In an effort to try and be a bit more positive about Albany, I figured it’s time to start discussing how we can really put the “good life” back into the Good Life City. Let’s just make a few assumptions, just for the sake of argument. First, let’s assume that the corruption in Albany is minimized to a point where it’s at least consistent with the average American town of similar size. Ridding it would be ideal, but let’s be realistic. Let’s not assume that I-85 will ever come to Albany as well. While it sounds good, and I personally would actually be thrilled with the boost Albany would get, there’s no guarantee that it’ll happen.
So, what should we do?
There are a few things that are essential for a prosperous society. Good paying jobs, entertainment venues, good housing, good education, safety, things of that sort. So, what can we do to bring Albany back up to where we were before Firestone closed?
Education is something that there’s really only so much local officials can do. The state lays down guidelines that have to be followed, for good or ill, and education isn’t my strong suit by any means. Personally, I think the Dougherty County School Board does as well as they can considering…there’s more going on than just schools after all.
Notice what all’s not on that list?
Here are my thoughts. Take things like the Parks & Recreation Department and form an independent authority to handle those duties. Make them be self supporting. If people want all those programs, then let them pay for them. Let’s see what all survives. Personally, I think things like sports and parks will be fine.
In fact, let’s put the Civic Center, Veteran’s Park, and the Auditorium in there as well. You see, with good leadership, the Civic Center could be profitable enough to support the enter authority, requiring minimal fees for other activities. But currently, there’s no incentive to book potentially profitable acts…and let’s be honest, they can do well. Steve Harvey and Larry the Cable Guy both sold impressively on back to back weekends in a down economy. Oh yes, if you book it? They will come. You just need to book a variety of shows that will appeal to the variety of people we have in this area. A big name rapper on one weekend and a big name country star on another may look odd to some, but for Albany? That’s just how we roll!
By cutting some of the crap out of the city’s budget, we can reallocate that money towards law enforcement. We need more cops. We need the best cops we can get. We won’t get that without paying for it. A police presence does help deter crime, so why not help Chief Proctor out? Let’s get him the best force we can so he can do the job appropriately. Personally, I’m impressed with APD right now, and I’d love to see what they can do with more personnel.
I’m also going to again repeat the call for an independent downtown authority. Plenty of folks argue that we need a “thriving” downtown to function. I’d love to see downtown booming with night clubs, restaurants, bars, shops, and all the other things that would scream “thriving”. While I don’t think it’s up to the government to do it, I suspect that I’m the minority. The independent authority won’t have any more oversight than ADICA did, but they also have to be self funded so we won’t have to worry about our tax dollars getting siphoned off for someone else’s personal expenses. Because they’d be self funded, they’d have all the proper incentive to be fiscally responsible that any other business does.
I love this town, despite my near constant criticisms. I want to see it become great. We’re the only city on Earth to have as natives the MVPs of the World Series and the Superbowl and an Olympic Champion. We are the home town of musical legends. One of the world’s most famous zoologists is from here, and we’ve got one of the best zoos around. We have plenty to admire.
What we don’t have is the ability to rest on our laurels and pray they’re enough.
Wow, Tom. You do raise a great issue. What do we specifically do in the alternative? Great post.
Mayor Adams was quick to boast about our $23,000,000 in reserves. Can some of that money be used to hire more cops?
It probably could. Honestly, that $23 million could be used for a whole lot. Of course, I honestly don’t have a problem with there being a surplus to help weather poor economic times, but when you’ve got the crime we have and are bleeding jobs like someone just slashed the economic jugular vein, it’s time to do whatever it takes, you know?
I do hope that there are lots of posts on this question: What’s to do????
We all know it’s pretty easy to state what’s wrong (he can’t hit the strike zone), but when it comes to improving with CONCRETE acts, that’s the difference between the fans and the pitching coach who has the trained eye and knows in detail what needs to be done (his grip needs to change).
So I am most anxious to hear specific suggestions. A more aggressive and professional police department is certainly a plus and I agree that under Chief Proctor’s guidance we are seeing more of that. More will certainly help, but we ARE probably improving and it would help to meet with this mean and support him.
This is one tough town. In my most humble view, make no mistake about it. It needs a very insightful and powerful REINVENTION, otherwise the trends are not favorable. It can be done, but not under mediocre or milktoast or self-serving “leadership.”
Gotta get the commission members, even Adams, to the table and TRY to get them to understand.
Listen to this please!!!!
Perhaps one of the real problems is that these folks just don’t have a clue on what to do!!!! THEY JUST DON’T KNOW!!!!
They need guidance. So let’s take it to them. Out of 7 commission voters, we ought to be able to get 2 to come around on some of the very legitimate issues.
look….do this like the big boys…lobby and pitch the platform…meet face to face. It is hard to resist a proper face to face showing.
Here’s two suggestions. Look for a project in a part of Albany that is NOT downtown to attract visitors. For example, some of the money wasted on downtown could have been spent on a Sports Park Complex similar to the one in Dothan, AL. It provides a large number of fields at one location so as to make it a favorite venue for regional softball, football, and soccer tournaments. These weekend tournaments bring business for hotels, restaurants, etc. Good bang for the buck project.
Secondly. You will think this idea so absurd that you will wonder if I am kidding. You may think that I need my head examined. It regards the city surplus. I agree with the wisdom of having a reserve. But for once, since we are all having some hard economic times, instead of giving money away to a few favorite businesses – what if the taxpayers actually got, just one time, a ….. tax reduction. It might mean putting the spend-free downtown ideas back for a year or two. It might mean really tightening the belts which in my opinion, need to be pulled about two notches tighter anyway.
It would be a drastic step. But this ship is going under – bow first, as it is. Even a token reduction would do a world of good for morale. It would signal that government does listen to the taxpayers. It could change the whole tone of government. It would send the message that the government puts the people first. It would make the news. When you get done laughing – think it out.
Trust me. Plenty of the “big boys” read here.
Monday: Your last post was deleted. You’re free to say what you will, so long as they’re not personal attacks, but the “wall of text” was to much. I’d asked you before not to post what amounts to blog posts in the comments sections after all
. Since I still haven’t heard from you via email, I can’t trust that the email you provided is valid, hence my current actions instead of just emailing you.
Feel free to post responses, but try to avoid doing it all as one post. People’s eyes need a break
email is and has been correct…please resend and I will keep an eye out.
there is a fair amount of misunderstanding on some of this stuff. you raise good issues, and they are sometimes thought provoking. the public needs to understand some of the real facts and basis for the issues, like on this downtown bond. Perhaps you should post an indpth factual analysis to fully explain.
I also think you might be selling your readers short on their abilities to read and digest. they are smart people.
thanks
It’s not their ability to read, it’s internet etiquette to not post so much text at one time except as a proper blog post. Now, as I’ve said before, you’re more than welcome to submit any in depth analysis you have written up as a potential blog post, and Jeff or I will more than likely post it under the Publius account. Remember, my issue involves the comments section is all.
And, frankly, I’m not exactly thrilled that you chose to accuse me of selling my readers short. You were asked not to do something, and you did it again. I didn’t think it was a overly difficult request, and since I received complaints from people about the length of YOUR posts on other threads, I’m going to ask yet again, that you not do it again. Fair enough?
I’ll resend the email you this afternoon. It’ll be in regards to a different matter than the original, but since you didn’t seem to get that, it doesn’t really matter.
hey…didn’t mean to offend on any front. As to length, I just start to tapity-tap on the keyboard and try to fully explain with complete answers where the subject calls for it. And in that little box that we type it in it doesn’t seem that long at all. But them when I hit “submit comment” shabang it gets real big on the screen.
I didn’t know about the blog etiquette…cool. I didn’t save the last comment you deleted and I don’t know a thing about the Publius account. If you still have it in your system, could you email it back? I’d still like to get it out there because there might be some confusion about taxes and bonds and source of funds and SPLOST and operating subsidies and community development and TADS ….
thanks
I had told you about it over the weekend when you hit us with that three part comment. Still, no harm, no foul.
Unfortunately, our system doesn’t hold on to comments. However, I sincerely doubt there’s confusion about SPLOST since, as you’ve pointed out, our readers are pretty smart and understand that SPLOST is for a particular project. I do recall you mentioning your understanding that a SPLOST had been approved for an tennis complex. I’ll have to check the city budget (which has SPLOST information as well) and look for other info on that front.
Tom… I was also explaining how the downtown bond did not directly use any taxpayer funds. Only if the project cash flows and tax increment were not sufficient to service the bond would the 3 mils of tax increase be called on. I believe the bond was also tied in with the TAD (I think) which was also going to provide the financing for the East Albany Walmart infrastructure. The cash for the downtown work was to come from Security Bank, the bond buyer. There were also ways suggested by the private sector to post some of the project buildings as collateral for the bond repayment which may not have been previously considered. In theory, the problem is not the bond — that is quite common. Proper due diligence and deal structuring and private capital – even creating a porfolio reserve fund – can mitigate a lot of the public risk in a non-political environment. Tim Coley is experienced in these matters and would add value in due diligence and structuring.
There are right ways and wrong ways.
These are just a few organizations that I know of doing NO research who have ditched the auditorium for other venues like Lee County’s auditorium because of John Mazzola’s policies and abrasive ways.
American Red Cross (they host Swamp Gravy)
Communities in Schools fundraiser (took it to the state theater)
Albany State Opera Workshop
Miss Albany Pageant
Miss DWS pageant
AT and T Pioneers
and the children’s theater. The $300 deckhand kept his cell phone on backstage and refused to turn it off. The same person was sent for building steward and lighting therefore making $43/hour.
Mazzola threatened the Albany Symphony during Peppermint Pops because he didn’t like where the food bank truck was parked.
on and on and on
Home school association cannot afford to rent the amphitheater anymore because of the mandatory staff as well.
I foresee Lee County’s auditorium will be worn out soon from Albany folks trying to find an affordable venue.
Albany is as backwards a city as I have ever lived in.