MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin What are we doing wrong?

What are we doing wrong?”

It’s a question that was attributed to AugustaRichmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree in a story that made national news. Thirty-three officer arrests have been made in the past three years, a stunning statistic employed to talk about the “dilemma” of county jails all over the country.

Roundtree has requested more money from city commissioners to bolster salaries. That is a shameless petition, considering the state of the county prison.

The question of what’s wrong goes beyond the issues at the county jail.

The problem is police culture. It’s a system that historically uses tax dollars to violate people’s civil rights, particularly Black folks.

People seem to think that a Black elected official in power might change that system, but that’s not how police culture works. The conflicts between the Black (mis)leadership class and the predominantly white media base should not distract us from the realities of police culture.

I’ll never forget when Burke County sheriff Alfonzo Williams justified the use of force in the murder of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta back in 2020. That diatribe made it painfully

Road closures in Downtown Augusta

AUGUSTA

Expect traffic delays in certain parts of Downtown Augusta due to road closures. View the information below for details.

BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION

13th Street between Telfair Street and Walker Street is now closed to through traffic due to repair work on the bridge over the Augusta Canal that started August 5, 2023. All traffic will be detoured around the closure using 12th Street. This long-term closure is expected to last for the remainder of this year (2023). Residents should use alternate routes and expect heavy traffic delays in this area. Stay informed on the progress of the repair work by visiting the Augusta, Georgia TIA Infrastructure Projects website at augustadtp.com.

RAILROAD MAINTENANCE

From 9am on August 15, 2023, to 5pm on August 18, 2023, CSX Transportation will close the railroad crossing between Twiggs Street and 5th Street to allow the company to install a new switch near the crossing. Note this crossing is directly under Gordon Highway- US78/25. For more information, call Southern Commercial Development Traffic Control at 803-808-3600. Road closures in Downtown Augusta AUGUSTA, GA (August 9, 2023) – Expect traffic delays in certain parts of Downtown Augusta due

Registration now for 11th Annual Women Empowerment Conference

The 11th Annual Women Empowerment Conference sponsored by AB Beverage of Augusta and the Wells Fargo Foundation, will take place on Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 5:00 PM.

We will meet in the River Room of Saint Paul’s Church, located at 605 Reynolds Street, and via ZOOM Webinar, for anyone who would like to attend virtually.

There is no charge to attend, refreshments will be served to in – person attendees.

Vendor Spaces are available on a first come basis, please contact Ms. Montez R. Williams at administrativeassistant@business-league.org or at 706 722 - 0994.

You can request an in – person ticket or a virtual ticket.

apparent that for those in the system, police culture outweighs kinship.

Even now, Atlanta is in the midst of police controversy due to “Cop City,” a training center that the city is pushing down taxpayers’ throats. The people of Atlanta have repeatedly and decisively expressed their disapproval of what will likely be a hundred-million dollar project.

If police officials had any shame, they would actually cut the police budget and reallocate those monies to education and other people-building institutions. The top cause of crime isn’t the ill intent of people. It’s poverty. Don’t be fooled – your police officials know this.

The reason why they ask for more money and not less money is because if we cut police budgets, they might not make the cut. But their selfishness – and the white supremacist elements of policing – are to the disadvantage of us all.

Ken Makin is the host of Makin’ A Difference and a freelance writer for ESPN and The Christian Science Monitor, among other outlets. Look him up on Facebook at Makin’ A Difference, and you can also send him an email with your thoughts at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com.

Highlights From

Commissioners approve Augusta’s FY 2024 Budget Priorities

As city officials begin mapping the city’s financial plan for FY 2024, the Augusta Commission has approved the FY24 budget priorities to include the following areas: Homelessness, Human Resources, Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Quality of Life.

Housing and Community Development given the greenlight to amplify efforts in lead safety and awareness

To increase Housing and Community Development’s efforts in educating the community about lead safety and awareness, the Augusta Commission has approved HCD’s request to partner with local agencies to help with the efforts.

The partnering organizations include

• Asociacion Latina De Servicios Del CSRA

• Augusta Fire Department

• Augusta University Environmental Health and Safety Div.

• Augusta, Georgia Compliance Department

• Augusta Utilities Department

• Baptist Ministerial Conference of Augusta

• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta

• CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc.

• Georgia Legal Aid

• Goodwill of Middle Georgia & The CSRA

• Housing Authority of Augusta, GA

• Richmond County Health Department

• Security Federal

This effort is a part of the HCD’s participation in the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program, which aims to identify, clean up, and educate the community on dangerous lead related health and safety hazards in specific housing units built before 1978.