urban pro weekly

JULY 24 - 31, 2014

The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLYNEWSPAPERVOL.3 NO.44

NEWS • COMMENTARY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT Urban WPro eekly

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

The plan: Harold Jones’ voting vision validated

District 6 candidate Ben Hasan campaigns in the afternoon heat on Election Day at the entrance to Pepperidge subdivision in south Augusta. The Pepperidge voters were key to Hasan’s triumph over opponent Bob Finnegan. Hasan took 52 percent of the vote in the runoff election. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Game Changer

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Since it is against the law for any person in a residental zone to accumulate any amount of scrap tires on or around their property, this is a FREE way to recycle and dispose of these scrap tires! We believe it is our responsibility to make Augusta a cleaner, greener and smarter community – a better place to live!

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3UrbanProW

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Hasan win is agame changer

District 6 candidate Ben Hasan (L) campaigns along with a supporter on Election Day at the entrance to Pepperidge subdivision in south Augusta. The Pepperidge voters were key to Hasan’s triumph over

opponent Bob Finnegan. Hasan took 52 percent of the vote in the runoff election. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

By Frederick Benjamin Sr.UrbanProWeekly Political Analyst

AUGUSTAIn a few short years Ben Hasan has

gone from civic activist, to radio and tv commentator, to newspaper pub-lisher. On Tuesday he took his game to the next level as he outpoint-ed G.O.P. operative Bob Finnegan to snare the nonpartisan District 6 Commission seat on the Augusta Richmond County governing body.

This year’s District 6 race was argu-ably the most significant victory by an African American politician since the newly consolidated government was formed nearly two decades ago. African Americans had gained polit-ical control of the city of Augusta (preconsolidation) in the late 1990s, but not control of the entire coun-ty. Hasan’s victory gives African Americans in Richmond County con-trol of the entire county for the first time in the county’s history.

While the mayor is the symbolic

head of the local government, real power resides with the commission-ers. African American politicians will control 6 of the 10 commission seats when the new commission takes office in January 2015.

Hasan’s victory was particularly significant because it will be the first time that an African American politician will represent District 6, formerly a “safe white” district under previous redistricting formulas.

Hasan will join Sammy Sias (District 4-commissioner elect), Dennis Williams (District 2 commis-sioner elect), and mayor-elect Hardie Davis when the new administration takes power.

Ben is the brother of A.K. Hasan who served on the preconsolidation Augusta city council and was presi-dent of the Richmond County Board of Education in the 1990s. A.K., how-ever, did not take an active part in Ben’s campaign.

“I pretty much directed the cam-paign on my own,” Hasan told

UrbanProWeekly less than 24 hours after the polling closed. “AK just told me to stay the course. He felt that many people would support me as if I was already an established politician.”

Hasan discovered that the essen-tial ingredient for political success was hard work. Managing a runoff election was no easy task.

“The first time (pre-runoff) was like shooting in the dark, but in the runoff we had specific targets,” Hasan said. “I was able to personal-ize the message for the Pepperidge residents. We sent 800 letters to let the people know that I lived in their neighborhood and I’ve been there since 1986.”

On election day, Hasan worked the subdivision nonstop.

“I got up at 5 a.m. and by 6 a.m. I was at the front gate of the subdivi-sion gathering signs. I stayed there all day. People that saw me there when they were on their way to work saw that I was still there when they were headed back home,” Hasan

said.The hand-to-hand politicking paid

off. Hasan trailed by over 150 votes before the final tally of the Precinct 607 (Pepperidge subdivision) votes. When those votes came in, Hasan swept past Finnegan for a comfort-able 52 percent margin of victory.

Hasan’s foray into politics held few surprises, but he was humbled by the positive reception he received from the very beginning of the pro-cess.

“A lot of people had a lot of con-fidence in me. I didn’t have any problem getting lots of support and resources. People seemed to think that, okay, he’s paid his dues. Expectations are high. I feel the weight of that responsibility,” he said.

Now it is on to the work that he had promised. “My plan is to build a relationship with all of the com-missioners. We have to be honest

Continued on Page 7

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Quiet catalyst

By Frederick Benjamin Sr.UrbanProWeekly Political Analyst

AUGUSTAHarold Jones handily defeated

mayor pro tem Corey Johnson with 61 percent of the vote in this week’s runoff election for the state Senate District 22.

On Wednesday, Jones spoke with UrbanProWeekly about the contest the second time around.

“We wanted to make sure that our voters came back out. The history of runoffs show that there would be a [net] vote loss,” Jones said. “The chal-lenge becomes, ‘how do you get your voters back out.”

That they did. Jones’ campaign team targeted areas where they had success in the May 20 General Primary. In addition they increased their social media presence, knocked on more doors and continued to raise money. The Jones camp received important endorsements from Sheriff Roundtree, Solicitor General Kellie McIntyre and Tax Commissioner Steven Kendrick who appeared in

advertisements with the candidate.The size of the victory, however,

did not surprise Jones.“The feedback we were getting back

from the voters was really strong,” Jones said. “Remember, the first time around we were only 300 voters away from finishing first. People would say, ‘I’m praying for you.’ People stopped me on the street and would say, ‘you need to win’. I’ve done a lot of elec-tions and I never experienced that before. That’s huge.”

The Plan for “Historic 2012”Jones’ election validated the former

solicitor general’s vision for new lead-ership and African-American political dominance in Richmond County that began a couple of years ago.

Few people realize that the polit-ical fortunes of Sheriff Richard Roundtree, Solicitor General Kellie McIntyre, and Probate Court Judge Harry James were not isolated ran-dom acts of electoral roulette. There was planning, and research and orga-nization behind those victories which yielded the first African American

Sheriff, the first African American Probate Court Judge and the first female African American Solicitor General.

On December 9, 2011, Jones sent a prophetic email to several peo-ple involved in local politics, most of whom had never before run for office. Among those who received the email were Richard Roundtree (at that time he was working at the Richmond County school system), Kellie McIntyre (at the time was work-ing in the Solicitors Office), and attor-neys Charles Lyons and Randolph Frails.

The subject line of the email read: “Historic 2012”

Jones explains that the email included an invitation for a meeting at the Partridge Inn in Augusta where the subject would be politics in 2012.

“A lot of folks were talking about running. We all met at the Partridge in and discussed an opportunity that existed for real change,” he said. “I had already won in 2004. So it proved that African Americans could win county-wide races. Richmond

County was getting more and more Democratic and there were bound to be large turnouts in the 2012 General Election (Obama was on the ballot). I told them, look, ‘this is what the numbers show’.”

“Richard Roundtree, Kellie McIntyre, Harry James and Evita Paschal were there. We just discussed which seats were going to be open. We didn’t decide who was going to run for which office,” Jones said.

Later in 2012, Richard Roundtree won his election, Kellie McIntyre won her election and Harry James won his election. Evita Paschal won the Richmond County portion of her contest for District Attorney (but was out polled in Columbia County) and Hattie Sullivan competed for Clerk of Superior Court, but lost to Elaine Johnson.

A portion of the text of that email appears below:

“Good evening. I hope everyone is doing well. Based upon conversa-

WORSHIP Directory

Harold Jones talks reporters after his Georgia state senate victory over opponent Corey Johnson. Jones took 61 percent of the vote.Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Harold Jones’ politicalvision foresaw victories

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WORSHIP Directory

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Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

Good Shepherd Baptist ChurchRev. Clarence Moore, Pastor1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – FaxE-mail address: [email protected] address: goodshepherdaugusta.orgChurch Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – WednesdayBible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

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Sunday School 8:30 amMorning Worship Services: 9:45 amEvening Worship Services 6 pm (4th Sunday)Bible Study: 6pm (Mondays)Midday Bible Study: 12pm (Tuesdays)Prayer Services: 6pm (Wednesdays)Celebrate Recovery: 6pm (Fridays) and 12pm (Mondays)

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7UrbanProW

eekly • JULY 24 - 31, 2014Harold Jones from page 4 Ben Hasan from page 3tions I have had with each of you I think it is good idea to meet together as a team and discuss our plans for 2012. . .

I would like to meet on January 7th at 830 am to 3pm to discuss the upcoming 2012 elections. The change that will occur by this time next year is truly amazing and each one of us will be responsible for it. This is going to take a tremendous amount of work but there is no doubt that next year this time we shall have the first African American sheriff, the first African American clerk of Court, the first African American magistrate Court Judge, the first African American female solicitor and the second African American State Court Judge, and the first African American Probate Court Judge.

I want to reserve a room at the Partridge Inn for the time listed above. I will present a power point presenta-tion. Topics to be covered will include but not limited to: (1) can you win, (2) how you will win, (3) how much money it will take, (4) how many people it will take, (5) how to run as a team without giving away the team effort, (6) signs, (7) billboards, and every other issue that might come up including how to raise money. This will be a working session an immedi-ate working session. I will email agen-da etc as the time nears. The hotel will provide lunch, breakfast will be on your own. But from 830 to 3 we will be working with breaks built in. Please bring every question you can think of and every comment you can think of. . .

. . . Everyone is invited to bring one other person that you trust and you want to be part of this campaign

team. They do not need to bring any money. Please bring all of your sug-gestions and ideas as this is a team effort. Most of the day will be very busy oriented but think of a cam-paign song for the group.

I can only say nothing like this has every happened in Augusta Richmond County heck I dare say in the state of Georgia maybe even the nation and I truly mean that. This election has the opportunity to change your lives, your children’s lives and their children’s lives.

I only ask that you tell your family members, friends, cats and dogs that for the next 10 months your life will be dedicated to changing the face of this community forever. This quest is bigger than any individual person. This is bigger than campaign slo-gans, personal advancement, money or anything like that. This is about changing the lives of the citizens of Augusta Richmond County whether African American, White, Asian or Hispanic. For the first time in the history of Augusta Richmond County the children of this county will be able to look at the justice system and see African Americans, they will see not just one or two but a multitude of African Americans leading the com-munity. I cant think of a better men-toring program there could be. All the mentoring programs sponsored by the Kappa’s, Omegas, Deltas, AKA’s etc will not match the impact on our kids of seeing the first African American sheriff or the first African American clerk of court. The time is now.

So please put everything aside for these few hours and lets get to work. Thanks so much. HVJ

about the challenges. I think I have a really good relationship already with the area’s office holders. They know that I genuinely care about this com-munity. I feel that they see me as an honest broker. I’m happy that Sammy Sias and Dennis Williams have both supported my candidacy.”

Hasan’s victory is significant because, although District 6 has a slim African-American majority com-pared to the other majority-black

districts (Districts 1, 2, 4, 5) which are overpacked with black voters. In such cases, the white electorate tends to turnout in greater numbers than African Americans.

“I knew that Finnegan would get more support after he got into a runoff,” Hasan said. “Once people realized that the race would change the racial dynamics in local politics, I figured he would get support that he didn’t get before.”

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Shadae Perry, 14, poses for a photo dressed as the character “Monokuma” from the anime “Dangan Ronpa” during a cosplay party held at Humanitree House. Cosplay is a worldwide activity in which fans of anime, manga, video games and comic books dress as their favorite charac-ters and interact with other cosplayers. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Cosplay: A matter of characterChristian Ryan, 14, amazes her fellow cosplay-ers with her voice as she sings during a challenge at a cosplay party held at Humanitree House. Ryan is dressed as the character “Misa” from the Japanese manga/anime series “Death Note”. Cosplay is a worldwide activity in which fans of anime, manga, video games and comic books dress as their favorite charac-ters and interact with other cos-players.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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eekly • JULY 24 - 31, 2014

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AUGUSTAWKSP 96.3 Kiss FM Radio will host the

Fifth Annual Kiss Family Reunion Neo Soul and R&B on Saturday, September 13th; 4p-8pm at the Evans Town Center Park in Evans Ga.

The 2014Kiss Family Reunion will offer an array of vendors, adult rec-reation and fun, a health and well-ness pavilion and popular R&B and neo-soul artists in concert along with a feel good “party” atmosphere. The line up includes both national and local entertainment. National record-ing artist David Hollister, Avery Sunshine, Anthony David, Jagged Edge, Leela James, CeCe Peniston, Eric Maywheather , Eric Roberson, Urban Mystic, Calvin Richardson and Algebra Blessett.

In partnership with the Family Y of Augusta, 96.3 Kiss FM will salute the dedicated service of three community advocates from the CSRA with the first Kiss the Community Advocate Awards. The winners represent the three areas that are paramount to a strong and thriving community: the Legal and Judicial arm which insures justice for all; the Arts and Entertainment arm which stimulates economic growth and quality life for the community; and Children and Family arm which assist in the growth, development and sus-tainability of the family unit in our community.

2014 Family Y Kiss the Community Advocate Awardees:

•Justice for All Advocate: Judge David Watkins; excellence in law, government and fair practices as demonstrated by his work on behalf of the Judicial Center, the court system and on behalf

Kiss Family Reunion 2014Presented by Crown Communities & American Family Insurance

of fair practices within the community.•Arts and Entertainment Advocate:

Judith Simon Butler; excellence and advocacy in the arts as demonstrated by her work with the Augusta Mini Theater.

•Children and Family Advocate-: Cedric Johnson as demonstrated by his excellence in leadership and commit-ment as demonstrated by his work with the Augusta Partnership for Children

Tickets are at both locations of Pyramid Music & Video (Gordon Hwy and Broad Street). Group tickets are available online, ten (10) or more for $10 each, early bird tickets are on sale for $10 until August 1st and will be $20 after that and day of show tickets will be $30. For more info or tickets visit 963kissfm.com or etix.com. For vendor details call 706-396-6000 Ext 113.

Raisin’ AJ Productions will be pre-miering our next stage play produc-tion on Saturday November 15th, 2014 at the historic Imperial Theatre. We arecurrently accepting submissions for auditions.

We are currently seeking actors ranging from ages to 13-60 to audi-tion for roles to include, extras, understudies, stage hands as well as thoseinterested in being a part of the behind the scenes production team.

Experience isn’t needed but it is a plus. Those interested should send your request to the Casting Director at [email protected].

Raisin’ AJ Productions

Stage play auditions

Runs Missionary Baptist Church, 717 Williston Rd., Beech Island, SC, invites you to celebrate with us our Summer Revival on July 28-31, 2014, 7pm nightly. Pastor Daniel Latimer will be our Guest Minister. He is the Pastor or St. Mark Baptist Church of Allendale, SC and The Kings Church of Augusta, GA.

Runs MissionaryBaptist Church

Avery Sunshine will be joining a list of national and local performers.

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“First Time Home Buyers Welcome”

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3450 Peach Orchard RdAugusta, GA 30906

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MEETING NOTIFICATION

Augusta Aviation Commission

Human Resources Sub Committees Meeting

The Augusta Regional Airport

Aviation Commission Human Resources Sub Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in the Executive Conference Room located in Administration on the 2nd floor of the Airport.

Augusta Aviation Commission Masters 2014 Sub Committee

Meeting The Augusta Regional Airport

Aviation Commission Masters 2014 Sub Committee Meeting is sched-uled for Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the FBO Conference Room located at the Private Aviation Services (FBO) at the Airport.

Please feel free to contact

Airport Administration at 706-798-3236.

FRONT ‘N’ CENTER ROAR ON THE RIVER

A drag boat racer speeds down the Savannah River during the Augusta Southern Nationals on Sunday. The event is touted as “the world’s richest dragboat race” and drew scores of fans to the Riverfront Marina over three days of racing. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

PublisherBen Hasan

706-394-9411

Managing EditorFrederick Benjamin Sr.

706-836-2018

UrbanProWeekly LLC

Mailing Address:3529 Monte Carlo DriveAugusta, Georgia 30906

Urban WeeklyPro Sales & MarketingPhone: 706-394-9411

Photography and Social Media Courtesy of

Vincent Hobbs

email:Ben Hasan

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Pick up the latest edition of UrbanProWeekly at a

location near your home or workplace.

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CAUGHT IN THE ACT Augustans at work and play

IRAQ HAWKS from page 12

Notice to Lower Income Families

Augusta Housing Authority This notice is to advise that effective Monday, November 25, 2013 that the Augusta Housing Authority will open the waiting lists for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments). The waiting lists for the Public Housing Program and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are currently closed. The Augusta Housing Authority will also accept updated information from persons who have previously applied for the Section 8, Moderate Rehabilitation and Public Housing Programs. Applications for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will be accepted by completing an on-line application at www.augustapha.org. Walk-in customers wanting to apply for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will not be seen during the open application period.

This notice is also to advise that the waiting list for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will remain open indefinitely. The Augusta Housing Authority does not discriminate in admission or access to its federally assisted programs. Any potentially eligible individual who has a visual or hearing impairment will be provided with information necessary to understand and participate in the Augusta Housing Authority's programs. Richard Arfman has been designated as the responsible employee to coordinate the Augusta Housing Authority's efforts to comply with the nondiscrimination based on handicap regulations.

Equal Housing Opportunity The Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, Georgia

By: Jacob Oglesby, Executive Director Mission Statement: To promote adequate and affordable housing, economic

opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination.

Notice to Lower Income Families

This notice is to announce that Walton Oaks Family 2, L.P. has been selected to receive 20 Project Based Vouchers from the Housing Choice Voucher Program to assist low income families. The development location is 601 Fairhope Street, Augusta, Georgia.

This notice is also to advise that effective Tuesday, July 29, 2014the Augusta Housing Authority will open the waiting list for the Project Based Voucher Program for Walton Oaks Family Phase II. The waiting list for the Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) is currently opened and will close on Monday, July 28, 2014. The waiting lists for the Public Housing Program and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are currently closed. The Augusta Housing Authority will accept updated information from persons who have previously applied for the Section 8, Moderate Rehabilitation, Project Based and Public Housing Programs.

Walton Communities provides a quality living environment in a “Breathe Easy, Smoke Free Community” for low income families. Special rental assistance will be provided with respect to 20 (14 1-bedroom units and 6 2-bedroom units) of the 106 apartment homes through the project based vouchers provided by the Augusta Housing Authority. Applications for the Section 8 Project Based Voucher Program for Walton Oaks Family Phase II will be accepted by completing an on-line application at www.augustapha.org. The Walton Oaks Phase II will access a $14 application fee to process your application. Eligible applicants will be placed on the site-based waiting list and will be ranked by date and time.

This notice is also to advise that effective September 12, 2014 at 5:00p.m., the Augusta Housing Authority will close the waiting lists for the Project Based Voucher Program for Walton Oaks Family Phase II.

The Augusta Housing Authority does not discriminate in admission or access to its federally assisted programs. Any potentially eligible individual who has a visual or hearing impairment will be provided with information necessary to understand and participate in the Augusta Housing Authority’s programs. Richard Arfman has been designated as the responsible employee to coordinate the Augusta Housing Authority’s efforts to comply with the nondiscrimination based on handicap regulations.

Augusta Housing Authority

WE TAKE:•Georgia medicaid•Insurance plans•Charge cards•WIC vouchers

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY

Marshall Curtis,Pharmacist/Owner

Baron Curtis, Pharmacist

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

706-722-7355

MOVIES ON THE COMMONAugusta Common – 836 Reynolds St. (Across from the James Brown Statue)7:30 p.m – Pre Movie ActivitiesMovie starts at dusk( 8:45p.m)Come early and get your seat and have fun before the movie at duskFree Admission

JULY 25 – DESPICABLE MEAUGUST 22 – WILLIE WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORYSponsored by Augusta Recreation, Parks & Facilities, Amerigroup, News 12, an, Kiss 96.3fm and G105.7

FIRST FRIDAY CONCERT & CAR SHOWAugusta CommonAugust 1, September 5, October 36:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.Free AdmissionFirst Friday Concerts and Car Show is back at the Augusta Common from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Live Entertainment, Car Show by the CSRA Road Angels , and Vendors. For more information, please contact City of Augusta Special Events Office 706-8217-1754. Sponsored by Augusta Recreation, Parks & Facilities, City of Augusta Special Events , & CSRA Road Angels.

SUNSET ON THE SAVANNAHJessye Norman Amphitheater on Riverwalk7:00 p.m.August 9thConcert performed by the U. Army Signal Corps BandFree AdmissionSponsored by Augusta Recreation, Parks & Facilities, City of Augusta Special Events, & Garden City Jazz For more information, please contact City of Augusta Special Events Office 706-8217-1754.

Events at Augusta Common/Riverwalk

13UrbanProW

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Leroy Stokes IIIPresident/C.E.O. C.S.F.P.

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Cynthia HarrisCPA & Tax Specialist

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TAX SERVICES AVAILABLE

website: gradientfg.com

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COLLABORTIVE, LLC

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION

Request for Proposals

The Community Development Collaborative, LLC, a community housing development organization, is seeking a licensed General Contractor to assist in building an affordable energy efficient single family home for a low to moderate-income family. The home will be approximately 2000 sq. ft, (3) bedrooms, two (2) baths, brick and built to ENERGY STAR Standards.

Prospective contractors must: be licensed in the State of Georgia, registered with the Augusta Housing Department, have workman’s compensation and general liability insurance. All Sub-Contractors must have Workman’s Compensation Insurance.

The Community Development Collaborative, LLC. is an equal employment opportunity agency and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, or physical challenges in its hiring practices and access to programs and initiatives.

All bid proposals and responses must include the following minimum requirements:

1. Name, address, and telephone number of the company.

2. Name of the principal owner and/or officers and the primary contact person.

3. Price, cost proposal and proposed scope of services

4. Copy of business license and insurance policies.

Copies of the Plans may be purchased (non refundable) from Augusta Blueprint located at 512 Reynolds Street, Augusta, GA, 30901, 706-722-6488.

All bid proposals must be received by August 7, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. and submitted directly to AHCD at its office located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd., 2nd Floor, Augusta, GA 30901. All proposals submitted after this date will be returned to the sender and not considered. A mandatory pre- conference meeting for all prospective respondents will be held on July 31, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the AHCD 2nd floor conference room located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd. Bid openings will be held on August 11, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the AHCD conference room located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd., 2nd Floor, Augusta, GA 30901. Please call Angela Davis at 706-823-0905.

Excavation Competent Person Course

If you dig, or if your project has a four-foot or deeper foundation, base-ment or excavation work, your employ-ees and subcontractors are subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s excavation regulations that require a “competent person” on your job site at all times while an excava-tion is open with persons present.

Master Safety Solutions will be con-ducting a class on Monday July 28, 2014 from 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. The class will cover the following:IntroductionGeneral OSHA RequirementsSoil MechanicsSoil ClassificationProtective Systems - Sloping and BenchingProtective Systems - Trench Boxes and ShoringStudent ExercisesHazardous AtmospheresReview, Testing

Call (706) 945-2173 for additional information regarding this training and certification course.

By Jeff Horowitz

WASHINGTON(AP) The Consumer Financial Protection

Bureau sued a major debt collection law firm on Monday (July 14), alleging it is a «mill» that produces shoddy, mass-produced credit-card collection lawsuits.

The bureau’s claim, filed in federal court in Atlanta, states that Frederick J. Hanna & Associates — a firm with offices in Marietta, Ga.; Plantation, Fla., and Earth City, Mo. — has filed hundreds of thousands of lawsuits on behalf of banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Capital One and Discover without doing even basic checks to determine whether the people they sued actually owed debts.

“The Hanna firm relies on deception and faulty evidence to drag consumers to court and collect millions,” the bureau’s director, Richard Cordray, said in a state-ment. “We believe they are taking advan-tage of consumers’ lack of legal expertise to intimidate them into paying debts they may not even owe.”

Though Hanna & Associates’ lawsuits have all the trappings of formal litigation, the bureau alleges, the firm is really a bulk debt-collection agency masquerad-ing as a law firm. Hanna & Associates attorneys were told not to spend more than one minute reviewing most cases before they were filed, the bureau claims, and in Georgia, one Hanna & Associates attorney signed off on 138,000 lawsuits over two years, a pace that the bureau declared incompatible with legitimate legal work.

The bureau’s suit seeks to force Hanna & Associates and its owners to change its collection practices, pay restitution to con-sumers and disgorge “ill-gotten revenues.”

The bureau’s suit may signal additional actions against credit card collections law firms, which file millions of lawsuits a year. Consumer advocates and plaintiff’s attorneys have long alleged that the debt collection industry is rife with misconduct.

“The current business model is of filing shoddy paperwork and relying on courts to rubber-stamp it,” said Peter Holland, a professor at the University of Maryland’s

U.S. consumer bureau sues Frederick J. Hanna & Associates

law school who runs its consumer debt clinic. “The CFPB looked at just one law firm in just one state.”

The suit against Hanna & Associates may also have rami-fications for the banks the law firm serves. Mass litigation has long been a cornerstone of major banks’ collection strategies, with the banks using a handful of law firms like Hanna & Associates to file suit over billions of dol-lars of alleged debts since the recession. But how banks handle and collect on alleged debts has become increasingly controver-sial.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A new American apartheid?BY KRISTIE ROBIN JOHNSON

I often pride myself on being clear-cut and decidedly for or against most hot button issues. I am torn about very few things.

But when it comes to evaluating our education system, I am truly torn.

The parent in me bleeds for the excellent education of all children and would do just about anything to ensure that my own two boys get the best education that is humanly possi-ble. It sympathizes with proponents of school choice and readily recognizes that all schools are not created equal. The other part of me that was raised by an educator understands the legit-imate dilemma faced by the American schoolteacher: how are we supposed to give the best possible education to students while staring down the

barrel of severe budget cuts, working under the unfair pressure of high-stakes standardized tests, and, half of the time, getting very little parental support from the parents of students who need it the most? It’s an uphill battle for all involved.

Recently, there has been much attention given to the “re-segrega-tion” of U.S. classrooms. Now, more than any other time in the last thirty years, students in the U.S. are more likely to attend schools where the clear majority of their peers look like them and share the same socioeco-nomic experience as them. Diversity is quickly becoming a thing of the past in our schools. So after years of fighting for racial equality on all fronts, why does it seem that our

schools are trending backwards towards the “separate and unequal” status that so many of our forbearers worked so hard to eliminate?

Perhaps, at least as far as educa-tion is concerned, the problem is not so much racial inequality as it is economic inequality. The trends that we see today are often attributed to “white flight”. In actuality, it should be called “green flight”, because that is what happens when schools start to fail. Citizens, of all races, who can afford to move to an area that has a school district that is perceived to be better than the one in which they live, do just that. They move. They take their children and their tax dol-lars right along with them.

As a parent, I can’t say that I blame

them. But the folks that get left behind, especially the children, end up with the short end of the stick.

In the United States, we are prom-ised an equal public education, not an excellent education. An excellent education is, sadly, reserved for the privileged few who can pay for it, or for the tenacious handful who are willing to fight for it. Which one are you? This will give you some-thing to think about as we prepare to send our children back to school in the days ahead. Is it possible for us to come together and demand that every school meet the highest standards of quality or do we remain silent and accept this new American apartheid as a fact of life in the 21st century? You be the judge.

AUGUSTA PUBLIC MEE TING NOTICEProposed Amendments to

Augusta’s Road Naming and Address ing Ordinance

In order to provide a system of unique road names and addresses which are essential to successfully improve, expedite, and enhancelocating properties for Public Safety and delivery purposes.

For more information:www.augustaga.gov/gis

[email protected]

Tuesday

July 22 5:00 - 7:00 PM

East Central Georgia Regional Library 823 Telfair St. (Room B – 1st Floor) Augusta, GA 30901

Monday

July 28

MeetingStart Time1:00 PM

Municipal Building - Commission Chambers Administrative Services Committee 530 Greene St. (2nd Floor) Augusta, GA 30901

by Lauren McCauley

“A source within the intelligence commu-nity” has leaked the government’s secret guidebook to how it adds names to and man-ages its controversial terrorist “watchlist” and was published in full by The Intercept on Wednesday (July 23).

Reported by Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Devereaux, the 166-page document (pdf) issued by the National Counterterrorism Center—and titled “March 2013 Watchlisting Guidance”—details the most up-to-date gov-ernment rules for placing individuals on their main terrorism database, as well as the no-fly list and selectee list. It was developed by representatives from the nation’s top mil-itary and intelligence bodies including the Pentagon, CIA, NSA, and FBI.

According to the report, in 2013 the Obama administration “quietly approved a substantial expansion” of the watchlist system, “authorizing a secret process that requires neither ‘concrete facts’ nor ‘irre-futable evidence’ to designate an American or foreigner as a terrorist.” It was devel-oped behind closed doors by representatives of the nation’s intelligence, military, and law-enforcement establishment, including the Pentagon, CIA, NSA, and FBI.

Scahill and Devereaux report that the guidelines permit “the elastic concept of ‘reasonable suspicion’ as a standard for determining whether someone is a possible threat.”

They continue:The document’s definition of “terrorist”

activity includes actions that fall far short of bombing or hijacking. In addition to expected crimes, such as assassination or hostage-taking, the guidelines also define destruction of government property and damaging computers used by financial insti-tutions as activities meriting placement on a list. They also define as terrorism any act that is “dangerous” to property and intend-ed to influence government policy through intimidation.

This combination—a broad definition of what constitutes terrorism and a low thresh-old for designating someone a terrorist—

opens the way to ensnaring innocent people in secret government drag-nets.

Moreover, the government tracks both “known terrorists” and “suspect-ed terrorists,” allowing individuals to be placed on the list even if they are suspected of associating with poten-tial terrorists.

“Instead of a watchlist limited to actual, known terrorists, the govern-ment has built a vast system based on the unproven and flawed premise that it can predict if a person will com-mit a terrorist act in the future,” says Hina Shamsi, the head of the ACLU’s National Security Project. “On that dangerous theory, the government

is secretly blacklisting people as sus-pected terrorists and giving them the impossible task of proving themselves innocent of a threat they haven’t car-ried out.”

The report further reveals the Catch-22 of being placed on the list based on the vague premise of “rea-sonable suspicion.”

“The difficulty of getting off the list is highlighted by a passage in the guidelines stating that an individual can be kept on the watchlist, or even placed onto the watchlist, despite being acquitted of a terrorism-related crime,” Scahill and Devereaux report. “The rulebook justifies this by noting that conviction in U.S. courts requires

evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas watchlisting requires only a reasonable suspicion. Once suspicion is raised, even a jury’s verdict cannot erase it.”

One of the more notable details revealed in the report is the ability to elevate an entire category of people from the watchlist to the no-fly or selectee list, also known as a “threat-based expedited upgrade,” when there is a “particular threat stream” that indicates that a certain category of individual “may commit a terror-ist act.” According to the report, the Guidelines do not reveal what cate-gories of people have thus far been elevated in this manner.

Source leaks secret guidelines for U.S. government “Watchlist”

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StressPhysical Inactivity

Family History of Cardiovascular diseaseObesityDiabetes

High Blood PressureHigh Cholesterol

Cigarette Smoking

ARE YOU AT RISK?

HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACKEast Central Health DistrictHypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County 706.721.5800

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At Tax Wize Financial, as a part of our initial free consultation, we will conduct an in depth analysis of your account with the IRS or State agency to determine the extent of your tax problems. After we have determined what courses of action should be taken to resolve your problems we will outline the services for you and provide you with an estimated cost for those services.

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