Items of Interest

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IOI071102 - Items Of Interest

Study Circles ends in Action Forum

This past Tuesday evening, Ms. Vicky Partin and Dr. Florence Wakoko completed the final chapter of a 6 week long series of discussions sponsored by St. Thomas and St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal churches.  Taken from the most recent manual developed by the Study Circles Resource Center titled Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation, the facilitators took a group of about 40 Columbus residents through the process of organized dialogue toward creative community change. The final chapter of the series was the Action Forum where the issues/concerns that evolved from the three discussion groups were identified.  Committees were organized at the Forum and given the challenge to address the concerns from three points of view: Community, Institutions and  Individuals. 

From the Community:  1) End real estate discrimination toward perspective home buyers and renters and 2) engage parents and guardians in activities that encourage parental participation in schools.  From the Institutions: 1) Work with MCSD to create an oversight committee to investigate the perception of racial inequities and Examine the practices of the Muscogee County Juvenile Justice System as it relates to race. As Individuals:  1) Immediately address situations that demonstrate discrimination or profiling and 2) make acquaintance and engage in social settings with people who are different. If you have in interest in any of these areas of concern, email us at onecolumbus4@msn.com and we will pass your name on to the committee chair. References: www.studycircles.org and  check our website www.onecolubus.org

TAD?

The Wikipedia states that a tax is a “financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state…” And that is what automatically registers when one hears the word “Tax.”  I was all set to go to the polls (I haven’t missed my responsibility to vote in a dozen years) and vote NO next Tuesday but remembered that many other words we hear and read every day generate automatic responses based on usage and history.  In my business, I have learned that I can’t make these ;presumptions any more.   For example, I hear the word “gas” and automatically think of a liquid that’s almost as expensive as bottled water. But add the “guzzler” to it and it becomes an automobile that’s pretty expensive to operate.

The words Tax Allocation District, then, relate to a piece of physical property that, for all intents and purposes, lacks the incentives for development in its present condition – usually blighted or run down.  Governments, if authorized, can issue Redevelopment Bonds which will provide revenue to finance improvements through the use of TADs. 

Councilor Julius Hunter makes a good case for voting YES on Tuesday to authorize our government “to exercise predevelopment powers” to move forward. His “Opinion” in the October 30 issue of the  Ledger-Enquirer is worth reading.

Josh  McKoon, on the other hand, raises a lot of valid questions in his “Opinion” in Wednesday’s edition. He ends his piece with “Right now, I am still wringing my hands.”

I hope that since the forums have been held and the publicity given to TADs, that hand wringing is over and the decision to act has been made.

I DO plan to stop by the Government Center today and cast my YES vote.  Remember , you can ’t vote down town on Monday. If you miss today, you have to wait until Tuesday.

What I DON’T plan to do is sit on my hands once the ballots are counted and not be a part of the development for which our government will have major responsibility.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Race Relations Breakfast 7:30 AM

First timers and guests are encouraged to attend this dialogue group where the topic may be one of your choosing and the dialogue open, honest and relevant.

Breakfast begins at 7:30 followed by democratic dialogue. Presentations are usually a part of the 4^th Wednesday breakfast sessions.

$6.00 is asked of regular participants.