UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023 VOL. 12 NO. 9

Save last surviving building with historical ties to Augusta’s Golden This Dyess Park Building targeted for demolition.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs Blocks

ONE Mayor ONE Vote ?

Voters will go to the polls in ‘24 to decide Is this a long-needed fix or power grab ?

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

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1MAYOR1VOTE? Mayor Johnson’s request is shockingly trite; hardly a power grab.

When it comes to power grabs, Hardie Davis was the G.O.A.T.

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UPW Staff Writer AUGUSTA Why is it that Augusta mayors are never happy with the perks that come with the job?

They know going in what the salary will be, what their offices and staff will look like. They will get their expense account, their vehicle, their ex-officio agency. Plus, you get to do all the “mayor-type” stuff and no one ever hassles you.

But, the best part is that your only real duty is to conduct the commission meetings from the leader’s perch. How hard can that be?

But, for some reason, as soon as their mayorship has been sanctioned by the will of the people, they want more.

Now, in Garnett Johnson’s defense, despite knowing the lay of the land before he even qualified to run for mayor, his proposal is quite modest. In fact, compared with the imperial power grab launched by his successor Hardie Davis, one can argue that Garnett is not asking for near enough.

So, Garnett is asking to have a single vote to put him on equal footing with each commissioner.

Davis was seeking veto power over the commission!

Who needs a stinking vote when you can override the will of the majority of commissioners. And Davis didn’t end there. He also felt that some of the city administrator’s job should be ceded to him.

In the audacious requests department, Johnson can’t hang with Davis.

And that’s not a bad thing. Johnson has to be careful not to be seen as following Davis’s playbook too closely.

Davis raised eyebrows with his penchant for seeking solutions for Augusta’s problems, by relying to closely on his Atlanta network (GOP as well as Democrats). Johnson is likely to raise eyebrows similarly. You can bet his opponents are gathering narratives to scuttle his future ambitions, so he must tread lightly. On the flip side, his supporters are likely to expect him to fight on their behalf.

Johnson has a constituency which includes a significant portion of the white electorate (in particular West Augusta), that segment assisted in securing the runoff victory over Steven Kendrick. The West Augusta crowd has been very vocal about the “gang of five” (used to be “gang of six”) commissioners That said, it’s important to understand how these kinds of requests (for additional powers) are viewed in the context of Augusta’s unique political reality

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

since the merging of the city and county governments in 1996.

When the new government was formed, the mayor was rendered powerless by design. The experts, citizens and elected officials who put together the new consolidated government made the decision that Augusta should operate a commission/manager (sometimes referred to as a council/manager) form of government — without the services of a “strong” mayor. That administrator had broad powers but answered to the commission.

It is important to remember that when the consolidated government was formed, the commission was split 5-5 along racial lines. For years, a white city administrator, coupled with a white mayor (who had no vote) ruled city hall with an iron fist — for yearly 20 years after consolidation.

By the time Hardie Davis took office in 2015, blacks had gained a 6-4 edge on the commission (hence the “gang of six”). The need for a strong mayor was no more needed then, than it is now.

Prior to his election, when asked why anyone would want to be mayor of Augusta, Davis’ responsd that the mayor actually has considerable influence.

However, once he won the election, everything changed. Suddenly, the mayor needed more power, more money and rather than having “considerable influence,” the mayor needed imperial status. The game changed overnight.

If you recall, Davis revealed his Master Plan at the infamous Feb. 20, 2015 press conference at the base of the “Tower of Aspiration” in historic Springfield Village Park.

In that news conference, Davis announced that his mission was “transformative.” It was not his plan to simply accept the unacceptable rank of an ineffective leader. After citing the huge responsibilities borne by the superintendent of schools and the sheriff, he chided the citizens of Augusta for allowing the mayor to be relegated to “managing meetings where ten individuals make all the decisions to hire and fire, to spend taxpayer resources without any long-range planning.”

All that was just a prelude to a diatribe where he invoked the U.S. Constitution and all of western civilization!

Johnson’s request pales in comparison with Davis’ demands. But here’s another thing that Johnson must keep in mind.

In this Augusta political climate, the smartest play, whether you are white or black, is to identify five other folks on the commssion who share your vision for a better city and do the work to get things done

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through those connections.

For democracy to work, compromise is necessary; cooperation is vital.

Racial bloc-voting was a necessary strategy among a powerless electorate which whites are now experiencing and relyng upon.

But in the current reality, that strategy offers no advantage. In today’s very complex social, media, and economic climate, multi-racial coalition rule.

Of the six black commissioners, the ones who ally themselves with two or more non-black colleagues will find that they can get things done — or just as importantly in some cases — prevent undesirable things from being done.

Of the four white commissioners those who will find the most success are those who ally themselves with two or more non-white colleagues.

“Post-racial” Augusta politicians are discovering what big city black mayors have known for decades — it’s not easy to run a government. And if you don’t have a “crew” that knows what they’re doing, you’re going to fail.

Another thing that Johnson would be wise to consider. The GOP is only to willing to step in and help Augustans to run their government, just as they are eager to run our schools and judicial system. Keep in mind what State Rep. Mark Newton had to say about the 1_mayor-1 vote referendum “We trust the citizens of Augusta to review this proposed advantages of this change and decide in a referendum whether to move forward,” he wrote. “We look forward to also working in any way needed with others who have suggested an even more thorough overall study and assessment of our 1996 charter to evaluate potential additional areas where improvements may be made.”

Garden City Agribusiness Apprenticeship receives 5k “Community Mission Fund” AgGeorgia Farm Credit Union has awarded Studio Farmer, Inc $5000 in support of Annual Organic Agritour & Conservation Outreach Workshops!

Workshops will source Organic Supplies from Apprentices who use Conservation Practices to advance farm operation initiatives for essential and critical care industry missions in Georgia.

CONTRIBUTORS • K.L. Gordon • Ken Makin • Vincent Hobbs • Cassandra Loftlin • F/Benjamin Sr. Layout/Design : UrbanProMedia

OURTOWNOURHISTORY

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

An Appeal to Commissioners to save the last surviving building from Augusta’s

GOLDEN BLOCKS

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wo decades ago when I accompanied my eighth-grade son around Augusta to find local markers as part of a heavily weighted Georgia History assignment, I learned as much as he did. The hardest marker to locate was that of Clara West, which appeared affixed to the exterior façade of the Dyess Park building. I took the opportunity to explain to my son other historic aspects of the James Brown Boulevard heritage corridor.

The structure is not just an antique.

The building represents one of the few remaining sites from the As a historian and someone born Golden Blocks in Little Dublin, my memories of the neighborhood were not supported by Era and serves extant buildings. Now, the Dyess Park building might receive the same devas- as evidence of tating fate of disappearing by demolition. We must provide adequate advo- the expansion of cacy and ingenuity to convey its importhe city from the tance to our local historical narrative.

Augusta, as a colonial city, is as vital Downtown District to telling its role in early America’s to the Laney-Walker narrative as equally as the other 12 colonies. The benefit of this return Historic District. of intellectual investment is no less than substantial tourism capital and pride of residence. The narrative must be bolstered by the presence of era architecture to support the stories that traverses through four (4) centuries of development. The story needs an overlapping, comprehensive perspective that consistently repeats through monuments, buildings, historical markers, street names, museum artifacts, library assets, cemeteries, adequate signage, and the known oral recollections.

Here is why we must retain the old firehouse at Dyess Park. The structure is not just an antique. The building represents one of the few remaining sites from the Golden Blocks Era and serves as evidence of the expansion of the city from the Downtown District to the Laney-Walker Historic District.

As one of four (4) anchors at the Ninth Street-D’Antignac Streets intersection, the firehouse provided an official location for equitable community service.

During the period when the majority of structures were wooden, rapid fire response reigned pre-eminent.

The building also retains the spirit of transformation through voting rights and inclusion.

Little Dublin represents a once vibrant multi-ethnic neighborhood, whose unique architectural patterns have been substantially removed for urban redevelopment. The firehouse is one of few remaining solid structures

contributing solid visual evidence of the former vitality of the people’s interconnected lives in this diverse historic district.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Instead of erasing the evidence of brilliant eras of progress and collaboration, why can’t the front façade of the firehouse be incorporated into the new design? Innumerable cities use this technique to retain their unique historical assets. To keep the historic district designation at the national level, we can’t afford to lose any more significantly contributing structures in Laney-Walker Historic District.

Most importantly, young people reared in the area need to feel a sense of hope that something of hard-earned substance once existed, rather than be deluded by longstanding massive empty fields that imply nothing of value has been here; therefore, won’t be here.

Where did Dr. George Stoney and Rev. W.J. White live nearby? Where was the (Colored) YMCA? We definitely need to keep the connection of the location to American valor demonstrated by Jimmie Dyess. As an overall municipal intent, let’s keep the incremental pieces of Augusta’s built landscape that confirm identity, progress, and pride as a legacy passed from the distant past into the distant future.

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Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Respectfully submitted, LTC (Ret.) Joyce G.D. Law CSRA Region Co-Representative, Georgia African-American Historic Preservation Network Board Diversity Scholar, National Trust for Historic Preservation

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

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Augusta teams up with local partners to host World AIDS Day activities As we approach World AIDS Day on December 1, 2023, it is essential to keep in mind the ongoing global effort to end HIVrelated stigmas and to remember those who have lost their lives to the epidemic. The occasion is also a celebration of life. This year’s theme, “Remember and Commit,” serves as a reminder to keep working towards a future where HIV is no longer a public health threat.

For Augusta, Georgia, the “Day of Unity” starts with community activities, including a press conference hosted by the Augusta Georgia Housing and Community Development Department on

Umoja Village moves to new location and hosts Open House On Dec. 1, local nonprofit, Umoja Village, hosted an open house at its new locatio at 831 Hayne Avenue, SW in Aiken.

An important event was the unveiling of its sign. The center will be named after one of Aiken’s oldest community leaders and servants -- war Veteran, human and civil rights activist, and Umoja Village board member -- Mr. Richard Johnson, Jr. Deacon Johnson, as he’s affectionately known due to his years of serving as an active deacon at the Second Baptist Church of Aiken, is well into his 90s and still actively serves in a variety of leadership capacities throughout the state of South Carolina, Aiken County, and within the city of Aiken.

In addition to the historical significance of the naming, the center itself is located on the street that bears the name of one of Aiken County’s African American founders -- Mr. Charles D. Hayne.

A Private View with Artist Franklin Delgado on December 10 Join the Greater Augusta Arts Council and CANDL Fine Art Gallery for A Private View of local artist Franklin Delgado’s solo exhibition “To Give Value To Time”. The event features an artist talk by Franklin Delgado, and guest speakers Mary and Tim Schroer on art collecting in the CANDL Gallery at 1128 Broad St., in Augusta GA. Cost is $10 for Arts Council members or $15 for not-yet members. Light refreshments will be available.

Tickets are limited, reserve your spot early. Purchase tickets at https://augustaarts.info/CANDLPrivateView

December 1, 2023, at 10:00 am at the Augusta, Georgia Municipal Building Foyer of the Commission Chamber.

The events will continue on December 2, 2023, and January 13, 2024, with the following activities: • December 2, 2023: “Ball for a Cause” Celebrity Basketball Game: Hosted by the Augusta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. This event will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Paine College HEAL Complex. Admission is free.

• January 13, 2024: In partnership with the Augusta Richmond County Branch, NAACP * Stand Down Motorcade Ride: Hosted by HCD

cohosts Augusta Motorcycle Association, and TRU-IKONZ Motorcycle Club. * Community Fair: Hosted by HCD and will be held the at James Brown Arena parking lot.

Activities event include food, entertainment, HIV testing, health screenings, community resources, Bounce Houses, and MORE. o Kick Off: Moment of Reflection: Hosted by the Richmond County Board of Health Project Impact Program; And the 10th Annual Homeless Clothing Give Away: Hosted by Bloc Burnaz Motorcycle Club of Augusta, Georgia.

The philanthropy will add to its ongoing initiative to tell diverse stories with new monuments in public spaces over the next five years.

By Hilarie M. Sheets Since 2020, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has spent nearly $173 million on 80 completed or ongoing monument projects across 37 states, supporting a broader and more diverse range of stories in the nation’s public spaces. On Tuesday, the arts and humanities philanthropy announced it would double its original commitment of $250 million over the next five years, pledging a total of $500 million for its Monuments Project.

The foundation said the half-a-billon-dollar commitment is the largest multiyear funding initiative in its history. “I feel proud that we’ve been catalysts and contributors to a larger conversation in the nation about monuments,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the foundation’s president.

Its work has been guided, in part, by Monument Lab’s 2021 study, also funded by Mellon, researching the demographics of about 50,000 existing monuments in the U.S. The audit found that women are often commemorated as mermaids or other fictional characters in public statues, and that half of the individuals most frequently represented in monuments were slave owners.

As communities removed numerous confederate statues in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and

the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement over the last few years, Mellon supported new projects that are starting to populate the landscape.

“We’re now able to show a far broader range of stories at a moment when who is an American, who counts, what books can we read, is very contested,” Alexander said.

This year’s Mellon-backed public monuments completed this year include Harriet Tubman Square in Newark, N.J., honoring the abolitionist’s role in the Underground Railroad, and a trail of mammoth totem poles along the waterfront in Juneau, Alaska, conveying the history of Native peoples there. At a Memphis park dedicated to Tom Lee, a Black skiff boat operator who, in 1925, rescued 32 people from a capsized boat in the Mississippi River, the artist Theaster Gates unveiled an assemblage of 33 stone thrones honoring Lee’s heroism and the lives he saved.

At Washington National Cathedral, stained-glass windows representing the Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson were removed and replaced with windows capturing the resilience of African Americans and commemorating protests during the country’s long struggle against racism, by the artist Kerry James Marshall.

Community invited to provide feedback on RCSS textbooks and instructional resources AUGUSTA The Richmond County School System is in the process of adopting new textbooks and instructional resources and is asking for parents, guardians, and community members to review the items that will soon be used in kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms.

“Community input is a critical part of our textbook adoption process. The feedback we receive from parents, guardians and community members helps us select resources that best fit the needs of our students,” says Kinesha Ponder, Director

of Teaching and Learning.

The new textbooks and resources will be used for social studies (grades 6-12), science (grades 9-12), world language (grades K-12), and Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) (grades 6-12).

Parents, guardians and community members can review the textbooks we are considering in person on November 28, 29, 30, and December 5 between 3 – 5:30 p.m. at two locations: the National Hills Learning Center, 1215 Northwood Rd., and the Alternative School at Morgan Road, 3635 Heirs Blvd.

Augusta’s Christmas Light Up Spectacular and Tree Lighting Event Rescheduled to December 9 AUGUSTA Augusta, Georgia, is bringing in the holidays with a Christmas Light Up Spectacular and Tree Lighting event. However, due to forecasted inclement weather on December 2, 2023, the festivities will now be held from 4pm to 7pm at the Augusta Common on Saturday, December 9, 2023. The lighting of the Christmas tree and fireworks

show will begin at 6:15pm.

Activities include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a train ride, the WBBQ Kids Christmas Village with crafts, and the Mayor’s Christmas Card Contest.

Entertainment will be provided by the Richmond County School System’s elementary, middle, and high school students.

In July, President Biden signed an executive order designating the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument at multiple sites in Sumner, Miss., and in Chicago. Together, these memorialize the brutal lynching of the 14-year-old Black boy in 1955, his open-casket funeral and the trial of his abductors that helped propel the civil rights movement forward.

Before her death in 2003, Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, asked Marvel and Wheeler Parker, Emmett’s first cousin and last surviving eyewitness to his kidnapping, to keep his story alive.

“That was a great challenge and a great charge — we had no idea where to begin,” said Marvel Parker, the executive director of the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, which has received substantial funding from Mellon for ongoing preservation and interpretive work. “What has happened with this national monument is beyond our wildest expectation.”

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, who is not involved in Mellon’s initiative, said its commitment is a significant gesture of change and possibility. In addition to attracting other funders, “it could help a community to rethink itself,” he said. “It has the ability to be a ripple of transformation.”

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

Mellon Foundation doubles funding for U.S. monuments, pledging a total $500 million

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OURTOWNOURFOOD

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

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“Black Farm Street’s Tomato Bounty Continues with Soul-Warming Tomato Soup”

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n our ongoing exploration of Black Farm Street’s bountiful tomato harvest, we journey into the heart of the operation with the visionary LaShaundra Robinson. Nestled in Wagner, SC, and the Community Garden off Olive Road, Black Farm Street’s tomatoes stand as the vibrant centerpiece for our culinary journey once again this week. As the driving force behind Black Farm Street, LaShaundra tends to the growth of Round Hybrid Beef King tomatoes, thoughtfully chosen by her due to for their extended growth season, embodying the farm’s unwavering commitment to providing the Augusta River Region with high quality, sustainable produce for year round enjoyment.

LaShaundra’s connection with tomatoes transcends mere harvesting; it’s a celebration of the culinary possibilities they unfold. From crafting rich tomato sauces to experimenting with an array of salsa varieties, she transforms each harvest into a symphony of flavors. LaShaundra shares her favorite way to savor these tomatoes –

thinly sliced on her avocado toast sandwich.

This simple yet elegant choice reflects the essence of Black Farm Street’s commitment to providing fresh, quality produce, meant to be savored in everyday culinary delights.

An experienced and passionate leader, LaShaundra personifies a commitment to supplying the local community with topnotch produce. These tomatoes are now finding their way into kitchens throughout the CSRA, available for purchase at the distribution center at 1150 5th Street or the Purpose Center Community Garden, 1650 Olive Road, Augusta, GA. Get yours today!

Embracing the Season’s Bounty: Soul Warming Tomato Soup Building on the rich flavors of Black Farm Street’s tomatoes, this week’s recipe offers a warm embrace from the inside, providing an immediate way to enjoy the season’s harvest. Versatile and comforting, this soup is a delightful addition to your dinner rotation, showcasing the true essence of Black Farm Street’s commitment to quality and flavor.

Chef Cassandra’s Soul-Warming Tomato Soup Notes: This tomato soup is enhanced with a splash of vodka for added depth and complexity. Though optional, this refined addition neutralizes acidity while enriching the soup’s robustness. All alcohol is removed, ensuring only the sophisticated essence remains. To achieve a velvety texture without dairy, white bakery bread cubes are used. It’s ​​ essential to use only bakery bread in this recipe, as sandwich bread lacks the necessary structure and may alter the intended consistency.

Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil Salt and ground black pepper 4 pounds Black Farm Street tomatoes, cut into quarters 4 medium onion, cut into quarters 6 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 bay leaf Pinch hot red pepper flakes (optional) 1 cup PLUS 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 tablespoon brown sugar 3 large slices high-quality sandwich bread, crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons vodka (optional) ¼ cup chopped fresh chives or parsley for garnish Croutons for serving (optional) Instructions: Prepare and Season Tomatoes: Heat the oven to 450 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper. Add Black Farm Street tomatoes and onions, toss well to coat.

Roast Tomato Mixture: Place the tomato mixture on a sheet pan. Roast for 15 minutes, stir, and continue roasting for an additional 15-20 minutes until the onions are

tender, and the cut surface is golden brown. Tomatoes should be soft and have good color. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Create Flavor Base: In a large Dutch oven, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the roasted tomato mixture plus any juices from roasting to the pot. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to smash roasted tomato mixture into small pieces (2-inches or less).

Prepare Soup Base: Add brown sugar and torn bread cubes, stir until well combined. Stir in chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread cubes start to break down, about 5 minutes.

Finish Soup: Turn off heat and let soup cool slightly. Remove the bay leaf from soup and discard. While using a hand blender, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and puree soup until smooth, about 5 minutes. Stir in vodka and return soup to a boil. Turn off heat, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with chopped chives or parsley and drizzle with olive oil.

Serve with optional croutons.

Meet Chef Cassandra, your guide to a culinary journey where local produce transforms into seasonal masterpieces. With a passion for harnessing the vibrant flavors of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Chef Cassandra crafts recipes that not only tantalize the taste buds but also enhance nutrition. Join her in savoring the seasons and unlocking the full potential of each ingredient on your plate. IG: @chef.cassandra, FB: Goodness Gracious Grocery-Augusta

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UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 4 - 17, 2023

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