Urban Pro Weekly

NEWS • COMMENTARY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

Newspaper

The CSRA’s

FREEWEEKLYUrban WeeklyPro

DECEMBER 13-19, 2012

VOL.2 NO.14

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WrightONE•

MakingAllThe

RightMoves

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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

New Media ConsultantDirector of Photography

Vincent Hobbs

email:Ben Hasan

[email protected]

Frederick Benjamin [email protected]

Vincent [email protected]

ALPHA MARKETING SOLUTIONS

Alpha Marketing Solutions is a maketing company based in of Augusta Ga. It is owned and operated by Brian Jordan who studied business and then started one of his own.

Mr. Jordan partnered up with a company called 5linx and does two simple things: help people to save money and help people to make money.

The company markets essential products and services that we all use each and every day.

As an individual Mr. Jordan said that he did not want to be a salesman nor did he want to continue to do the same thing over and over, so this business was perfect.

Mr. Jordan has a great passion to help others and often does success coaching and motivational speaking.

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Representatives from 104.3 WBBQ and KISS 96.3, along with patients, families and staff of the Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center, celebrate $226,978 in dona-tions made to the children’s hos-pital during the 2012 Cares for Kids Radiothon. The 12th annual

Radiothon hosted by WBBQ and KISS is one of the hospital’s largest fun-draisers, helping the not-for-profit GHS Children’s Medical Center to provide specialized care for children and families across the Southeast. The 2012 total was $65,000 more than was raised in 2011.

2012 Radiothon raises $227,000 for Children’s Medical Center Urban WeeklyPro

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eekly • DECEMBER 13 - 19, 2012

BUSINESS PROFILE

Wright One Paint & Body ShopWhen was Wright One Paint and

Body Shop created and who are the principals?

Wright One Paint & Body opened in March 2007. The father and daugh-er team of Adrian Wright and Harold Wright own and operate the business.

What are the major services that Wright One P&B offers the public?

We offer 24-hour towing, repair on all insurance collision claims; some light mechanical and full assistance in insur-ance claims processing. Our expertise in this business spans 30 years.

A lot of consumers feel helpless after they’ve had an accident. What are some of the things that Wright One does to help people through the process of dealing with insurance companies?

This is something that we do every day and we have a passion for it. We know the in’s and out’s – what an insur-ance company can and can’t do. We can usually obtain an accident report faster than the consumer. We can have an entire claim set up and have the consumer placed into a rental the first day of an accident in most cases. We do not offer rental vehicles, but we have companies that work hand-in-hand with us to make the rentals affordable. They offer quality service and nice cars. We make it personal, so that you are not treated as a number.

Can Wright One do the same qual-ity work that is offered at larger

shops or dealerships?

Even better. We can provide that per-sonal attention. There is a perceived notion that you can only take your car to shop A.B.C, but it just doesn’t work that way. You have the right to take your vehicle anywhere you wish. The insurance companies sometimes use suggestive persuasion to direct you to a preferred shop, but it is always your choice. With the direct repair shops you have no choice as to the direction of the repair.

If someone just wants to repaint their vehicle even though it had not been in a collision, can Wright One provide that service?

The answer is yes, yes, yes. We spe-cialize in all over paint jobs that restore vehicles back to their original factory finish.

In terms of price, why do you sometimes see a big difference among various shops?

It’s because of the quality of the mate-rials that are used at Wright One P&B Shop. You get what you pay for.

I see that Wright One advertises discounts that are available to dif-ferent groups – even students with good grades. How does one go about being considered for a discount?

At Wright One we are all about pro-moting our youth and community as a whole. So there is an incentive that we offer. If a young person is an A-B student

Service to the community includes:Support for Dads In Action;Financial support of Bayvale Elementary. (Last year, the business supplied the students with toys and clothing.)Support for Shiloh Community Center, Immaculate

Conception, and Paine College;Sponsors of a turkey give-away alongside Perry

Broadcasting during the holiday season in 2011;Hosting a yearly breast cancer benefit;

Supporting a back-to-school event along with the Buffalo Soldiers, The Elks, Georgia Power, and many others;

Hosting a yearly multiple sclerosis event and also participating in the MS Walk for Augusta with The Wright Walkers.

Involvement in community service includes provid-ing rides to the polls during the general election; reg-istering people to vote yearly and working behind the scenes on many political campaigns.

A Philosophy To Live By: We believe that even though we have not made all of the money, we still are blessed and we have to be a blessing to others.

We are not here on Earth to just help ourselves; we are here for a purpose which is to serve God and help people if we can. And we love volunteering. It keeps you grounded. Your life may not be the best and it has its ups and downs, but there is always somebody worse off and you have to keep that in mind. Being in business is a sacrifice but we wouldn’t trade it.

At Wright One Paint and Body Community Service Is Important

Urban WeeklyPro

Harold Wright looks over a fresh paint job at Wright ONE Body and Paint Shop. The business has been open since 2007. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Adrian Wright (L) and her father Harold (R) pose for a picture in front of the family business, Wright 1 Paint & Body Shop. Adrian serves as CFO and office manager for the business. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

looking to get his or her car spruced up a bit, we offer a discount to them. That makes it affordable and it also gives them something to tell other students about. We know all too well that education is extremely important and our standards need to be high. We normally ask how their grades are. We ask them to bring a report card and we speak with the parents. We also offer military discounts.

Wright One is the only collision repair shop that we know of that is owned and operated by African Americans and especially with a woman involved. How did you get involved and why do you think that there are so few minorities in this industry?

As a child, I can remember my dad working for one of the larger shops in town all of my life. It never dawned

on me that he had starting his own business in mind. The funny thing about it is we used to work across the street from one another. One day, I got this call and he said, “I am going to open up a shop. I just need a girl to work in the front. I don’t know who to hire.” So I said, “Why not me, daddy?” And he said, are you sure? I said, yes. I was making good money and he was making great money, but you have to step out there sometimes and believe in others.

We have seen so many times where things started out not looking good, but turned out well. It was the best decision I could have ever made. I come from a customer service back-ground, so when you mix that with 30 years of body shop experience, you have the recipe for success.

I think there are so few minorities

Continued on next page

1850 Gordon Highway, Augusta, GA • 706-733-7115

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BERT THOMAS HEAD START

CLERK TYPIST Duties include tasks necessary to maintain effective office routine. Handles all day-to-day office activities. Performs other duties for the good of the Agency as required. Must be able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds or more. Business College/ Technical School graduate in business related field required. Must have at least one-year typing with a minimum of 35 wpm and clerical experience. Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. QUALIFIED persons must send a written notice to the Personnel Office no later than December 28, 2012. Please include an outline of your qualifications for this position, which meet the requirements above. All applicants must have a current physical exam and health card; pre-employment drug screen; a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Detailed job descriptions are available in the Personnel Of-fice, 1261 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Fax 706 722-8565

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COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

OF RICHMOND COUNTY

The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, for the following:

1. Commodity Processing (Turkey) RFQ #13-624

Bid speci�ications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Of�ice at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Of�ice, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY

By: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Secretary

in this business is because we have not been exposed to the appropriate ownership and management models. We have to step outside of that box. There are simply not enough profes-sional paint and body shops owned by minorities. Often the shops that do exist may be the backyard variety oper-ated by a single person.

We have to know that we can come from behind the bay door and actually go to work clean and leave clean. Work smarter not harder. My dad started in the back area, but luckily he was able to move to the front and we think that everything in life is about the moves you make.

Most of the job applications that we receive, are for work in the back. We have to change that mind set. I hope I can inspire other young ladies to know that you can work in a male-dominated industry and change the face of it. And you can look cute while doing it, too.

If someone is interested in explor-ing management or “front office” opportunities in this industry, how do they go about it. Training exists for those who do the “outside” work, but if you want to be in administra-tion, how does one go about it?

A great place to start is in any office environment where you can get experi-ence in record keeping and which stress-es exceptional customer service. That is a necessity. You have to be able to handle phone calls and be able to sympathize with people. Accidents are not pleasant. You have to foresee what a customer may say and address every area of con-cern and be able to communicate the processes and stages of the repair. Any management experience is a plus.

Some of the positions in this indus-try include: office manager, estimator, insurance adjuster, field auditor, cus-tomer service rep, and claim handler.

WRIGHT ONE from page 3

AdrianWright,CFO

Photoby V. Hobbs

5UrbanProW


UrbanProWeekly: So many peo-ple who we feature happen to have come out of Glenn Hills H.S. Was it your personal family environment that put you on the road to success or was there something special hap-pening at Glenn Hills?

KELLIE McINTYRE: Although Glenn Hills is a very special school, I would have to say that it was my family envi-ronment. My parents really stressed education, setting and pursuing goals. It was understood in my home that, after graduating high school, there had to be a plan and the plan had to include furthering your education and experi-encing life outside of Augusta.

UPW: Did you always aspire to a career in law or did something hap-pen that prompted you to go to law school?

McINTYRE: I’ve always worked in the judicial system, but not always as an attorney. Practicing law is my second career. I hold a Masters in social work and I worked as a social worker for 13 years. It was when I decided to make a career move that I chose the law. I knew that a law degree offered many options – and it’s always good to have options.

UPW: What made you choose pub-lic service over the private sector?

McINTYRE: The private sector can be such a “dog-eat-dog” working envi-ronment. I am more interested in help-

ing others than competing with others.

UPW: What year did you first join the Augusta Office of the Solicitor General?

McINTYRE: I came in 2008.

UPW: Was politics always in your future or did you find yourself being a reluctant candidate?

McINTYRE: Politics was definitely an idea I had when I made the move from Atlanta to Augusta.

UPW: I’m sure that many of our readers are unaware of the recent history of the Solicitor General’s Office. The office remained vacant for several months after the former Solicitor Harold V. Jones II left the office to run for state senator in 2009. Governor Perdue appointed the current Solicitor, Charles Evans, in 2010. You had to run against your boss. How did that feel?

McINTYRE: It felt fine. In fact, before making my announcement, I made a point to extend a professional courtesy to Mr. Evans and let him know of my intent to run. I stressed to him and oth-ers that I didn’t see it as running against him, personally. I was running for the position and this was my plan before he was appointed.

UPW: At the Solicitor’s office, you deal with families and individuals at their most vulnerable moments. It

must be very stressful and yet you felt that a leadership role was some-thing that you had to pursue. What do you bring to the office that may have been lacking in the past?

McINTYRE: Care for the community as a whole. I truly care about what hap-pens in our community and to individu-als and families. The office tone tends to be that of the leader and it is my hope that my office reflects compassion and professionalism to those we serve.

UPW: What do you think the pub-lic would be most surprised by if they were more familiar with the types of cases that you deal with on a daily basis?

McINTYRE: Most people do not real-ize that there is a strong possibility that they will have contact with the Solicitor General’s office at some time. We han-dle all traffic offenses, so if you receive a ticket in Richmond County, it comes to the Solicitor’s office. Some may also be victims of crimes such as domestic violence, theft, or car accidents.

UPW: You obviously see the great need for civic involvement. Do you think people should become more involved in what goes on in their community?

McINTYRE: Definitely! The older generations of leaders laid the ground-work for us. It is now time for our generation to do our part and become more involved in what affects the com-

munity. We are the leaders of today and our children will be the leaders of tomorrow – it’s important that we build on the foundation laid for us many years ago.

UPW: In this past election we saw African Americans win some high positions for the very first time. Can you put these recent victories in con-text for our readers. Some attorneys bemoan the lack of opportunity for African Americans in Richmond County. Would you encourage aspir-ing attorneys to stay in the Augusta area?

McINTYRE: When I moved back to Augusta in 2008 and mentioned the possibility of running for office in 2012, I was told by other African-Americans in the profession that there was an unspo-ken rule in Augusta that you NEVER run against a sitting judge or anyone in the legal profession. I was shocked because after living in Atlanta for 21 years, I knew that you could run for anything and against anyone as long as you had the qualifications to do so. The mindset in Augusta has to change and I think that the recent victories will help to do that. I encourage aspiring attorneys to stay in the area. Opportunities with law firms and governmental organizations may not be as plentiful as in larger areas such as Atlanta, but sometimes you have to make your own opportunity. An attorney is never unemployed – you always have the opportunity to hang your own shingle, build your business, and make a name for yourself.

URBANPRofile Kellie McIntyre Solicitor General Elect

The mindset in Augusta has to change and I think that the recent victories will help to do that. I encourage aspiring attorneys to stay in the area. – Kellie McIntyre

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By Anthony R. Page/Blue Bistro Creative

After 5 months of intense com-petition, Sassett West becomes this year’s SPARK winner - - a youth performance competition that cul-minated on December 1st. Winning with 3 original poems, she received a $15,000 prize package that includes gift bags from various companies, professional services, gift certificates, creative development opportunities and recognition through media out-lets across the Southeast. She has also been invited to perform in Atlanta during the very successful “Notes of Inspiration” series hosted by notable singer Samantha Cardwell and will be featured in an independent film

based on her work from Wasting Imagination Films led by Gartharie Broadie, also in Atlanta.

Shortly after her victory, we had a sit-down with Sassett for coffee and conversation. After a few sips of high-octane Starbuck’s brew, her laid-back, lady-like luster lit up the room. Her mom looked on, with the beauti-fully peaceful satisfaction realized by her daughter’s recent accomplish-ment. Having taken an important step toward living “their” American dream, Mrs. West was proud, hum-bled and hopeful, that the dreams of her daughter would continue to be a reality. Augusta allow us to introduce Sassett West aka Abstract C.I.M. This is her beginning, watch her rise.

What are you key creative influences?

I am creatively influenced espe-cially by Floetry, and also John Legend, Jill Scott and Wale. Their style, rhythm and f low are in sync with the way I hope to soon entertain. I also get support from my best friend Chelsea B. and mommy Carolyn W.

They always push me through the rough times and I love them for that. My literary, spiritual, and entrepreneurial mentors are Nancy Sladky, Curtis Adams, Iantha Ussin and Anthony Page also deserve a lot of credit for helping me get thus far. I have great support!

Elegant, Intense, AbstractWhat inspires you? Hot music. Other poets. As well as

those who have loved and hurt me along the way. I am also inspired by breakups, epiphanies, depression as well as hope. I do want to mention physical and mental human interaction; the things I can’t have, choose not to believe in, and personalities not morally accepted by the world. Most importantly I will always be inspired and continuously blessed by God. And the list goes on…I am easily inspired and I am so blessed for that.

Talk to us about your approach when you begin to write.

I write from the male and female points of view. I love taking on the persona of people alike and completely different from me. Sassett’s personality leads her to have mostly male friends, therefore it is very easy for Abstract C.I.M to write from a male’s point of view. I love stepping outside of myself and tak-ing a chance, but there is always a piece of Sassett or Abstract in my pieces; some-where.

So is Abstract your alter ego, like Beyonce’s Sasha?

Something like that, but not quite.

Let’s switch gears a bit, I hear you have other talents?

I am also a Visual Artist and Dancer. I was accepted in one of Georgia’s fin-est Fine Art/ Magnet Schools (John S. Davidson) based upon my Visual Art skills. I’m particularly fond of sketching, but I have also found enjoyment for large chalk pastel, colored pencil and oil paint pieces. I have been drawing since I could correctly hold a pencil and aspired for the longest time to go to SCAD Atlanta. I was the one tomboy you would ever meet that would go straight from kick-ing dudes’ butts in sports after school to her tutu in ballet in the 3rd grade; and I loved it! From then, I have studied Ballet, Modern, and Liturgical dance from 6th to 12th grade at Davidson and with various other studios and professional dancers. My passion for it will also be kept in my heart forever.

How do want the world see you?I want the world to see me as one word:

me. I do not want to be transformed into anything I’m not. (That’s clothing, style, personality, etc.) I have seen it happen too many times and I am not willing to sacrifice myself for the world. I am not afraid to define myself as a contradiction. I’m confident, yet shy at times. Completely hilarious, but probably one of the most serious people you will ever meet. I’m a tomboy at heart, but a girly girl on the outside. I do what I do and believe what I believe. I am Abstract C.I.M (Complicated in Meaning). I can barely define myself as one clear person and I believe the world is better off not trying as well.

Looking down that yellow brick road. After Graduation: I plan to go to a college in the beautiful big city of Atlanta -- engag-ing in my studies by day, I will continue to inspire and entertain the world with my poetry by night.

Augusta, join us in celebrating one of the most significant young creative voices in the CSRA. Ms. Sassett West aka Abstract C.I.M.

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Elegant, Intense, Abstract

William “Bill”FENNOY

DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER ELECT

Thank You District 1 Voters and All Other Supporters

Happy Holidays!

Pre-Kwanzaa celebration in Augusta

(Above) Dancers get it going at the Pre-Kwanzaa Cultural Community Celebration held at the Warren Road Community Center on Dec. 1, 2012. (At right) Children getting into the spirit. Photos by Vincent Hobbs

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The Computer GuyComputers Done Right, Free Diagnostic Check

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By Earl Ofari Hutchison

The resignation of South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint from the Senate followed close on the heels of the desertion from the Tea Party of Freedom Works head Dick Armey took some by surprise. DeMint and Armey were the two biggest and most identifiable fish in the Tea Party-affiliated pond. DeMint could be relied on to broker his name ID and prodigious fundraising prowess to every Tea Party-backed Senatorial candidate -- and loser.

Armey was a tireless advocate at big, stagey Tea Party rallies and con-fabs for the Tea Party’s anti-big gov-ernment hard line message. Now both are out. If that wasn’t bad news enough for the Tea Party, GOP con-servative House leaders turned on it and ousted Representatives Tim Huelskamp of Kansas and Justin Amash of Michigan two of the loud-est Tea Party position advocates from the House Budget Committee. They were kicked to the curb almost cer-tainly because GOP House leaders know they have to make a deal with President Obama on the budget or risk being further dragged through the public and media mud as being the cause for shoving the nation over the fiscal cliff. The Tea Party’s brand of patented loose cannon obstruc-tionism is too threatening to a GOP still reeling from the election flop. The ouster of the Tea Party hardliners

On December 10, 2012, Paine College President Dr. George C. Bradley welcomed Congressman John Barrow to tour the College’s new Health Education Activities Learning (HEAL) Complex. Congressman Barrow is the first elected federal official to tour the new multi-million HEAL Complex that will open to the public in January 2013.

“The HEAL Complex is a great addition to the Paine College community and our entire region,” said Congressman Barrow. “Paine College’s growth called for this new facility and I have no doubt it’ll be put to good use by the students. Folks in the area, as well, will benefit from this new facility, and I look forward to its opening in the New Year.”

This contemporary sprawling 43,000 sq. ft. structure will become the new home for the Paine College Athletic Department and will house classrooms, laboratories, meet-ing and conference rooms, and a health and wellness facility.

“The HEAL Complex will offer opportu-nities for growth, increase retention rates, facilitate beneficial partnerships with the community, enhance the learning environ-ment for our students,” stated Dr. Bradley.

Dr. Bradley and Congressman Barrow also discussed the impact of the U.S. Department of Energy award of nearly $3 million made to the College that is designed to support academic programs and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathemat-ics. Paine College faculty utilized the award

to underwrite Project WET-SEED (Workforce Enhancement and Training: Supplying Education and Energy Development). Project WET-SEED has successfully created a pipeline focused on seamless access for middle school and high school students to move into STEM programs and careers through hands-on environmental science experiments. The research component concentrates on bioremediation research needed by the DOE to safely clean up the environmental legacy left behind by nuclear weapons development.

Congressman John Barrow tours new Paine College facility

(Left to right) Paine College President, Dr. George C. Bradley with Congressman, John Barrow, in front of the new Paine College Health Education Activities Learning (HEAL) Complex.

Got Skills?UrbanProWeekly is looking for

writers and photographers that know the community

contact: [email protected]

9UrbanProW


Urban WeeklyPro ForumTea Party now a huge GOP liability

By Earl Ofari Hutchison

The resignation of South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint from the Senate followed close on the heels of the desertion from the Tea Party of Freedom Works head Dick Armey took some by surprise. DeMint and Armey were the two biggest and most identifiable fish in the Tea Party-affiliated pond. DeMint could be relied on to broker his name ID and prodigious fundraising prowess to every Tea Party-backed Senatorial candidate -- and loser.

Armey was a tireless advocate at big, stagey Tea Party rallies and con-fabs for the Tea Party’s anti-big gov-ernment hard line message. Now both are out. If that wasn’t bad news enough for the Tea Party, GOP con-servative House leaders turned on it and ousted Representatives Tim Huelskamp of Kansas and Justin Amash of Michigan two of the loud-est Tea Party position advocates from the House Budget Committee. They were kicked to the curb almost cer-tainly because GOP House leaders know they have to make a deal with President Obama on the budget or risk being further dragged through the public and media mud as being the cause for shoving the nation over the fiscal cliff. The Tea Party’s brand of patented loose cannon obstruc-tionism is too threatening to a GOP still reeling from the election flop. The ouster of the Tea Party hardliners

and desertions by GOP bigwigs from the movement was hardly the first rumbling that the lights are dimming for the Tea Party.

A year earlier, polls showed that far more Americans had an unfavorable view of the Tea Party than when it roared on the scene a couple of years earlier. The disaffection cut across all lines and that included many con-servatives. The reason for the plunge in Tea Party backing in Red State districts support wasn’t hard to find. When Tea Party-affiliated candidates scored big victories and even upsets of GOP incumbents in some races in 2010 they had one mantra and that was to shrink government, and shrink it fast. Millions of Americans cheered their war call, and voted for the candidates that yelped it the loudest. But it’s one thing to scream about big government, bloated fed-eral spending, and whopping federal debts, and it’s quite another to actu-ally hold Congress, and by extension, the nation hostage in an uncompro-mising, shrill battle to chop down government.

The Tea Party, in effect, wildly overreached and many conserva-tives didn’t like it. Tea Party-backed congressional members stalled every

piece of legislation that might have put people back to work, demand-ed draconian slashes in Medicare and Social Security, gummed up the works on debt reduction talks between Obama and GOP House leaders, and wasted congressional time and energy passing bills and amendments to kill health care reform as well as education, health, social service and law enforcement programs locally and nationally. The result was that Congress was at a virtual stall for two years and public approval of Congress dropped to lows that made used car salespersons look like public champions.

The open backlash against the Tea Party wasn’t lost on GOP mainstream leaders, who even in the best of Tea Party days were anxious, if not down-right terrified, that their shock battal-ions might get to unruly, and go too far overboard, and alienate the mod-erate and conservative independents that they got back in the GOP fold in 2010. They desperately needed them to have any chance of beating Obama in 2012. Obviously, that didn’t hap-pen. Now with the 2014 midterm elections shaping up to be a titanic battle for the GOP to hold onto the House and not lose any more ground

in the Senate, open advocacy of Tea Party positions becomes even more of a risk. The GOP with the Tea Party drag on it would have absolutely no chance to make any headway on immigration reform. That would kill the slender chance it had to soften opposition from Hispanic voters to the GOP. It would also turn off thou-sands more conservative voters who want to see government get back on track and get results.

The Tea Party is far from dead. There are many Americans that still think the idea of smaller government, caps on spending, and debt reduction are noble and necessary goals worth fighting for. Millions of them voted for failed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney solely because they bought into his promise to shrink govern-ment. Though a majority of Americans now back Obamacare, a significant minority still don’t. And they will con-tinue to make noise. That and having the Tea Party label attached to the GOP is a huge liability that GOP lead-ers can no longer afford.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is a frequent political commentator on MSNBC and a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network. He is the author of How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK-Radio and the Pacifica Network.

The Tea Party’s brand of patented loose can-non obstructionism is too threatening to a GOP still reeling from the election flop.

By Patrik Jonsson CSM Staff writer

With half or more Americans now favoring legalizing marijuana, President Obama has one bold option that few experts are talking about: Raising the white flag and ending the federal war on pot.

To be sure, many legal experts believe the US Department of Justice instead is preparing to block new regulatory schemes passed by voters last month in Washington and Colorado that legalize and regulate the selling, possession, and use of marijuana. One option is to invoke Article 6 of the Constitution, which says federal law is “the supreme law of the land.”

But despite the constraints of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act in which Congress cemented its stance that marijuana is highly dangerous and has no legitimate medical use, the Obama administration does have legal authority to relabel marijuana as either a less dangerous drug or, as Washington and Colorado have done, classify it alongside alcohol as a legal drug. Such a move could partially or wholly end federal marijuana oversight.

“Maybe this will be the moment when the feds are prepared to revisit mari-juana prohibition,” says Josh Meisel, co-director of the Humboldt Institute

for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research in California. “At the federal level … I could see a scenario of marijuana regu-lation” ending.

At the very least, Washington and Colorado have laid a Gordian knot on the President’s desk.

How, exactly, does the US respond, given that a recent Gallup poll finds that 63 percent of Americans want the fed-eral government to leave the two states alone? Moreover, legal experts say, the laws are not at their core contradictory to federal policy.

Both state schemes will continue to regulate marijuana in ways designed to curtail, not promote, its use. In Colorado’s case, tax revenues will go to local school districts. In Washington, police will be able to pull over stoners and prosecute them for intoxicated driv-ing if they’ve had too much to smoke.

The legal issues are complex, and any response by the Obama administration could have broad policy repercussions on everything from enforcement priori-ties to how it would affect international antidrug treaties.

“Should the Justice Department pre-vail, it would raise the possibility of striking down the entire initiatives on the theory that voters would not have approved legalizing the drug without tight regulations and licensing similar to controls on hard alcohol,” writes the

New York Times’ Charlie Savage.So far, the only action the federal gov-

ernment has taken is US Attorney Jenny Durkan’s stern warning to Washington residents that “growing, selling, or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.”

The fact that hundreds of Seattle pot smokers blew off that warning and lit up unmolested by law enforcement on Thursday, the day the law took effect, underscored how little actual enforce-ment power the federal government has, given that most pot busts are han-dled by local and state police.

To be sure, there is lots of pressure on Obama from law enforcement officials for the administration to take a stern, contradictory view of what voters in Colorado and Washington have done – suggesting concern from the right that a potential legal tipping point is at hand on federal marijuana policy. Yet the political stakes are huge for Obama, who famously wrote about being a member of a pot-smoking “Choom Gang” while a teenager in Hawaii.

“It’s a sticky wicket for Obama,” Bruce Buchanan, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin told the New York Times this week, adding that any aggressive move would be seen as “a slap in the face to his base right after they’ve just handed him a chance to realize his presidential dreams.”

Meanwhile, there is a viable path open for Obama to effectively end fed-eral marijuana prohibition, though it could leave him open for criticism that’s been leveled at Obama before by Republicans: that he’s end-running Congress. At the same time, about 35 percent of Republicans support legal-izing marijuana as a states’ rights issue, according to Nov. 6 exit polling.

“In theory, the DEA, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services could move to reschedule marijuana – legally, the administration has that power,” says Robert Mikos, a law professor and federalism expert at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville. “That said, making it an unscheduled substance would be a very dramatic change. If that were to happen, it would be politically easier to do in the last days of [Obama’s] second term.”

Would that mean America would instantly become a giant pot bazaar? Hardly.

“Ending federal oversight of mari-juana would in essence just throw it back to the states, and currently we have 30-some states that criminalize simple possession and a dozen or so that have decriminalized it, and now a couple that have completely legalized it,” explains Mr. Mikos. “In that case, marijuana [policy] would just become a matter of state law.”

Obama’s other option on pot: Legalize it for everyone?

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OF RICHMOND COUNTY

The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 for the following:

1. Wireless Network Infrastructure E-Rate 16 (2013) RFP #13-618

2. Data/Voice Networking, Digital Media Distribution and Integrated Communications Systems E-Rate 16 (2013) RFP #13-619






OF RICHMOND COUNTY

The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, for the following:

1. 2013 Summer Food Service Program RFQ #13-6212. Check Recovery Solutions RFP #13-8773. Athletic Field Turf Grass Management RFP #13-

6224. Fire Sprinkler Inspections RFP #13-623





Harold V. Jones IIATTORNEY AT LAW

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Augusta, GA 30901

Phone 706-722-6200Fax 706 722-4817

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Livin OutLoud Artistic Commentary Provided by LadyVee DaPoet

Reflecting on the past to plan where you’re goingIt’s that time of year again. The

holidays are upon us and things start getting stressful and sometimes too busy to handle. Your friends and fam-ily are expecting gifts, extra cook-ing is in order, holiday decorations are waiting to be assembled and, to top everything off, you have to make time to sleep! In the midst of all the celebrations and chaos, as an artist, it’s important to make time for your ‘Creative New Year Resolutions’.

At the end of the year, it’s the per-fect time to get out your calendar and reflect. Take a look at the success-ful shows, book signings, networking

events and gatherings you participated in each month. What contacts did you make? Which people or organizations wasted your time or money and you might need to distance yourself from? Who needs a follow-up call in the new year for new projects to be pursued? Review the past details of great shows and events, but also take note of the lessons learned from the shows that could have been better. All of this information will help you prepare yourself for a successful year ahead.

Taking stock of your accomplish-ments in the past months also fuels your artistic self-esteem. It’s a great

way to remind yourself that your art has value to not only yourself but your surrounding community. As a spoken word artist, event promoter, and work-shop facilitator, I think about my events and also the showcases that I attend that other people have invited me to. It’s beneficial to remember what types of things you enjoyed about other peo-ple’s events to adopt similar traits in your own. It helps to take notes in a ‘resolution journal’ to help you plan production for the upcoming year.

In the past 11 months you might have made a few mistakes. Did you invite 100 people to a venue that could

only hold 35? Oh yeah, and that one time you sent your busi-ness cards to the printer without your email address on them… Don’t sweep those decisions under the rug or get upset about them! Those mistakes are stepping stones to plan what you can do differently next time. When the clock strikes midnight and the new year is here, it’s a fresh new start to SHINE like the artistic talent you were born to be!

Happy New Year, Augusta!

11UrbanProW


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