Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, March 16, 1995, Image 2

Augusta focus., March 16, 1995, Page 2, Image 2

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Newspaper Page Text2 March 16, 1995 Black reaction to merger proposal mixed Showdown By Rhonda Y. Maree AUGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer AUGUSTA As the likelihood of a referen dum on the consolidation of Au gusta and Richmond County be comes a reality, many people in the African-American communi ty are pondering what the merg er would mean for Augusta. The Rev. Robert Oliver, among the most outspoken against nu merous past consolidation ef forts, explained why he has tra ditionally opposed consolidation efforts. “In the past, every consolida tion plan was about white power, white money and white struc ture.” According to Rev. Oliver, the election of Ed Mclntyre, Augus ta’s first black mayor, was the catalyst for many white politi cians to step up their efforts to get the county and city govern ments to merge. “They started trying to manip ulate the power away from blacks,” he said. “The white politicians think they’re slick and the entire black community is dumb. I'm glad they've finally come totheir sens es,” he said. The 45 percent plurality mea sure for the election of local gov ernment officials has softened Rev. Oliver’s views on consolida tion. The current legislation signed on the last day of the session by both local senators calls for a T R e O R G T he MAN; MYTH, LOVER; AVENGER: \M A’N”\MM].\H' L R’ A}w d G ’“R-\_ ¥ULWRR TR RTA R SRR W e T SR O Y k ﬂ S "e R T S R\“ P ’ & »:‘, PR s . CLIVE ‘BARKER'S ULFIMATE URBAN LEGEND;RETURNS: ‘ A 4 { by T R e R jARgC 009 B, SOOI _ O e 20008 00! \:Lii"{f‘»“ W »,:\: = A ,s&if‘ O G SRI ;}.»-{i}‘.ﬁ, % :{“I « ;«fq)—- -( s'\ B . ':TJ-.‘,,.L " m@};? A}A‘A‘Y”‘\*"\'\w ’:/}“‘-{:,.« i 'r....{:\, "1 \-‘J’,f") # ? A it B \'J\Y*“ A“Vkv “\,i ”{A;}“*P $ 3 i, {*{“,{}: Aks - e POl DT s B Pofelal Bt RS S G Bannued €93 ﬁ, PR T ‘% 2}B{%’;« ,‘: 3 Jbb_( & o :% : *’;i; q,* s : ;.4: ‘ . 1 _,.r.f'::-ééggi 5:: 1;.-}:1 {’ /:”‘ y ' .. 5 L «;j:—{ ‘ DOSE R ¢ § gata ,‘ ¢ G ee »\ %«»ﬁ :'s:__. o . §;:;..:,:f"‘ g Ty R : e | e {;" ,’w("» )’ 3 g 9’% 4 P‘w S 5 %)x,’ i B | B i ) ﬁ L 1 D NWFAREWELL VO THE FLESHSS 8 B Bt Fhedie : ’EYHRMMWHMWM[NI GLU LT IUIHFHESIH T v \\i{ﬂl\fﬂﬂw‘kﬂwHWHY PRI AR BHUEEEIN[AYSUN QLD LA BR TR < =R TR DR e P R g &LG»: ; i N v e S, T TBl LR 0 : e Bz I INe NN D;@;M?}? »NWR'EJT,U RNS QN MARCH 17TH T e. .. '.- W ’ y T 3 7 Z Y A T T K ‘M. . L : : o . eR R RRE» Chan 4WV e A GWA DY . oV WA B BN W W e O v »e 9 g e b e s G . ,g»/%ﬁ%‘ L . G y’ﬁ‘@%%%";’m% . AUGUSTA FOCUS ONMSOLIDATION SPECIAL Report plurality of votes to win elections as opposed to the traditional ma jority. This change will give blacks a better chance at win ning elections where there are a number of white candidates run ning. “As long as Howard and Walk er (Sen. Charles Walker, D-Au gusta) are happy, and the people in my community are happy, | will support it.” However, Paine College pro fessor Mallory K. Millender is still apprehensive about consoli dation. “Consolidation is historically racist in its content, intent and effect,” Mr. Millender said. He said the fact that two black legislators are the leading pro ponents in the latest consolida tion bill “means absolutely noth ing.” AccordingtoMr. Millender, the bill has been too compromised in comparison to Mr. Walker’s orig inal plan. “The only thing that would impress me is specifics such as a 21 percent set-aside for minority businesses,” Mr. Millender said. The most recent bill calls for a director ofequal employment and minority business opportunity, without specifying actual targets. Mr. Millender doubts that con solidation will create equal rep resentation for blacks. “Despite having equal repre sentation in local government now, we don’t have equal con trol, and I doubt we will with consolidation. “Nothing has been equal to this point, so why is it going to sud denly get equal. There’s nothing that leads me to believe it will,” he said. Butch Gallop, a local business man, agrees that consolidation was an “injustice in the past.” He is certain, however, that this bill is much improved and will bring about needed growth for Augusta. As a black businessman, Mr. Gallop is pleased to know that provisions to protect their inter ests are included. “With these provisions, along with elected officials who will do their jobs, the good ol’ boy way of doing business will be tossed out the door, and we can do business fairly.” Businessman Fred Calloway echoed Mr. Gallop’s thoughts on Public hearings set for 1-cent Sales Tax A meeting to give the public an opportunity be heard on the continuationofthe 1-Cent Sales Tax will be held in Dis tricts 2 and 4 this month. The 2nd District meeting, represented by Commission er Freddie Lee Handy, is scheduled for March 20,7 p.m., atthe Bernie Ward Communi B Next Week: A black community activist speaks out about uses and abuses of the 1-Cent Sales Tax. : the need for growth. “I think consolidation is the next step to let the city meet its full potential and let everybody grow with it and reap some of the benefits of a large city,” Mr. Calloway said. The Rev. Minnie Davis also sees the positive side of consoli dation. ' “I think Augusta is ready for a change,” she said. “Consolida tion will help us broaden our base and strengthen us as a com munity.” Joseph C. Goudy, a member of the Augusta-Richmond County Action Committee, said his orga nization supports consolidation. “I'm all for it because it makes a better government by cutting down on the number of officials in an area this size.” ty Center on Lumpkin Road. The 4th District meeting, represented by Commission er Moses Todd, is scheduled for March 23, 7 p.m., at Mor gan Road Middle School. Mr. Handy and Commis sioner Willie Mays said they are considering holding a joint meeting. *SLOW CREDIT*NO CREDIT *BANKRUPTCY *DIVORCE *REPOSSESSION WE LISTEN & CAN HELP! CALL JIM DAVIS ON OUR CREDIT HOTLINE TODAY? 731:-9000 GM, FORD, MITSUBISHI Program Cars Available & Over $2 Million Used Car Inventory ’ “ SATURN t Of Augusta 1 BLOCK WEST OF REGENCY -~ MALL, GORDON HIGHWAY From page one the necessary signatures for the Howard-Walker compromise package. Just a few days before, Mr. Cheeks had labeled the pro posed bill ‘racist.’ Yet, this week he announced that he would sign it, averting a showdown with Sen. Walker. Why did Mr. Cheeks change his mind? Political insiders close to the local delegation say that a weekend meeting with leaders inthe white community persuad ed Mr. Cheeks to tow the line. Three years ago, the matter didgodowntothe final day of the session. Then, however, Mr. Consolidation From page one nering signatures from the local delegation [that has happened in the past], was that there was nogroundswell of opposition from theblack community as in previ ous years. Black elected officials were in the vanguard of the cur rent consolidation movement. Many in the black community had become disillusioned with the “black majority” on the Au gusta city council and the lack luster performance of blacks on the county commission. Neither body was able to make any head way on attempts to enhance the position of black businesses at tempting to do business with the local governments. Though Walker went to battle against a consolidation measure passed withinthe House, That proposed legislation had no black support whatever. Mr. Walker did battle with then Sen. Frank Albert. Despite having served in the Senatefar longer than Mr. Walk er, Mr. Albert was soundly whipped and the proposed ordi nance was stopped. Mr. Walker was jubilant at the prospect of successfully having guided a consolidation measure through the General Assembly. “It rests in my hands,” Mr. Walkersaid on Wednesday prior to putting his signature on the Senate version of the House plan — his version. blacks concede a numerical ad vantage on the city council, pro visions in the new consolidated government give blacks an un precedented voice in the selec tion of all commissions, authori ties, panels and other bodies. If the referedum in May is suc cessful, the matter goes before the U.S. Justice Department for preclearance under the provi sions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and its amendments. Preclearance has been a stum bling block in the past. A previ ous consolidation measure was stopped cold on the grounds that it diluted black voting strength. Many blacks who lobbied for its defeat, then, are supporting the current measure.