With the blessing of Thanksgiving on the horizon, this could be a column of all the things we are thankful for. However, it would take up endless pages of this newspaper for me to get my first ‘Thank you’ out.
Instead, I will try to tackle two issues of the day. I am still of the mindset that the mayor will be leaving soon. I know some of you ask why I keep bringing it up. There are two reasons: one is that maybe he will read my column and make a run or appointment to something at the state or national level. Two is so I can be right about something I said, which I have a good track record lately when you think of the consistency I have had.
What’s especially interesting to me are the discussions on the agenda about hiring lobbyists to represent the city of Augusta in D.C. and Atlanta. This would be a perfect fit for our current mayor as he knows the ends and out of both cities. He knows the movers and shakers. This would be a job where he could hit the ground running. So, if he was not in consideration for such position, I suggest when it is brought up that you consider him. The Augusta Commission could then move the current mayor pro-tem to the interim mayor… since sources say he is considering a run at the seat anyway.
When I asked him about it, he stated, “Well Mike, anything is possible, and lots of people tell me to consider it.”
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Speaking of announcements, Traci George has announced she will be running to unseat Rep. Brian Prince of GA House 127. You may remember the name Traci George, as she worked really hard on Senator Ossoff’s campaign in this region. From sources close to this young lady, she still works very hard to make sure people have the right to vote, working with the National Action Network and the Georgia Coalition of the People’s Agenda.
If the districts stay the same and she is in the primary, she will have stiff competition with the likable and hard working Prince. The retired Army colonel is a respected member of the community who grew up in the Bellemeade area, lives in the Bel-air area and whose family is a staple in the black education community.
I asked George why she would run against someone like Prince.
She responded, “Let’s just see what happens with these districts.”
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Here comes the judge, here comes the judge
For you young folks, that’s paying homage to Flip Wilson of the Flip Wilson Show. I was able to attend a small reception for the newly-appointed Judge Amanda Heath. The response was overwhelming, and she is dearly loved. You could see it by the assortment of people in the place, the kind words that were said and the tremendous display of support by her colleagues. She is going to be a force to be reckoned with. All of the local judges who were available were in attendance.
Let me clear something up. I know there has been talk about a new group of judges coming up to replace the current judges. Let me just say this: Be careful!
I overheard the level of support for some of our current judges on more than one occasion. I happened to be in close enough proximity to hear members from the black community bid Judge Flythe a personal thank you for his service and assure him that he had their support. And this was from a high-level, respected leader in our community. Flythe responded with much appreciation and endured commitment.
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Speaking of judges, I think this redistricting will end up in courts. I spoke with Commissioner McKnight, who is still enraged she didn’t end up on the redistricting committee. There was someone who came up to her and asked her about the maps, She pulled out her phone and let them know about the latest maps she has seen, and she also discussed what happened at every meeting and was able to name elected officials that didn’t seem to be helpful in the efforts to keep certain neighborhoods together.
I asked her what the major problem throughout this process was, and her quick response was that folks’ self-interest was to blame. Of course, we all know about some people having big egos.
We will just have to wait to see if they break up Summerville or not. I believe they will just move the outer parts of District 3 near Gordon Highway and Fort Gordon to District 5. This will keep the city part of District 3 from having to separate. I believe that would be a good trade off in most people’s eyes. Let District 5 stay majority minority. Give them a few more engaged voters.
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Let me begin to wrap up this column by thanking Chief B for calling me and allowing me to help him get his TV audio off Spanish when he was trying to watch football. This call meant a lot to me, and he can’t even begin to imagine how I will forever appreciate it.
For me, it’s the small things that makes my heart smile. You have to understand that there has to be a level of trust for a fire chief to call you and say, “Tell me what I need to do, Michael.”
Let me tell you what touched me the most.
He said, “I love reading your column, but there is something I don’t like.”
I said, “What’s that, Chief?”
He said, “You always say, ‘Here I go getting ahead of myself’ or ‘Come back next week,’ but you never come back to what you were talking about.”
“Do you come back every week looking for it?” I said.
He replied, “I do!”
“Then I’m winning half of the battle,” I said. “I tell you about the other half next week.”
We both had a chuckle. So, for Chief, I won’t end this column that way.
I want to end it by saying I’m thankful to everyone who supports the Augusta Press and thankful for the people who read my column each week. I’m thankful and grateful for the Augusta Press staff members who keep us going. Thank you to everyone who is still showing up to work in this crazy world where so many people have just become lost in the COVID-19 chaos. Thank you to all the first responders, especially to my Gold Cross family.
The leadership at Gold Cross supports me in everything I do and all my crazy undertakings as I attempt to take care of the community. They listen to my ideas on vaccinations, hiring events, free classes, jobs and giveaways, just to name a few.
I want to thank our community leaders for never giving up on our great city. I’m so thankful for my tribe; my friends, family, aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters who are so supportive in everything I do. I’m ever so thankful for my parents who don’t mind correcting me; Sharon, Hattie, Henry, Sheree, Doris, Shirley and Beulah. I’m thankful for my children for allowing me the great honor of being their father and of course, my beautiful, wonderful wife, Monica, for putting up with me.
I’m thankful for God being good!
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
