This year has been quite a year. To sum up the stories of the year, from my perspective, is truly a daunting task. I’ve taken a moment and thought about it, and I’ve realized that my perspective has primarily been dealing with the City of Albany. The city that I love, and the government that I’m not to fond of, have certainly kept me busy.
Was the Rod Jolivette issue the primary story this year? After all, a black firefighter was fired by the white fire chief, and a group of black pastor takes up his cause with the righteous fury of days gone by. We had our City Manager put this same guy back on the job, only to have him allegedly impersonate a police officer in another county.
But alas, it wasn’t.
The sign ordinance definitely should be up near the top in any discussion of the top stories. After all, it involves government telling citizens what they can and can’t do with their own property. It had a hero (Bo Henry), and a villain (Albany City Commission, Code Enforcement). Eventually, the forces of good triumphed…kind of.
Don Buie also has to be near the top. His fall from power was spectacular, and it culminated with a high profile trial and his finally pleading guilty to criminal charges. It sparked a lot of discussion, for better or worse, and it drew a lot of attention to downtown redevelopment as well as the lack of oversight towards high ranking government officials like Buie. Regular citizens began stepping up and demanding answers. It was great.
The Dougherty County Taxpayers Association was a top story in my opinion, though I suspect many may not realize it. You see, here was this group of concerned citizens, white and black, who wanted their local government to be accountable to them. While their efforts to oust sitting city commissioners didn’t work so well, they still raised the profile of the cause and maintained a damn good momentum. I look forward to what they can do in 2010.
For me, the story of the year is SWGAPolitics.com itself. Yeah, I’m tooting my own horn here, but think about it. This time, 365 days ago, Jeff and I didn’t even know one another existed. Then, Jeff starts a small blog on WordPress to rant about politics. We meet, and he invites me to come onboard. So, like a sucker good citizen, I do. And it takes off from there.
Jeff and I have been on the front page of the Albany Herald, and both have columns in the Albany Journal. We have made contact with officials at various level of local and state government, and know we have received attention at the Congressional level as well…both Democrats and Republicans. We have had the opportunity to meet tons of people. I’ve been blessed with speaking at two different Tea Parties, my first forays into public speaking.
But that’s not what makes SWGAPolitics.com the story of the year. It’s you guys, the readers. You read what we say here, and you comment, and discussion is generated. It’s the only place where that is happening on a local level about local issues really. This is the only place dedicated to discussion of political issues in southwest Georgia, and you guys have embraced it.
Thanks for that.
Your work is neither unappreciated or unnoticed. Personally, I think this site has had an impact in the community – especially in issues like: Buie-gate/ADICA; downtown $6m bond; Ken Hodges’; Sanford Bishop; Oxendine; the rap artist (I can’t recall his name right now); and Jolivette. But even in issues like the sign ordinance where the impact was less felt due to governmental arrogance – your site at least let the bureaucrats know that the natives were restless.
This site has great value in the community as a sounding board. It is a line of communication to our government officials that did not previously exist. They lurk here. They read it. And some of them fear it.
To everyone, I wish a Happy New Years!
I agree Tom, you and Jeff and Kevin Hogencamp may be the only viable sources for TRUTHFUL local news. When you guys publish something, our “leadership” scatters like cockroaches.
I’ll be posting a special gift for you in the next post. Enjoy.
The Buie Rap
My name is Buie,
I’m the king of romance,
Come and listen to my story,
While you do your dance.
Well it started down in Albany town,
And pretty soon word started
gettin around.
So I said to Al Lott,
I said “Hey Lottie,”
“Why don’t we throw a little
ADICA party?”
Well, they did a background check,
Well, kinda sorta,
And before you knew it,
Albany had a new order.
To all you muthas in taxpayer land,
I said “Hallelujah, baby! I got me a plan!”
They said “what you got, Don? What you gonna do?”
I said “lotsa money for me and a con for you!”
end of part one.
The Buie Rap-Part II
Things were goin good,
I was feelin’ hot,
The ADICA board wasn’t watchin,
They were lightin up their farts.
With Bob Langstaff blabbering,
I had a cover,
Things were lookin great,
A year like no other.
Six million for me,
The Commission signed without readin,
I’m gettin all this money for no good reason!
Fifty grand for Lajuana,
A free lease for Tim,
The ADICA board loved me,
I was gonna win!
I was on a roll,
I couldn’t lose,
Then came the Journal and the Blog,
The birth of the blues!
The Taxpayers and Hogencamp started raising cain,
Those guys were pissed,
Drove me insane!
People all over started runnin for the hills,
I was even abandoned by former friends like Phil.
A year with time served!
What a deal!
I coulda told ya,
It pays to steal!!
______________________
Thanks to Don Buie, Al Lott, the ADICA board and city commission for the material, and Mel Brooks for the idea!
“You read what we say here, and you comment, and discussion is generated. . . . This is the only place dedicated to discussion of political issues in southwest Georgia, and you guys have embraced it.” Who are you talking about? I read your archives and commentaries and there is no evidence of any significant disclosures or discourse. Pep it up or get a life.
I’m talking about the readers here. I never said anything about “significant disclosures” Perhaps you should work on your reading comprehension, because nothing was ever said.
As for “getting a life”, I’m not the one who read all our archives.