V23|NO41
Where’s Robin Hood? You’ve seen the signs, you’ve seen the bumper stickers, you’ve probably even been hit up to send some money to this purest of causes — Save the A. It seems like a heartwarming story of regular folk coming together, doesn’t it? “It’s a remarkable breadth of support, crossing ethnic and political lines.� That’s a quote from Nick Evans, a local businessman stepping out on a limb to do what he feels is right for the community. And Lord knows it wasn’t easy. At first, the campaign was little more than secretive whispers, but soon, thanks to Nick Evans, the resistance got bolder. Stronger. Braver. In no time, it seemed, it represented a true cross section of Augusta plopped down in a four-page advertisement in the Augusta Chronicle. Four pages of common folk ready to be heard. When the concerned citizens group employed a local ad agency to spread the word, there was a sense of a solid group banding together to do good in the face of evil. And that ad agency, Hall Marketing, they meant business, too. When the Spirit inquired about the use of the donations and the media buys, it got a note back talking about PSAs and media assistance to help get the word out about Saving the A. The whole city, it seems, had become a group of Merry Men — renegades opposing tyranny of the absolute worst kind. But here’s the thing, folks. That P.O. Box you’re sending your checks to? It’s a Chronicle box. Simple Google search found that out. That whole grass roots storyline — it’s about as orchestrated as it could be. What makes the whole thing so troubling is that what seemed so good, so pure, was little more than a power struggle by a news organization that already had the authority to make an argument against the name change. That had, in fact, already been making the argument. It’s been a long time since Billy Morris had been as popular as he was when he came out against the name change, so why not run with it? Why be deceitful? Did they worry their editorial page, once the ultimate bully pulpit, no longer had what it took? Does this speak to the decline of the daily? Why bait the local press with Nick Evans standing up for what he believes in when he was really just standing for what Billy Morris believes in? In the end, how is your credibility any better than the evil Dr. Azziz when you basically set up a shell corporation to fight your fight, then cower in the shadows behind it?
GIFT AVAI CARDS LABL E! MARTINEZ
Across from K-MART ‡
FALL SPECIALS! $24.95 Oil Change & Car Wash Full Service Oil Change, Up WR 4WV RI &KHYURQ %XON 2LO 4XLFN ([SUHVV &DU :DVK Valid at 2841 Washington Rd (Next to Red Lobster) 512 North Belair Rd (Across from Evans Cinemas) *Not valid with any other specials. Expires 10/31/12
SOUTH AUGUSTA
:LQGVRU 6SULQJ 5G ‡
EVANS
$ $FURVV IURP (YDQV &LQHPD ‡
WASHINGTON ROAD W
1H[W WR 5HG /REVWHU ‡ 1
Mini Detail $50.00 Full Service Wash, Hand :D[ 0DW 6KDPSRR (UP TO 4)
7LUH 6KLQH Not Valid S. Augusta. Most cars, some vehicles not eligible for special. Not Available all hours. *Not valid with any other specials. Expires 10/31/12
Unlimited Wash Plans Starting at $14.95 Per Month
TOPNOTCHEXPRESSCARWASH.COM 11OCTOBER2012
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT
5