DROVE PAST ONE OF the new welcome signs (in the rain) tonight and the freaking sprinklers were on.

GUESS WHO IS MOST likely footing that water bill.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING to get a hearing transcript for my boss (he is an attorney) for months now from Municipal Court and they keep telling us it is lost due to a computer glitch. The Municipal Ct. has tried calling their IT department to see if they have retrieved it yet and to no avail. This has been going on for almost a year now. We were hoping they have a hard copy somewhere but I guess they haven’t bothered with it or either cannot find it. Don’t know!! The Herald says this is the first time this has happened but I am here to tell you it is not the first time they have had problems with their computer system and glitches.

WELL, MY GOODNESS, THEY’RE doing all they can…they’re in “wait and see” mode and “hoping and praying that the crisis resolves itself’! Yeah, that always works with my problems! Hate to be sarcastic, but, Good Grief!!

THE LIBERAL MANTRA THAT Libertarians and Conservatives are mean and hate little kids, seniors, the disabled, the poor and the sick serves them well. It serves as a preemptive seizure of the moral high ground at our expense, it enables programs such as Ponzi based Social Security and welfare to doom millions to lives of dependency, thus permanentizing their dependence upon Liberals for their sustenance and it delivers votes that guarantee permanent control of the government by the left. It is a brilliant scam which is latched onto by the mainstream media and academia for their paycheck as well.

TOM KNIGHTON, YOU DON’T seem to understand that if we all looked at things the way you do, we would have babies starving to death while the parents begged for scraps on the street. The truth is that without welfare, there would be people suffering in ways you can’t accept or imagine.

YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED to find out who some of my “anonymous sources” have been.

I CANNOT FIGURE OUT why Democrats keep re-electing someone that is crook, but then I did not vote for Nathan Deal because of his shady past, obviously someone did.

BISHOP’S AN EMBARASSMENT TO the State of Georgia- kind of like our own local Barney Frank we can’t get rid of. Because there are no repercussions for his bad behavior he has had no reason to change. Term limits should be imposed on him by voting him out. Every disenfranchised SW GA voter who is physically able should register and vote this time around to finally remove him and bring his disastrous career to an end. Mike is right. Apathy is allowing his reelection to continue.

THAT DAMN POSTELL IS crazy, leave it up to him…LOL

HE ALWAYS HAS TO have the last word. It’s like that at every meeting. Mayor Adams always had to tell him during meetings to wait his turn to speak. It really is a circus.

IT IS ALL A show. Really if you meet Postell outside of him being a commissioner he is really a pretty good guy. I think it is all a front.

THERE MAY BE SOME that dislike the mayor because he is black. I am not one of them. I voted for Mayor Adams the first term. I just have not seen Albany grow and thrive the last 8 years, instead we continue to shrink. Certainly cannot all be dumped on the Mayor’s office or even the commission, but some of it can.

WITH THIS WHOLE BRIDGE debate I think more and more citizens are starting to take notice and are voicing their opinions. I think that is a step in the right direction. Also, were you aware of the public meetings about the bridge? Just wondering because when I read the piece WALB did about it that was the first I had heard of the public meetings.

I THINK I KNEW the day after they were held, as is usually the way here. I may be wrong but I believe only one person showed up. I rarely turn on the TV, so it is partly my own fault, but often agendas for, and the meetings themselves are sudden with little “fanfare” to get the public’s attention.

SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE about old Albany. I mentioned to the group when we met on Friday that the city torn down the old Victorian house on Jackson about a year ago and that I was really upset by the actions of the ASU Alumni who owned it, the Historical Society, and with the city for tearing it down. I told the group that the house belonged to the same family that owns the mule barn behind the BOA building downtown in the parking lot. I couldn’t recall the name of the family but now I remember. It was owned by Dr. Holman who passed away a year ago. He was apart of Albany’s history and yet no one seemed to care.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT had a raise at in 4 yrs and also county employees are paid several dollars an hour less than the same jobs in the city..One example is our underpaid County police officers. I know this has been covered on the news before.  Maybe they will get a much deserved raise now. As a County resident, I’m glad to see them saving money…but the workers do deserve raises.

YOU KNOW WHAT FOLKS? There are times I honestly believe that this city is screwed to the wall. Conversations I have had over the past several months lead me to believe that there is a certain segment of the population who is more worried about friends and relatives losing their jobs than if little Johnny can actually read and write.
I’ve never before seen a situation like this.

I CERTAINLY AGREE. DCSS is treated as a big “Jobs program” by many. There is always a certain amount of this in any large organization but in Albany where good jobs are few and friends and relatives are many it gets kicked up a notch.

IT’S REALLY A SAD situation. I think if I had kids in the school system and had a little bit of money I would sue the crap out of them for not teaching. Really, that is what needs to happen to scare them a bit.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE than our share of problems here. Everyone should be angry that the kids are not learning, but instead many are angry because the status quo is being upset.

PERHAPS THINGS ARE NOT so bleak in Little Johnny’s future. You don’t have to be able to read or write to follow family tradition and join Albany’s largest and fastest growing economic segment–poverty.

IT’S FUNNY.  TOM KNIGHTON uses an anonymous source and the Herald makes a comment that “credible journalists don’t hide behind anonymous sources.”  Now that Carlton Fletcher has done the same thing, will that attitude change, or is Mr. Fletcher not a “credible journalist”?

SO I SEE THAT Albany’s welcome signs into the city are finally finished. Nice, too. Now how about cleaning up all the trash around them!

I SEE THAT GRAND Island Golf Club has grass growing over the curbs, trash on the rights-of-way, and a generally unkempt entrance approach.  This is by the management that Duffy and Muggridge installed (illegally, maybe?) after terminating Uel Kemp who had increased the revenue during his brief tenure.  I should like to know if membership has increased since they forced Kemp out.  Can we please have a revenue report of Grand Island?

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE relative.   King Obama takes his family on numerous multimillion dollar vacations while telling the voters that we all must sacrifice.  Chairman Duffy  takes the commiission on “work sessions” at Callaway Gardens and “study trips” in Savannah while telling us there is no money for employee Xmas parties.  Two peas from the same pod.

I AM GREATFUL FOR the transparency and honesty of commissioner Dennis Roland.  Please fon’t ever let “the clique” beat you down.  Thank you, Mr. Roland for being a real commissioner.

WE DON’T NEED TO let John Rivers to handle another project in Albany, that’s for sure. Somehow he and Lott seemed to be mixed up in a lot of the mess that went on during his tenure as city manager. If John Rivers is mixed up in the multimodal transportation project downtown then it will probably fail just like the rest of the mess he has been involved in Albany. If the city cannot find an honest architect to handle that project then it doesn’t need to happen. I’m afraid we will be stuck with another project that we will have to pay the Feds back with our tax dollars. Also not to mention we will have to support the new transportation facility for years to come and I’m not really for that idea.

I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM with our D.A.. Every time something happens with a City Official or the middle/upper class citizens, he removes himself from the cases. We need someone in the District Attorney’s office to stand up and take charge, and to stop trying to be friends with everyone except gang bangers and murders!

WHY ARE THE DUGGARS getting blasted for taking memorial pictures of their lost unborn child by pro-lifers? I so do not get this. First I see nothing wrong or morbid, second is it not the pro-lifers that define life at conception? So what is wrong with a photo tribute for a lost baby that by their standards had all rights as a born child since conception. They need to stop speaking out of two sides of their mouths.

WHILE THE BOE FLOUNDERS and ponders “what to do” in rooting out the offenders who ate our lunches, I would like to see State and Federal folks express more “concern” to help guide us the point that we make a good decision.

Although locals created the problem, State and Federal agencies are way too far on the fringes on this one. This is not merely a DCSS problem. As with any “scam”, when the word gets around on how easy things are, it becomes widespread and the stink is on other’s shoes too. I would like to see some genuine concern on the part of those who funnel funds to us–and others.

THIS IS FROM A response to an email I sent to the State BOE last month ” In regards to the issue involving the principal and the school nutrition program, our agency’s Director of School Nutrition has been in contact with the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal agency with oversight of federal funding for school nutrition programs. The Georgia Department of Education is working closely with USDA to monitor the school nutrition programs in Dougherty County in accordance with federal law. Please be aware, however, that criminal prosecution decisions are not within the purview of the Georgia Department of Education or the USDA. Such decisions are made by local law enforcement authorities. ”

IF I RAN THE BOE, I would get some state folks and some federal folks in a room and “duke it out”. What is your responsibility, your authority, and what are you willing to do? How can we get out of this alive? Don’t let ‘em out until some understanding is reached–except for potty breaks.

SOUNDS LIKE TO ME that municipal all the way up to the federal level officials just want to sweep problems under a rug and pretend like it never happened. I hold the USDA accountable for our tax dollars going to frauds

FUNNY HOW THE VERY platform that B.J. Fletcher ran on, is now what the current leaders have on the table for discussion.

THIS EFFORT TO GET a waiver is exactly why so many people voted against E-SPLOST!

I ALSO VOTED AGAINST it and the rumor that our property taxes were going to go up was just that… a rumor. They legally couldn’t have gone up on the millage rate. People need to start educating themselves before they go to the ballot box because letting the politicians scare you into voting for a special tax is just ludicrous. The T-SPOLST tax is nothing more than Atlanta trying to bailout the MARTA. We will never see that money here and the politicians are crazy to tell us we will have road improvements from the tax. Vote NO to T-SPLOST!!

THESE SO-CALLED INVESTIGATIONS within our school system are “bunk”. It will end up just like the last one with the CRCT so they are trying every way possible for the state not to step in… well, guess what… they probably are anyway, Rev. Bush, and there is nothing you can say or do about it. It will just be a waste of time and tax money so let the state handle it. I just want to tell these idiots off so badly.

THREE SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED in the approval process:
1. Determining official
2. Confirming official
3. Verifying official
These people should be very nervous.

WHAT I DO KNOW is this….our income disqualifies us from this program, and I write that on the application every year. I’m honest and not wasting anyone’s time. When we were on govt. assistance, I updated our income regularly. When we began to make too much, we were taken off of the program. I just hope that lessons are learned. If you have any type of change in your income whether it be a job loss, an extra part-time or seasonal job, divorce, child support change, anything, it should immediately be reported to those every one of those items you get based on income. Honesty is the best policy!!

THIS HAPPENED IN COLUMBUS the other day on our way to see kids. I was in the vehicle waiting on my husband and a man who was panhandling knocked on the hood of my husband’s truck with me in it alone. It really startled me. He pointing at his arm like what time was it and I showed him four fingers with four and a zero, meaning 4:40 p.m. But, banging on the vehicle. Getting rough when they will do that among other things.

I HAVE NOT SEEN the CVS, Public and Zaxby man in a while, but one day we were driving past Winn Dixie on Old Dawson and he was crossing the parking lot and I pointed him out to my husband.

IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN the guy, it’s because he was working Sam’s, Lowe’s, and Home Depot at the time. He is relentless and knows no shame. A bum’s bum you might say–a true master of his trade.

WHY DON’T THESE BUSINESSES chase them off. Don’t they know it scares people?

IS THERE A “MASTER PLAN” for development of downtown Albany? When was it last updated and what is the process? Where can the public see a copy of the current plan?

We drifted for several years under Buie who had no oversight or apparent direction and who was taking us on a wandering path as he spent good money on bad uses. We clapped and cheered as we wasted time and resources on little of substance. We can’t do this anymore. Where are we going with downtown–and who gets the bill?

ENDORSEMENT FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT elected officials is one more reason NOT to vote for Mrs. Hubbard. We want a new era in Albany. One that doesn’t include the same ‘ol folks being in power. We must have a mayor that is responsive to the citizens of Albany. If a majority of ONE ward doesn’t know you and you’ve been their commissioner for 6 years how can we expect you to represent all of Albany?

I WOULD REALLY LIKE to know the real motivation behind some of the endorsements. Think CYA has a lot to do with some?

AGREED. THEY HAVE A lot of cya to do and make sure some past wrong doings doesn’t get leaked out to Tom Knighton’s paper.

THE CITY THINK THEY have it made since Kevin left, but they are dead wrong.

CAROL FULLERTON HAS SAID, allegedly, numerous times BJ started the tea party here. WRONG!!!!

WELL, WELL, WELL…STATE investigators need to set up a permanent office here because we could keep them very busy.

IT’S DISGUSTING THAT WE need the state to come in and investigate what even a blind man can see is at least a little fishy.

LOTS OF LIGHTS HAVE been going out across the city and no one seems to want to repair them when you complain. It’s ridiculous the way WG&L acts sometimes over the lights. We just don’t want to get mugged. It is a safety issue while driving also. Also, I want to know when the SPLOST money is finally going to go to either new or repair the old sewer systems in Albany. The city has been talking about this for a long time, but I have yet to see those funds actually going to the sewer system. What are they waiting for… another flood to occur?

GUESS ROGER MARIETTA WILL have somewhere to go for dinner now that we’re getting an Olive Garden.

HEY, I LIKE OLIVE Garden, but will that be Roger’s only or best achievement in Albany?

I REALLY DON’T THINK Roger Marietta had a thing to do with it. He just had an inside lead and had the community send letters to the CEO. Anyone can send letters and beg without Roger initiating it. If they planned to come here they planned it before he took any action. I wouldn’t give him that much credit for the Olive Garden coming. I still plan to eat at the Pizza Shop.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT Columbus a few days ago. I spent last Thursday & Friday at Ft. Benning/Columbus celebrating Veterans day with old friends. We ate at a couple restaurants that most folks around here have never heard of and there are others on every corner. I am in favor of anything NEW and different coming to Albany and Olive Garden is a start. Sure ain’t a political issue though.

THE ONLY CONNECTION MARIETTA had was that he was at a meeting of the board of health when, in one of the updates that are routinely given, one of the health permit staff said they had received an inquiry from Darden Restaurants about what would be needed if they wanted to put an Olive Garden at Westover and Dawson Road, and then he spilled it to his Kiwanis group. He then asked people to essentially spam the CEO in hopes it would convince them to come here.

THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS, realtor Mary Carter for one, working on Olive Garden long before Marietta came on the scene.

IT SEEMS SOMEONE IS trying to rig the results. The board should have planned another vote in Ward 2 the same day as the runoff for Mayor. That would have saved tax payers a lot of money but who cares about the tax payers money?

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 6-0 to pay for the University Gardens debacle–from the general fund. Are you happy?

NOT HAPPY AT ALL. They could have just dedicated it as a park. I know a lot of voters didn’t have this on their minds last week but I certainly did. I think the commission should pay it instead of us just to learn their lesson for once. Who’s with me on this?! I am tired of paying for their stupidity. There are no checks and balances when it comes to deals involving HUD money. Heads must roll!!

DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK the streetlights on Westover are overkill?

YES, WHAT WAS THE point for so many lights for tax payers to pay? There are more lights then an interstate! Ridiculousness! Who was the one who thought of this brilliant idea? They need to be paying that bill… Those lights blind you there are so many and bright.. Then all the trees… Hello? They do GROW!!!

IT [LIGHTS ON WESTOVER] IS SO ROBBERS and victims can get to know each other better.

THIS IS CRAZY. THIS would mean the 259 people who voted for [Cheryl] Calhoun are being denied the right to vote on who their Ward 2 commissioner will be.

SOMEBODY REALLY SCREWED UP. Those election results should be thrown out.

I AGREE THAT THOSE voters are being denied their right to vote. That is one of our rights as Americans. This town is becoming so unAmerican and too much like a dictator state than anything. First we are denied our rights to wear saggy pants if we desire and now voter cannot vote. What’s next. I never agreed with the saggy pants law. I know it is a bad fashion sense, but it goes against our civil liberties. I wish someone that has been fined would call the ACLU and have them sue the city because of it. They deserve it for making that law.

THE BAGGY BRITCHES LAW has made us more of a laughingstock than the baggy britches themselves. Pretty sure someone will toss that law out, most likely after someone that gets arrested and fined brings a lawsuit.

I DON’T SEE THE school system firing anyone in a “high value” position–we have a precedent for this one. Poor performance seems to make no difference. Likely, past performance appraisals will show the principal is performing as expected even though the school is sucking wind.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE my ears when Murfree said that she [Gloria Baker] was an excellent educator. What is she teaching? How to lie and steal? I expect her next step will be applying for her retirement. With 32 years she will receive close to 80-90% of her current salary. There should have been a more severe punishment than this handed down. Is she going to pay back the money that she stole? Is her child still receiving free lunches?

OH MY WORD, SO let’s all vote this esplost in so they can pay the thief that is on suspension with pay! Not!

THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT the monitoring company was supposed to alert police any time that Jordan Harris left his house. People on house arrest are normally allowed to visit their attorney, go to church and sometimes school and work. It seems that would make an awful lot of calls to the police who would not normally be interested unless the guy was doing something prohibited, such as leaving the county. I wonder what his conditions of house arrest were.

ROGER MARIETTA HELPED SET up a “Neighborhood Watch” in the Northwood subdivision. This neighborhood is not even in his ward. I get the feeling sometimes that he cares more about Bob Langstaff’s ward than his ward.

IT’S BEYOND EMBARAZZING. I’M as frustrated and concerned about some of the community’s comments about what a “good” person Gloria Baker is and how everyone is not outraged by this.

I COULDN’T BELIEVE JOSHUA Murphree’s statement that she deserved her pay..that she was innocent until proven guilty and “people were just getting upset about a form…it’s only a form!!” No…its legality…it’s morals and ethICs. All three things a school employee, much less a principal, should adhere to and now Murfree looks like an idiot too.

MURPHREE WAS THE BIGGEST mistake the school board made in a long time. And they made many!

THE MAJORITY OF THE board and Dr. Murfree are an absolute embarrassment. Yes I am black and yes I am thoroughly embarrassed. We need to learn how to handle business. All of this “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mess is making us look incompetent and ignorant. I see why Dr. Murfree rarely speaks, EVERY time I’m like, “did he really just say that? on camera? really?” Furthermore, you have to be asked to hold a special called meeting after something like this…really? If it’s anything more than to update the board and the public, a meeting is definitely warranted in this case. Yes we are black and yes we are the majority, but we are NOT handling business appropriately. I can’t stand the negative racist comments often times that take over these boards but we most certainly give those type of people a mouthful to talk about. We have got to do better people.