didn’t go over very well with many listeners—at least the ones who sent messages to me afterwards. It seems as if people were still messaging Austin the day after in reference to the interview and to the point where he decided to add it to the page. Go take a listen, and you tell me what you think.
While you are listening make sure to listen to the interview with Jordan Johnson. It was OUTSTANDING (if I must say so myself—and I’m saying it.) It was an outstanding opportunity to really hear his stand on some local issues and discuss the plans he has in place for this community regarding the homeless, tiny houses, and infrastructure, to name a few topics. Commissioner Johnson is truly a “Peopletician” – like that word there…
I didn’t get a chance to ask him about the upcoming races; however, let’s address them here.
The tax commissioner’s race
There seems to be one candidate who is really working hard to keep his job, and that’s Chris Johnson. Nothing against the others who are running; however, he is definitely making an impact in this race. His signs are popping up all over the place, and after speaking to some who were dissenters to his predecessor – they overall have a good feeling for the direction that the tax commissioner has been going. Mr. Johnson has the experience because he has been there. He was the deputy tax commissioner and was part of all of the great upgrades that happened over the years in the Tax Commission’s Office,
The School Board races are definitely heating up as it gets closer to the election.
Well, maybe one race will be hotter than the others, and that’s the District 2 race. Charlie Hannah is definitely going to have his hands full with longtime activist and educator Larry Fryer. Fryer has been a staple in this community and seems to have garnered some support from his downtown community.
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Hannah, current board president and former mayoral candidate, has drawn a few skeptics after his very unsuccessful run for mayor and his name being tossed around for tax commissioner. He seems to be doing a good job on the board, or let me say this —he’s doing what board members do.
The other race that people seem to be interested in is District 9 where veteran board member Venus Cain has drawn some opposition. However, most people feel she is running unopposed like she has in the past. Has she ever had anyone run against her? I can tell you this, she is handling her race well. The way she’s working, you would think the polls are saying she’s behind. Let me assure everyone of one thing — she may not be in first, but she is way ahead of whoever is in second.
Now let’s address Little Ms. Sylvia’s column where she called me out on Sunday.
THANKS! I always feel special when she mentions something I said. It just lets me know that someone besides my momma and my mother-in-love reads my writing. (Shout out to Sharon and Clattie … inside joke), and of course my other dad, Henry Ingram loves to read my writings.
I’m still trying to understand all of what is being said in reference to the mayor? I believe the mayor should be out representing our city. He is the official spokesperson for the city. Right?
I know what I’ll do. I’ll pose these questions, and I always get a response. I’m sure Joe Edge will respond this week and explain to everyone. That way you can hear it in my voice. I’m sure I’m not the only one who reads columns in voices. Every week when I read Ms. Sylvia’s column, I use her voice. Her sweet southern drawl reminds me of a lady bringing you sweet tea on the porch of a big house. Then comes the snappiness of a grandma with a sharp remark that makes you smirk. Right?
BTW – Did you see the Augusta Chronicle come out with two door-buster sales last week in the matter of an hour. One was like 6 months for $6 and the other was like 6 months for $1. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. For you who still subscribe to the Chronicle, have you received your notice about no more daily print yet? Oh wait. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Well, at least that’s what I’m being told…
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Ironman downtown question from last week
I would like to thank the Augusta Sports Council for putting on a spectacular event like Ironman. The economic impact is just what a community like ours need. I am also glad that representatives from their organization read my column and took a moment to respond to something I stated last week.
If you missed the question that was asked of me, let me wrap it up like this. I was asked how the effected downtown businesses are compensated or is anything given to them during the time they shutdown streets.
Let me admit that the first response I got wasn’t that nice. I will reserve the right to say this older gentleman’s name. However, I’m sure he’s up reading my column first thing this morning— with his little glasses and white hair.
Either way, here is a message I received from Michelle, the CEO of the Augusta Sports Council. I’m including her entire message so I don’t exclude anything, and you get the point. It’s in italics and the rest of my column will follow.
The Augusta Sports Council has served as the local organizing committee for the IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta event since year one back in 2009. Aside from the managing, coordinating, and securing the local logistics needed to put on the event each year, our team of 4 also manages the volunteer recruitment (about 1,000 volunteers this year) and marketing/communication efforts locally and with IRONMAN to market our destination. The IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta is proof that Augusta is a sports destination more than the 2 weeks in April! With about 60 full distance IRONMAN and 70.3 events held each year, the IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta has been a sell out event for the IRONMAN brand since year 1 and has consistently been one of the largest 70.3 events in North America.
In 2019, our team and race director at the time came up with name for our local marketing efforts to promote our local businesses more to athletes and their families while in town. The name and concept of IM Local was born and has since been duplicated across all North America races! The concept is to connect the race destination to the athlete/guests to add to a better race week experience. The IM Local program consists of a listing of local businesses who are willing to give a discount or perk to participants and volunteers during the event week. It also includes businesses that are adjusting their hours to be open or opened earlier on race day. This year we had over 20 businesses participate! The IRONMAN Marketing team shares the information gathered for IM Local to race participants leading up to the event as well as sharing on the official event facebook page. The IM Local program is our response from many years of athlete feedback about their experience in the city outside of the race itself. We are proud to promote our local businesses to competitors and visitors we are able to host through sporting events. It’s our way to show our southern hospitality but also as a way to show why Augusta is different from other race destinations. Afterall, that’s part of the mission of the sports council. Here’s the link to the landing page for all of our local resources that we and IRONMAN shared- https://www.augustasportscouncil.org/ironman-703-augusta. We try to get the IM Local information out at least 2 weeks before the event to participants so that their families can better plan for their visit to Augusta. When participants arrived at the Augusta airport this year, we had floor decals with a QR code for them to get to the landing page. Area hotels also helped us in sharing local information with our welcome tent cards at check-in.
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While I don’t doubt that businesses are affected by the road closures connected with the event during specific hours, we do our best to work with affected business owners ahead of time on a traffic guide to assist their staff and customers. You might be surprised by the amount of businesses that don’t take advantage of the influx of people who are looking for something to eat, see, or do while in town for this event. With the race being on a Sunday, majority of downtown businesses are not open or choose not to be open even when 5,000+ people are expected to be downtown for most of the day. The same can be said for the day after the race since most competitors are still in town. For those that choose to, we include them in our IM Local program and work with the team at Destination Augusta to help us share the information. We want to make it easy for our out of town visitors to find local resources and we want our local businesses to see a positive impact that this event brings. Something new that we tried this year was recruiting local food trucks to set up along 8th Street this year. 4 came out to set up and said that being at the event exceeded their expectations.
I hope this clarifies your questions about how this event affects businesses and I hope it sheds more light to the work that is being done to promote our community. I welcome any suggestions or business contacts you may have about planning our community efforts for next year!
So there you have it, and I appreciate the quick response and taking time to read my column.
Now that we are all caught up again – let’s address some political concern about the Fire Chief’s budget request that contains the purchase of ambulances. Now, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
