UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY MAY 11 - 17, 2017 VOL. 6 NO. 14

An American tragedy

Trump lies about FBI chief’s firing

Paine legacy demands continuity of faculty, finances • KEN MAKIN Commentary

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The Cotton Ball set for May 23 Historic Augusta’s Cotton Ball, a tradition in Augusta since 1988, will be held this year on Tuesday May 23rd, 2017, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The casual affair will take place in the gardens surrounding Twin Gables, the home of Augusta University President Brooks Keel and First Lady Tammie Schalue, located at 920 Milledge Road, in Summerville.

Food will be provided by Outback Steakhouse; dessert by Dippin’ Dots, a cash-bar, mint juleps, and music will be performed by The American Jazz Combo. A raffle will be held for an iconic Tiffany & Company silver cuff bracelet or a 5-day, 4-night stay in an oceanfront condo in Flagler Beach, Fla. Admission to the Cotton Ball is by current, new, or renewing membership in Historic Augusta. For information, call Historic Augusta at (706) 7240436 or visit www.historicaugusta.org.

Local delegation Legislative Update set for May 30 The CSRA Business League, Inc. cordially invite you to attend a Quarterly Legislative Update session with members of the Augusta Delegation to Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday, 30 May 2017 at the main branch of the Augusta - Richmond County public Library, located at 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Doors for the event will open at 5:30 PM and the session will begin at 6:00 PM. Confirmed attendees are State Senator Harold Jones (D - 22), Rep. Sheila Clark - Nelson (D - 125), Rep. Gloria Frazier (D – 126) and Rep Brian Price (D - 127). The session is free and Refreshments will be served.

For information, call 706 722 - 0994 or email at shauncassandrawalton@ business-league.org.

UPW Urban Pro Weekly Willis Foreman Road Hephzibah, GA 30815

URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist

3 UrbanProWeekly • MAY 2017 A STUDY IN CONTRASTS. During the campaign, Donald Trump’s temperament was brought up over and over as a reason he was not qualified to be president. His first 100 days in office seem to bare out those concerns. Character issues loom in the wake of his summary dismissal of the FBI chief this week. Former president Barack Obama, in contrast, was a model of poise, restraint, probing intellect and professionalism.

Trump’s anger led Comey’s dismissal; Administration then lied about real reason for FBI director’s abrupt firing

By Maggie Haberman, Glen Thrush, Michael S. Schmidt and Peter Bakermay, New York Times WASHINGTON By the end, neither of them thought much of the other.

After President Trump accused his predecessor in March of wiretapping him, James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, was flabbergasted. The president, Mr. Comey told associates, was “outside the realm of normal,” even “crazy.”

For his part, Mr. Trump fumed when Mr. Comey publicly dismissed the sensational wiretapping claim. In the weeks that followed, he grew angrier and began talking about firing Mr. Comey.

After stewing last weekend while watch-

ing Sunday talk shows at his New Jersey golf resort, Mr. Trump decided it was time. There was “something wrong with” Mr. Comey, he told aides.

The collision between president and F.B.I. director that culminated with Mr. Comey’s stunning dismissal on Tuesday had been a long time coming.

To a president obsessed with loyalty, Mr. Comey was a rogue operator who could not be trusted as the F.B.I. investigated Russian ties to Mr. Trump’s campaign. To a lawman obsessed with independence, Mr. Trump was the ultimate loose cannon, making irresponsible claims on Twitter and jeopardizing the bureau’s credibility.

The White House, in a series of shifting and contradictory accounts, first said Mr. Trump decided to fire

Mr. Comey because the attorney general and his deputy recommended it. By Wednesday, it had amended the timeline to say that the president had actually been thinking about getting rid of the F.B.I. director as far back as November, after he won the election, and then became “strongly inclined” after Mr. Comey testified before Congress last week.

For public consumption, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a White House spokeswoman, said on Wednesday that Mr. Trump acted because of the “atrocities” committed by Mr. Comey during last year’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email. But in private, aides said, Mr. Trump has been nursing a collection of festering grievances, including Mr. Comey’s handling of

the Russia investigation, his seeming lack of interest in pursuing anti-Trump leaks and the perceived disloyalty over the wiretapping claim.

“He’d lost confidence in Director Comey and, frankly, he’d been considering letting Director Comey go since the day he was elected,” Ms. Huckabee Sanders said.

Mr. Comey’s fate was sealed by his latest testimony about the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s efforts to sway the 2016 election and the Clinton email inquiry. Mr. Trump burned as he watched, convinced that Mr. Comey was grandstanding. He was particularly irked when Mr. Comey said he was “mildly nauseous” to think that his Continued on page 5

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TRUMP from page 3

TRUMP’S HIGH PROFILE FIRINGS

— Daniel C. Richman, a close Former New York Southern District Attorney Preet Bharara (L), Sally Comey adviser and former Yates, Acting Attorney General (C), James Comey, FBI Director, (R) were all fired for opposing or contradicting Donald Trump. federal prosecutor in the afternoon. About an hour before the news broke, an administration official joked that the relatively news-free events of Monday and Tuesday represented the start of a much-needed weeklong respite from the staff’s nonstop work over the past few months.

As the announcement was imminent, Mr. Trump called several congressional leaders from both parties to let them know. He caught Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, on his mobile phone as the lawmaker was walking home after a vote. Mr. Graham told him that a fresh start was good for the F.B.I. But Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader who had been harshly critical of Mr. Comey for his conduct during last year’s election, told Mr. Trump it would be a mistake. Mr. Trump seemed surprised by the reaction, possibly assuming that Democrats would be happy to remove the F.B.I. director some blamed for Mrs. Clinton’s loss.

Another Democrat he reached was Senator Dianne Feinstein of California. “When I talked to the president last night,” she recalled, “he said: ‘The department’s a mess. I asked Rosenstein and Sessions to look into it.

Rosenstein sent me a memo. I accepted the recommendation to fire him.’”

Mrs. Feinstein noted that Mr. Rosenstein had just been confirmed by the Senate. “I mean, my goodness.

This is a man who’s been there for two weeks. So I’m a bit turned off on Mr. Rosenstein.”

In letters released Tuesday evening, Mr. Trump explained the firing by citing Mr. Comey’s handling of the investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s use of

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handling of the email case had influenced the election, which Mr. Trump took to demean his own role in history.

At that point, Mr. Trump began talking about firing him. He and his aides thought they had an opening because Mr. Comey gave an incorrect account of how Huma Abedin, a top adviser to Mrs. Clinton, transferred emails to her husband’s laptop, an account the F.B.I. later corrected.

At first, Mr. Trump, who is fond of vetting his decisions with a wide circle of staff members, advisers and friends, kept his thinking to a small circle, venting his anger to Vice President Mike Pence; the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II; and his son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, who all told him they generally backed dismissing Mr. Comey.

Another early sounding board was Keith Schiller, Mr. Trump’s longtime director of security and now a member of the White House staff, who would later be tasked with delivering the manila envelope containing Mr. Comey’s letter of dismissal to F.B.I. headquarters, an indication of just how personal the matter was to the president.

The chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who has been sharply critical of the F.B.I., questioned whether the time was right to dismiss Mr. Comey, arguing that doing it later would lessen the backlash, and urged him to delay, according to two people familiar with his thinking. Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff, at one point mulled similar concerns, but was supportive of the move to the president.

The Justice Department began working on Mr. Comey’s dismissal. Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed his deputies to come up with reasons to fire Mr. Comey, according to a senior American official. On Monday, Mr. Trump met with Mr. Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. White House officials insisted Mr. Sessions and Mr. Rosenstein were the ones who raised concerns about Mr. Comey with the president and that he told them to put their recommendations in writing.

At the same time, he signaled his thinking on Twitter, essentially calling for the investigation into the Russian meddling to be halted. “The RussiaTrump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?” he wrote on Monday afternoon.

Early Tuesday, he made his final decision, keeping many aides in the dark until news of the firing leaked out late

“With a president who seems to prize personal loyalty above all else and a director with absolute commitment to the Constitution and pursuing investigations wherever the evidence led, a collision was bound to happen.”

a private email server — a justification that was rich in irony, White House officials acknowledged, considering that as recently as two weeks ago, the president appeared at a rally where he was serenaded with chants of “Lock her up!”

On Wednesday, the president and his staff added to their criticism of Mr. Comey’s conduct on the Clinton inquiry to include a wider denunciation of his performance. “He wasn’t doing a good job,” Mr. Trump said.

Yet even in his letter to Mr. Comey, the president mentioned the Russia inquiry, writing that “I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation.” And that reflected, White House aides said, what they conceded had been his obsession over the investigation Mr. Trump believes is threatening his larger agenda.

The White House was rocked by the backlash to the announcement.

Three senior White House officials conceded that its public explanation was an unmitigated mess, blaming the communications shop, with one describing it as the “weakest” element of the West Wing.

Looking back, the two men may have been destined to clash. Five days after Mr. Trump was elected, he said in an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he had not made up his mind about keeping Mr. Comey. But during the transition, Mr. Trump and his aides asked Mr. Comey to remain on as director.

Despite Mr. Trump’s apparent endorsement, Mr. Comey remained skeptical about his future. He believed his unwillingness to put loyalty to Mr. Trump over his role as F.B.I. director

could ultimately lead to his ouster.

“With a president who seems to prize personal loyalty above all else and a director with absolute commitment to the Constitution and pursuing investigations wherever the evidence led, a collision was bound to happen,” Daniel C. Richman, a close Comey adviser and former federal prosecutor, said on Wednesday.

Still, according to associates, Mr. Comey thought the president was unlikely to get rid of him because that might be interpreted as a conclusion that the F.B.I. director was wrong to announce shortly before the election that he was re-examining the email case, which would call into question the legitimacy of Mr. Trump’s victory.

While Mr. Trump publicly insisted that he had confidence in Mr. Comey, the hostility toward the F.B.I. director in the West Wing in recent weeks was palpable, aides said, with advisers describing an almost ritualistic need to criticize the Russia investigation to assuage an anxious and angry president.

Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime informal adviser to Mr. Trump who has been under F.B.I. scrutiny as part of the Russia inquiry, was among those who urged the president to fire Mr. Comey, people briefed on the discussions said.

Mr. Trump denied on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he had spoken to Mr. Stone about the F.B.I. director, and Mr. Stone declined to describe his interactions with the president in an interview. But two longtime Trump associates with knowledge of the matter said the two had recently discussed their dissatisfaction with Mr. Comey and his inquiry.

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Baldwin High School (Milledgeville, GA) track athlete ZYKERIA WILLIAMS runs in the girls 100-meter hurdles event, winning first place with a time of 14.35. Williams and dozens of other athletes competed at the GHSA Class 4A Sectional B (Regions 1-4) track event held at Cross Creek High School.

April 29, 2017 (Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

SPORTS

Track & Field

Track and field athletes compete in the GHSA Class 4A Sectional B (Regions 1-4) track event held at Cross Creek High School.

April 29, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

Stress Physical Inactivity amily History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Stress Physical Inactivity Diabetes Family History of Cardiovascular disease High Blood Pressure Obesity Diabetes High Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Cigarette Smoking High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking

HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK Hypertension Management Outreach Program East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County Richmond County Health Department 706.721.5800 Richmond County 706.721.5800 706.721.5800 www.ecphd.com

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ARE YOU AT RISK?

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MELISSA AYALA performs a belly-dance routine as a captive “Princess Leia” from a Star Wars-themed performance by the Eastern Star Dance Theater at Partee on The Green, held at the Augusta Common.

April 28, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

ZUMBA DANCERS perform at Partee on The Green, held at the Augusta Common. April 28, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

COMMUNITY THE SOUL SLIDERS OF AUGUSTA dance during Partee on The Green, held at the Augusta Common.

April 28, 2017 Photo by Vincent Hobbs

PARTEE ON THE GREEN

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SOCCER

ARC’S JIAH LEWIS (L) battles for control of the ball against Chapel Hill’s KRISTIN BEASLEY (R) during the GHSA Class AAAA girls state soccer tournament playoff game at the Musketeers stadium. The Panthers crushed the Musketeers 8-0 in the final score.

May 2, 2017 (Augusta, GA) - Photo

by Vincent Hobbs/ Sports Journal

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SPORTS

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As the season turns from winter to spring, the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta encourages children and parents in Augusta to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. To better educate children of the importance of water safety, the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta will hold a free water safety course, “Safety Around Water” during the week of May 15-19 at the Aiken County and Wilson Family YMCA branches.

“Swimming is not only a fun, healthy activity, but an important life skill for all children,” said Jessica Bacon, Aquatics Director, Aiken County Family YMCA. “Learning basic water safety skills is a great introduction to the world of swimming that often continues with swim lessons and competitive swim programs, and can even lead to a career.”

Safety Around Water (S.A.W.), formerly known as SPLASH (Swim, Play Learn Aquatics Safety Habits), is a national YMCA initiative that teaches children the basics of water safety. The week-long program teaches covers three main topics: Instruction

to “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim”, water safety topics such as what to do if they see someone who needs help and exercises to adjust to being in the water.

Each May, S.A.W. is offered free to the community for children ages 3-12 As part of National Water Safety Month in May, the Family Y of Greater Augusta encourages parents to take an active role in fostering a relationship between their children and swimming—beginning with water safety.

Following are safety tips to practice when in and around the water: •Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.

•Adults should constantly and actively watch their children.

•Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

•Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach.

•Children and adults should not engage in breath holding activities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2017, for the following: 1. Ambulance and EMT Service RFP#17-784 2. Chemical and Food Safety Program RFP#17-772 Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Cecilia Perkins in the Business Office at perkice@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us or 706826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org/bids, or at Richmond County School System, Central Office 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, GA 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Secretary

Creative Impressions presents 15th Annual Summer Music Workshop at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church will be hosting Creative Impressions’ 15th Annual Summer Music Workshop. This two week workshop will take place July 10th – 21st and is open to youth ages 12-­18. It is during this workshop that youth are exposed to various genres of music, are taught music theory and literacy, and are exposed to other art forms to include African dance and drama. Augusta native an international clinician, Mr. Trey McLaughlin, facilitates this workshop.

The cost of the workshop is $150.00 St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is located at 2321 Lumpkin Rd, Augusta, GA 30906.

For more information call at 706-­664-­9022 or e-m ­ ail tolbert.shanita@ gmail.com

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE

• Georgia medicaid • Insurance plans • Charge cards • WIC vouchers

Marshall Curtis, Pharmacist/Owner Baron Curtis, Pharmacist

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

706-722-7355

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Enjoy “Safety Around Water” Week at the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin THE EVER-CHANGING FUTURE OF PAINE COLLEGE

Continuing a legacy requires continuity in finances and faculty T

he collective plight of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has hit really close to home over the last six to seven years.

Paine College has seen a lion’s share of adversity — whether it’s claims of financial mismanagement or accreditation issues. At times, there have been questions about security – whether on campus regarding students or with careers regarding tenured faculty. I was in the gym back in 2011 when popular men’s basketball coach Ronnie O. Spry announced his tearful resignation from his post, after a lengthy standoff with former Vice-President Brandon Brown.

Even with all of those concerns, there was a sense of stability with President Samuel Sullivan. He certainly had to earn that status, taking on the rubble left from the (Dr. George C.) Bradley Administration and shedding an interim label. Yet for the first time in years, it appeared that Paine had the right leader in place.

Then, Paine announced it would be having a presidential search.

According to Paine officials, “in May

LETTERS Target White Intoxication Like water which follows the path of least resistance, so was the Augusta commission when it attempted to criminalize sagging pants. They believed sagging pants were somehow a threat to the city and should not be tolerated. Hence, the commission sought to punish politically weak black youth who wore sagging pants, rather than politically formidable whites whose weakness for alcohol promoted sagging behavior.

Therefore, if the commission was sincere about mitigating a threat to the

2016, the Board named Dr. Sullivan President for a period of one year and announced plans to conduct a national search for president.” That finalist turned out to be Dr. Jerry L. Hardee of Valdosta.

I’m not here to say whether the hire is good or bad. Time will certainly tell. My concern is one that is familiar to HBCUs – a decided lack of continuity.

We’re seeing the same thing at another HBCU that’s relatively local, while being near and dear to our hearts – South Carolina State University. When SCSU named James Clark as its 12th President last June (2016), it was the school’s third appointee in less than a year’s time.

My alma mater, Florida A&M University, is conducting a presidential search after inexplicably firing Elmira Magnum. Her firing, along with the dismissal of other black female presidents, raised concerns about gender-based politics within the HBCU ranks.

All of this speaks to a lack of continuity and consistency.

I understand the very real concerns

facing our HBCUs -- the problems start out on the financial end. Shoot, Dr. Sullivan himself joined the legion of presidents who met with President Trump to try to secure funding for our schools.

Still, if we don’t allow presidents to remain long enough to create a financial vision, what more can we expect?

Now, let’s talk solutions. The average tenure at a PWI (predominately white institution) is 8.5 years. I believe any President hired at a HBCU should have at least a FOUR-year term to establish and build upon a vision.

If we allow that time for the “leader of the free world,” we should do the same at our schools.

A part of this profound vision should be building enrollment. Most schools say lack of funding is due to falling rates of enrollment. Well, that should lead to the following question: “Are HBCUs offering majors that people desire and help build wealth?”

With the understanding that cybersecurity is a growing entity in Augusta, that must be an important point of reference for our schools.

The same goes for innovations in

transportation.

Finally, we must understand the role of politics in our schools – and understand that we can’t allow politics to trump sound decision-making.

In the case of my alma mater and SCSU, we can’t allow government regimes who regularly disregard Black folks to appoint trustees on our boards. They don’t have our best interests in mind, and their presence only adds to the lack of continuity.

The legacy of HBCUs is in jeopardy.

But really, that’s the history of Black people in America. We have to band together in times of calamity and create sound policy in order to ensure a positive future.

Ken J. Makin is the founder of “Makin’ A Difference,” a media conglomerate that incorporates podcasting/radio, social media and commentary. The podcast is available at soundcloud. com/makinadifference. Updates on the show are available at facebook. com/makinadifferenceshow. Ken can be reached by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com or by text at (803) 270-2331.

Why not target “white” intoxication city, they should have targeted intoxication. Unlike intoxication, sagging pants do not cause bodily harm or property damage.

According to a National Institute of Health research report titled, Ethnicity and Health Disparities in Alcohol Research, whites consume more alcoholic beverages, have a higher rate of alcohol use disorders, and are more likely than blacks to develop alcohol dependence in their life time. Indeed, it appears alcohol is the white man’s weakness. Next, as stated in a 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and

Health, “Over 15 million adults ages 18 and older had alcohol use disorder.” In addition, “An estimated 623,000 adolescents ages 12-17 had alcohol use disorder.”

Moreover, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually. This makes alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States.” Additionally, as reported by a 2015 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, “Alcohol-

impaired driving fatalities increased by 3.2 percent from 9,943 in 2014 to 10,265 in 2015.” Furthermore, in 2015, Richmond County had 30 alcohol impaired deaths. In 2016, Georgia had 366 drunken driving fatalities and 19,217 DUI arrests.

Therefore, if Augusta commissioners were seeking to generate revenue from “something the city should not tolerate”, intoxication would have been a good place to start. White commissioners could have suggested Continued on next page

Enjoy the sounds of summer in historic Summerville

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The Evenings in Appleby Gardens Concert Series Enjoy the 63rd Evenings in Appleby Gardens Concert Series at the Appleby Branch Library (2260 Walton Way, Augusta) every Tuesday at 8 pm beginning May 30 through June 27.

This annual tradition offers an eclectic mix of music from jazz to bluegrass to barbershop and remains free and open to the public. Bring a chair or borrow one for a donation and relax and enjoy the sounds of the summer. You can even pack an evening picnic or purchase dinner from a food truck.

The Appleby Garden Party Competition is back again this year, and the public is invited to bring their best portable lawn party décor and food set up to vie for the title of Appleby Garden Party Winner of the Week.

Want to share your musical talents with the Evenings in Appleby Gardens audience? Sign up and provide a music sample online at http:// bit.ly/applebyopenmic ( please note that open mic performances will be vetted for quality and appropriateness for an all-ages audience).

Evenings in Appleby Gardens Concert Series: •May 30: American Jazz Combo •June 6: Kendrell Germany Trio •June 13: Harmony River Chorus; Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold •June 27:Musical Open Mic hosted by Brother Trav

Letters from page 12 law enforcement set up more sobriety checkpoints near establishments and social events which serve alcoholic beverages that are patronized primarily by whites since they are scientifically more likely to abuse alcohol. Or, the city could increase fees on establishments and social events which promote alcohol consumption. In short, commissioners were misguided and hypocritical to target black youth.

Since the founding of this nation, blacks have caught enough grief from white and sellout black government officials. Enough is enough.

Kevin Palmer, Martinez, GA,

Notice to the Public Augusta Housing Authority Moderate Rehabilitation Program The Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, Georgia, (AHA) is pleased to announce that the waiting list for the Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will be open effective Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

Persons may complete an online application at www.augustapha.org effective Tuesday, May 16, 2017 through Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Online applications will be accepted starting May 16, 2017 at 9:00a.m.through May 30, 2017 at 5:00p.m. Preliminary applications will be accepted through 5:00p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at which time the waiting list will be closed. Preliminary Applications will be accepted electronically through our website. Before you begin the preliminary application process, please have available your social security card, names and dates of birth of all family members. Also you will need income of all family members. Make sure you have typed correctly all information. HAVE PAPER AND PEN READY TO WRITE DOWN YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER. The waiting list will be opened for all qualified applicants. However, applicants who qualify for a preference will receive a priority in the housing selection process. The preferences are as follows: (1) Paying more than 50% of family income for rent and utilities; (2) Homeless or living in substandard housing; or (3) Involuntarily displaced because of government or other action. The Augusta Housing Authority will accept an applicant’s claim that it qualifies for a preference upon certification by the applicant. Before selection for participation in the Moderate Rehabilitation Program; however, the applicant must provide verification that he or she qualifies for a preference.

Any individual, who needs an accommodation to complete an online application because of a disability or language barrier, should contact 706-312-3110 for assistance or our TDD 706-724-0130. Assistance will be provided in completing the preliminary applications online for those individuals who need such assistance. A kiosk with a computer is also available for online applications in the lobby of our office located 1435 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Augusta Housing Authority is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing by providing equal access to all of its programs, services and activities regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability or age.

Equal Housing Opportunity The Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, Georgia By: Jacob L. Oglesby, Executive Director

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

2017

CITY OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

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AUGUSTA HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) PROGRAM Notice is hereby given that the Augusta Housing and Community Development Department (AHCDD) on behalf of the Mayor and the Augusta-Richmond County Commission is in the process of amending the City’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 Action Plans to reallocate HOPWA funds. The primary purpose of the discussion is the repurpose of $765,176.32 in HOPWA funds. This change will trigger amending the Action Plans for the years the funds were allocated.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulatory requirements, any amendments to the Consolidated Plan constituting a “substantial change” must be presented to the public for a 30-day comment period. A “substantial change” is defined as a change that affects the purpose, scope, location, beneficiaries, or administrator of an activity or the transfer of $50,000 or more from any activity identified in the Consolidated Plan.

Below is a listing of projects submitted for approval by the Commission:

HOPWA REPURPOSE FUNDS - $ 765,176.32

Currently Funded Activity 2014 HOPEHealth, Inc.

Balance of Allocation

$ 294,739.52

New Use

St. Stephen’s Ministry, Inc.

2016 HOPEHealth, Inc TOTAL:

$ 50,000.00

East Augusta CDC

$ 50,000.00

Promise Land CDC

$ 25,000.00

Family Initiative of the CSRA Antioch Ministries, Inc.

2015 HOPEHealth, Inc.

Allocation Utilized

South Carolina HOPWA Program

$ 294,739.52

$ 50,000.00

$ 25,000.00

$ 94,739.52

$ 250,000.00

South Carolina HOPWA Program

$ 105,260.48

$ 250,000.00

$ 220,436.80

HOPWA Community Residence

$ 220,436.80

$ 220,436.80

HOPWA Community Residence

$ 765,176.32

Repurpose Funds

$ 144,739.52

TOTAL New Use of Repurpose Funds

$765,176.32

The HOPWA Repurpose of Funds Public Meeting is Monday, May 15th, 2017 at 6:00 PM in the Beazley Room located on the 1st floor of the Municipal Building. Persons desiring to comment on the changes should submit their written comments no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 12, 2017 to Ms. La Sandra Corley, Housing Program Manager, in care of: Hawthorne E. Welcher, Jr., Director Augusta Housing and Community Development Department 925 Laney-Walker Blvd., 3rd Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 821-1797 – TDD (706) 821-1797 Public Comment Period: April 12, 2017 to May 12, 2017 Any comments received will be presented to the Commission on May 16, 2017. At that time, Commission will consider approving the changes being proposed.

AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSION By: Hardie Davis, Jr. Mary Davis Marion Williams Mayor Mayor Pro Tempore Admin. Svcs. Chairman & Members of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission Publish: AC- 5/11/2017; MC 5/11/2017; UPW 05/11/2017 Equal Opportunity Statement: Participation of all residents of Augusta, Georgia including minorities and non-English speaking persons, as well as persons with mobility, visual and hearing impairments are encouraged to comment. The location is handicap accessible and language interpreters will be provided for the LEP population as long as requests are made at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting.

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ADANYA STEPHENS, 15, performs during the Straight A Jazz Concert held at Augusta University’s D. Douglas Bernard Ampitheater. The young artist began training on the piano at the age of six and has been a student at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio since the 4th grade. May 6, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs (At left) STEPHANIE N. PHILLIPS plays the drums during the Straight A Jazz Concert held at AU’s D. Douglas Bernard Ampitheater. May 6, 2017 Photo by Vincent Hobbs

(At right) ARPENIK HAKOBYAN performs during the Straight A Jazz Concert held at Augusta University’s D. Douglas Bernard Ampitheater. Hakobyan is a cellist, singer and songwriter. May 6, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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BASSIST KEVIN SMITH performs with cellist Arpenik Hakobyan during the Straight A Jazz Concert held at Augusta University’s D. Douglas Bernard Amphitheater.

May 6, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs