Category Archives: Midlands

Columbia’s homeless issue makes the NYT

Kathryn brought this to our attention on a previous thread, so I thought I’d elevate it to a separate post:

South Carolina City Takes Steps to Evict Homeless From Downtown

COLUMBIA, S.C. — In South Carolina’s capital, officials declare that their tree-lined Main Street, clogged with shops, banks, restaurants and hotels, is evidence that a long-sought economic revival has arrived.

But mere blocks north, a dozen or so of the county’s approximately 1,500 homeless people sit on a short wall near an empty parking lot, waiting for private shelters to open. They sporadically shout curses at passers-by while they smoke cigarettes and endure the summer humidity.

With business owners sounding increasingly worried about the threat they believe the homeless pose to Columbia’s economic surge, the City Council approved a plan this month that will essentially evict them from downtown streets….

Here’s my favorite part:

In Columbia, which has branded itself “the new Southern hot spot,” residents say the city’s time has come….

Go, ADCO! Hey, publicity is publicity.

The Curtiss-Wright Hangar Project

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I thought aviation and history buffs would take an interest in this:

Introducing the Curtiss-Wright Hangar Project

Historic site set for revitalization

(COLUMBIA, SC) August 20, 2013 – The Curtiss-Wright Hangar, an incredible piece of Columbia’s aviation and architectural history, will be preserved and restored. The namesake legacy will live on 84 years after its original construction to be completely renovated as a special event venue, family restaurant, and intimate South Carolina Aerospace Museum. The Curtiss-Wright Hangar is designated on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Curtiss-Wright Hangar history is plentiful. Opening in 1929, the hangar was the first building constructed at Owens Field by a Company formed between Glenn Curtiss and the Wright Brothers. Thirty-five of these vintage hangars were built all across the country by the Curtiss-Wright Company and at best guess less than six still exist, but only this one remains in its original form. The Curtiss-Wright Hangar was Columbia’s first terminal serving passengers and airmail service. Famed aviator Amelia Earhart’s signature is still listed in Columbia airport’s logbook at 11:30 a.m., November 16, 1931 and President Franklin Roosevelt flew into the airport in the late 1930’s. The vintage B-25 bomber that is still in the hangar will remain as a centerpiece for the restaurant and museum.

The developers our asking for the publics support for this historic project from the community, businesses, and aviation supporter’s worldwide and have created a crowd funding site at http://www.rockethub.com/projects/29493-curtiss-wright-hangar-project#description-tab.

For additional information on the Curtiss-Wright Hangar Project please visit http://columbia-hangar.com or to follow the project’s progress please follow us at https://www.facebook.com/TheCurtissWrightHangar.

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And maybe Burl, an acknowledged expert in these things, can offer some advice to the organizers…

Columbia City Council jealously guards the status quo

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In The Federalist No. 59, Alexander Hamilton asserted that “every government ought to contain in itself the means of its own preservation.”

Whether it ought to or not, every system seems to contain in itself, and anxiously embrace, that capability.

That’s certainly the case with the Columbia City Council, which voted last night not to allow the city’s residents to move to a more rational and accountable system of government, that is to say, a strong-mayor system.

At the risk of sounding like a believer in direct democracy, which I am not, allow me to remind one and all that this was not a vote on whether to institute a strong-mayor system, but merely whether to allow the people of the city to choose.

And the council said no. Perceiving a threat to their own power, the council members refused to allow even the possibility.

By doing so, the members in the majority demonstrated that they are not worthy to wield the power that they so jealously guard.

Image vs. reality: The utter powerlessness of the mayor of Columbia

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I thought this was an interesting contrast.

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin’s re-election campaign sent out the above video, showing the mayor standing before a group of cops — the city’s anti-gang unit — and talking tough about how gangs won’t be tolerated (when he’s not talking about reaching out to troubled youth who are all “very talented” and just need a guiding hand, an apparent contradiction that reflects the different constituencies he’s trying to reach).

So there you have an image of a mayor who is in command of the city’s sentinels, pledging to protect us all from crime.

Then, you have what happened in the real world — the reminder last night that the mayor is not in charge of the police department, and has no control over the person who is:

COLUMBIA, SC — Columbia’s mayor and city manager had a public falling out Tuesday, barely seven months into a workplace relationship that critics once decried as too close.

The split occurred over Mayor Steve Benjamin’s proposal to ban city administrators and politicians from active police crime scenes. City manager Teresa Wilson said she took the proposal as a shot aimed to impugn her integrity because of her decision to go to the site of the July 12 arrest of state civil rights leader Lonnie Randolph.

“I don’t care who it is. I’m not going to allow anybody to attack my personal credibility,” Wilson told The State newspaper after Benjamin’s proposal died in a 5-1 vote. The mayor was the only one of the six council members at the meeting to vote in support of his suggestion that would have allowed City Council members to be censured and employees to be disciplined…

Benjamin is fully aware of how powerless he is, the video image from that press conference notwithstanding. In fact, he put out a release about it today:

Serving as your mayor has been the dream of a lifetime and a great personal honor and I have used this office as forcefully as I can to advocate positive improvements in our city.

I’m proud of the progress we are making in building a safer city, creating jobs, improving education and providing a high quality of life for our citizens.

But recent news has helped to demonstrate that the present “weak mayor” system of governance in Columbia is outdated and structurally flawed. Like all Columbians, I’m frustrated by how long it takes to get things done.

Under the current system, I have:

Requested a thorough SLED investigation to ensure public trust in the city’s police department;

Asked City Council to enact policies that remove all hints of politics from law enforcement and…

Called for a crackdown on gang crime.

But ultimately, I am limited to a role of advocacy. The Mayor of Columbia has only one vote on a seven-member council and no administrative authority.

It’s time for a change. It’s time to switch to a “strong mayor” form of government.

Columbia has grown to the point that we need a mayor with modern executive authority. The present system muddies the waters of accountability. The time has come to make me and all future mayors accountable to the voters for the quality and efficiency of city government.

That’s why I’ve asked City Council to meet on August 13 and support a referendum that would let the voters decide whether they want a modern strong mayor form of government or whether they want to continue our present system of city management by committee.

My request of City Council is simple: let the voters decide.

Some will argue that we should keep the present committee system. Some will say they don’t want mayors to have executive powers. That’s okay. Let everyone make their case in a public debate to be decided by the people of Columbia.

Surely no one who believes in the founding principles of America would stand in the way of allowing the public to vote on how they choose to be governed.

I hope my colleagues on City Council will join me in giving voters the chance to make their voices heard. And if Council fails to empower the people, then I will stand strongly behind a petition drive to give voters access to the ballot.

If you agree that it’s time for a change, please consider contacting your City Council members. Let them know you support giving the people of Columbia the opportunity to vote on their form of government.

As always, I thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Steve Benjamin, Mayor
City of Columbia, South Carolina

As you know, I’m completely in agreement with the mayor on this. The executive functions of the city should be in the hands of someone elected by all of the city’s voters. There is simply no accountability under the current system.

But while I’m with him on the main point, I was struck by the irony of his mentioning his desire “to enact policies that remove all hints of politics from law enforcement,” on the same day his campaign is touting video of him posed in front of a row of uniformed cops…

Hey, I’m with you on the strong-mayor thing, Cameron

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I received this release this morning:

Statement by Columbia City Councilman Cameron Runyan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cameron Runyan…

Most people don’t realize the Mayor of Columbia has no real executive authority. Under our current weak mayor system, city government is managed by committee, with no single elected official to hold accountable when things go wrong.

Recent events have made it clear that our city could greatly benefit from a strong mayor form of government with a chief executive empowered by and accountable to the people to get positive things done.

As Mayor Benjamin said last week, many of the current problems related to public safety could be dealt with swiftly and efficiently if our mayor had the authority to act. It’s time to let voters decide if they want to give him that authority and responsibility by switching to a strong mayor system.

As a member of Columbia City Council, I strongly urge my colleagues to take up this issue. And I urge them to do it soon. We owe it to the people of this great city.

Ultimately, the question is not whether you agree with having a strong mayor. The question is whether voters should be allowed to decide how their government can best work for them.

After all, it is a founding principle of America that government belongs to the people, not to those who are elected by the people. In keeping with the most noble traditions of our democratic system, we have an obligation to let the people be heard on this critical issue.

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Hey, I’m with you. Let’s have the referendum, and here’s hoping most people vote “yes” for change. This mushy, indirect form of government is not politically accountable.

Benjamin says Randolph charges shouldn’t be dropped, and Wilson shouldn’t have run to the scene

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The mayor, (rightly) injecting some politics into policing in Five Points, back in September 2012.

I thought this was an interesting thing for a major running for re-election to do. He sent out a release weighing in on a controversial recent arrest by the city’s police department:

Keep Politics Out of Policing

July 24, 2013, Columbia, SC

Dear friends,

As you know, public safety has and continues to be my top priority in the City of Columbia and, while we’ve made real progress over the past several years, a number of recent high-profile incidents have further demonstrated the need for continued focus and action.

It is for that reason and because we must ensure the public’s trust in our police department, that last week I called for a SLED investigation into claims made against the Columbia Police Department and I firmly believe that we must allow that investigation to proceed without any political interference. Our state’s law enforcement officers are very capable of conducting a thorough investigation. I am confident that they will perform their duties objectively and comprehensively and provide us with a full report to act upon. Furthermore I will make absolutely certain that whatever SLED reports will be transparent and fully disclosed to the public.

Let me be clear: I have no tolerance for corruption of any kind and if there is any wrongdoing found as a result of SLED’s investigation, I will push for any wrongdoers to be immediately fired and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

It is extremely important that we remove politics from this equation. We must let the cops do their jobs without interference. That is a key concern of mine with this investigation as well as with the issue of Dr. Lonnie Randolph’s arrest in Five Points.

Out of concern for Dr. Randolph and out of concern for our criminal justice system, I am strongly recommending Dr. Randolph’s charges not be dropped before the case reaches the courtroom.

Dr. Randolph appears to have a medical condition that influences his behavior beyond his control and, if so, he has my deepest concerns and sympathies. But we must let the legal process unfold like it does for any other citizen. It is up to a judge or a jury, with the victims’ input, to decide the end result, not politicians, police chiefs or administrators.

Dr. Randolph’s arrest demonstrated why we should not have administrators or elected officials showing up at crime scenes unless specifically requested by law enforcement. However well intentioned, it can send the wrong message and can create an appearance of impropriety and it needs to stop now. People must know that the criminal justice system works the same for all of us and does so without political interference and without special treatment for anyone. Justice for all requires special favors for none.

That’s why I’ve asked city legal counsel to draft a policy which I will present at our next City Council meeting clearly stating that, in accordance with our ethics policy, an active crime scene is no place for politicians or administrators.

At that same meeting, I will also push for us to move forward with a comprehensive, nationwide search for a permanent Police Chief. It’s time to bring stability to CPD’s leadership.

I believe a lot of these issues would be easy to resolve if, in fact, the Mayor had the authority to resolve them.

As Mayor, I have used the bully pulpit provided this office to push for much needed change and often been successful in doing so. That’s how we passed our local preference policy and kept tens of millions of dollars in city contracts with local businesses, that’s how we got the Bull Street deal done and that’s how we’ve achieved the rebirth of downtown securing roughly $300 million in new capital investment over the past two years alone.

But it’s important to understand that I have very little administrative authority under our current form of government. Here in Columbia, the Mayor does not supervise city staff, the City Manager or the Police Chief. And when we are faced with challenges like these which require swift and decisive action, all I have is one of seven votes on City Council and the long slow process that goes with it. That is the simple fact of our system, a fact that we need to change.

That being said, I will continue to use those tools afforded me to keep pushing for a safer and more secure Columbia. That is my priority, it is the people’s priority and nothing is more important.

As always, thank you for keeping informed, getting involved and making a difference in our city.

Yours in service,

Steve Benjamin
Mayor
City of Columbia, South Carolina

This may seem kind of weird to those who don’t understand the city’s council/manager system of government.

In a more logical and politically accountable system of government, the mayor wouldn’t be a helpless witness to the actions of the city’s administrators. He wouldn’t have to propose policy changes to be voted upon by the whole council; he could just tell his manager (or chief of staff, or whatever his senior appointed subordinate was called) not to do that anymore.

Contrary to the mayor’s headline, I think we need more politics in policing, in the sense that the department should report to an official elected by the people of the city, rather than to an unelected person who, since she has seven bosses, really answers to no one.

Anyway, I thought it interesting that the mayor chose to speak out in this manner.

Come on out and help victims of sexual violence

What’s with all this Mickey Mouse in the Columbia P.D.?

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This is just embarrassing — or should be — to anyone associated with the Columbia Police Department, or with city government, period.

Some of y’all have begun commenting on it on a previous thread, but I thought I’d start this separate one with a link to this morning’s story in The State, a portion of which follows:

COLUMBIA, SC — A Columbia Police Department captain was fired Monday after city officials said he failed to report to duty, secretly recorded a phone call with a supervisor and engaged in spreading rumors.

But David Navarro, the former captain, says he has done nothing wrong. In fact, he has signed a sworn affidavit accusing interim Police Chief Ruben Santiago of asking him months ago to participate in a scheme to frame the chief’s boss on drug and weapons charges. The affidavit was provided Monday to The State newspaper by Glenn Walters, an Orangeburg attorney who is representing Navarro in his dispute with the city. Those who lie on affidavits risk criminal charges if their statements are proven false.

The back-and-forth between Navarro and city officials led Monday to one-on-one meetings between news reporters and City Manager Teresa Wilson, Santiago, the city’s human resources manager and three other city employees. In those interviews, city officials gave almost unprecedented explanations about Navarro’s firing. Typically, city officials only will confirm a firing and then cite a policy of not speaking about personnel matters….

… as, you recall, city officials did and still do with regard to former Chief Randy Scott. Which sort of stands out — this willingness to take public sides in the dispute and discredit Navarro. (At this point, a city official is saying, “We can’t win with you media types. You blast us when we won’t talk, and you blast us when we do.” And I suppose there’s something in that.)

The reference to “the chief’s boss” above is not to former Chief Scott, or to City Manager Teresa Wilson, but to senior assistant city manager Alison Baker.

Which sort of points to part of the problem. In this weak mayor, council-manager form of city government, the lines of accountability are wonderfully vague and confused, to anyone who doesn’t make a profession, or at least an avid hobby, of following city government. There is no one elected by the city’s voters who can act unilaterally to straighten out the mess, as there is no elected executive in charge of the police department. The mayor is but one of seven votes on the council.

Which is why stuff like this just festers, on and on. In the meantime, the seven elected co-directors of the city, to the extent that they can work together, need to do what they can to sort out this ongoing soap opera that is the Columbia Police Department. Because it’s not taking care of itself. That is to say, contrary to the myths propagated by advocates of the council-manager system, the “professionals” aren’t handling it very well.

Benjamin raises six figures in 2nd quarter

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Adam Fogle just sent this release out:

Benjamin raises over $108K in 2nd Quarter

Columbia, SC — Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin raised more than $108,000 for his re-election campaign during the second quarter of 2013, according to a campaign disclosure report filed with the SC State Ethics Commission at ethics.sc.gov.

“I am humbled and honored that so many individuals across our great city are willing to share their hard-earned treasures in support of our campaign,” Benjamin said. “These generous donations give us the momentum we need to go to November and win.”

Added Benjamin, “Whether it’s $25 or $250, our donors share our vision of One Columbia — a city that is a safe, that fights for taxpayers, that spends wisely and thinks boldly, with a growing economy and plenty of good-paying jobs to support our families. I thank each of them for investing in that vision and joining me as we work together to make it a reality.”

Over 300 individual donors made a financial contribution to Benjamin’s campaign in the last three months totaling $108,304.53. The campaign now has over $100,000 on hand to spend with more than a full fundraising quarter remaining before the November 5 election.

Benjamin is seeking a second term as mayor of South Carolina’s capital city.

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The mayor might need all that and more. I’ve been seeing a lot of “Moe!” signs around town. If you’re riding with me when I see one, you can tell, because it causes me to do my Curly impression.

Who’s up for a bradwarthen.com Walk for Life team?

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The actual walkers from our 2010 team — Mark, Kathryn and Doug.

Some of y’all will recall that a couple of years back, this blog fielded a team in the Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life, and we did rather well.

While only four of us actually walked — Mark Stewart, Kathryn Fenner, Doug Ross and me — we came in 18th in most amount of money raised. That wasn’t a staggering amount, just under $1,000 at last official count (I thought we went over a thousand, but I can’t find record of it now), but it was pretty good considering that we got a late start.

Doug Ross was our playmaker on that one, raising $450 by himself. I hope he’ll be returning for this go-round, and help us set the pace.

The Walk is on Saturday, Oct. 5, this year, so that gives us plenty of time. I have not actually set up the team yet, so hang onto your money until we do. But I have attended a team captain’s meeting the other night, and picked up the paperwork.

I’m posting this to gauge interest out there, but also to create peer pressure on me to follow through. So press away, and don’t let me slack off.

I’m toying with the idea of getting special T-shirts done (of course, everyone who participates will get an official T-shirt from the Foundation, but a lot of teams set themselves apart with special shirts). But then each person would have to pay for them (what, you think this blog is made of money?), and I’d rather see our fund-raising energies go to fighting breast cancer. Anyway, share your thoughts on that.

And stay on me about this.

Click on the image for more info…

ULI Reality Check: Growing by choice, not by chance

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Elise Partin, mayor of Cayce.

Today was the kickoff of a program that a bunch of community leaders have been working on under the auspices of the Urban Land Institute.

Here’s the release about the event:

Midlands Reality Check Focuses on Growth and Progress for South Carolina’s Capital Region

Columbia, S.C. – Midlands members of Urban Land Institute South Carolina, together with area stakeholders, government officials and business/industry leaders, today announced the launch of Midlands Reality Check, an unprecedented, collaborative effort aimed at creating a strong, progressive and sustainable urban growth plan for the future of the Midlands.

“Creating a realistic and attainable regional vision for the Midlands is imperative if we want to remain competitive and be viewed as a desirable entrepreneurial hub, that is an ideal place to live, work, visit and play,” said Irene Dumas Tyson, co-chair of Midlands Reality Check and director of planning for The Boudreaux Group.

Demographers estimate the Midlands region will grow by approximately 450,000 individuals in the next 30 years. That is equivalent to putting slightly more than the population of the four-county Asheville, N.C. metropolitan area into the Midlands by 2040.

“The goal of Midlands Reality Check is to bring together a diverse group of Midlands business, government and community leaders to work together and identify how we can grow by choice – not by chance – over the next three decades,” said Herbert Ames, development manager with EDENS and co-chair of Midlands Reality Check with Dumas Tyson.

One unique aspect for Midlands Reality Check will be a participatory “Game Day” event mixing 300 individuals from across the region and engage them in open dialogue on where the highest concentrations of development and infrastructure should be within our community. Taking place Oct. 22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, participants will use Lego playing pieces to represent increases in population, jobs and housing; and colored yarn for transportation corridors and to outline potential green spaces.

“It may sound like fun and games, but this innovative approach to urban development looks at a region in a tactful and creative way that will highlight areas across the Midlands that are prime growth opportunities,” said Dumas Tyson.

Funded by private sponsors, foundations, governments and community organizations, Midlands Reality Check will focus on laying the needed groundwork for a more cohesive approach to strategically and thoughtfully uncovering pockets of potential growth and expansion across the Midlands. The event will lay the groundwork for needed regional conversations and future action to accommodate growth in a way that adds value to our communities while simultaneously protecting and improving our quality of life.

The Urban Land Institute has held Reality Check events in some 15 locations around the country, including Greenville, Charleston, Richmond, Charlotte, the Research Triangle and Jacksonville, Fla.

“We are confident this initiative is the catalyst the Midlands needs to put some big things in motion. This process and event will be the blueprint for intentional, collaborative change in the way our region thinks and acts about growth for decades to come,” said Ames.

For more information about the Midlands Reality Check or how to get involved, please visit www.MidlandsRealityCheck.com.

About Midlands Reality Check:
Midlands Reality Check is a South Carolina initiative of The Urban Land Institute created by a regional collaboration of stakeholders and leaders within the business, government, economic development and tourism sectors. Focusing on urban growth and planned land use, Midlands Reality Check will lay the foundation for a unified vision to grow the Midlands. For more information about Midlands Reality Check, please visit www.MidlandsRealityCheck.com.

About the Urban Land Institute:
ULI, the Urban Land Institute, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. Founded in 1936, ULI now has members worldwide, representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines working in private enterprise and public service. A multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI facilitates an open exchange of ideas, information, and experience among industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places. ULI South Carolina was the first statewide district council formed and has since become a national model. For more information about ULI South Carolina, please visit southcarolina.uli.org.

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That pretty much covers it. I’m glad somebody wrote a release, because I was busy Tweeting during the event, and couldn’t take extensive notes. It’s not that I can’t pay attention; I was supposed to be Tweeting. By way of full disclosure, I’m on the committee that is publicizing the program, and I drew social media duty today. Which I like, I’ll admit.

There was an impressive crowd there today. Not huge (it was Famously Hot in the amphitheater along the riverfront in West Columbia), but a good assortment of the kind of people who need to pay attention were there — the mayors of Columbia, Lexington, Cayce and Blythewood, leading members of Richland and Lexington county councils, key business leaders. The folks who need to be paying attention to trends and anticipating them to the extent that it’s possible.

Here’s a link to thestate.com’s story on the event.

Irene Dumas Tyson of The Boudreaux Group, co-chair of the effort.

Thoughts on the Bull Street redevelopment?

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I see that Mayor Steve Benjamin is sufficiently proud of the new agreement for redeveloping the storied Bull Street property that he’s posted a video of him talking about it on his re-election campaign site.

Personally, I’ve been too busy the last couple of days to digest it all and decide what I think, beyond the fact that I’m glad there is some movement on the deal, finally.

But it occurs to me… I’ve noticed that some of y’all spend a lot more time thinking about urban development than I do, and no doubt you already have some well-informed opinions.

So, share. What do you think about this? If you come up with something “incredibly insightful,” your opinion could actually have an effect…

I’m told that back in the day, “going to Bull Street” meant the same thing here that “going to Bolivar” used to mean when I worked in West Tennessee (the state mental hospital was in Bolivar, TN). In the foreseeable future, it will mean something else. But what?

Starbucks almost deserted in the middle of the day? Can the Zombie Apocalypse be far behind?

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Had a strange experience a little while ago.

The photographs above and below were taken at 12:57 p.m. today inside the Gervais Street Starbucks. And no, they weren’t closed for renovations. In fact, there were a few customers in there — I just shot the empty parts.

But… there are never empty parts in that Starbucks. Or at least, I don’t remember it happening to this extent before. Normally, if you meet someone there for a business meeting, it’s hard to find two or three seats together. I mentioned the eerie emptiness to my barista, and she said others had commented on it. She quickly noted that they had been quite busy earlier in the day, which I fully believed, but still — this empty, at lunchtime?

What gives? Didn’t everybody get a Starbucks gift card for Father’s Day (I certainly did)?

I remarked on the phenomenon to a young woman who was one of my few fellow patrons, and she had a one-word explanation: “Summer.” (When you’re young, female and attractive, it’s best to keep your answers short when old guys you don’t know start chatting you up.)

Perhaps so. One of the first things I noticed about Columbia when I moved back here in 1987 was that once the Legislature goes home, the town seems to be deserted. That applies to Mondays and Fridays during the session as well as the off-season.

Add that to USC being out, and things just really slow down. They’ve slowed down the last few days here on the blog. The comments, anyway. I haven’t noticed much dropoff in pageviews.

It’s like our activity just drops a few notches when the lawmakers go home — even when what we do has little to do with them, directly.

That’s one theory, anyway. I admit that it’s not entirely satisfactory. But you tell me — why was I almost alone in Starbucks today?

CO at Fort Jackson suspended

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This just moved a few minutes ago:

COLUMBIA, SC — Fort Jackson’s commanding officer has been suspended following allegations of misconduct, according to a spokesman with the US Army Training and Doctrine command.

Brig. Gen. Bryan T. Roberts was suspended by Gen. Robert W. Cone after learning about the allegations, which included claims of adultery and physical altercations, said Harvey Perritt, the spokesman. The exact circumstances of the claims are immediately unknown…

That’s about all I know right now. On the bright side, for those who take solace in such things, the fort now has its first female commander, with Brig. Gen. Peggy C. Combs stepping in as interim.

You know, if we’re going to keep having scandals involving generals, I’d sort of like to have one that didn’t involve sexual allegations. Just for variety. Maybe they could bust a brigadier for calling his rifle a “gun,” or something.

And “physical altercations”? Generally that’s usually more of a problem with the more junior ranks…

Fund-raiser for Boston bombing victims tonight at Cap City

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Just wanted to give y’all a heads-up on this event tonight, brought to my attention by my friend and fellow Capital City Club member Clare Morris:

MEDIA ADVISORY: Boston Marathon Bombing Fundraiser at the Capital City Club Tonight

The public is invited

What: The Capital City Club is sponsoring cocktails and fun for charity, featuring Celebrity Bartender Dr. Frank Clark. Dr. Clark, an avid runner and Columbia resident, finished the Boston Marathon in 2 hours and 57 minutes.

Frank’s special drink for the evening is Sam Adams Boston Lager. All Sam Adams Boston Lagers and Club brand drinks are $4.00. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served.

When: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 5:30 to 7:00 pm

Where: The Capital City Club Lounge, 25^th floor, Capital Center, 1201 Main St., Columbia

For more information: Contact Clare Morris (803.413.6808 or [email protected])

Check-out Frank’s WACH-FOX interview — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-hIbd_kw5Q

I’m going to drop by, and it would be great to see some of y’all there. As Clare said, the public is invited, so you don’t have to be a member. (Of course, if you’d like to become a member, I’ll be more than happy to help you with that.)

I like the way Clare worked Dr. Clark’s finishing time into the release. Aside from the horrific events of that day, I find his athletic achievement impressive.

Video of Benjamin campaign announcement

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The Steve Benjamin campaign sent out this video of his announcement yesterday. I haven’t had time to watch it all myself — quite busy today — but I thought I’d make it available to you.

One thing that struck me in the minute or so that I did listen to — Benjamin wasn’t speaking as smoothly as he usually does. I guess he’s better speaking extemporaneously than he is reading a speech…

Of course, Mayor Benjamin is running for re-election

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This passage, in The State‘s advance story about Steve Benjamin’s expected announcement that he will seek re-election as mayor of Columbia, struck me:

Benjamin will be a latecomer to the race. Already, city council member Moe Baddourah, a restaurateur, and Larry Sypolt, a former FBI analyst, have announced for mayor…

Latecomer? Yeah, technically, others had announced before he did, but that’s not the way we think of it, is it? We tend to see the incumbent as already being in it, and the others who announce as challengers to the assumed candidate for re-election. If an incumbent does not run for re-election, that is news.

Much to the chagrin of Doug Ross and others who favor term limits…

Specifically, Steve Benjamin has seemed like he was running since he was first elected, maintaining a higher profile than his predecessor, and taking his communications efforts seriously from the beginning. He is, after all the first major to have the staff to do so.

Some may think I’m being critical in that previous paragraph. No, I think effective communications happen to be an essential element in leadership. And Mr. Benjamin has tried to be more of a leader than Columbia’s weak mayoral position would normally allow.

I like that he’s running on a platform of creating a strong-mayor system. But that makes me wonder — weren’t we talking about that in the last election? Why hasn’t it happened? (OK, yeah, I sort of know reasons it didn’t happen; I was being rhetorical.)

I didn’t make it to Benjamin’s announcement today. Here’s a release about it:

MAYOR BENJAMIN LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION BID

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin on Monday announced that he will seek re-election in the upcoming November 5 municipal election.

“Today, I am announcing that I will be a candidate for re-election and today we are launching our 2013 campaign,” Benjamin told reporters, supporters and onlookers during a morning press conference at the corner of Main and Taylor Streets in Downtown Columbia.

“Since I became Mayor three years ago, we have made a great deal of progress,” said Benjamin. “We’ve increased transparency, improved efficiency and cut waste. We’ve generated a budget surplus for three straight years, improved our credit rating, and saved taxpayers millions of dollars by restructuring government.

“We’ve created thousands of jobs, secured billions of dollars in capital investments and cut unemployment by over two-and-a-half percent. We’ve led an economic and cultural renaissance here on Main Street and throughout our city. We continue to build lasting regional partnerships toward a vibrant, dynamic 21st century Columbia.

“But most importantly, we’ve invested a tremendous amount in improving public safety. As a result, crime is down across the city in nearly every category and our first responders have the resources they need to keep our city safe.”

Benjamin, who took office in July 2010 after a hotly contested election to replace long-serving Mayor Bob Coble, promised to once again run a clean, positive campaign.

“I will focus clearly on what our community has accomplished so far and the positive things we can do together in the months and years ahead,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin will hold an official campaign kick-off event open to the public on Monday, May 20 at 5:30 pm at Tapps Art Center on Main Street.

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I did make it to a fund-raiser for Moe Baddourah a couple of weeks ago. Not much to report. There were only about seven or eight people there, but I only stayed a few minutes, and it was a drop-in. Also, it’s very early in the campaign. Moe told me he had knocked on 2,700 doors so far, so he’s out there working.

One of Mr. Baddourah’s supporters told me the thing that had made him want to support the councilman was the recent decision by the city to buy the cotton warehouse.

That’s the thing about being the incumbent. For good or ill, you have a record…

Sheriff Lott hires back ex-Chief Randy Scott

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Some of y’all have mentioned this development on a previous thread, but here’s a separate post for it:

COLUMBIA, SC — Beleaguered former Columbia police chief Randy Scott will return to his former employer, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department later this month at a salary barely more than a uniform deputy.

Sheriff Leon Lott announced Wednesday afternoon that Scott starts May 13 with the title of “inspector” at pay of $40,000. A deputy sheriff’s starting pay is $35,000, Lott said in a prepared statement.

Efforts to reach Lott have been unsuccessful…

It had already been reported — I had mentioned it here — that Sheriff Lott had said he would hire him back any time. I didn’t realize, though, that it was an actual job offer — I saw it more as a good word for a friend having a hard time.

Today, of course, was Randy Scott’s first day off the city payroll.

What do I think of this? I think the following:

I like Randy Scott. I thought he was doing a good job as chief. I found his leave of absence, and then resignation, puzzling and troubling. I think we deserve to know more, especially because of the pattern of events over the last few months, with his retirement/rehiring and the money the city shelled out to make that happen.

I also have a lot of respect for Sheriff Lott. I know he knows Randy Scott a lot better than I do, and I want to think he knows what he’s doing. I get the impression that he’s trying to help out a friend, and I find that personally admirable. But public jobs are not for making personal gestures. The public will be watching closely to see whether this hire was justified or not. Which, ironically, may put additional stress on former Chief Scott at a bad time. So it might not be that much of a favor in the long run.