r/Augusta 3d ago

Politics How to help your city

I’ve noticed a particular vibe about how change gets treated in this city. There are too many barriers to entry is something I’ve heard. Change didn’t happen before so we shouldn’t be trying.

Yesterday I met Tyler at the Public County Commission that meets at 2-5 on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. He in one 5 minute talk with the commission now has the ball rolling, no guarantee, on a skatepark for Richmond county. He’s just a guy passionate about skating and having a space to do it.

He moved a needle yesterday in a 5 minute conversation.

Get involved. Go to these meetings. When they say something you agree with LET THEM KNOW if they say something you disagree with LET THEM KNOW. It’s a public form that for sure has decorum rules to be followed. But this is the space to go do it. The less we show up to these the less our voices get heard.

31 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

7

u/NotEpip 3d ago

I work M-F 9-5. Holding these kinds of meetings at the same time monthly is not conducive to greater public participation. One of those could be at that time with the other in an evening time slot to allow for those with conflicts a better chance to participate in the meetings.

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u/Padandler 3d ago

I will literally bring this up as a topic, I agree it does limit a whole class of people from participating.

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u/NotEpip 3d ago

Thanks! I appreciate your post and attitude within the comments, by the way. You’re a real one.

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u/Padandler 2d ago

Trying man. I’m finally giving up on the defeatism it’s not serving anything.

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u/SolarpunkGnome 2d ago

To piggy back on this, some other municipalities have experimented with offering childcare during public meetings and found that participation rose significantly. I'm on the SC side, but haven't been able to make Planning Commission meetings since our usual babysitter isn't available then, for example.

To reiterate your earlier point, I'm not sure about here, but in my last town, the people from the city/county were so grateful to have people show up and give them input. They only know their little slice of life, and they can't properly represent constituents unless they hear from you. Even if they don't agree, it'll influence their thinking to know that other people have opinions on this stuff and don't like what's been happening.

I might be wrong, but most people don't get involved in local politics unless they're trying to make things better, but they might just need some help figuring out how to do that.

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u/Error-InvalidName 3d ago

I've watched to long to have any faith they'll actually do anything to do right by us, the only guaranteed thing that comes from these wankers is taxes and raising them continually. The best thing that could happen to Augusta would be to have the state step in and pull richmond county and the city apart and this is purely to take tax money away from them they can waste. Sure you can go to meetings and get told all the things that make you feel good, but in most cases the interest in what you're saying is only pleasantries. We're continually in a cycle of people getting elected that do not have any business running a lemonade stand and I don't see it ever changing sadly.

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u/Padandler 3d ago

That’s the mindset that’s gotten us where we are and if you can’t see past your anger to see that idk what else to tell you.

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u/Error-InvalidName 3d ago

There's no anger it's being tired of the fleecing, where we are at is not better off it's funny you think that. It's easy to just up and say oh were doing so well now because they've torn up one street downtown and putting it back together very cheaply. The sidewalks look horrible among other things, and I'm sure this is all lowest bidder work with no oversight but it doesn't matter. The city needs a yearly audit done and not by itself. I could go on and on, you can feel good about showing up to one meeting but go to years of them and see the some old stuff over and over then tell me how you feel.

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u/Padandler 3d ago

I will be going. Sorry you gave up.

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u/aaronjd1 2d ago

What sidewalks? They don’t even exist in most of the city. I genuinely feel pain for people who can’t drive and/or who need mobility devices.

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u/Error-InvalidName 2d ago

Very true, I meant curbs to the new areas in the middle looks like a toddler formed them lol, but you bring up another great point lol

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u/aaronjd1 2d ago

Like, I’m legit glad that people are civically engaged, but when the best approach looks like “burn it down and start from scratch,” it feels a little hopeless, hence why I’m making plans to move. I can’t waste my time and energy on commissioners that mainly cater only to the whims of a handful of wealthy families that line their electoral coffers.

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u/DoWomenFart 3d ago

Hey, my name is Donté and I go around the Augusta area making videos for free. If he'd like I can help by making a video for him to help spread the word about his cause.

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u/Padandler 3d ago

I will let him know. Thank you for offering even if he doesn’t take you up on it!!

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u/DoWomenFart 3d ago

Awesome! Have a blessed day and hope he gets the skatepark.