There’s a lot of conversation going on about the new James Brown Arena proposal.
The biggest issue with the JBA is location. The last referendum on location didn’t pass, mainly because of the billboards in support of the move to the Regency Mall area. Well, some will say it was because of the area — others will say it was because Mayor Davis was supportive of the move. Unfortunately, many people will fight anything that he is for, good or bad.
We are definitely in need of a new arena. Working on the arena we have is not the right move. If you have not taken a moment to review the latest layout, you should. It looks spectacular. I don’t know how I feel about being able to get all the promised amenities with the current price tag, but hey! It’s worth a shot.
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Another community issue with the arena goes back to what do people really want? They don’t like the idea of SPLOST money being spent on it, because it’s their money. They don’t like the idea of a mileage rate increase, because it’s their money. How do you/they suppose we can enhance and improve our community?
Speaking of schools, can anyone explain why would Columbia County Schools ended the mask mandate if COVID-19 case numbers are going down? There are tons of different arguments in reference to why it happened. The main argument is that the superintendent and board folded under political pressure. But hey, isn’t that the American way?
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Your constituency makes noise and you listen. Let me tell you, some significant and powerful noise was being made.
Some people were calling for the immediate removal of some board members.
Some people were threatening to take their kids out of school.
It has been an all-out constitutional rights demonstration since then. Marches, signs, petitions and phone calls just to name a few things that have been going on since the initial move. Well, it all worked and things are back to normal in Columbia County.
Well, they are back to “Columbia County normal.”
In reference to Richmond County schools, they are still wearing masks, and it seems that will be the policy until further notice. A Richmond County school board member told me that they did not see a mask mandate being lifted anytime soon, citing that numbers were on a decline, and it only made sense to keep mask in place.
There has also been discussion on making vaccines mandatory for employees and the possibility of it being mandatory for students who are of age to take the shot. Good luck with that.
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One last thing: There is a local bakery called Doyle’s Made from Scratch. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out, do so! They have one of the best key lime cheesecakes you will ever sink your teeth into. Yes, you read that right: cheesecake cake! Keep in mind you will gain about 15 pounds the moment you hit the door from the smell alone.
I want to shout them out because they are great community partners. On several different occasions, they have sent complimentary slices to first responders, teachers and senior citizens. Whenever you go, please tell them I sent you.
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Now, we need to address the elephant in the room, and that’s the resignation of two key staff members from the mayor’s office. We are being told they left to do bigger and better things. I know that to be the case for one of them. I actually had an opportunity to see her a few weeks ago. But that’s not even the point. The point is someone made it very clear to me that these staff members were here to support the mayor through his last two years and now they are gone.
This begs the question: What is the mayor preparing for? He seems to be getting everything in order for his upcoming run, which means one of the commissioners will be replacing him. Maybe this explains why Commissioner… Well, I’m getting ahead of myself again.
See you next week.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com.
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