ADICA has been up against the ropes, bloody, and down on points in the late rounds, but it looks like they’re on the way to a come back. During their meeting yesterday, embattled ADICA board member Lajuanna Woods announced that she intends to pay back the $50,000 facade grant that has caused so much…um…let’s just say “interesting conversation”.
Now, apparently Woods sent an email to acting ADICA CEO James Taylor that was merely read at the meeting, but frankly, who cares? The city is getting the money back, and that’s what’s important. Now, they’re only getting it in payments instead of a lump sum, but they are getting it back.
Per the Albany Herald:
“As I have indicated, it is not my intent nor that of my business to participate in any known form of unlawfull (sic) activity. Since, it has been determined that facade grants were not lawfully issued I have decided to return all grant funds,” she wrote.
Well, that’s super. Of course, she could have done this when the information first became available. Perhaps we shouldn’t worry about the fact that she’s incredibly late to the party and just embrace the fact that she showed up at all. Of course, I’m unable to get past the fact that Phil Cannon made a motion for this to happen and not a single person on the ADICA board had the integrity to step up and make a second. That, I won’t let slide.
In other news involving ADICA, the notorious tenure of Tim Washington and his Dollar Square store is being put to a merciful death by ADICA. Of course, Washington asked for it, which isn’t completely surprising. The Herald reports Taylor’s speculation that the traffic wasn’t what he was promised. Don Buie? Lie? Nah, can’t be.
The board also voted to press the issue on back rent owed to it by Washington, as well as forcing the return of the $40,000 given to him as a facade grant. I suspect that Washington didn’t ask for that. Now, remember that Washington was the recipient of a sweetheart deal that only required him to pay a whopping $1 per month in rent for his space downtown despite a lease stating $750 more. Frankly, I think ADICA’s decision to charge him according to the lease and not the convicted felon’s promise just might have had something to do with his decision.
As for paying out, the board approved paying Dougherty County the $10,000 they owed for the lease on that patch of property downtown.
Yesterday wasn’t without it’s revelations though. More of Buie’s promises were unveiled. Frankly, I’m getting tired of those. Sure, there may be a lot of business people upset because their promised facade grants aren’t coming, but tough. They didn’t get a contract, so they’re out of luck. Sorry, but after my grandfather got hosed in a business deal eons ago because there wasn’t a contract, I don’t trust anything that’s not in writing. Now, these good business folks get to learn that lesson in a new and interesting way. Go them!
All in all, ADICA seems to be moving in the right direction. The return of the Woods grant was a major issue that is being dealt with finally. Now, do I trust this board? Absolutely not. Jane Wilson, the ADICA Chairman of the Board, has been living with her head in the sand if she doesn’t believe that ADICA doesn’t need serious re-organization. Maybe it’s time for her to go first, and then let the new Chairman clean house?
I sure hope the re-payment is via a signed contract that outlines the amount owed, amount of monthly payments, etc……..
That will be the true test to determine if they are on the right track or not!
Good point. After having to deal with the aftermath of Buie’s promises, I’d think they’d know better…but this is ADICA we’re talking about here
James Taylor (thankfully!!) is no Don Buie. I trust Mr. Taylor to have all of his i’s dotted and t’s crossed.
I was at the meeting….there were some iffiness to the email that was read. Wait-n-see.
Overall, the board did a good job dealing with admin matters. Hopefully they will soon move on to substantive matters.
Is the bar for good governance so low in Albany that we are willing to accept an e-mail; from a board member without the common sense, business sense or ethical sense to take the money in the first place, as closure on this chapter of ADICA’s fiscal malfeasance? Are there penalties for late or nonpayment, is the “loan’ secured, will interest be paid? Where do you sign up? I’m sure most of us could use $50K interest free for a year or two. Meanwhile over at Dollar Square we’re out $40K (anyone really think that will be repaid) and ADICA is going to pay the County back rent with money from …….. us the taxpayers and Mr. Taylor is “desperately trying to find funds to pay operating expenses” and that to will come from the taxpayers. It’s time for ADICA to go and this shell game of money shuffling to stop.
…and yet no one has been arrested.
Yep, Doug, with the blessing of every city commissioner and every ADICA board member except for Phil Cannon, Ms. Woods has turned her $50,000 theft of taxpayer funds into an interest-free loan. AND SHE GETS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE ADICA BOARD! That’s what we’ve elected. I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.
This is another example of the incompetency of the ADICA board. Ms. Woods should be forced to immediately repay the “grant” in ONE installment of $50,000 with interest. One of two things will happen with both resulting in the $50k never being completely repaid: (1) Ms Woods will go to jail when the GBI finishes their investigation or (2) Ms Woods will make payments for a couple of months and stop…and, then like every other controversy in this town, it will be forgotten as our attention is focused on the next scandal.
The fact that the repayment “plan” suggested is even being considered speaks volumes. We’re talkin $50K and everyone agrees (don’t they) that it was granted illegally but we’re going to accept payments with no security and no interest. My taxes are not $50K but if I don’t pay them on time the city/county will put my house on the block in a heartbeat. Disband ADICA, reduce spending (services) to a level commensurate with the local economic condition and work hard at finding some wealth creating business.
It is ludicrous for the city to let ADICA have control of another dime. The sole purpose of all future ADICA meetings should be to recoup funds that ADICA mishandled.
What outrageous gall! Does Ms. Woods really think she should be congratulated for offering to return admittedly illegally-obtained funds a year from now? In the midst of a criminal investigation of ADICA’s CEO, the move appears to be self-serving. Who here is willing to take her word for it? IMHO, her credibility is somewhat thin at the moment.
I think either ADICA or the city should ask her for a list of her assets, so they can determine how best to proceed in involuntarily collecting our funds. If she is sincere about setting things right, she can sell her restaurant to raise most the funds. Perhaps she can deed the property over to the city. Just some suggestions to point out that we don’t have to settle for an unsecured empty promise of getting our money someday.
If you believe she is going to pony that money up next year, maybe you’ll be interested in purchasing a used archway. Never assembled.
Doug, your last sentence summed up the sentiments of a lot of people . Unfortunately, your common sense approach doesn’t seem to suit those with the authority / power to make those things happen. What we are witnessing is simply another “good-ole boy” situation. The only difference is these “boys” wear coats and ties instead of blue-jeans with Skoal rings. Not to be sensational, but, the only way for things to change around here is for some outside force to intervene. Hopefully, the GBI will get to the bottom of this whole embarrassing affair.
wow…y’all are on the money. How do you get it done?
Don’t forget, the City also made Woods a $100,000 12-year loan for her business. Sweet! Perhaps she will pay the $50k back in a lump sum using part of the $100k. lol
I still would be interested in knowing who is paying for Mayor Adams’ “bodyguard” and driver. Is he still on the APD payroll? If the city is paying and not being fully reimbursed, how was that authorized? Do all future mayors get a driver/bodyguard? Is Mayor Adams receiving a 1099 for the unreimbursed portion? Since we are in payback mode, if he is not yet paying for this service, should he repay to the city the cost of this service for the past 5 or 6 years?
Don’t anyone get me wrong for a minute. I merely mean they’re moving forward the right way, i.e. getting money back from Woods. That was the most important thing. I’m not crazy about the terms I’m hearing, no interest etc, but let’s be honest. ADICA had no intention of asking for it back, so let’s just be happy the money will be returned at all.
That said, this doesn’t get ADICA off the hook as far as I’m concerned regarding their inability to show the least bit of moral fiber (Phil Cannon excepted of course) and ask for it back. Not one person had the decency to second Cannon’s motion…and Woods could have upped her stock tremendously by making the second herself. They’re starting to move in the right direction, and nothing more. There is still a long, long way to go and plenty of more bumps in the road that be used to justify going off course yet again.
A move is being made that is in our favor. While we shouldn’t be satisfied, let’s at least be glad that it’s more than what we had when this week started. Now, let’s just hope that someone has the brains to get something binding set up to force the issue.
Peter:
How do we get it done? That of course is the question. I don’t know if there is an easy answer but I do think there are certain facts we need to consider. For example; according to the 2004 Census Bureau ranking of Georgia counties by median household income with the exception of Lee County (#16) all of the counties in our immediate area ranked lower than 84th (Worth) Dougherty was 102nd. In terms of population growth again with the exception of Lee County all the counties in our immediate area rank near the bottom with Dougherty ranked 154th. The most critical level of poverty in Georgia primarily occurs in our southwestern corner of the state. Industrial growth is non existent and dare I say negative. Given these circumstances (not to mention our high tax rates) I think its time we re-examine our priorities. What can we afford and what do we have to do without? We have a self perpetuating government that appears to think we’re growing and prospering, we are not! Maybe just maybe we can’t afford river walks, arches, aquariums, façade grants, neighborhood public pools, and business rent subsidies. Maybe we don’t need the new 311 service or even the newly suggested video conferencing system. That “might” save enough money for it operate revenue neutral. I’m not suggesting surrendering just being realistic.
Doug: Great analysis. Thanks.
Returning Albany/Dougherty to some level of full prosperity will not happen for generations, if “ever” (however that lasts).
Many critical measures are in decline…from CONTRIBUTING population (take out new births, especially poverty environment births); tax base – commercial ad valorem and sales tax (more to follow….
It is very very very difficult to change the mentality and condition globally within the county. Much money will be dissipated if it just thrown into general programs or poverty support programs.
But to have any chance of at least a partial turnaround, one must start somewhere and THAT is a major reason that I focus on the downtown. This is the most concentrated, most visible, most “pure” commercial platform with the most splash benefit around.
We have the most control over the outcome and the ability to bring in new market revenues than any othe platform or construction in Albany, especially with the private/public partnerships available.
So that is a start, but to be of the most value to the community, it must be done right and smart. Even if it worked, the Dollar Square store was a misguided project. Same for the Altel franchise. They add no new market revenues. Oddly, the most money squandered was on the Dollar Square store, in a space owned by the County…again not involving the private sector.
So I say, focus on the downtown with a specific plan to attract presently out of market revenues. And include the private sector…or flip it around the other way, the private sector thould lead the charge and advise the city/county what needs to be done and how they can help. The government employees CANNOT lead this process.
I could go on….but that’s some of it.
BTW: Yes I own much of the downtown, but I got into it because I saw the community value and even if I did not own a single brick, my conclusions would be the same. Plus the focus MUST be family friendly and tech friendly. That’s where the travelers, numbers and spenders are and the growth potential and mobile bright stars are young techies and we could give them housing, facilities and bandwidth.
Let’s cut to the chase. I don’t care who these people are on the ADICA board. I don’t care what ethnic group they belong to. I don’t care if they donate great sums to charities and do other public good. I don’t care that they had good intentions when selected to the board. I don’t care what their personal and business credentials are.
When a group allows itself to be totally bamboozled by a guy who has left a trail of utter incompetence all over downtown, they simply must go. How could–or why should–the taxpaying public or potential developers have any confidence in such a group?
Dang! If you are trying to give CPR to a near-death downtown, would you have some clown running around trying to make “deals” with public money to lure a “dollar store”? Likewise, would you be “courting” a cell phone store to be a downtown draw?
I don’t think people with money to spend who already shop somewhere else want to venture downtown to buy a cheap set of salt shakers in the shape of a pair of jackasses or pass 20 cell phone outlets near home to buy from a downtown outlet.
Who in their right mind would take a prime location being heavily subsidized with tax dollars and make concessions with more tax dollars to put in such businesses? Is it the goal to create a downtown to cater to those below the poverty level?
If someone on the board had bothered to read the newspapers or say “Hey Don, what’s sup these days” it should have been apparent much sooner that he had no plan. The plan should not be to fill up storefronts with businesses that are destined to fail.
The ADICA board should have known what was going on much, much sooner. And, it is time for all of them to be replaced by people who seem to have more of a sense of awareness!
Bobby Ray
Don’t hold back; just say what’s on your mind. “salt shakers in the shape of a pair of jackasses”
lol
There has been an almost pathological resistance to any kind of meaningful comprehensive plan that relates to revenue generation and market analysis. I remain baffled why this is.
Bobby Ray, your oversight conclusions might extend to the city commission since that body received reports from Mr. Buie. And Mr. Buie really reported to the city administration, not personally to the board. He was hired by the city and paid by the city. Plus he officed on the 5th floor of the government center in the city executive suite. That list goes on.
He saw the ADICA board once a month, at best and they had no practical hire/fire & management control over him.
It also seems that the projects were not formally presented for approval by the ADICA board.
I’m not making excuses for anyone, but I do not think that the board should take the fall for some of the things over which they had little influence in reality.
Why can’t people own up to making some mistakes and show the public how they will improve? Jane Willson took a baby STEP in that direction with her speech, but she has announced her retirement from the board.
Doug, I might have misspoke since many in Albany would feel at home with a set of jackasses on the table. Could be a big seller.
I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but it appears those on the ADICA board, and those who were on the ATI board, merely bought off on any proposed hairbrained scheme because they didn’t/don’t know what to do. A little build it and they will come, eh? After all, the “blue arch” is drawing folks like a magnet.
And on the subject of ATI, is there any news on the fate of the $50k ADICA gave to ATI to finish paying the bills? That sucker poped up and then went underground faster than a bunker buster.
So far, nothing on that $50K. Frankly, there’s been so much else going on that resources haven’t allowed me to do a lot of tracking. I honestly suspect that no one knows anything…and that’s the problem.
Peter, I’m not giving the Commission a pass by any means. But, back to riding ADICA’s back, when one of your prime tenants downtown is going to be a dollar store and it is mentioned in the press, I would think that someone would ask a question like “Uh, what’s the plan, Don?”. Of course that doesn’t mean a straight answer will be forthcoming or that a plan existed.
I haven’t seen minutes of the ADICA meetings. Perhaps they would give more insight into what was or wasn’t going on. I just find it hard to believe that so many could be so clueless for so long.
Bobby Ray….believe it.
There is not ONE business person on the commission. And it shows in how little market analysis, planning and financial strategies are considered and how the private sector is treated like a pariah.
The ADICA board spent much of its existence a honorary after it issues a bond. It shoveled a little interest income over to ATI, but had little functionality except that it being an authority needed a board — my take.
Anyway, yes, it too must be accountable…actually, they all do: ADICA board, city commission, city administration….especially those individuals to whom I and others gave a head’s up that something was amiss with Buie and nothing was done about it. Names are not useful, but after enough interactions with Buie, it was clear that something was off. I confronted Buie himself on how it was hard to work with him…and he pushed it off on the city folks. Something was real off there, beyond the ethics standpoint.
Even today, they seem to be doing it all over again….this one-sided discussion about having a plan for development direction and a comprehensive financing plan including the private sector has been going on for YEARS. YEARS. AND TODAY WE ARE STILL NO CLOSER.
I pressed Buie for a plan and to focus on a larger more meaningful project and to not just do isolated dink projects that added no revenues to the market….I told him it would be good for his resume’. (that would be an interesting read today)
He flat out told me that he considered his work in Albany already a success (he was present when Subway expanded and the Dollar Store was going in). He was not going to focus on anything long-term or a more comprehensive complex plan. He didn’t personally need to and he was trying to get a job out of Albany.
Other people have resisted anything concrete EXCEPT they think a bar and nightclub are the answer. It becomes a personal lifestyles and values discussion, instead of a development/market discussion.
The last ADICA meeting was far superior to any other in the past year or two. But still, not one step in the direction of at least putting in motion the elements for development or putting together a group of volunteer local experts.
This may be considered presumptuous and maybe it is, BUT I think at least two forces are at play there:
1. The government folks and the board appointees do not want to give up control to the private sector. The girls jus wanna have fun.
2. They just don’t know what to do. It’s a tough riddle to solve…and I think they have tried to defeat the ONLY plan that is likely to have ANY chance to succeed because I HAVE PRESENTED IT.
Immodest? No. I’ve been at this downtown more than anyone in Albany – and from more angles and perspectives.
Tom….sorry for the length….kill it if you wish
I guess the “common sense is an uncommon thing” saying applies to the ADICA board.