SWGA Politics has just gotten it’s hands on part of the lease for the Dollar Square property. I say part because it’s only one little old page, but it shows the rent that the store pays to ADICA: A whopping $700 per month. Now, this is a property that ADICA pays the county $2,000 per month on, meaning ADICA is subsidizing the Dollar Square to the tune of $1,300 per month.
Now, what took so long getting this? Ah, now there is a story for the ages. It might have been lost, or it might not have been.
You see, I haven’t had a lot of luck getting responses from Don Buie. I’ve left a couple of messages regarding allegations that he was staying in a hotel on the taxpayer’s dime, and never heard back. Granted, Kevin Hogencamp from the Journal did. Carlton Fletcher, from the Herald, apparently didn’t. Apparently, Carlton and myself got the official brush off in accordance with City Manager Al Lott’s directions.
In an email that SWGA Politics has obtained that was directed towards Buie and Deputy City Managers James Taylor and Wes Smith, Lott says the following:
The numerous inaccuracies in this so-called news story is why responding to interrogatories only makes matters worse. Learn from this!
Now, this is in response to the Journal’s article this past week regarding the Dollar Square’s use of city funds for interior repairs. What’s more important to note is that Hogencamp had tried to get information that, if what the city says is true, should have easily dispelled the information Hogencamp got as incorrect. But nothing was sent, apparently because Lott doesn’t believe in responding to “interrogatories” by at least some members of the press. Of course, he misses the point that this story ran because of a <em>lack</em> of communication to the contrary…details like that are unimportant apparently.
Hogencamp revealed in an email with SWGA Politics that this isn’t unusual. He claims that city attorney Nathan Davis has told Lott that he doesn’t have to respond to questions, or “interrogatories”, from either citizens or press. His email above certainly seems to show some disdain to answering questions, doesn’t it?
Now, according to Georgia Open Records Act, Lott can’t actually refuse. However, he seems to do something even worse. Instead of functioning within the spirit of the law and provide public records upon request, he bogs it down in particular phrasing. Kevin Hogencamp’s own words:
In other words, if I ask Lott, “What is the public works diretor’s annual salary,” Lott doesn’t feel as though the law compels him to answer.
Rather, I am required to say, “Provide me access to the public record(s) that specifies the public works director’s salary.” And then I have to go get the record.
It’s nothing more than a childish tactic. Yes, the letter of the law is met, but is it really necessary? Why just reply in an email that the public works director’s salary is X amount? It could be done in an email and take ridiculously little time to execute. Even if it isn’t a simple matter, the law is clear that the records have to be provided, so why not just provide them?
What this tactic is, when taken with the above comment, is indicative of someone who either doesn’t want the light shining on his actions, or who believes he should be above scrutiny. It seems as though he doesn’t believe that he should have to answer questions from either that burdensome media, nor the peons who populate the land.
Guess what Mr. Lott? You? You work for us, so keep that in mind next time Tim Coley or Kevin Hogencamp ask you for something. Now, can someone on the City Commission take Lott to task for this, or would you prefer to ignore this? It’s your call, but think carefully of the ramifications of your actions?
Well if there are so many inaccuracies in this so-called news story, one would think Mr. Lott would jump at the opportunity to come here to SWGA Politics and set us all straight.
One would think. But one would also think that Lott would have been happy to correct inaccuracies in Hogencamp’s story in the first place, but nothing.
Funny how that works, ain’t it
Thanks for the post, Tom. Just to keep you posted:
Except for the first page of a lease (which WALB reports isn’t executed) confirming that taxpayers are subsidizing $1,380 a month for Dollar Square, I’ve received none of the public information that I have requested.
Meanwhile, the only city official who has told me that I’ve misreported anything is Roger Marietta (my commissioner and close friend). Roger says that Richard Crowdis is wrong and that ADICA has leases with Brown Bean, Subway and Dollar Square. Roger refuses to produce the leases between ADICA and Subway and Brown Bean. I supposed that’s because they don’t exist. If they do exist, the city is committing a misdemeanor in violation of Georgia’s open records law.
.-= Kevin Hogencamp´s last blog ..Lee County Taxpayers Association formed =-.
Thanks for the heads up.
In all honesty, the first page of the lease isn’t the complete record either, so techincally, aren’t they still in violation of the Open Records Act?
As for Roger Marietta’s comments on the ADICA leases with the Brown Bean and Subway, is it possible he was merely repeating what he was told? After all, I wasn’t privvy to those conversations and I’d like to think that Commissioner Marietta is acting in good faith. I’ve known him for a long time as well, and I have a hard time imagining him doing anything to mislead you or anyone else in the press intentionally.
Tom,
“go along to get along.” Sad place for this blog to be.
Marietta voted for the ADICA waste like all the rest, didn’t monitor it (or Buie) like all the rest, and he’s a good guy how?
Anyone ask what the net losses per annum are on the whole structure (dollar store, hair salon, Brown Bean and Subway)?
Jack: No one is “going along to get along”. What I said is what I believe. It doesn’t excuse the lack of oversight, and my comments were about him as a person. As a Commissioner? Let’s just say that I’ve been less than impressed. As a person? He’s a good man, make no mistake about it.
Without finger pointing – let me see if I have this straight: Myself and other Doughtery County small business owners, pay hefty taxes to subsidize other small businesses. Other than funding businesses who may even be our competitors, the details are none of our business. We are only entitled to the minimal information required to be shared by state law.
Cartman, you nailed it — precisely.
Jack, the big-picture question about the parking deck/retail space structure is a good one. I haven’t asked, but intend to.
.-= Kevin Hogencamp´s last blog ..Lee County Taxpayers Association formed =-.
Cartman,
As bad as that sounds, it’s actually worse, because when you think about it, the whole ADICA scam involves redistributing money (through taxation) from growing areas to a dead and dying area. When you consider that persons on ADICA’s board such as Phil Cannon own property downtown and have no incentive whatsoever to restrict exenditures there, or people like Buie who can’t pay their own rent and get a check whether these projects hemhorrage money or not, there is NO ONE to stand up for persons such as you and I that aren’t getting a handout or subsidy.
Tom:
I’m sure Marietta is a nice guy. We have lots of nice people here, but pitifully few competent ones.
P.S. I do give Marietta credit for trying to get Bo Henry on the sign task force, but note that its present composition including Judy Bowles and Mike Tilson is worse than a bad joke and confirms what I believed would happen. Remember when I said “smokescreen” and distraction was the Bowles/Tilson/City Commission strategy on the sign ordinance issue??
Quote from Buie:
“There are no ADICA policies that determine how vendors are selected. A copy of my job description says I am soley (sic) responsible for budget development management and execution…..”
http://www.walb.com/global/story.asp?s=10798518
Now, I don’t blame Buie for this. Don Buie didn’t write his own job description.
The entire commission plus Don Buie and the entire ADICA board (including Phil Cannon) must be run out of office. Rick Thomas is right. A broom is the best emblem for the work that needs to be done.
Can’t stand the light or just plain arrogant? Or maybe some of both? It looks like we’re going to find out. According to WALB, the GBI is currently investigating 5 ADICA checks totalling $2600 written to “…Shanon Lee, believed to be the same as Shanon Buie…”(WALB) Buie is conveniently on vacation (VACATION?!?) but, over the phone said Shanon Lee is a vendor and that she helped put on downtown events. When asked if she was his wife, apparently he hung up on the reporter.
Mr. Marietta is now calling for the ouster of the entire ADICA board! This could get nasty in a hurry.
Why not email your request for documents? You have a record of the request for your files and they can’t deny receiving it.
First line of the email should be something along the lines of “Please consider this email as a request for documents per the Georgia Open Records Request law.” If they don’t reply within the stated timeframe of the law (isn’t it 3 days), turn them over to the State.
Debra, I’ve been doing that since July 8. Shoot me an email timcoley@mchsi.com and I’ll forward you everything.
I’m with you, Debra…if Mr. Lott wants to play by the rules (and, there ARE rules), fine play by the rules. And, when they break the rules report them to the Secretary of State. Of course, the punishment is a $100 fine (not much of a deterrent).
Want another question, Kevin? Ask how much ADICA has paid in legal fees to Jay Reynolds to fight the taxpayers.
It’s unfortunate this info wasn’t known when the bond proposal went through the Superior Court challenge earlier this year.
But is it too late to scuttle the $6m bond? Spending it now would be an arrogant snub to responsible taxpayers.
Obviously, downtown is a volatile situation made all the worse with the latest accusations. Marietta’s comments regarding the ADICA board will be addressed in a later post, so I don’t want to get into that right now.
Downtown has been an albatross around the neck of Albany for years. Instead of accepting that it is what it is, efforts have been directed to shape it into something it’s not. The only way they can do that is to use taxpayer money to subsidize business and, I presume, residence at a later date. It’s not going to just happen, and they can’t lure people downtown without that. My opinion is that it’s best to just let downtown be what it is and be happy with the growth in Northwest Albany. I honestly think that East Albany would have been a better use of that money. After all…people already LIVE there.
No matter what your feelings were originally about downtown, it may well be time to take a look inside and see if you still feel the same way. For those who have thought it was a waste, the press clippings about downtown aren’t going to change your mind one bit. If you thought it was a good idea…well…I suspect quite a few folks will have a different take now.
Debra – I also send my open records requests via e-mail. I’d be glad to share them with you or anyone. My e-mail address is ajournal@thealbanyjournal.com.
Roger Marietta, who steadfastly defended all of Buie’s transgressions yesterday and has refused to support Phil Cannon’s fact-finding mission, tells me that commissioners have decided to remove the ADICA board. Awesome.
And is anyone else as stunned as I am that Buie is STILL not even suspended with pay (at a rate of $82K per year). Don and I have talked over the past month about the monkey-business that goes on around him and the leverage he would have if they tried to bring him down. I’m just sayin’.
.-= Kevin Hogencamp´s last blog ..Lee County Taxpayers Association formed =-.
Well, I think you know that I’m still bothered by Buie not being suspended at the very least, though at this point I’m far from stunned. Business as usual is rarely surprising.
“Roger Marietta, who steadfastly defended all of Buie’s transgressions yesterday and has refused to support Phil Cannon’s fact-finding mission, tells me that commissioners have decided to remove the ADICA board. Awesome”
Good deal, Kevin! I am not at all a Marietta fan as I think some of his positions (Jolivette, etc) have been extremely poorly thought out, but I am 100 percent with him on this issue.
Far from supporting a fact-finding mission by Phil Cannon, Phil Cannon should be the subject of the investigation along with Buie and every other member of the ADICA board. Remember, ADICA’s problems did NOT start with the checks and ADICA’s problems aren’t limited to the checks.
Scapegoating Buie (albeit deservedly) won’t make ADICA a good idea.
P.S. Tom, Kevin:
You guys are really missing the story on the sign ordinance task force.
Guess what? It looks surprisingly like the old one.
Jack: I haven’t missed anything. I just haven’t gotten everything written up like I wanted to is all.
Oh, and before you get to excited about Roger Marietta’s comments, keep in mind that he’s been defending them in emails that both Kevin and I have been privvy to. It wasn’t until fairly recently that his public opinion seemed to shift.
“defending them” meaning ADICA?
That doesn’t surprise me, but any change is good change. I’m just more focused on change in November.
True, but in November, the most we can change is three of the City Commission. So it’ll take a few years to really get things fixed.
If we are successful in getting 3 new candidates on the commission it will most definitely have an effect on the others.
Maybe, maybe not. We replace six though, and it won’t matter